Ben Trewren feels most at home when he's in the middle of absolutely nowhere. It's a state of mind he describes as the 300km zone - where the nearest town or city is at least 300km away or many, many hours drive. As a logistics manager and youth worker with Operation Flinders, Ben and his dedicated co-workers and band of volunteers, are focused on creating opportunities for young people facing challenges, by offering them a range of outback adventure therapy programs. But Ben's passion for outdoor adventures also found him working as an outback tour guide and bus driver between Alice Springs and Adelaide back in 2015 - which is how he ended up wrestling a Mulga tree and coming off second best. This is the story of 'Mulga Ben'.
In this entertaining episode #103 of the Flying Doctor Podcast, Ben describes how a quick bus stopover to gather firewood for his group's campfire, soon ended with his arm becoming paralysed. Ben later learned that there is a rich and diverse indigenous history of the local Aṉangu people's use of the Mulga wood - both for its medicinal properties, as well as for its potential to paralyse animals during a hunt. Which may be why a seemingly 'tiny' puncture wound to Ben's elbow quickly led to him losing any movement in his arm and elbow and an eventual flight on an RFDS plane from Yulara (Uluru) to Alice Springs.
While Ben now has full use of his arm again, he's still pretty wary around the Australian outback's prolific Mulga tree population! But his love and passion for outdoor adventures, bushwalking and navigation is as strong as ever - as he works closely with young people from all around Australia, through his current role with Operation Flinders. These days, you'll regularly find Ben (and his elbow) mentoring young people on Adnyamathanha Country at Yankaninna Station, in the far northern Flinders Ranges - and introducing a whole new generation to the beauty, the diversity and the potential dangers of remote, outback exploration.
