By DANIELLE GALVIN
IT’S a case of ‘unfinished business’ for Team Wombat as part of this year’s Oxfam Trail Walker event.
From 19-21 April, a group of local businessmen from Berwick and Beaconsfield will walk alongside 750 other teams from Wheelers Hill to Wesburn within 48 hours.
This year will be the 11th event for accountant Stephen Scorgie and he will be joined by Mick Molloy, Dennis Nish, and Dave Paynter from Queensland.
Mr Paynter has trekked the Kokoda Track, so the Melbourne crew are training hard in preparation for the event.
“We did eight and a quarter hours through Woori Yallock and we did the walking trail from the McRae Lighthouse to Cape Schanck Lighthouse – they have been our two big ones,” Mr Scorgie said.
“Myself and Mick did the Run for the Kids a couple weeks ago.”
And as for Mr Nish, he’s participated in 34 of the past 35 Melbourne marathons.
“I think that’s the only reason I’m in the team – employ someone old and silly,” he joked.
Last year, Mr Molloy didn’t quite finish the event, hence the motto for the boys this time around.“Around the 70 kilometre mark is where you start getting casualties,” he said.
“It is both physically and mentally exhausting.
“It’s the second time around for me, that’s why we are calling it ‘unfinished business’, that’s our motto.”
But the real motivation for Team Wombat isn’t about finishing the event on time or setting records, it’s about giving back and fund-raising for people around the world living in poverty.
So far they have pledged $3000 and raised $2000 of that.
“There are 750 teams who all donate in some sort of fashion, so lots of money is donated to a good charity,” Mr Scorgie said.
“Dennis and Dave are rookies to the event, however both are very well credentialed.
“The Wombats completed the event last year in 23 hours 48 minutes.
“We hope this year to go two hours quicker and have a crack at the over 50s category in the event.”
To donate to the team, visit trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/team/home/13359.
