Meetings: All meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month (excluding December); General Meetings at Leongatha Community House, 16 Bruce Street, Leongatha and alternating with Activity Planning Meetings and dinner at venues to be announced.

Activity Planning Meeting: Jan 28 2016, 6:30pm followed by a meal. Venue - Paradise Pizza, Leongatha.

Next General Meeting: Feb 25 at Leongatha Community House, 8pm

President’s Report
This year has almost gone - does it go faster when one gets older? or do we cramp more in when we are retired? The club has been very busy with all the varied activities - members have been overseas & around Oz. Our membership is still increasing, must be because we are such a friendly lot. It is sometimes hard to find a cafe to fit us all in on the Tuesday walks. Last Tuesday we walked round the Wetlands and Wind farm. If we thought it was dry, the Wetlands were a stark reminder of how dry it really is, apart from a puddle in the middle, it was just cracked mud. The best Christmas present we could get would be a week of soaking rain, (sorry campers.) Sue provided a lovely venue for our Tuesday Walk break up - the food was plentiful & scrumptious. Maybe we could open a cafe? I wish you all a peaceful Christmas & a happy & healthy New Year. Stay.
safe Ilse

From the Editor

Activity Reports
East Malvern Railway Stn to Blackburn Lake - a 45km bicycle ride
This route actually starts at the Main Yarra Trail in Toorak and follows Gardiners Creek thru Glen Iris, Malvern, Burwood, Ashwood, Box Hill, and ends near Blackburn Lake sanctuary.
Well this morning was not showing signs of rain as the weather bureau had predicted. All was looking good for a day’s bike riding. All I had to do was head up the freeway to Malvern East railway station to meet up with the others.
I arrived in plenty of time and met up with the rest of the crew which numbered 8 including John, Faye, David, George and Kerry and David. All we had to do was wait for Kerry’s friend Jenny, who was arriving by train, and to be our tour leader for the day. How wonderful it is just to follow someone else and not to have to stop and check the map!
And what a blessing it was as we headed off up the pedestrian ramp over past the golf range and headed north east onto Gardiners Creek trail. This was such a delight to ride. The track had been well maintained and easy to ride. Certainly well used by families with children, runners and other cyclists. At times it was hard to believe you were in suburbia as the bush landscaping was well grown and vegetated. We cycled along the old rail trail then onto the trail at times following Gardiners creek and the odd billabong. Can’t say I noticed the birds as we made our way along the path as I was busy keeping up with everyone and enjoying the path and scenery!
There were numerous signposts pointing to other tracks and trails taking you into different directions.as we made our way thru the bush. The trail was certainly well signposted. If the sun was warm we weren’t to know as the shade from the trees gave us respite. It was a great day to be out enjoying the bike.
We arrived at Blackburn Lake, but we didn’t stop long, as most of us were keen for a coffee shop break. The coffee shop turned out to be a car wash! But after consulting the locals we made our way across the highway to a plaza and found the necessary coffee. Google needs to be updated!
After some sustenance and a rest we headed back across the highway and zig-zagged thru to the Koonung Creek trail. This follows the Eastern Freeway and it connects with the Main Yarra Trail (if we went that far) and into the City. The trail had a good surface and despite the freeway being flat, our track was undulating, with one hill taking the better of me and having to relent to walking up!
We then took a turn and joined the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail. This is a popular trail in Boroondara and provides a north-south link connecting the Main Yarra Trail in the north, and the Gardiners Creek Trail in the south (back to our starting point). This trail was very familiar trail to me when I used to work in Camberwell and cycle home to Moorabbin.
So here we were back on the Gardiners Creek Trail and back at the railway station. We thanked Jenny for her good work in negotiating the trails and said goodbye to her as she headed to the train.
Meanwhile the rest of us headed to the coffee shop in Waverley Rd for yes, another coffee and cake! The perfect end to a perfect day!
Sally

Forthcoming Events

1st Aid Course - Sat Feb 6th 2016
It will be conducted at the Leongatha Community House (yet to be booked!) and Judy has arranged for the workbooks, which must be completed prior to the Saturday workshop/course - approx 6 hours work, to be posted to her for distribution to the participants. The cost will be $30 per person after the club and BWV have covered the rest of the costs. Course numbers need to be 12 to 20 inclusively.
If you want to participate in the course please email me to indicate the fact. When emailing me put ‘1st Aid Course - Feb 2016’ as the Subject.
All current applications have been successful and there are still a few places available if you wish to participate - email me to apply.
Clive

Warburton Cycling/Walking/Paddling Base Camp - 20-22 Jan 2016
There will be the opportunity to Cycle/ Walk the O’Shannassy Aquaduct Trail and Warburton Rail Trail or paddle the Yarra River. This Camp may be postponed depending upon weather conditions at the time, i.e. high temperatures or fire risk.
Kerry Baggallay

Tassie Trip - Early March 2016
Expressions of Interest wanted by the 16th January for a 7 - 10 day walking/cycling Tassie trip. David and I will be taking our van, Doug will take his ute for anyone that needs bike transport. Possibility of car pooling for travelling to and within Tassie. Participants will be responsible for booking their own accommodation within their own time frame.
Itinerary will include: Freycinet National Park, Maria Island, Hobart and probably more depending on time. Limited places for bike transport.
Kerry Baggallay

Wilson’s Prom - Lighthouse Walk
Charlie is planning his annual 2 night walk to the lighthouse at Wilson’s Prom. This is a longer walk in going via Waterloo Bay, approx. 22km, some steep hills but mostly on a road except for the last 3 or 4kms. Return trip 19km. Doonas can be hired but take your own sheets or sleeping bag liner, pillow slip and towel. Charlie will book the larger lodge if he has the numbers.
Contact Charlie for more information. 0427 563 996

Mt Buffalo - April 15-18
Kerry and Gayle are planning a weekend at Mt Buffalo from Friday 15th of April to Monday 18th, 2016. It will be a camp at the camping ground at Lake Catani which is a beautiful spot amongst picturesque snow gum woodland.
There are some great walks in the vicinity from short walks around the lake and to the chalet, to longer walks like the one to the Back Wall. There used to also be glow worms on one of the walks.
Those wanting to cycle could possibly use the bike paths in the Ovens Valley? You can paddle a canoe around Lake Catani itself but this might be rather tame for our intrepid paddlers.
The nearest town is Porpunkah and it’s about a 30-40 minute drive down the mountain.
You can go online to book a site at www.parkstay.vic.gov.au and select Mt Buffalo and the site you would like. Sites are $47.50 a night and some sites will take 2 tents, depending on tent size (max. of 6 people to a site). There are also sites suitable for vans.
Sites are unpowered but there are toilets, hot showers, dish washing facilities and basic laundry provided (no washing machines). There is a communal stone shelter with tables and fireplaces. Basic lighting is provided by solar power in the amenities block.
Campers are required to be self-sufficient in drinking water and bring all your own food.
If you have any queries you can ring me on 56648278 or go onto the parks website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Regards Gayle McHarg

Support our Local Store
It is very worthwhile supporting our local store and get a 10% discount. They have a fantastic range of goods at very competitive prices. Show your Bushwalking Membership card for your 10% discount at both stores.
Well worth taking the time to visit the shop and see their stock

Walks Program
For the web version of Footprints, the walks program is located on a separate page and is kept up-to-date with changes as they come in.