Old Man Emu

Newsletter of the ESSENDON BUSHWALKING CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 32, Moonee Ponds, 3039

Incorprated Association No. A5559B

To maintain privacy on the World Wide Web, references to private telephone numbers and addresses have been omitted from this version of OME.

Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed a change in layout in this edition. This was needed to squeeze in all the good stuff that came in. I’ve had to do some trimming, and one submission had to be left out due to editorial priorities.

Well done folks, and keep up the good work.

Editor

Submitting Articles

Editor

After two years and in keeping with the demands of our constitution, Rob Hughes has stood down, just in time for the much more demanding job of parenting. Rob took the job on without previous committee experience but has made a significant contribution to managing the club. I am pleased that he has agreed to stay on; I am sure we can find plenty of work for him to do. Let me also take this opportunity to welcome the new members to the committee, and to thank those non-returning members for their contribution last year.

A number of items have been left over as unfinished business from the last committee. The first is a change to the constitution to enable family or junior membership. This topic has been well flagged to members and I would recommend interested parties to re-read John Atkinson’s comprehensive discussion in the December 2003 OME. The committee has tried to take into account diverse views to come up with a proposal which deals with valid objections, but enables willing parties to engage in club activities, and ensures proper insurance coverage. An SGM prior to the September Ordinary General Meeting to alter section 5 of the constitution is notified to members in this edition of OME. The proposal creates a category of junior, rather than family membership, with the minimum age for ordinary membership altered to match the age of maturity at 18. Annual subscriptions can be set by the committee as with those for ordinary members. A figure of $25 has been suggested, as the membership is restricted, but the monies will cover our per capita Federation subscription plus a reasonable contribution to general overheads. Copies of the constitution are available from our website or the secretary; copies of John Atkinson’s article can also be made available. I commend this change to members.

Club members may have also noticed some changes to the handling of the club equipment. Recently our treasurer has written down our hire equipment to more accurately reflect market values. This reduction to a value of $1630 makes an annual insurance premium of $300 uneconomic; this has therefore been discontinued. The committee has resolved not to take deposits but rely upon members who hire equipment to treat it as if they owned it, and repair any damage before returning items. There are also some changes to management of club equipment, please see the item in this edition of OME. The equipment is rarely hired, so please make use of it. It remains an open question as to whether the club wishes to maintain this facility given its lack of use.

On matters financial, the topic of petrol money has been raised and the committee felt that a review of the current quantum was in order. The current recommended re-imbursement 5c/km was considered low by comparison with that which some other clubs use, and certainly with respect to commercial arrangements. It is recognized that the cost of travelling is far more than just petrol (so a short term reduction in petrol pump prices should not affect the recommended rate), including capital cost, maintenance and so on. Thus it can be well argued that if all members take turns to use their cars, then on average, any increases will simply cancel out. The consensus would appear that an increase is due, and that it should be a straight c/km value rather than some more complex algorithm which, for example, takes into account the number of occupants in the vehicle. It is hoped that any changes will be announced to take place with either the commencement of the new walks program or as soon as possible thereafter.

The current committee has centralised a number of activities, including our Federation representatives. On the basis that any organisation is only as good as its members, and issues like the Adventure Activity Standards have the potential to significantly affect our operations; it is felt that the club needs to be more proactive. The information flow needs improvement; and even though for many members this is dull, we should be aware of the impact that these changes can have. As a more general request if there are issues or questions that members wish raised, please contact either me or another committee member. Only in that way can the committee know what members want.

In the forthcoming program there are many activities including our annual Xmas party which we hope to hold at Woodlands Homestead again due to the quality of the venue and its success last year. At club general meetings the use of outside speakers is to be reduced because of time constraints, the hall is only available until 10pm, and certain perceived lack of interest. One cannot always be assured of the quality of individual speakers. We do know however that the time to conduct ordinary business, fill in walk sheets and chat to friends over a cup of tea is limited.

Finally may I thank members for all the contributions that help to make the club the great organisation that it is, which engenders the commitment that there is from so many people. Happy bushwalking, because that’s what we are here for.

I was recently looking back through some of my bushwalking literature when I came across the Walks Program for the period when I started with the Club. It brought back many memories.

