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Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2023: Event Volunteers needed!

Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2023: Event Volunteers needed!

Oxfam Trailwalker is a community event that brings people together from all walks of life. We are looking for dedicated volunteers create an incredible experience for our teams, helping them walk 100km in 40 hours to raise much needed funds to tackle poverty. The event spans across nine locations from Parsley Bay through to Bobbin Head and finishes at the scenic Tania Park. We have volunteer roles that suit everyone such as the ones below!

Trail Markers & Sweep Teams

Being an event based in the bush, we require keen and active bush walkers to head out and mark sections of the trail prior to the event and then sweep sections of the trail as our final walkers walk through. This is done in groups of approximately 4 volunteers per section.

Checkpoint Captains & Crew

In this role you will be the first face for participants and support crews at the checkpoint. You will assist with monitoring timing points and walker retirements, manage the food and beverage area and assist with car parking. Best suited for cheery, approachable and understanding people who are happy to rotate roles and create a fun event environment.

Perks?

Walk for Free at any Oxfam Trailwalker event in 2024!
A fulfilling feeling of giving back to the community and helping others in need around the world!
Oxfam Trailwalker food pack and volunteer gift

Want to know more? To volunteer head here to find out more on the roles available.

 

Happy 90th Birthday Bushwalking NSW and Blue Gum Forest!

On 21 July it will be 90 years since the Federation of Bushwalking Clubs (now Bushwalking NSW) held its inaugural meeting. Soon after, on 2 September, we’ll see the 90th anniversary of the reservation of the iconic Blue Gum Forest, in the Grose Valley, following a campaign by bushwalkers.

The two events are not unrelated. The success of the collective action by the walkers had encouraged them to form the umbrella group which would assist Myles Dunphy and others in their campaigns to create national parks. Blue Gum Forest was the kernel of today’s Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and is the cradle of the modern conservation movement in NSW. You can read more about this in Andy Macqueen’s book “Back from the Brink: Blue Gum Forest and the Grose Wilderness”, which is available at Blue Mountains bookshops and here.

Celebratory campout

The saving of Blue Gum Forest will be celebrated on the weekend of 3-4 September 2022 by a campout in the Grose Valley, at The Meadow (near Acacia Flat). Attendance will be limited to members of clubs affiliated with Bushwalking NSW, and their families.

The agenda will include a ceremony at the forest on Saturday afternoon and a communal campfire in the evening. On Sunday morning some interpretive ambles will be on offer, the topics including birds, plants and geology.

The activity is being organised by volunteers, with the support of NPWS. Participants will have to make their own way in and out of the valley. Numbers will be capped at 80. Registration is essential and will be on a first-in-first-served basis. All participants:

  • Must be a member of a bushwalking club, or accompany such a person as a member of their family.
  • Will preferably be in a party organised under the rules of that club.
  • Must be experienced and self-reliant overnight walkers, or in the care of such a person. The access tracks are steep and involve 600 metres of vertical descent/ascent.
  • Are expected to car-pool, to limit traffic congestion at the track-heads.
  • Be packed up and making their way out of the valley by noon on Sunday.

Further details, including advice concerning track conditions (and closures if any) will be sent to registrants prior to the weekend.

For all enquiries please email Monica Nugent at monica.nugent@environment.nsw.gov.au

Every person, including family members, must be registered. REGISTER HERE.

Camp Quality Sydney Trek

Camp Quality’s Sydney Trek is on 17-18 September where participants trek 50km in 24 hours for kids facing cancer.

To successfully run the event, Camp Quality are looking to recruit at least 120 volunteers. Every single volunteer will play a critical role in helping to deliver a safe and fun event and raise funds to support families facing cancer.

There are a range of roles available, but many would really benefit from teams of people that already know each other.

Volunteers can select more active roles that involve walking long distances or can choose a less physically demanding role and work at one site for the duration of their shift.

As a team, participants could run a Fun Stop together, managing the Start Line or Finish line, or for a more active roles, mark a section of the trail or act as one of our Tail End Charlie teams.

