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General News

4 April, 2024

Boost for bushwalkers

The Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud is ensuring the Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club (CGBHC) is putting their best foot forward thanks to a $2000 grant. The CGBHC, founded in May last year, has over 20 financial members...

By Maryborough Advertiser

The Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club has taken a big stride in member safety with committee members Graeme Wood, Debbie Macer and president Liesbeth Long showcasing the club’s new equipment, courtesy of the Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud.
The Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club has taken a big stride in member safety with committee members Graeme Wood, Debbie Macer and president Liesbeth Long showcasing the club’s new equipment, courtesy of the Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud.

The Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud isensuring the Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club (CGBHC) is putting their best foot forward thanks to a $2000 grant.

The CGBHC, founded in May last year, has over 20 financial members who on the last Saturday of every month enjoy a hike together, with short walk (3-5 kilometres) and long walk (8-10 kms) groups for members to choose from.

CGBHC committee member Graeme Wood said the group has taken a measured approach in creating a fun and inclusive club.

“It has all been baby steps, it hasn’t been a great big sprint, more of a marathon, but it is just to get people out and about,” he said.

“Hiking is such an investment to your overall wellbeing and you get such an appreciation for our environment and our countryside.

“We want [the club] to be open to everyone, that’s one of the ideas of running a shorter walk and a longer walk, so that people who want to start out don’t feel obligated to do these longer hikes.”

The community bank’s support allowed CGBHC to buy duplicates of important safety equipment including single use defibrillators, Emergency Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), first aid kits and backpacks.

Mr Wood said the new equipment is needed to ensure the safety of all of their members, no matter the emergency.

“We have a duty of care to everyone we take on our hikes, so we have to feel that we are doing everything we can to make everyone safe,” he said.

“We are working up to doing bigger trips in the future for the people that are interested and this safety equipment is absolutely vital for those walks.”

CGBHC president Liesbeth Long said member wellbeing is a top priority for the group.

“This grant has given us the aspect of safety by allowing us to carry a PLB, a first aid kit and a defibrillator on every trip we do,” she said.

“Last week we became officially affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria, so we also have their insurance as well which is really important.

“If something goes wrong, and we hope that it never does, we are prepared to deal with that situation.”

Ms Long said the grant is also a giant stride in making hiking anaccessible hobby in the Central Goldfields.

“We pride ourselves on being inclusive and supporting our members, if it is a hike that is a bit further away, we hire the community bus and we like to carpool as well,” she said.

“Hiking can be an expensive hobby for quality equipment that will last, so we are actively fundraising to create a pool of hiking gear that people can borrow free of charge.

“We want to allow the opportunity for people across the community to go outside and enjoy the great outdoors.”

The club is one of 27 local groups supported by the Community Bank’s $250,000 Community Grant Program, which has now contributed over $2.2 million over the bank’s 25 year history in the community.

Other grant recipients include:

  • $82,617 for a wheelchair accessible vehicle for Asteria Services.

  • $19,400 forhall refurbishments at the Maryborough & District Highland Pipe Band.

  • $16,742 for kitchen appliance upgrade at the Talbot Football Netball Club.

  • $15,000 for a video communications board at Carisbrook Football and Netball Club.

  • $9356 for microfilm digitisation for the Maryborough Family History Group.

  • $8000 to the Committee for Maryborough for the upcoming Goldfields Community Festival.

  • $2813 for barbecue trailer repairs for The Avoca & District Country Women’s Association.

  • For more information on the club, visit the Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club Facebook page.

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