Friends

The Heysen Trail 2024 calendars have arrived. Now available for immediate delivery. Only $12!

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The Friends of the Heysen Trail 2024 calendar is now in the Office.

We have taken delivery of the calendar and we have them ready for immediate despatch. Buy yours now for only $12.00.

Get one for your wall at home or work or buy some as Christmas gifts for family and friends.

Order from our On-line shop for delivery by post.

By ordering the calendar from our On-line shop you can request postage to an address in Australia or overseas.

Standard postage to any address within Australia (for a single copy) will be an additional $5.10.

Save postage  – pick your copy from our Office or the End of Year Bash.

If you can get into the Office, you can take delivery yourself. Simply visit the Office during business hours – 10.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday.

If you are attending the Friend’s End of Year Bash at Belair National Park on November 26th, you can also pick up your copy there.

To order a ‘pick up’ copy without paying postage, visit or phone the Office on (08) 8212 6299 to order and pay.

Friends of the Heysen Trail 2024 calendar available for order now. Only $12!

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The Friends of the Heysen Trail 2024 calendar will be available soon. Order it now.

Make sure you order your copies of the calendar early to get in on the low price of $12.00.

Get one for your wall at home or work or buy some as Christmas gifts for family and friends.

We expect to have copies available at the Office in early November.

Order from our On-line shop for delivery by post.

By ordering the calendar from our On-line shop you can request postage to an address in Australia or overseas.

Standard postage to any address within Australia (for a single copy) will be an additional $5.10.

Save postage  – pick your copy from our Office or the End of Year Bash.

You can also order the calendar for pick up from the Office.  If you can get into the Office you can take delivery yourself – we will let you know when they’ve arrived.

If you are attending the Friend’s End of Year Bash at Belair National Park on November 26th, you can also pick up your copy there.

To order a ‘pick up’ copy without paying postage, it is best to pre-order your copy by phoning the Office  to order and pay.

Extra Christmas special – price reduction for Heysen Highlights – Companion Guide to the Heysen Trail

If you haven’t yet got a copy of Simon Cameron’s authoritative guide to the Heysen Trail now is the time.

Secure your copy at the new super low prices. We’ve reduced the price to $25.00, with a discounted rate of $20.00 for Members.

The Friends End of Year Bash is on again at Belair, November 26th 2023

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The Friend’s End of Year Bash – a family affair.

All Friends of the Heysen Trail are invited, with their families.

Let’s gather to celebrate a year of walking and wonder on The Trail.

Family and friends of members are welcome.

Date and Time : Sunday November 26th, 12 noon to 4.30 pm

Place: Main Pavilion, Belair National Park

What to bring: BYO food, drinks, chairs (there are some bench seats in the Pavilion), cutlery, drinkware  or anything else you need to share the day with walking friends and your families.

Cost and Booking: There is no charge for this event but you need to book so we can give Belair National Park some idea of numbers.

Bookings are now open so you can use this link to register on the Walk Calendar on our website.

Bookings close on Monday November 20th.

The 2024 Calendar will be available for collection at this event.

Park entry fees are waived for attending members and guests. On entry, just mention you are with Friends of the Heysen Trail.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Big bold idea for Heysen Trail Northern Trailhead

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The Existing Northern Trailhead

Exciting news about a bold new proposal to enhance the Heysen Trail northern Trailhead!!

Do you remember the feeling as you started or completed the Heysen at the Parachilna Gorge trailhead?   Many have described the climb over that Trailhead stile as “underwhelming” – for such a grand occasion.

The new design – northbound view

In 2022, The Friends Council supported a proposal to investigate ways to give the 30+ year old Trailhead a makeover.

We envisaged a gateway offering a greater sense of significance and a place of arrival/launching for the 1200km Heysen achievement.

The Friends engaged Landscape Architects to work with The Friends and consult with local landholders, community organisations, and local Adnyamathanha representatives, about a suitable concept – a concept that The Friends Council has now endorsed.

After preliminary discussion with the Department for Environment & Water (DEW), The Friends are optimistic that the go ahead for the concept will be forthcoming.

The southbound view

The design concept, shown to the right, looks inspiring and will incorporate planting / landscaping.

A more detailed design package is available by clicking on this link: Heysen Trail Northern Trailhead.

We hope you’ll agree that it’s a worthwhile and very exciting project!

FOHT Website Review – Update

Members would be aware that The Friends Promotion: Membership & Marketing Standing Committee (PMM) has been canvassing views about the need to improve and modernize our website.  Consultation across the Friends Committees and a member survey have informed the assessment that it is time to generate a visually appealing website with simpler navigation.

PMM has now completed a tender process by engaging an experienced design and software team to provide The Friends with future design options.  PMM is aiming for completion in 2024.

FoHT new Council & Annual Report 2022

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Member News: FOHT new Council & Annual Report 2022

The Friends AGM on 5 April 2023 at Torrens Rowing Club was well attended with an upbeat vibe and lots of chatting among members.  Thank you all for your membership, engagement and volunteering to keep the Friends and Heysen Trail alive.

Please welcome the incoming Council Members listed below who will continue that commitment.

2023 FOHT Office Bearers & Council Positions

Reminder that the revised FOHT Constitution adopted in 2022 included provision to assist renewal that all member are elected for 2 year terms, a limit of 3 x 2 years continuous in an Office Bearer position and maximum 12 years continuous for any Council member.

  • President – Neil Hendry
  • Vice President – Melanie Sjoberg
  • Secretary – Vicki Stewart continuing in current 2 year term
  • Treasurer – Basia Samcewicz continuing in current 2 year term

Council Members

  • Continuing in current 2 year term – Barbara Deed; John Babister; Margaret Fletcher.
  • Newly elected: Paul Bond; Judy McAdam; Ross McDougall; Kathy Wright; Mark Fletcher.

