SOS at National Heritage Month- Victoria

In May SOS president Marc Hendrickx gave a presentation to the English Speaking Union (ESU) as part of National Heritage Week. The ESU are keen supporters of keeping our places of awe and wonder open to the public. The talk was titled: A Time Traveller's guide to forbidden places of awe and wonder in Australia: Video below

A Time Traveller’s Guide to Forbidden Places of Awe and Wonder in Australia

In this illustrated presentation, geologist and author Marc Hendrickx brings a historical perspective to recent closures of bushwalking and climbing sites in Australia, including the Grampians, Mount Arapiles, Ayers Rock and Mount Warning.

The closure of public access to landscapes of awe and wonder in Australia has been wracked with controversy. Summit access at Ayers Rock and Mount Warning has been banned without due acknowledgement of the wonderful history of climbing at both locations. This approach is also apparent in the bans on rock climbing at the Grampians and Mount Arapiles in western Victoria. This fascinating presentation uncovers lesser-known histories, stories and narratives that reveal the complicated interplay of politics, power and fabrication behind decisions to lock Australians out of their cultural heritage. How may this “unearthed” history be used to reopen these places and ensure that other awe-inspiring places remain accessible to all of us?




John Ruddick, NSW Parliament, May 2025 - "Continue to make noise, as a quiet issue is a dead issue. Your elected member needs to remember the National Parks belong to you, the people, and must be accessible to all. Not locked up, not restricted to special groups based on their racial ancestry. Parks for the people!"


Our SOS President visits Mt Warning on its 5 Years Closed Anniversary. Unfortunately it was too wet to walk the Summit Trail.


More Closures


Save our summits "Access Australia Series"

Short talks highlighting the injustice of summit, track, trail and crag closures across Australia.

Part 1: Victorian Climbing Bans

(Grampians and Arapiles)

Part 2: Australia Day and photo comp results

Part 3: Access For All - Australia's oldest oldest access campaigning group



Mt Warning 95 Anniversary celebration

Thankyou for celebrating 95 years of the remarkable history of Mt Warning National Park at the Breakfast Creek Car Park Saturday 3rd August 2024

Report and Pics here


Mountain climbs closed off or threatened

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The List Grows
The List Grows
Mount Warning - CLOSED!
Mount Warning - CLOSED!
Mt Beerwah - Threatened. Save Our Summits Journey Begins
Mt Beerwah - Threatened. Save Our Summits Journey Begins
Australia Day 2025
Mt Warning is my Ferngully
95th Anniversary Mount Warning National Pak
Mount Warning Update April May 2024

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Events

mt Beerwah opening day event

Report by Andy Flanagan

Our inaugeral event was a great sucess with mother nature putting on a beautiful crystal-clear morning for our celebration of the re-opening of Mt Beerwah on the 12th of August 2023. Ive arrived at 5am to see the sunrise from it's summit with my son, Rohan, and a first timer, Tess. There is a slither of moon in the sky, it's very dark and the sky is sparkling with stars. The car park already has more than a dozen cars and lots of excited people milling around with their head torches chatting and waiting for friends to arrive. We are all very excited because QPWS has had this mountain closed for over 2 months due to some ugly vandalism on its rock.

 

Tess is a bit nervous, Roh and I have done this many times so we assure her that she will be safe. This climb is to a magnificent 550m high razor back summit and should be treated with great respect, not for beginners or people with a fear of heights. We recommend first timers always go with someone who has lots of experience on this peak. As with, I dare say, every mountain on the planet there have been fatal accidents here.


There are toilets at the head of the trail but no drinking water. This hike/climb will take us about 2-3 hours so we recommend taking a day pack to keep both hands free. Include all the usual like water, first aid, phone, snake bandage and a snack. A head torch is also essential at this time of day. Appropriate shoes with sticky soles are very important, approach shoes with vibram soles highly recommend.

 

We set off up the trail towards the start of the climb which begins with The Slab. It’s a good qualifier, so if this first 30m section proves beyond your skill set turn around now as there is plenty more sections like this. I know Tess is up for this as she successfully tackled Tibrogargon for the first time a few weeks ago without much trouble. I prefer to have 2 experienced climbers to guide beginners, one to go above and one go below.

The golden glow of predawn on the rock is magical as we slowly and carefully make our way up, winding left and right picking the easier lines but also preferring to stay on the rock and away from the fragile flora. This rock is igneous and was formed about 25million years ago. Unlike volcanoes of similiar age that have all but eroded away, the Glass House peaks were never classified as volcanoes as they never saw the light of day when they were forming so the molten rock hardened under pressure causing it to have a small crystalline structure making it very hard and strong.

 

We arrive at the top just as the sun clears the ocean horizon revealing a magnificent crystal-clear winters day. There are about 20 happy smiley chatty people already here to welcome us. The 360-degree view is spectacular with Mt Warnings 1170m summit visible 170Km to the south (closed for dubious reasons), Mt Coolum, Tibrogargon, Coonowrin and all the other Glasshouse peaks scattered across the coastal plain. All these magnificent climbs open for those with adventurous souls to enjoy, for now.. (except Coornwrin). The current management plans for some of these peaks reveals that they will likely be closed over the coming years, very surprisingly Mt Coolum being on this list.

 

Tess is ecstatic to be on Beerwah’s summit for the first time. We cant stay long as I’ve volunteered to guide another couple of friends up later plus I have a short speech to deliver at 8am about the recent closures of summits across Australia. The trip down is slow, careful and very social, with lots and lots of very happy & familiar faces enjoying Beerwah’s re-opening.

If you’d like more information on these climbs please contact us via our facebook group or email. Thanks again for all your support to get this beautiful summit opened. www.SaveOurSummits.org                  

MISSION STATEMENT

•Climbing mountains, bushwalking in our natural spaces and swimming in our waters and seas, offers boundless experiences and limitless opportunities to connect with our loved ones, friends, our country and ultimately to ourselves.

•The closures of public land is attached to various rationales including places of cultural significance, ecological issues and safety of which we advocate full disclosure and transparency of documents, science and vested groups.

•We wish to have equal and representative voice for all outdoor lovers to maintain open and equal access to sites, summits and seas that are equally owned by all Australians

•We propose to be a voice by maintaining ongoing use and care for all sites, public gatherings and events for informed decision making, merchandise, publications and petitions

•We do not support closures without full public transparency with start and end dates

•We advocate for public submissions and true consultation and negotiation as required

•We advocate for the establishment of volunteers alongside government sanctioned National Parks for our lands and water

•"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves"– Sir Edmund Hillary




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