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Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club
Over the past 29 years the Ballarat
Bushwalking and Outdoor Club has developed strong links with the local
community. These links have been strengthened greatly by running our annual
Ballarat Autumn Day Ride (BAD Ride). This event is a non competitive cycling
event that is now in its 20th year.
So the first weekend in May brings a lot of
visitors to Ballarat and therefore dollars into the community. We compile
statistics each year from the event to show its benefits. Any profit from the
event goes toward donations to local or linked organizations and toward keeping
our membership costs lower. We regularly donate to the Ballarat Bicycle Users
Group (BALBUG) and had involvement in the production of a local commuter map
for the Ballarat Area that shows cycling and walking routes.
Running an event such as the BAD Ride also
helps us to obtain grants for equipment as we are seen to be adding value to
the local community.
Being visible in our local community is as
simple as running a weekly advertisement in the community section of our free
weekly newspaper. We also have club brochures available at local outdoor stores
and the public library.
Several of our members volunteer at Visitor
Information Centers and this can be very useful for anyone visiting that
requires local walking track information. In the past we have also had
promotional stalls at local festivals, held public walk days and been involved
in local tree planting and conservation days.
For more
information, go to
http://www.ballarat.com/bushwalking/
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