Among the Winter 1991 events were the following:

Ron Bell was holding a Base Camp at Marysville, and cross-country skiing at Lake Mountain. He was also organizing (with Lana Osterfield) various social events such as a ‘Naughty Nineties Social Night’, the Bush Dance at South Melbourne Town Hall, a film night at Highpoint, and an African Restaurant night.

Marice Simpson took a group for the weekend whale-watching at Warrnambool.

Rhonda Pawlik led a 25km day walk at Paradise Plains (it sounds like a great place but don’t ask me where it is), and held a base camp at Avoca.

Dave Forster was cross-country skiing at the Fainters, and walking at Snowy Bluff and Phillip Island.

Therese Ryan led pack walks at Ben Crauchan and Johanna Beach.

Nellie Earnshaw visited Sorrento, Gellibrand Park and the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers.

Chris Jarvis was involved in Search & Rescue practice, and also held a snow camp at Baw Baw.

Steve Davenport walked at Steiglitz and Currawong Falls (where?).

Geoff Sadler took groups cross-country skiing at Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling.

Ian McLean was showing his love of the Dandenongs with walks at Kallista and Sherbrook, and also visited Mt Towrong.

One of the most noticeable features was that on the 1991 program, women were involved in leading or organizing eighteen Club walks and social events, whereas on the current program women’s names appear only nine times.

Where have the girls gone?

Following on from GPS training late last year, Bill Casey and Des Sunderland prepared some navigation exercises for leaders. Two sessions were conducted, on May 2 and May 15.

For the venue they chose the Loddon State Forest, through which the Great Dividing Trail runs. This forest provides a variety of terrain to give medium grade navigation challenges. But what was most impressive was not the terrain, but the format.

Taking the skills learnt during the GPS training many steps further, they combined the technologies of GPS, mapping software (Ozi Explorer), digital photography, scanning and A3 ink jet printing. Bill and Des spent days wandering around this area, sometimes in quite hot conditions, recording the location of interesting or identifiable features as waypoints on their GPS’s and taking photographs of these waypoints. These features ranged from unique stumps, termite mounds, mine-shafts, rock outcrops etc. Back at home they downloaded the waypoints from their GPS’s into their computers, and then placed them onto maps which had been scanned and calibrated into Ozi Explorer. From this multitude of points on the electronic map, they then planned seven sets of three courses. Each set had a short, medium and long course. Maps, in scales of 1:10 000 and 1:25 000 were printed for each set of courses. Photographs of each waypoint were included in the set.

To do a course, the participants, working in pairs, selected a course, and then navigated from waypoint to waypoint, using the photograph to identify what they were aiming for and confirming their arrival.

Brilliantly conceived, put together and executed, I commend Bill and Des for a job really well done.

W/E 4/5 September

Sylvia McLean

Last year Ray Thomas the Co-Coordinator of the Regent Honeyeater Project was invited to speak at a monthly EBC meeting. He gave an inspiring overview of this project.

Ray showed us specimens of sugar gliders and squirrel gliders and spoke about the yellow-footed antechinus, brush tailed phascogale, grey crowned babbler and regent honeyeater. These are all retuning to Lurg (an area situated near Winton beyond Benalla) as the result of regrowth corridors of Box Iron Bark Gums on agricultural land. Some of these forest corridors are now getting relatively mature and able to sustain these aforementioned threatened and endangered mammals and birds. A welcome crew of volunteer tree planters is achieving this.

Ray arranges three annual spring weekends for these plantings; then a further two wildlife encounter weekends in autumn to monitor nesting boxes in the mature trees previously planted. On all weekends there are organised fun activities to really make it an enjoyable weekend in return for volunteer effort.

We have participated on two occasions and had a wonderful time. We just couldn't believe how much planting that was achieved within a few hours. It did not need too much physical effort. The areas to be planted have been pre-weeded, fenced off and prepared with plants and guards lined up just ready to plant. Instruction and demonstration for successful tree planting is provided. You will be made to feel very welcome and appreciated. We will be going again this year amongst local schools, community volunteers, university students, scouts, church groups, bushwalkers, bike riding groups and many other groups from the city.

