John Babister
We’re thrilled to share that John Babister has been awarded Honorary Membership of The Friends of the Heysen Trail – a fitting recognition of his years of generous service, warm leadership, and deep commitment to our community and the Trail.
Since joining The Friends in 2012, John has brought not only energy and enthusiasm but also a steady, thoughtful presence across so many areas of our work. He began as a keen walker, quickly stepped into leadership, and has been making a lasting difference ever since.
John led the E2E11 group from 2016 to 2022, helping the group navigate everything from remote trail sections to the disruption of the COVID break. He earned a strong reputation as a collaborative, supportive leader who quietly encouraged others to get involved—many of whom have since taken up volunteer roles themselves.
His passion for walking has seen him complete over 300 walks, spanning groups E2E5 through 14 (and even the quirky “Minus 2”!). He’s led day walks, supported other groups, helped members catch up sections, and served on the Walk Committee for six years, where he was also instrumental in training new walk leaders.
Away from the walking program, John has made equally valuable contributions in trail maintenance. Since 2016, he’s been a dedicated Section Leader, helping maintain parts of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and building respectful relationships with landholders along the way—an often unseen but vital part of keeping the Trail open and safe.
John joined The Friends Council in 2020 and has been a thoughtful voice on a wide range of issues ever since. His encouragement played a quiet but important role in supporting our current President to step into leadership, reflecting the way John uplifts those around him.
He’s also been a wonderful ambassador for The Friends, regularly volunteering at the Hiking Expo and other outreach events, where he has helped attract new members, walk leaders, Section Leaders, and even our current Trailwalker Editor.
Perhaps most importantly, John is widely respected for his personal qualities—his calm integrity, his compassion, his selflessness, and his ability to tune into a group’s energy and needs. These intangible qualities are at the heart of great leadership and a healthy, connected volunteer community.
We’re all so pleased to see John’s contributions acknowledged with this well-deserved Honorary Membership. He truly embodies the spirit of The Friends, and we thank him wholeheartedly for everything he’s done.