WEBVTT - Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp, 15 June 2025

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<v Speaker 1>This is remember when with Harvey Degan on Perth six PR.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome evening, everybody, and welcome to the show. We have

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<v Speaker 2>a shorter program tonight, of course because of the footy,

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<v Speaker 2>but we still have lots to cover between now and midnight.

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<v Speaker 2>Soon we'll be taking a look at a milestone anniversary

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<v Speaker 2>of arguably WA's premier outdoor adventure and recreation camp. After

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<v Speaker 2>ten o'clock I'll be joined in the studio by Richard

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<v Speaker 2>Often he'll be taking a detailed look at our convict

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<v Speaker 2>past in Wa. And in the last hour we'll have

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<v Speaker 2>another episode of our serial Famous Fortunes, and then there'll

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<v Speaker 2>be a Beach Boys special where we'll play some of

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<v Speaker 2>the group's greatest hits. And this follows the passing during

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<v Speaker 2>the week of one of the founders of the Beach Boys,

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<v Speaker 2>Brian Wilson. So hope you can stay with us through

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<v Speaker 2>the rest of the night and then into Monday morning

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<v Speaker 2>with Tony Max Australia Overnight. But first things first, I

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<v Speaker 2>would like to be yet that many of you listening

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<v Speaker 2>to our program this evening are aware of the Bickley

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<v Speaker 2>Outdoor Recreation Camp located on the Darling Scarp alongside the

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<v Speaker 2>picturesque Bickley Reservoir, twenty five kilometers from the Perth CBD

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<v Speaker 2>in the suburb of Orange Grove. Now, maybe you've personally

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<v Speaker 2>experienced what the camp has to offer, or maybe your

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<v Speaker 2>children or grandchildren have been there to participate in the

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<v Speaker 2>multitude of activities that are available. For those that haven't,

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<v Speaker 2>listen up, the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp is a place

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<v Speaker 2>where West Australians of all ages can participate in exciting

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<v Speaker 2>activities in a tranquil bush setting. And this year is

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<v Speaker 2>a very important one for the camp. It's celebrating its

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<v Speaker 2>eightieth birthday. Oh I wonder how many Westoses have been

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<v Speaker 2>to the camp at one time or another over that period.

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<v Speaker 2>Many thousands, I suspect. Well, if anybody knows, it would

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<v Speaker 2>be David Brown, Director Sport and Recreation Projects at the

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<v Speaker 2>Department of Local Government, and under lay lighted to say

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<v Speaker 2>that David has agreed to join us on remember when

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome David.

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<v Speaker 3>Hi Harvey, thanks having me, You're very very welcome.

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<v Speaker 2>Indeed, well, the David pressure from the opening bounds. Any

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<v Speaker 2>idea of how many people have experienced the camp.

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<v Speaker 4>It'd probably be pretty tricky to give you a precise

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<v Speaker 4>number of people that have been through the doors, but

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<v Speaker 4>certainly looking back at the number of people that may

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<v Speaker 4>have stayed overnight of the camp, been on holiday programs,

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<v Speaker 4>family community camps and trips and things, which certainly say

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<v Speaker 4>the last twenty years, they're big least consistently delivered over

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<v Speaker 4>twenty thousand camp experiences each year, so that'll probably you

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<v Speaker 4>four or five hundred thousand alone over that last twenty

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<v Speaker 4>odd years for people who participated in programs, stayed there

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<v Speaker 4>or used quickly as the base to explore the surrounding bush.

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<v Speaker 2>They're seriously big numbers. David, take us for a journey

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<v Speaker 2>through time back to June third, nineteen forty five. That's

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<v Speaker 2>when the Bigley Youth Camp as it was first known,

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<v Speaker 2>was officially opened. Whose idea was it to establish the

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<v Speaker 2>camp in the first place?