For this planting weekend the meeting place is either at the Benalla Post Office at 9am Saturday OR the old Winton Roadhouse 9.30am and travel in convoy to the planting site. Accommodation: free at Benalla Accommodation and Recreation Centre and the Scout Hall. Hot showers, kitchen facilities and mattresses available. BYO sleeping bag, pillow (BYO tent if you'd prefer to sleep outside)

Meals: BYO lunch for Saturday as we are in the field. Hot cuppa supplied for morning and afternoon tea. Free sumptuous meal supplied on Saturday evening.

BYO Sunday breakfast. Eating gear is supplied in the mess hall. Free BBQ lunch (vegetarians catered for, too) in the bush after lunch on Sunday. Extra activities: Free woolshed dance Saturday evening or spotlighting of possums and gliders. Optional wildflower/bird walk on Sunday afternoon.

Please contact Sylvia/Ian in advance, if you have been inspired to participate for this weekend so that meals and bedding can be catered for.

If you wish to participate on weekend of August 21/22 please contact Ray Thomas direct at work on 57 611 611.

W/E September 11-12

30km, Medium

Chris Jarvis

Some of the new pack walkers coming 'on-line' have probably not yet discovered the wondrous glory of the Victoria Range, the second most westerly part of the Grampians. I regard this area to be the jewel of the Grampians.

Starting from the Billywing Plantation, we will progress up to The Fortress, then down and around to camp at the base of Mount Thackeray, with an easy side trip to its summit before or after dinner. Sunday will progress along sandy vehicle tracks, some slightly overgrown but easily passable, with splendid views, to finish back at the cars after completing a fascinating circuit.

I tried to put this walk on earlier this year but a severe shortage of surface water made it un-viable. Spring will be much better!

This will whet the appetite for going back into this area on Laurie’s "Caves & Arches" walk on September 25-26 (A free plug for Laurie!)

W/E September 18-19

Darren McClelland

Join Darren for a leisurely bicycle weekend in our Central Goldfields region, to enjoy our spring pastures and golden wattles. Two relaxing day rides on hybrid or mountain bikes. Early enquiries welcomed as accommodation needs to be booked ASAP.

Saturday September 25

20km, Easy/Medium

Ian McLean

We have been requested to re-run this walk because on the two previous occasions there have been vivid displays of diuris (donkey orchids) and acacias (wattles) everywhere. It really is a spectacular walk worth travelling the distance for.

This is a circuit walk and encompasses some of the Bendigo Bushland Trail. This trail is a 65 km track and traverses the bushland surrounding outer Bendigo. It links forests with bush and other public land allowing access to significant historical and natural features and good vantage points over Bendigo.

Part of this trail has become another prong of the Great Dividing Trail, linking Castlemaine and Bendigo.

Ian plans to walk a 20 km circuit from it's southern section starting from the Spring Gully Reserve, traversing over One Tree Hill (which is not too difficult and an ideal morning tea spot with a great lookout), through the One Tree Hill Regional Park, looping around picturesque Kennington Reservoir to the picnic area for lunch. Then progressing to the Salomon Gully Flora Reserve and the Diamond Hill Historical area. Afternoon tea will be somewhere on route home.

This walk is one for wildflowers, places of interest, history and variety of scenery and views.

(East of Castlemaine)

Sunday October 3

12 km, Easy

Ian & Sylvia Mclean

Starting at the Pennyweight Flat Children's Cemetery where over 200 children were buried between 1852 and 1857 due to water contamination from the diggings, resulting in dysentery and typhoid along with diphtheria and influenza. As the name suggests, Pennyweight Flat was one of the poorer diggings. Golden Wattle fills the many gullies we pass, until we arrive at Welsh Village situated at the secluded head of Golden Gully where several remains of stone houses and outbuildings exist. The whole area is carpeted in clover and moss, giving a very majestic and enchanted atmosphere, making this an idyllic lunch spot. An extended lunchbreak will provide walkers with opportunities to explore the many remains and mine workings on the ridge above the village. This includes shafts and a large open cut mine along with quite extensive slate quarrying areas. In the 1850's the Welsh found it more profitable to mine slate rather than gold in this area.

