Friends

Friends of the Heysen Trail – Walk Fee increase 2019

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For well over 10 years the Friends has maintained a standard walk fee for its End to End, Trail Walker and Trail Starter walks.

Despite extensive commitment by so many of our volunteers, the broader cost of living is having an impact and costs of running the organisation are growing: office rent, administration & insurance.

New fees for walks conducted after 1 May 2019.

On that basis, the Friends Council has determined an increase to walk fees will apply for the 2019 walk season as follows:

  • Casual walk fee – new rate of $10 will apply to walks scheduled on or after 1 May 2019.
  • Golden Boots Card – new fee of $75 will apply to any purchase on or after 1 May 2019. 

The changes have been made administratively on the website. Members won’t need to do anything different when registering for a walk.

Twilight walk fees will not change.

Members with a current Golden Boots card will be able to continue to use that until it reaches the expiry date.  In other words, any Golden Boots card purchased on or before 29 April 2019 will apply until the relevant expiry date during 2019 – 20.

Friends’ Volunteers will continue to be issued with a Golden Boots card to use during the walk season in recognition of the time and commitment given to the Friends and the Heysen Trail.

Join the Friends before May 31, 2019

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Join the Friends of the Heysen Trail before 31st May and win.

Financial members of the Friends of the Heysen Trail support the ongoing maintenance and greening of South Australia’s premier walking trail; participate in an extensive 2019 walks programme and receive the quarterly full-colour 32-page Trailwalker magazine.

If you join the Friends of the Heysen Trail between 1st March and 31st May 2019 your name goes into the draw to win a 2-day guided walk on the Heysen Trail and overnight accommodation at Heysen’s Rest B&B, Myponga*. The accommodation includes complimentary beer and wine, and provisions for a cooked breakfast; drop off at the end of your guided walk and pick up next morning from your accommodation.

One year’s membership costs only $25 single, $40 family and $10 student. The easiest way is to join on-line. Simply go to the membership page of the Friends of the Heysen Trail website for more information and to join.

Our website also has more information about the Heysen Trail, Friends activities and our walking program.

*The prize must be redeemed in the 12-month period following the closing date of the competition. Accommodation is limited to two adults, although the winners can bring family and guests on the guided walk. Competition closes Friday 31st May 2019. The winner will be notified after the draw in the Friends of the Heysen Trail office at Suite 203 Epworth Building, 33 Pirie Street, Adelaide 5000.

Introduction to Walk Leader Training Night. Tuesday 2nd Oct 2018.

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Have you ever thought you’d like to become a Walk Leader with the Friends of the Heysen Trail?

Well, here’s your chance to see what goes on, on and off the trail.

In a low key evening we will run through the basics of being a leader and how you can get involved.

Being a walk leader is a rewarding way of sharing your favourite walks with others and a great way to get involved with the Friends.

So if this is something you’d like to hear more about, we’d love to see you on the night.

The evening is the first step in joining our team of walk leaders. We will offer further support and assistance and help you plan and lead walks.

If you are interested come on and give it a try.

How
Just go to the walks calendar on the website and register as you would for a normal walk.

Where
Woodville Bowling Club, Oval Avenue,  Woodville South.

When
Time-7.00 to 9:30pm, including a Tea Break.

If you have any questions, please send an email to the Office and one of the leaders will contact you.

Walk for the Heysen 2018.

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Walk for the Heysen

Sunday 29 April 2018
Bridgewater Oval, Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater
Walk on the Heysen Trail and BBQ picnic

Walk for the Heysen – experience local parks and native scrub and have fun while supporting the Warren Bonython Heysen Trail Foundation’s 2018 fundraising efforts. The foundation supports the improvement of facilities and the environment on the Heysen Trail & other walking trails.

  • Four walk options from 5km to 17km.
  • Walks depart from 9.00 am. Arrive in time to register before your walk.
  • All walks depart from and arrive back to the Bridgewater Oval. Walks are designed to suit all ages and standards of walking fitness.
  • Bring the family for a great day out in the Adelaide Hills.

