SBW Magazine & History Project

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
=====The Sydney Bushwalker=====

A Monthly Bulletin devoted to matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, 5 Hamilton Street, Sydney.

No.52 - Price 3d - April 1939.

|**Editor**|Dorothy Lawry|
|**Business Manager**|Bill Mullins|
|**Publication Staff**|Misses Dot. English, Mary Stoddart, Doreen Harris, Doris Christian; Messrs. Brian Harvey, Arthur Salmon, and Dick Schofield.|

=====Contents=====

| | |Page|
|Editorial| | 1|
|A Sad Tale|Told by Gordon Smith| 2|
|Results - 1939 Swimming Carnival| | 3 |
|"Hazyblue"|by Bill Mullins| 5|
|Federation News| | 8|
|Club Gossip| | 9|
|Final Reminder - First Aid Class| |10| 
|At Our Annual Meeting| |11|
|Re-Union, 1939| |13|
|Erratum - March Issue| |16|
|From Here, There and Everywhere| |16|
|List of Office-bearers, 1939/1940| |17|
|Amendments to Constitution, 1939| |17|

=====Advertisements=====

|Leica Photo Service| 4|
|Paddy's|10|

=====Editorial=====

We are in a congratulatory mood! We would like to congratulate the Club on the completion of another successful year; the officers and committee on having so successfully handled the good ship "S.B.W." throughout that year; the secretaries on the Annual Report; the incoming officers and committee on their election and chances of having a busy and interesting year; ourselves on our past achievements and future prospects; the new members on joining the Club... No, perhaps we had better not congratulate anyone on anything. We might miss someone really deserving of congratulation, and besides - space is very limited.

Readers, the Tigers have been criticised; the Tigers have been hurt; the Tigers have appointed Gordon Smith as their spokesman and have replied to that criticism. "The Sydney Bushwalker" published the criticism, it now publishes the Tigers' reply and leaves the whole matter to you, its readers, to form your own opinions.

We do not want anyone to be hurt by anything we publish, but we do welcome
controversial articles as proving the interest of members in important matters, and as being useful in keeping alive the critical spirit which is the very breath of democracy. Ra1ly round, O Democrats!

=====A Sad Tale=====

by Gordon Smith.

Once upon a time a party of civilians sat goggle-eyed on the banks of a wild river drinking in the beauties of their newfound solitude. Suddenly they sprang up aghast as two tigers slinked ('slinked' is shown in the Salmon dictionary as the past tense of the verb 'to slink' (O.E. slincan to creep) silently and rapidly along the track. Before their nerves had recovered from the shock ten more of these, ferocious animals were in their midst.

Now these tigers had come a long, long way, constantly swimming rivers and moving along the rough stony banks until tteir claws were blunted and the pads
of their paws soft and tender. The journey had been calculated in accordance with a rough schedule and in spite of unknown and unforeseen obstacles each night had seen the objective gained. Gingra Creek had been selected as the site of this night's camp but it was still a long way off, the day had been hard and some limped wearily along the track.

Long deprived of their riatural food, they had lost the taste for human flesh and anyhow the civilians looked a poor stringy lot. So they spoke kindly, exchanging the usual courtesies of those who meet in the bush while one sleek young tigress with horny pads provded a  vegetarian with inf6rmation about a distant country. The civilians suggested they should play a game of "Ringie, ringie, Rosie" or "Kiss in the Ring" but owing to lack of time the tigere were forced to decline.

As the tigers slinked away the civilians pursued them with unmitigated accusations of physical hypocrasy - not to mention the raspberry. What could be the mental stability of those who slinked rapidly through such picturesque country?

But these inexperienced civilians overlooked the fact that the tigers were now on a good cow-pad in familiar country. Dozens of trips had hardened their muscles so that they moved quickly without missing the beauties of their surroundings. The orange-tinted bluffs called softly "Glad to see you again" while every bend of the river brought back happy recollections of days gone past. They had swum here or eaten there, mistaken this ridge for the Gingra Range or killed a snake just about that spot. The shallow parts of the Bulga Dennis Canyon had been selected for wading with a careful pre-knowledge while the various orange, tinted bluffs were seen and named almost before they came into view.

Some of the goggle-eyed civilians might never visit the river again, but to the tigers it was the very breath of life. They lived for those nights beneath the stars, and the happy comaraderie of the long days spent pioneering new country or revisiting favourite spots the beauty of which had been indelibly engraved on their memories. Not for them rules and regulations or even leaders. Decisions were made in accordance with communul desire and as a result their trips in the face of almost any obstacle were inevitably successful in every sense of the word.

