Years ago there was less of occupational health and safety demands on schools and whilst one might question the safety, there did not seem a focus or anxiety about taking a few risks when out and about with children. One such adventure was on a school camp at Portsea and what a wonderful place that was to feel a sense of freedom with the children on camp.

One such day, we were walking casually back from the beach. It had been a long day with extended walks, beach games and plenty of happy swimming in water possibly a little rough, but the children could all swim. We were confident to let them spontaneously dive in the water from time to time. Such a calm and steady day it seemed until we, the teachers turned the corner into the camp.

Suddenly we were bombarded with eggs. The children had situated themselves above where we walked and were pelting eggs all over us. The sticky uncomfortable feeling only seemed to ease for a second and then another pelting of eggs came. We were being rained upon by oozing, smelly eggs.

No surprise the children swiftly disappeared into various cracks in the camp. The shocked and wet teachers dripping with yellow egg went off to the shower and quickly retreated into their rooms.

The rest of the afternoon was very quiet and carried with it a sense of anticipated consequences. But nothing was said. It was like the calm before an immense storm that would shock the entire camp.

The teachers gathered just before dinner and discussions were held about how to respond to such an unanticipated attack. What kind of revenge could the staff carry out and still maintain their dignity. The afternoon moved into dinner time and still no statement from the teachers. Whispers abounded with the students that the consequences would be swift and perhaps involve their parents.

Thoughts were: ‘Are we having to tell our parents? Does this mean we lose our free time at school? After all, it was only eggs’. So many anxious thoughts were alive in the camp. But still, the teachers did nothing. The silence was deafening!

That night as the children retired to their room, all the teachers instructed the children to leave their sneakers outside the room to air. This would ensure they dried quicker in the warm air and would be more comfortable to wear in the morning. Certainly a sensible response to a wet beach day.

The children did what they were told and retired still feeling vulnerable and somewhat guilty now that their teachers seemed to be so understanding of their egg prank.

But the night moved on and morning came. Slowly the children opened their cabin door to find no shoes. They had all disappeared. How strange but soon all was revealed. The shoes had been tied to limbs of a tree. There they were dangling from their shoe laces and certainly not in pairs.

The teachers sat beneath the trees and smiling in a very contorted way instructed them to get their shoes. This was the payback! Unlacing knotted shoes tied to limbs of trees was now the price to be paid. Justice was being dealt out with cunning and a dash of humour. Sweet revenge!

It took at least two hours for the derangement to finish and the teachers ate their breakfast while watching the struggles and frustration of their students.

Not one word was spoken by the teachers after that and the children knew that they had suffered the fate of their teacher’s wrath.

What I should have mentioned is that those children were so bonded to their teachers. I have heard that years afterwards the students would tell the tale with such affection and admiration for their teachers who just knew how to play the game.

Some may say that it was too risky asking those children to climb the tree. I would say that we now live in a world where over protection has limited how and what is done in the classroom and beyond. A few adventures with our students leads to deeper and more enriching relationships. It brings the fun into what should be a learning experience with substance.