Historical hike a peaceful pilgrimage

MEMBERS of Uniting Church and the Friends of Canadian Corridor are inviting everyone to go on a mindful trek through Buninyong to Mount Clear this week.

The pilgrim walk is being hosted by South Ballarat Uniting Church minister Reverend Paul Sanders and FOCC secretary Jeff Rootes.

Having studied Zen beliefs for more than 30 years, Reverend Sanders said he and Mr Rootes will bring a combined expertise to the walk.

“Jeff has the knowledge of the area and the walk and history. I’m bringing an opportunity to connect with the land as a reflective pilgrimage,” he said.

“Jeff will make sure we don’t die on the walk and I’m making sure if we do, we’re as happy as we can be.”

Expected to take about three hours, the roughly 8.5-kilometre trek will start at the Buninyong Uniting Church before leading into the Union Jack Education Reserve before finishing nearing the Mount Helen reservoir.

Reverend Sanders has previously led about six 50-kilometre Grampians-based pilgrim walks, with photos of the treks to be showcased at Buninyong Uniting Church during a post-hike lunch.

Mr Rootes said he’ll be helping attendees connect to the history of the region.

“This will walk out through quite a bit of Buninyong’s forgotten history. The old railway line into the Union Jack mining area and the tramline,” he said.

“The actual tram line goes down Green Hills Road. Three years before gold was found, it was actually a sawmill at the back of Mount Buninyong.

“We’ll cross that on our walk and I’ll point that out, the landscape changes.”

The pilgrim walk will take place on Saturday, 4 March from 9am and for more information, call Reverend Sanders on 0407 833 515.