World's End
World's End
World's End
World's End
The Prospector's Ride
Please read all important notices below
ANNOUNCEMENT 22 November 2023
Please see below pdf for the latest Itinerary for the Bendleby Station 2024 Ride
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ANNOUNCEMENT May 31st 2023
Expression of Interest 2024 Trail Ride
“Bendleby Station 2024”
Next year's 10-day Trail Ride will commence on
Tuesday 30th April and finish on Thursday 9th May 2023
This ride will be a one stop camp at Bendleby Ranges, no moving required. Bendleby Ranges, near Orroroo, South Australia, is located in the Southern Flinders Ranges. Bendleby Ranges Station is a combination of two adjoining properties 'The Springs' and 'Gumdale' totaling 15,000 ha (approx 37,000 acres), with over 210km of 4WD tracks. The terrain varies from hills to plains with excellent views towards Lake Frome & Wilpena Pound.
Tuesday 30th April will be set aside for registration, collecting horse feed & merchandise, to enjoy an evening meal, meet new friends and catch up with old ones.
Rides will vary between 15-25kms per day. You will need to be self-sufficient for you and your horse for the majority of the ride. Horse water and firewood will be supplied. There are also toilets and showers a short drive away.
Merchandise and horse feed will be available for purchase – order forms for this will be included in the itinerary.
Daily morning musters will be held to communicate the day's events. Raffles, dinner dance and many other activities will be held during the event, all of which will be listed on the itinerary.
If this sounds like something you would like to participate in, then please return your Expression of interest by Friday October 6th 2023 so we can get the itinerary to you in plenty of time.
Please note: Numbers will be limited.
Return to Heather Robertson, PO Box 471 Barmera SA 5345
NAME_______________________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________
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EMAIL ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________
IF UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS YEAR, DO YOU WISH TO STAY ON THE MAILING
LIST - YES NO
SEND US ANY COMMENTS YOU HAVE ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
IF YOU REQUIRE A PRINTED ITINARY YOU WILL NEED TO SEND A STAMP SELF ADDRESSED DL SIZE ENVELOPE.
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see FORMS or Ride page for a downloadable copy of the Expression of Interest
ANNOUNCEMENT April 17th 2023
Dear Riders and guests,
There has been some rumblings around dogs attending the 10 Day Ride.
The initial position for the ride was NO dogs.
However 2 people approached me directly in recent weeks and explained how they had been left in a predicament about their dogs. After weighing up their specific particulars I reluctantly agreed they could bring their dogs on certain undertakings, which will be adhered to.
It seems based on this decision that word has gone around that it’s now a free-for-all and everyone can bring their dogs. The answer to this matter is no they can’t.
It’s not a free-for-all and everyone can't bring their dogs.
My own two dogs will be at home having a vacation from myself and Bott flies.
Regards,
John Brady
Ride Manager
ANNOUNCEMENT February 8th 2023
Welcome, to Riders and non-riding guests, to the 10day ride which commences at Landsborough (Vic) on Wednesday, 19th of April which is the arrival day. The first day of riding is Thursday the 20th.
The current number of riders is 128 and non-rider (partners) attending are 24 . We expect total final numbers to be 160 being riders and guests.
This is our first ride since the last 10day ride in 2019 . Covid and the precautions introduced by the State Government during the pandemic resulted in the suspension of the ride for health reasons.
I ask you now to get prepared and help us finish off your registrations and payments please. Attached is the Payment schedule for fees due for the ride. Please read carefully and process your payment to the Bank details nominated on the form. Your surname should be the reference for the payment so that we can track this from our side. Please email your payment remittance to Claire so that she can reconcile all the payments.
This year’s ride is called the Prospectors Ride in keeping with the ride particulars set for the 10dayride in 2020 which was cancelled 8 weeks before it’s commencement.
We are attending the same towns as set out in the Prospector’s Ride 2020-2022.
A draft itinerary is attached and whilst we hope it’s getting closer to being finalised, we expect the order of catering and some venues in the towns might change in the final lead up . You will be kept informed. Hospitality staffing remains a problem in some places, still, for larger groups of visitors, which we are.
Please note we are providing 7 dinners and 2 BBQ lunches on the trail, and you are responsible for your own breakfast , additional lunches and evening dinners which aren’t catered . Please note - for all those who have food allergies or intolerances, please direct any queries to the venue on arrival, as we have not requested catering for any special requirements.