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<v Speaker 4>It was actually the National Fitness Council was designated to

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<v Speaker 4>investigate possible sites through a camp. And this was actually

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<v Speaker 4>ahead of nineteen forty five, so this was in sort

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<v Speaker 4>of the nineteen thirties, and it was around World War

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<v Speaker 4>two time, and it was part of a broader national

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<v Speaker 4>effort to improve physical fitness and social cohesion. And you know,

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<v Speaker 4>when looking through a number of locations, Bickley was identified

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<v Speaker 4>as a as a great location to establish the states

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<v Speaker 4>first youth model camp. And yeah, it opened up on

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<v Speaker 4>the third of June nineteen forty five.

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<v Speaker 2>And one of the greatest advantages is I alluded to,

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<v Speaker 2>I think at the start of our chat today, was

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<v Speaker 2>that it's well essentially in our own backyard, just twenty

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<v Speaker 2>five k's from the birth CBD.

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<v Speaker 4>That's it. Yeah, the site was chosen for its natural

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<v Speaker 4>beauty and practicality. It was leased from the Water Supply

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<v Speaker 4>Department around the Bickley Reservoir, you know, as a camp

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<v Speaker 4>located in the bush with a great location for it

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<v Speaker 4>and a really great way for youth and community to

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<v Speaker 4>go out and experience kind of camping and experience you know, activities. Now,

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<v Speaker 4>in the early days, it was probably pretty rugged. It

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<v Speaker 4>was tense for accommodation, and it's a few basic buildings

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<v Speaker 4>things like that. You know, campers would have been improvising

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<v Speaker 4>with what they had, making games from natural materials or

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<v Speaker 4>sort of spending time in the reservoir hiking and those

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<v Speaker 4>sorts of things. But yeah, that it's evolved a little

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<v Speaker 4>bit over the years into a range of different programs

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<v Speaker 4>and activities that are.

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<v Speaker 2>Run sure, has I imagine that back in the day, David,

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<v Speaker 2>there was a mere fractions of options for participants that

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<v Speaker 2>exist today.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah. Absolutely. You know, back in the day, I think,

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<v Speaker 4>like I said, it was really a location where people

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<v Speaker 4>would go camp. He would have had groups such as

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<v Speaker 4>Scouts and Girl Guides and church groups and family groups

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<v Speaker 4>going and staying there. But you know, in the eighties

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<v Speaker 4>and nineties and a lot of these programs would have

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<v Speaker 4>really into more formal type arrangements and it bit You've

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<v Speaker 4>got things such as fantastic places to be participating in

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<v Speaker 4>ab sailing off the natural rock face. There's an opportunity

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<v Speaker 4>to do flying fox across the Bickley Reservoir as well

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<v Speaker 4>as the range of you know, I said before, it's

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<v Speaker 4>a fantastic base to explore the region. You know, we

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<v Speaker 4>offer mountain biking and orienteering and a lot of games

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<v Speaker 4>like raft building and those sorts of things. So really

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<v Speaker 4>maintaining that focus on getting people outdoors and experiencing things

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<v Speaker 4>and enjoying the local.

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<v Speaker 2>Surround is it fair to say, David, from the get go,

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<v Speaker 2>Bitley was more than somewhere where participants just learn the

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<v Speaker 2>basics of camping. Surely they would have also been taught

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<v Speaker 2>the fundamental skills of sharing and living together.

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<v Speaker 4>Absolutely. I think that was really that focus in those

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<v Speaker 4>early days of setting it up. It was about building

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<v Speaker 4>fitness and creating social sort of cohesion across those use

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<v Speaker 4>and getting people out experience in the outdoors, but learning

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<v Speaker 4>important skills living independently and you know, so there would

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<v Speaker 4>have been community living and those sorts of groups out

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<v Speaker 4>there spending time together and learning what it's like to

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<v Speaker 4>be in the bush and spend time out in their community,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, building relationships and friendships with people and learning

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<v Speaker 4>valuable skills. That really did a good foundation for them

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<v Speaker 4>for the future.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, David, I believe the Gold League for people don't

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<v Speaker 2>know what the Gold League is, so basically their bird fanciers,

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<v Speaker 2>the Gold League people. Yep, the Girl League were one

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<v Speaker 2>of the early groups who could appreciate just what Bigley

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<v Speaker 2>had to offer.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah. No, the Good League is very one of the

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<v Speaker 4>very sort of special to Depictarly, they've got a little

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<v Speaker 4>area they're referred to as the Good Area, but they

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<v Speaker 4>ran camps and a lot of year sixers would have

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<v Speaker 4>been there to a Gold League camp. Over the year.

