2005 AWCA Training Camp
Melbourne, Australia

The first annual AWCA Training Camp was held this year in Melbourne, Australia. Our first Distance Learning Program student is from Melbourne, so it was a pleasure to personally see the results of how the program is used and the wonderful progress he has made through it.

After a couple of days of training the Siu-Nim-Tau, Chum-Kiu and Chi-sau with myself, James, Phil (from Australia) and Blair (from New Zealand), Phil tested for and successfully passed his Student Grade 3 test (which completes the Siu-Nim-Tau). Phil will now be working the Chum-Kiu curriculum and the wonderful world of Chi-sau.

Melbourne is truly spectacular for those that have never been, and since this was our first trip, I was blown away. To go from the city to a rain forest to spectacular coastal views - and all within 90 minutes of each other - it really is something you have to see to believe.

After our first flight across the Pacific (15 hrs, 15 minutes)	The Melbourne skyline from the hotel room	View from Rialto Tower (the blue building is our hotel)
Lighthouse on Cape Otway	"Henry" the elephant seal (a regular visitor to Geelong)	Some of the most awe-inspiring coastal areas you will find
A view of the coast on the way to the rain forest	Mait's Rain Forest (yes, "Mait's" not "Mate's")	Be on the lookout for snakes (we all know I was)
The Twelve Apostles	The Twelve Apostles outcrop	The other side of the Twelve Apostles
Ballarat Wildlife Park	A baby roo	Mr. and Mrs. Koala

Between some good training and seeing what a beautiful place that Australia truly is, it is a trip that none of us will forget.

The people are some of the nicest I have ever met and it is safe to say that our students now have a lot of motivation and new materials to work with. They are doing a fantastic job of training, and between the training and all of the sites we saw, it was an adventure to remember.