Gondwana Link West, Spring 2006
Report back from Gondwana Link West Walk by Basil
Grant S. 2006
View the photos, too:
It is useful to reflect on how our walks go, so here are some of my thoughts on the Gondwana Walk West that took place in the October school holidays.
What a pleasure it was to be part of a cool organising committee. People responded well to being asked to take on roles and how competently and diligently they performed these. Tony is a wizard on registrations and spread sheets, Sarah and Peter are the sort of people you want to get marooned on a desert island with, Michael is magical with maps, Marianne really got things hotted up with affirming young people and Lisa stepped into Sarah's shoes most competently. So all in all a pretty spicy coordinating committee that was also in full agreement from the start that we wanted a walk that re-affirmed the value of having fun without the presence of naughty substances.
There were some quiet achievers without whom the walk would have been much more difficult to organise. These include John V, who drove the truck down from Perth and the bus back. This was a walk where everyone seemed keen to chip in and help out. How much easier this made things and no one seemed to need expensive stress managenent consultants.
As regards finances, I think both Tony and I now agree that we undercharged by perhaps $5/person/day, which was needed to cover bus and transport costs. That said, I am pleased that we negotiated special arrangements for financially challenged families. The GWN vehicles performed well and we did look after them on the walk. It was great to engage the children in helping care for the bus.
The Walk did cross a lot of private properties, and it did require quite a lot of pre Walk contacts with farmers. This I enjoyed doing and learnt a lot about who is who in the area - which is part of my landcare 'patch' in the Great Southern. I wrote letters after the Walk thanking the landowners for their support in letting us camp - but something missing was a welcome to country by a Noongar custodian. Even though this is not always easy to organise, it is something we should try hard to do. The actual landcare educational events seemed to go well, and it was a highlight for me that this Walk has blessed an important stretch of country that so deeply needs healing and re-connecting.
It did all seem to go quite smoothly. I enjoyed seeing new people facilitate circles. I felt very supported in my role, and circles did seem to be enjoyed by the young people, which is a sure sign something was working. The men's circle was very special, and it was fabulous on the walk to see the effort that went into creativity, workshops and the variety night.
Absolutely bloody marvellous: That about sums it up. It's not just Gerard who has taken some pretty good photos from the Walk, but you may just have to come down to Denmark to experience them as much. Although I would really like to come up to Freo for the show and tell, there is the small matter of the tryanny of distance that bedevils our little island in the sun.... perhaps cyberspace will bring us just that bit closer together.
Keep walking and smiling
BasilRelevant pre-Walk information:
Gondwana West Walk
From the Stirlings to Mt Lindesay2nd October - 10th October 2006
- Download full information (.pdf format)
- Download information about the special events that were held (.pdf format)
- Download road maps (.pdf format)
In brief:
Day 1 - Monday 2nd October
Walkers meet near Fremantle Railway Station (at car-park No 12B on Beach Street, near Captain Munchies) at 7.45am to travel down south. Set up camp on Val and Tim Saggers farm at the end of Filmer Road about 14km down Redgum Pass Road out of Kendenup close to the South Western corner of the Stirling Ranges National ParkDay 2 - Tuesday 3rd October
Walk along edge of Stirlings to Young River. Camp at same location on the Saggers property.Day 3 - Wednesday 4th October
Walkers set off to Lake Matilda, which is just beside the Albany Highway about 6km south of Tenterden - across a route through farmland and via Costello Road and the Railway Reserve. Support Crew set up camp at Lake Nunijup Reserve. Walkers get picked up mid afternoon and bussed to Lake Nunijup Shire Reserve to set up tents.Day 4 - Thursday 5th October
Walkers bussed back to Lake Matilda and they walk on fire breaks parrallel to The Martagallup - Tenterden Road and then along Stockyard Road through approved farmland back to Lake Nunijup Reserve where they camp a second night.Evening or afternoon seminar/workshop event looking at Kent River catchment/Gondwana Link themes with invited speakers