Awarded Honorary Life Membership 2019.
Nomination
Motion: That Linda Groom be elected Honorary Life Member.
Linda Groom has made many highly significant contributions to the Canberra Bushwalking Club. We propose that these be recognised by granting her Honorary Life Membership of the Club.
Linda joined CBC in November 1976 and soon was an active walker and leader. In the August 1977 it, Linda, previously a Queensland resident, reported on a 4-day ski tour – this was an early example of her entertaining and informative writing style, which has often enhanced it since then. She was Editor of it in 1978-79 – and the quality of the newsletter and the articles improved.
The first three trips Linda led were a day trip she graded as M/M/Slow, a weekend canyoning and abseiling trip, and 7 days in Lamington National Park, based at Binna Burra Lodge. This variety of trips is typical of the activities she has led since then. Linda has continued to bushwalk and lead Club trips throughout her long Club membership.
Since the start of systematic recording in March 2004 Linda has led the second-highest number of trip-days – more than any other Ordinary Member. She has included an amazing variety of trip types and locations. Last year she spent more days on programmed CBC activities than anyone else – remarkable after 42 years of continuous active membership.
Linda has made many entertaining presentations to CBC monthly meetings, usually about her remote area trips, but also on other topics of interest to Club members. As one example among many, 1986 June it advertised her presentation about a 1985 Northern winter trip to Norway and Switzerland with Peter, Linda and 4-year-old daughter Kate – and separately announced the birth of second daughter Eve!
She received the Greg Buckley Award in 2012 at a time when it was specifically for contribution to the Club’s bushwalking program.
Linda was Club President for two years, in 2014 and 2015, and more than ably fills the crucial job of Walks Secretary, now in her third year. Some of Linda’s initiatives are the introduction of CBC Family Walks – PRAMbulations, Toddlers’ Toddles and Explores for older children. These walks are advertised and attract parents and children in the wider community as well as Club members. These activities are also a potent source of new younger adult members with small children. Linda has successfully encouraged other Club members to lead these walks.
Linda’s contribution to the walks program is notable for the variety of walks she has offered and led. Her trips have also included day and weekend trips from S/E to L/R, extended trips in every Australian State and Territory and several overseas countries, ski touring from 1 to 9 days using huts, tents and igloos, kayaking, liloing and cycling trips, canyoning and abseiling.
Her local trips are often in areas not previously visited by CBC. Most of her numerous extended trips are booked out long before departure. She has been involved in providing training for river crossing, abseiling, ski touring and other activities. In short, Linda’s energetic support of weekend and longer trips plus other outdoor activities have reinvigorated the walks and activities program.
Linda initiated the development and launch of the Canberra Bushwalking Club’s web-based membership and walks system, including online booking onto walks. She led a small Club team, however, the majority of the requirements document, tender negotiations and liaison with the successful Indian-based developer was done by Linda. She facilitated system testing and implementation, including constructing all the help files. This was a large and complex project, its development spanning several years. This system, the rejuvenated walks program and a surge in Club membership have coincided. This is not a happenstance.
Linda has long been heavily involved in conservation activities, consistent with the Club Objects detailed in our Constitution. The most notable of these commenced in late 2018, in response to the NSW Government’s Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Bill. When this Bill was passed into law on 6 June 2018 Linda began the Save Kosci campaign. The Club supported this conservation-focused protest action, with other NSW clubs quickly following suit. Under her leadership, she gathered a committee, formed the appropriate governance structures and organised logistical support for a community protest walk.
Her efforts included thousands of hours and kilometres driving plus delicate negotiation with police, local councils and landholders to design a safe route, find suitable overnight accommodation, schedule support vehicles and cope with frequent changes as people joined and left the walk. Linda inspired many walkers to participate, with five (including CBC members) walking the entire route from the Opera House, Sydney to Mt Kosciuszko, and she then rallied over 200 protesters at the summit on the final day. She continues to be involved in the umbrella organisation Reclaim Kosci, collecting signatures to pressure the NSW Parliament to re-examine this inappropriate protection for feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park.
During Linda’s time on Club committees, she has enhanced relationships with other local and interstate bushwalking clubs. She introduced regular meetings with the presidents of three local clubs and worked on a Bushwalking NSW sub-committee investigating insurance issues.
Whether as an officer-bearer or ‘ordinary’ Club member, Linda exhibits those characteristics that most would aspire to. She is resourceful, innovative, adventurous, hard-working and creative and displays an amazing drive to complete projects. The Canberra Bushwalking Club and its members are indebted to Linda Groom for her many years of significant contribution to the life of the Club for the benefit of all Club members.
Linda would be, without doubt, a worthy recipient of Honorary Life Membership of the Canberra Bushwalking Club.
Nominated by Alan Vidler and John Evans.
Endorsed at the May 2019 general meeting and published in It, June 2019.
Image: Linda Groom, Arthur Tablelands, NZ by Peter Conroy