The students are part of the Youth Team Building and Leadership Development Program which is supported through the Cootamundra Safety Precinct Committee.

Abseiling down the quarry face coincides with the group’s orienteering exercise at Pioneer Park earlier this year.

Involved in the adrenalin pumping exercise were Alex Trinder, Tommy Connell, Katie Perry, Cody Luke, Noah Trickett, David Garness and Jay White.

Before the group were able to step one foot off the wall to abseil down they were given some basic training and prepped by Des Rowe from the Cootamundra State Emergency Service and Don Ray from the Wagga SES Division.

To abseil down the quarry sounds easier than the task actually is, with SES members Don and Des spending three hours finding the ideal location to abseil down and removing loose rocks and then ensuring the area was safe for two hours before the students arrived.

Des said four sites were tried before the location was chosen.

“We originally wanted the students to abseil down into the quarry water, however due to safety reasons this wasn’t achievable and another site wall was chosen,” Des said.

Cootamundra Local Area Command, Youth Liaison Officer, Senior Constable Joe Camilleri who is also part of the Cootamundra Safety Precinct Committee said he is hopeful the Youth Team Building and Leadership Development Program will continue to host activities like abseiling again next year and become an annual program then after.

The day was made possible thanks to grant money from NRMA and Department of Housing.