Date posted: Wed, 1 Apr 2026
Posted by: Avryl H

Dear OXOs!

As we get into the swing of semester with lots of new faces, here are a few PSAs and some general info including gear hire FAQ, contact points and how to become a leader.

For those of you who have just joined us, welcome!!

General info

How to become a member of MUMC:

 Where to see upcoming trips:

Join our Facebook group, once you’re a paying MUMC member:

  • Search “OXO club rooms” on Facebook. We’ll let you in once we verify that you’re a member with us! This is where we share general announcements (also on our news page).
  • There's a bunch of messenger chats you can join through oxo club rooms, including Monday night climbing, Women's Climbing Chat, Book Club, and more. The link to join is https://m.me/cm/AbZ66YZZt2oIainb/
  • Also follow us on insta (@m.u.m.c).

Relevant club contacts

Tuesday meetings:

  • We meet every Tuesday night at 7pm at our clubrooms on Berkeley St for trip meetings and head to the Clyde afterwards for dinner.
  • There’s usually people bouldering at the clubrooms from about 5:30pm on Tuesdays. Come along! :)
  • You can check in the clubrooms opening hours chat to see when the clubrooms are open on a specific day.

 Monday night climbing:

  • Every Monday night at 6:30pm a bunch of us climb at Urban Climb Blackburn. Through our oxo clubrooms Facebook group, there’s a Monday night climbing group chat.
  • Everyone is welcome! If it is your first time you will need to do a gym induction, with one happening every half hour with the gym
  • Join the chat to organise a lift there and find a climbing partner in advance. You can top-rope, boulder, or lead climb!

Discounts at local outdoor stores:

  • We receive great discounts at local outdoor stores, including Paddy Pallin (20% off), Climbing Anchors (12.5% off), Bogong Equipment (10% off), Backpacking Light (10% off), Urban Climb ($19 casual entry), and more.
  • For more info, head to mumc.org.au/discounts.

Becoming a leader

We are an entirely volunteer-run club. If you’re interested in becoming a leader for any MUMC activity, head to mumc.org.au/become-a-leader for info and contact the safety officers at or the relevant sports officer (mumc.org.au/contact).

  • You’ll need to do a level 2 first aid course (HLTAID003) to become a leader – the club will reimburse you for the full amount if you apply ahead of time (mumc.org.au/training)
  • Training grant covers more than just first aid courses, so if there is something you are wanting to upskill in, check it out! Note: If there’s a training course you’re keen to do that’s not mentioned in the document, definitely still ask and we can have a look!
  • Ask the relevant sports officer/s or any committee member or deputy to send you the relevant leadership documents to become a leader for each sport.
  • To apply for a training grant, email the relevant sports officer. Your application will then be assessed by the training grant subcommittee.

Gear available for hire/rent

  • You can hire a large range of gear for trips for all the activities (aka sports) we do at MUMC from our clubrooms, with a week-long hire period.
  • Anyone can hire gear for a club trip, to hire gear for a non-club trip you will need to have gone on two club trips.
  • It costs approximately $5-$20 per item to hire, except for backcountry skiing gear which is approximately $150 for a set for the weekend.
  • The easiest way to hire gear is to do so after your trip meeting (usually on Tuesday night) for a trip you’re going on.
  • For more info, head to mumc.org.au/gear - if that doesn't help, try emailing the relevant activity/sports officer (mumc.org.au/committee).

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of gear available for hire, to give you the gist of what we do and don’t hire out:

  • Tent (3, 4, and 12 person tents)
  • Sleeping bags (including a limited number of sleeping bags suitable for alpine conditions).
  • Sleeping mats
  • Sleeping bag liners
  • Some rain jackets (probably best to get your own though, as they are required for participation on club trips).
  • Some hiking packs
  • Hiking poles
  • Trangias (hiking pot set) for cooking
  • Harnesses, helmets, and shoes for climbing
  • Trad climbing gear (ropes, nuts, cams, etc.), only for those ticked off in the MUMC climbing framework
  • Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
  • Boats and paddles and other paddling and canoe polo stuff
  • Canyoning wetsuit and harnesses
  • A range of mountaineering gear, only for independently-certified mountaineers
  • Lots of cross-country and back-country skiing gear
  • Compasses with whistles
  • First aid kits (must be taken on all club trips).
  • An extensive library collection for hire, including several maps and guidebooks. $20 refundable deposit for all books hired

Gear that gear MUMC won’t supply, and you’ll need to buy yourself to go on any overnight MUMC trip [again, a non-exhaustive list!]:

  • Head torch
  • Walking/hiking shoes. Get yourself a good pair of waterproof hiking shoes or boots. (Tip: use the MUMC discount at Paddy Pallin or Bogong or Backpacking Light to buy them!)
  • Our sleeping mats aren’t amazing. I’d suggest buying your own for a comfy night’s sleep!
  • Lightweight outdoor crockery and cutlery for overnight trips.

What do all the trip levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) mean?

Let’s use bushwalking (AKA hiking) as our basis for explaining this.

For more info/clarification, contact our Walking Sports Officers, Ella and Eleanor (). They have the final word on this bit.

Although we don’t choose who can come on trips based on friendships, you may not be allowed to come on a particular trip if the leader has reason to believe you are not fit for it (eg, if you have inadequate fitness, gear, or navigation skills for an intermediate/advanced trip).

Beginner trips: Little to no hiking experience. We’ll look after you. You’re a dependent participant. Just please bring a rain jacket, head torch, and good hiking shoes/boots! You can hire the rest at the meeting. You'll be cooking and bringing your own food.

Intermediate: You have been on at least 1 (preferably more) overnight hike (ie, camping in a tent during your trip) before. You are reasonably fit, and fairly comfortable managing yourself (keeping warm and dry, staying fed, setting up a tent, knowing what gear to bring, etc.), but this is not absolutely essential. You might have some navigation skills, but these are not essential to participate in intermediate trips.

Advanced: You are experienced and fit. You are self-sufficient, and have good navigation skills using a map and compass. You are entirely comfortable managing yourself and knowing (and communicating) your limits/what you're not comfortable with. Often, the leaders will select who can come on these trips based on experience.

Attendance policy

We have an attendance policy that essentially states that once you sign up as “committed” to a trip on the website, you are saying you will go on that trip and attend the meeting.

• If you sign up to a trip, we expect you to come to the trip and the trip meeting (usually on the Tuesday of the week the trip is running), unless you inform the trip leader/s in advance that you can’t make it. For more info, please read our attendance policy.

• The leaders of each trip, as stated under the page for each trip on our website, are the only ones who can decide whether or not you have a spot on a trip you have signed up to. The committee does not have the power to let/not let someone on a trip (other than in extraordinary circumstances, such as for disciplinary action).

• If you’re signed up as “committed” to a trip on the website, and you either don’t attend the meeting (without telling the leader in advance that you can’t make it), or you cancel your signup after the meeting has occurred, you will receive a “strike”. After three “strikes” within a 6-month period, you may face a 3-month suspension from signing up for future trips.

• Exceptions will be made for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.

If you have any further questions about how the club runs, the club website has a range of information (mumc.org.au). Please email me () or any other committee member/deputy with any other queries!

Here is to many more adventures ahead!

Avryl :)) 

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