FOHT achievements and financial statements were presented and approved at the AGM.  The FOHT Annual Report for 2022 outlining those presentations is attached for your information.

Read the Annual Report

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2023

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Annual The 36th Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the Heysen Trail and Other Walking Trails Inc will be held at 6.30pm Wednesday 5 April 2023 at the Torrens Rowing Club Functions Centre, Victoria Drive, Adelaide.

Call for Council Nominations

Seeking nominations from our members, for election to the following Council positions:

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Ordinary Council Members

To nominate, please complete the nomination form (page 2 of AGM notice) and provide to The Secretary by 27 March 2023.
Forms may be submitted via email: heysentrail@heysentrail.asn.au; or deliver/post to Friends of the Heysen Trail, Suite 203, Epworth House, 33 Pirie Street Adelaide, 5000.

AGM Agenda

  1. Apologies
  2. Acceptance of Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 24 March 2022
  3. President’s Report
  4. Treasurer’s Report
  5. Election of Returning Officer
  6. Election of Councillors
    • President
    • Vice President
    • Council Members
  7. Appointment of Auditor
  8. Report from Honorary Members Committee
  9. Other Business
  10. Close of Meeting

Registration

Members must register to attend the AGM via our website walk/events program to meet space limitations.

The Friends Office reopens on Tuesday 7th February, 2023.

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The Friends Office reopens on Tuesday February 7th.

After a break over Christmas,  the Friends office reopens on Tuesday February 7th 2023. Our volunteers will be available to help you from 10.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.

We:

  • Welcome visitors to the Office to inspect our range of maps and publications,
  • Answer questions about walking the Heysen Trail,
  • Attend to your emails and phone calls,
  • Process On-line shop orders, Membership enquiries and renewals,

You can register for walks using our online walk calendar or contact the Office if you need assistance.

There are several ways to contact the Office – you will find details on our website at heysentrail.asn.au/contact

New Ikara- Flinders Ranges National Park map released.

To celebrate the reopening of the Office, we are delighted to announce the arrival of the latest map in the series of Parks SA Bushwalking maps.

You can purchase the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park map from our On-line store or direct from the Office.

Access to the Trail over the Fire Danger period

We remind walkers that many sections of the Heysen Trail remain closed over summer and through April. You can find more information about the closures on our Fire Danger Season page.

Heysen Trail Calendar 2023 available now. Only $12!

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The Friends of the Heysen Trail Calendar 2023 is now available.

Just a reminder that copies of the Heysen Trail Calendar 2023 are in the Office and available for immediate pick up or delivery.

The calendar offers beautiful photographic images taken by our members and, at $12 a copy, offers great value and an opportunity to support the work of The Friends. Get one for your wall at home or work. They also make excellent Christmas gifts for family and friends, both here in SA or interstate and overseas.

Order from our On-line shop for delivery by post.

By ordering the calendar from our On-line shop you can request postage to an address in Australia or overseas. Postage charges to any address within Australia (for a single copy) will be an additional $4.80.

Order online now

Save postage – pick your calendar up from the Office.

If you prefer, save the cost of postage by picking up your calendar from the Office. The volunteers there would love to see you.

Friends of the Heysen Trail 2023 calendar now in store. Only $12!

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The Friends of the Heysen Trail 2023 calendar is here now.

Make sure you order your copies of the calendar early to get in on the low price of $12.00.

Get one for your wall at home or work or buy some as Christmas gifts for family and friends.

The calendar was delivered to the Office in early November.

Order from our On-line shop for delivery by post.

By ordering the calendar from our On-line shop you can request postage to an address in Australia or overseas. We will be posting out the first orders within the next week.

Postage charges to any address within Australia (for a single copy) will be an additional $4.80.

Order online now

Any orders made through our On-line shop will have the shipping charge added to the cost.

Save postage  – pick your copy from our Office or the Christmas Bash.

You can also order the calendar for pick up from the Office.  If you can get into the Office you can take delivery yourself – we will let you know when they’ve arrived.

If you are attending the Friends Christmas Bash at Karka Pavilion, Belair National Park on Sunday November 13th, you can also collect your ordered calendar there.

To order a ‘pick up’ copy without paying postage, you need to call into or phone the Office to order and pay.

New Heysen Trail Map 1, including the Wild South Coast Way.

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Release of the new Heysen Trail Map 1, incorporating the Wild South Coast Way

The Friends have taken delivery of the revised version of the Heysen Trail map sheet 1.  The newly released Edition 2 map covers the Cape Jervis to Kuitpo section of the trail. It incorporates the Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail – the 74 km long series of spectacular walks between Cape Jervis & Victor Harbor.

You can purchase the new map sheet now via our online store, for $15 with postage from $3.70.

The map shows several spur and loop trails associated with the Wild South Coast Way, the new ‘walk-in’ campsites and other facilities erected on the trail. It also has information about when you can walk the Wild South Coast Way – it is open year round except on days of Cat­a­stroph­ic fire danger.

Remember, you can sign up to receive re-route notifications for your map sheet editions. All map sheets published since 2014 are available for notification.

The Friends map and book clearance sale continues

Meanwhile the Friends map and book clearance sale continues. We are running low on stock of most of our ‘to be discontinued lines’.

We’ve sold our last copy of Warren Bonython’s classic, ‘Walking the Flinders Ranges’. However, we have been advised that the Royal Geographical Society have a few remaining copies. If you missed out on reading the story that led to the creation of the Heysen Trail, you can purchase the book from the RGSSA .