Just a stone's-throw from the town of Williams is the scene for The Hillman Hunter Safari, a tribute to that fantastic station. Unfortunately there are no lions or other beasts of romantic nature to see while on safari, except the usual kangaroos, emus, wedgetail eagles and of course - livestock!

The event is et in rolling farmland with wooded areas and natural bushland in places, complemented by outstanding granite outcrops featuring 12 metre high boulders and some awesome views. One of the first areas to be settled in Western Australia, the area is steeped in history including the original Albany Highway, or should we say the horse and cart way. The original store ford across the Williams River is still evident. The area was first explored by Europeans in 1830 by a party led by Captain Thomas Banister. His favourable report led to Alfred Hillman, surveyor for the Swan River Colony, mapping the area in 1835. Hillman's field notes spoke in glowing terms of the suitability of this area for the holding of rogaines. We have placed a control in the ruin of a building built in June 1836.

There is an abundance of controls, which will test the route selection abilities of the competitive rogainer. In the absence of thick scrub, beginners will be able to match contours with the map in relative ease. The 'guns' will need to move quickly over a carefully selected route to gain maximum points. The event is virtually free of parrot bush, which is a big disappointment.

The setters and vetters have placed controls in some interesting places for your viewing pleasure, such as In a Dining Room, In a Chimney and On Mr Squiggle's Rocket. Fences are not in huge abundance (!) and there are some electric fences. The Williams River runs through the course but as the event is to be held in early May it is unlikely it will be of a substantial depth.

This will be a great event with the potential for some participants to earn the elusive 2500 point badge and we promise some little goodies out on the course. Vince is running the hash house and has something special in mind. Get your entries in soon as the event will be popular and will fill quickly!

Steve Sutherland, Russell Harvie, Gary Carroll and Di Challen