You must provide your own horse yards for each leg of the ride . The 3 ride legs are:
Landsborough
Moonambel
Dunolly
We are riding in the Golden triangle and the history of the area is rich in gold and the many prospectors who came in search of their riches. To be successful It needed tough people for tough times as they traversed the landscape with basic mining tools in search of one’s fortune.
Each camping venue , has showers , toilets , water for horses.
We are fortunate to have obtained sponsorship from BCF ( Boating Camping & Fishing ) and will be auctioning of some great prizes during the 10 days . All money raised is going to a great cause . In the pot we are starting with $12,000 which has been donated by a party .
You will also be fined and penalised at the morning muster by the Master of morning ceremonies Naomi Benney. It’s part of the agenda and fun. Shyness is not tolerated . Tread carefully each day is an idea whilst attending the ride .
The ride this year is being conducted as an ATHRA ride and I suggest you pay attention at the morning muster to the rules and briefing for the day . As an ATHRA ride we benefit from the necessary insurance coverage which ATHRA affords to each rider as a paid-up member of an ATHRA club .
For the riders who aren’t ATHRA members please note the address and DOB requirements to complete your registration. Please email to Claire if you have not already done so.
For riders who are ATHRA members make sure your membership is current, as in paid up. Please help us by getting all your details in order .
For many years, the 10day ride has reached out and helped our community in financial ways . At the last ride we raised $9,000 for the CFA for the terrific work they do in helping our rural communities stay safe during our summers in particular . It’s not glamorous work but it’s ever so important and rewarding to those who serve .
This year the 10dayride and ATHRA are setting out to make a donation/grant to an organisation which does so much in so many ways to help protect and restore the environment which we all live and play in each day . Landcare which operates at a state and national level provides so many avenues and programmes to care for the environment, and it’s this environment we all enjoy and use as ATHRA members as we go about riding our horses and living outdoors as we pursue our recreation.
Landcare will be providing an information pack before the ride, and I ask you to spend 5 minutes visiting their site …. As horse riders and in many cases rural landowners we all have a deeper obligation to nurse the environment and adopt better practices when on our own lands or using public Forest’s or Parks . Importantly we can make a difference by becoming more active and adopting preservation and care as a principle , this in turn lifts the profile of ourselves and ATHRA as a contributing community-based organisation , and we can’t stress the importance of this as ATHRA lobby for access to public open space to pursue our recreational riding . Please get on board and help us all advance .
Note: By the first week in March, you will receive:
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A Stock Feed Order form (Stock feed will be delivered direct to Landsborough)
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Final Itinerary.
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Rules and Ride Etiquette. (Athra Rules and Regulations)
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Volunteer Role form.
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Risk Waiver form (applies to all Non rider/non Athra attendees)
Regards ,
John Brady
Committee Director
ANNOUNCEMENT December 7th 2022
Dear Riders,
Congratulations! If you have received this email / letter it is because we have received and processed your expression of interest and you are officially included in the confirmed Rider (or non-rider) list for the 10-Day Ride 2023. How exciting!
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Attached you will find a draft itinerary for your information. This sets out locations and proposed activities and dinners for each day. This is all to be confirmed in the New Year.
Housekeeping to be completed by yourselves before the New Year:
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If you are an Athra member – please renew your membership for 2023 and send confirmation notice through to us for our records.
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If you are NOT an Athra member, please send through your DOB (Date of Birth) so that we can fill out a bulk Athra Application form. (Note – your other contact and address details will also be forwarded to Athra for this application by us).
We will be in touch late January/ early February 2023 with more detailed itinerary information including addresses of each venue, details of yarding, water and showers available, feed ordering forms, a historical background of each area you will be riding in, information about our Sponsors, a program for each day of riding and activities, Athra Rider Rules and final payment banking details and amounts.
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Please make this process easy in the meantime by returning your Athra renewal confirmation or your DOB for bulk registration if you are not an Athra member as set out above so that this part of the process can be ‘ticked off’.
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We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and relaxing festive season, and look forward to being in contact with you in the New Year.
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Kind regards,
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John Brady
Committee Director
Contact Details: Claire Cummack
ANNOUNCEMENT September 28th 2022
Dear Riders,
Next year's 10-Day Ride will commence on April 20th and conclude on April 29th 2023.
