Skydiving to surmount fears

By Sally Zou
THERE is a good reason why Amy McCall’s Year 5 and 6 students think she’s crazy.
Each weekend, the 27-year-old Warrugal resident can be found at Tooradin’s Commando Skydivers jumping out of a plane at up to 14,000 feet above the ground.
Amy set out to achieve her childhood dream of flying on her first tandem skydive when she was on a holiday in New Zealand last year. When she came back to Melbourne she went on her second dive, before enrolling in a jump course in November.
“I was extremely nauseous on my first tandem. I don’t like flying above water and I had a fear of heights when I was younger,” Amy said.
“The instructor had me sitting at the front of the aircraft which was even more terrifying, he then pulled open the door and yelled out ‘go’. I was so nervous that when I went to go, my body flopped over the edge whereas you’re supposed to keep your body straight.”
Amy nearly quit after her sixth jump, when she landed in a drainage ditch near a barbed wire fence.
“I honestly think something is going to go wrong on every jump, and my stomach always feels sick,” Amy said.
“But if you aren’t afraid, it’s time to leave because you have to be afraid to be aware of the dangers.”
For Amy, however, the benefits and personal achievements she has gained since participating in this dangerous sport far outweigh the risks.
Skydiving has enabled her to get rid of other fears in her life, and gain confidence around others and in working as a teacher.
It may be hard to believe now, but Amy said she was hardly a confident person before she began skydiving.
“I was always reluctant to put my hand up and volunteer myself for things. I didn’t like going to parties and it wasn’t easy when it came to meeting new people,” said Amy.
Luckily, she also has the support of her family and friends.
“My parents are quite scared, but they’re supportive because they’ve seen how good it has been for me,” said Amy.
Having almost skydived for a year now, Amy has been learning how to do formations in the air with her friends at Commando Skydivers.
“The feeling of joy you get when you land with a friend, like nobody else in the world just experienced what we did…that shared experience is amazing,” Amy said.
Amy plans to combine her passion for skydiving and photography in the future and is already thinking about an even riskier activity, BASE jumping, but ensured that it would be “years and years” away before she would try it.
“The risk is worth it. The thrill reminds you of how precious life is,” said Amy.
“It gives me a reason to live and no matter what kind of week you’ve had, it always picks you up.”