THIS morning we went out to the Territory Wildlife Park, which was a good opportunity for us to do something a little bit different in Darwin.
It was good seeing a snake trying to strangle Peter Street, and then see photos of Murph (Robert Murphy) with an eagle sitting on his arm. The boys really enjoyed it, seeing the crocs and that sort of stuff.
It's good fun – we had the school groups out there with us as well, so we followed them around and tried to entertain the kids along the way.
In the aquarium, there's a glass walkway where you can see different types of marine life. It was amazing. You don't know what to expect when you go to these sorts of places, and what you're going to see. It blows you away in the end.
The kids were really good, but I think they most enjoyed doing the footy stuff towards the end when we held a bit of a clinic.
In the afternoon, Scott West and myself were taken aboard HMAS Pirie, for something very different. We had the opportunity to have a tour around the ship, and it was great.
I wasn't one who considered a military career when I was growing up – it was always all about sport for me, sports teaching, sports management, all those sorts of thing.
But, it's amazing how high-tech it all is, and to meet all the crew was good as well as see how they all live.
They've just returned from eight weeks at sea, so it was good to find out how they operate. It was pretty educational and you can take a fair bit away from it.
They go out to sea for six to eight weeks. They go out for eight days straight, come in for two, and they do that for that whole period. So, it's a good effort to be able to do that.
It was a highlight to see them work all their equipment, although we didn't get to fire the gun. It was interesting to hear how they've had to use it all at certain times. It shows the courage they must have, and the situations they must encounter when they're out at sea.
After hearing all of that, I don't think the navy is really for me. But, it's a challenge for someone. If someone wants to take that on and they love that sort of stuff, then go for it.
One of the navy guys was asked what the wage is for a first year sailor, but it's got nothing to do with that. That should never come into it – they love what they do, and we love what we do.
That's what it comes down to, and you've got to enjoy it. If you enjoy it, then you'll give the best you've got and that's what they certainly live by as well. It was good to hear that.
For the rest of the day, we have physio and a bit of treatment, and then we have a team dinner before a meeting where we'll go through a few things.
It's a pretty busy night ahead, with all that sort of stuff, and then we'll get up nice and early and do a few more things tomorrow. You stay busy, but I think that's a good thing so we don't just laze around.
It's always good to come away with the guys, and you do get a little bit of relax time, which is good. It's also a good environment for us, because everyone is together and during the pre-season, we're only really together for the main training sessions.
To step away with the guys, especially the newer guys, is a good opportunity to get to know them on a different level.