I'd like to start off by thanking everyone for their patience as we organise this long-awaited ride. Having had to cancel the 2020, 2021 and 2022 rides due to COVID, we are very excited to be going ahead with the 2023 Prospectors Ride.
Next year's ride will be held within the Victorian regional area known as the Golden Triangle, located in the central/west end of Victoria, in the heart of the gold mining country of the last century. The locality is at the southern end of the Great Dividing Range. The townships of Landsborough and Moonambel, where we will spend the 1st and 2nd stages of the ride, are in the shadows of the Pyrenees Ranges, with beautiful scenery and are well known for their local wineries.
Rides will vary between 18-28kms per day with plenty of bush tracks on offer. You will need to be self-sufficient for you and your horse for most of the ride. Horse feed will be available for purchase - order forms will be included in the final itinerary.
Daily morning musters will be held to communicate the day's events. Raffles, sausage sizzles, a dinner dance and many other activities will be held during the event, all of which will be outlined in the final itinerary. We have our new website up and running, so all communications will be posted there as well as any forms to be downloaded, including this communication and Expression of Interest form.
The fee for the 2023 ride will be $260. This fee covers all the usual costs such as camping, some meals, entertainment, water drops, toilets and showers, and pavilion hire. Having not been able to run the ride for the past few years, the cost increase is reflective of the additional costs we are incurring to be able to run it next year after years of cancellations. Please note this fee does not cover the cost of being/becoming an ATHRA member which is a pre-requisite for participating in the 2023 Prospectors Ride.
Next year, the ride will be an ATHRA-sanctioned ride, and the host club for the ride is Smythesdale. The ride will be run under the rules of ATHRA and will benefit from the insurance cover that ATHRA extends to all paid-up ATHRA members across Australia. The insurance is a critical requirement when running this type of ride that relies on riding on, and/or camping upon Government and or local Council lands. I must emphasise that you cannot participate in the ride unless you are an ATHRA member. However, you do not need to be an ATHRA member if you are accompanying your partner and are not riding. We are always happy to see riders bringing their partners along.
Helping you become an ATHRA Member
There are many long-time supporters of the 10 Day Ride whom are not ATHRA members and we have set out to assist those who wish to ride and need to become ATHRA members, We are pleased to announce that we have negotiated with the Smythesdale ATHRA club to offer a subsidized Athra membership for these riders. (Please note that the ATHRA joining fee is payable in addition to the standard rider fee of $260.00 for the event.)
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The current non-ATHRA people wanting to ride will be able to join Smythesdale ATHRA Club at a discount subscription fee of;
*$20 if aged between 5-17 (Normal cost $35)
*$80.00 if aged between 18 -79 (Normal cost $120)
*$30 if aged 80 and over (Normal cost $65)
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Please note that this is only available for people who are not ATHRA members, we won't be allowing current members to renew via this offer or to partake in the one-off discount.
The ATHRA insurance covers all riders and office bearers of the club, details of the cover can be found on the ATHRA website at https://www.athra.com.au/. Becoming an ATHRA member enables you to attend ATHRA rides across Australia. It's a great way to travel and meet people, all engaged in horse riding.
In addition, for those attending the 10 Day Ride, we also recommend you consider taking out Ambulance Cover for yourself. This needs to be done via your own enquiries.
For those riders who return the Expression of Interest form and are not ATHRA members, we will communicate further with you in the coming weeks to confirm your suitability to become an ATHRA member and to then organise your membership in the Smythesdale club.
It is expected that ride numbers will be limited to 90 - 120 riders. For all those who registered for previous rides and we are currently holding money, your registration will roll over, and you are already considered a rider. However, in order to determine how many additional riders we can accommodate, ALL riders must return the Expression of Interest form below by October 31st.
For riders whom we already hold moneys, the balance difference of $90 between the original$170 fee and current $260 fee for the ride will need to be paid early 2023.
We are aiming to have a final detailed itinerary completed and emailed out by the start of November/ December.
Thankyou for your understanding as we navigate organising next year's ride, for any questions, please email Claire Cummack (claire.cummack@ppvic.com.au) & John Brady
(john.brady@ppvic.com.au).
Please return the Expression of Interest form (uploaded to the forms section of this website) as soon as possible, or by the latest 31st October 2022.
Thankyou,
John Brady
Committee Director
ANNOUNCEMENT May 18th 2022
Dear riders and supporting partners,
The 10 Day Ride dates have been set for April 2023, this date selection takes the ride back closer to its usual staging date after a disruptive couple of years.
The ride will commence on Thursday the 20th of April and conclude on Saturday the 29th of April. The ride date considers other events which occur in April and in particular around the Easter period as Easter Sunday next year is on the 9th of April.
It is intended that the ride will include camps at Landsborough, Moonambel, and conclude at Dunolly. However, although this may be altered in regards to the order, the conclusion will remain at Dunolly.
The next task is securing the insurance. I mention this as the insurance is a key component and plays a large part in determining costs. In time I will communicate further with you in greater detail with respect to the ride, however, for now, please block out your ride diary for April 2023.
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John Brady
ANNOUNCEMENT January 17th 2022
Dear Riders,
Due to issues relating to the Covid pandemic, the 10dayride will not be held as planned in March and will need to be deferred to a future date currently undecided.
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There are several Government health protocols that the public must observe whether in a private residence and or when holding a public event utilizing council and government facilities. These issues combined with some feedback from the country centres we were to visit over the 10-day duration of the ride, necessitated we review whether the ride could proceed in a manner that was complying and in the interests of riders and the public re Covid. With the onset of Omicron, it created its own set of hurdles in planning the ride.
Riders need to understand there would be over 140 people attending the ride over a 10-day period and the likelihood of someone recording a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) could result in multiple riders having to isolate and leave the ride. It would also make it increasingly difficult for us as a group to attend country (hospitality) facilities in the towns we would be staying at. Currently, if you test positive to a RAT you must self-isolate for 7 days and so should your close contacts and family. With 140 people socializing and moving together as a group over the 10 days this becomes increasingly risky with Omicron circulating amongst the public.
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I suspect by late March the Omicron waive will be waning but the problem we face today is guessing what might be before us in 10 weeks’ time. There’s a lot to be organized and locked down in advance in running the ride and the current pandemic circumstances provided no certainty as to whether the ride could be conducted with any level of confidence.
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I am bitterly disappointed for all of us as this is the third time we have tried to get this ride back on track and happening.
In due course, I will advise of the next step in running the ride at a future date.
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John Brady
ANNOUNCEMENT November 5th 2021
Dear Riders.
After many months and endless disruption to our lives, I’m happy to report that we are trying to get you back on your horses for the 10dayride in March 2022.
Please find attached the expression of interest form for next year’s ride in March.
We have left matters until now in regards to the final decision to run the ride, to gain an understanding of how the various state Governments and authorities are going to enable society to open up again - it’s been tiresome. Hopefully the ride goes ahead as stated in this communication and we don’t encounter any more changes to how we must live and act.
The ride format is the same as the cancelled ride. We start at Landsborough on Thursday 31st of March and move onto Moonambel and finish at Landsborough. The last day of the ride will be Saturday 9th of April. The exact particulars of each day are still being finalised. However, the format of the previously stated dates wont change. You will be able to arrive at Landsborough on Wednesday the 30th of March.
What happens now;
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Everybody must return the expression of interest form (even the riders we still are holding money for from the earlier ride which was cancelled due to Covid in 2020). The form is attached and is also being uploaded onto the 10dayride website at www.10dayride.com/forms
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The expressions of interest form must be emailed or mailed to the following Miranda.hill@ppvic.com.au OR PO Bo 16180, Collins St West, VIC 8007
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The ride cost will be $240.00 per rider or non-rider. We will not be asking for payment until February next year. In February you will receive a detailed ride agenda and ride policy. In addition, the agenda will set out what meals the ride is providing, entertainment, camping conditions and facilities. What I can say is we have good facilities and are busy negotiating the overall final package.
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For the riders which we are already holding money from the previous cancelled ride, your ride fee will be the additional amount required to bring your ride fee up to the $240.00.
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For new riders the fee is the $240.00 which will be payable in February.
We are doing our best to provide you with a very social and entertaining ride with good facilities. All of this is being actioned at short notice as we decided to proceed with the ride in recent days as we measured government covid related policy. Note - you have previously been advised of the dates stated above which we reserved and published some months ago.
