Seventy participants took part in BSAR’s annual training weekend held on 19-20 November 2011 in the Wombat Forest.  It was our largest training event in a long time.  Thirteen BWV Clubs were represented, plus a number of BWV individual members.  It was especially pleasing to welcome 25 new and prospective members on their first BSAR training event.

Getting started

A Bothy shelter is a very simple rectangular tent with no poles or floor, made of lightweight nylon. It can be pulled over the heads of a group standing together. The group then sits down tucking the lower edge of the walls under their backsides, effectively creating a tent with ‘human poles’

Here are some things you can do to minimise the risk of getting lost in the bush, and staying safe if you do get lost.

Monday 5 Dec 2011, 20:30.  The search call-out at 10:15 for Bush Seach and Rescue is now CANCELLED. 

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria is registered as an Emergency Service in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria.

The Pioneers of Bushwalking exhibition was officially launched on Monday, 24 October 2011 by Tim Holding MP, Shadow Treasurer during this year’s History Week celebrations. The exhibition is a collection of stunning images and artefacts that explore the fascinating history of the Melbourne Walking Club and some of the remarkable achievements of its members.

Past Bush Search and Rescue member Stuart Brookes features in one of the photographs.

The exhibition runs until Friday, 9 December 2011. Entry is free.

• Where: Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne 3000
• When: 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday
• More details: [link]

A SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is specifically designed for remote area communcations and works in conjunction with a satellite communication system, for which an annual subscription (currently US$110 pa) is required.

SPOTS have the following functions:

• SOS: For a life threatening or other critical emergency. Notifies emergency services of your GPS location and that you need assistance. It is equivalent to activating a Personal Locator Beacon (when there is a threat of grave or imminent danger).
• Help: For a non-life threatening emergency, this function is used to notify your personal contacts that you need assistance using a preset message.
• Check-in/OK: Let your friends and family know via email or SMS that all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS location. Messages are sent via email or SMS to up to 10 pre-determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference. 
• Custom Message: Allows you to let your friends and family now receive a custom message along with your GPS location with a push of a button. 
• Track Progress: Sends and saves your location and allow contacts to track your progress in near real time using Google Maps.  This feature requires an additional subscription fee to the annual subscription.

The October 2011 edition of Behind The Log, Bush Search and Rescue's regular newsletter, is now published and can be downloaded from [here] (pdf).  Articles include:

• Searches at Tomahawk Hut and Mount Erica
• Mt Feathertop fatal accident
• Steep Snow and Ice training weekend
• Notes for the upcoming November 19-20 BSAR Training Weekend