Category: Uncategorised

Earlier this month, Graham met with Ian, Pierre and Bryce from Hema Maps to increase awareness within Hema Maps of what Track Care has done, is doing and can do.  Discussion centred around travel and collecting data, points of Interest and Dieback in WA.

HEMA Maps has developed a new program for collecting line and point of interest data while traveling.  The synergy between HEMA and Track Care revolves around the places we go, the work we do and the information we have.

Track Care have been asked to be alpha testers on the new software.  This will involve collecting data for HEMA maps to use with their maps.  All data would be collected where possible and the cleansed data would be available for Track Care to use.

This would mean that the data Track Care uses to determine distances and time on work at various sites would have two uses: recording the travel hours for our work and supplying pathway information for Hema Maps.  The synergy between Hema Maps and Track Care ‘roaming’ is huge and we are sure the relationship will be mutually beneficial.

Oh! To be out on the Canning!
Challenging dunes & corrugations,
Painted skies & starry nights
Instead I’m in bloody isolation!

Oh! To be round the campfire,
The flames make our camp look magic
But no! I’m stuck with domestic chores
Disaster for a Canning tragic!

Oh! To taste a warm damper
With a camp oven bubbling away.
Instead I’m washing my flipping hands
Fifty times a day!

Oh! To visit 51 wells
Following Canning & his crew.
But me, I’m counting days indoors –
I’m up to thirty-bloody-two!

Normally the track would be humming,
Four wheel drives pass in two’s & threes,
Sounds of engines, tyres pumping & two-ways,
But right now there’s just quiet desert peace.

One day when it’s ok to travel
We’ll be back on the great CSR
Treading lightly as we count our blessings –
Health AND nature! How lucky we are!

Lest We Forget

Alas, there are a number of errors in the new website. Spot the errors and win a prize. Email your identified errors to the treasurer@trackcare.com.au. Entries close at 4pm on Friday 8th May.

UPDATE
One member identified 8 errors in the first 5 minutes of the website going live!

Any person able to inspire my husband of over 35 years to voluntarily venture into the kitchen without so much as an iota of trepidation, eagerly determined to expand his culinary skills beyond vegemite toast, is a truly extraordinary individual.  Bill Clarke or ‘Ginger Slice Man’ as he is affectionately known in my family, achieved just that!

Track Care WA is a volunteer organisation that has been going strong for over 28 years and although Bill has only been a member of Track Care WA for a few years, his generosity and determination to make a difference to our community is well renowned and regarded.  So, apart from Bill, no one was at all surprised that he was acknowledged at the recent Jurien 2020 Tending the Tracks Alliance event as the Volunteer of the Year.

Bill is the sort of guy who shares his time and talents, without seeking accolades, for the sheer joy of helping and giving back.  Bill is always prepared to be involved: from clean ups at Yeagarup, the Mundaring Power Line Track and the Karara Block; to helping to establish the new Wanagarren Nature Reserve Track and participating in all Tending the Tracks Alliance events over the last 12 months.  Not only does Bill get his hands dirty to get jobs done, but he also fills the bellies of other volunteers with delicious morsels that he bakes specially – delectable biscuits, heavenly slices and seriously, the most scrumptious sausage rolls in WA!  A true master chef!

As a lad, Bill grew up in Cunderdin and maybe that explains his affinity with and desire to care for the land.  According to his daughter Tracey, he is just a great guy whose passion is to bring joy to the lives of other people and to give back to the world.  A sentiment that all Track Care WA members and Tending the Tracks Alliance volunteers would whole heartily agree.

Wanagarren Track