Geoff Schafer – the man behind the legend

By Andrew Eastick

Geoff Schafer, the Perth Bushwalkers Club’s first Life Member, awarded in 1989, is a legend.

A legend, because Geoff played the principal role in founding the Club in 1969 and provided the inspiration for the Bibbulmun Track in 1972.

In relation to the establishment of the Perth Bushwalkers Club the Club’s website states:

A series of advertisements in the personal column of newspapers in April 1969 brought results, with the new Club underway in May 1969. It's first walk was a weekend one, from North Dandalup to Keysbroook.

Of the hardy band of 'Perth Bushies' that came together in that beginning year, Geoff Schafer is regarded as the founder of the Club. Geoff, a life-member, was recognised for his contribution to bushwalking in WA by having Schafer Campsite on the Bibbulmun Track named after him.

The Bibbulmun Track Foundation website states:

Bushwalking was a recreational pursuit in WA before the Second World War, the Western Walking Club having been founded in 1937. In 1969 the Perth Bushwalking Club came into being. Founding member Geoff Schafer was less than impressed by the facilities that the State offered for walkers in terms of long-distance walks. Geoff was a veteran of the 650km walk through the Victorian Alps, and he was dismayed that WA had no comparable track.

In July 1972 he walked into the office of the then Minister for Forests, H.D. Evans, with an idea designed to prompt urban people to go bush. The Minister listened, liked what he heard, and sent Geoff and his idea to the Forests Department with a green light to go ahead with his proposed Perth to Albany Walk track.

But what of Geoff Schafer the man?

On Sunday 25 August 2024, I had the good fortune to be able to interview Geoff, by phone from his current home at Carnegie in Melbourne.

Geoff, who will be 90 in October this year, was born in Melbourne. He has two sisters and one brother, Athol, now deceased.

Geoff attributes Athol to his interest in bushwalking. Athol joined the Melbourne Bushwalkers in 1952 and was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 1969.

Geoff became an electrical engineer through eight years of study at Caulfield Technical College. He came across the Nullarbor to Perth in early 1960’s to work for the Western Australian Public Works Department.

It is during the ensuing five years working for the Department in Perth that Geoff joined the Western Walking Club, which was founded in 1937.

Writing in the Club’s 40 Years (1969-2009) publication Geoff explained: The (Western Walking) Club catered for Sunday walkers and had large numbers, up to 100 participants on some outings during the cooler months. Apart from the occasional base camping trip, the Club did not have weekend backpacking walks so gave their blessing to the formation of the Perth Bushwalkers Club in early 1969.

Soon after his pivotable role in founding the Perth Bushwalkers Club, Geoff moved north with the Public Works Department, to Broome and then to Port Hedland where he spent the next 40 years of his working life.

During my interview with Geoff, he mentioned that whilst at Port Hedland he did some walks with the Paraburdoo-based Hamersley Ranges Bushwalking Club. 

Geoff never married despite, to quote Geoff, several near misses. During his years in Port Hedland Geoff purchased houses, several of which he still owns.

Whilst currently living in Melbourne, Geoff is planning to move to a house he bought several years ago at Mount Magnet. 

From the three years (2014-2016) I spent at Paraburdoo supporting the establishment of the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation I have some interesting information about the activities of that Club during the 1970s That’s a story for a future Venturer!

Photo: Geoff taken at  PBW 50^th anniversary at Nanga Camp.