Blogangarra
aka, The Wollangarra Blog
- Indi
How to spot a wollie in the wild
Wollangarra: not just a place
Wollangarra isn’t just a place—it’s an experience, a philosophy, and a tightly-knit community of adventurous folk who share a passion for the mountains, hands-on practical work, and quality time with good people. On long weekends and holidays, you’ll find us on the flat chopping wood, fixing dunnies, cooking, gardening, swimming, building, fixing stuff, cooking, fixing more stuff…and you guessed it, fixing stuff. But where can you spot a Wollie the rest of the time, and how do you know you’ve found one?
Wollies in their day-to-day lives
Well, in my experience, Wollies usually get up to exceptional stuff in their day-to-day lives too. You’d have a good chance of finding one teaching outdoor education in schools or in the field, doing environmental work, hiking in the mountains, paddling on a river or undertaking any other activity which looks to make the world a better place. You could narrow it down to those wearing a work shirt so well-loved it looks like an artefact, a pair of crumbling Blunnies, or a hideous jumper no one else would be spotted dead in.
The definitive proof: the woll sticker
But the definitive proof that you’ve spotted a Wollie in the wild is the old Woll sticker you’re likely to see adorning their Nalgene or bumper. There’s something delightfully rebellious about seeing a crusty old bumper sticker proudly proclaiming “Wollangarra” while navigating through the traffic of Melbourne’s inner north. It’s like an unspoken salute between members of the Woll tribe. If you’ve seen one, you know they’re not just stickers; they’re badges of honour, a way of saying “Yeah, I’ve been there, I know about the porridge.”
When you find them
I’ve identified Wollangarra enthusiasts by their bumper stickers all over the place, from busy city streets to truck stops on interstate highways, and carparks at little-known climbing and hiking spots. And every time, it’s a surefire sign you’re about to strike up a chat with someone awesome, and likely an instant friend who feels a bit like family.
Why buy wollangarra merch
So, why buy merch? It’s just more stuff, right? To me, it’s more than just a way to show off; it’s about connection. Each crusty old sticker or faded shirt is evidence of a shared history and the bond that keeps the Wollangarra community close, even when you’re miles away from the next event.
And now for the big sell—you had to see it coming. We’re not doing merch at Open Day this year, but you bet we’re going to make sure we’ve got some Woll stickers for you. So if you’ve got a new car, a new drink bottle, you’re new to the community, or you just want to spread the love a little further, don’t forget to grab one at Open Day. In addition to our classic green and white “Wollangarra” stickers, we’ve got a limited number of amazing ‘Friends of Wollangarra’ stickers designed by the talented Cally Turner. So make sure you pick up a sticker if you don’t have one—you never know what awesome people and places it might lead you to.
I’ve got some pretty solid (and some second hand!) stories ready to go over the coming few weeks so stay tuned!
Smitho xo