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<v Speaker 4>They would have been sort of a week for long

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<v Speaker 4>or so camp where they would have gone and experienced,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, nature and learn about the environment, sustainability. You know,

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<v Speaker 4>they've been a long term partner and work with Bickley

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<v Speaker 4>for a long period.

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<v Speaker 2>I think the what's it called the TS Edmundson Sanctuary

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<v Speaker 2>has been established by the Gould League.

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<v Speaker 4>Hasn't it. Yeah. Absolutely, Yeah, they've done some amazing work

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<v Speaker 4>up there, and certainly Bickley and the team up there

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<v Speaker 4>have done great work building relationships with the places like

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<v Speaker 4>the Gold League. They've got strong relationships with the Southeast

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<v Speaker 4>Regional Center, the Urban Landcare who've helped restore and protect

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<v Speaker 4>the camp's environment. Thousands of seedlings planted, we control education

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<v Speaker 4>signage installed to be able to sort of identify local

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<v Speaker 4>birds and flora fauna, those sorts of things. So yeah,

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<v Speaker 4>it's a really fantastic space to go and just appreciate

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<v Speaker 4>nature and find a tranquil spot in a fairly busy world.

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<v Speaker 2>I hope you're enjoying my interview with David and David

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<v Speaker 2>If you don't mind, we can take a break now

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<v Speaker 2>and pay a few bills and we'll be back with

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<v Speaker 2>more on this this's the eightieth anniversary of Bickley.

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<v Speaker 1>On Perth six PR. This is remember when with Harvey

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<v Speaker 1>d Gan.

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<v Speaker 2>So welcome back everybody, and I'm having a chat right

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<v Speaker 2>now to a very informed man in regarding the Bickley

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<v Speaker 2>Outdoor Recreation Camp, which is celebrating its eightieth birthday, was

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<v Speaker 2>set up in the nineteen twenty nineteen forty five, i

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<v Speaker 2>should say, and David Brown has been taking us through

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<v Speaker 2>some of the early days at Bickley. David, can you

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<v Speaker 2>take us through some of the main facilities that have

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<v Speaker 2>been added since the birth of Bickley when it was

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<v Speaker 2>a very rudimentary camp back in those days.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah. Look, in the early days, as we said, there

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<v Speaker 4>might have been a couple of old buildings in a

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<v Speaker 4>sort of a kitchen and mainly a number of tenths.

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<v Speaker 4>But over the years there's been a number of additional

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<v Speaker 4>buildings and dorms added x army sort of and I

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<v Speaker 4>think the Jenny was formerly part of the Purse causeway

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<v Speaker 4>and yeah, so you've got a number of different buildings

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<v Speaker 4>and things that have been established there over the years

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<v Speaker 4>to really turn it into a little bit more comfortable

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<v Speaker 4>than what it might have been back in the nineteen

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<v Speaker 4>forties but still maintained that very rustic and rural Fiel David.

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<v Speaker 2>I believe the old Pickering Brooks Schoolhouse is on site.

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<v Speaker 3>Tell us about that. What's its purpose there?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, Look, the Pickering Brook Schoolhouse stands just inside the

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<v Speaker 4>front gates and it's really been used as the recreation

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<v Speaker 4>room there at the Bickler Camp. So all the campers

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<v Speaker 4>would be staying in the dorms and using the camp

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<v Speaker 4>facilities during the day. Then you know, at times they'll

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<v Speaker 4>be using the old pickering Brook Schoolhouse for group activities,

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<v Speaker 4>whether it big craft or sort of movie nights, or

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<v Speaker 4>activities and other things that might be happening throughout their camp.

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<v Speaker 2>It's probably not the right weather or the right season

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<v Speaker 2>for this, but you've got an Olympics and handed swimming pool,

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<v Speaker 2>and is that available for people who are attending the

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<v Speaker 2>camp to have a swimming Yeah.

