A bit of history
Delve into the fascinating history of the Townsville Bushwalking Club, founded in May 1960. Uncover tales of the first local walks, dedicated early members, and a tragic 1962 mystery. Essential reading for North Queensland hiking enthusiasts!
Honorary Life Members
Flight Sergeant Alan Davey 17th January 1962
Alistair Darveniza (age 8 days) 17th April 1974
Harry Kershaw 20th May 1979 , granted this distinction on his 70th birthday.
Alan Watson 2nd March 1988
From a 1986 article by Charlie Allen:
During the 1950s any bushwalking in Townsville area was done by small groups of individuals. A few of the more dedicated of these eventually decided to try and ensure walks on a regular basis by establishing a bushwalking club.
In May 1960 a meeting was held at the National Fitness Council centre on Charters towers road. This was the first recorded meeting of the Townsville National Fitness Centre (NFC) Bushwalkers. Attended by a group of seventeen potential members, it included a core of experienced walkers who had drifted to Townsville from bushwalking clubs in various parts of Australia. Also present was Mr. Dick Goon Chew, who as the local N.F.C. officer encouraged the formation of the club and helped guide it through its early years. A Mr W. Horsfall and Mr P. Hetherington appear to have been the main motivators behind the clubs establishment.
The first walk was held on 22nd May 1960 to Muntalunga Range. This can be seen just of Townsville on the left as you drive towards Ayr. The second club meeting was held on this outing and the practice of alternating day and weekend walks on a fortnightly basis appears to have been decided upon then. Other club walks undertaken in the first year include Magnetic Island, Mt Stuart, Margaret Creek Falls, and Crystal Creek.
Despite the good attendance at these early meetings the club came close to foundering in its first year, with some meetings being abandoned completely due to poor attendance. At this time various forms of advertising were tried in an attempt to increase membership. Perhaps this contributed to the improved attendance of meetings over the next couple of years and assured a future for the club. All however was not smooth going.
The very brevity of the entries in the club minutes and the log book suggest the shock that was felt when in June 1962 the president Peter Hetherington and another bushwalker John Burkett disappeared on a canoeing trip to Magnetic island. Although their kayak, a paddle and a few miscellaneous possessions were found on a beach south of Ingham, there were few clues as to what could have happened and the cause of their disappearance and is still subject for speculation. A plaque in their memory can be found on a peak, Hill 479, just west of Mt Cook on Magnetic Island facing towards towards Townsville airport.
During the 1960s the club had on permanent loan from one of its members are fourteen foot dugout outrigger canoe. The owner Mr Ray Lane took five months to build it using only hand tools. He was working in Weipa at this time and he apparently had the natives in the area bewildered as to why he was going to so much trouble to build a canoe, when he could have simply done as they did and go out and buy an aluminium dinghy. This canoe featured in club outings in those early years.
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The club commenced in May 1960 as Townsville National Fitness Centre (N.F.C.) Bushwalkers.
The club was incorporated in circa 1989. *** and changed its name to Townsville Bushwalking Club.
June 1962 two members went missing whilst canoeing to Magnetic Island, never found. A plaque was placed near Mt Cook as a memorial, which the club re-found in 2014.
Log book records walk from Nov 1961 to Oct 1985.
