Climbing with Purpose – Day 6 of The ANZAC Way
Date: 16 April 2025
Route: Adelong → Tumut (23 km | 5.5 hrs | 500m ascent)
This leg of the journey tested our resolve and lifted our spirits. Leaving the gold rush charm of Adelong behind, we set off into the hills—23 kilometres of rugged backroads and forested climbs, slowly ascending through State Forest country on Tumut’s edge. With 500 metres of elevation gained, it wasn’t just a physical warm-up for the Brindabella Ranges tomorrow—it was a reminder that remembrance sometimes requires effort.
Later in the day, we paused for a moving service at the Tumut Cenotaph, where Chaplain Cam West offered prayers and reflections that grounded us in purpose. We are not just walking to remember; we’re walking to honour lives given, stories lived, and futures shaped by courage.
The Tumut RSL Sub-Branch opened its doors and hearts to us. There, amidst photographs and medals, we encountered the legacy of Edward John Francis ‘Jack’ Ryan VC—a local lad whose bravery in 1918 near Montbrehain, France earned him the Victoria Cross. Under fire, he charged enemy machine gun posts, disarmed them, and turned the tide of the battle. His story stirred something deep in us all.
We’re especially grateful to RADM Rachel Durbin for her ongoing support and to our generous hosts at the Oriental Hotel, who welcomed us with warm meals and even warmer hospitality.
Tonight we rest well. Tomorrow brings our first campsite at Thomas Boyd Track Head, via Lacmalac. The road gets steeper, the reception patchier—but our mission is steady as ever.