After the walk grab a BBQ meal (included in registration fee) at the Bridgewater Oval, or bring your own picnic. The picnic area includes the football club rooms, toilets and parking.

In keeping with the tradition of the Warren Bonython Memorial Walk conducted by the Friends of the Heysen Trail in 2013, the theme for the day will be yellow.
A prize consisting of a Heysen Trail merchandise pack (value $100) is up for grabs to the best yellow sartorial costuming on the day.

Tickets

$30 for adults, $5 for children, $60 for families

Book online here.

Download the event flyer

You may also choose to make a one-off donation to the Foundation through the Foundation’s web site: Warren Bonython Heysen Trail Foundation

The Foundation is registered as an environmental charity and donations are tax deductible.

Honorary Membership – know someone who has served the Friends well?

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Jamie Shephard, Honorary Member.

Do you know someone who warrants Honorary Membership of the Friends?

Have they made an outstanding contribution to the Friends or to the Heysen Trail?

Now is the time for you to make sure their efforts are recognised.

You can nominate them for Honorary Membership of the Friends of the Heysen Trail & Other Walking Trails Inc.

Please email your nominations to Julian Monfries, Chair, Honorary Membership sub-committee of the Council.

In your nomination please include the following information:

  • The name of your nominee,
  • The classification of the award you are nominating them for,
  • A summary of their contribution to the Trail or the Friends and how they qualify for the award,
  • Your name and contact information

The sub-committee will consider all submissions and then make recommendations to Council. Succesful candidates will be presented to the full membership at the next Annual General Meeting to be held on 23rd March 2018.

Please submit your nominations by the end of January, 2018.

Guidelines for Honorary Membership (Distinguished Service)

  • normally at least 10 years of paid membership as an ordinary, Family or life member;

AND

  • at least 6 years of substantial voluntary contributions to the Association,
  • Including especially one or more of:
    • Membership of Council
    • Chair of the various sub-committees
    • Regular Walker Leadership roles
    • Maintenance Section Leader or Volunteer
    • Office Volunteer

Guidelines for Honorary Membership (Exceptional)

Substantial and sustained contribution to promotion, development and/or maintenance of the Heysen Trail, or the Association other than as a paid member or volunteer though, for example, public service support, media support etc.

 

 

 

The Great North Walk – May 2018.

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Directions for the walk in the Lane Cove National Park

The Great North Walk

Bookings for the Friend’s extended walk for 2018 open on February 1st 2018.

The route map.

 Join us as we walk the iconic 250 km trail from Sydney to Newcastle.

The Great North Walk is a wonderful trail following many tracks through a magnificent array of natural and urban environments.

Created in 1988, as an Australian Bicentennial project, the Great North Walk is rich in the history of New South Wales.  Follow the links for more information about the walk.

The Friends will be exploring this long-distance Trail over 17 days in May 2018.

You can find out more about this walk from Peter Solomon using the email link given in the walk description on the Friends walk calendar.

To secure accommodation, bookings need to be made early.  Make sure you don’t miss out on this great walk.

 

The Friend’s Trail Maintenance Shed Open Day – Saturday November 25, 2017.

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Inside our Maintenance Shed at Cobbler Creek

Did you know the Friends of the Heysen Trail operates a Maintenance Shed at the Cobbler Creek Recreation Park?

Wondering what goes on behind the scenes of the Trail Development and Maintenance program?

Did you know we have a working partnership with the Work for the Dole scheme to produce toilets and platforms?

Come along to the Friend’s Shed Open Day

  • Find out more about the infrastructure and maintenance program.
  • Socialise with like-minded members, free BBQ and drinks on offer.

Details and how to register…

When       Saturday November 25 2017, 11.00am to 2.00pm.

Where    ‘The Shed’, Cobbler Creek Conservation Park, east of the intersection of Smith and Bridge Rds, Salisbury East.

All you need to bring is a chair and hat.  BBQ and drinks will be supplied

Register for the free event

We have work ready to do now:

By Christmas we will have 3 new toilets and 15 camping platforms ready to install at a range of locations along the trail.

  • Are you interested in helping with the installation project? You don’t need to be highly skilled, although some lifting work may be involved.
  • Would you like to be notified of future maintenance events ( i.e. weekday or weekend trail trips, our End to End Maintenance weekends and shed work days)? We have a range of work to be done including ‘lighter’ jobs such as pruning along the trail and painting huts.

Do you have home handy person/building skills?

Our Hut Maintenance Co-ordinator needs more assistance.

If you are a skilled home handyperson or tradesperson and are willing to participate in one or two maintenance trips per year with a small group, please put your name on the list below. Typical work includes carpentry, painting, roofing, plumbing, glazing and plastering.

If you can help in any of these areas, please let us know.

You can leave your name to enter your availability preferences and interests/skills and we will add you to our Maintenance Volunteers mailing list.

Join Mailing List

This is your chance to ‘give a bit back to the trail’.

Changes to walk booking arrangements – Golden Boots and Multiwalk Cards

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We have recently made changes to our walk booking arrangements. The major change was to discontinue the sale of Multiwalk passes.

Council recently approved changes to walk booking arrangements to simplify our website redevelopment project. In addition to the discontinuation of multiwalk passes Golden Boots passes can now be used on Twilight walks.

When registering for walk, walkers now have the choice of  using:

  • the casual walk fee option of $8 per walk or
  • a Golden Boots pass (unlimited walks over 12 months at a cost of $60).

The concessional rate of $1 per walk for walkers under the age of 18 years will remain in place.

We have advised existing Multiwalk passholders of transitional arrangements available to them until the time that their Multiwalk pass would have expired.

We trust you will appreciate the exceptional value available through the purchase of a Golden Boots pass and the convenience of having to pay only once a year for the cost of your walks.

If you have any questions about these changes or problems registering for your next walk, please contact the Office.

The Friends elect their first female President

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Our new President, Melanie Sjoberg, walking the trail.

At the Friends Annual General meeting last Friday, the Friends welcomed Melanie Sjoberg to the role of President.

Melanie is a dedicated walker and in addition brings with her a wealth of organisational and negotiation skills.  She recently retired from the position as Director in the Office for the Public Sector SA Govt.

Melanie completed walking  the Heysen Trail in August 2014 with our E2E 4 group. Since then she has continued her connection with the Friends by joining the Lavender Federation Trail walks.

Melanie has provided the following thoughts on her role:

“As I follow a long line of dedicated people, I’m conscious of the challenges but also proud to be the first woman President. I am committed to the beauty and diversity of the Heysen, hence enthusiastic about its continued prominence as an SA icon.  On that basis I’m open to any thoughts, ideas or feedback members may wish to share.”

If you wish to pass on any comments or ideas to Melanie, you can do so by sending her an email at the Friends office, heysentrail@heysentrail.asn.au.

Melanie has taken the reins from our Past President (and now Vice President) Robert Alcock. Robert also spoke at the AGM about the many memories he has of the friendship he developed and the many walks undertaken during his 6 year term. Robert’s contribution was heartily acknowledged by those in attendance.

So thank you Robert and congratulations Melanie – welcome to the position of President of the Friends of the Heysen Trail and other Walking Trails.

Vale Jamie Shephard, past President of Friends of the Heysen Trail

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Vale Jamie Sheppard, past President of Friends of the Heysen Trail

Vale Jamie Shephard, past President of Friends of the Heysen Trail

The Friends of the Heysen Trail are saddened by the passing of our highly esteemed past President Jamie Shephard on 27 December, 2016. Jamie was active in all facets of the walking community, and a most generous host of social functions for the members. Jamie will be remembered as a true gentleman and friend to all who knew him, and he will be very sadly missed in the wider community.

Vale Jamie Sheppard, past President of Friends of the Heysen Trail