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Walking SA AGM 2022

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Walking SA

Thursday 20 October 2022
AGM: 6:30pm
Trails presentation: 7pm
Followed by Walking Awards award ceremony

Torrens Rowing Club
Victoria Drive, Adelaide SA 5000

Join us to hear from our Guest Speaker Mary-Anne Healy, Director, Community and Nature Partnerships, Department for Environment and Water, who will discuss trail updates for National Parks and Wildlife Service SA (NPWSSA). Trails, camping, and future plans for NPWSSA – hear it all, direct from the source, with an opportunity to ask questions!

Thanks to EXURBIA The Adventure Supply Co we have a Lucky Door Prize, a Salewa Denali II Tent valued at $429 up for grabs. The Denali II is a large 2-person, 3-season, double wall dome tent for hiking and trekking.

Public welcome, please register for free ticket.

Torrens Rowing Club is located on Victoria Drive, just north of the Adelaide CBD, on the southern bank of the River Torrens next to the City Bridge and Jolly’s Boathouse.
Please note the venue is accessed by stairs.

Nominations for the Board

Nominations for membership of the 2022/23 Walking SA Board are invited from anyone with a passion for raising the profile of walking, improving walking environments and getting more people walking. We are particularly interested in applications from members from our walking clubs.

Please refer to the Nomination Form ( Microsoft Word, or PDF.)

Please send your completed nomination form to:
Helen Donovan, Executive Director
Walking SA
Level 4, 25 Leigh Street, Adelaide SA 5000
or email office@walkingsa.org.au
by Thursday 13th October 2022.

Getting there

Please note the venue is accessed by stairs.

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/6d5sECmBaqcLXzVj6

By bike: there are some bike racks nearby.

By public transport: 10 mins walk from the Adelaide Railway Station, or from the nearby tram stop.

Share the Walktober Message

Posted on September 28, 2021 by Walking SA

Download and share a social media tiles for promoting walking throughout Walktober. Anyone is welcome to use these images to promote walking.

There are 14 messages to choose from.

View social media tiles

We would also love your help to share our online walks database (as we know this helps people to discover new walks that suit their needs and interests, and motivates more people walking more often!): walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk

If you are sharing Walktober messages on social media, we would love to know about it! You can use #WalktoberSA and #WalkingSA

Facebook: @WalkingSA
Instagram: @WalkingSA_au
Twitter: @Walking_SA
LinkedIn: walking-sa

Walking SA AGM with Panel Discussion on Trails and Award Ceremony

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Walking SA

Thursday 28 October
AGM: 6:30pm
Trails panel discussion: 7pm
Followed by Walking Awards award ceremony

Torrens Rowing Club
Victoria Drive, Adelaide SA 5000

Join us for a panel discussion on all things trails – trail building, trail maintenance, current and emerging trail projects, and how the walking community can help! Our panel will include representatives from National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, Forestry SA, South Australian Recreation Trails Inc (SARTI), and some of our South Australian trail-related groups.

Public welcome, please register for free ticket.

Nominations for the Board

Nominations for membership of the 2021/22 Walking SA Board are invited from anyone with a passion for raising the profile of walking, improving walking environments and getting more people walking.

Please refer to the Nomination Form ( Microsoft Word, or PDF.)

Getting there

Please note the venue is accessed by stairs.

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/6d5sECmBaqcLXzVj6

By bike: there are some bike racks nearby.

By public transport: 10 mins walk from the Adelaide Railway Station, or from the nearby tram stop.

Walking SA Annual Walking Awards – Nominations Open

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Walking SA

The annual Walking SA Walking Awards are now open for nominations.

The program provides a key vehicle for the promotion of the achievements and work of groups, organisations, local and state government, and volunteers in South Australia.

The Awards process is an opportunity for public and peer recognition of achievements in walking, and demonstrates to volunteers, community groups, the recreation industry, business, government, and the wider community the significant and positive impact that can be achieved through improvements to walkability.

