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Walpole Community Celebration Event Highlights

6 September 2023

On Tuesday 29th August, the community gathered at the Walpole Hotel-Motel to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bibbulmun Track. As the Southern Terminus from 1989 to 1998, Walpole has always held a special connection to the track, with the Walpole Workcamp even being established to work on the track – work that continues to this day! 

A bit of background on the Track: 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 end-to-end.  Along the way, they were accompanied by sectional walkers.  The event was called Bib Walk ‘98.  

In 2008, the 10th Anniversary was celebrated by an end-to-end walk starting in Albany. 

Even though the official celebration isn’t until 13th September, the Walpole Hotel Motel was packed with people eager for some good food and a cold drink, especially for those walking the track, headed by Steve Sertis, Event Manager for the Bibbulmun Track Foundation serving as the lead guide for the walk. 

Upon arriving at the pub, The Weekly caught up with Steve for a quick chat where he expressed how pleased he was with the event. Citing the large number of community members who arrived to show their support and of course, the incredible food provided by the proprietors Kris and Nate, which, I understand, was made entirely from local produce. 

Despite the damp weather and grey skies that have become familiar to us all over recent weeks, the sun was shining, and the walk went smoothly with no one getting wet, although there were a few faceplants! 

Entering the pub, we were greeted with songs from the wonderful Rob V of Dig the Dust fame– who provided the room with an ambience that made it easy for people to chat. Huge thanks are owed to Jenny Willcox, Dave Tapley and Robyn Christian for their incredible work organising the event, it couldn’t have gone better! 

I think Jenny Willcox accurately expressed why the event was organised in her speech: “Today, we gather here to celebrate a milestone that encapsulates the very essence of our deep connection with the land and the spirit of adventure that resides within each one of us. As we stand before the 25th anniversary of the Bibbulmun Track, we are reminded of the remarkable journey that this trail has undertaken, shaping lives, fostering camaraderie, and etching stories of resilience and exploration onto the canvas of Western Australia's natural beauty. 

As we take this moment to reflect on the journey that has brought us here, I am reminded of the vital role that the town of Walpole played in the inception and evolution of this iconic trail. Walpole, one of the nine towns that proudly cradle the Bibbulmun Track, holds a special place in the heart of this trail's history. It was here, in the year 1998, that the concept of the Bibbulmun Track was given life. The same year witnessed the establishment of the Walpole Prison Work Camp, a significant endeavour that would provide the workforce essential to erect the walkers' huts and bridges, and to extend the track's course as it reached towards Albany. 

The journey has not been without challenges, forging a path through rugged terrain and untamed wilderness demands both determination and vision. However, it was with a collective spirit that the Walpole Community Resource Centre stepped forward, becoming the first registered "Friend of the Bibbulmun Track".  The commitment and drive that flowed from this community served as the guiding light that led us through the darkest of forests and the steepest of ascents. 

As we stand here today, the Bibbulmun Track stands not merely as a trail, but as a symbol of our unity with nature and our shared pursuit of the uncharted. Its corridors have echoed with laughter, stories, and the footsteps of countless adventurers, each contributing to its legacy, each leaving their mark on its path. Through sunlit days and moonlit nights, the Bibbulmun Track has been our canvas of discovery, inviting us to uncover the untouched corners of our world and to rediscover our own strengths.” 

Before I end this article, I would be remiss if I failed to thank Kris and Nate of Walpole Hotel for not only hosting the event but showcasing such an array of local produce for the spread of food. It was delicious guys, thanks! 

The day would not have been possible without the generous financial support of Lotterywest, together with Walpole CRC, Walpole Op Shop and the Shire of Manjimup 

Regan Marsh, Walpole CRC 

Annual Donnelly Field Day

4 September 2023

Saturday saw the annual Donnelly Field Day take over Tom Road Campsite, where 13 willing volunteers and Macca from DBCA carried out several tasks in and around the campsite. Several vollies arrived Friday night, welcomed by several groups of walkers, so they enjoyed the patter of rain on tents throughout the night in preparation for the day ahead. The rest arrived early the next morning, ready for action.

The principal task was the construction of a new step between the shelter and the table and fire pit, removing the small slope which could be a slip hazard. The team also incorporated a seating area next to the fire pit - which should be a highly sought-after luxury after a long day on the Track. The team also constructed a new tent site to assist the growing popularity of the section.

The toilet, shelter, and tables received a new coat of oil, gutters were cleaned, all steps and trails in the campsite received some infill of gravel and woodchips, and the signage received a new coat of paint.

A small group also joined Macca to clear and repair a nearby bridge and relocate a track sign to a more visible location.

Everyone pitched in during the day, you can view all the photos from the event here - well done to all.

Dookanelly to Possum Springs Realignment Under Construction

24 August 2023

When the Long Gully Bridge was destroyed by fire in 2016 the replacement, Bilya Djena Bidi, was built downstream opening to walkers in 2017.  It was, for convenience, connected to the existing Track using mostly long boring 4WD roads popular with campers whose 4WD vehicles dig deep holes spanning the entire track width, treacherously deep when water-filled in winter.   

