2025 Highlights – A summary of the Friends in Action

2025 was another great year for the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail. For you to have a New Year reminisce, let’s take a quick look into of some of the many highlights over the months of 2025. Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, and looking forward to the future stories of the Friends and Trail in 2026!

January

To kick off the 2025, the first “Last Wednesday of the Month” ride. About a dozen of the Friends, including some new faces, joined the ride, finishing at Omari with enjoyable coffee, cake, and conversation. The first of many “Last Wednesday of the Month” rides for the year. [story here]

February

February was a quiet month for the Friends, but Tuesday February 32nd (some people refer to it as March 4th, but not your editor), had a number of members out counting for Super Tuesday. A dedicated team of volunteers from the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail (FBKRT) once again played a vital role in the annual Super Tuesday Bicycle Commuter Count, helping to collect valuable data on cycling patterns in Bendigo urban area as well as in Melbourne suburbs. FBKRT raise funds by the great volunteers providing two hours to the great cause. [story here]

March

The Friends had a busy month on March, but a notable activity was for the monthly ride where a number members of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail took to some dusty forest tracks, venturing from Maiden Gully to Marong. Under clear blue skies, the riders enjoyed the scenic journey through bushland, navigating the dusty terrain that added a touch of adventure to the outing. [story here]

April

The annual Maiden Gully Autumn Festival returned to Balgownie Estate Winery, drawing crowds for a day of local celebration, live music, and community engagement. Among the many stalls and activities, the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail (FBKRT) hosted an information stand to promote the ongoing efforts in trail development and community involvement. And, judging by the smiles on the faces, an enjoyable day was had by all. [story here]

May

Perfect weather helped the annual O’Keefe Challenge event’s runners to achieve their personal aspirations utilising the O’Keefe Rail Trail. Also helping were the many community volunteers, performing various roles that enabled facilities and functions to be provided for the safety of event’s runners. Road Marshals, Aid Station operators, Route Clearance Rider, Communications operators, were just a few of the volunteer roles performed. Volunteer members from the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail were involved, along with other community groups. This is one of the great events on the trail each year. [story here]

June

With a daily maximum average in the Bendigo to Heathcote area of a chilling 12.9oC, hibernation seems to be the main activity during the month of June.

July

Swift Parrots Flock to Central Victoria, as ABC was reporting. Each year, the critically endangered Swift Parrot makes an epic journey from Tasmania to the forests of central Victoria — and this winter, something extraordinary is happening: it appears that nearly the entire estimated population of just 750 birds has gathered on the outskirts of the Bendigo region, with the O’Keefe Rail Trail a natural corridor linking key habitats between Wellsford Forest, Knowsley Forest, Longlea Forest, Campaspe River and One Eye Forest. [story here]

August

Late August saw a large combined group of our members and MBUG (Mitchell Bicycle User Group) joining together for a ride from Pyalong to High Camp and return a distance of about 30km. The foul weather forecast held off (just!) and a lovely lunch was enjoyed afterwards at the Pyalong Hotel. Lindsay Clay and Pauline Duff gave us a great insight into the plans for the creation of a recreational reserve at the site of the former High Camp Railway Station.

September

Three much-loved members of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail recently celebrated turning 80 in the best way they know how — on their bikes. Judy McLaren, Lindsay Clay and Mal Ward all reached this special milestone in recent months. To mark the occasion, the trio joined fellow Friends members on a 40km social ride from Bendigo to Axedale and return along the popular O’Keefe Rail Trail. [story here]

October

The Friends of the Bendigo–Kilmore Rail Trail community group held a well-attended Annual General Meeting on 15 October at the Cycling Clubrooms, Tom Flood Centre, Bendigo. Guest speaker Graham Hill, author and photographer, spoke about the book Bendigo’s Backyard Birds, co-authored with Helen Milroy. The publication celebrates the rich birdlife of the Bendigo region and highlights the importance of cultural knowledge and conservation. [story here]

November

Another great year celebrated by the Friends! As 2025 was rapidly approaches its end, the members of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail got together over a long lunch at Omari Bendigo today for an end of year celebration. Thirty-five members shared tall tales and laughs about the events of 2025. A few members also ignored the weather forecast, and rode from Junortoun to enjoy the lunch. [story here]

December

While it has been 57 years since a train last stopped at High Camp Railway Station, the old platform has had some popular attention of late. On behalf of local community groups, the Friends of the Bendigo–Kilmore Rail Trail (FBKRT) have been awarded a $38,252 Tiny Towns Fund grant from Regional Development Victoria (RDV), to support the revitalisation of the High Camp Rail and Flora Reserve. Although volunteer work had already been underway, this saw the official announcement, and visit by Victorian State Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes MLC. This High Camp area may never again hear the sounds of a train passing its platform, but this project is firmly on track to welcome many more visitors — and hopefully one day even cyclists and walkers travelling between Kilmore and Heathcote along an extended recreational rail trail. [story here]