Each of the three award categories of Walking for Health, Transport and Recreation will be awarded a $2,000 prize. The award for Outstanding Individual Contribution will be awarded a Walking SA Lifetime Membership.

Key dates:
Nominations close: 21 October 2021
Awards Ceremony: 28 October 2021 (Walking SA AGM)

To nominate for an award, please download the Nomination Form.

Billion Steps Challenge

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Walking SA

Join South Australia’s 2021 Billion Steps Challenge and help us reach our goal of 1,000,000,000 steps!

Wellbeing SA, in partnership with 10,000 Steps, is excited to bring South Australians together to reach one billion steps. We know that every step counts and the more we move, the more health and wellbeing benefits we reap. Last year we achieved one billion steps in 65 days. Can we reach our goal quicker this year?

The challenge starts on 1 October 2021 and ends when we reach our goal of one billion steps. All South Australians who sign up to the 10,000 Steps program and log steps, or other forms of physical activity will have their steps automatically added to South Australia’s total.

How to get involved?
It’s simple, easy and free!

Sign up or login to be a 10,000 Steps member – make sure the state in your profile is South Australia
Track and log your steps and minutes of physical activity
Spread the word with your family, friends and workmates!

Walktober Ambassador Ali Clarke

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Walking SA

Walktober Ambassador Ali Clarke with her three children

We welcome Ali Clarke as a Ambassador for Walktober.

Born in Brisbane, Ali Clarke has called Adelaide home for twenty years and joined ABC Adelaide in 2016.

When not running around with her three children, she is involved with the Sport SA Hall of Fame, volunteers for Netball SA, loves watching sport and finds any excuse to explore South Australia’s beaches and country towns.

“Getting out and going for a walk is so important – I love taking off with our entire family, or even just finding time to myself, where I can take a break from everything, breath in fresh air and watch the world as I pass by”, Ali says. “I love doing any of the nature trails – from Morialta to Linear Park … and then of course there are some stunning costal walks down along The Fleurieu.”

Tune into Breakfast with Ali Clarke on your next walk this Walktober on 891AM or the ABC listen app weekdays from 6am.

Help South Australia reach its goal of one billion steps!

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Walking SA

Wellbeing SA is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all South Australians and next month we are excited to launch our first Billion Steps Challenge. This Challenge is about bringing people together and inspiring people to find more ways to move throughout their day.

When does the Challenge start?

Thursday 1 October 2020, at the start of Walktober.

How will the Billion Steps Challenge work?

We will be encouraging all South Australians to sign up to the Billion Steps Challenge via the Open Your World website and all steps (or other forms of physical activity) logged from October 1 will be automatically added to South Australia’s total.

We would love for the Walking SA community to register online and log their steps for South Australia.

Spread the word

Challenge your friends, family and workmates and let us know your progress by tagging #SABillionSteps #10000Steps #OpenYourWorld.

Walking SA AGM with guest speaker Sophie Thomson

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Walking SA

Thursday 22 October
6pm for 6:30pm start

Adelaide Town Hall, Banqueting Room
128 King William Street
Adelaide SA 5000

Public welcome. Participant numbers are limited due to COVID-19 event planning guidelines. Please register to assist us in managing our COVID-Safe event plan.

Guest Speaker Sophie Thompson

We are very pleased to announce that Sophie Thomson from ABC TV’s Gardening Australia will be joining us as our guest speaker. Sophie’s love affair with the environment and gardening was inherited from her plant loving parents whilst growing up and working at the family nursery in the Adelaide Hills.

In recent times, Sophie has mounted a successful mission to bring trees to those who lost their gardens in the bushfires in Kangaroo Island, created bee ‘hotels’ to protect existing native bees and encourage pollination, regularly advocated for saving significant trees in our environment (noting they improve our health and wellbeing and reduce the build-up and trapping of heat) AND she is an ambassador for Wild Orchid Watch! With over 35 years hands on experience, Sophie now believes that aside from the obvious environmental benefits, being in nature and gardening improves our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing as well as that of the broader community.