The spectacular views of the previous alignment were lost.  Add to that the flooding risk when Bell and Chalk Brooks met the Murray River in flood near Tumlo Plantation and walkers had little choice but to wade chest deep through muddy flowing water. 

The Foundation’s 2017 Vision Survey highlighted members’ strong desire for the Track to be realigned away from roads.  So, a small team of Support Volunteers (SVs) set to work with a list of candidate sections and since 2019 have been steadily constructing realignments after obtaining approval through Parks & Wildlife’s Disturbance Assessment System, DAS.  DAS requires documented planning and stakeholder liaison to ensure that all environmental and heritage values are considered and adequately addressed. 

Fast forward to August 2023 and, after exhaustive route selection away from roads and including wonderful high points, and DAS, a team of SVs has completed Campaign 1 readying 6.1km of trail.  Add to that the sections constructed by a specialist contractor and we’re on the downhill run, so to speak. 

The majority of the 17.7km realignment should be ready for walkers by mid-2024 so look for further announcements.

Bibbulmun Track Virtual Hike Challenge Updates

17 August 2023

Bibbulmun Track Virtual Hike Challenge Updates

We're excited to share that our incredible participants, comprising 210 active teams (with 440+ participants), have collectively taken over 230 million steps!

Now, onto the big news...

Believe it or not, one team reached the Southern Terminus in Albany in under two weeks! A huge congratulations to Team Pee Mac's Pack for their remarkable achievement on July 26th. They've won the prestigious Golden Boots Award as the first team to conquer this final challenge milestone. Team Pee Mac's Pack members will receive a $300 Anaconda voucher, a $27 Small Things Wine voucher, and an exclusive Bibbulmun Track headsox for their outstanding efforts. Well done!

Leaderboard update

Many of you have inquired about the Top 10 Teams who have achieved the final virtual milestone of Albany, listed in order of completion. Please note that this differs from the leaderboards on the BTC App, which rank teams and individuals based on total distance and average distance walked.

Top 10 Teams | In Order of Completion

1. Pee Mac's Pack
2. All About the Bass
3. Camino de Perth
4. MeNiMo
5. Hollywood
6. Killer B's
7. Chariots of Fire
8. The Wandering Membreys
9. Salty Crew
10. The Bibbulmen

We're also thrilled to announce the winners of the following awards:

The End-to-Enders Hare Award goes to Team 'Brave Bravo Birds' as the lucky winner. They are one of the fastest teams to reach the Southern Terminus in Albany by 13th September and entered the prize draw. Each member will enjoy a $27 voucher from Small Things Wine, a $200 voucher from Anaconda, and an exclusive Bibbulmun Track headsox.

The Half Way There Award goes to Team 'Wandering Minstrels' as the lucky winners. They have entered the prize draw by reaching the half way point (DRV) by 11 August. Each member of the team will be enjoying a $54 voucher from Small Things Wine.

The Keep Up the Good Pace Award goes to Team 'Tramping Trail Trio' as the lucky winner. They kept up with the 25th Anniversary end-to-end walkers and reached the second milestone, Helena Campsite, by 15th July, entering the prize draw for this award. Each member will be enjoying a $50 voucher from Sea to Summit.

The Bird's Eye View Black Cockatoo Award goes to Team 'Bibbulmun buddies' as the lucky winner. All teams who kept up with the 25th Anniversary end-to-end walkers and reached Mt Dale by 17th July entered the prize draw for this award. Each member will be enjoying a $50 voucher from Paddy Pallin.

The On Track to Raise the Most Funds Award goes to Team 'Pee Mac's Pack' for raising the most funds by the half way point (11th August). Each member of the team will be enjoying a $27 voucher from Small Things Wine.

The Rapid Rambler Award goes to Team 'The Gazelles' for being the quickest team to reach the first milestone, Hewett's Hill Campsite. Each member will be enjoying a $25 voucher from Anaconda.

The Wordsmith Walkers Award goes to Team 'Whatever Floats your Mountain Goats' for having the best/funniest team name, based on tallied points given by our office volunteers. Each member of the team will enjoy a $25 voucher from Paddy Pallin.

The Picture Perfect Award goes to Claire Cardew from Wellard Village People and Terri Walker from Brave Bravo Birds! These selfie superstars have shown us how to strike a pose and capture those epic moments during their first walk/run. They'll be enjoying $25 vouchers from Sea to Summit as their well-deserved treat. Way to go, folks! Your selfie game is on point!

The Lucky Early Bird Award goes to Felicity Williamson from 'Tramping Trail Trio' and Paul Mincham from 'Following Dot' as the lucky winners. Both of them joined the virtual hike challenge before the send-off and entered the Prize draw. Both of them will be enjoying a $100 voucher from Anaconda.

But wait, the challenge isn't over yet! Stay tuned for more prizes to be revealed in the coming weeks. 

Thanks to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their support.