August 2012 Issue - Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ

FMC AGM, 9 June 2012, ChristchurchExecutive for 2012-13 (no election required):President: Richard Davies (NZACWellington). Vice President: Peter Wilson (OtagoUTC). Special Vice President: Brian Stephenson(Alpine Sports Club & NZAC Auckland).Executive: David Barnes (Otago T&MC),Rob Brown (NZAC Canterbury), Owen Cox(Parawai TC, Wellington T&MC), Robin McNeill(NZAC Southland), Barbara Morris (Taupo &Nga Tapuwae TC), Paddy Gresham (TararuaTC & NZAC Wellington), Dennis Page (HuttValley TC), Rob Mitchell (Otago T&MC & NZACOtago), Lesley Topping (Alpine Sports Club),Nick Plimmer (Otago UTC), Claire Sims (OtagoUTC), Peter Lusk (Buller TC) and Patrick Holland(Nelson TC).Two non-executive appointments werealso confirmed: secretary Josie Broadbent(Marlborough TC and Victoria UWTC) andtreasurer Graeme Lythgoe (Hutt Valley TC).Address by Hon. Peter Dunne, AssociateMinister of ConservationFMC was delighted that the Hon. Peter Dunnewas able to attend the AGM. Mr Dunneacknowledged that two topical issues ofimportance to FMC members, Aerially AssistedTrophy Hunting and the Big Game AnimalCouncil Bill, were currently being addressed byParliament but as they were currently beforereview committees he did not want to commentfurther on these matters at this stage. Instead,he focused on other issues that he felt wereimportant to the conservation portfolio. He iskeen to encourage additional engagement byDOC with partner organisations (such as FMC)and to seek their input into the managementor governance processes that relate to therecreational aspects of the department’s mandate- e.g. input into the hut and track network. MrDunne also emphasised that the concept ofpreservation should not equate to areas beingexclusively locked up (‘look but don’t touch’)and off limits to complementary recreationalactivities. Access was another important issueand the Associate Minister stressed that he wasopposed to any developments that would causeexclusive capture of public land (e.g. rivers orhunting blocks) and putting it off limits to all buta privileged few.Address by Jaz Morris, Otago UniversityTramping ClubJaz presented a well received talk and slideshow on Young People and the Outdoors. Heemphasised that many young people were stilldoing exciting and adventurous activities in NewZealand’s forests and mountains. To illustrate thepoint, he gave brief synopses accompanied bysome inspiring images of FMC Youth ScholarshipExpedition Award winners’ trips (Max Olsen;Transit River, Fiordland; and James Thornton;Glaisnock Wilderness, Fiordland) that tookplace over the previous summer season. He alsogave examples of other OUTC adventures thathave featured prominently in the club’s annualpublication Antics. The challenge FMC memberclubs face is how to capture members of theuniversity clubs once they leave tertiary studyand move into careers and family life.FMC Youth and Young AdultsScholarship Scheme: Round ThreeWinnersFMC, with the support of the FMC Mountainand Forest and Maerewhenua Trusts, awardedthree Youth and Young Adults Scholarships forthe third round of awards (closing date April2012). The winners were:• y Expedition Award ($1,000): Wouter vanBeershoten (Canterbury University TC)for a traverse of the Princess Range and aclimb of Caroline Peak in the vicinity ofLake Hauroko, Fiordland.• y Skills Award ($ 600): Chris Owen (NZAC,Canterbury) to attend a High Alpine SkillsCourse at Mt Cook.• y Skills Award ($ 500): Nicola Whelan-Henderson (St Hilda’s Collegiate, Dunedin)to attend a Mountain Skills for YouthCourse at Arthur’s Pass National Park.Applications for the fourth round ofscholarships close on Friday 7 September 2012,and include one $1,000 Expedition Award andthree $500 Skills Awards. See www.fmc.org.nzfor more details.August 2012 • FMC Bulletin 15