Since the BMCS incorporated in July 2021 we have achieved a lot!
Our purpose we defined at the time is:
- Fostering the Camino Spirit in the Blue Mountains.
- Bringing people together to share their interest / experience in walking the Camino Pilgrimage .
- Supporting pilgrims in preparation for their pilgrimage.
- Connecting with other Camino Groups.
- Supporting Camino communities and organisations
And in the last 18 months since incorporation we’re happy to report this is what we have achieved:
Fostering the Camino Spirit in the Blue Mountains
- Offered 11 half-day training walks in 2022, none in 2021 due to Covid. Easy walks had 92 walkers and medium 226 walkers in total.
- 9 meetups were arranged with 211 attendances. Casa Susi at Glenella in January 2022 attracted 53 people! And the year end Paella night attracted 31, our 2nd biggest event for the year.
- There were 5 5-Day Walks run in the 18 months with approx. 145 people participating in total. Some did multiple walks. There were 2 extended 5-Day Walks run – Nov 2021 a 9-day walk starting in Parramatta, and in Sep 2022, a 13-day starting in Circular Quay.
- Monthly newsletters sent each month to over 640 subscribers to our Newsletter.
- Regular Facebook posts with over 620 followers.
Bringing people together to share interest/experience in Camino Pilgrimage
- Physically on walks
- Returned pilgrims sharing experience at meetups
- Through Whatsapp group exchanges,
Supporting pilgrims in preparation of their pilgrimage
- Physically through 5-Day walks and monthly training walk
- Informationally through website, Facebook posts, Newsletter and Gear Talks
- Swap table
Connecting with other Camino groups
- Through Zoom sessions in 2021 connected with other Camino groups in Australia
- Sunshine Coast Camino Group joined our 5-Day Walk in Sep 2022
Supporting Camino communities & organisations (can be in Spain or elsewhere)
- Donated $250 to Pilgrim House in Santiago + $250 to the Ditch Pigs (Rebekah Scott’s Peaceable Kingdom)
- Promote Cygnet and other pilgrimages in Newsletter + Facebook