N.O T M C Extraordinary Meeting and September Club Meeting Report 2024                                                       

Last month an extraordinary meeting was scheduled to ratify the agreed changes to the clubs’ constitution as required by the Governments changes to the Incorporated Societies Act. These changes had been proposed and discussed by committee and members at previous meetings and sent out to all members. A motion was put forward to accept the changes. Motion was carried.          Meeting closed 7.34pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jenny chaired our September Club meeting                                                                                         

Trip Reports                                                                                                                                         

Grampians Trip:  5 people went on this very windy tramp in the Haka pass area. Snow on the tops was powdery but the wind was extreme. Lunch in the shelter of Black Rock. From the top views of 7 lakes could be seen.

Orbell’s Cave: A fine day. 12 people headed up Orbell’s stream with lots of criss crossing. Mostly downhill on the way there with an uphill walk on the way back. A good day out.                                                                                                          Wednesday walkers gave their report.                                                                                                 

Up and coming Events                                                                                                                       

A bike ride in the Herbert Forest for All grades.                                                                                           

Working bee in the Herbert Forest: Mainly repairing wind damage.                                                   

Benmore Range:  Tramp starts not far from the Salmon farm. Climb to 1000 meters                         

Otamatapaio Hut: 15km walk into the hut. Stay overnight then out.                                                   

Kahikatea hut: Walk from Mt Misery Rd up along ridge to the hut.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Kenya and Tanzania Safari and Bike Trip                                                                                     

In May and June 2024, two of our members Karyl Robertson and Jenny Kitchin, her husband and another friend Julia headed off to Nairobi to start their safari part of the trip. Nairobi is on the equator but at 1000ft. They had a driver/guide and travelled in a special vehicle designed for animal viewing. They visited Mt Kenya National Reserve. Mornings and evening were the best times to see the animals who appeared not bothered by visitors. Accommodation was great, tents but very luxurious. Villagers were very poor and built houses from anything they could find. The markets were great because the weather was good for growing a wide variety of fruit and vege. They travelled on to the Karamega Rain Forest. It is a remnant forest with teak and Mahogony trees, 400 varieties of birds and the same as butterflies. The group visited a fisherman’s island in Lake Victoria then on to the grasslands of the Masi Mara where there were lots of animals to see. They toured part of the Rift Valley which is huge then on back to Nairobi.  Their bike trip started in Nairobi with a group of cyclists. A truck had been adapted to carry everything they needed including bikes, food and all the fresh water for the ride. Biking distances varied day to day. Their trip took them close to Mt Kilimanjaro, through the savannah where the Masi locals guarded their camp at night then on to the Usambara highlands, a visit to the tourist focused town of Lushoto then down to the much hotter plains and finally to the Indian Ocean coast where the bike trip finished. A visit and a relax in Zanzibar completed their adventure.                                                                                                                                           

Meeting closed 8.40pm followed by a cup of tea.