We were pleased to welcome 40 members to the Foundation’s 25th AGM which was held on 27 October at the Universal Bar in Northbridge.
In addition to providing an opportunity to update members on our activities for the year (you can read the Annual Report here), an election was held to fill the four vacant positions.
Nominations were received from Kath Broderick, Tristy Fairfield, Charlie Soord, Tim Larkin, Tim Macknay and Helen Studham and a vote was held by secret ballot.
Three positions were filled by returning Board members: Kath, Charlie and Tristy, and we were pleased to welcome newly elected member Tim Larkin.
Chair, Kath Broderick thanked retiring member, Patrick Tremlett, for his 17 years of service on the Board. As a retired drafter of legislation, Patrick contributed greatly to policy and governance matters and his wisdom and pragmatic approach will be missed.
Fortunately, we are not losing him altogether and Patrick is continuing to volunteer with the Foundation as a Guide and maintenance volunteer. Thank you Patrick for your continued support of the Bibbulmun Track.
We’re thrilled to announce that planning has started for our next big celebration, the Bibbulmun Track’s 25th Anniversary. Saturday 13 September 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Perth-to-Albany Track, now known to us as the Bibbulmun Track. As part of the anniversary, a range of festivities will be held in the communities along the length of the Track between July and September 2023, with opportunities for walkers, young and old, to get involved.
On 13 September 1998 the ‘new’ Bibbulmun Track was officially opened in Albany. The Track had been significantly realigned, extended from Walpole to Albany and upgraded with the addition of timber shelters at the campsites. An official function was held at the Bibbulmun Track southern terminus to open the Track and farewell a group of walkers, 11 of whom completed the first official End-to-End. Along the way they were accompanied by sectional walkers. The event was called ‘Bib Walk ‘98’
On 13 September 2008, the 10th Anniversary celebrations - the journey of a decade, culminated with the conclusion of an end-to-end walk in Kalamunda. Over 100 walkers joined the end-to-enders for a part of the eight week journey. The celebrations included gatherings at every Track Town and they brought together hundreds of people who share a passion for the Bibbulmun Track as well introducing many people to it.
We will be commemorating this amazing milestone in the tradition of previous celebrations. We will be holding an End-to-End walk.
The event will begin with a special ceremony in Kalamunda in July 2023. A small group of End-to-End walkers will then make their way to Albany and arrive in September. At each town along the way we will have a community celebration and the End-to-Enders will be joined by a new group of walkers (sectional walkers) to walk the next section. The distance between towns varies from three to eight days and people are invited to register for these sections when registrations open. The anniversary celebrations culminate in a gathering in Albany after walkers finish the Track.
We invite local walkers, volunteers, community groups and schools to get involved with the festivities.
Applications to join as an end-to-end walker open in June and close August 31st, 2022.
Registrations to become a sectional walker will open in January, 2023.
Make sure you are subscribed to our e-news, Bibbulmun Bytes or even better, become a member and keep an eye out for advanced information in the Bibbulmun News (our member's only magazine) and member only notifications.
On Thursday the 22 September, over 80 BTF members and guests came along to Leederville Sports Club to hear two passionate members share their experiences and photographs of two overseas trails.
Our first speaker was Ben Dickinson, who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2650-mile footpath from the US / Mexico border to Canada, in 2019. His journey took him through deserts, high alpine regions, forests, and three hospitals. Ben talked about his journey, the gear that he carried, and the mishaps he experienced along the way.
Our second presenter, Mike Wood, is a Board Member and volunteer guide. Mike led a group of West Australian over 19 days along the 315km Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk in the UK. The walk passes through the rugged hills and remote, beautiful lakes of the Lake District, wends its way through farming valleys of the Yorkshire Dales and on to the wind-swept beaches on either side of the country.
Thanks to both Ben and Mike for sharing their adventures and photographs with us. We received lots of positive feedback from the audience and we look forward to having more Tales from other Trails next year.
It was great to have three of our sponsors, Anaconda, Small Things Wine, and Paddy Pallin at this presentation. Lots of people had a sample of the yummy wine range and got to try out various hiking equipment. A big thank you to the sponsors for the wonderful door prizes and lucky answer prize give-aways.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual Tales from other Trails night!
We are delighted to welcome Small Things Wine as a Sponsor. Hailing from Margaret River in Western Australia, Small Things Wine produce handcrafted vegan-friendly premium wines packaged in aluminium cans. Perfect for that overnight hike!
The sustainable 250ml cans play a significant role in reducing energy and transportation costs with a significantly higher recyclability potential. Cans are infinitely recyclable, use less energy to manufacture, chill and transport.
Small Things Wines produces premium wines from the prestigious Margaret River region that are grown in sustainably accredited vineyards and made using sustainable winery practices in their sustainable accredited winery.
Founder and chief winemaker, Ian Batt, said it was his experience travelling the world, filming a documentary about the revolution of Australian wine, Chateau Chunder, when he first pondered wine and cans.
“I started wondering why you never saw high quality wine in cans. The more I researched it, the more reasons I found to do it. It’s much more environmental than glass; it’s easier to recycle, and significantly reduces carbon emissions.”
Their wave logo acts as a gentle reminder to consumers of what they are protecting when they make sustainable choices.
“I made sure we considered the ocean as part of our brand. It reminds me of our place; where we’ve come from and how we need to make sure to look after it,” Ian says.
With cans often associated with low quality wine, Ian has had his work cut out for him. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with environmentally conscious markets like Sweden drinking it by the pallet.
“Our philosophy is to under promise and over deliver. We have a responsibility to carry the mantle for alternative sustainable packaging in wine, so when someone decides to have a can of our wine it must be good.”
To achieve this, Ian works closely with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certified growers to source his fruit.
These grapes lower the brand's environmental impact, with the additional benefit of producing wines that are exceptionally expressive of the natural landscape. Ian even admits he doesn't have to work very hard to get it right in the winery.
For Ian it’s all about giving back. Where each can of his wine captures a piece of the region, it also preserves its longevity.
“While it’s still immaculate, I feel we had the best of Margs when we were kids. It’s taught me that if we don’t think about the future, we will jeopardise it for the next generation.”
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation’s efforts to increase awareness and understanding of Nyoongar culture on the Bibbulmun Track has been given a boost by a Lotterywest grant of $10,600. The presentation was made by Matthew Hughes MLA, State MP for Kalamunda at the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track.
Foundation Executive Director, Linda Daniels said that the grant was for consultation with aboriginal artists to create a design representing the 1000-kilometre Track which stretches between Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the South Coast.
"The route of the Bibbulmun Track has been overlaid onto the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia” she said. “While boundaries are not finite, the Foundation has been able to identify which of the eight language groups to acknowledge at each of the 49 campsites along the Track and wishes to use the artwork on the signs and interpretation booklets which will be placed in the shelters.”
The Foundation is also working with an Aboriginal tourism business to develop and promote guided experiences on the Track. The inaugural walks will give Foundation staff and volunteers the opportunity to learn more about Nyoongar culture and bush interpretation.
Photo: At the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track. From L to R: Matthew Hughes MLA, State MP for Kalamunda with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Linda Daniels and Marketing Manager, Ash Gibson.
