Day 5 took the ANZAC Way pilgrims deeper into the Brindabellas, and it was a proper tough day.
The group started on Two Sticks Track and it did not take long before the country started testing them. There was plenty of climbing, rough rocky ground, cold weather, and sections where the track was not always obvious.
By the end of the day, the group was up on Mount Coree, rugged up in beanies and jackets, watching the sun go down across the valleys.
It was hard going.
But it was also one of those days where the purpose of the walk became very real.
A Hard Climb Through the Brindabellas
Tim, a Defence veteran walking with the group, summed up the day pretty honestly.
The climb was steep, the terrain was rough, and at times the group was pushing through country where the track was hard to follow. It was the kind of walking that makes people concentrate. No autopilot. No easy rhythm. Just steady effort.
By the time they reached Mount Coree, the cold had really set in.
Tim said the hardest part was the rocky ground and the need to keep pushing on after a few big days already.
“It was really cutting through rocky terrain and just pushing on. A couple of days into the journey, it’s increased every day. So it was that mental preparedness to keep spurring each other on and keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
That line fits the day well.
One foot in front of the other.
Some days that is all you can do. And some days, that is enough.
Getting Through It Together
One of Tim’s best moments was not about the view or the destination.
It was watching people help each other.
"As the terrain got harder, people started stepping outside their comfort zones. There was fear at times. There was physical effort. There were obstacles to get over and sections that took a bit of courage.
But no one was left to do it alone."
People encouraged each other, helped each other over the rough sections, and kept the group moving.
That is one of the good things about a pilgrimage like this. You learn pretty quickly that it is not just about your own strength. It is about the people beside you as well.
And thankfully, there was still plenty of humour.
Tim said the team banter had been strong all day. The funny moment came early, as the group was leaving Brindabella Lodge and ran into a herd of cows blocking the road.
No amount of horn tooting seemed to move them in a hurry.
So the group had to wait while Jill tried to negotiate a way through the cows.
Not exactly a planned part of the route, but very Australian.
Where Do We Need God to Walk With Us?
The theme for the day was:
A New Old Way – God Comes Near
As they walked, the pilgrims were reflecting on a simple question:
Where do we most need God, or Jesus, to walk with us in our lives?
Tim said some of the most meaningful moments of the day came through conversations with other pilgrims along the track.
It was not just about needing God when things are hard. And it was not only about recognising God when things are going well.
The real challenge was to think about the ordinary middle ground as well — those parts of life where nothing dramatic is happening, but you still have to keep going.
The steady days.
The tired days.
The days where it is just one foot in front of the other.
For Tim, the day’s takeaway was simple:
“Look for Jesus in all situations.”
That landed pretty strongly by the time the group reached Mount Coree.
Standing there at sunset, looking out across the Brindabella valleys, it was not hard to feel the scale and beauty of the place.
A big landscape has a way of making people quiet.
And in that quiet, the day’s theme made sense.
God comes near.
Remembering the Battle of the Coral Sea
The military reflection for Day 5 was the Battle of the Coral Sea, fought in May 1942.
That battle helped stop the Japanese advance toward Port Moresby and was an important part of protecting Australia’s northern approaches.
It was also a reminder that service is rarely carried alone. It depends on courage, trust, teamwork, endurance, and people doing their part under pressure.
That fitted well with the day.
The pilgrims were not facing a battle, of course. But they were walking through hard country, carrying the stories of service and sacrifice with them, and relying on one another to keep moving.
The link was simple enough.
Hard ground is easier when people walk together.
The Day’s Simple Lesson
The Day’s Simple Lesson
Day 5 was cold, steep, rocky, and hard on the legs.
It was also full of good conversation, team banter, encouragement, and one very stubborn herd of cows.
The day finished on Mount Coree, with the pilgrims looking out across the Brindabellas as the sun went down.
Tim’s reflection probably says it best:
Look for Jesus in all situations.
When the track is clear.
When the track disappears.
When the climb bites.
When the view opens up.
When all you can do is keep going.
That was Day 5.
A hard day on the track.
A good day with the team.
And a quiet reminder that God comes near.
