Thank You Thank You Thank You

The team is very pleased to announce that our Pozible campaign fund raiser was a storming success thanks to 120 supporters contributing a total of $13,660. And to all those people who for whatever reason could not offer any financial assistance, we felt your good vibes!

We are just three weeks away from setting forth and all members of the team are working hard to make this trip and film a success.

At times there have been struggles during the lead up, I won’t lie. Vonna has had a surprise trip to Perth to get her lungs gold seeded and I have just returned from a month long trip to the UK which ended in the cremation of my dear mother. I am strikken yet again by the plain fact that absolutely everyone goes through this shit all the time. And that if we are going to live our lives to the full, with meaning and a little bit of joy, we not only have to directly contend with all this stuff, but we have to accept it without question.

Anyway, back to the West MacDonnells. A lot has been happening. We have been having team meetings to work out each other’s individual needs (we are a pretty diverse lot). When I was in the UK I collected some kit, including puffer jackets, from those lovely folk at Mountain Equipment. We’ve started using the Pozible funds to buy essential camera equipment. And the Ford Ranger Wildtrack is getting adapted to Left Foot accelerator as I write (more on this awesome kit later).

So, It’s all going to plan (just) and hopefully someone who looks like us might see us and know that they’re not alone. That they too can have a go. That matters.

 And finally, a quick thought about cooperation. By working together we will form a strong team, cooperating so each individual is able to go beyond their usual boundaries. In doing so, I think we will demonstrate how our disability does not define who we are and how co-operation makes us (everyone) whole.

Abseil Photos

A cool 1-degree temperature at The Springs, halfway up Kunanyi did not deter anyone from abseiling.  The views were terrific, the ambience exhilarating! Phil from Aardvark Adventures was helped by our very own certified and qualified safety inspector Conrad, a valued member of our All Abilities team. The abseil subjected our driver Dirk, and team members Paul A and Tim, Walter, and some of our great sponsors to an apparently 'risk-free' adrenalin rush by making us climb over the sturdy safety fence at the lookout. Secured by harnesses and ropes and cheered on by incidental tourists each one of us was rappelled down the cliff and filmed by Mike and Kirsten from Miro Digital Productions for future propaganda. We all enjoyed the morning and felt this was a great way to herald in our next challenge to traverse the McDonnell Range on the Larapinta.

Many thanks, The Abseil and an update :)

 We entered the long stretch of winter today.

Its sure getting chilly down here in Tasmania- the days are short and the rain cold; there's snow coming down on the mountain and our fire has been burning since I got up this morning.

There's a lot to love about this time of year here; it's beautiful, bracing, quite internal and a little bit intimidating. We are reminded of our closeness to Antartica. We start buying Vitamin D and layering up, and the conversation starter is often about how the mountain looks today, as it's mood will determine ours.

It's from this space of deep blues and greens that I think about the Larapinta trail- in just over a month we'll be immersed in the vibrant orange and sky blue of the desert, waking and walking and talking together for just over 17 days. It feels like the world will open up, and become simplified in a way. Of walking, of thinking and reflecting, and although its a tough slog to even get there, I just know it will be a life changing experience.

I'd like to thank everyone who has been supporting the Larapinta Adaptive adventure; from your encouragement and good wishes, information and map sharing to stumping up prizes or donating to the Pozible campaign (only 3 days left!), and publicity for the expedition. It feels good to know so many believe in the team and the film. So thank you.

I realise we have been a bit quiet over the last 3 weeks- this is because Paul P and the kids had to make an emergency trip to the UK, to farewell his beautiful, brave and adventurous mum Jean. We've had heavy but grateful hearts; Paul wrote a chapter about his fist climbing adventure (with his mum in Scotland) in The Mountain Path. It's so good she got to see it published, and for the world to know what a profound hand she had in shaping Paul.

I've been (trying) to keep the home fires burning and the Larapinta planning ticking along with the rest of the team (Go Team!). We're doing well! We've got everything in hand, and in fact we are preparing for an Abseil on Sunday with Aardvark Adventures. 

Thanks so much Phil, and to everyone who bought an Abseil through the Pozible campaign (still one place available!) We talked about the weather this morning- should be just under 2 degrees (Phil said 'Bewdy! Shorts weather!).But seriously, wrap up! Bring warm gear, pack wet weather gear, and don't worry- we have lunch SORTED.

 For those who booked, the details are below:

For The kunanyi Abseilers

The abseil is at the Springs Lookout on kunanyi/Mount Wellington, which is the blue dot/marker.  

The orange dot is the Lost Freight Cafe and toilet.  The blue dot is the car parking spot, it’s the overflow 

car park and only a 2 minute walk to the lookout/abseil.

• Meeting Date - Saturday 5th June.
• Meeting time - 10am. 
• Lunch provided (if anyone has any specific dietry requirement please shout out).
• It can get cold up there so please pack plenty of warm clothing and a rain jacket.
• If the weather is really bad we may have to postpone...

Again, our heartfelt thanks for your support.

Melinda, on behalf of the Larapinta Adaptive crew.

Woohoo! We've just reached $11,000

We are nearly there for the making of what we expect to be a ground-breaking film about disability. 

(c) Geoff Couser

With this film we aim not to pursue the well-worn Homeric narrative of heroes succeeding against all odds, for that is how many people with disabilities are cast. By trekking and limping and wheezing along Tjoritja we are saying those who have daily struggles: "It's ok to put your head above the parapet, even if you fail, you can have a go." 

And when I say have a go, I don't mean, struggle across a brutal desert! I mean it's OK to fight for inclusion, to speak up.

Think how society progresses!

https://www.pozible.com/profile/larapinta-adaptive 

The Sunday Tasmanian - May 7, 2022

Paul Pritchard and five others aim to be the first all-abilities team to walk the 237km spine of Tortja/West MacDonnell Ranges on the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory.

WALK TO TEST THE LIMITS By filming it, hopefully, someone who looks like us might realise that they're not alone and they can have a go because I think that matters 

PAUL Pritchard continues to test the limits of human endurance. The celebrated adventurer and disability educator has his sights set on a 237km walk along the demanding Larapinta Trail in the NT. with his team of six people hoping to become the first all-abilities group to tackle the entire spine of the Tjoritja/ West MacDonnell Ranges.

Left with hemiplegia following a terrible rockfall while climbing the Totem Pole off the Tasman Peninsula, Mr Pritchard has joined forces with Disability Voices Tasmania and the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania to produce a documentary and podcast series during the journey.

"I think it will be very impactful - we are planning to focus on how disabled people are not

unable," he said. "We're not saying "hey look at us, we're special!" because that would be a disservice to people with disabilities whose skills may lie in areas other than the physical.

"But by filming it, hopefully, someone who looks like us might realise that they're not alone and they can have a go because I think that matters."

Mr Pritchard said the team, which includes Tasmanian furniture designer Paul Allen, also wanted to address the state's 71 per cent underemployment rate for people with disabilities. The adventurers are close to reaching their fundraising goal to cover the costs of their filming equipment. The team will begin the three-week trek on July 5. Go to: www.pozible.com/profile/larapinta-adaptive

Get into the minds of our adventurers!

Look Out!! 

The two Pauls will be recording a Podcast series while on the trail. 

Destined to be funny, insightful, honest and heartwarming, hysterical and very human, The 

Appauling Podcast will document the conversations daily of life on the trail.

A bit like Jack Kerouac, but less articulate...and maybe less beatnik...and perhaps a bit happier...

well...maybe a bit more Australian...and in a podcast.

It's gonna be awesome!

Many thanks to Disability Voices Tasmania for the training, gear and encouragement.

Woohoo! We have broken 10K

Woohoo! We have broken 10K

We awoke this morning to see that Linda Seaborn had broken the 10k barrier by choosing The Mountain Path reward! Thank you very much for your kindness Linda and to all the other generous people who have supported us, really, we cannot thank you enough. 

We now have 28 days to raise about $2500. This looks very achievable but we mustn't be complacent. There are new rewards going up all the time, so please keep visiting our fundraising portal.

We have already been discussing the shape the film will take and are really looking forward to producing a unique doco that doesn't fall into the same holes as many other movies about disability. 

Here's to the upcoming month. Bring it on!

Paul.

 

7 Nightly News

The two Pauls featured on the news in Tasmania on the 4th May talking about Inclusion and adventure...