The founders of WA Wanderers – a bushwalking group for men – explain what led them to form the group and just what it is all about.
When Andrew and Brian relocated from Adelaide to Perth in late 2007, they looked around for a bushwalking group and discovered a gap in the offerings for gay men in Perth with an inclination for exploring the outdoors. So, inspired by the success of the Sapphic Trampers, they decided to find out if there was any interest from the local men in forming a group.
‘We wanted to meet new people in Perth,’ says Andrew, ‘and we also wanted to get out an about to explore our new state, so it made sense to do both at the same time. For more than 15 years we were members of a bushwalking group in South Australia called the Happy Wanderers, and through that we met lots of guys who were not into the gay nightclub scene but still wanted to be social and do something active.’
Responses to an ad in OUTinPerth in mid-2008 indicated there was sufficient demand in the Perth gay men’s community, so they organised a first hike through Bold Park on a sunny and warm late winter day. At that first meeting, Tom Brooks, who had been an active member of the Christchurch New Zealand Lambda Day Trampers bushwalking group, volunteered to create and look after the new group’s website. Some six months and six hikes later, numbers have increased from three on the first walk to an ever-expanding mailing list of over 30 people.
‘The group is a varied mix of men of various ages and levels of fitness,’ says Brian. ‘We are trying to get a good mix of walks to cater for different abilities and interests. Some people are happy with a leisurely walk along the beach, while others are keen to try something more challenging.’
The concept is an easygoing group with no admission fees or pressure to attend every walk, although everyone is welcome.
Past WA Wanderers walks have included trekking through the John Forrest National Park in the rain; tramping the rather hot limestone hills of the Yanchep National Park; and most recently, navigating the Rockingham Coast and finishing with a swim. Other walks have included a section of the Bibbulmun Track near Perth, the Canning River Loop and Bold Park, and new members are most welcome to propose upcoming hikes.
The WA Wanderers website at www.wawanderers.bravehost.com/ gives information on the group’s purpose, meeting times, next walk, advice on what to take on hikes, and even how to do it on the cheap by car pooling to trailheads. The website also provides links to related sites such as the Sapphic Trampers, Australian trail information, and international gay sports.
The WA Wanderers enter their second year in 2009 and invite others to join them. They hike the third Sunday of every month, departing at 9am from the Leederville Dome, where hikers show up at 8:30 for morning coffee before arranging car pools to the day’s walk. For more information about the WA Wanderers, you can email to wawanderers@yahoo.com or ring Andrew and Brian on 0415 249 265.
