We spoke with Chris Mawson, President of Perth Bushwalkers Club, about what makes the club unique, why he joined the club, and his favourite places to hike.
How would you describe Perth Bushwalkers Club to someone who’s never heard of the club before?
It is a great club with amazing members, which offers lots of bushwalks of varying levels and types. More formally, the Perth Bushwalkers Club (PBW) has over 400 members, and offers several bushwalks each week. We also offer base-camps, multi-day hikes, and member/leader training. We are also a very sociable club, so it is a great place to meet new people. If you want to do regular hikes, get fit, learn new skills, and socialise with other members, this is the club for you.
Why did you join PBW?
I joined the club in 2012. I was doing lots of solo bushwalks, for example day and multi-day walks on the Bibbulmun Track, but I was missing the social interaction and encouragement of hiking with other people. Joining the club was the best thing I did, as I met lots of new people (and made many new friends). I also discovered many new bushwalks in the Perth area that I knew nothing about. In addition, I became involved in leading walks, and as a committee member, which was personally satisfying. I have been a committee member for many years now, including being webmaster and current (and past) President.
What makes the club unique?
The club is unique in terms of the quality of experiences that it provides. The club is the second-oldest, and largest, formal bushwalking club in WA; thus, it has a long history of offering bushwalks to people in WA. We have a great committee, a yearly calendar of walks, experienced leaders, established risk management processes, public liability insurance, member and leader training opportunities. It’s just a great place to meet new people and develop new friendships, and to get fitter as well.
What kinds of social activities does PBW offer?
All of our walks are social, but we also offer base-camps, social evenings (e.g. with a guest speaker), a Christmas party (free food and drinks), Annual General meeting (boring, but with free pizza and drinks), and occasional group movie sessions (e.g. hiking-related movies). For the last few years we have held a BYO curry night, which has been very popular (the next one is in May).
What are your favourite places to hike in Perth and WA?
This is a very personal question, as each of us have different needs. I personally like the southern sections of the Bibbulmun Track, for example, Walpole/Denmark for multi-day hikes, but it is a bit of a drive to get there. For someone new to Perth, the Eagle View Trail (which PBW developed) is a great introduction to the Perth Hills and the eucalypt forest. Sections of the Bibbulmun Track around Kalamunda and Mundaring offer accessible and interesting hiking/fitness opportunities. The Stirling Ranges is also a fantastic place to visit, lots of ‘mountains’ to climb. The secret places are ‘secret’, but check out walkgps.com.au
How many walks does PBW offer each week?
In our main hiking season from April to November, the club offers 4 or more walks each week, mostly on Wednesdays and Sundays, but also on other days, depending on the leader. Over summer we offer weekly early morning social ‘urban’ walks, which are very popular.
Learn more about Perth Bushwalkers Club
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