The Perth Bushwalkers
Club was formed in 1969. Of the hardy band of walkers
that came together in the beginning, Geoff Schaeffer is
regarded as the founder of the club (Geoff, a life member
of the club, was recognised for his contribution to bushwalking
in WA by having Schaeffer campsite on the Bibbulmun Track
named for him).
The membership had grown to sixty members
during the first 5 years. Members
would attend a weekly meeting where information on forthcoming
walks was
imparted. Some of the areas that members walked were the
bushland near Perth
and the Stirling Ranges.
In 1980, the club started
to produce a newsletter to inform the ever expanding membership
about planned walks. Walks at this time were being conducted,
among other places, at Moore River, Jarrahdale and Dwellingup.
The club has always been concerned with
minimum impact walking, providing
members with skills such as first aid and navigation and
finding ways to
lighten the load in the pack.
The club, the largest bushwalking club
in WA, currently has over 300 members.
