Last Thursday many ABW members met with family and friends to celebrate the life of an extraordinary man, a dear friend, and a life member of Adelaide bushwalkers. John Bartlett passed away this year 92 years young, after a full adventurous interesting and loving life. John was survived by his two children and their partners, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. 

John’s love of walking began with the first Torrens Park Scouts in 1945. His first day hike was to Brownhill Creek and his first overnight hike was from Aldgate railway station to Mylor. Around the same time John began cycling to school and taking part in scout cycling trips. 

Shortly after joining the scouts, John’s father was transferred to Hobart. John immediately joined the Scouts there and embarked on many overnight walks. One of the highlights of those early years was walking the entire Overland Track with two friends in the summer of 1951 to 1952.

John returned to Adelaide, where he completed high school and was accepted into University. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Adelaide. He met his late wife Mary at a dance, they married and started a family. John designed and built his own house and worked on many prominent buildings in Adelaide including the Torrens Weir building. When the children were a little older, and at Mary’s suggestion, John joined Adelaide Bushwalkers. Mary did not participate in walks but was a much-loved social presence at the club, known for her beautiful cakes.

John recorded his walks with Adelaide Bushwalkers in a notebook. In 2010 he reported completing 427 club walks, he also recorded that was the leader for 91 of those walks. The walks he regarded as most memorable were: 

1. a two-week Tasmanian trip in 1986, taking in the Walls of Jerusalem, Never Never, Mount Ossa, Pine Valley and the Labyrinth
2. a 1993 trip to the Western Arthurs and Mount Anne Circuit
3. a 1996 journey through the Mawson Plateau, Tjerreipinna Waterhole, Mount Hopeless, Innamincka, Coongie Lakes and the Dig Tree. 
4. a 2003 car-camping trip to Kakadu National Park.

Many ABW members will remember him helping to plan and leading a Heysen Trail end to end with Frank Hall, finishing in 2005. John generously shared his knowledge and experience by mentoring me and my partner Peter, to lead our Heysen Trail journey for the club from 2004 to 2014. Many members of both groups will remember the banner at the end of the walk and the celebration involving both groups at Willow Springs station. 

John and Frank also collaborated to create a memorable challenge for the club’s 60th anniversary with the “sixty peaks” event. They rated mountains in South Australia on a sliding scale based on how easy they were to access and climb. Participants were awarded certificates for earning 20, 40 and 60 points, with Mt Lofty being worth 1 point and Mt Woodroofe being worth 9. 

His love of outdoor adventures extended beyond bushwalking. He was an active participant in ABW and private cross-country skiing trips and took part in many ski tours in the Victorian Alps and the Snowy Mountains. Cycling was another important part of his life. When a knee injury eventually prevented him from carrying a full pack, he was still able to ride and completed long-distance cycling events including the Great Victorian Bike ride with friends and Great Tasmanian Bike Ride with his grandson.

John was one of the excellent examples of positive aging we see in our club. When one activity became difficult, he substituted another. When he finished with the full pack, he stayed active with day walks, base camping, and our Wednesday Walkers group. My favourite personal story about John is when he declined an invitation to a social event two years ago, because he was going to Antarctica! He was 91!

Throughout his years with Adelaide Bushwalkers, he stated that he valued the club not simply for the walking, but for the “companionship and the opportunity to appreciate the skills, enthusiasm and friendship of fellow members”. He was always generous with his time and knowledge, particularly with emerging leaders, whom he willingly mentored and encouraged. 

On a personal level, many of us will remember him for his kindness and compassion. His son Paul paid tribute to John’s acceptance of all people irrespective of our challenges or differences. John was unfailingly kind and courteous, accepting, gracious and kind. I will miss him deeply, as will so many ABW members who had the privilege of knowing him.  

Jeannie Pope