Every once in a while we appear in media. We would like to share an article that appeared in the recent Saturday Advertiser, 8/10/11, regarding our 25th anniversary and the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

Click here to view the article.

80 or so guests and members celebrated 25 years of volunteer service on the Heysen Trail with bushwalks, Irish jigs, koalas, all with the sun shining on our picnic.

Irish band ‘Inesheer’ provided the music, while red and white balloons on Karka Pavilion were the colourful backdrop to speeches (short ones!) by our President, Robert Alcock, Chief Executive of the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Alan Holmes, and guest speaker John Kenneally of radio 5AA.

A new Memorandum of Understanding between DENR and the Friends of the Heysen Trail was signed, then our Patron, Warren C Bonython AO, resplendent in his bright orange shirt and yellow short shorts, cut the birthday cake.

Many thanks go to the organisers, Jeanette Clarke and Chris Porter, for the well organised celebrationary day.

On Sunday, End-to-End 5 crossed Mount Lofty during a great day’s walking through some of the best of the Adelaide Hills.

Although overcast weather threatened the start of the walk, the group was sun drenched at Mount Lofty summit for the all-important group photograph. With the theme of this walk being ‘orange’, much of the group donned something of that colour. Our orange presence was evident to all spectators and other walkers we met along the trail with some interesting facial expressions displayed by those who are endowed with reliable colour perception skills.

Over almost two years the walkers have consolidated into a close-knit, supportive and capable walking team. Well done End-to-End 5ers! Visitors are always welcome to join us – you may even want to stay!

Join with us in celebrating our 25th anniversary on Saturday 8th October at Belair National Park (as recently published on page 24 of the Spring Trailwalker.)

Please register if you are attending.

There are three short walks available for those who are keen for it:

• David Beaton and Liz Barry will be guiding walkers on a one hour walk along some of the picturesque tracks of the national park.
• Simon Cameron will be guiding walkers on a two hour fun challenge walk involving a little bit of everything: a little bit of rock scrambling (5m), a little bit of off-track walking (300m), a little bit of singing (one song), and a little bit of frisbee golf.
• Michael Middleton will be guiding walkers on a one hour walk up Saddle Hill track and through the old cherry plantation.

If you wish to go on a walk please also register for that walk.

The is no charge for the day or any of the walks, however park entry fees may apply.

View full details at: http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/walks/view_event.php?event_id=735&view=event

We look forward to seeing you on the day!

The walks for the Burra Branch’s 20th anniversary on the 24th and 25th September are now open for registration.

There will also be an anniversary dinner at Burra Bowling Club on the Saturday night, cost $25, RSVP to Hugh (ph. 8843 8115) by 17 September.

The Saturday walk is to be at Ulooloo Station (7 kms north of Hallett) on private property, the walk follows Ulooloo Creek downstream passing by old gold prospecting ruins and Wookongarie ruins. The return walk is a climb of Thunder Storm Hill, passing by Mount Scrub and through Chewing’s Gap. Visit registration page.

The Sunday walk is to be at Burra Creek Conservation Park, east of Burra. This walk follows the Burra Creek and some of its tributaries. This walk will be shorter than Saturday’s walk to assist people who will return to Adelaide. Visit registration page.

Accommodation is by your own arrangement. Burra Visitor Centre can help out: ph 8892 2154 or www.visitburra.com, or contact the Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre.

For further information contact Hugh ph 8843 8115; Rodney email rbrees@rbe.net.au ph 0411 134 984 or Meredith ph 0428 832 023.

The Friends of the Heysen Trail and other Walking Trails Inc is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Saturday 8th October at Karka Pavilion, Long Gully, Belair National Park from 9.30am.

Members and invited guests can join the celebrations which will include a bush band and an official cake cutting ceremony. Bring your own lunch, drinks and chairs. There is ample car parking available although park entry fees are payable.

There will be three walks available for interested walkers: one or two hours, free guided walks will commence from 10.00am at the Karka Pavilion.

Register for the celebration, and if interested, one of the walks: click here

Congratulations to the 54 End-to-End 3 hikers who completed the Heysen Trail at the northern trailhead at Parachilna on Saturday. By far a record number of finishers on the one day! Celebrations followed and, after a hurried change into “formal attire”, continued at a presentation dinner at the Rawnsley Park Woolshed Restaurant.

For six seasons we travelled with a lovely group of Friends, who became even closer as we neared the final stile. Much mixing between the walking groups, together with the beautiful scenery (so lovely and green, with splashes of yellow flowers, after a couple of good seasons) made this such a special week.

Thank you to all the walkers, and leaders, especially Simon, Julian and Arrienne – plus the laconic Gavin, so loved by his Roses group.

We started as a group of unknowns and reached the end with firm friends with a special Heysen connection. May we see you all on the Trail, and on other treks.

PS Our bus drivers Gavin and Bill made the logistics so smooth and easy. They are such good company. We thank them for the safe transport up, around, and back again.

End-to-End 3 entered the home run this week with their final six days walking to complete the Trail.

80 walkers started from Red Range and will complete the Trail at Parachilna on Saturday. Of those, 54 will complete the whole trail and receive their End-to-End certificates at the celebratory dinner on Saturday night, at the Rawnsley Station Woolshed Restaurant.

Three walkers have completed every day of the five year trek without missing one day. Congratulations to Chris Allen, Margie Marzola and Paul Davill for managing such a stupendous task, in particular Margie as she has flown down from Queensland to complete the last two weeks away.

Of the 144 who set out on the first walk from Cape Jervis five years ago, 43 are with us this week, though not all will complete the Trail at this stage.