had children of their own, who became strong supporters of the Family Walking Group.

Reluctantly we decided that the Family Walking Group should go a separate way. The Melbourne Bushwalkers who were among the foundation members were: Sue and Graham Errey with Jane and David, Dorothy and Ivor Davies with Wendy, Bruce and June Muir with Maggie, Robert and Julie, Margaret Thompson with Barbara, Graham and Marijke Mascas with Monique, Kim and Gavin, As more Club members married and had children they joined the group. Herb and Joan Palmer, who walked with the Club in the 1940s, also joined in with their two children. They had been enjoying skiing as a family and welcomed the opportunity to go bushwalking again.

The walks attempted were graded in a similar manner to the Club walks. There were easy strolls to accommodate very young children. Children as young as two years walked part of the distance. As the children became stronger we programmed harder walks. On a walk along the Razorback to Feathertop the children beat the adults to the summit by one and a half hours. From Feathertop this walk continued down the Diamantina Spur to Blairs Hut and then along the Kiewa to Dibbins Hut and up Swindlers Spur to Mt Loch - not a had walk for children all under 12 years! Another trip was along the Crosscut Saw to Mt Speculation and back. On all trips the children walked marvellously; rarely were there any complaints.

The group flourished for about ten years, sadly going into recession in 1981 to be revitalised in the mid-eighties when the next group of youngsters was ready to walk. The Family Walking Group is still programming trips into the mountains for children and parents who love and appreciate the bush.