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<v Speaker 4>Look, the Biclary reservoir are certainly there. And going through

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<v Speaker 4>bit of the history, you know, I understand that the

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<v Speaker 4>camp used to host some in carnivals and it was

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<v Speaker 4>even frequented by some former Olympic athletes of the likes

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<v Speaker 4>of John Hendrix and Percy Oliver. But whilst it might

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<v Speaker 4>not be used as a fifty meter swimming pool was

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<v Speaker 4>often anymore. It's certainly used for people to go in

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<v Speaker 4>there and have a swim and kayaking and water based

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<v Speaker 4>programs when we do raft building and those sorts of things.

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<v Speaker 4>But as we say, in addition to the organized camps,

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<v Speaker 4>one of the things that Bigley is there's a lot

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<v Speaker 4>of groups and family groups and community groups that go

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<v Speaker 4>there and stay in our Billabond camping area and just

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<v Speaker 4>use it as a base to be out of the

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<v Speaker 4>and go and spend some time around the dam and

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<v Speaker 4>stay cool in summer and enjoy the surround.

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<v Speaker 2>Indeed, way back in the day, I believe there was

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<v Speaker 2>a youth hostel which was gutted by fire.

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<v Speaker 3>Can you take us through.

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<v Speaker 2>That and has that been rebuilt or replaced with another

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<v Speaker 2>structure in the meantime.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, so it was I think in the early nineteen fifties.

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<v Speaker 4>It was built there and it was later gutted by fire,

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<v Speaker 4>but that later became the warden's heart and it was

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<v Speaker 4>fit it out for the following warden. I think that

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<v Speaker 4>was a book. Bert Wilkinson who retired in nineteen seventy

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<v Speaker 4>six and understand Burti spent many hours building the stone walls,

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<v Speaker 4>the barbecue areas and amphitheater, and remained on site a

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<v Speaker 4>warden until about nineteen eighty eight.

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<v Speaker 2>Right David I was reading that at the start, at

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<v Speaker 2>the very very start, thanks to a subsidized fee structure,

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<v Speaker 2>participants had to pay one and thrippans a day. That's

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<v Speaker 2>on about thirteen fourteen cents or something in decimal currency,

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<v Speaker 2>one thripans a day to access the camp.

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<v Speaker 3>Goodness me, what a bargain that was.

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<v Speaker 4>Absolutely, yes, no, they certainly pretty affordable camp experience then,

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<v Speaker 4>and look from our point of view, we try and

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<v Speaker 4>make sure that they remain as affordable as possible so

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<v Speaker 4>that everyone gets the opportunity to attend camp, you know,

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<v Speaker 4>weeks at the Across all of our recreation camps, we

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<v Speaker 4>offer a pricing structure that makes it affordable for schools,

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<v Speaker 4>community groups to receive a significant scant off the full

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<v Speaker 4>price to make sure that all the facilities, whether it

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<v Speaker 4>be staying overnight at the dorm at the campgrounds or

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<v Speaker 4>participating in activities, they've got access to that and hopefully

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<v Speaker 4>we'll continue to do so for a very long time.

0:12:11.520 --> 0:12:14.600
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, they be paid more than one trippance obviously, but

0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:17.040
<v Speaker 2>I think you've managed to keep your fees down.

0:12:17.360 --> 0:12:20.599
<v Speaker 3>Is it still subsidized the Bigley.

0:12:20.240 --> 0:12:24.840
<v Speaker 4>Care, Yeah, absolutely, so the state government certainly works to

0:12:24.840 --> 0:12:27.959
<v Speaker 4>make sure the camps are subsidized. So in terms of

0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:29.840
<v Speaker 4>the cost of running the camps, then they offer a

0:12:29.840 --> 0:12:33.360
<v Speaker 4>significant discount for both school and community groups to make

0:12:33.400 --> 0:12:36.360
<v Speaker 4>sure they're able to afford so that students and others

0:12:36.400 --> 0:12:38.640
<v Speaker 4>who want to attend the camp still able to do so,

0:12:38.920 --> 0:12:40.360
<v Speaker 4>and it remains very affordable.

