Overview for New and Potential Members

New and potential members of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers, as well as the older members, should be aware of the all the items shown below (including linked items) ...

The Club
Shoalhaven Bushwalkers Inc. is a bushwalking club based in the beautiful Shoalhaven region on the south coast of New South Wales which is centred in Nowra - approximately 160 kms south of Sydney. The club is a non-political, community group affiliated with the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs (NSW) Inc. The club produces a newsletter - "The Ettremist" - four times a year - which includes the upcoming program of weekend walks, Wednesday walks (the main walking day for most club members) and social events, as well as various articles and reports.

You can expect ...
• a program of walks ranging in difficulty from easy to very hard
• a variety of social activities • membership of the Confederation of Bushwalkers NSW
• cover by the Confederation's Sports Insurance policy
• the use of risk management procedures developed by the Confederation of Bushwalkers NSW
• opportunities to acquire navigation and leadership skills
• membership of a group committed to protecting the environment
• access to the club library containing many bushwalking-related books
• to meet people from 18 to 80+ from many walks of life with a common interest in the outdoors

The Club expects you ...
• to walk safely following the club's Walker Responsibilities
• to take up the opportunities to acquire navigation and leadership skills
• to contribute by eventually suggesting new walks and/or leading walks
• to contribute to the club in other ways if you are unwilling or unable to lead walks
• to support the Club in protecting the environment

The Club is run on a completely voluntary basis. It does not exist to put on walks for its members, but rather to bring like-minded individuals together with the expectation that each will eventually make a contribution to the running of the club - whether it be as a walk leader, committee member, guest speaker at general meetings, report writer, track notes compiler (or a combination of some or all of these).

Membership
Prior to their first walk, potential members should read and understand the club's Walker Responsibilities which can be found here. They should also be aware of our Walk Gradings to ensure they are capable of completing the walk they choose.

Those interested in joining the club will be invited to participate in three walks before committing themselves to membership. A joining fee of $10 and an annual July to June subscription of $25 ($15 if joining mid-year) is then payable. Members of other clubs affiliated with the confederation receive a $15 discount off their annual subscription and pay only $10 per year. The club currently has approximately 200 members. The club is also a group member of YHA Australia.

Attending Walks
If you would like to attend a club walk as a potential member, please read our Walker Responsibilities page (click here) and this page thoroughly before emailing a request for our current walks program to our club secretary at info@shoalhavenbushwalkers.org.au.

Wednesday Walks
Mid-week walks are held every Wednesday, and constitute the club's main activities. There are usually three to five different walks available to suit all standards of walker. Each walk is graded according to a system based on its distance and difficulty, which is described on our Walk Gradings page.

Weekend Walks
The weekend walks may involve a single day walk or an overnight camp. Those attending weekend walks are required to contact the leader to register by the Monday prior to the walk. Walk leaders have the discretion to limit the number of people who may participate in particular activities and to set the standard of fitness and experience which may be required. It is the responsibility of each member to ensure that he or she is able to cope with an activity before participating.

Walk Leaders
Each walk leader has the final decision on whether or not a person is capable of doing his/her walk. The Club encourages any club member who wishes to become a walk leader. New walk leaders will be backed up by at least one experienced walk leader, and will be provided with a copy of the Club's current leadership guidelines. The Club will endeavour to provide opportunities for leadership training.

Weather
Walk leaders may change walks without notice or cancel walks altogether if dictated by the weather or other outside factors. If in doubt, phone the leader prior to the walk or check the website.

Car Sharing Cost
The car sharing cost is determined by the committee and is based on a cents value for each kilometre that each passenger travels, rounded up/down to the nearest 10km and then the nearest dollar. As at 1st January 2009, the value was 10c per kilometre. Example: The distance from Nowra to the Steamers Beach carpark is 39.27km, giving a round trip of 78.54km. This is rounded up to 80km. At 10c per kilometre, the cost per passenger is $8.00, with no rounding required (rounding is only needed for non-multiples of 10). The cost can be reduced by mutual agreement for longer trips ie. outside the Shoalhaven.

Children
Walkers must be 18 years of age or older. While we would like to encourage children to bushwalk, restrictions placed upon us by our insurer make this extremely difficult.

General Meetings
General Meetings are held in the Nowra Town Band Hall at 174 Kinghorne Street at 7:30pm on the first Thursday of the month in February, April, June, August and October. The August meeting is also the club's AGM, and the only meeting where we do not have a guest speaker.

Committee Meetings
Committee Meetings are held at the homes of various committee members (advertised in the Ettremist) at 7:30pm on the first Thursday of the month in March, May, July, September and November.

Disclaimer
Every person participating in a club walk does so as a volunteer in every respect and as such accepts full responsibility for personal injury to himself or herself, however incurred. Shoalhaven Bushwalkers Inc., its office-bearers and walk leaders cannot accept liability in regard to injury or damage sustained by any person participating in a club walk. In addition, Shoalhaven Bushwalkers Inc. cannot accept liability for members of the public who attempt non-club walks based on any information found on this web-site.

Club members should also take a look at the following links -

Personal Accident Insurance
Theatre Nights
The Club Library
The Club Committee
Walk Program Coordinators
Club Equipment for Hire
Medical Information