Nature lovers can take note—the Catholic Bushwalking Club based in Sydney’s northwest is on the trail to recruit new members after establishing a tight-knit older demographic either side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Founded in 1943 by a group of young Catholics, the CBC as it is known was conceived to provide a faith-based organisation that not only cultivated an appreciation for bushwalking but a social network.
Over the last few decades however, the club, which boasts social and weekly walks programs, handbook, and a regular magazine titled The Waysider, has seen its demographic shift toward older members who now have greater opportunity to embark on their shared passion for bushwalking in their retirement.
The CBC is now trying new ways to attract younger generations to the club, including distributing flyers in churches and universities.
Margaret Carmody’s father was one of the earliest members of the CBC.
A member herself since the 1970s, she believes that the pandemic saw younger people gain a greater appreciation of spending time in the bushland spaces near them, but when it comes to joining up to the club, today’s youth seem to be preoccupied with other matters.
“We’re very welcoming to young people, but most young people just seem to be too busy,” she says.
“We’re very aware that they see us as a bunch of oldies. But we have become quite the little community who care for each other and look after each other, who check if someone hasn’t come on a walk for a while.
“My daughter had five-year-old twins and a seven-year-old in homeschooling, and every Saturday they used to walk through the Banora Valley,” she adds.
“We can teach people how to navigate for themselves and give younger people a chance to socially interact with a fairly tight-knit group of people.
“Walking can give everyone, besides physical fitness, an appreciation of nature.”
Robert Ljubicic became a CBC member in 2018 with his wife and is now the club’s membership secretary. He remembers how older club members struggled during the COVID period.
“People were getting a bit stir crazy, and there were no walks for a year or two,” he said.
“I remember when [the ban] was lifted, the first walk, we had to divide the groups into two, there were that many walkers.”
He says anyone can join the club, not only Catholics, and the membership process is accessible and straightforward.
“Being out in nature, it’s a very spiritual thing. Christians and Catholics see [bushwalking] as connecting with God, but I also see it as fostering a sense of self-awareness and respect,” he said.
“Prospective members get to join us for four walks, and they get a free instructional course on map-reading and navigation.
“During this, it becomes pretty clear that they’re keen to join the club.
“We would love it if we can get more of the youth involved.”
See more at www.cbcnsw.org.au
