During their first week, they visited HMAS Stirling, the biggest naval base in Australia, and were guests of the Australian Special Forces Regiment where some insight was gained into survival in the Australian bush.

On 24^th September 2005 the contingent joined their Australian contemporaries for a five-day expedition into the Australian hinterland at Bindoon. Prior to setting off, the party learned to construct rough shelters ("hootchies" in Ozzie parlance), were instructed in navigation peculiar to the Southern hemisphere and were advised on the types and dangers of encounters with the local wild life - Australia being home to most of the world’s poisonous snakes and having a roll-call of some fairly vicious spiders!

The UK cadets were distributed amongst small groups of their Australian colleagues to ensure there was a mix of local experience and visitors. This worked extremely well. For the next five days the cadets worked together navigating through the bush, preparing night shelters, cooking meals and generally co-operating. Both sides were immensely impressed with the knowledge, skills and stamina of the other.

Of course, the weather turned unseasonably cold and the expected dry, balmy 25º C turned to 10º C with persistent rain. This was a disappointment to the Brits who had anticipated returning with a suntan. However, the lack of "rays" did not phase the Surrey cadets who were well used to the UK climate and who non-plussed their Australian counterparts by throwing off their "cold weather" clothing whenever the rain stopped.

There were some hairy moments mainly due to medical emergencies – a gall-bladder problem that required a casevac – and the inevitable insect bites that caused limbs to swell unbelievably! Putting these aside the expedition was trouble free, the biggest nuisance being tics, which had a penchant for invading the most intimate areas of the body.

At the end of the expedition, the cadets returned to Bindoon wet, bedraggled and ready for a well-earned bush shower (cold water out of a tin can sprinkler) and some rest. Later, they linked up with the remainder of the WAACC for a parade and march past as the culmination of their week in the bush.

Leaving the delights of Bindoon, the contingent returned to Leeuwin Barracks where they packed and headed East for the fleshpots of Sydney and a memorable day in Canberra. On 8^th October 2005, jetlagged, weary but wiser the Surrey contingent arrived home full of outrageous stories and plans to return to Australia in the future.