Wollondilly Council to establish bushwalking safety program

Wollondilly Council in southern NSW has promised to establish a bushwalking safety program in memory of 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper, whose death sparked an eight-day search in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Mayor Matt Gould described Lily as an “amazing woman full of spirit and adventure” who was “taken too soon”, saying the new program had been developed in consultation with her family.

Lily’s body was found in bushland in Nattai National Park, near Mittagong, last Thursday after almost 1,000 people from multiple agencies took part in the search.

She had been walking solo on the Bonnen Pic Walking Trail and failed to return as expected. The cause of her death is not yet known. NSW Police said her body was located a significant distance from the walking track.

Speaking during the council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday, Cr Gould said council would work with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to improve access to bushwalking safety equipment and information.

“I’ve spoken with Lily’s family about how our community might permanently remember her,” Cr Gould said.

“Rather than creating a single physical memorial … we will establish a program in Lily’s memory where council purchases personal locator beacons and makes them available for residents and bushwalkers to borrow free of charge, alongside practical bushwalking safety information.”

Cr Gould said personal locator beacons (PLBs) could prove invaluable if people encountered trouble in remote areas.

“A personal locator beacon is something you hope nobody ever needs to activate, but if someone does find themselves in trouble in remote country, having one can make an enormous difference,” he said.

The program will give bushwalkers greater access to potentially life-saving equipment while encouraging better preparation before heading into remote areas.

How does a PLB work? Click here.