The ‘Heysen Trail’ has become our obsession and biggest personal challenge to complete in August 2008. When we first started walking on some End-to-End 1 days and catch ups we thought, okay just for the fun of it, we will do the odd day. We were told that we should just do the easy bits but this made us determined to tackle the whole 1200km!
Douglas Gepp Leane, Honorary Member of the Friends of the Heysen Trail, and long time maintenance Section Leader, passed away on 16th December, 2008 at the age of 82.
Frederick George Brooks, Honorary Member of the Friends of the Heysen Trail, and long time maintenance Section Leader, passed away on 8th June, 2009 at the age of 89.
I joined the Friends of the Heysen 20 years ago, and from the start was interested in trail maintenance. I could not at that time take on a maintenance section due to business commitments, so volunteered to work on an ad hoc basis, notably when there was a full time FoHT Manager, who would telephone for volunteers.
The recent passing of our patron, C Warren Bonython AO, brings cause to reflect on his remarkable spirit of adventure and dedication to bushwalking, conservation and science. Amongst the extraordinary legacy he leaves for future generations of South Australians is the Heysen Trail.
In many ways exceeding the challenging requirements and expectations for the award, Simon’s accomplishments make him highly deserving of Honorary Membership.
With a background of working in the outdoors Terry arrived in Australia and worked for the National Fitness Council in…
Fifty years ago this May, three of us walked along the south coast of Fleurieu Peninsula between the old Talisker mine and Victor Harbour. I recently came across my diary for this journey, and reproduce an edited version here so that those who know the Heysen Trail in this area can make a few comparisons. It may also stimulate nostalgia among those old enough to remember.
Terry Lavender South Australia’s “Mr Bushwalking” will be remembered for his dedication to recreation in SA. He was the architect of one of the world’s great walking trails — the long-distance Heysen Trail, which snakes its way for 1500 km across the state from Cape Jervis, at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, to rugged Parachilna Gorge, in the Central Flinders Ranges.
Barry Finn was elected as a new Honorary Member at the AGM on March 18th 2005. Barry served on the Friends Council for a number of years, and was Vice-President during the latter part of his term. He was also an active walker, and led a number of walks for the Friends.
Profile of new honorary member Doug Leane. A love of the bush, of being outdoors and of doing something for the community came together in his commitment to the Friends of the Heysen Trail.
In the following two articles we have combined some background history with that seen through the eyes of Fred Brooks and Frank Hall, two members of the Interim Council of the Friends of the Heysen Trail.
