The 2000th person to walk the length of the Track has reflected on the history of the walk.
On 13 September 1998, Western Australia’s longest walk trail, the ‘new’ Bibbulmun Track, was opened by the Hon. Cheryl Edwards, the Minister for the Environment at the time.
Twenty years on and Twynam Cunningham is the 2000th person to walk the thousand kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast.
Mr Cunningham, who turned 60-years-old halfway through the journey, walked from his mum’s place in Albany, to his sister’s house in Cottesloe via the Bibbulmun Track.
“Every step of the way was a pleasure” he said.
”I’ve walked a bit through the world over the years and I would say the shelters and the raw beauty of this track has been an absolute stand out.”
Named in recognition of the first inhabitants of the south west region, the Bibbulmun Track was designed to draw city folk into the country and gain an appreciation of the bush.
Walkers have returned time after time to the track, contributing more than $13 million per year to the regional economy.
The Track is maintained in partnership between the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the volunteer-based, not-for-profit Bibbulmun Track Foundation.
In 1998, 32 volunteers signed up for the Foundation’s ‘Eyes on the ground’ maintenance programme. Now, around 400 volunteers contribute over 30,000 hours annually to help maintain the Track, run the busy office and guide events for all ages.
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