We then move onto picturesque Sailors Gully, which reveals stone ruins of a sailor's hut, a blacksmith's hut with his forge, a puddling machine and a well preserved concrete water race with ruins. This leads us into the rich Garfield mine site (the shaft now sealed) with all it's relics including the well known remains of the Garfield Water Wheel, which was 72 feet in diameter with 220 five gallon buckets. The water was diverted through a 7 km water race from Expedition Pass reservoir to the wheel via a square wooden channel called a flume. This was 240 metres long and supported by sapling trestles, six to fifteen metres high along the slope of the hill. The wheel powered a fifteen metre stamping battery to crush the quartz which contained the gold. The Garfield mine was about 1 200 feet deep, and yielded approximately 950 kg of gold. Other points of interest around this mine are the coppice regrowth from the residual tree stumps, fine white sand heaps remnant from the crushed quartz, and the cyanide tanks which were built in the 1930's to extract any remaining gold previously missed.

The route then passes Forest Creek Flats where Chinese market gardens grew and supplied vegetables to the diggers and surrounding populations. Our next challenge is over Elephant Hill, which should be renamed Camel Hill due to it's two humps divided by yet another picturesque gully. This will give us some good views of Castlemaine before the end or the walk.

Afternoon tea will be enjoyed on the way home.

Sunday October 3

18kms Medium/Hard

Neil Campbell

Today we will be doing a walk through Werribee Gorge starting from the entrance to the Park above the Quarry. We will then walk around to the Lookouts to get some magnificent views. From here we will head down towards the Werribee River and walk along the river where we will find a spot for morning tea. After the break we will climb up around near the Lion’s Head and up near Falcon’s lookout to see more spectacular views, and maybe a Peregrine Falcon. We will stop and have Lunch here and afterwards we will walk up near the Ballarat Rail Line and cross it and do a short loop walk in Ingliston Gorge.

We will need to do a car shuffle so we will be leaving cars near the Entrance of the Park and some cars at the entrance to the track near Falcon’s Lookout. We will leave from the Moonee Ponds Bowling Club Car Park at 7.30 am.

Hope to see you there.

W/E October 8-10

The Federation weekend alternates on a yearly basis with the Federation Day Walk. This year the weekend base camp is being held at Rawson. Walks will be held nearby, in the area around Walhalla and Baw Baw Ranges on both Saturday and Sunday. It usually is a large weekend base camp with a choice out of 15-20 different well-planned and interesting day walks. The walks range in length and grade to suit everyone. The weekend is hosted by one or two clubs belonging to the Federation and much planning and effort goes organising these events. The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming and one of bushwalker camaraderie. A walks booklet is usually produced and available at a very modest price for the information provided, which covers all the walks on offer. Afternoon tea is usually provided and well catered for and there are usually some interesting evening activities arranged. So if you are interested come along!

Saturday October 16

16kms Easy

Neil Campbell

Today we will be walking along a section of the old Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail starting from the centre of the small farming town of Smythesdale. The walk is very easy being along a Railway reserve walking past some amazing countryside. We will check out the old Newtown Rail yard. This was a junction of the old Railway where the Skipton Line met up with a Branch line to Cressy and Colac, as you will see the remains of the rail formation. From here we will walk across the now re-decked spectacular Nimmon’s Trestle Bridge. After getting the great views over the low-lying countryside we head towards a long railway cutting, with an old trestle over bridge, is half intact. We finally walk trough the Linton forest and finish at the old Linton Rail Station.

We will be doing a car shuffle leaving some cars at Smythesdale and some at Linton. We will leave from the Moonee Ponds Car Park at 8am.

Wednesday October 20

16km, Easy Medium

Sylvia McLean

Walking from my home at 9.45 a.m., we walk 2.5 km through town to reach the base of the Riddell Ranges, skirting the south side to reach Conglomerate Gully. A lovely foot trail leads us up the gully to the falls. From here we leave the track and bush-bash through "very gentle", tranquil, remnant forest to gently reach a ridge. From the ridge we descend on the east side to visit a special surprise place. Bring your camera. This surprise is totally unexpected, especially in the Australian bush. From here we take lovely country lanes to complete the circuit home where I will provide afternoon tea.

WE 23/24 October (To be confirmed)

Darren McClelland

This will be the first of a series of 2-3 day walks over a period of 3 years, to complete the entire Great South West Walk. The first leg entails walking north from the Portland Visitor Centre, along Portland Bay then inland to enter the Cobobonee State Forest with an overnight camp at Cubby's Camp. The walk concludes at Cutout Camp. The leader hopes to organise the Friends group to provide a car shuttle back to Portland. The walk is medium as it is of reasonable length, but it is not expected to be particularly difficult terrain so fit day walkers who want to give pack walking a trial run, are invited to come along.

Saturday October 30

27kms Medium

Neil Campbell

It’s time for everyone to get himself or herself prepared for Bill’s Great Divide Marathon again in two weeks, so I’m hopefully getting myself and other participants ready for the Big Walk.

We will be leaving Moonee Ponds Bowling Club Car Park at the Earlier time of 7.15 am, or 8.30 am at Lake Daylesford Café Car Park, for people, (who wish to meet me at Daylesford by arrangement with me). As we will require a car shuffle and because of the distance of the walk. It is also the start of DAYLIGHT SAVING! We plan to meet at Daylesford and leave some cars at Daylesford and the rest drive all the walkers to the small town of Mollongghip, leaving the remainder of the cars here.

Some of you might remember sections of this walk from last year’s Wet Marathon. We will follow the Great Dividing Trail all the way into Daylesford starting from Mollongghip. We will walk along the old Anderson’s Tramway as we walk to our first stop for morning tea at the rotunda at the old Wombat Station (8kms). After morning tea we will walk along through the magnificent railway cutting, and check out the old brick culvert along the old disused former Ballarat- Daylesford rail line near Leonard’s Hill. From here we head off in the Wombat State Forest leaving the rail line and head to our lunch stop at Sailor’s falls.

After lunch we will walk along a section of the Great Dividing Trail, where Essendon Bushwalking Club & the GDTA did some track maintenance earlier in the year, along Sailor’s Creek. We then not only follow the GDT, but we walk along part of the Lost Children’s Walk as we head towards Twin Bridges. From here it should be the final 2kms to our finish at the Lake Daylesford Café (19kms), 27kms in total.

Hope to see you there!

Darren McClelland

This is a ride from Lara to Werribee via the You Yangs and Little River, based on Julia Blunden's "Bike Rides Around Melbourne" book. The riding will be mostly on a mix of quiet sealed roads and bicycle paths. We will take the train to and from our start/finish points. Bring a spare tube, puncture kit, lunch, sunscreen etc.

W/E November 27-28

30km, Medium / Hard, Alpine

Chris Jarvis

An interesting walk in the Dinner Plain / JB Plain area SE of Mount Hotham.

During the gold rush period, Mayford was one of the "big three" in the Latrobe Valley/Gippsland region, along with Grant and Walhalla. All were large communities of thousands, spread along river flats, scratching for the alluvial gold that peppered the streams and adjacent gullies. All that remains of Mayford now is a clearing on the Dargo River below Mount Hotham. There are very few relics to be found. In the 1860’s the surveyor Angus McMillan constructed a route which joined all three townships. This route has been re-constructed by the Ben Crauchan Walking Club and is called McMillans Track.

The walk will start at Dinner Plain, and eventually drop steeply down the Mayford Spur to camp on the grassy flats beside the Dargo River.

On Sunday we will medium scrub bash our way up onto Mount Tabletop, and follow a walking track back to JB Plain where a car will have been left on Saturday.

Previous pack walking experience is required.

(Warrandyte State Park)

Sunday November 28

17km, Easy

Ian & Sylvia McLean

Starting at the car park at Stiggant St, we proceed upstream along the Yarra and pick up morning tea at the bakery. Crossing over the main road we enter the Whipstick Gully. This little known area of Warrandyte contains gold mining relics (poppet head, memorial cairn, mine sites/shafts etc.), The information shelter and picnic area will be our morning tea spot. We explore the tracks and shafts on and over Fourth Hill. These shafts up till recently were accessible to the public, but unfortunately have now been sealed off as a safety precaution. Following this we seek out the location where gold was reputedly first discovered in Victoria (as opposed to Clunes). Once exiting this reserve our route is via streets and reserves arriving at Black Flat on the Yarra, to follow the gold and nature trail. Again we pick up the Yarra and follow it upstream to Jumping Creek Reserve to Stane Brae Reserve. Here the gentle slopes down to the Yarra make a good lunch spot. Stane Brae is home to hundreds of Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Swamp Wallabies. Following lunch we will try to locate a lovely open air chapel built by the Scouts several years ago on route to Blue Tongue Bend. Following the river we return to Jumping Creek Picnic Ground, retracing our steps to Black Flat. Return through Warrandyte will allow for afternoon tea at one of the many tea rooms prior to returning to the cars.

Sunday December 5

Chris Jarvis

This is a repeat of the session held at about the same time last year. For leaders who own or are contemplating owning a GPS, this will introduce basic principles to enable you to use your GPS effectively in its most useful task - finding out where you are, plus more. The session will be held at the Lauriston orienteering course near Kyneton, and will include a mixture of theory and practical exercises in a bush setting. Numbers are limited, dependent upon how many "trainees" have their own GPS, and how many units can be borrowed. Leaders will get priority over non-leaders.

Saturday December 11

10 km Easy

After such a successful venue last year we have overwhelmingly decided to run this social event and walk at Woodlands Homestead again this year. (At the tank shed just south of the homestead.) Melways Ref. 177 K8, entering via Oaklands Road, just past Melbourne Airport on the right.

Ian McLean will lead a short walk pre-lunchtime BBQ. The BBQ should be underway by about 12.30. There are also free tours of the homestead on weekends.

The tank shed is undercover and protected. There are some tables provided. The club will provide the BBQ. However, BYO drinks (other than tea/coffee), cutlery, crockery and chair. Some volunteers for salads and sweets would be appreciated (see Sylvia).

Future event, to be confirmed.

Darren McClelland

This overnight walk, in the Mansfield area, will take in Mt Clear, The Nobs and its twin summits High Cone and Square Top. Mt Clear's bald 1695m summit provides magnificent vistas of the surrounding alps. There's a long ascent to get us warmed up on day one, but easy walking after that. We'll camp at Sheepyard Flat before Day One, then at a saddle Northwest of Mt Clear, where water is usually available, during the walk.

For 2004 - 2005 is:

President: Keith Hart

Vice President: Ian Tovey

Secretary: Sylvia McLean

Treasurer: John Atkinson

Committee: Ron Bell, Bryan Folie, Darren McLelland, Rob Hughes & Michael Howes

Don’t forget that members can obtain a discount at Bogong Equipment, 374 Little Bourke Street. They offer a 10% discount on all non-sale items.

(Snail) Mail: The Secretary, Essendon Bushwalking Club Inc., P.O. Box 32, Moonee Ponds, 3039

Are released three times each year, at the April, August and December club meetings.

One copy of the program is included within the hard-copy version of the club newsletter, Old Man Emu.

Additional copies are available from the Secretary or Treasurer for 20¢ each.

Are held on the second Wednesday of each month, at Hall 3, St. Thomas Church (behind the church), Mt. Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds Junction (corner of Mt. Alexander and Pascoe Vale Roads). Meetings start at 7.30 pm.

The contact for loan of equipment is Ron Bell.

In line with the changes to the handling of the club equipment, mentioned in the Presidents report, the club has no insurance in the event of loss. The committee has therefore decided to centralise equipment management. The equipment will be managed and maintained by Ron Bell. Ron has kindly offered to check the equipment on an ongoing basis, and attend to any repairs that are necessary. It is hoped to avoid deposits and operate on an ‘honours’ system. Ron will monitor the situation for the committee. The committee would like to take this opportunity to express their appreciation of Nicole Lowes’ efforts in looking after the equipment.

Equipment available for loan:

Tents; Backpacks; Sleeping Bags; Rain Jackets; Stoves; Sleeping Mats.

Annual Membership (from June 1)$ 40

Visitors Fee (per event) $ 5

Annual Membership fees apply from June 1 to May 31. Membership fees not paid two months after the June AGM render the member unfinancial. There are no pro-rata membership fees as the club is required to pay an annual Federation / Insurance premium.

An unfinancial member is required to pay the visitors fee for every event they attend until they have paid their full membership fee. As an unfinancial member, the Club's Personal Accident and Public Liability Insurance on any club activity does not cover you.

Unfinancial members and visitors attending more than three events in a club year are required to pay the full membership fee.

