PADDLING upstream into the wild environs of the Otway Ranges is hardly a leisurely weekend activity, but that’s exactly what Christian Schultink is tackling today.
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The Warrnambool father-of-four will traverse the Gellibrand River as part of a water conservation program, starting from the rolling pastures of Princetown and heading into the unknown.
“Travelling upstream isn’t as hard as what you would think because the Gellibrand is a slow-flowing river,” Mr Schultink said.
“I’m not sure how long it will take but I’m aiming for the river source. It’s all an adventure and I’m looking forward to it.”
According to regional maps, the source of the Gellibrand River is located in uninhabited terrain, roughly between Beech Forrest and Barramunga, about 30 kilometres north of Apollo Bay.
Mr Schultink will travel by kayak, car and foot as part of the expedition, which will be conducted in stages. He is unsure how long the adventure will take, but hopes to have the fragmented journey completed by winter.
The part-time lawyer is a keen kayaker and conservationist. His expedition will film and document the river to highlight its importance to the region.
“Gellibrand River is one of the most intact waterways in Victoria in terms of still being in its natural state,” Mr Schultink said.
“It’s such an important river for us in Warrnambool because it supplies most of the water for the city, as well as a number of other towns.”
The expedition forms part of the Heytesbury District Landcare Network’s $450,000 Going Upstream project, which has received $184,000 in state government funding along with in-kind contributions from other organisations and will cover landscape rarely seen.
