APRIL 2009 PRESIDENT’S REPORT ISSUE No. 39 Inside this issue……. 7th of February 2009…The In the coming months we may be venturing President’s Report 1 day that has been dubbed back into the fringes of the areas that were BWV President’s Report 2 Black Saturday was my burnt. As the bush recovers we need to 5 Minute Chocolate birthday and this is one appreciate what we have and respect it. Mug Cake 2 birthday I will remember for In Case Of Emergency 3 a long time to come. Devas- The fires and their effects are likely to linger Where We Walked 3 tating bush fires surrounded Melbourne and for quite a while. We live in a country of Basic Navigation Course 3 a lot of the areas we loved to bushwalk in extremes and these fires have written a Point Nepean 4 had been ravaged by wildfires. I cringed as chapter in our nation’s history. Lal Lal Falls 4 the list of townships and communities were Mt Buninyong 4 read out on the radio, the areas covered by Moving forward, if there is anything we can Mt Charlie & fire and the people lost. do to help the areas affected, then we will do Mt Teneriffe 4 what we can. Karijini National Park 4 Because we live in a CFA district we also Firth Park Circuit 5 monitor the CFA activity on a scanner and it There are still lots of areas to go walking in Shanklands Wetlands 5 was amazing the swiftness with which the and we have the ability to adapt our program Lerderderg Gorge/Razorback fires took hold. to suit. Our leaders have a great wealth of Track/Whiskey Creek 5 knowledge to draw on and they will most Mt Sugarloaf 5 We thought of the people we know in the certainly have walks in areas we have not Chewton 5 affected areas and the hope that the fires visited for a long time. You Yangs/Branding Yard could be contained before more destruction Track 6 could ensure. To those people we know and This year we will not be holding Christmas Long Forest 6 those affected I send our best wishes. Our in July, in order to retain membership fees at Possum Track/ condolences to those who have lost loved the current level. The Committee will con- Wombat State Forest 6 ones. tinue to subsidise the year end Christmas Lerderderg Long Point 6 function. Brisbane Ranges/ As a result of the fires, several parks and Steiglitz/Graham Creek 6 prime bushwalking areas are likely to be Till next we meet, remember, everywhere is In Memory 6 closed or unavailable for bushwalking for within walking distance if you have the Middle Gully/Lerderderg some time. time. State Park 7 Healthy Banana Bread 7 The areas most affected are Kinglake, RED ALERT! Bushwalking Victoria 7 Marysville, Lake Mountain, Bunyip State Nest Boxes For Park, Murrindindi, Mt Disappointment, Rare Species 8 which directly impacts the 75th anniversary MEMBERSHIP FEE RENEWAL Emergency Markers 9 Federation day walks, Cathedral Range and 75th Anniversary Walk 9 Wilson's Prom. Bush Search & Rescue A reminder that the annual Victoria 10 Walking tracks severely impacted are Free- Membership Fee of $35 is due in How Far We Walked 10 man's Mill, Richards Tramline, The great May 2009. Sunrise & Sunset Times 10 Dividing Trail between Daylesford and Membership fees not paid two Full Moon 10 Blackwood, Condons Track and Mt St Leo- months after June AGM render AGM Agenda 11 nard. Information 12 the member unfinancial. OLD MAN EMU APRIL 2009 New Service for Members enter the site, check the calendar, apply for a trip, or if you have registered as a The system to enable clubs to share leader, put a trip on the calendar. pack carry walks has been about to be NOTE: This is NOT a new club, but launched. It is a wiki-based system for members of Bushwalking Victoria called Packcarry Vic. The site is easy affiliated clubs to go on more to use and I am pleased to announce overnight pack carries with other that Darren McClelland of Essendon affiliated club members. News from our BWV Bushwalking Club and Ed Gregory of This is a new initiative of Bushwalking Waverley Bushwalking Club have Victoria started February 2009. President, David Reid volunteered as account managers for the scheme. New Volunteer Appointments Carla Miller the Project Officer has At the December Board meeting the been working on the development of appointment of Dave Rimmer as this for 12 months and has been 5 Minute Manager, Bushwalking Environment assisted by a project group of Sally was confirmed. Dave, who has a long Walker and Chris Towers. Thank you Chocolate experience in this area, will manage to Carla and her team for all the work Mug Cake the activities of the Bushwalking in setting it up. Environment Committee (BEC). The committee has been restructured, full