The Federation Walks event (FedWalks) is a weekend of bushwalking held annually in a different location in Victoria. It is a wonderful opportunity for members of different clubs to walk together and for Bushwalking Victoria's individual members to join a weekend filled with bushwalking, nature, fun and friendship.
Around 210 participants enjoyed a terrific weekend of walks on 21-22 October 2023 in the beautiful Wombat State Forest. Twenty walks ranging from Easy to Hard were on offer all within 35km of the event base at the brand new Trentham Football and Netball Club rooms. It was an excellent location with camping on site and a cricket match on Saturday afternoon to entertain us on return from our walks.
Weather-wise Saturday was a great day for bushwalking but Sunday dawned cold, windy and drizzly. Some walkers either decided to stay warm and dry or change the walk they were going on. The misty drizzle persisted through the morning but spirits remained high on the walks and it dried off during mid-afternoon.
A local army of kitchen volunteers, very ably run by Di, provided a rolling afternoon tea on both days. Club volunteers served the meal for the event on the Saturday evening during which we heard from Jeff McDonnell whose club (Bayside) is organising the 2024 event aided by Melbourne Bushwalkers and South Gippsland clubs. Guest Speaker was Peter Yates, anthropologist and garlic grower, who lives locally. He showed a beautiful video of local environmental images including flood plains, red gums and revitalisation and talked about aspects of left brain/right brain and mythopoetics - a hypothetical stage of human thought preceding modern thought - the language of the soul and how bushwalking can be a way to tap into our right brain potential.
It was a great weekend with all returning back to base safely but rather damp, with friendships renewed and formed over a common interest of walking in the bush. Don’t miss next year’s event at the Prom!!
Robyn Shingles / Jack Winterbottom