New members must pay the annual membership fee within 28 days of their membership application being approved by the committee.

We welcome John Lawry, Peggy Warburton, Susan Duff, Christine Butler, Peter Sanders, Dianne Casey who all joined EBC between April and June 2004. May you have many enjoyable and safe times with us.

VicWalk are gathering information on available first aid courses, appropriate to bushwalking. Maroondah Club has developed a course that it intends to hand over to VicWalk for use by other clubs. VicWalk is offering a subsidy of $40 for attending a level 2 course. ($80 in regard to BSAR members).

Currently, I am unclear whether this applies to any accredited course held outside of VicWalk. At this stage the cost of a course organised through VicWalk will be around $140-$160. If interested please let me know as VicWalk need to know numbers.

In order to obtain a reimbursement VicWalk needs to see evidence that you paid some of the fee and passed the course i.e. 1. A copy of the receipt and 2. A copy of the certificate received. BSAR members should apply through BSAR.

A Special General Meeting was held in May 2004 with resulting changes to Section 18. This means that either the President, Vice President or Secretary may countersign cheques for payment with the Treasurer.

The Constitution is freely available to read on the EBC Web site.

If you desire future issues of OME via electronic mail, or for some reason you have not received this edition by email please notify the Secretary with the appropriate details. Maybe they were unclear. Initially, some details were very hard to interpret.

Please note that Ron Bell is now our new Equipment Officer, along with Club Contact for Insurance issues and Club enquiries.

All claims should be directed to Marsh Pty Ltd. after informing a committee contact first.

1. Notification of intention to make a claim is to be given to Marsh as soon as practicable and no later than thirty days following the date of injury.

2. A claim form will be forwarded to you for completion and return to Marsh (via VicWalk).

These claims are to be notified in the first instance to Howard Tooth, Insurance Officer, BWA Phone (02) 98691110 and you will be advised of the procedure to follow.

Essendon Bushwalking Club is a

Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs

This occurred on 30-6-2004. Here are the results:

Group Accident Cover: - All remains the same with Accident and Health International Pty Ltd. Now it is not essential to have this cover to be eligible for the Public Liability cover.

Public Liability Cover: - has changed from QBE to Liberty International Underwriting Ltd. It now INCLUDES all year round above the snowline walking along with NON-abseiling canyoning. Also included is track construction (maintenance and clearing). There is still the requirement to complete/sign an insurance form if this activity is in conjunction with DNRE/Parks Victoria, as their insurance would be more ideally suited. NOT INCLUDED are ski activities.

Cover is worldwide except for North America and associated territories and Canada. Total combined insurance and Federation costs has risen to $16.15 per member. A copy of the full insurance schedule will be posted on the Federation web site when it becomes available

(http:/home.vicnet.net.au/~vicwalk/ )

Anyone interested in receiving Federation News or any bushwalking topics of interest "hot off the press can register for bushwalkers" forum by getting into the site via http:/mc2.vicnet.net.au/index.html and referring to Sport and Recreation >Bushwalking>Register for Bushwalkers’ Forum. Bill Metzenthen who runs the site will get you an email with details. Any new topics are automatically emailed to you. You also have unlimited access to the site. You can also get involved in any bushwalking discussion if you like.

Have been finalized, but NOT endorsed by VicWalk. Gordon Duff, Project Officer on behalf of the Outdoor Recreation Centre (ORC), had recognized the work done by the Working Party on behalf of VicWalk Clubs. He has accepted that VicWalk will formulate Trip Leader Guidelines over 12 months (30-6-2005), based on input from all VicWalk clubs’ individual Leader Guidelines. This task will be undertaken by the Risk Management Committee. The ORC, however, will still have veto over the Trip Leader Guidelines, when complete.

This proposal has not yet been approved by the EBC Committee or Federation Council. 

• It is scheduled for October;
• There will probably be between ten and twenty day walks of all grades;
• Leaders and co-leaders will be required;
• Other volunteers will be needed to assist.

Stay tuned for more.

That OME is produced in four versions:

1. Hard copy (Post compatible)
2. Email (pdf format, no postage graphic)
3. Club website (html format)
4. Visitors edition (A5, with special stuff for visitors)