The Northern Section: an outstanding sucess

Last week the first group of event walkers used the new northern section of the Pilgrim Trail: I can only say that it was a fantastic success. The group were wonderful and enjoyed the stunning scenery with creeks running full, wildflowers just coming into their best, and the fields either a glorious green or buttercup yellow with vast swathes of Canola in bloom.

We received great support from the CAC at Bindoon, Mr & Mrs Kelly, and Callum the farm manager at Mr & Mrs Sadler's property, as well as the local Shire and businesses at Bindoon itself. The walkers were received with great warmth at New Norcia, which was the spiritual focus for many of those who made it all the way, and many a teary eye was noted as the Abbott graciously received them at the Tomb of Dom Salvado.

That there is still much to be done is made lighter by the fact that each group, with participants form all around Australia, who have experienced the walk take home with them, and to their families and friends, such great memories.

The first event walk for 2011

Next Sunday the first Camino Salvado for 2011 will be starting out along the Pilgrim Trail: this will be followed by a second one two weeks later. Walkers have come from around Australia to take part, and there are many who weren't able to participate because places were limited. Once again, we have had tremendous support and enthusiasm from all those involved and especially from a small Committee who have given countless hours of work and travel to ensure that the experience is a good one.

The trail alignment is exciting and the countryside is looking SPECTACULAR. To add to the excitement, the creeks are full to bursting from the recent rains and there's talk of having to cut a tree down so that we can ford a flooded stream in full spate!!

Our friends at the Catholic Agricultural College in Bindoon have been amazing in their generosity and we thanks them for all their help and encouragment. Mrs and Mrs Kelly have opened their gates and their hearts to us and we thanks them for their kindness and support.

"Blazing" a trail is hard, slow work, but the fruits of the effort last a lifetime. This story isn't finished yet, but it's a wonderful tale that I think will reverberate in the hearts of so many for generations to come!

Waiting Game

We have had official confirmation that we were successful in our grant application to Lotterywest. This means that Colin Ingram, our trails consultant can finish the work on the alignment and all that entails. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our application to DEC: but hopefully the money will have gone to projects worthy of their funding. Finally, we are still holding our breath and hoping that Royalties for Regions will help expand our communications in the rural sector, which is so vital for the success of the Trail.

On the weekend, a group of us walked through Julimar Forest, and it was wonderful. The wildflowers are just beginning to come into bloom and the adjacent farmland is a glorious green: all the creeks were running and the trail itself is excellent walking: but there are a couple of steep hills that make you stop, get your breath and enjoy the views.

This is an awesome trail!

Grant Applications

After a lull of activity, this week has seen a Board Meeting with new members being agreed to, and results from two Grant Applications.

Lotterywest have accepted our follow up application for further work to be carried out on the final alignment and all that entails; but unfortunately, DEC have declined our application for funding, which makes it imperative that we seek alternative funding to progress consolidation of all our hard work.

On a lighter moment: the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, the Hon Tim Fischer, has been in email contact with us following the recent release of a book on Dom Salvado in Rome. Responding to our email, he passed on his delight and congratulations for what we are trying to achieve here in WA with the Pilgrim Trail and the Camino Salvado.

Finally: Maggie and I continued our review of the Trail behind Mrs Kelly's property - which is excellent - and met up with Callum, the farm manager for Mr & Mrs Sadler, who was very helpful, and kindly allowed us access to the Buffer area at the back of their property. We have been overwhelmed with the hospitality shown us by Kevin and his colleagues at CAC: dear Mr & Mrs Kelly and now Callum: there must be something very special in the water in the Shire of Chittering!!

Peace and quiet

Well, that's how its been since I last posted: we're in that holding pattern before the announcement of the Funding Applications we have put in. Hopefully, we will have some news by the end of July so that we can maintain the momentum. There are now a lot of people who have heard of the Trail and thin that it's already up and running: it's frustrating to have to tell them that, yes, the trail is there, but there are no signs, no Web page and no brochures! But we're patient and confident that all will be well in the end.
Yesterday I met with Barni and Jacqui at Bindoon who are doing great things to promote their area - the Northern Valleys Region. The Pilgrim Trail will pass through this region in its last 50kms and it is so good to know that there is such a level of enthusiastic support in the community.
We also met with an informal group in the Education Department to "throw around" ideas as to how the Pilgrim Trail could feature in school curricula: this was a very productive discussion and one that we will pursue once the Trail is more formally established.

Waiting for News

After the final flurry of intense activity, we submitted Grant applications to Lotterywest, DEC and Royalties for Regions: we are also hoping to make presentations to Bank West and Bauxite Resources for foundation sponsorships. We will naturally be seeking funding from any appropriate source and would welcome your feedback and advice on any such approaches.
In the meantime, whilst attending my fathers 90th birthday celebrations in Vienna, Maggie and I took the opportunity of a gentle cycle ride from Prague back to Vienna: but it didn't quite turn out as we expected!! Mountain biking in remote Moravia has its charms, but for a couple of grandparents, it also had some incredible challenges! But we survived and in retrospect we are so happy we took up the challenge: it also highlighted the fact that if you have a Trail, then you need to set it up well, provide precise information about it and provide signage/maps/GPS that are current and accurate. It has shown me that although our progress towards a permanent trail can sometimes appear to be glacial, we are in fact trying to achieve Best Practice and create the best possible Trail for all users, and this takes time.

