THE ENDORSEES OF THE BUSHWALKING AAS

A tale of shifting sands

Across the three attempts made by the ORC to have the AAS Bushwalking endorsed, 17 organisations either had their endorsement sought, or were listed as having already endorsed the particular version, incorrectly in some cases. Finally, in the published Bushwalking AAS May 05, only 8 of these 17 organisations endorse the document. Four of these are small tour operators.

Organisations
(1)

“Final Draft”
Dec 2003
(2)

“Draft 4”
June 2004
(2)

“Draft 4.6”
May 2005

Endorsement of “Bushwalking AAS”
May 2005

Bushwalking and Mountain Craft Training Advisory Board (BMTAB)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bushwalking Search and Rescue

Yes

Yes

No

 .

Guides Victoria

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Norvall Recreation Camp

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Victorian Federation of Bushwalking Clubs

Yes

Yes

No

 .

Police Search and Rescue

Yes

 . . .

Aus Camp

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

ParkTrek

Yes

Yes

Yes

 .

Grampians Adventure Services

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bindaree Group

.

Yes

Yes

 .

OEG

.

Yes

Yes

 .

Adventure Guides

.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Scouts Australia -Victorian Branch

.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Scripture union

.

Yes

 . .

Bunyip Walking Tours

. .

Yes

 .

YHA bushwalking Committee

. .

Yes

 .

8/17 organisations

Notes

  1. Organisations indicated by “Yes” were listed as having endorsed, or had their endorsement requested, for the particular version.
  2. In both the “Final Draft” of Dec 2003 and “Draft 4” of June 2004, the listed organisations were shown on the draft AAS as having endorsed it, despite in at least some cases, this not being the case.
  3. Neither the “Final Draft” Dec 03 nor “Draft 4” June 2004 proceeded to publication, because at least some of the “endorsees” actively refused their endorsement.
  4. Blank entries mean the organisation was not mentioned, either as an endorsee, or in the accompanying email seeking endorsement. The ORC correctly identified VicWalk and BSAR as not endorsing the AAS by Draft 4.6, after their strong protests at having been incorrectly identified, twice previously, as endorsees of the AAS. The other organisations appeared and disappeared from the list of possible endorsees without comment.
  5. Of the 8 endorsees of the published AAS, four are small commercial organisations. Commercial organisations are also represented on the AAS Steering Committee by their industry bodies, VTOA and/or CAV. Recreational interests have no representation on the Steering Committee.
  6. There may well be other organisations who declined a request to endorse this AAS. We would like to hear from them.

June 2005