Welcome

SARTI Annual General Meeting

Friends of the Lavender Federation Trail Membership Due

Callington Spur Trail

It is planned to commence building a new trail from Murray Bridge to Callington this month. The first working day will be Saturday 20^th July and we can use as much help as possible.

This is a joint project between the Rural City of Murray Bridge and SARTI. Funded by Council, it is a multi-purpose walking/mountain bike trail with input from both trail users. Although using sections of the Lavender Federation Trail & Jailbreak Trail in Kinchina Conservation Park it has several new sections.

The major work on day one will be on a segment down Callington Hill on the north side of the Princess Highway. Steep parts require a zig-zag section to be levelled and reinforced. There will be plenty of lighter work on level ground near Callington trail marking.

Additional work on the trail can be carried out weekdays so if available, let us know and we can organize small groups to help. Leave a message on the web site or contact Graham Hallandal at 85323932.

Wet Weather Cancelled Your Walking?

Don’t forget to check our web site where weather forecasts at various locations along the Lavender Federation Trail are listed together with any weather warnings and track notices (near bottom of pages).

An out & back walk with stunning scenery

Have you walked the Sanderston Trail?

Sheep graze in the area so dogs, even on a lease are prohibited.

Congratulations

Described by the local media as a “Volunteering Dynamo”, Peter Herriman, the SARTI board member responsible for our web site has been awarded “Citizen of the Year” for the Regional Council of Goyder, Eudunda Ward.

Peter is involved in a wide range of community activities with the "Eudunda Community, Business and Tourism Committee” a major focus.

Congratulations Peter. A well-deserved award.


Peter said,
"I wish to thank my family as the great support over the past 20 odd years of volunteering from my family, wife Jenny and in later years son's Luke & Toby have helped to achieve many things. Working with some exceptional people on the various committees has been the ultimate experience and especially the SARTI Board has been inspirational. I highly recommend volunteering for a group in an area you might be passionate about,"

Photo - L-R: Luke, Toby, Jenny & Peter Herriman with the award in the award winning beautiful Eudunda Centenary Gardens - which is part of the Lavender Federation Trail, and also where you can find the Colin Thiele and Mr Percival sculpture (just visible on the right of the photo).

New Loop Trail

A new short loop trail of 550 metres is now complete near Mt Horrocks on the Watervale to Mintaro section of the LFT. The loop is worth adding to your walk with several uninterrupted views to the Waterloo Wind Farm and on a clear day, to Gulf St Vincent.

Click here to view a short video & map

Not sure where the Loop Trail is?

Enhance Trail Plans For Cycling & Multi-Use At Eudunda to Robertstown

Plans are currently being developed to gain access to the Eudunda to Hampden Railway Line with the intention of creating a Multi-use trail for that section. At the present time this section of the old railway line is used by walkers of the Lavender Federation Trail to get safely and conveniently in and out of Eudunda on the North side of the township. The trail has some great views and is a nice walk. The current agreement is that walkers must stick along the fence line.



The community, through the Eudunda Community, Business and Tourism Ass. (ECBAT) is working with the South Australian Recreation Trails Inc (SARTI), and a National Cycling Club, the Uncool Cycling Club, and Rail Trails Australia  to expand on the rail trail use by using the actual trail where the ballast lies. It would make that section much easier to use, much more logical, and will be needed if cycling and strollers are to access the trail.


Use of the ballast area would not only mean greater use of the trail but make way for some great new multi purpose loop trails in the area, with three different distances that should appeal to different strengths. This in turn would improve the economic benefit of the local towns, Eudunda, Point Pass and Robertstown and the possibility to create new tourism opportunities as well.

Cyclists Get a Taste of the LFT - Robertstown - Eudunda

Not to be deterred from the lack of access to the Rail Trail itself Uncool Cycling Club's, Helen Dominish editor and passionate cyclist leader organised a group of 14 cyclists to ride the Robertstown to Eudunda section of the lavender Federation Trail - unfortunately having to bypass the railway section of the trail. The cyclists were very happy with the the experience of fantastic scenery, good back roads, a nice distance and great company. Of course they really appreciated that at the end of the trip they could stop at the Eudunda Bakery. Helen is second from the left, and you might even see George Adams (SARTI) 6th from left in the photo.
Everyone was full of praise for the ride, and looking forward to seeing the Rail section available to ride.
After the ride Helen praised the view,

"That Scenic Road really is out of this world, especially for a cyclist."

The Uncool Cycling Club outside the Eudunda Bakery after a great ride from Inspiration Point (Robertstown) to Eudunda. The group is paving the way for the Lavender Federation Trail to be 'Multi-use'.

Cycling Adventure at the Murray Bridge End of the LFT

Helen Dominish editor of Uncool Cycling Club newsletter recently published a story of her friend Kathie and her adventure of Cycling the Lavender Trail – Murray Bridge to Kinchina Conservation Park.



Kinchina Conservation Park has been developed for Walking and "Mountain Bike Riding" and this story is about two adventurous ladies having a go at the trail. Well worth a read, as it gives an insight into the pioneering spirit of people with average bike ability wanting to use the Lavender Federation Trail for new purposes.

