Bibbulmun Track Foundation – We’re 10 years old!
8/1/2007
The Bibbulmun Track as we know it today was formally opened in September 1998. However, just over a year before the Track itself was opened, another very important, if less well publicised event occurred - the inaugural Board Meeting of the ‘Friends of the Bibbulmun Track’ (FOBT) on 6 August, 1997.
Of the nine Board members at the first meeting, it is interesting to note that six are still actively involved today: Mike Wood (Chair), Simon Holthouse (Dep. Chair), Bruce Manning, Leonie Kirk, Geoff Klem and Jim Sharp.
This organisation, which has since been renamed the ‘Bibbulmun Track Foundation’ was created in order to provide resource assistance, both financial and ‘in kind’ to support CALM ( now DEC) in managing the Track. It had been realised early on that the physical construction of the Track and its associated infrastructure would be only the first stage. The on-going management and maintenance required to ensure the sustainability of the Track clearly had to involve the communities through which it passed.
The FOBT set three major goals in 1997:
• To establish a stable resource base to run the organisation.
• To work with CALM to ensure the Track remained of the highest quality.
• To encourage widespread community involvement and environmental awareness.
With those objectives in mind, the Board, along with Jesse Brampton, the Executive Officer at the time, drew up an action plan to raise funds from sponsorship, to derive a strong membership base (the ‘Friends’) and to set up a volunteer programme for Track management and maintenance. In addition, working together with CALM, the FOBT set about encouraging community access to the Track and developing tourism.
The first two years of operation saw all of these objectives become reality. Office facilities were obtained in the city, marketing was undertaken through radio, newspaper and magazine promotions and the first members of the Friends were welcomed on board.
On the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Bibbulmun Track Foundation, it is interesting to reflect on what has led to this success.
Key ingredients include:
• The passionate and committed staff members and volunteers.
• The on-going excellent working relationship with the DEC, which is critical to the smooth running of the Foundation.
• The generosity of our sponsors – who provide essential in-kind and financial support.
• The stability and commitment of the Board members – all of whom are hard working professionals who give their time freely.
• And, importantly, the overwhelming support of our members. Without you, the members, there would be no Foundation.
This is, however, not a time for basking in glory, but for looking forward at the next ten years and beyond. There is currently no reason to believe that the ever increasing interest and use of the Track will not continue, and the Foundation will continue to find the means to ensure that the international quality of the Bibbulmun Track is unsurpassed.