Membership Privileges

1. Hire of top quality gear and excellent rates.
2. Club accident insurance for all club trips.
3. Access to a great knowledge base of experienced and battered but friendly outdoors people
4. Opportunities to challenge the core of your being and gain some lifelong memories!

How much?

Current Monash student: $20
Monash Staff, non-Monash student: $25
Monash Graduate: $25
Community (anyone else): $30

Signing Up

Method 1: Come to the blockhouse during opening hours (advertised via email list - signing up to email list is permitted before payment)

Method 2: Sign up before a trip - only if the blockhouse is the meeting place.

Method 3: Check out the message board and post up there for help signing up.

Method 4: Contact the general club email address, or a committee member if all else fails.

Please come prepared with payment by cash or personal cheque only (cheques made payable to "Monash Bushwalking & Outdoors Club").



FAQ & General Information

If I join 1/2 way through the year is the membership fee reduced?
Where does all the money go?
What kind of people is this club for?
Do I have to be a member to go on club trips?
Do I have to be really fit?
Is it true that you guys drink a lot?
Safety and Procedures
I don't have a car. Can I still go on trips?
What are the rules for car-sharing and petrol money?
I'm new to the email list. What's the deal?

If I join 1/2 way through the year is the membership fee reduced?

There are currently no plans for partial year membership. We believe membership fees are reasonably priced, being comparable or a bit cheaper than most non-university bushwalking clubs. To introduce partial year membership would significantly increase the administrative burden on volunteers, which would discourage people from taking on admin roles.

Where does all the money go?

The money goes towards purchasing club gear for member use, repairing club gear, expenses involved in running events such as Carnage and Thermal Ball, affiliation fees for organisations such as VicWalk & Victorian Canoeing Association, and Sports & Rec admin charges. No committee members or section reps receive payment for their services - all are volunteers.

What kind of people is this club for?

Though this club is associated with Monash University students club and societies as well as Monash University Clayton Campus Sports and Recreation, memberships are available to all persons. We have many postgraduate students, working people, people on overseas exchange and people from the general community.

Do I have to be a member to go on club trips?

Club trips are for club members. If anyone could come on club trips, there would be no point joining, and so there would be no club or associated benefits such as gear for cheap hire, networking with other clubs, S&R subsidies for gear, first aid training etc., personal accident insurance, Bull n Bush publications, legal protection for leaders through incorporation, advocacy by VicWalk, Search & Rescue membership, and various others.

Do I have to be really fit?

You do not have to be super fit to join MBOC. Some activities will require a high degree of fitness, others are catered to beginners, and most will fall somewhere in between, relying on you being an able bodied human of "average" fitness. As with all things, fitness improves with perseverence, so if you aren't very fit, just start on easy trips and work your way up.

Is it true that you guys drink a lot?

The drinking level is comparable, possibly a bit lower (although some may be reluctant to admit it) than the general student population. Bushwalkers are normal people(!), and so you have a normal spread of drinkers, non-drinkers & absolute piss-tanks. If you don't drink, bring a camera and you will have POWER.

Safety and Procedures

Bushwalking BUSHWALKING_PROCEDURES.pdf
Kayak Touring KAYAKTOURING_PROCEDURES.pdf - also includes gear hire guidelines
Mountain biking MTBING_PROCEDURES.pdf

I don't have a car. Can I still go on trips?

Many people in the club do not have cars.  This is not a problem, as most trips leave from the blockhouse where everybody meets and arranges car-pooling.  Pooling cars means that many people who, with their gear, can safely fit into a car will travel together.  As many people who have a car will end up taking it on most trips that they go on, their car is going to suffer wear and tear.  This is incorporated into petrol money.

Car-sharing and petrol money rules

1. The driver works out how much petrol has been used on the trip and converts this into dollars.

2. The driver then multiplies this number by 1.5 to take into account car maintenance.

3. The driver divides the total dollars by the number of people in the car. This is the amount of money each person should pay the driver (in effect the driver also pays himself).

Example: Three people (two passengers and the driver) share one car and the total petrol cost for the trip comes to $90.
$90 x 1.5 = $135.  This is total amount owed the driver.
135 divided by 3 = $45.  This is the amount that each person should pay the driver

Important points:

FOR DRIVERS - Petrol money is important, even for short trips.
You may be surprised at how the kilometres add up when you take your car on many short trips (eg. to the climbing gym) and don't collect petrol money.
Ensure you are not putting yourself or passengers at undue risk.
Be responsible for the maintenance of your car. Check your tires, water and oil and engine coolant regularly.

FOR PASSENGERS - When you arrive home again, ask the driver how much you should give them for petrol (and maintenance); Don't wait for them to ask you.
Asking for money is awkward, and some people will be uncomfortable doing it, especially for short trips.
Don't be a tight arse. Round up to the nearest dollar if change becomes a hassle.
If you travel somewhere in one car, and come home in another, plan to organize your petrol money when you arrive at the destination with the first driver.
Replace tired drivers.
Be considerate to your driver. It will get around quickly if you are not a desirable passenger, and you may find it hard to get a lift next time.
Club activities rely on members sharing their vehicles. Their generosity should not be taken for granted or abused.

I'm new to the email list. What's the deal?

The email list has become an essential tool for the club - make good use of it but please don't abuse it. Before sending an email to this list think about what you are writing and who needs to see it.

If you have a general club enquiry, please address it to monashbushwalkingclub@yahoo.com.au and not the list email address!

Dont's
1. Don't send commercial advertising material or you will be banned from the list.
2. Don't send an email intended for one person to the list - address individually.
3. Don't let it become an outlet for general gossip!
4. Don't send an email just to say "Hi, I'm new and I've just joined the list!". There are over 400 people on the list!
5. While the club permits some non-outdoor events and notices, please keep this to a minimum. People have been known to advertise events in the city, housewarming & other parties at members' houses, advertise to find housemates, sell their PERSONAL outdoor gear etc., and while this is fine, keep in mind that this is not the primary function of the club.

Do's
1. When organising a trip involving several people make an email list of all intending persons rather than send to the whole list where possible.
2. Run trips & advertise over the list. Anyone is allowed to run a trip!
3. Use the list during holidays. It is very useful when we don't meet in person to talk - MBOC is very active over the summer break!
4. Give as much detail as possible about the difficulty of a trip in the initial email you send. This avoids confusion later.
5. Remember that we are are here to have fun & always keen to meet new people, so don't be shy!