Treverton College learners were up early on Saturday June 21, to celebrate the Winter Solstice; the southern hemisphere’s shortest day of the year!
For those who bundled up in layers of clothes over their bathing costumes, the dark surrounding them, suggested that it would be a very short day.
In Mooi River’s freezing temperatures, they ran down to the College’s dam, where cheerful bonfires burning brightly.
The daring swimmers abandoned their outer coverings and bravely plunged into the freezing dam water, while others hesitated at the final moment and were encouraged by their peers shivering in the low-temperature water.
Once out, they huddled in towels in front of the warm fires and finally pulled on their clothes to make their way back to the boarding houses, and a hopeful hot shower!
The learners were joined by members of staff, some who make the pilgrimage to take part every year, in the annual Crazy Bear event. The Crazy Bear is the special traditional event of the yearlong Polar Bear programme for which learners receive a certificate and earn their Polar Bear Award for Outdoor Pursuits, if they can sustain a year of plunging into the dam once a week.
This year, was bitter sweet for Mr Zac Graham, who has been the Master-in-Charge of Polar Bear for 15 years and has been responsible for the enthusiastic way the pupils view the activity.
It was his swansong as he retires from teaching at the end of the year.
Among the staff that joined the throngs of “crazy” swimmers was Ms Ces Idas; the veteran housemother of Lind House who also retires at the end of 2014, after 31 years at the College.