A limited number of meals will be provided and catered for on certain nights (we are not providing all meals). In addition, we are negotiating with certain hotels etc to provide some set meals on other nights at your cost if you choose. This will be advised in the final ride agenda published and available in February (Please be patient).
I look forward to your participation and getting everybody along to Landsborough on the 31st of March.
Let’s all aim to work together to get our lives back in sync post Covid.
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John Brady
ANNOUNCEMENT 7th May 2021
Dear riders,
After many months of deliberation, we have decided to reschedule the ride till April next year.
It’s been a difficult decision that had a number of contributing factors. All of you are valued supporters of the ride and the committee very much appreciates your involvement. I’ve taken the time to more fully explain the decision to you. I’ve broken the reasoning into 2 pools of thought, covid vs logistics.
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Victoria is still operating under a state of emergency and will be till the end of this year. Under this condition, public events are bound to abide by directives from the state government. Events can be canceled or have limitations of numbers enforced to reduce the risk of Covid cases. You will have noted the changed circumstances which was introduced into WA of recent days. Prior to that we saw a similar scenario enforced in NSW.
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The vaccination program is progressing and the extent of coverage is not yet reaching the levels the government had forecast, does this pose a further concern?
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The surge of covid in India and other developing countries and the issues of new variants now occurring across the globe.
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We have riders attending from other states and this poses a quarantine risk if certain conditions are imposed as a result of an outbreak.
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We are utilizing council-owned properties and must abide by their covid conditions which are in line with state government policy
Vs logistics issue
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Is the ride better placed to revert to a March , April time slot vs this October 2021 .
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The work involved to set the ride up in respect to all the components required to make the ride function, it’s a social event built around a horse ride. The cost to cover the insurance if not used.
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The ride calendar already being put forward in October this year by other events.
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Weather patterns, are we best served by relying on Autumns weather vs Spring.
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The time required by myself and others to reset this event whilst there are still a number of uncertainties.
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The thoughts of riders spoken to re the above.
When considering all of the above it became sensible to take the more conservative approach. The further rescheduling added 6 months to the timeline by moving the ride from October 2021 to late March 2022. The risk mitigations of waiting till March 2022 made sense when everything was weighed up.
The expected ride dates for 2022 are as follows.
Start at Landsborough - Thursday 31/03/2022
Ride Ends at Dunolly – Saturday 09/04/2022
Please note Easter Good Friday is 15th of April next year and the Victorian School holidays commence on the 9th of April.
Thank You and we look forward to providing more details on the 2022 ride when available.
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John Brady
ANNOUNCEMENT 23rd April 2020
Dear Riders,
The world and our lives have been upended. Today we should have been arriving at Landsborough for the commencement of the 10 Day Ride. There would have been tremendous anticipation regarding the days and nights ahead, and tonight we would have descended upon the local hotel for dinner and I guess too much of everything liquid.
Instead, we find ourselves isolated in our homes with a pandemic upon the world, and its impact not being out of place in a science fiction movie. How quickly and dramatically life can, and has changed.
On a happier footing, I can report that next year's ride will be replicating what was to take place this year. Easter Sunday in 2021 falls on the 4th of April and we are aiming to commence the ride at Landsborough on Thursday the 8th of April and conclude Sunday the 18th at Dunolly.
Thank you to all those who have allowed us to hold your funds. I can report that most of the monies expended were recovered or bookings carried over. In the event that you don’t register for next year's ride, you will receive a refund of $150 per rider.
I expect to open up registrations of interest in the November period for the ride next year. I also anticipate there will be a further ride fee required as the insurance cost will increase as the level of liability insurance cover has doubled, to meet the new risk standards of councils and state government park authorities.
We are well placed to kick the ride off in style next year with a lot of hardware and promotional items already on hand, 200 caps, 200 metal coffee mugs, plus raffle prizes including 2 camp fridges, swags and gift vouchers supplied by BCF. Thank you BCF.
I’m sure we will add to the itinerary further and deliver a better experience for us all in April 2021 at the 10 Day Ride. Hopefully, COVID-19 will be part of history by then but never forgotten, and those lost always remembered in our prayers.
Thank you for your support and encouragement when we had to cancel the ride and please take care of yourself. See you in 2021 at Landsborough Vic.
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John Brady