PRESIDENT’S REPORT

It’s almost Autumn, a lovely time of the year to be outdoors, hiking in the bush, kayaking on the lake and creeks or cycling wherever the paths take us.  We’re asking leaders to put their activities in the program sooner rather than later.  We all seem to lead busy lives, so knowing well ahead of time what’s coming up will help everyone to plan ahead and not miss out on those favourite activities.

The AGM and Christmas party in December last year was a great success.  It was a lovely day for it and feedback was positive.  So we will be doing the same this year and have booked the Rhododendron Gardens again for the event, this time in late November.

There have been some changes to the committee.  In January, Mel Marriott indicated he was unable to take on the role of Publicity Officer which was set up to initially be  a shared position to enable a proper handover.  Russell Verdon who has been our Publicity Officer for 5 ½ years has now resigned, for the last few years he had indicated to us that this was his wish.  Russell has made a huge contribution in increasing our visibility in the community through his contacts with local businesses and impressive displays in the Wollongong libraries.  He has also made our presence known in the wider community through social media.  The photos of our activities attract a lot of interest and we have a large number of followers in Facebook.  Russell has been an integral member of the committee and as such, will be missed, however he is a regular participant in the walks so we will of course still see him around.

Until further notice could you please send photos for posting on the website to:

illawarraramblers@gmail.com.

There is now an opportunity for someone else in the club to take up the position of Publicity Officer.  We’re appealing to any members who are comfortable using a computer and familiar with Facebook to think about volunteering for the role. You’ll be working with and have the support of an enthusiastic team.  Please contact myself or Vice President Pam Hayes if you are interested.

Speaking of volunteering, there’s an article in the newsletter with a link to a video produced by Bushwalking NSW on this very topic.  It is thought provoking and well worth watching.

Keep an eye on the program as it changes fairly frequently. It’s a good idea to scroll down to the end of the list for advance notices of trips away.  They are always popular and are often fully subscribed within days of being published.

Enjoy your walking, cycling and kayaking in the months ahead.

Penny Howes