A trail marking shift or Tail End Charlie shift involves walking a section of the trail (sections range from 8.5km to 20km) and either placing marking equipment or removing the marking equipment. For all roles, there are shifts available across both the day and night, with the average shift length being around 4 – 9 hours with breaks.

Those who are interested should contact Sophie Gallagher​ at Camp Quality on (02) 9876 0594.  Alternatively you can sign up online to volunteer here.

Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 26-28 August 2022

Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2022: Event Volunteers needed!

Oxfam Trailwalker is a community event that brings people together from all walks of life. Event organisers are looking for dedicated volunteers to create an incredible experience for teams, helping them walk 100km in 48 hours to raise much needed funds to tackle poverty. The event from the Hawkesbury to the Harbour spans across nine locations from Parsley Bay through to Bobbin Head and finishes at the scenic Tania Park. There are volunteer roles to suit everyone!

Trail Markers & Sweep Teams

Being based in the bush, the event requires keen and active bush walkers to head out and mark sections of the trail prior to the event and then sweep sections of the trail as final walkers walk through. This is done in groups of approximately 4 volunteers per section.

Checkpoint Crew

Checkpoint Crew look after walkers as they rest along the 100km journey at checkpoints, making sure they have the support and supplies they need. You will assist with timing points, walker retirements, and general operations.

Perks?
  • Walk for Free at any Oxfam Trailwalker event in 2023!
  • Have a fulfilling feeling of giving back to the community and helping others in need around the world!
  • Receive an Oxfam Trailwalker volunteer gift
How to sign up?

Fill in this Expression of Interest form here or head here to find out more.

Bushwalking NSW 2022 Photo Competition

Show us your best shots!

Do you take beautiful photos of people and scenery when you are walking?

We want to share them with the world!

Enter our 2022 Photo Competition to see your photos featured in our newsletter and on our website and to be in the running for a great prize from Paddy Pallin. The competition closes on 30 March 2022.

You can share these types of photos:

  • NSW/ACT national park scene
  • People bushwalking in NSW/ACT
  • NSW/ACT wildlife
  • Website banner sized 1000 x 250 pixels to illustrate any BNSW web page

To enter simply email your images or a public link to your photos (eg google drive, dropbox or photo share apps) to Bushwalking NSW here.

There’s $245 of great prizes to be won courtesy of Paddy Pallin.

1 Arcade Adventure Belt

1 Camelbak Chute Mag 750ml bottle

1 Sea to Summit 2 Piece Dining Kit

1 Osprey Ultralight Roll Organiser

1 Inflatable Solar Light

1 North Face Horizon Breeze Brim Hat

Prizes courtesy of Paddy Pallin

Please note that by submitting images to this competition, you acknowledge that:

  1. You possess copyright to the images,
  2. You give Bushwalking NSW permission to use your images in any Bushwalking NSW website, newsletter, social media, email, online and printed publications without attribution, and
  3. You warrant that Bushwalking NSW will not infringe any copyright by using the images you have supplied in any way.

Thank you for sharing the beauty of our bushland and wildlife with the world!

 

 

2022 Great Ocean Road Trek Early Bird

As a keen bushwalker we’d like to let you know about the early bird discount now open for the 2022 Great Ocean Road Trek.

 

About the Great Ocean Road Trek

The Great Ocean Road Trek is one of Australia’s most iconic walks, starting at Apollo Bay and finishing at the Twelve Apostles. The 100km walk will take you through lush rainforests, across deserted beaches, and along majestic cliff faces.

 

A few of the highlights will include:

  • Spectacular views, quiet trails and secluded beaches in some of the world’s most beautiful locations.
  • Remote walks to places like Moonlight Head and Devil’s Kitchen.
  • Abundant wildflowers and native fauna including koalas and echidnas.
  • Walking with like-minded adventurers.
  • Being supported by our guides, including a dual qualified Credentialled Diabetes Educator and Exercise Physiologist.

If you’d like more information, download the information pack or call me on 07 3551 1411.

