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  Sutherland Bushwalking Club Inc provides opportunities for safe bush sports activities. Membership is open to all people 18 years and over, and currently stands at approximately 300 members. The activities offered by our Club include bushwalking, cycling, kayaking and canoeing, abseiling and canyoning. The activities range in duration from one day to extended periods over several weeks and vary from local to interstate and overseas. Activities are led by volunteer leaders and are detailed in the Club program which is provided to financial members quarterly. Trip leader details are not available to non members. Activities are generally graded according to the difficulty, experience and level of fitness required on a scale of 1 to 6, with 1 being the easiest. On an activity Graded 4 or above you could encounter off track sections and/or exposed areas at any time. These grades are not necessarily exactly the same as those used by other Clubs. Detailed descriptions of grades of each activity are provided under the pages for bushwalking, cycling, kayaking and canoeing, abseiling and canyoning. Some activities come with more risk than others. A leader may exclude any participant who, in the leader’s judgement may have difficulties completing the planned activity. All participants in activities do so at their own risk and must sign a liability waiver accepting sole responsibility for any personal injury or property damage they might sustain. However, financial Club members are covered under the blanket insurance policy taken out by Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW for all activities included in the program. Costs The membership fee to join the Club for a calendar year is $30. There are no fees to participate in an activity but participants are expected to share fuel costs for trips when travel is shared and to meet their own accommodation costs on extended trips. How do I join? Complete the membership application form and waiver form and send it with your membership fee to: Sutherland Bushwalking Club Inc PO Box 250, Sutherland, NSW, 1499
 Bookings It is imperative that bookings be made directly to the leader of the activity. Preferably, at least 4 days notice for one-day activities and 10 days for overnight activities should be given to leaders if you wish to participate, so that transport can be arranged. Frequently the leader of an activity has to place a limit on the number of people that may participate, so it is best to book early. Transport Where transport is by car, travel costs are shared between passengers. The following formula is suggested to calculate the contribution of each person: double the cost of fuel, then add any additional costs e.g. entrance fees, road tolls etc and divide by the number of occupants. Meeting and Departure Times The time and conditions arranged by the leader for meeting and departing cannot be extended to wait for those who are late. If you find that you are not able to attend, please advise the leader immediately. This may allow another person to attend.
 If you have any queries, or wish to contact Sutherland Bushwalking Club, you may :- Send an email to info@sutherlandbushwalkers.org.au - Leave a message on the answering service 9990 5876 - Write to the address above in "How do I join" Attend Club meetings. Club meetings are generally held on the last Wednesday evening of the month at 7.00 pm at Hall 2 in the Stapleton Ave Community Centre, entrance from Stapleton Avenue near Belmont St, Sutherland. Overdue bushwalkers ? In an emergency, contact triple 000 (112 for mobile phones). If needed, Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue can be contacted by phoning 0427 455 897 . The Club has two Personal Locator Beacons which leaders are able to borrow for use on walks through difficult terrain. These can be used to summon help if required. Subsidies for First Aid Courses Sutherland Bushwalking Club encourages all members to hold current First Aid qualifications. Financial members who undertake and pass accredited Senior First Aid or Remote Area First Aid training will be entitled to a reimbursement of 50% of the course fee to a maximum of $100 per person. The Club lists Senior and Remote Area First Aid courses in the appropriate program. Discounts available to Club Members Members of Sutherland Bushwalking Club receive Free Paddy Pallin club membership (normally $10) entitling them to 10% off all year round, exclusive club member nights, advance e-notification of new gear and upcoming sales and an award winning catalogue mailed straight to their door. This offer is available at Paddy Pallin stores at Sydney, Miranda or Chatswood. Bundeena Kayaks offer significant discounts to Sutherland Bushwalking club members if they participate in their regular trips.
Equipment The essential equipment for each activity is different so make sure you are familiar with the guidelines detailed under each activity. Beginners should not buy expensive equipment without advice. Club equipment, including tents and packs, are available for loan. A detailed list of Club equipment for loan is available in the Members Area. Maps and other resources The Club has a limited range of maps available for loan to members. These may be borrowed by contacting the Club’s Equipment Officer whose contact details are listed in the Members Area. Usually most leaders and some members have their own personal collection of maps or books relevant to the activities in which they participate. Diseases affecting Native Vegetation There is a risk that we, as bushwalkers, may be inadvertently spreading Phytophthora and Myrtle Rust (2 diseases affecting Native Vegetation) in our National Parks. In order to minimize the spread, it has been suggested that we adopt a practice of spraying our boots before entering the bush and again on our return, especially in areas where Phytophthora or Myrtle Rust may be present. It could also be prudent to spray any affected clothing. The suggested disinfectant is a mixture of 70% metho and 30% water. This is especially important if you are venturing off track. In fact, perhaps you should be reconsidering your off track forays – while these can offer bushwalkers a sense of adventure, going off track greatly increases the chances of transferring diseases such as Phytophthora and Myrtle Rust into bush land.
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