UpClose: Tuning in to adventure

THE Bavarian Beerfest earlier this month has provided Cameron with the opportunity to catch up with new friends, after spending Christmas in Tenterfield’s sister-city of Ottobeuren.

Cameron was born in Tenterfield in 1989, with golf taking up most of his time through high school. He played in a number of junior state championships, and most weekends were dedicated to travelling to tournaments close and far.

Cameron managed to get his golfing handicap down to four during his playing days, and says he had would be looking to regain his high level after renewing his membership at the Tenterfield Golf Club this year.

After school, golf started to take a backseat as music became Cameron’s new passion. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was 16, but never braved singing until it was too hard for his local band to find a singer.

Cameron says he still gets nervous singing five years on, but believes he has improved over the years.

In October last year, after saving up enough money, he decided to travel overseas on a solo journey across Europe.

“I didn’t go overseas for any real reason, it’s just one of those things people should do,” Cameron says.

He says he had now been bitten by the travel bug and would definitely travel again when the time was right.

Cameron stayed in hostels all across Europe and says that was the best way to meet new people.

“You stay with eight people that you don’t know, but by the end of the night you’re partying,” he says.

“Travelling by yourself, you’re forced into meeting people.”

Cameron stayed in Ottobeuren in the Bavarian region of Germany for six weeks, meeting most of the band that performed in Tenterfield earlier this month.

He says he already knew a few members of the band from their visit to Tenterfield for the 2009 Beerfest.

Cameron described the town of Ottobeuren as similar to Tenterfield in that everyone seemed to know everyone else.

After Germany, he travelled through England to visit London and saw a few musicals in the world-renowned theatre district of West End.