Members of the AFA Committee have met earlier in the year in an effort to get our membership database in order and to flag that a membership drive would be needed.

A pretty good roll up of AFA members gathered in Braidwood on April 28 2024 for a General Meeting.

There was much discussion on some of the issues facing our National Parks such as the Government moves to hand back ownership and management to various Aboriginal Groups. There is a page on our website dedicated to this issue

Our aging membership base was also discussed.

The next meeting date is to be after a joint meeting between AFA Executive and National Parks.

Several Access for All members enjoyed a ride along the historic Deua River Track and visited the remote Alpine Homestead. The Bombay Riders organized the ride.

This is the old house at Alpine as it stands presently, saved from the ravages of Fire. There are new yards built there and a good sized Shed for machinery. We rode through from Woolla and back in one day - a total of 38 km.

There has been little activity in the past 12 months in terms of regular meetings.

The new Executive has met in Braidwood on November 26 2023. They discussed many items but a key task was to update our Membership contact details. Several long standing members are financially outstanding and the committee should be reaching out to you. Most existing committee members kindly volunteered for the next twelve months and we are pleased to welcome Hugh Hodgkinson as our new Secretary.

One key task is to improve our communications with perhaps more "newsletters". These may be quite short and our preference is to use emails as far as possible. The Executive touched on the status of the various Bridle Tracks.

The combined AGM and regular meeting was held on Sunday 27 August 2023 at 10am at the Araluen Pub.

Download a copy of the Meeting Notice. (RSVP details on the notice). Membership renewals will become due. See the Subscription Notice

An issue that will be discussed is the development of a proposal to hand more management of NSW National Parks to various Indigenous organizations.

As you may know, NSW politicians have long range plans to transfer ALL National Parks to Aboriginal ownership.  This represents 10% of the state!  The current document can be found on our website HERE

The Department of the Environment website has a page explaining the process
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park-management/community-engagement/aboriginal-joint-management-model-consultation

The actual PDF document (5.5Mb) can be downloaded here:
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/Aboriginal-joint-management/aboriginal-joint-management-model-220300.pdf

Part of our Charter is to maintain ACCESS to our National Parks, and in the past AFA has worked hard to establish close relationships with senior National Parks’ personnel.

The prospect of loss of public ownership is causing dismay and concern amongst the few in the community who have become aware of these plans.  However, AFA has been successful in inviting Mr. Craig Thomas to attend our AGM.  Craig has intimate knowledge of the state of play in government circles and has kindly agreed to speak to us and provide up-to-date information regarding ACCESS and MANAGEMENT

You are strongly urged to attend this information briefing, despite the short notice.  It is unclear what the ramifications will be, despite a continuing but subservient role for our friends in the NPWS.  Please come along, with any others who might be adversely affected.

We are grateful to have Mr Craig Thomas talk to us about the progress made and implications of the proposals being considered by the NSW Government.

A summary of some of Craig’s impressive responsibilities include:

President 4WD Association of NSW and ACT.
Councillor, Ministerial Advisory Council.
Member, NPWS Aboriginal Joint Management Model, Stakeholder Consultative Group.
Representative for TRANSPORT for NSW.
President, Australian Confederation of Motor Clubs (ACMC)
Associate of Hon. Paul Toole, former Deputy Premier of NSW
Close and frequent contact with NPWS and Forestry Corp.
Advisor, Classic Vehicle Registration Scheme (CVS).
President, Street Hot Rod Federation (ASRF)
Member, Automobile After-Market Association (AAAA)

Please download and read the Government Report HERE

Myrtle Collett (1930-2015) - one of Access for All stalwarts - passed away peacefully in Braidwood hospital last Monday 15th June 2015 after suffering a stroke a few weeks before.

