MVB Bulletin # 31 July 24 2012

MVB New Members

Welcome to Mick Webster who guided our walk through Kelly country recently and Joy Hayden who we met at the bbq after the Farmers Market on July 7

What We've Been Up To

Thanks to dedicated event leaders and enthusiastic participants the club's program continues at a cracking pace - the last week's happenings included:

Baranduda Boogie

The evening bbq and walk at Baranduda (ok we admit we got the order wrong - the mulled wine probably should have come after the walk not before!)

Sweet Sugarloaf

Hans took a group to a little known reserve in the Eldorado vicinity - a morning walk to the top of Sugarloaf Reserve, followed by an exploration of the Galleries near Bear Track - truly remarkable rocks reminiscent of Mt Buffalo's finest - and of course the day was capped off with geocaching finds.

Wonderful Winter

In my wanderings up the mountain this winter I have often met up with a wonderful skier who is happy to eloquently discuss her love of cross country skiing. Im fascinated by the fact that she is well and truly over the hurdle of being eligible for a free seasons lift pass and yet despite being a very competent downhill skier shuns this activity and prefers skating on the groomed cross country trails at Falls Creek. Its just makes me wonder what we ageing skiers will run out of first - years or snow?

A group of 7 including 3 guests visited Falls Creek for a delightful day in perfect conditions last Sunday.

Whats On

Evening Walks

This Thursday July 26 evening Peter is leading another winter evening wander this time to the Eastern Hill lookout in Albury followed by a social get together for a $10 parmi and pot meal at the Newmarket pub in Borella Road

This event goes to show its never too late to add an event to the MVB program which is very dynamic - and thats the way we want it to remain. The website is always the place to go to see the details of the most up to date events program.

Weekend Walks

Hans has developed a fabulous program of easy walks almost always spiked with geocaching scheduled for the next 3 months. Of immediate interest are the following for the coming weekend:

Exploring Skeleton Hill in Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park - Saturday July 28

Warblers Track at Eldorado - Sunday July 29

Snow Sports

We have now had two successful events for beginners - here is another chance to try some skiing or snowshoeing for beginners this saturday July 28

MVB Blogs

A blog is an abbreviation of the term web log - a kind of web based running dialog but designed to engage others in discussion of the subject matter. Neil Patel has this to say

A blog allows you to build a fuller picture of who you are. Most people will meet you through other places…but if they like what they see, then they’ll follow you back to your blog and find out more about who you are.

We are very much an emerging organisation and  as such we need to grasp opportunities that present to cement our future. MVB blogs have the potential to document our wonderfully diverse program as well as enthuse and engage prospective and existing members.

Have a browse through the MVB blog topics - posts are listed in chronological order - newest to oldest -  feel free to add your comments and thoughts through the Add Blog Entry (login required) menu item or the easiest way is to just send an email to blog@mvb.org.au - all blog entries are moderated before being published and only bona fide club members can create a post.

Leadership Training

We are very excited to confirm that in principle arrangements with bushwalking leadership training team from the Victorian National Parks Association have been concluded. On the third weekend in October (Oct 20-21) we will be hosting two days of activities designed to foster responsible and informed event leadership in our club. This also gives us an opportunity to apply for another funding source - applications for the Volunteer Grants 2012 program close this Wednesday at 5pm. Our submission will seek funding to cover the costs associated with this weekend - at the very least we hope to defray the travel expenses of our friends from the VNPA who are prepared to give up a weekend to support our club. We will certainly make them welcome and find time to fit in a walk or two and an evening spotlight Im sure.

Membership Renewal

Thanks to those members who have subscribed again - we greatly appreciate your support.

The largest cost we incur is insurance renewal - we had to provide an estimate a few months ago of the number of members we will require insurance for and of course based our estimates on the number of financial members at that time. However the number of financial members of MVB at the moment is less than half what it was a month ago. Members are our life blood. You can help us meet the insurance bill by renewing your membership.

If you are unsure as to when you are financial to you can send Tony an email or give him a ring.

To renew choose the Join, Renew Membership now menu path.

Please note that renewing members should complete and submit an annual acknowledgement of risks form. This only needs to be done once and then releases you from having to sign a risk form for each event. If youve recently renewed and missed the acknowledgement of risk form you can find it here

Regards,

Tony Marsh

Secretary

Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc

MVB Bulletin # 30 July 17 2012

Winter Wonderland

Falls Creek was blanketed in 20cm of overnight snowfall when we visited on Sunday July 15. It was one of those Sunday mornings when you would usually open an eyelid lookout the window and roll over in bed. But MVB skiers are made of stern stuff! Braving the elements was richly rewarding.

Historical NE Victorian Walks

A group of 10 took the opportunity to explore Kelly and Police Caves Eldorado last Sat July 14 led by Mick Webster. We were not disappointed. Armed with a book, maps and local knowledge we completed a 13km circuit with a fair bit of off track walking - scrub bashing was probably a more appropriate description in some parts.

We were immersed in history and excited to hear the anecdotes and points of interest explained by Mick. The Police Cave is a fascinating location complete with artefacts in the form of broken glass believed to be broken beer bottles.

Last Sunday Hans successfully uncovered an unknown and previously unexplored location in our area -  Mt Ochtertyre - mount what? I hear you say - studying the photo below you may well come to the conclusion that sometimes what consitutes a mountain is rather loosely defined! But nevertheless it just goes to show Hans will go just about anywhere to find and place a geocache!