Download information pack

Sign up today
If you’re ready to take advantage of this great offer and sign up for the adventure of a lifetime, you can register directly by clicking the button below.

REGISTER HERE
Places for the 2022 Great Ocean Road Trek are limited so don’t miss out! I look forward to welcoming you on the adventure of a lifetime.

 

Kathleen Cook

Great Ocean Road Trek representative

Diabetes Queensland

 

PS. To save $300 on your registration, secure your spot today.

Canberra Bushwalking Club – Safe River Crossings Training

River Safety Training, Cotter River, February 2021, Canberra Bushwalking Club

At the start of 2021 Canberra Bushwalking Club held a challenging and interesting activity for members – a river-crossing training exercise. Held in the clear waters of the Cotter River, 26 club members attended keen to learn how to cross rivers safely.

The training was recommended for leaders and anyone contemplating walking in New Zealand or Tasmania. The course covered teaching participants how to assess a river, identify the safest crossing place and solo and team crossing techniques. Participants practiced these techniques in water up to thigh deep and also had the opportunity to practice swimming with a pack.

The day was highly successful with all participants agreeing that the course helped them to learn these essential life-saving skills. Watch more here to learn more about river safety.

Our Club of the Month: Canberra Bushwalking Club

Canberra Bushwalking Club was founded in 1961 and currently has over 400 members. While the Club’s main activity is bushwalking it also offers canoeing, canyoning, caving, conservation work parties, cross-country skiing, cycling, geocaching, liloing and social activities. Check out the Club’s Facebook page to see more.

Features of the Canberra Bushwalking Club include:

  • A range of activities – from easy urban rambles and walks suitable for families with toddlers, to multi-day expeditions in rough and remote areas
  • Training programs in navigation and other topics
  • Strong emphasis on safety
  • Modest annual membership fees (currently $40)
  • Non-members welcome on activities, with agreement of walk leader (up to 3 activities)
  • Participants covered by public liability insurance
  • Monthly meetings with guest speakers

St John Ambulance First Aid Course Updates

Volunteer St John Ambulance trainer, Belinda Keir, has been instructing First Aid at Senior level since before 2000. Belinda’s practical teaching methods have helped to raise the level of First Aid knowledge within bushwalking clubs. Belinda was recently awarded the Bushwalking NSW 2020 Chardon Award.

St John Ambulance first aid courses have recently changed so it is recommended that Clubs check course codes on the Bushwalking NSW First Aid Training page. The course code for Provide First Aid is now HLTAID011 instead of HLTAID003 and for Provide First Aid in a Remote or Isolated Situation is now HLTAID013 instead of HLTAID005. The change in course codes mean that all class ID numbers have been revised. You will need to quote the correct class ID to book any course. As our next Remote course is only a few weeks away, we would be grateful if this could be done as soon as possible.

People who have a less than 12 months old HLTAID003 or HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certificate can request a credit transfer for Provide First Aid in a Remote or Isolated Situation. This gets a discount in time (you don’t need to attend day one) but not a price discount. Credit transfers can take time to arrange and need to be organised well before the course. Please request a credit transfer form when you enrol and return it with evidence of your current HLTAID003 or HLTAID011 certificate. This will be verified by St John and if a credit transfer is granted it will be attached to the class roll.

Please note that while class size limits are currently 18, this could change due to COVID. While the two remote courses are put on our calendar for bushwalkers, there is usually space in other Provide First Aid courses which are offered to members of Scouts NSW.

In 2022 it is anticipated that Provide First Aid in a Remote or Isolated Situation HLTAID013 courses for bushwalkers and Scouts will run at Barra Brui (St Ives) over two weekends in February, July and November.

Keith Maxwell has stated:

“I have always thought that an important role for Search and Rescue/Bushwalking NSW was to encourage the spread of First Aid knowledge throughout the bushwalking clubs. For example, the Bush Club runs its own stream of First Aid training. Training for their Club walks leaders is fully subsidised by the club”.