Sophie lives at Sophie’s Patch – a three-acre property in the Adelaide Hills, with husband Richard, five children under 18 and a menagerie of animals. Over the last eight years the Patch now includes numerous contained spaces as well as a fully productive organic vegie patch, more than 100 fruit and nut trees and what she hopes one day will be a breathtaking, climate compatible ornamental garden.

Nominations for the Board

If you wish to nominate for the Board you are encouraged to do so. Please refer to the Nomination Form ( Microsoft Word, or PDF.)

Getting there

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/pi7odynxQHSBcGKe7

By bike: there are some bike racks outside the Town Hall on King William St, and a larger bike rack area around the corner on 25 Pirie Street outside of the City of Adelaide Customer Centre.

By public transport: the Pirie Street tram stop is outside of the Town Hall. Catch the tram from the Adelaide Railway Station, from the Entertainment Centre or from Glenelg.

By car: Use the Park Adelaide app to find street parking, displaying real-time info about available parking spaces, time limits, and parking payment. You can download the app free on Apple or Android. Multi-level paid car parking is available 4 minutes walk from the Adelaide Town Hall at UPark Topham Mall, enter from Waymouth Street (open until midnight). Also nearby is a 5 minute walk from Auto Park on Franklin, open until 10pm.

Adelaide100 Trail Launch, 7km showcase walk

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Walking SA

We've launched a project website for the Adelaide100 trail at adelaide100.com.au

Join us to celebrate the launch of the first section of the Adelaide100® trail.

The Adelaide100® is a loop walking trail of over 100km that takes in the coast, waterways and hills of the capital city of South Australia.

The 7km showcase walk starts from Pinky Flat, following the linear trail along the beautiful River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri. Walking upstream past Adelaide Oval before crossing the river at Hackney Bridge and returning past the zoo and Elder Park. Passing the Festival Centre and Convention Centre, the walk continues under Montefiore Road, crossing the river over the weir before returning to Pinky Flat.

Sunday 11 October 2020
10:00am
Pinky Flat, Adelaide

Registration is free. Participant numbers are limited due to COVID-19 event planning guidelines. Please register to assist us in managing our COVID-Safe event plan.

Post a photo on social media with #adelaide100 for a chance to win a $200 Scout Outdoor Centre voucher.

Find out more

Best Hikes to See Wildlife in South Australia

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Walking SA

Going for a hike is a great way to see wildlife in their native environment. We’ve outlined some of the best hikes in South Australia to see different wildlife.
Continue reading article

Even though October’s WalktoberSA is ending, there’s still plenty of walking opportunities

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Walking SA

With October ending we’re wrapping up our WalktoberSA month-long promotion of all things walking.

Even with the warm weather ahead, there’s always plenty of places in South Australia to explore on foot:

• With 600+ walks on our website, it’s easy to find somewhere to walk
• Or grab one of themed “best-walk” lists

Like what you’ve been seeing? We need your support to help us promote walking opportunities throughout the year. October’s #WalktoberSA was possible through a grant from the State Government via the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

We are the peak body in SA for walking, but we’re a not-for-profit organisation with only a little help from the government so we rely on supporters, just like you, to promote walking to all South Australians.

If you’re able to, please support our work for as little as $22 per year. Support us.

Week 3 Winners of School Kids “View from my walk” Competition

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Walking SA

The winners of our third week of our School Kids “view from my walk” competition are:

Instagram user keljohn12 with a great photo of walking to school and finding ducks
Instagram user Karen with a great photo of walking to school and challenges of their less enthusiastic dog Bailey

Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre they have won a $50 voucher.

Throughout October take a photo of something you love or find interesting as you walk to or from school. Use the hashtags #walktoberSA and #way2go to enter our competition for a chance to win a weekly prize. Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre there are two $50 vouchers up for grabs for each school week.

The competition has run for the first 3 weeks of Term 4.

More walking = more fun = less cars = safer children.

Looking for some tips to help you plan your family’s active travel to and from school?
Visit the Way2Go website at dpti.sa.gov.au/Way2Go or Google “Way2Go families”.

View what others have shared.