Awards 4 tbl spoons flour details of which will be sent to 4 tbl spoons sugar members shortly. Its main focus will Bushwalking Victoria has introduced a 2 tbl spoons cocoa be on ensuring that natural areas are new Awards Scheme to recognise 1 egg preserved, maintained and have proper outstanding contributions made by facilities for walkers now and in the 3 tbl spoons milk individuals or clubs to bushwalking in 3 tbl spoons oil future. The second appointment I am Victoria. Local clubs and individuals 3 tbl spoons chocolate chips pleased to announce is Dennis Wykes involved in activities such as search a small splash of vanilla as our new Insurance Officer. Dennis and rescue, track maintenance and will replace David Gordon who has conservation projects enhance the extract taken over the insurance role with our safety and enjoyment of all 1 large coffee mug national body, Bushwalking Australia. bushwalkers and enrich our society as Dennis, who has a professional a whole. Add dry ingredients to MUG, background in the insurance industry, These awards provide the opportunity and mix well. Add the egg and is a member of CAEX Bushwalking to acknowledge the dedication of those mix thoroughly. Pour in the Club and, lucky fellow, lives close to whose special efforts have made a milk and oil and mix well. Add the high country. Dennis can be difference. (Further information on the the chocolate chips and vanilla contacted on BWV website). extract, and mix again. [email protected] Interested In More Overnight Pack Put your mug in the microwave International Walking Charter Walks ? and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise Also at the December meeting the A new program is starting to over the top of the mug, but Board approved the signing of the encourage Bushwalking Victoria don’t be alarmed! Walk 21 International Walking affiliated club members, or individual Allow to cool a little, and tip Charter. The charter sets out eight key members of Bushwalking Victoria, to out onto a plate if desired. principles related to the promotion and take part in overnight hikes. facilitation of walking, be it as a means To find out more check of transport, for recreation and health EAT! www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au improvement or for other purposes. and the What’s New section. A page This can serve 2 if you want to The more organisations that sign the has been established giving you step feel slightly more virtuous. charter the better because hopefully by step instructions to follow in this will put pressure on government to requesting access to the site. You send ensure facilities for walkers (including in your details and a check is made that And why is this the most tracks) are considered in all planning you are a financial member [allow 7 – dangerous cake recipe in the decisions and as part of the 10 days]. world? Because now we are all management of public areas. To read After signing an “Acknowledgment of only 5 minutes away from more about the charter go to the Risks and Obligations”, you can open chocolate cake at any time of What’s New page on our website. your “account” – no fees, it means you the day or night! have access to the site. Then, you can 2 OLD MAN EMU APRIL 2009 ICE - IN CASE OF EMERGENCY FUTURE EVENT An Important Contact Initiative BASIC NAVIGATION COURSE Rural Ambulance Victoria Paramedics contact, by saving the entries as ICE 1, are supporting the ICE program being ICE 2 etc. introduced by Victoria’s emergency Thu 1st Oct - Theory 7-9.30pm services to make it quicker and easier to It is important to understand that ICE is Sat 3rd Oct - Lauriston get in contact with someone who can not a substitute for the common sense Club Members Only help with vital information. steps you should take to notify friends or Chris Jarvis relatives when you are going out or Area Manager Alan Kennedy said the going on a trip. program encourages people to store Learn the basics of reading emergency contact details in their mobile According to Mr Kennedy, in Victoria contour maps, setting and phone under the word ICE – “In Case Of the police will normally be the following compass bearings, Emergency”. organisation to make contact with the and the basics of bush family of accident or emergency victims, “It’s very simple to set up an ICE and will usually do this in person. It is navigation. contact; just type the acronym ICE possible that the emergency services will followed by a contact name (for example also make contact with family members This course will involve a 2.5 ICE – David) into the address book of in specific circumstances.