Volume 14 Issue 2 Winter 2006 Newsletter of the Walking Federation of South Australia Inc 14a Stuart Road, Dulwich All correspondence to Post Office Box 6067 Linden Park SA 5065 Phone (08) 8361 2491 Webpage: www.walkingsa.org.au Email: [email protected] Kempson Roger Adelaide Bushwalkers on The Battery, Mt Remarkable National Park May 2006 Uniting all people actively concerned with bushwalking. Featured in this edition of Walking SA News :- ◊ The President’s Report ◊ Opening Stage 3 of “The Lavender Federation Trail” ◊ Latest on the Pioneer Women’s Trail ◊ Overview Adventure Activities Standard - Bushwalking Walking SA is supported through the Office for Recreation & Sport and the Government of South Australia Page 2 WALKING SA News Presidents Report May 2006 Another walking season is well on its way and While we were not on the subject of Webs and while it opened a little on the wet side currently the Internets we are now, and thanks go to Chris Moad, sun is shining, it is 20C and I should not be here by Andrew van der Wolff, John Eaton and Hugh my computer wondering what to write. Lambert. Walking SA now has a secure structure and Thanks go to Friends of the Heysen Trail for a functional Web Page, without the 400 spams per combining the Opening of the Walking Season with week. We are also able to display information such as their twenty year celebration at Belair National Park. minutes and Newsletters quite easily and quickly. Excellent planning, weather and crowd made this an WSA will also be pleased to put any comments, news, exceptional day. A highlight was the co-operation be- ideas, items of interest etc. you may have on our Web tween FoHT and DEH Belair, an exceptional example Page to disseminate information such as the fact that of working together and achieving. Another great ex- Pony Ridge Rd will be closed for a track upgrade until ample of working together has been on the Pioneer the end of June. Women’s Trail where Department of Environment and Heritage, Office for Recreation and Sport, Please contact the Webmaster (Chris) at Adelaide Hills & Burnside Councils and WSA have [email protected]. achieved wonders. Provided July does not bring a deluge this trail should be up and running with sign- All information must have a termination date and meet age and maps in place before the end of the walking with acceptable community standards. season. Many thanks go to June Boscence and Peter Beer for their effort on WSA’s behalf. The next stage Before I close may I recommend that you con- will be lobbying for a bridge of some description over sider nominating for a position at the AGM in August. Hahndorf Creek and the Onkaparinga River to take The work is interesting and will possibly surprise you walkers safely to Hahndorf. (More inside) at what goes on. On top of that company and support While we are talking about co-operation it is a is spot on. You choose the level of involvement, as pity we could not have the same level between the much or as little as you wish. I have been president for AAS Steering Committee and ourselves. In spite of nearly two years now, which has been both interesting our repeated request for the ST to recognise that and informative and very surprising that any one could Voluntary, not for profit organisations such as Bush- put up with me for so long. walkers, should not be grouped with Commercial or- ganisations our request fell on deaf ears and the AAS Happy Walking – Bushwalking has been finalised. To coin a phrase “The battle may be lost but the war is not”. (More in- David Marcroft side) President Something I mentioned in an earlier report was The Walking Federation of South Australia Inc. more responsible financial support for Walking SA from members. We have been talking about the issues for some time at General Meetings in an effort to keep walkers informed and a discussion paper has been is- sued. ATTENTION At the Annual General Meeting in August a WALK LEADERS motion will be put to apply a per capita fee structure for members. Currently contributions varies between Forestry SA Rangers have asked that clubs $0.25c and $2.00 per year per member, and this provide prior notification of all planned walks change in structure will see a more equitable cost to in forest areas, giving the approximate members and put Walking SA in a more sound finan- number of participants and details of the cial position. In effect, members will be asked to what proposed walk route. This would apply to all level they support Walking SA walks throughout the year. Contacts: Mt Crawford Forest Phone (08) 8524 6004 Kuitpo Forest Phone (08) 8391 8800 WALKING SA News Page 3 SARTI “The Lavender Federation Trail” New Map for Opening of Stage 3 - 7th May 2006 “The Lavender Federation Trail” Mt Beevor to Springton With the completion of Stage 3 of the Lavender Federation Trail - a 27 km section between Tunkillo and Springton - the SARTI Board ( SA Recreational Trails Inc.) is to be congratulated on its dedication to providing these new walk opportunities for our community. On a very cold, stormy Sunday walkers gath- This new map is now ered to enjoy a ramble along the Northern section of available from outdoor the trail, and, despite the bitter wind, the beauty of the stores scenery and the wide open vistas were a delight to see. Indeed the bracing weather served to create a good RRP $10.00 appetite for the promised 'afternoon tea' ! Walking SA’s Committee 2005/2006 Executive Committee Chris Bushell (SARTI President), with Ann Lavender and Barry Stacey at the opening. President David Marcroft Vice-President Secretary Peter Beer The official opening took place at the Springton Treasurer Arthur Ward Memorial Hall, with Graham Hallandal, Barry Stacey and Chris Bushell ( SARTI President ) officiating at Individual Members the presentation of framed certificates of appreciation Representative Merilyn Browne and thanks to the Mayors of Murray Bridge and the Mid Murray Councils and a representative from the Other Committee Members Barossa Council for their continuing assistance in the Thelma Anderson formation of the trail. A further presentation was made Mary Denton to Ann Lavender in recognition of her continuing Bill Gehling interest and very practical support. Fran Lucas The event also saw the launch of the new Map 2 Myra Betschild and the Tunkillo Loop Trail - after which the gather- Liz O’Shea ing adjourned to enjoy a delicious 'country style' tea Chris Moad prepared by the local CFS and much appreciated by Joan Mooney locals and visitors alike. Thankyou again to SARTI, to ARPA and to all those who have contributed to the making of this Administration June Boscence new trail. 14a Stuart Road, Dulwich SA 5065 Happy walking!! (PO Box 6067, Linden Park 5065) Telephone 8361 2491 Liz O'Shea Page 4 WALKING SA News Excerpts from the President’s Report June 2006 Whatever roles Bushwalking Australia Inc One of the issues this past year has been seeks for itself, we need to realize that BWA ex- Adventure Activity Standards (AAS). For many ists for the benefit of individual walkers and for years, developments of this kind have appeared, the environment we wish to preserve and enjoy. though they haven’t affected or been a concern of Our federal system in Australia means that the the club sector. This time however, we may not majority of our work needs to be at state level. be so lucky. The crunch point is that it is For instance, all our major parks are managed by increasingly hard to distinguish between state governments, and the legal aspects of walk- volunteer bushwalking clubs, and commercial ing are under state law. This means we need organizations wishing to set up a club, and use strong federations as the primary force in each that as a means of a voiding AAS. Some state. But whatever happens in one state is bound land-managers appear to want to use AAS as a sooner or later to bob up in another. Environ- condition of entry to limit their exposure to risk. mental issues don’t respect political boundaries. AAS is an example of the kind of issue Only with a degree of national coordination and which we can expect to be subject to in future. consistency will bushwalkers be heard and no- There are many lessons we can learn from our ticed. experience with AAS. While some people worked Thanks to Howard Tooth though, our insur- hard at the time, their efforts were not appreci- ance kept going. The system that Howard initi- ated, the issue itself was ignored, and messages ated, also means that the scheme requires little were not passed on or acted upon. In short our input from us except when renewals are being action was too little, too late and too badly com- negotiated. Well done Howard. municated. We cannot afford to repeat those During my time overseas, I was able to ex- mistakes with future issues like this. perience the way bushwalking works in the USA In May 2006, I represented BWA at the 4th and Britain. I met leaders of the American Hiking Tracks and Trails Conference in Hobart. These Society in Washington DC and the Ramblers in types of event are important as they are the London. I went on many hikes with the New occasion when we get a chance to put the bush- York City chapter of the Adirondak Mountain walkers perspective to people who are keen to Club , and met their leadership.