Outback 8

4.00pm monday / NOVEMBER 17

As any good coach will tell you, it’s impossible for any team to excel in every game. This week the Jackaroo’s definitely have one of the most challenging days in their journey so far.

It begins with Tony organising another trial muster. He has to decide in the coming days who he’ll pick to be the Lead Jackaroo in the final muster. It’s a tough choice as this person isn’t necessarily the best rider, but needs strong leadership skills. Which one of the Outback 8 will get the job?

To try to make a decision he gives Tamara the first crack at doing the job on the trial muster but unfortunately the day doesn’t go smoothly and it’s absolute chaos. Not helped by the fact Maisie is as grumpy as ever. Dave takes charge and two of the Outback 8 get a real talking to!

4.00pm monday / NOVEMBER 10

The Outback 8 are split up as they get on with preparations for the Longreach Show. It's hard yakka all round!

Unfortunately for two of the eight, they get off to a bad start. Doug fails to shine with animals and gets pushed around by his bull Carlton. John, the Head Cattlemaster is not impressed! And while practising her horse patterns for the horse event, Maisie's pride is bruised and so is her bottom, when she falls off her horse.

As a result Doug and Maisie have to attend an intense riding practice session with Tony. It works a treat for Maisie who regains her confidence. Unfortunately Doug has a 'shocking' time, literally, when he backs his horse right into an electric fence.

4.00pm MONDAY / NOVEMBER 3

4.00pm MONDAY / OCTOBER 27

The Outback 8 arrive in Winton- Queensland, and discover their first challenge of the day is to compete in one of the town's local annual traditions- The Dunny Derby. The 8 are broken up into their respective nations and are given the task to decorate their dunnies. At each stage of the derby, the rider must jump from the dunny and perform a task before heading to the next stage. It’s a riotous event.

After lunch the Outback 8 are told they will be camping out that night. They are split into separate groups, girls and boys, to see who can best prepare for the campout. Each team is given $40 to buy provisions. There is no surprise the next morning when the winner of the camping challenge is announced.

4.00pm MONDAY / OCTOBER 20

Today is shearing day as the Outback 8 visit a working cattle and sheep station. The eight drench and tag the sheep, a process to inoculate them from ticks and provide identification. To everyone’s surprise, one of smaller sized eight proves to be the best shearer.

4.00pm MONDAY / OCTOBER 13

Dawn rises for the Outback 8 with a new morning regime followed by an ever bigger surprise- a mini-muster of two dozen cattle. There is apprehension amongst the group as it seems like a massive task, but Riding Instructor Tony assures them they're ready.

The 8 have to ride across rough terrain. It's their first chance to work as a team and Tony teaches them the different roles and responsibilities each must play in a muster.

The afternoon lesson is messy - to say the least! The Outback 8 must help Tony perform a very necessary part of a cattle person's job - to pregnancy test cows. The kids react with disgust and they get covered in cow poo! Not an episode to miss!

Today's lesson is Outback Survival. A good jackaroo needs to be prepared in case of any emergency and learn First Aid, snake identification, orienteering and bush tucker. Local rangers bring three snakes found in the area for the children to identify. First is a olive python, which each of the children is able to hold. Some are excited, but a few are apprehensive. They believe every snake is dangerous, but this python is proving they can also be a beautiful creature that deserves respect and caution.

It’s a long day and to some, too much like school lessons. Each of the children is given their swag, or as Ingrid calls them, 'a bedroom in a bag'. It's confronting for the English girls who, again, didn't foresee camping on the menu when they signed up for this experience.

4.00PM monday / september 29

Episode Two begins with the Outback 8 being woken before sunrise. It's their first lesson: you must feed your animals before you feed yourself. So when the mentors pound on the dorm doors, they are met with startled looks, grumbling and groaning but eventually they make it to the stables.

Today's major lessons will involve cattle. A cow will generally move forward when something enters its flight zone. The first flight zone lesson involves moving a calf clockwise in the yard around a central obstacle. Doug struggles as his technique involves standing in one place and yelling. Tamara is frightened, but eventually gets the hang of it. Jack's boxing footwork comes to the fore when a headstrong beast tries to get past him. Maisie has a go and finds the task too easy proclaiming 'it’s a waste of my energy!'