0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:45.840
<v Speaker 2>History records that your inaugural camp manager was a Russell

0:12:46.000 --> 0:12:50.600
<v Speaker 2>Small and he was quite instrumental, I believe, in introducing

0:12:50.640 --> 0:12:55.320
<v Speaker 2>a raft of recreational activities round about the nineteen eighties.

0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:58.040
<v Speaker 2>So you took a leap forward apparently at that time.

0:12:58.120 --> 0:13:01.200
<v Speaker 4>Yeah. Yeah, I think as we sort of touched on

0:13:01.240 --> 0:13:04.920
<v Speaker 4>in the early history, it was very much a campground

0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:07.880
<v Speaker 4>where people probably found their own activities and used the

0:13:07.960 --> 0:13:10.959
<v Speaker 4>natural resources around them for games and getting out of

0:13:11.000 --> 0:13:13.360
<v Speaker 4>the water and those sorts of things. But the model

0:13:13.400 --> 0:13:17.000
<v Speaker 4>sort of shifted a little bit to create more instructor

0:13:17.080 --> 0:13:20.720
<v Speaker 4>led activities and programs, and that involves things such as

0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:25.640
<v Speaker 4>raft building and absolutely flying folks, you know, just games

0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:29.680
<v Speaker 4>and bushwalking, mountain biking, these sorts of things to really

0:13:29.679 --> 0:13:32.079
<v Speaker 4>provide that full camp experience, so people can go there,

0:13:32.120 --> 0:13:34.319
<v Speaker 4>stay for a couple of nights and enjoy the camps

0:13:34.360 --> 0:13:37.840
<v Speaker 4>and surrounds, but participate in activities that might push them

0:13:37.840 --> 0:13:41.679
<v Speaker 4>boundaries and get them outdoors and experiencing new, unique opportunities,

0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.920
<v Speaker 4>but you know, safely with a very qualified, skilled instructor

0:13:44.960 --> 0:13:45.720
<v Speaker 4>there to help you through.

0:13:46.640 --> 0:13:50.720
<v Speaker 2>You've obviously had a number of very very competent camp

0:13:50.880 --> 0:13:55.360
<v Speaker 2>managers over the course of the eighty years, and we've

0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:59.240
<v Speaker 2>mentioned Russell. You've got Craig Waite and David Hall as

0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:02.360
<v Speaker 2>Bickley staff. Believe they were heavily involved in creating a

0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:03.760
<v Speaker 2>range of programs as well.

0:14:05.000 --> 0:14:08.360
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, look, Craig and David both worked there for a

0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:12.240
<v Speaker 4>very long time. I actually attended the retirement of David,

0:14:12.240 --> 0:14:14.280
<v Speaker 4>who was the assistant manager at Bickley for I think

0:14:14.280 --> 0:14:16.960
<v Speaker 4>it was over thirty five years, and you know, it

0:14:17.080 --> 0:14:18.800
<v Speaker 4>was lucky enough to just hear some of the stories

0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:22.000
<v Speaker 4>about how those programs and things have changed and involved

0:14:22.120 --> 0:14:24.480
<v Speaker 4>just to make sure that you know they're continuing to

0:14:24.520 --> 0:14:28.080
<v Speaker 4>meet the community needs and sort of create those camp

0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:32.240
<v Speaker 4>experiences that are still unique and challenging. But in addition

0:14:32.280 --> 0:14:34.560
<v Speaker 4>to those two, we've got a current manager there, Aaron Bertram,

0:14:34.560 --> 0:14:37.480
<v Speaker 4>who's been there for thro over twenty years himself, and

0:14:37.520 --> 0:14:39.720
<v Speaker 4>he's really taken the camp from strength to strengths by

0:14:40.360 --> 0:14:44.160
<v Speaker 4>building out on those existing programs, creating new ones and

0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:47.520
<v Speaker 4>improving the facilities around the camp and access to the camp.

