Troop Report - Troopertrek "Finale" Event, Sydney

[Anakinra]

Date: 31/03/2012

Venue:Blues Point Reserve, Sydney

Time:From 11.30a.m.

Mission: To show our support and solidarity as members of the 501st in Australia to one of our own, Jacob French, as he approaches the end of his amazing Troopertrek across Australia.

Trooper Attendance: Anakinra, Beanie, Buzzard, Cobra, DarkVoyd, Deltorn, Doc, Kev Vader, Moxxxie, Muppet, Phoenix, Tachyon

Support Crew: Lei, Mortogg, Sithprincess

Detail: See below.

Charity Funds Raised: N/A

Injuries:Minor sunburn and a few cases of dehydration due to the warm weather conditions and lack of shade.

Malfunctions:

Public Incidents:

Mission Status: A complete success! Although, Jacob still has to go back 300kms and finish his trek :O

Troopertrek "finale" event - the storybook version:

The Redback's descended on Sydney in style, as always, and showed our hard-working, no nonsense attitude from the get-go.




There were no cheesy movie scenes reenacted...







...no "modeling 101" moments...




...no commandeering children's play equipment...






...no slacking off on the job...



...no bith shenanigans...



...and definitely no smiling when the mood was serious...


We were there to honour this man, Jacob French.




At the age of 20, Jacob took on the challenge of walking across Australia in his Stormtrooper armour to raise funds and awareness for the Starlight Foundation. It meant walking 5000km, with his trusty buggy of supplies over four states. It meant walking 40kms a day, 5 days a week in hail, rain or blistering heat. It meant spending his 21st birthday alone on the nullarbor plain. It meant stopping all along the way for photos, media interviews and hospital visits. Jacob has accomplished so much on his epic journey, definitely impressing the public and raising awareness for both the Starlight Foundation and the 501st Legion and has currently raised over $90,000. He's even got his mug on a vegemite jar:

This weekend marked the proposed finale to Jacob's amazing trek. As it turned out, Jacob was still 300kms from his finish line but was flown in to attend the photo shoot and afterparty! Members from TAG, SCG and RBG - the three Australian 501st Garrisons - were proud to attend and see Jacob over his "almost" finish line at the Blues Point Reserve, with stunning views of the Sydney Harbour. And we celebrated with Jacob, both for his Troopertrek journey and his belated 21st, long into the night.










Our Emperor did his best to leave Sydney with a momento of his visit.

But these guys were on hand to keep all unauthorised force usage in check.


We know that even though he may look a little bit like this when he's finished...

...Jabob's totally got this :D



Edited to add...photo sources from some of our awesome photographers:
Mortogg's
Obickay's
Sithprincess'
Sarah's

and a link to Phoenix's Jacob finale tribute: