Hobart Walking Club Inc.

About The Club

At a Glance

Day walks are arranged for every day of the week, but are less frequent on Mondays and Fridays. Overnight or extended trips, involving camping or staying at hostels, cabins etc. are more frequent in the warmer months. Some Members also go on liesurely cycle tours regularly.
Our Trip Coordinators are Club Members, with no special training above the other trip participants. We have about 800 Members, of whom about 80 are involved in the Club's administration. The Club has no paid workers. Our newsletter, The Circular is sent monthly to Members, and is not generally available outside the Club.
Each month an evening meeting is held at which Members may keep up to date with administrative matters, political issues about bushwalking and the Club, and discuss these things with other Members. Slide shows or talks and supper follow the formal part of the meeting. (These meetings are not usually exciting for non-members. It has been said that some of the more important meetings occur on the track and in the bush!)

The section below covers history, administration, membership, risk associated with our activities, activities, transport, monthly meetings, publications, liability and insurance.

The Full Story

Objects

The basic objects of the Club are to encourage walking, skiing and similar outdoor activities and to promote an interest in the preservation of flora, fauna and natural scenery.

History

The Club was founded in 1929. Much of its activity since then is recorded in the Annual Reports and the Club magazine, The Tasmanian Tramp, first published in 1933. At first, and until the 1990's, skiing was an important part of the Club's Winter and Spring activities. However, more recently, some Members have taken to gentle or off-the-bitumen bicycle touring as an adjunct to their walking. In the 1980s our total membership peaked near 1,200 members, but following the formation of other Clubs, and changes in Society we now have about 800 members.
The Club has a long history of active participation in conservation issues.

Administration

There is a 12 member Executive Committee, seven subcommittees, delegates to related organisations, custodians of Club assets, search and rescue contacts, and many other volunteers. No one takes pay for their efforts. We have an office for administrative work and storing Club records.
The Club is a member of the Federation of Tasmanian Bushwalking Clubs (FTBC) and co-operates with the Tasmania Police Search and Rescue on training exercises and searches.

Membership

People aged 16 years and over may apply to become Prospective Members. This membership lasts a maximum of 12 months after which it cannot be renewed. Usually, the Prospectives meet the Club's joining requirements and, after being nominated for membership by an existing Member, the Executive Committee normally accepts them as Members. A Member who provides outstanding service to the Club over a long time may be nominated for Honorary Life Membership, and may be elected as HLM at a General Meeting. We now have 11 HLMs. Sometimes people who cannot fully participate in Club activities for compelling reasons,(e.g. living overseas), may be accepted as Associate Members. Occasionally non-members who have provided outstanding service in furthering the Club's aims may be elected as Honorary Associate Members. At present we have one HLM. There is a total membership of about 800.
People wishing to join the Club are required to apply in writing to the Membership Officer, by post or email. See more under Joining the Club.

Risk

The Club is a group of people who enjoy bushwalks and similar activities. Trips are organised on a voluntary basis by and for Club Members. Every Trip Coordinator is an unpaid volunteer who organises the walk for fellow Club members. They are not paid professionals with commensurate training and responsibility. Each Trip Participant is responsible for their own safety and such things as suitable clothing, equipment and skills. Every person takes part in Club organised activities at their own risk. The Club does not offer qualified first aid.
Club activities involve inherent risks and dangers. The Walk Previews published in The Circular grade the level of difficulty and distance, and may indicate some risks. However, unanticipated and unavoidable hazards can occur which result in serious injury or property loss/damage. For example: weather can be unpredictable and change quickly, tracks become treacherous and accidents can happen.

Activities

A range of outdoor and social activities is organised by the Club.
Day walks are programmed for every day of the week, but are less frequent on Mondays and Fridays. Weekend and extended bushwalking trips involving camping or staying at hostels, cabins etc. are more frequent in the warmer months.
All walks are graded according to their degree of difficulty, and are advertised in The Circular. Bookings and final arrangements are usually made by phone or email between participants and the Trip Coordinator.

Bike riding outings are organised for Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes in weekends.

Canoeing trips are scheduled occasionally and Skiing when there is snow.

The Club has a hut at Lake Dobson in the Mt Field National Park.

Transport

Private cars are usually pooled for trips. Cost is generally shared by car at a rate per passenger per km.

Monthly Meetings

These are held on the first Friday of each month except January, from 7.30pm in the Philip Smith Theatre, 2 Edward Street, Glebe. At these, Members may keep up to date with administrative matters, political issues about bushwalking and the Club, and have a chat. A slide show or talk and supper follows the formal part of the meeting, which starts at 7:45pm.

Publications

The Circular, listing all the planned Club activities, is produced monthly and posted to members.

Safety in the Bush contains much sound advice on bushwalking and related topics. It was first published in 1964 and is updated from time to time by the Search, Rescue and Training Subcommittee.

The Tasmanian Tramp is the Club magazine produced every two years. It has articles on diverse topics of interest to bushwalkers, with photographs and sketches.

Safety in the Bush and The Tasmanian Tramp are sold through retail outlets and this website. See more under Publications and Sales.

Liability

Clause 12 of the Constitution states that: "None of the office bearers, nor any of the Executive Committee, nor a trip coordinator, nor any other member of the Club shall be legally responsible in the event of any person dying or suffering injury whilst engaged in any of the activities of the Club and no action shall lie against any one or more of them, nor against Club funds or property, on account of the negligence or otherwise of any one or more of them.”

Insurance

The Club insurance covers public liability, excluding member-to-member events, during Club activities. Members' vehicles are not covered.