The competition commences on Monday 14 October and closes on Thursday 31 October. Competition prizes will be announced weekly on Monday 21 October, Monday 28 October and Thursday 31 October. View the full Competition Terms & Conditions.

This October there are two competitions:

Competition #1: ANYONE: Share your “view from my walk” photo for a chance to win a weekly prize throughout October
Competition #2: SCHOOL KIDS: Take a photo of something you love or find interesting as you walk to or from school. Use the hashtags #walktoberSA and #way2go to enter our competition for a chance to win a weekly prize during Weeks 1, 2 or 3 of Term 4

The competition is part of Walktober – celebrating walking throughout October.

Week 2 Winners of School Kids “View from my walk” Competition

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Walking SA

The winner of our second week of our School Kids “view from my walk” competition is Katie Fotheringham, with a photo of her and the kids walking along the road to Watervale Primary School.

Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre they have won a $50 voucher.

The competition will run for the first 3 weeks of Term 4.

More walking = more fun = less cars = safer children.

Looking for some tips to help you plan your family’s active travel to and from school?
Visit the Way2Go website at dpti.sa.gov.au/Way2Go or Google “Way2Go families”.

View what others have shared.

This October there are two competitions:

Competition #1: ANYONE: Share your “view from my walk” photo for a chance to win a weekly prize throughout October
Competition #2: SCHOOL KIDS: Take a photo of something you love or find interesting as you walk to or from school. Use the hashtags #walktoberSA and #way2go to enter our competition for a chance to win a weekly prize during Weeks 1, 2 or 3 of Term 4

The competition is part of Walktober – celebrating walking throughout October.

Week 4 Winners of “View from my walk” Competition

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Walking SA

The winners for our third week of our “view from my walk” competition are:

Instagram user @scottp180 with a photo of spring flowers found when exploring the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens. There’s plenty of trails in the gardens to walk, including a wheelchair and pram accessible walk around the lake.
Instagram user @melbohall22 with a photo of a Forester moth on a fairy fanflower in Spring Gully Conservation Park near Clare. There are three trails in the park exploring the gullies and ridges.

Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre they have each won a $50 voucher.

Throughout October share your “view from my walk” photo using the hashtag #walktoberSA to enter our competition for a chance to win a weekly prize. Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre there are two $50 vouchers up for grabs each week throughout October.

Take a walk in a nearby park, along the beach, along a river, in a national park or on your walk to work – anywhere in South Australia. With over 600 ideas of places to walk around SA there’s always somewhere nearby to explore on foot.

View what others have shared.

View the Competition Terms & Conditions.

Good luck and enjoy a walk! You’re just two feet from some of the best places in South Australia.

This October there are two competitions:

Competition #2: SCHOOL KIDS: Take a photo of something you love or find interesting as you walk to or from school. Use the hashtags #walktoberSA and #way2go to enter our competition for a chance to win a weekly prize during Weeks 1, 2 or 3 of Term 4
Competition #1: ANYONE: Share your “view from my walk” photo for a chance to win a weekly prize throughout October

The competition is part of Walktober – celebrating walking throughout October.

2019 Walking Award Winners – Recognising contributions to walking in South Australia

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Walking SA

Many volunteers and others have contributed to South Australia’s great walking trails, walking clubs, and walking promotion and opportunities for health, wellbeing, recreation and tourism.

Now in its fourth year, last night’s annual Walking Awards at the Jade in Flinders St recognised sustained and outstanding contribution to walking at all levels throughout South Australia.

Awards were presented to 12 organisations and individuals, celebrating their contribution to walking in South Australia. Awards were presented by Matt Cowdrey MP, Member for Colton, and Tuesday Udell, Walking SA Chair.

If you know of someone who should be considered for 2020’s walking awards please do consider nominating them, we’re accepting nominations throughout the year. View past Walking Award winners.