FOR MYRTLE  By Roger Thwaites

I have found when pen strikes paper
And the memories start to flow
The many mates I’ve loved and lost
Some decades past you know
A few were simple stockmen
Some proudly served their god
Some bravely served their country
Some died from lack of love

But here in our great mountains
The bush is quiet tonight
No sound of bushmen’s chatter
No camp fire burning bright
For Araluen’s lady is on her final ride
At Kiminvale, Canowie and out at Woolla’s side
The bush folks hearts are heavy
Now that Myrtle Collett’s died

Harry will be waiting with a welcome for his bride
The billy will be boiling and the damper will be tried
He’ll have the horses saddled
So that they can ride and check the herd
They’ll ride the creek together
Without a single word

And those she cared for most of all
We few she left behind
Are richer for the knowing
Of Myrtle Collett kind
She was no store bought lady
But a diamond quite uncut
She will be with love remembered
Now the door of life is shut

There are many of us grieving
Too many here to name
But we all know just who we are
She trusted just the same
There’ll not be one clear morning
Or one rainy winter’s eve
When she will not be in our thoughts
I wish she didn’t leave

But when memory calls us to ponder
On the things that we did right
Our mateship with this lady
Will not be far from sight
So guess I’ll say it in these lines
That’s where I say it best
She was a lady in her life
And now a lady in her rest.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST ECO ACTIVISTS RECEIVE MILLIONS FROM TAX PAYERS THROUGH GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

We have extracted the following information by referring to Daily Telegraph, 6 December 2016, Article titled, “ENVIRO-MENTAL: STATE FUNDS FOR GREEN MOANERS”.

• Birdlife Australia: received two grants from the environmental trust, one for $132,000 and another for $963,276.
• National Parks Association of NSW: Received at least $127,000 from the state government through the environment fund.
• Environmental Defenders Office: Got $80,000 from the environmental trust and another $966,000 from the Justice Department.
• Total Environment Centre: Was given $80,000 by the environmental trust.
• WIRES: $80,000.
• Nature Conservation Council: $141,000.

A Nature Conservation Spokeswoman was quoted as saying, “NCC activities supported by the grant focus on engaging our member groups and the community to engage in environmental policy issues. They include developing submissions and submission guides, providing trainings and workshops for community members and developing briefing notes for decision makers. The $141,000 over two years contributes to our core costs of operation including staff.”

A spokeswoman from the Office of Environment and Heritage, which funds the environment trust, said organisations may be breaching their grant conditions if funds are used for political protests.

Animal rescue service WIRES, spokeswoman said community groups would be “justified” to do so.

It is clear that there is no action taken against using the grants to fund protests, evidenced by how often we see these groups protesting. The Telegraph editorial says, “The whole arrangement is a little like paying a mechanic to wreck your car instead of repairing it. Except on a much larger scale.

In summary the government funds green groups who often finance their protests against the government policies with the government funding.

On the other hand well established organisations like Access for All (AFA) whose policies are about caring for our heritage and environment but not with a recognised ‘green’ agenda are on our own to rely on self-funding and an enormous effort as volunteers.

Photo shows our Chairman, Garry, assisting the National Parks as an official volunteer, clearing one of our heritage bridle tracks.

While Garry is volunteering, hard at work in the bush, in an office in Sydney a paid employee of a recognised “green” group is writing a submission with a government grant protesting about horse riders having access to historic bridle tracks- tracks that are part of our bush heritage and existed long before National Parks were thought of- tracks that have been shown by National Parks’ monitoring not to be causing any environmental damage.

Our argument is not really with the National Parks, it’s with successive governments whose policies reflect a one-sided view.

Tim has been the Regional Manager Far South Coast from 2000 to 16 December 2015. With the amalgamation frenzy we are witnessing from state government in various departments and local government it seems they no longer had a job for Tim. It is very sad really not only for Tim and his family and Access for All (AFA) but for all who support fair treatment, good management and commitment to good environmental policy. The new region of our local National Parks now extends from the Victorian border to Wollongong.