Deadlines

We are fast approaching the deadline for submitting Grant applications: the first is 10th March!! These applications demand a great deal of focus and attention if they are to be successful, as many other organizations are also applying for these limited funds. Hopefully we will succeed and can then progress with establishing the trail as a permanent feature on the Australian Trail scene: ALL VERY EXCITING!
No trail can be considered a success unless people walk it, and that means they need to hear about it first: that's where YOU come in. Word of mouth is the best form of endorsement, so we encourage you to not only consider getting out there in the cooler months and walking sections of the trail, but also to talk about it to your family and friends.
I got a lovely email during the week from the State Equestrian Centre, thanking us for bringing the trail past their front door and inviting all Pilgrim Trail users to drop in and have a look at their facilities: apparently they often have international riders there using the arena, so it's well worth a look. (see link on this page)
Please keep sending your support emails and any suggestions that you may have that will help make the Pilgrim Trail the best of its kind in Australia!!

Applications for funding

March is almost here and that means, not only that Easter is just around the corner, but also that it's deadline time for getting funding applications in. We need significant funding so that we can actually get some markers on the ground and be able to tell the story of the Pilgrim Trail. Our "Rolls Royce" scenario with all the signage, shelters, website, publications and support necessary to establish a world class trail, means that we are looking to raise over $400,000. For that reason we are approaching our dear benefactors Lotterywest to once again support our endeavor: we are also applying for grants from DEC and Royalties for Regions, both of whom have indicated that our enterprise does fall within their guidelines -so fingers crossed!
After a recent Board meeting we have also decided to approach the private sector to seek funding there too; and I have been encouraged by the positive response received so far. At this stage we have a submission in with one local mining company and we are looking to present another submission to a large financial institution too. It is one of the great benefits of working on such a project, that I have been amazed and delighted by the number of people of good will who are so enthusiastic in their support. If there is one person who personifies this level of enthusiasm and encouragement, it is Mike Foley the CEO of the City of Swan. He oversees and massive organization and yet finds time to discuss with us our proposals and seek to accommodate our wishes as best he can: thanks Mike!!
The downside - and there is always a downside in life - is that we have to fill out "Forms"!!! And boy, do some of these forms bewilder me! Coming from a medical background and having to answer environmental questions in "government speak" is beyond my current expertise: so if anyone wants to volunteer to help......

Australia Day 2011

I've just listened to Michael Parkinson giving an Australia Day talk on the ABC, and what he said re-enforced in me what a truly astonishing country we live in! On one level we seem to be waiting for things to "get better", and yet this small country has made astonishing strides since settlement began in the eighteenth century: just imaging what the next 200 years will bring! Here in WA we have wide blue skies, the freshest of air, the awesome ocean; the stark, harsh beauty of the bush and endless resources fueling a booming economy. We have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to: we should be jumping up and down for joy to be here in this great State.
In 200 years time, there will be towns and villages leading up to New Norcia along the Pilgrims Trail. There will be cafes and restaurants, pubs and comfy B&Bs for the weary travelers: and there will be thousands of Pilgrims using the Pilgrims Trail. Why? Because one thing that seems innate in our humanity is the desire to seek a connection with the sacred and the spiritual, and the Pilgrims Trail gives walkers that opportunity to take time out and review, renew and reconnect with their inner self.
So this Australia Day: dare to be excited about, and for, our wonderful country. Write down your dreams: make that your first step towards making them a reality. I hope that helping bring the Pilgrims Trail to completion will be on your list: its definitely on mine!
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

The Decade of the Pilgrims Trail

New Year: New hope: New challenges. Welcome to 2011.
Next week we have the first Board meeting for the Foundation for the year and we will look at the draft Management Plan that Colin Ingram has produced. We will also be looking to increase the size of the Board to broaden the skills base we need so that we can create a world class Trail.
Then its "hitting the road". Colin and I will be meeting again with all the relevant Cities, Shires, Government Departments and land holders to gain their support for the next stage, which should bring us close to finalization.
Its going to be a busy time and we will appreciate all the support that you can give us. Any suggestions or inspirations that you may have will also be gratefully received.
To all our supporters, their families and friends, may you have a wonderful, exciting and adventurous New Year.