0:14:47.560 --> 0:14:50.640
<v Speaker 4>And I think that's why we see so many schools,

0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:53.280
<v Speaker 4>community groups, family groups come back year on year. You know,

0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:55.800
<v Speaker 4>a significant portion of the people who go to Bickley

0:14:56.040 --> 0:14:58.200
<v Speaker 4>are people who are booking for next year when they

0:14:58.280 --> 0:15:00.040
<v Speaker 4>leave this year because it's just something that they I

0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:01.800
<v Speaker 4>really enjoy and want to come back to.

0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:03.200
<v Speaker 3>That's a great endorsement.

0:15:03.880 --> 0:15:05.600
<v Speaker 2>Got a few more things to ask you about if

0:15:05.640 --> 0:15:09.320
<v Speaker 2>you don't mind indulging us at this late hour of night, David,

0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:12.080
<v Speaker 2>we appreciate that and we'll be back very shortly.

0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:24.160
<v Speaker 1>This is remember when with Harvey Digan on Perth six PR.

0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:28.680
<v Speaker 2>Welcome Back Facts and I'm talking to David Brown from

0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:31.960
<v Speaker 2>the Department of Local Government and we're having a chat

0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:37.280
<v Speaker 2>about the eightieth anniversary of the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp

0:15:37.320 --> 0:15:40.160
<v Speaker 2>and you've been taking us through some of the great advances, David,

0:15:40.600 --> 0:15:45.720
<v Speaker 2>that have occurred since the camp opened in nineteen forty five.

0:15:46.320 --> 0:15:47.920
<v Speaker 3>And you know, I.

0:15:47.880 --> 0:15:52.160
<v Speaker 2>Suppose in rounding it off, you'd say that Bickley has

0:15:52.160 --> 0:15:55.480
<v Speaker 2>got something for everyone, hasn't it. It might be for schools,

0:15:55.480 --> 0:15:59.720
<v Speaker 2>it might be corporate bonding, team bonding sort of exercises,

0:16:00.120 --> 0:16:02.920
<v Speaker 2>church groups, youth and family groups and so on. So

0:16:03.200 --> 0:16:05.200
<v Speaker 2>do you have an average demographic or is it the

0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:07.640
<v Speaker 2>usual from eight to eighty sort of range.

0:16:07.680 --> 0:16:11.120
<v Speaker 4>You know, yeah, it really is across the board. Now,

0:16:11.400 --> 0:16:13.960
<v Speaker 4>I think a lot of our groups would be school groups,

0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:17.480
<v Speaker 4>you know, so we support schools and that would be

0:16:17.520 --> 0:16:20.360
<v Speaker 4>primary school camps, but also your high schools. You may

0:16:20.400 --> 0:16:22.680
<v Speaker 4>have outdoor head students and those sorts of things. And

0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:25.280
<v Speaker 4>you know, it's always fantastic to see these students who

0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:28.640
<v Speaker 4>come along and learn skills and participate in these activities

0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:30.880
<v Speaker 4>at camps later on in their journey coming back as

0:16:30.880 --> 0:16:34.600
<v Speaker 4>outdoor leaders running programs and those sorts of things. But

0:16:34.640 --> 0:16:37.000
<v Speaker 4>with bigly, as we say, they've got those those dorm

0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:41.400
<v Speaker 4>facilities and those camp operations, but they've also got some

0:16:42.200 --> 0:16:44.760
<v Speaker 4>camp sites which we do see a lot of families

0:16:44.760 --> 0:16:47.280
<v Speaker 4>come back year on year around Christmas and use them

0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:50.960
<v Speaker 4>and different community groups, church groups, others. And yeah, there's

0:16:51.160 --> 0:16:53.920
<v Speaker 4>a special charm in Bickley. It's the simplicity of the

0:16:54.440 --> 0:16:56.880
<v Speaker 4>bunk beds, the cozy dining hall. You know, it's really

0:16:56.880 --> 0:17:01.040
<v Speaker 4>helped shape a number of people's lives and you really

0:17:01.040 --> 0:17:04.119
<v Speaker 4>looking forward to continue to see what kind of services

0:17:04.119 --> 0:17:06.280
<v Speaker 4>and programs that continue to grow from strength to strength.

0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:10.040
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, David, clearly there's a focus on like minded groups.