Tim has had a long and distinguished career with National Parks going back to the 1980s and working through many complex issues. In recent times working with rural communities changing attitudes to NPWS around issues such as wild dogs, wilderness and horse riding.

Garry Gowen, Robyn and Peter Smith from Access for All attended the farewell for Tim at Pambula. In his retiring speech Tim paid tribute to AFA and spoke of horse riding in National Parks and Wilderness as one of his proud achievements.

We thank Tim for his even-handed and reconciliatory approach to the many concerns we have put to him, including our monumental struggle with horse riding access through declared wilderness areas, now being finalised (we trust).

Scott Page was talking about his 200 kilometre charity run from Braidwood to Cobargo utilising the WD Tarlinton Track pioneered by his forebears, the great pioneers William Tarlinton and “Super” Sutherland.

Scott said, “Traditionally, local horse-riding groups maintained it by way of use, but with restrictions now on this land the last 20 years has seen a degradation of the track. Motivated by this, we, the descendants of these great pioneers and legends have decided to run/trek/swim from Braidwood to Cobargo following the original pathways.

In doing so we will bring awareness to the track from a slightly different perspective. Our goal is to showcase multi-use options (horse-riding, trekking, running) for the future so that these tracks remain with us forever”. Access for All (AFA) members Mackenzie and Clayton O’Brien ran all the way with Scott from 21 – 25 September.

Scott Page, Gold Coast ultra-marathon runner, speaking at BDHS Annual Dinner.

Neale Lavis OAM, one of Australia’s greatest horsemen, departed this life on 6 October 2019. Described as Lavis the legend, a humble and generous man, but most of all a true friend to many of us, as well as member and great supporter of Access for All.

Jill, Neale and Velma at the unveiling of the memorial plaque-a tribute to Neale’s equestrian achievements, Bodalla, September 2017.

AFA extends our sympathy to the family, wife Velma and children Jill, Sandra, Ross and Robyn. Neale will be sadly missed by all of us.

Neale and Peter Smith at the Braidwood & District Historical Society’s Annual Dinner on 24 August.

Neale attended the dinner in Braidwood along with about 30 AFA members to hear BDHS President’s talk on Braidwood’s Almost Forgotten Tracks. As we all know he had an advent full and eventful life but is best known for winning gold and silver medals in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. He also bred some famous race horses, including Strawberry Road (1982-3 race horse of the year) and Just a Dash who went on to win the 1981 Melbourne Cup. In 1999, Neale was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the equestrian sports as a competitor, coach, and administrator, and to the community. Most of all he was passionate about horses and loved the bush.

A quote from Neale, “The thing is all about the riding I have done, and I always put it back to the fact that I rode in the bush and became fearless in the bush, that really stuck with me.”

Peter Smith's Book Launch about The Clarke Gang held on May 23 in Braidwood was a huge success.

Peter is a valued member of Access for All and he also wrote the book "The Deua River Track"

The Canberra Times has an excellent review of the definitive work HERE

Fifteen year old, seventh generation local Braidwood equestrienne, Maxyne Prothero has been playing polocrosse for 12 years, making her way through the ranks of sub-junior, junior, mixed and open competitions.

She has successfully represented her club at carnivals within the Southern Highlands, South West Slopes and Hunter Valley zones, NSW state club championships and her Southern Highlands zone at the NSW state zone championships in sub-junior and junior competitions.

Her hard work and dedication is paying off. She says she has now fulfilled half of her polocrosse dreams for 2020. Firstly she has been selected as the female recipient of the NSW/NZ Junior Exchange Programme in January 2020 where she will travel to New Zealand to stay with a host family (TBA). They will supply a horse and transport for up to 4 weekend polocrosse carnivals where Maxyne will play in her host family’s club colours, a 3-day polocrosse coaching clinic with the NZ junior and intermediates and compete in the New Zealand junior and intermediate competition.

AFA member, Maxyne in action on the polocrosse field.