While the tigers were resting at Gingra the civilians passed on further downstream and it was noon next day before they were overtaken just as they were approaching the mouth of the river. The day was hot, the going rough and it was exasperating to see the "enemy" flash past. A primitive desire to plug an arrow into the intruders filled their savage breasts.

All unaware of these murderous sentiments the inoffensive tigers greeted the others cheerfully and passed at a moderate rate. Had they known how their little
feet were aching each would have taken the hand of a civilian and led him over the rough rocks or even perhaps changed his napkin. But ignorance is bliss.

This sad tale is nearly at an end. The final scene is set in the haunts of a peaceful creek one day later. The now footsore beginners are having lunch when suddenly the band of tigers appears on either sides of the creek smashing boulders in halves, pushing over gum trees and showing a cruel delight in breaking down all natural resistance in their haste.

The two parties didn't meet again; and just as well. The civilians would have been shocked down to their very marrows. It was like this.

One of the tigresses sprained her hock. Now she wasn't a bad sort even if she did snarl a little at times so it really wasn't fair. But the tigers were in a hurry and couldn't wait for one limping member so they killed her and as she was plump and it was lunch time, made a very satisfactory meal.

But the tranquility of the stream had been disturbed. Even the running water received such a shock as to make it scamper back upstream. With the sudden initiative so characteristic of all their dealings, the tigers pushed over eleven gum trees and each jumping astride one were swiftly carried upstream, over a spot, called the "Ruined Castle", and down into the Jamieson Valley,
There we'll leave them. No doubt they'll get their just deserts some day.

=====Resuts - 1939 Swimming Carnival=====

All races were 50 yards.

|Men's Championship:| |Bil Whitney 1; John Woods 2.|
|Women's Championship:| |Coris Christian 1; Joan Savage 2.|
|Men's Handicap:| |Bill McCourt 1; Bertie Whilier 2.|
|Women's Handicap:| |Molly Astridge 1; Phil White 2.|
|Men's Telegram Race|Open to Visitors|Ossie Brownlee 1; Arnold Barret 2.|
|Women's Telegram Race|Open to Visitors|Win Svenson 1; Dot English 2.|
|Visitor's Handicap - Men| |J. Svenson and Bob Woods - dead heat.|
|Visitor's Handicap - Women| |Win Svenson 1.|
|Balloon Races - Men|Open to Visitors|Les Ballen 1; Bertie whillier 2.|
|Balloon Races - Women|Open to Visitors|Win Svenson 1; Doris Christian 2.|
|Diving Championship - Men| |Ray Bean 1; Bertie Whillier 1.|
|Diving Championship - Woman| |Doris Christian 1; Joan Savage 2.|
|Diving for Visitors - Men| |Fred Svenson 1; Laurie .....? 2.|
|Diving for Visitor Women| |Jean .....? 1; Win Svenson 2.|
|Rescue Race (mixed)| |Bean Harvey and Jean West 1; Ossie Brownlee and Joyce Trimble 2.|
|Underwater Swim - Men| |Bob Woods 1; Reg. Alder 2.|
|Relay Race 100 yards for the Mandelberg Cup| |Audrey Wilkins and John Woods.|
|Peanut Scramble|Open to Visitors|W. Whitney 1.|
|Plunge - Men| |Bertie Whillier 1; Alex. Colley 2.|
|Plunge - Women| |Doris Christian 1; Dot English 2.|
|Breast Stroke - Men| |Brian Harvey 1; Perce Harvey 2.|

====="Hazyblue"=====

====The Story of the Blue of the Mountains.==== 

by Bill Mullins.

Once upon a time ages and ages ago, before the mountains were covered with that mantle of blue we know so well, every tree which grew was of a most exotic colour. Trees of every conceivable shade grew, even black ones and white ones, but yet no one variety was more numerous than another.

Now, in the great forests in the mountains, which you will remember were forests of various coloured trees and quite different from what we know to-day, lived many tiny gnomes and elves. So fond were these tiny creatures of the colourings of the various trees that they decided to form little groups and thereby make allegiance with the particular tree of their fancy. Thus there grew up many groups, as many as there were different kinds of coloured trees. And because of this, there arose between the gnomes and elves a terrible jealousy and they burned with a fearful hatred of each other. It became the sole object of the elves to outstrip the gnomes in the cultivation of the trees under their care and this was a very sad thing, because these little people had been life long friends only to become enemies over the keenness which arose and the feuds which sprang up from their jealous behaviour. Day and night they worked at their trees, transplanting the young, covering any exposed roots, pruning and lopping, and always caring for their trees.

The cheerful amity which had existed between them was gone now and a sourness gradually pervaded their simple little natures. The great forests too seemed to catch something of the unhappy spirit, and it made them moody and sad, just as tbe mountain streams and forest brooks also became sullen and sluggish, losing the spirit of glee and sparkle. So, in this forest world which, had become so sad, even the sun starts and sunbeams could find no flitting shadows or laughing waters to chase or play.