Whats On

Evening Walks

This Thursday July 19 evening Peter is offering a warming fire, a glass of mulled wine, a bbq and short walk to be held at Jamison Drive Baranduda reserve. Note the change of venue as the Kiewa river is flooding again. Once again female club members are massively over represented in the bookings for this event- from my perspective Ive got to say we must be doing something right!

Just a reminder that if in doubt about an event details the website is always the place to go to see the details of the most up to date events program.

Weekend Walks

Hans has an amazing program of easy walks almost always spiked with geocaching scheduled for the next 3 months. Of immediate interest are the following for the coming weekend:

Mount Sugarloaf reserve - easy - saturday July 21 

Old Coach Road Part 2 - medium - sunday July 22

Snow Sports

Come and try some skiing or snowshoeing for beginners this saturday July 21 

and again saturday July 28.

The proposed snow camping activity has been rescheduled to the weekend of August 11-12.

Website Blogs

The website now has the capability of members submitting journal/diary type entries about any or all of  the business that the club engages in. Take the time to explore the options under the Blogs menu - if youve been on a club event and want to put up a few comments about it you are highly encouraged to do so. Note there are blog categories for all event types and that you must be logged in to the website to achieve this. The first item under blogs is Add Blog Entry - choose this to write something and choose the appropriate category. If it all seems too hard you can simply send an email to blog@mvb.org.au and this will then be published in the appropriate blog category (after being checked by me).

More about blogging in later bulletins. 

Membership Renewal

If you are unsure as to when you are financial with the MVB you can log into the club website and go to the Members menu item and choose My Profile and then the Membership tab. The financial status field tells you when your membership is due for renewal. For most people that will be due on July 1st -we really need subscriptions rolling in to remain viable as a club. If you need help with membership, logging in or doing anything else with the website please contact me.

To renew choose the Join, Renew Membership now menu path. Complete and submit the risk form and then proceed to the Join, Membership Fees page

Please note that renewing members should complete and submit an annual acknowledgement of risks form. This only needs to be done once and then releases you from having to sign a risk form for each event. If youve recently renewed and missed the acknowledgement of risk form you can find it here

Regards,

Tony Marsh

Secretary

Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc

MVB Bulletin # 29 July 10 2012

Welcome to two new members - Claire Sandford and Deidre Elridge-Doyle both of whom joined Peter and 10 others for a fantastic full moon walk on Nail Can Hill recently. The next evening walk will be on Thursday July 19.

Over a dozen members and guests enjoyed a great bbq on the Murray in perfect weather after the Farmers Market last Saturday. The large number of apologies received indicated it was a busy time for lots of people.

Consequently we didnt get the numbers required for a quorum for the AGM;so it was adjourned to be reconvened at another date to be determined. As we are a new club the rules that apply to incorporated bodies mean that we have 6 months grace to complete the adjourned AGM. If you click the photo below you will see we may have a second pet mascot for the club by the name of Woody! And no his owners are not starving him - the skinny look is in the genes of this breed. Which reminds me of a time in NZ where I met one of these dogs (and his owner) - knowing full well what it was I just wanted to hear a Kiwi pronounce the breed name. "He's a whuppet mate, a whuppet" was his reply much to my mirth. You've got to love those Kiwi accents!

Hans and Peter again staffed a stall at the Farmers Market on Saturday July 7 from 8am to midday -it was very cold but sunny and with stalls dispensing hot soup and freshly baked bread we enjoyed the occasion. Once again there was a lot of interest generated by the photo display particularly and lots of postcards were distributed. 

Another great outcome of the day was confirmation of an article promoting the club in the recently released Visit Albury Wodonga booklet and a page on the Visit Albury Wodonga website. We thank Sue Harper for arranging for this valuable publicity for the club.

We also created and distributed a one page flyer (attached to this message) which gives an overview of proposed club events from now until late October.This is a one off document and will very quickly become out of sync with the website which will always be he place to go to see the most up to date events program.

If you have an idea for an event and cant find a suitable date free dont be put off by what looks like a full program - we are always happy to reschedule an event to make way for a new one that a cub member wants to run. Also with such a large number of easy walking events on the program we would love to hear from any one wanting to "learn the ropes" for event leadership and co-lead with one of the club leaders. More about this in next week's bulletin

The Spot Gps enabled locator beacon device was used recently to send a pre-recorded email message to committee members indicating a safe return home. This was the first in a series of walks Hans is putting on the along the Old Coach Road at Eldorado. Thats the great thing about Spot - it doesnt just sit in someone's pack and never get used

Whats On

Historical NE Victorian Walks

We are very excited about the opportunity to explore the Kelly and Police Caves Eldorado on Sat July 14 especially as we have the services of a local guide very familiar with the area Mick Webster - you can do some preliminary reading on the Eldorado Museum website.

Hans has the knack of uncovering unknown and previously unexplored locations in our area - here is a chance to join him in exploring Mt Ochtertyre on July 15

Peter is pumped after the success of the recently held full moon walk on Nail Can Hill. He is leading another evening walk preceded by a camp fire and bbq at the picnic area on the Kiewa River at Killara on Thursday July 19

Snow Sports

Come and try some skiing or snowshoeing for beginners this sunday July 15 and again saturday July 21

Membership Renewal

If you are unsure as to when you are financial with the MVB you can log into the club website and go to the Members menu item and choose My Profile and then the Membership tab. The financial status field tells you when your membership is due for renewal. For most people that will be due on July 1st. In keeping with our principles of being a paperless association, membership renewal can be done on line. If you need help with logging in or doing anything else with the website please contact me.

Regards,

Tony Marsh

Secretary

Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc