History
The idea of bringing together a number of proud and independently minded bushwalking clubs in WA under one centrally state-based organisation was an idea proposed and driven by Jerome DaCosta and Melvyn Lintern (Perth Bushwalkers Club) in the 1990's.
Support for the idea was expressed by a number of Club
Members, including Alf Moredount (Western Walking Club) whose assistance
was invaluable in the drafting of the Constitution and Steve Napier
(Bushwalkers of WA) who provided much valued enthusiasm and practical
input.
The Federation of Western Australian Bushwalkers was officially
launched in October 1992 and was a body principally designed to deal
with the bigger issues of bushwalking, such as negotiating with Government
agencies, educating the general public, encouraging the development
of existing clubs, and, with the potential to commence new groups, deal
with complex administration matters, insurance arrangements, training
of leaders, etc.
Some earlier achievements of the Federation were:
- Production of a widely read subscription newsletter
called The COMPASS of which Steve Napier (BOWA) was the first Editor.
- A series of yearly training weekends held at Icy Creek
Dwellingup where all Clubs came together to share their training skills
and to socialise.
- An in-principal agreement between the Federation and
the Water Corporation in regards to walking/camping access in water
catchments.
- A most successful bid to raise its own operating funds
by conducting a Quiz night in 1998.
- Commencing addressing issues affecting long-term safety,
such as the installation of fresh water tanks located at the Stirlings
and the Fitzgerald River National Park.
- Being a ready made organisation able to meet all requirements
when Public Liability Insurance became available.
Insurance
FWAB, through our peak body Bushwalking Australia Inc, provides members
with comprehensive Insurance Cover for public liability, personal accident
and critical incident debriefing.
At a cost of just $9.25 per member per annum, this is
one of the most competitive insurance premiums available to members
of a sporting organisation.
Our Current Committee
President: Ian
McDonald
Ian has been an active bushwalker for 30+ years and was
the most recently President of the Perth
Bushwalkers Club. He has been on the Federation of WA Bushwalkers
since 1995 and is significantly involved in negotiations for better
access for all walkers to the water catchments around Perth which make
up the largest part of our walking environment.
Ian is curently President of Bushwalking Australia Inc
(the National Peak body for bushwalking interests) and also sits on
committees for:
» Trails Assessment
» State Trails Strategy Steering Committee
» Adventure Activity Standards Technical
Working Committee
Fortunately Ian is retired from fulltime work!
Secretary: Ralph
Ditton
Ralph has been actively involved in bushwalking
since 1999 when he took his son out on the Bibbulmun Track for the first
time to do a section.
He is a part owner of http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/aushiker/
which is a forum for people to post their experiences, opinions and
questions related to bushwalking and a moderator on another bushwalking
forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hiking-wa
In his spare time Ralph is a gear tester. He has tested gear from tents
to socks. He also mentors new gear testers, calls gear test and selects
gear testers from the applicants of test calls.
Ralph is still in the workforce running his own business.
Treasurer:
Jackie Furby
Jackie brings a wealth of experience from
the Western Walking
Club who celebrate 70 years of continuous existence as a walking
club in Western Australia. Jackie has also held the position of Treasurer
for WWC.
Other Committee
Members:
| Peter Hegarty |
Insurance Convenor
Perth Bushwalkers Club |
| Mel Lintern |
BSc(Zoology). GradDipEnvSc. PhD candidate
Access Sub-Committee member
Family Bushwalking Club |
| Hecate Jay |
BA(Phil); Dip Int MM
Secretary of Bushwalking Australia Inc
Member of AAS Technical Working Committee
Perth Bushwalkers Club |
| Edith Thomas |
Western Walking Club |
| John Lang |
Access Sub-Committee member
Family Bushwalking Club |
| Graham Barnes |
Bushwalkers of WA |
| Dorothy Chin |
The Hiking Club |
| |
Albany Bushwalkers Club |
| Vince Piper |
Action Outdoors Association |
| Jean Herstead |
Albany Bushwalkers Club |
Non-Voting Members:
Jerome Da Costa
- The Hiking Club
Why Join?
At a cost of just $1 per member per year,
your Club's membership with the Federation of Western Australian Bushwalkers
Inc helps provide a valuable advocacy and negotiating base for fighting
issues that affect the quality of bushwalking in Western Australia.
Through our National Peak Body - Bushwalking
Australia Inc - we provide comprehensive Liability & Personal Accident
insurance at a cost of only $9.25 per member per annum (2008 figures).
If you would like to find out more about
joining one of our member clubs, click here.
Did you know... Through Bushwalkers Australia
Inc, our National Insurance Scheme covers over 21,000 walkers from 197
clubs against the risk of Club Liabilty and Personal Injury?
