Bushwalking News Victoria February 2011
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Bushwalking News Victoria February 2011 Diamond Valley Bushwalkers at a Grampians Base Camp, November 2010 (Photo: Ian Bates) Contributions Inside this issue... Email or post news, views, club Walking and Talking with your Do you know who Ned was? .............8 profiles, articles, photographs, President.......................................... 2 Cattle Grazing Returns in Victorian sketches and letters on any Position Vacant—Bushwalking National Parks: subject of interest to bushwalkers Victoria Auditor.................................3 Professor Mark Adams (subject to editorial approval) to: New Map—Tali Karng-Moroka ..........4 —brief profile..............................4 Some Things to Look Forward to: From the President of [email protected] Bushwalking Victoria...................9 or 2011 Federation Day Walk..........4 2012 Federation Weekend..........4 Help Stop Alpine Cattle Grazing 24 Moorhouse Street – It’s a Park Not a Paddock.......10 Camberwell Victoria 3124 Club Anniversaries............................5 A Selection of Articles from Regent Honeyeater Project Deadline for the March edition: Newspapers: —2010 Report..................................6 The Age........................... 11, 12 Monday, 14 February 2011 Bushwalking Environment: The Border Mail .....................13 The statements and opinions Track Maintenance Reports ........6 Weekly Times........................13 expressed in articles are those of the Track Maintenance Program .......7 BSAR Searches..............................14 author and do not necessarily Invitation To Join a 5-day Activity On the Track: represent the views or position of in the Baw Baw NP.....................7 Grand Strzelecki Track..............14 Bushwalking Victoria. BEC Report................................7 News from DSE ........................14 Editor: Joslin Guest Control Dieback Threat ...............8 Grampians Peak Trail................15 Sun and Moon..................................6 Who’s Who at Bushwalking Victoria.16 Issue No. 212 $1.20 Bushwalking News Victoria February 2011 WALKING AND TALKING WITH YOUR PRESIDENT Floods Leadership Forum As I write this column, the flood crisis in northern and The Leadership Forum replaces the annual Presidents’ western Victoria is still unfolding, with many households, Day, with the leadership team (ie. the president, vice towns and farms inundated and many, many more facing president, secretary and treasurer) of each club being the same prospect. Elaine and I can really relate to what invited to attend. The forum will be a fantastic opportunity the flood victims are facing, as 22 years ago, six weeks to learn about the work undertaken by Bushwalking after we were married, we were the victims of a flash flood Victoria and member clubs, and to contribute ideas and that inundated our unit to a depth of over a metre at 2am. opinions that will build a stronger and more successful The immediate impact for all those with flooded homes Bushwalking Victoria and club network. More details will and properties will be days, if not weeks, of hard physical be provided directly to clubs in coming months. work to sort through belongings, and clean away the mud The inaugural Leadership Forum will be held in Melbourne and other debris borne in on the flood water. Anyone who on Saturday 18 June 2011, and we ask all club has been through a flood will also never forget the smell of committees to pencil this date into their calendars now. dampness, mould and putrefying matter. We know that the financial and emotional effects of the flooding will be Virtual Communication Channels keenly felt long after the water has receded and homes Many of our member clubs have a website and many also and belongings are clean once more. use Email as a useful tool to communicate with their Elaine and I join with all of the bushwalking community in members and committee. However a scan of club extending our thoughts and sympathies to all those websites reveals a wide range in quality, affected. comprehensiveness and currency of information provided and a diverse range of designs. This demonstrates to me The Year Ahead that there is a need for Bushwalking Victoria to provide Improving Communication advice and assistance to clubs to help them create and maintain an effective Web presence and to make better The current Bushwalking Victoria governance structure of and more efficient use of Email. a board of management was introduced in 2007 at the same time as the organisation changed its name from the Bushwalking Victoria currently doesn't have the capacity or Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs. Under the previous capability to do this on its own. However I am hopeful that structure, a council of delegates from all member clubs during coming months this situation will change. governed the organisation. An advantage of the old Outdoor Recreation Centre Review structure was good communication channels between the organisation and member clubs—at least with those clubs In November and December 2010 an external consultant that were able to send a delegate to council. While the conducted a strategic review of the Outdoor Recreation current structure provides a much better way to manage Centre (ORC). Bushwalking Victoria is a founding member our activities, it does make communication with our 64 of the ORC and we have been involved in the ORC member clubs and their members much more of a committee of management for many years. The ORC is challenge. In this day and age of rapid change, quick and also the landlord for our office at Recreation House at effective communication is vital for all organisations, Westerfolds Park. The ORC is the 'central hub' for all including Bushwalking Victoria. While the World Wide Web providers of outdoor recreation-based activities within and Email are important tools in this regard, personal face- Victoria, such as educational institutions, camps, to-face communication is still much more effective. commercial providers and not-for-profit organisations like Bushwalking Victoria and Orienteering Victoria. The In 2011 Bushwalking Victoria intends to introduce a consultant’s report was delivered in mid-December and number of initiatives to help address these communication contains a range of hard-hitting findings and challenges. The new initiatives include a club visit recommendations for very significant changes to the ORC, program, a Leadership Forum and improved use of the some of which are likely to impact on Bushwalking World Wide Web and electronic communication channels. Victoria. The report is not yet available to the public and Club Visit Program both Sport and Recreation Victoria and the ORC committee are discussing what happens next. I will expand The club visit program involves each member club being on this topic when the details can be made public. visited by a Board member or office bearer. The visit could be to a club meeting, club walk or be a specially organised Are you the next BWV Secretary? event. These visits will provide an opportunity for all Bushwalking Victoria will be looking for a new Secretary to concerned to discuss issues and ideas and to share take over from Val Wake, the current incumbent, following information. Each club will be contacted directly to arrange the AGM to be held on 18 June this year. Val commenced a visit. in the role at the 2008 AGM and as Bushwalking Victoria’s 2 Bushwalking News Victoria February 2011 rules limit office bearers to a maximum term of three years, and enthusiastic group of people and will be able to she must vacate the position at the 2011 AGM. contribute to the development of Victorian bushwalking and bushwalking clubs. If you have a passion for The duties and responsibilities of the Bushwalking Victoria bushwalking, a desire to make a difference, enthusiasm Secretary differ from those typically associated with a and new ideas, or you know of someone in your club who secretary as the role is more about compliance rather than you think fits the bill, I would be very happy to hear from traditional administration responsibilities (eg. the Secretary you. is not responsible for minute taking) though there are still some of these. Chris Towers Of course the pay is terrible—ie. there isn't any—however See also my article about the return of cattle grazing to the the rewards are many, as you get to work with a dedicated Alpine National Park on page 9. POSITION VACANT Bushwalking Victoria – Auditor Our current auditor is moving interstate and we are looking for a replacement. The Bushwalking Victoria financial year is from 1 April to 31 March. Consequently the annual audit is performed during April each year. The accounts are maintained on MYOB, so experience with this software would be desirable. Formal accounting qualifications are not a prerequisite but would be an advantage. If you are interested in making a valuable contribution towards bushwalking in Victoria and good governance by Bushwalking Victoria please contact me on 94397092 or at [email protected] Fred Bover Treasurer, Bushwalking Victoria Bushwalking News Victoria Advertising Rates 1/6 page advertisement $26.25 Note: Advertisements must be artwork ready 1/4 page advertisement $42.00 * Advertiser to supply 300 printed inserts each edition. 1/3 page advertisement $52.50 Advertising is welcome but insertion is subject to the Editor's 1/2 page advertisement $78.75 discretion. Products or services advertised in this publication Full page advertisement $157.50 are not endorsed or