State Library of Victoria
The defiant women who demanded a place on the walking track
Many Australians feel drawn to explore the bush on foot. Bushwalking offers a chance to escape the city, forge friendships, explore beautiful scenery and keep our bodies and minds healthy.
But the bushwalking track wasn’t always a place where women felt welcome.
In the 1920s and ’30s, some people scoffed at the idea women could handle rugged encounters with nature. The bush was considered a place for men. Besides, how could women walk rocky paths and steep hills in their long skirts and dainty shoes?
But some courageous women walked anyway. The Melbourne Women’s Walking Club formed in 1922 and was the first of its kind in Australia. The women were criticised and sometimes harassed, especially when they experimented with wearing pants – or even shorts.
But the women found solace in friendship and a shared love of nature. My new research sheds light on the stories of these remarkable women… read more
Source
Ruby Ekkel
The Conversation
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