0:17:10.040 --> 0:17:13.840
<v Speaker 2>But what about just an individual of someone's for example,

0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.000
<v Speaker 2>listening to our conversation tonight and he or she says,

0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:19.680
<v Speaker 2>might I might go up to Bicly on my own?

0:17:20.200 --> 0:17:22.600
<v Speaker 3>Can people do that? Do you take individual bookings?

0:17:24.359 --> 0:17:26.760
<v Speaker 4>Look, people are able to book the campsite those sorts

0:17:26.760 --> 0:17:30.160
<v Speaker 4>of things. In terms of the programs and activities, then yes,

0:17:30.200 --> 0:17:34.080
<v Speaker 4>people can book those, depending on availability and those sorts

0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:35.920
<v Speaker 4>of things. But it really is, like I say, a

0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:39.320
<v Speaker 4>place that everyone should be able to go and enjoy.

0:17:39.960 --> 0:17:42.120
<v Speaker 4>So from that perspective then yeah, you know a lot

0:17:42.119 --> 0:17:46.840
<v Speaker 4>of it is school bookings and other groups and community groups,

0:17:46.920 --> 0:17:49.520
<v Speaker 4>but you know, we do just find that up there.

0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:51.159
<v Speaker 4>It is a place that a lot of people use

0:17:51.200 --> 0:17:55.240
<v Speaker 4>as a base to go hiking, bushwalking, just explore you know,

0:17:55.320 --> 0:17:58.080
<v Speaker 4>So from that perspective, then yeah, you have people booking

0:17:58.119 --> 0:17:59.600
<v Speaker 4>the camp area and using that as a bit of

0:17:59.600 --> 0:18:02.520
<v Speaker 4>a base to go out and explore the natural surrounds.

0:18:02.160 --> 0:18:06.280
<v Speaker 2>Good despite the best intention, shall we say, and the

0:18:06.520 --> 0:18:11.080
<v Speaker 2>clear professionalism that it is quite obviously, quite obviously existed Bickley,

0:18:11.960 --> 0:18:15.320
<v Speaker 2>Unfortunately there are individuals who break the rules. I suppose

0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:18.680
<v Speaker 2>they can't help themselves. So what checks and balances are

0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:22.760
<v Speaker 2>in place to hopefully prevent any untoward incidents arising.

0:18:25.240 --> 0:18:29.199
<v Speaker 4>Look from our perspective, you know, safety is and absolute priority.

0:18:29.280 --> 0:18:32.240
<v Speaker 4>So we've got staff who are on site now. Staff

0:18:32.240 --> 0:18:36.040
<v Speaker 4>are all skilled first datas and trained in the programs

0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:38.680
<v Speaker 4>that they deliver, so whether that be roping, whether that

0:18:38.720 --> 0:18:41.439
<v Speaker 4>be out on the water running you know, kayaking or

0:18:41.440 --> 0:18:45.359
<v Speaker 4>cano ngo sorts of activities and really familiar with the

0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:48.240
<v Speaker 4>grounds the surrounds to make sure that the facility is

0:18:48.280 --> 0:18:50.720
<v Speaker 4>as safe as it possibly can be. But you know,

0:18:50.840 --> 0:18:53.960
<v Speaker 4>you're you're staying and you've got people there guiding you

0:18:54.080 --> 0:18:56.280
<v Speaker 4>through who are very skilled to what they're doing, really

0:18:56.320 --> 0:18:59.200
<v Speaker 4>are very knowledgeable. And before we've bigly what you find

0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:01.880
<v Speaker 4>is that people working there been there for a long time.

0:19:01.920 --> 0:19:06.160
<v Speaker 4>They just love it. Attending the eightieth anniversary afternoon tea

0:19:06.200 --> 0:19:08.359
<v Speaker 4>back on Desertive Joune, there was just so many people

0:19:08.400 --> 0:19:11.040
<v Speaker 4>there who went back there talking about fond memories having

0:19:11.080 --> 0:19:13.000
<v Speaker 4>worked there for twenty or thirty years because they love

0:19:13.400 --> 0:19:15.320
<v Speaker 4>that part of the world, They love the bush there.