As new trails are being developed we hope that the developers (including SARTI) will become more mindful of multiple access purposes. Certainly the LFT has become an exciting trail, way past what SARTI had envisaged with many groups considering if it would be possible to use it in they way they like to explore.  Certain parts may need extra permissions and modifications to be looked at, so the challenge is there. Well done Helen & Kathie.
Cycling the Lavender Trail – Murray Bridge to Kinchina Conservation Park

Bits & Pieces:-

• ATTENTION LOCAL COMMUNITIES & EVENT ORGANIZERS ON THE LFT,
  Trail Warnings & Local Events - Please Tell Us!!!
  To the towns & districts along the Lavender Federation Trail - We would love to be able to broadcast your Community Events to our readers (if in time - to the Footsteps Readers) but more likely to those who follow the Website and our Social Media streams on Facebook and Twitter.
  . 
  If LFT walkers know about your community event they may arrange thier arrival in your town or district to be present and enjoy it, creating a unique experience for them, and higher attendance for your event.
  
  For trail warnings: some of the events in your district may not be related to walking, but they MAY actually intersect somewhere along the trail. It would be great if you could let us know, so that walkers could be prepared for safety sake, and perhaps to end up taking the time to enjoy your event. They may choose to walk in another district too, but rest assured; they will be planning to come to yours to complete thier walk of the trail.
  
  Recently online and social media we were able to share about a State Championship level Car Rally - the Copyworld Walky 100" which was based in Eudunda. The rally used back roads in the district and actually took up large parts of the LFT. Basically it would have been impossible to walk the LFT between Eudunda and Truro on that day!!!
  
  If you come across areas like this - please read the instructions very carefully.
  
  If you can try to check the local news and also  the LFT website prior to planning the walk, as it could mean a long walk back to the start if you did come across one of these "don't cross the line" spots.
  
  Photo: Warning - do not cross from the LFT into rally traffic - warning was near Dutton SA.
   

  Please realise that SARTI is not able to broadcast these events unless someone tells us about them, and sometimes we only find out about them at very short notice.

  We suggest checking with the locals in each town to find out what is happening.
  
  Please respect that the access to the LFT is often on private property and that we have special permission to traverse the land, which we hope you will respect - by staying only on the trail and adhering to any warning signs.
   
• Trail Warning - Map 4 Truro to Eudunda - 13th - 14th July
  You are most welcome to come to the Eudunda and Truro areas, but please watch out for cars and bikes as they travel the back roads, and please respect blocked off areas and private property.
  
  This trail (course kept secret until the day) will most likely intersect the LFT in multiple places.
  At this point in time we are unaware of any points where access is restricted to walkers, if unsure, come to Main Control and ask during the weekend.
  
  KEEP YOUR EYES & EARS OPEN FOR BIKES IN PADDOCKS AND ON ROADS
  
  If you are starting from or finishing in Eudunda - drop in to the Eudunda Oval which is Main Control and check out what is happening and grab a bite to eat.
  
  
  
   
• Restricted Hours For Fuel Supplies at Eudunda
  The Eudunda Roadhouse has been sold and is currently closed, waiting for renovations to happen. In the mean time the local community are concerned that visitors may have trouble accessing alternative supplies. If you plan on visiting the area, you can still find everything you would need, Things to note are that there is no Auto Gas available and Petrol (Unleaded and Premium or Super) and Diesel are available but the hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8:30am to 10:30am. Closed Sunday. 
  Check out a list of available items on the ECBAT website.
   
• Retail map outlets for the Lavender Federation Trail are listed on the web site. See website
   
• Maps & brochures to wholesalers - If you would like to stock Lavender Federation Trail Maps and or brochures please contact Don McDonald who has taken over the distributing maps & brochures to wholesalers. You can contact Don from the website.
  
  Mail Order Maps - We receive many requests for information on map purchases particularly from country areas or interstate. Click for the website 'Maps' page
   
• Lavender Federation Trail Cloth Badges For Sale
  Cost is $10 plus postage however, some map outlets stock them if you want to avoid the postage.
• 
  They are also available from George Adams (phone 08) 8396-8140 or
   Order via web form 
   
• Are you a “Friend of the Lavender Federation Trail”?
  Memberships are $10 PA for individuals with 5 & 10 year also available.
  Clubs and businesses $100 PA which include an advertisement on the web site.
  Your contribution will allow SARTI to maintain the Lavender Federation Trail (Thank You)

  Details of becoming a LFT “friend” are on the website.
   

• WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
• Do you have any other favourite resources that might help others? 
• You are welcome to tell us about your walk experience of the Lavender Federation Trail. Photos are welcome too!
• Spot something wrong on the Trail - Please Tell Us!
  WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE!
• Hear of a Community Event that will happen on or close to the trail that other walkers might like to know about - Let Us Know! - We want the communities along the LFT to benefit. CONTACT US
• WATCH OUT FOR NEWS ITEMS ON THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA