Walking Community

Independent Review of Walking SA Complete

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The independent review into the governance and organisational structure of Walking SA by BDO (formerly PKF) has been completed. The response rate to surveys conducted last year was one of the highest BDO has ever received for this type of review, which is an indication of the importance of walking within the community.

Walking SA has agreed in principle with all the recommendations of the review (view summary of recommendations). The Minister for Recreation and Sport has agreed to provide some additional funds to assist with their implementation.

Key aspects include:

  • Drafting a new constitution and implementing a modern governance structure to support a wider range of walkers and walking interests than has been possible in the past.
  • Better collaboration with local government and like-minded community organisations.
  • Enabling Walking SA to be more adequately resourced to perform these roles.

AGM This Thursday

We would also like to draw your attention to Walking SA’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting this Thursday 15th August at 7:30pm in the Unley Community Centre, 18 Arthur St Unley. At that meeting an interim committee will be elected, whose main task will be to implement the changes, as well as continue with the present operation of Walking SA. The AGM is open to members of the public as well as members of all affiliated walking clubs.

Safety in Remote Areas – should hikers carry an emergency device?

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A public talk on whether hikers should carry a safety device, like a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), or Spot Tracker. How does a search and rescue operation work? What safety devices are available?

Two guest speakers:

  • Trevor Arnold, SES Commander North Region and Manager Technical Rescue Services
  • Anthony Chan, Electric Bug (retail)

Wednesday, 12 June 2013, 7.30pm

Venue: Burnside City Uniting Church – Cnr Portrush Rd/Fisher St, Tusmore (Enter from Fisher Street).

Trevor Arnold will speak on:

  • How SES see ‘remote’ as in ‘remote outback’. Should bushwalkers really equip themselves with a safety device?
  • The role of SES as a volunteer organization – how they are alerted to and respond to an emergency
  • Approximate time delay from call up to arrival on site, for instance for Parachilna in the Flinders Ranges
  • What is the surest device to achieve the surest response in the shortest time? Comparison of PLB and Spot devices
  • case stories

Anthony Chan will speak on:

  • How to use technology to keep ourselves (bushwalkers) safe in the bush
  • Comparison of devices (initial costs, recurring costs, reliability)

Please bring $5 for donation to offset cost of Hall hire and refreshments – there is no need to book for this event.

View event on Facebook

Take a Walk – Sunday’s Elder Park Opening of the Walk Season

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The opening of the walk season Take a Walk event is this Sunday, at Elder Park in the city.

From 10am to 3pm, on the northern side of the rotunda at Elder Park, the event features:

So why not Take a Walk? Remember, you’re just two feet from some of the best places in South Australia!

Take a Walk. You’re just two feet from some of the best places in South Australia

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The Opening of the Walk Season is just a month away, on Sunday 14 April, at Elder Park in the city.

Visit the WalkingSA Facebook event page.

  • Come and Try walks by various bushwalking clubs from 10am. Registration will not be necessary.
  • Entertainment by Sing Australia – of which six of our FoHT members will be singing.
  • A Day on the Heysen Trail – The Warren Bonython Memorial Walk will be promoted at the event with an art installation.
  • Garage sale of surplus bushwalker gear in our marquee. Have something to sell? Contact the office for more info about how you can sell it on the day.

View the Take a Walk brochure.

Walking SA survey

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As you may be aware, Walking SA is undergoing a review of governance and operations.

Please assist them with the process by taking the time to fill in this 10 min survey. https://www.research.net/s/FK2LWLV

PKF Organisation Development has been engaged to undertake this process. Your responses will be sent directly to PKF in order to ensure that all answers remain confidential. Only key themes will be reported, therefore please ensure that you are as honest in your responses as possible. The information collected will be an integral part of the consulting process and they encourage you to be open in your comments and suggestions.

You may forward this email to friends.

The survey will close at 5pm Wednesday 28th of November.

If you have any questions in relation to the survey please contact Hayley Lokan or Scott Way from PKF Organisation Development on orgdev@pkf.com.au or 08 7421 1400. If you would like to make a more detailed submission regarding the questions in this survey, once again please contact PKF on the details provided above.

Last Sunday’s Walk for Nature

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Last Sunday’s Walk for Nature with Nature Foundation SA went well – a sunny day with $32,000 raised towards conservation projects.

The Friends of the Heysen Trail led two groups, Mary Cartland lead the 12km walk, and president Robert Alcock led a smaller group, including a number of families with pushers, on the 3km walk.

The Friends were proud to be involved in supporting the Nature Foundation who have been involved in many conservation projects in South Australia, some of which the Heysen Trail traverses.

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Walk for Nature is in two weeks, join now!

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The Walk for Nature is coming up on Sunday 21st October. Join the Friends of the Heysen Trail team to walk the 12km return route, or register as an individual or new team to walk either the 3, 6 or 12km return walk along the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater Oval to Woodhouse Activity Centre. Help Nature Foundation SA to raise money to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage South Australia’s wildlife and environment.

More information about the Friends of the Heysen Trail team can be found at www.everydayhero.com.au/friends_heysen_trail. Email the team leader, Robert Alcock (rra320@yahoo.com.au), for further information about how to join the team. You can also support them by donating to the cause via https://secure3.everydayhero.com.au/friends_heysen_trail/donate.

More information about the Walk for Nature can be found at www.naturefoundation.org.au/help-nature/walk-for-nature/

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Survey of forest use in Mt Crawford, Kuitpo and Second Valley forests

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Forestry SA is conducting a survey about the forests of the Mt Lofty Ranges, namely Mt Crawford, Kuitpo and Second Valley forests.

The online survey is to help ForestrySA understand the awareness, desires and perceptions of the public with regard to recreational opportunities in the forests. The survey is open to everyone regardless of their level of knowledge of forest recreational areas.

Fill in the survey now at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7R7MSF2. It features 26 questions about your forestry use, and should take between 7 and 20 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous.

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Walk for Nature by the Nature Foundation SA

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Nature Foundation SA is holding its annual Walk for Nature on Sunday 21st October 2012 with a 3, 6 or 12km return walk along the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater Oval to Woodhouse Activity Centre. Join in to help them raise funds to conserve, restore and sustainably manage South Australia’s wildlife and environment.

More information can be found at www.naturefoundation.org.au

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Free Talk: 30 Years in Bushcare

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The Friends of Waite Conservation Park are hosting a guest speaker, Andrew Crompton, who will conduct a free illustrated talk about 30 years in bushcare… & still lots to learn.

Andrew if one of Adelaide’s most knowledgeable and experienced people working in revegetation and bushcare. He will draw on his lifetime of working experiences and share his practical skills developed in the ecological restoration of his own patch of grassy woodland at Mt Barker.

Date: 7.30-9.30pm Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Venue: Urrbrae House, Waite Campus, the University of Adelaide, off Fullarton Road, Urrbrae

For enquiries please contact Jennifer Gardner on 8313 7405 or jennifer.gardner@adelaide.edu.au

https://www.facebook.com/events/168659119926429/

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