On the first night of preseason camp, Josh Cashman pulled out his guitar to entertain his team mates. The reliable back-man for Gippsland Power is also a talented musician. To finish his set Cashman played one of his favourites, his own version of the classic “Ring of Fire” by the great Johnny Cash.
A tired bunch of boys retreated to bed in preparation for a big day ahead. Little did they know just how big that day was going to be, a day they will most likely never forget.
After a brutal morning boxing session the 36 players and staff from the Power prepared themselves for a tough 22km hike to the peak of Mt Feathertop. Some of them had completed this hike the previous year and knew that it was an afternoon of hard work ahead.
There had been fire activity in the vicinity of Mt Feathertop the previous day, at the bottom of mountains near Harrietville. All advice from the CFA and authorities was that this was under control and that it was safe to proceed with the hike.
The boys trekked through the tough terrain together, chatting, laughing, and all the while setting a solid pace. Each carried their own football and at various points the group took a break from hiking to do football skills work. At the base of the final summit the group stopped for lunch.
The final 1.5km to reach the highest point of Mt Feathertop is a steep climb. As they had done the previous year, the group left their bags and gear at the base to charge through the final challenge before reaching the summit.
As they began the group noticed smoke in the distance. As they continued on they noticed a few spot fires flaring up in front of the main fire. By the time the group was half way up the final climb the wind had picked up and those spot fires had become a roaring blaze. All watched on in amazement as flames leapt high in the air and the thick black smoke billowed across the mountain.
Staff quickly alerted authorities to their predicament and rescue helicopters were despatched to evacuate the Power squad and other hikers who had found themselves stranded in the area. It was a nervous wait as the group watched the flames roar up the mountains below at an alarming speed.
When faced with adversity, Australians have a tendency to see the lighter side of things. In those anxious moments while they boys waited for the choppers to arrive, Josh Cashman sang for his team mates once again. But this time his team mates joined in with a stirring rendition of Ring of Fire. Some sang along while others used rocks as percussion instruments to lighten the mood and pass the time.
The players were evacuated safely in the first two rescues made by the helicopters. That the choppers were able to land in such high winds and difficult terrain was a credit to the skill of the pilots. That the boys remained so calm and followed direction was a credit to their character and the leadership of the staff.
For many it was their first ride in a helicopter and certainly one they won’t forget anytime soon. As each group touched down in the safety of the Hotham car park there was high fives a plenty.
Talent manager Peter Francis and Coach Nick Stevens were the last to be lifted off the mountain. Courageously they had sprinted back down to the bags to retrieve the keys to the minibuses, without which the group had no means of transport to get off Mt Hotham. In those final moments before take-off the flames edged closer and closer, coming within five hundred metres.
Back at the lodge and all back together the boys “got around each other” making sure that everyone was ok. At the group debrief meeting the reality of the situation kicked in. The boys shared their experiences and stories with each other and called parents to let them know they were ok.
After taking on board CFA and local advice, the decision was made to come home. The long drive down the mountain was broken up with a late dinner stop in Bairnsdale. The last of the group making it home to their own bed around 2am. Given that they were up at 6am that morning, it was a long and eventful day.
The fire put an early end to a camp which had all the signs of being a successful week, but in the 48hrs that the group was at Mt Hotham, a bond like no other was forged. With the player’s mental fortitude tested by the fire, they now know that they have the mental strength to get through anything thrown at them on the football field. They also know when faced with adversity, their team mates will be standing there right beside them, helping them through it.
There is no doubt that Ring Of Fire will become the unofficial club song for 2013.
Last Modified on 19/08/2013 11:00