Guide for Prospective Members

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About the Club

The Hobart Walking Club was founded in 1929. Its aims are to encourage walking, skiing and similar out-door activities, and to promote interest in the preservation of flora, fauna and natural scenery.

Meetings are usually held on the first Friday of each month at the Philip Smith Centre at 2 Edward Street, Glebe. The starting time is 7.45 pm. Lectures, slides, discussions and films are arranged for these meetings. Members gather any time after 7.00 pm.

The Club hut at Lake Dobson in the Mount Field National Park is used by members for walking year round and for skiing in winter.

Each month, the Club’s Circular is sent to members who elect to receive it. It contains a detailed walks and social program, items of news and members' opinions on subjects of interest to members.

The Tasmanian Tramp is published every second year and members who receive the circular automatically receive a copy. It contains items from members, including historical and contemporary articles.

A copy of Safety in the Bush, an instruction manual on bush safety in Tasmania, is given to each prospective member. It is also sold at outdoor shops.

Bush safety is of great importance to the Club. Ongoing training is offered in bush skills. A call-out list is maintained for quick response to searches called by the Police Search and Rescue Division. On training trips, Prospective Members are instructed in bush safety, emergency management and general walking skills.

The Club is a member of the Federation of Tasmanian Bushwalking Clubs which represents the interests of Tasmanian bushwalking clubs. The Club is also affiliated with the Youth Hostels Association.

Magazines and newsletters are received from major Australian walking clubs.

Club members undertake voluntary track maintenance both inside and outside national parks. Work on tracks under management of Parks and Wildlife Service can be done under the ‘Adopt a Track’ and ‘Work as you Walk’ programs.

Trips and Equipment

Members are provided with varied programs of walking and outdoor activities ranging from day walks to long expeditions. The level of difficulty of walks varies from short and easy to arduous trips. Skiing, cycling, and canoeing are also included in the program. Search, rescue and navigation exercises and leader training courses are held to improve members’ skills.

Tents, stoves, sleeping bags, packs and EPIRBS are available for hire by members for overnight trips, if not needed for training trips. Contact the custodian (inside the back cover of the Circular) for details.

Personal Responsibility

Few of the Club’s leaders are professionally trained. Participants in Club activities are peers although skills often vary. Club activities attract some risk of accidents that may lead to injury, illness or death or to the loss of or damage to property. The Club endeavours to minimise these risks by asking participants to behave responsibly towards themselves and others, and to follow safety rules detailed in Safety in the Bush. Some "Do’s and Don’ts" are listed later in this Guide.

You should ensure that you carry the items listed in Safety in the Bush that are repeated at the end of this Guide. Consult the Leader if in doubt.

How to Join

People aged 16 years and over may apply to become Prospective Members. They should have a genuine interest in bushwalking. Although the club engages in other activities, its members are united by this common interest.

Anyone who intends to participate exclusively in subsidiary activities is urged to join clubs catering for those interests.

To be considered for full membership by the Executive Committee, you need to complete an overnight club Training Trip and three qualifying walks within 12 months of applying for Prospective Membership. One only of these three walks may be a Lake Dobson Memorial Hut weekend working bee, a club organised track clearing weekend, a training weekend (eg. at the Steppes), a cycle trip of at least 35 km or a ski trip. You must be nominated by a Full Member of at least 12 months' standing.

To apply for Prospective Membership, return the appropriate section of the membership application form to the Treasurer with the required fee. Current subscription rates are given on the form. The Treasurer will then send you your qualifying walks form, Safety in the Bush and a circular if you have opted to receive it. For all members, subscriptions are due on 1 July each year.

Administration

Routine administration is in the hands of an Executive Committee which is elected at the Annual General Meeting each October. All office bearers are listed on the back of each Circular. The Executive reports to members at each monthly meeting.

Membership Officer

The Membership Officer maintains membership records and administers prospective membership. Therefore notification of all changes of name, address or phone number or non-arrival of circulars should be made by email to the Membership Officer, GPO Box 753, Hobart 7001.

Sub-committees

These are appointed annually by the Executive Committee.

Other members volunteer to carry out specialist duties including publication sales, equipment hire and slide projection.

Constitution, Rules and By-laws

These formal documents govern the overall running of the Club. Copies are available from the Secretary.

Some important Do’s and Don’ts

Private Transport

On most trips private cars are used. Where a party member does not take their own car, they go as a guest of a driver. Passengers are expected to share costs. Leaders usually co-ordinate car sharing.

Drivers should check with their own insurance company that car pooling is covered by their policy.

What is needed on a Walk

The following is a summary. Safety in the Bush contains full information.

Food

For long trips, the average necessary intake of concentrated food is about 900g per person per day. For day walks and weekend trips, when weight is not so important, 'normal' food can be taken. Below are some sample menus. Experience will show you how to modify them to suit your own requirements. Extra food should be carried for an emergency.

Day trip

Take sandwiches, fresh fruit and drinks (cold or hot). On your first trip, other members will be happy to give you advice. Always carry some water for drinking; the leader can advise whether water is available on a walk. For longer day trips, extra food such as fruit, nuts and chocolate is desirable.

Weekend

Avoid taking tins where possible - dried food is lighter. When planning a long trip, ensure your foods provide a balance between high energy and fibre.

Clothing and equipment

If you are a newcomer to Tasmanian bushwalking or skiing, you are strongly advised not to purchase any special clothing or equipment until you have studied the detailed lists in Safety in the Bush, been on a few trips to see what experienced walkers use, and have discussed your requirements with them.

It is unwise to take brand new equipment on an extended walk. Wearing-in clothes and boots, and checking that your equipment is suitable, is more safely attempted on shorter trips.

Equipment Suggestions for your First Trip

Day Walk

Weekend Walk

Skiing

Overdue parties

Club parties are rarely overdue on trips, but delays can be caused by such events as bad weather or transport breakdown. To avoid confusion should you be late on returning, your family should know that:

1. Long day trips and some weekend trips return between 7 pm and 9 pm. Due to travel, trips to distant places may result in return times of 10 - 11 pm.

2. If your family or friends are worried, they should contact the Club's Search and Rescue Officers as listed on the back page of the Circular.

3. The Police should not be contacted before thorough enquiries have been made through the Club.

The club has an efficient Search and Rescue organisation. We have Police Liaison Officers who will make enquiries with the proper authorities when necessary.

The club's Search and Rescue officers are able to assess the position realistically. If a search is needed, it will be organised promptly in consultation with the police.

Full membership

On being elected to full membership you are entitled to vote and to serve on sub-committees, and will receive a Membership ID Card. This card is valid for one year and allows you to obtain discounts at some shops, and to borrow the key to the Club hut at Lake Dobson.

Full members may purchase metal or cloth Club badges from the Sales and Publications Officer at any monthly meeting.

Along with the privileges of being a Club member come the responsibilities – attending general meetings, especially when notice of important business has been given in the Circular, walking regularly with the Club and helping in its administration, eg. helping at Circular production evenings, helping at the Club hut, or offering to lead a club walk (when suitably experienced). Please let someone on the Executive Committee know of your talents.

Revised - August 2003