PRESIDENT’S REPORT APRIL 2026
The phenomenon that time goes quicker (or seems to) as we age is an interesting one – scientifically explained by the “proportionality theory” and “Janet’s Law”. Anyway it seems like only yesterday that the new year 2026 had just begun and already we’re a quarter of the way through it! In this report I’ll hopefully inform of what’s ahead in 2026, with some reporting and reflections on the year to date.
Committee Meeting
Our first Committee Meeting of the year was held on 19 March at Wendy Langley’s home, the first part of proceedings being the Committee Meeting, followed by the compilation of the new Trip Programme starting 8 April.
Membership
Our current membership stands at 130.
Welcome to:
Alison Evans, John Barratt, Tony Martin, Neville McNab, Heather Casey, Stuart Thomson, Alan Scurr, Trudy Camera, Janice Hodges, Anne-Marie Wigley, Alison (Ali) Hales
Farewell to:
Gail Bradley, Vivienne Manning, Sue Nichol, Kathryn Fagg, Margaret Maxwell, Lindsay Anderson, Adrienne Millar, Niki Martin, Max Wilson,
Helen Ingrams
Sadly, since my last report, we have lost two of our life members: Margaret Smith and Molly Vaughan – sympathy cards being sent to their families expressing our heartfelt condolences.
Members’ Privacy
The privacy of members and the protection of information on them, held by the Club, are matters we take very seriously, minimum personal information on members use only for Club activities being held by us.
Our recent Committee Meeting involved a revisit to the Privacy Act and discussion on it, our Privacy Officer being Secretary, Wendy Langley. A new password for access to the membership list has been loaded: “overthehill”.
Thanks for doing that Graeme – not sure what the password refers to though? Perhaps something to do with tramps and hikes, nothing to do with the age of our members of course?
Similarly the restricted access, “permissions” password for landowners and company contacts, used for tramps and hikes on private land has been changed.
Constitution:
Phil Keene is revising Rule 22 of our Constitution, regarding Trip Guidelines, proposing to break these into three categories:
– Trip leaders and the Webteam
– Trip Programme Information and a new one….
– How to Run a Trip.
Finance
Current balance $2,066.19 as at 7 April 2026.
Club Radios
The Club now has a single set of two Unidem (Model UH755 – 2 DLXSW UHF) radios.
These were purchased with Committee approval on 23 January for $399.99 from Dunedin’s Hunting and Fishing store. Instructions for their use are now on the website under “Trip Guidelines”, “Hand Held Radio Information”. The intention is to have a printed, laminated set of instructions kept in the radio’s container also. A special thank you to Graham Thurlow for compiling these instructions.
Webteam News
Ross Davies raised the question of the security of our Website’s backup system with its reliance on our service provider. Ross is currently investigating options for increasing our “back up” security.
Our “Communications Officer”, Ross Davies, has resigned because of other commitments, Graeme Souter assuming the role.
A big thank you to you Ross for your years and years of commitment to our website, its development and effectiveness as a communication tool. Thank you to Graeme in assuming responsibility to step into Ross’s shoes, as our new Communications Officer.
New Programme
At our Committee meeting concern was expressed at the growing cost and supply uncertainties regarding fuel – a very “volatlle” subject (pardon the pun) on many levels with increasingly the ethical, moral implications of using fuel for recreational use being questioned. The situation is being closely monitored: fuel reimbursement costs being adjusted regularly and “distant” trip destinations being, at least in the short term, avoided. Accordingly, because of these uncertainties, the new programme, which is now posted on our website, covers a further 3 months (usually 6 months) until 1 July inclusive.
Assisting us with programme planning, Graeme Souter has compiled on our website a “spreadsheet” of past trips, detailing their type (eg bush, street walk, etc), season, grade, permissions, restrictions.
Thanks for this initiative, Graeme – it has already and will in future be a valuable tool in programme planning.
A big thank you to all members who submitted tramp or hike ideas for our programme, especially those expressing a willingness to lead a trip. Leading a tramp or hike is one of the most satisfying and rewarding activities the club has to offer. However, a number of issues have been encountered because of an occasional reluctance to lead trips.
We are fortunate to have many experienced leaders within our Club who are willing to assist and provide guidance to any newer member who has concerns or is nervous about leading – the “tail and Charlie” position particularly lending itself to the “apprenticeship” learning role. In choosing leaders for hikes/tramps our Committee does make sure inexperienced leaders are matched with experienced ones for each specific trip.
Track Clearing:
At the Committee Meeting our future role in track clearing was discussed and is under review, NB the track clearing day on our new programme (6 May). A forthcoming meeting with the Green Hut Track Clearing Group to be attended by Phil Keene, Graham Thurlow and myself is planned.
Mid-Winter Lunch:
Please mark this on your calendars for 17 June with provisionally a Tunnel Beach combined walk beforehand. More details to be announced once plans are finalised.
AGM:
Another calendar date, this being booked for 27 August, 1.30 pm, at the Taieri Bowling Club. Again, more details to follow closer to this date.
Bannockburn Camp:
Sadly, because of other commitments, I personally missed this year’s camp. From all accounts of everyone I’ve spoken to, and in reading the reports on each day’s activities, the camp was a huge success – one common thread I’ve picked up being the excellent outstanding organisation behind the whole event, attributable to two: thank you to Anne and Rod.
That’s it for this report. Happy hiking and tramping. With so much going on at present – perhaps a reminder of why we do it is appropriate:
from W J Holland: “Happy is the person who has acquired the love of walking for it’s own sake”.
John Gardiner