Bush Search and Rescue Victoria
Volunteer search and rescue in Victorian bush and alpine regions
The Backcountry Ski Festival is providing an online event this year on Sunday 6 September after the on snow event was cancelled.
Date and time is Sunday 6th September 1:00 – 5:30.
Continue reading “Backcountry Festival online event Sun 6 September”Parks Victoria has advised the Alpine National Park will be closed from 11.59pm Wednesday 5 August, 2020 as part of the Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions.
The closure covers the entirety of the park, including Mount Bogong and the Bogong High Plains in our local area. Entry to the Alpine National Park is not permitted until further advised.
Parks Victoria will place signage and barriers at trails heads and entry points into the park advising of the closure.
Maintenance of essential infrastructure will still be permitted under the closure provided work crews entering the park comply with COVID-19 physical distancing and hygiene restrictions.
By Elise Kinsella, 19 Jul 2020, 12:12pm
An interesting article about missing people in the Victorian alps. BSAR participated in three of these searches.
John Sylvester has written an interesting article in The Age about several people missing in the Victorian Alps.
BSAR was involved in some searches for some of these missing people including Tomahawk Creek (2011), Merrijig (2019) and Mount Dom Dom (2008)
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BSAR provided three skill shares at the Backcountry Festival at Mount Hotham on September 7 and 8 2019.
The festival is a grassroots, volunteer run event which aims to provide a safe place for new skiers and riders to explore beyond the ski runs while also providing a gathering for the backcountry tribe.
The program had 28 sessions on offer covering everything from cross country and tele skiing, split boarding, alpine touring, to avalanche safety, snow shoeing and fat tyre bikes.
Continue reading “2019 Victorian Backcountry Festival at Mount Hotham”
BSAR is 70 years old on 6th May 2019.
We don’t know the names or the clubs of the 11 volunteer bushwalkers who left the Russell Street Police Headquarters in 2 trucks early on Friday 6 May 1949 for Port Welshpool. There they boarded a fishing ketch and were landed on the east coast of Wilsons Promontory to join the large search for a missing bushwalker.
Bill Brand, former Officer in Charge of the Search and Rescue Squad, passed away on the morning of Monday the 17th of September 2018. Bill Brand was one of the founding members of the Search and Rescue Squad and served at all ranks up to Inspector until his retirement in the mid-1980’s.
Bill Brand was a great friend and supporter of BSAR.
The funeral service was held at Heritage Funerals, 733 Boronia Rd Wantirna, at 10 am on Tuesday the 2nd October 2018.
Eulogy
2 October 2018, by Duncan Brookes
Thank you to the Brand family for the opportunity to pay tribute to Bill on behalf of the bushwalkers; “The Bushies”.
Continue reading “Vale Bill Brand”
I will be representing BSAR at the Backcountry Ski Festival at Falls Creek this weekend 1 – 2 September.
BSAR members participating are free to wear BSAR safety clothing if they wish.
You can view the extensive program of events and book online here
The program on Saturday includes intros to telemarking, backcountry snow shoe tours, snow camping, navigation and beacon searching with tours in the afternoon
The program on Sunday includes resort skiing (you’ll need a lift ticket) and 4-5 hour backcountry tours.
I hope to see you there!
Regards, Peter Campbell
Convener, Bush Search and Rescue Victoria
A remarkable story of a major avalanche, burial, rescue and survival in Norway. Great work by Norwegian avalanche rescue teams. [Five feet under]
Photo: First rescue workers have arrived at the avalanche site. They search alongside the skiing party.