The Northern Alignment

Although I haven't posted anything for November, it has in fact,been a very busy time with trail walks and meetings. Maggie, Colin and I have walked almost all of the new northern alignment, and even though the weather has been fairly hot, the walking has been excellent. From the picture you can see that as well as beautiful scenery, we also discovered busy bees hard at work on the edge of the forest area! There were also reminders of how tough life is in the bush with ample remains of our marsupial friends and the active presence of snakes and lizards! For those with an "avian bent", the bird life is fairly awesome as well!
We had a meeting amongst ourselves in order to see where we need to involve others with specific skills to help further the aims of the Pilgrim Trail: and we had a fascinating meeting with representatives of the defense force, as part of the new alignment follows their boundary fence. The people we met with were most helpful in bringing us "up to speed" with their needs, and general discussion produced ideas on the mid to long term future of the land and our Trail.
Colin is now working on the "Master Plan" that he hopes to have ready in the next couple of weeks: and then its meetings, meetings, meetings!
With the season of Advent just around the corner, its a good time to remember that the first Christmas began with Joseph and Mary taking a long trail walk to Bethlehem: they eventually found a good site for the night and since then the whole world hasn't stopped celebrating it all! May this Christmas be your best ever, but spare a thought for all those less fortunate than ourselves, who are still doing it tough on their particular Trails!

Almost there......

Last weekend, having met so many friendly flies the previous weekend, Maggie and I decided to re-acquaint ourselves with some of their myriad cousins a bit further north!
We began our trek from Calingri Rd and headed south along the buffer zone next to the Military Training area. There's a clear trail next to the fence that borders the farm land on the west side of the buffer zone, and walking is pretty easy. If you're into paleontology, there are plenty of skeletal remains to examine - too our untrained amateur eyes, they seemed to be of the marsupial variety!
We made it down almost to half way before we had to return to our car: but the signs are promising.
At the southern end of this track there is a boundary fence on the Dewars Pool Rd stating that entry is only at the permission of the owners: at the northern end, it's open access: another mystery to solve!
IF we can make use of this trail, then we have good track all the way from Chittering Rd to 5ks short of New Norcia and that's so much better than 45kms along the highway!
To see the trail go to:
http://maps.google.co/maps/ms?ie=UTFmsa=0msid=101825537550456146464.0004933225d1540f08dc3

Another link in the chain

After a productive board meeting recently, Maggie and I set out to have a look at part of an alternative to the Great Northern highway north of Bindoon. The result was very exciting!
Instead of heading up to where Chittering Road meets the Highway, we turned right into Julimar Rd and then into Julimar Forest along the western boundary road: this goes due north, though you would never pick it as it meanders through the edge of the forest and is great to walk.
It crosses Flat Rock Rd and then touches the end of Stephens Rd before turning into Northern Boundary Rd and thence Dewars Pools Road! If we can now walk through the buffer zone alongside the Military area, then we reach the lower end of Old Plain Rd and - hey presto - we're into New Norcia without touching the highway - and the trail that we walked was outstanding: a fantastic complement to the first 4 days.
It does add some kilometers, but they're well worth it!
This just gets better and better: please keep your fingers crossed that the next link in the chain falls into place too!
To see the route go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTFmsa=0msid=101825537550456146464.000493321100a9389143d

Lots happening

Since the last Camino walk from St Josephs, there has been a flurry of reporting on the event, and on the trail. Chris Olney wrote an article for the Catholic record which was very professional and very good! That same "organ" of the west Australian catholic press is also serializing a journal that I kept whilst we walked the first Camino this year: next week is week 3! But most exciting of all in the media was Dawn Greens article in the national magazine, Great Walks, for which she wrote an article entitled "Pilgrimage of Passion". It's about her trip along the Pilgrim trail that she organized herself and completed with her husband: it's a wonderful article and well worth a read. But please remember, Dawn was in frequent correspondence with me about the trail, because as of this moment, there is no signage and there is still a vast amount of work to be done to bring it all into fruition. (read on....)
Which leads me onto the realignment of the northern section of the trail. Essentially, we need to get the trail off the Highway between Bindoon and New Norcia: this creates issues of access and also availability to accommodation as the trail will have to move eastward. The good news is that should we succeed then the trail will be even better than before, but you wouldn't believe how many people one has to talk to in order to get things up and walking! The greatest news however is that everyone we talk to is still very positive about the whole concept and very supportive: it's just that crossing those "T's" and dotting those "I's" seems to take forever!! One thing the trail has taught me is patience - everything happens in its own time!

Camino Salvado 2010 Part II

Maggie and I met up with the second group of walkers of the 2010 Camino Salvado at the State Equestrian Center at Brigadoon. It was a hot days walking and they were most grateful to be able to drop their "bundles" and and take off their boots in the shade of the trees surrounding the paddock next to the center. The "cannon" reticulation device came as a refreshing surprise as it showered us all when we least expected it! The staff were most friendly and left us to our own devices whilst food and drinks were happily eaten. Then Hamish, the CEO, invited us inside and what an amazing surprise that was. This is a world class facility here in our own backyard, and most people don't even know it exists! Like most organizations, it relies on the goodwill of its supporters, and these need all our help, if we are to maintain this awesome facility.
I urge as many of you as possible to take a trip out to Bells Rapids for a picnic, but do stop at the Center in Cathedral Ave, and you wont be sorry! Even better, join as a member and enjoy the spectacle of indoor riding!
Whilst the walkers are walking, Colin and I are still working on the northern alignment of the trail and are in talks with stakeholders that will hopefully lead to a better, safe, more enjoyable experience. We also need sponsors and members to help fund what is ahead for us: to be able to sign and tell the story of the Pilgrim trail! So please, send me an email to indicate your interest and I will get back to you.