Kirsten Mayer, Executive Officer of Bushwalking NSW Inc said:

“First Aid training is important for our clubs and we are so grateful to the entire team of Scouts and St John Ambulance volunteers who facilitate and deliver this training. All of this volunteer effort keeps the price very low for our bushwalkers. We encourage our club members to undertake this training. We also encourage our clubs to consider subsidising First Aid training for walks’ leaders.”

REMEMBRANCE at Splendour Rock 2021

At 6am on 25 April (ANZAC Day 2021) there will be a short ceremony of remembrance at Splendour Rock to recognise the thirteen fallen bushwalkers from WWII.  This will return the pattern of remembrance from at least 1992.  Every year since then (and perhaps even 1990 but there is insufficient evidence) on ANZAC Day there has been a Dawn Service of remembrance at Splendour Rock.  Naturally, due to the pandemic, there was no dawn service in 2020.

Bushwalkers who have previously been to Splendour Rock for ANZAC Day will know that Mt Dingo is a dry campsite that can be subject to high winds.  However, when the weather is right overnight camping on Mt Dingo can be an unforgettable experience.  Splendour Rock is in the Wild Dog Mountains whose nearest access is the Dunphy Carpark at the end of the Megalong Valley Road from Blackheath.

It is now an NP&WS requirement that you must REGISTER your intention to camp overnight in a National Park of NSW.  Please be COVID safe in your camping.  More information can be found here – camping 

The memorial plaque at Splendour Rock was installed in February 1948 by a combined group of Sydney Bush Walkers (SBW) and Coast & Mountain Walkers (CMW).  The plaque was dedicated on the following ANZAC Day.  Both clubs each lost four (4) members while the YMCA Ramblers Bushwalking Club lost two (2) members.  Three other bushwalking clubs each lost one member being the Campfire Club, Rucksack Club plus the Trampers Club.  Background details for all of these fallen service personnel can be found on the Bushwalking NSW (BNSW) website – here.

Trek 100km along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road – join Diabetes NSW & ACT’s adventure of a lifetime!

Celebrating its sixth year this year, the trek covers 100km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles across Victoria’s rugged coastline. Lace up your hiking boots and join Diabetes NSW & ACT for this seven day, 100km trek along the Great Ocean Road. Set yourself a challenge for fun, fitness and fundraising.

The Great Ocean Road Trek runs over five days and hikers say they take inspiration from the breathtaking scenery of Victoria’s rugged coast along the way. Connecting to nature, observing koalas in their natural habitat and discovering the full beauty of the region’s abundant flora and fauna is part of the daily experience. Participants comment on the spectacular beauty of the trek and their delight at hearing echoes of birdsong as they wind their way through forests, rocky shores, deserted beaches and windswept clifftops.

Our team took the opportunity to interview Beverley on the experience – from signing up through to conquering the five day challenge in October this year. Beverley said “I often wondered in recent years, if ever I was to be challenged, could I rise to the occasion?” Beverley went on to disclose to us the contemplation process prior to embarking on the Great Ocean Road Trek adventure. “I knew it would not be easy, as I would have my age against me (68), and type 1 diabetes to contend with. When I saw the article on the 2018 trek, I knew it was time to answer those nagging doubts I had!” Beverley recalled.

Beverley’s adventure of a lifetime – 100km across the Great Ocean Road!

Beverley said her favourite moments included witnessing the colour of the ocean shift from grey to blue, the cliff views and the comradery that comes with finishing a challenging endeavour with likeminded individuals.

“As a team, we helped each other, laughed with each other and deepened our connection, as we trudged as a group further along the length of the coastline.”

The elation didn’t stop there for Beverley and the intrepid team. Her excitement at reaching the Twelve Apostles is contagious. “As we reached the final hilltop, the summit seemed to be silhouetted against the vast, blue sky. I felt like the twelve apostles were waving to us upon our arrival. An incredibly joyful feeling!” said Beverley.

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime?

Expressions of interest for 2020 are open, submit your registration by 31st January and save $150 on early bird offering. Don’t miss out, simply email fundraising@diabetesnsw.com.au or head to https://diabetesnsw.com.au/great-ocean-road-trek/ to find out more