0:19:15.520 --> 0:19:18.919
<v Speaker 4>So you've got really experienced people who love and appreciate

0:19:19.000 --> 0:19:21.840
<v Speaker 4>that nature, that environment out there running these programs. So

0:19:21.880 --> 0:19:25.480
<v Speaker 4>it's yeah, really, you know, safety is are an absolute priority,

0:19:25.520 --> 0:19:27.320
<v Speaker 4>and we've got the right people there to guide and

0:19:27.720 --> 0:19:30.359
<v Speaker 4>help share those experiences with people.

0:19:30.560 --> 0:19:34.320
<v Speaker 2>If there are people who just try to make up

0:19:34.359 --> 0:19:37.080
<v Speaker 2>their own rules or don't observe the rules that are

0:19:37.119 --> 0:19:41.240
<v Speaker 2>in place, what measures have your people got who possibly

0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:43.520
<v Speaker 2>want a victim from the camp itself.

0:19:45.480 --> 0:19:47.320
<v Speaker 4>We would hope that it never got to that, but

0:19:47.480 --> 0:19:50.520
<v Speaker 4>certainly when we're running programs are within camps, there's rules

0:19:50.520 --> 0:19:52.960
<v Speaker 4>that make sure that everyone knows what's expected in them,

0:19:53.000 --> 0:19:55.320
<v Speaker 4>so as well as the instructors being skilled and qualified

0:19:55.640 --> 0:19:58.520
<v Speaker 4>teaching what they do, people need to operate within the

0:19:58.600 --> 0:20:00.760
<v Speaker 4>right rules and that's for everyone safety. So if you're

0:20:00.760 --> 0:20:03.040
<v Speaker 4>attending a camp and you've got one person who's not

0:20:03.040 --> 0:20:06.600
<v Speaker 4>operating within the rules or safely, then that can experience

0:20:06.680 --> 0:20:09.320
<v Speaker 4>or impact the experience of others. So we'd certainly make

0:20:09.359 --> 0:20:13.080
<v Speaker 4>sure that people are operating in a safe environment. And

0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:15.679
<v Speaker 4>if you want to participate that those kinds of activities,

0:20:15.720 --> 0:20:18.639
<v Speaker 4>you need to do so within those rules, because you're

0:20:18.640 --> 0:20:21.679
<v Speaker 4>talking about activities that if not done correct if not

0:20:21.680 --> 0:20:25.640
<v Speaker 4>done correctly, can be dangerous. And whether that be at

0:20:25.640 --> 0:20:27.600
<v Speaker 4>height or whether that be at a camp, those sorts

0:20:27.600 --> 0:20:29.800
<v Speaker 4>of things. But you know, if done in the right way,

0:20:29.800 --> 0:20:32.119
<v Speaker 4>which ninety nine point nine percent of people do, then

0:20:32.160 --> 0:20:36.600
<v Speaker 4>I think they've been really successful programs. Very few injuries.

0:20:36.600 --> 0:20:38.760
<v Speaker 4>They're putting in a few bumps and bruises and those

0:20:38.760 --> 0:20:41.200
<v Speaker 4>sorts of things along the way, but for the most part,

0:20:41.240 --> 0:20:42.879
<v Speaker 4>people want to do the right things. They want to

0:20:42.920 --> 0:20:43.600
<v Speaker 4>enjoy their camp.

0:20:44.080 --> 0:20:46.119
<v Speaker 2>All right, David, Well, thank you very much for your

0:20:46.160 --> 0:20:48.440
<v Speaker 2>time tonight on remember when you've given us a great

0:20:48.440 --> 0:20:52.600
<v Speaker 2>insight in to the Bigley Outdoor Recreation Camp, which is

0:20:52.680 --> 0:20:55.159
<v Speaker 2>celebrating its eightieth birthday, and we wish you all the

0:20:55.160 --> 0:20:55.840
<v Speaker 2>best for the future.

0:20:55.880 --> 0:20:57.520
<v Speaker 3>The next day to year is no rius.

0:20:57.520 --> 0:20:59.000
<v Speaker 4>Thanks very much, really appreciate it.