2019 Annual Walking Award Winners

Department for Environment and Water

2019 Special Recognition Award – Group Organisation

Developing the ‘Roof Top Loop Walk’ Accessible Trail at Naracoorte Caves The new 850m-long Rooftop Loop Walk provides universal access for people of all ages and abilities, giving all wheelchairs and people with prams access to experience the fascinating world of Naracoorte Caves. …

City of Tea Tree Gully

2019 Local Government Award – Organisation

Heart Foundation Walking Campaign In early 2019 the City of Tea Tree Gully saw the opportunity for expanding the Heart Foundation Walking program across their city. As Heart Foundation Walking is a well-known brand with strong connections to the community the walking groups would be a measured …

Health Focus, Port Augusta City Council

2019 Local Government Award – Organisation

Bizzi Walkers Program The Bizzi Walkers is a regular walking group, supported by Health Focus, an initiative of the Port Augusta City Council. Health Focus provides social support in a group setting for people over 65 years. Health Focus has been providing a Walking Group Leader for the Bizzi …

District Council of Cleve

2019 Local Government Award – Organisation

Trail Development and fostering a regular community health activity event (parkrun) The District Council of Cleve is being awarded for the upgrading of the Carappee Hill Hiking Trail, and fostering the community-led parkrun event on the Yeldulknie Weir Trail. The Yeldulknie Weir Trail, awarded …

Willunga Basin Trail Inc.

2019 Special Recognition Award – Group Organisation

For the Willunga Basin Trail development The Willunga Basin Trail Inc has instigated and is now delivering a new trail that will encourage walking and connection to local stories. The project is a work-in-progress to construct a 120km walking trail circumnavigating the Willunga Basin south of …

Jill DeCianni, Heart Foundation Walking

2019 Special Recognition Award – Individual

Abundance of heart – Jill goes above and beyond her duties as a Heart Foundation Walk Organiser for the Brilliant Support Walking Group. The group meets on Mondays and Wednesdays every week, and loops around the newly re-developed Thorndon Park Reserve in Rostrevor, in association with …

Mary Smith, Heart Foundation Walking

2019 Special Recognition Award – Individual

Leading with heart – Mary had always been a keen walker, but it wasn’t until she retired in 2015 that Mary joined a Heart Foundation Walking group, the Glandore Community Centre Walkers, in suburban Adelaide. They walk together every Tuesday morning. Since then, Mary has not only clocked …

Zara Lupton, Willunga Basin Trail

2019 Special Recognition Award – Individual

Zara has been heavily involved in the Willunga Basin Trail project as Secretary, exploring route options, and now leading volunteers in the trail construction phase. Zara became an accredited bush walk leader and has been identifying manageable walks for the group, leading and scheduling those …

Chris Davies, Willunga Basin Trail

2019 Special Recognition Award – Individual

Chris was involved in the Willunga Basin Trail project as Chair, being a member the Friends of Willunga Basin in 2009 when the idea of a trail was first formed. From 2011 Chris was a key member exploring route options, and is now leading volunteers in the trail construction phase. Chris became …

Jasemin Rose, St Agnes Bushwalkers

2019 Longstanding Contribution / Distinguished Service Award

Jasemin has been a member of the St Agnes Bushwalkers since 1982, having served in roles and on the committee member for many years. Involved in work with Walking SA, including some of the annual April Opening of the Bushwalking Season events, Jasemin has also been involved in saving Angove …

Grant Smith, WEA Ramblers Bushwalking Club

2019 Longstanding Contribution / Distinguished Service Award

Grant joined the WEA Ramblers Bushwalkers in 1989. Since then he has participated in just about every Ramblers walk, to date completing over 760 hikes. From early on he has always been involved, first by taking on the role of Transport Officer, organizing getting walks to distant locations. For …

Graham Hallandal, South Australian Recreation Trails Inc (SARTI)

2019 Longstanding Contribution / Distinguished Service Award

Graham has been involved from the initial vision and concept of the Lavender Federation Trail network, through the formation of the South Australian Recreation Trails Inc (SARTI) group, and then joining their Board. He was key in liaising with the Rural City of Murray Bridge on the initial …

Hiking Expo, 2 April 2023, Belair National Park