Ian was the hiking master at Geelong Grammar’s outdoor remote education centre called Timbertop in the 70s. He then went on to create his own places, Mittagundi and Wollangarra in a similar vain as Timbertop, to give young people who couldn’t afford to go to Timbertop, a chance to  experience outdoor activities in a remote area,  living without the trappings of the modern world. There would be no electricity in these remote areas and young people would have to work to produce heat, food and shelter whilst enjoying outdoor activities in the mountains.

Both Mittagundi and Wollangarra are non profit organisations and were run by Ian and volunteers back in the 80s and 90s. 

After Ian left these places in capable hands of other directors and a council of people to support them, Ian went on to record all his interactions with high country people that he had met during his own early hiking experiences in the 60s onwards.

Both Mittagundi and Wollangarra are Ian’s creation but were built and supported by community volunteers, mostly by young people on courses, and ex students from all around the nation. Both places are still running today and many young people come and tell us their stories of how they loved being part of a community that hikes together and works together. 

It wasn’t always easy and tragedy struck quite a few times as you will hear when Ian recalls the story of ‘A Pair Of Skis’. 

He has written 7 books, about people who lived and worked on the high plains and also other very interesting characters who were able to live without all the modern trappings and still manage to be very happy.

Hope you enjoy this true story that highlights the resilience of people hiking and how nature always wins out in the end.