The Binalong Public School Parents and Carers Association (P&C) is hosting the Bobbara Walk again this year on Sunday, May 8 from 9am to 1pm. The walk requires a donation entry, and the P&C will provide some lifts to the top for $20 per person for those who can’t make the walk themselves.
If you drive from Yass to Harden, you’ll see a lovely triangle peak appear shortly before passing through Binalong. Mount Bobbara offers panoramic views of the surrounding farmland and undulating countryside. On top of the mountain, a radar tower helps air traffic controllers manage a busy airspace and depending on the time of day from the top you may see soft white ribbons of fog hiding hilltops below.
Binalong’s P&C Treasurer Heidi Grange said they timed the event with the Binalong Markets, which are on the second Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm, to draw more tourists to the village.
The group is hoping to raise money to aid in a variety of things for the local primary school from purchasing new equipment, donating books to contributing to events, camps, excursions and other school-related articles that the school may not have the budget for.
Recently the P&C aided in some school grounds improvements with new lawns, trees, and cement walkways. Heidi estimates the walkway up Mount Bobbara is about 1.5 kilometres but can be quite steep in parts.
The property is not public but actually owned by Bobbara Station who are kindly throwing the gates open for one day only. Covering 4000 hectares, Heidi said the Bobbara Station managers allow the P&C to run the annual fundraiser once a year and are assisting the group with buggies to ferry people to the top and back who can’t walk up the steep mountain themselves.
“You can take it slow. There’ll be seating opportunities at various stages once it starts to get steep, but you get amazing views,” she said. “Almost 360-degree views of rural cropping, livestock and the farms.”
Although the P&C have only been able to hold the event once before due to difficulties with COVID-19, it was very popular attracting locals and visitors alike with about 250 people hiking up the mountain.
“We had a group from Sydney, a lot of people from Canberra and then the local area,” Heidi said.
“I think we raised about $1,500 so that was quite good.”
Heidi said the P&C received plenty of positive feedback about the event and is hopeful of a high attendance this year as well providing the weather cooperates. There will also be a handful of market stalls from local business savvy parents including two published authors. Grazing platters will be available from a stall at the top of the mountain for those who get hangry after a solid walk and provides a great opportunity for a Mother’s Day activity.
“You can take mum up there, sit down and have a bit of a picnic and look out over the view.” There will be a barbecue at the bottom of the mountain, toilets and first aid available.
The Mother’s Day weekend also sees the opening of the annual Binalong School Art Show on Friday, May 6 from 5:30pm showcasing the BPS art program.
This is another fundraiser by the P&C to raise money for the art program it funds. The show requires a donation entry and light food and refreshments will be available. Brianna O’Rourke
