The Perth Bushwalkers Club was formed
in 1969. Of the hardy band of walkers that came together in the beginning,
Geoff Schaeffer is regarded as the founder of the club (Geoff, a life member
of the club, was recognised for his contribution to bushwalking in WA by
having Schaeffer campsite on the Bibbulmun Track named for him).
The membership had grown to sixty members
during the first 5 years. Members would attend a weekly meeting where information
on forthcoming walks was imparted. Some of the areas that members walked
were the bushland near Perth and the Stirling Ranges.
In 1980, the club started to produce a
newsletter to inform the ever expanding membership about planned walks.
Walks at this time were being conducted, among other places, at Moore River,
Jarrahdale and Dwellingup.
The club has always been concerned with
minimum impact walking, providing members with skills such as first aid
and navigation and finding ways to lighten the load in the pack.
The club, the largest bushwalking club
in WA, currently has over 300 members.