Elves and gnomes lived now only to prolong their unhappiness and widen the breech between themselves - they who had once been firm friends. Joy had gone from their lives. This sad state of affairs meant one thing - that gradually elves and gnomes would wear out their little lives, living and dying in a state of perpetual sourness. 

Now the fairies who watched all this unpleasantness wiih tear laden eyes realised that to end all this stupidity on the part of their little friends they would have to evolve a good scheme, clever, and far reaching in its effects.

The only thing to do, said somebody, was to change the colour of the trees. Do this, and the root cause of their unhappiness would be removed. Fantastic thought - change the colour of the trees! It was a sky fairy who suggested this, a timid little fellow, called by his friends Hazyblue, as fitful and flighty as a light beam.

The older fairies asked very respectfully - they were always full of respect,
even for the fantastic - how this was to be done, because, surely there was no substance, which they knew of, in quantities sufficient for the purpose. The only thing in great quantities which they could handle at all, and which could be used for the purpose, was dust, but this was useless as the rain would wash it off.

How was it to be done, they asked again? Easy it was to devise a scheme but how, how was it to be carried out? Hazyblue, the little sky fairy, told them how he meant to do it, with the aid of all the sky fairics.

Some days before the next full moon, he with as many of his friendb as could come, would ascend to the Milky Way and there, amongst the stars, await the full moon. In the cool of the evening on the day following the full moon, all the sky fairies would endeavour to unravel the maze of stars which held up the sky, the blue sky, in it's silver chain. It would be no easy task, trying to find a way in the labyrinthine tangle of the starry bonds, but, with such a noble cause as theirs, they must succeed. Once the starry bonds were unfastened the rest would be easy. The sky would be theirs - as much blue sky as they could possibly want.

And so the day after the full moon had risen, in the quiet of evening all shot with the glow of a setting sun, the fairies came, bearing down much of the sky before them. It sank down ever so softly, almost imperceptibly, so kindly did the blue mix with the soft shadow of evening, mingling with the trees and floating far down that gulf which is the vastness that lies between the moon and this earth, sifting into the valleys and rolling down the long hill slopes, to become part of the very soul of the mountains.

All night the fairies worked, guided by the light of the friendly moon, so that by sunrise much of their work had been done. Already about half the height of the trees had been changed in colour, only the tops retaining their exotic hues.

Their task ended for the day, the fairies had many laughs as from the tree tops they watched the cranky faces of the little forest men, which changed at times to open mouthed awe at the strange phenomenon that had affected their trees. At times the little people became awfully mixed up, so much so that elves were seen to be tending gnomes' treess and gnomes tending elves' trees. Continually, to avoid such confusion, they would have to peer up into the tree tops in an endeavour to ascertain if they were working on a tree of their allegiance.

So the scheming of the sky fairies went on; the gnomes and elves were really too busy to realise what was taking place and feverishly continued their work, mixed up as it all had become. For a week or more the fairies worked by night until the moon had waned. And then they discovered a wonderful thing. They found that the more sky they pushed down to the forests the deeper was the colour of the sky which came in its place, and the supply seemed limitless. Another month came by and on the full moon the fairies were up amongst the stars again trying to unravel the chain, which, wonderful enough, always fell back inho the same maze, so easy now for them to solve. After two months their work was completed.

As far as they could see, the whole world was blue, a beautiful, soft, friendly blue that seemed to join the earth with the sky - something more beautiful, more wonderful than ever they had dreamed was possible for even fairies to make.

The poor gnomes and elves remained utterly confounded; they could not make it
out at all. As their interest in the trees of their allegiance grew cold so too did the flaming hatred which they bore to each other gradually die. Luckily they must have retained some of their natural good manners and humour for very soon they realised how petty had been their behaviour to one another in the past. Wiser judgment prevailed and, after a great council, elves and gnomes decided to use all their energies in tending all trees with no distincation between them.

Well, it might be asked why it is that even to-day some of the trees are totally different and individual. However, even this wonderful scheme was not permanent, for the elements marked their signs on it effectively. In any storm a lightning blaze easily pierced the blue, perhaps to leave its marks on a silver gum; or again in the coastal forests it was the flame tree that sprang from where the blood red rays of the rising sun peeped over the Pacific shorss to pierce the blue. And a thunder blast perhaps rolled back the blue, allowing a purple storm cloud to lip through and kiss the trees, leaving its mark in purple, just as the sharp showers of singing rain in the days of spring drip through the blue to wash the leaves of the green trees clear again; and the gaunt yellow box gum bears the marks of the yellow orb of the sun which, on those hot, dust-laden days of midsummer, glowers through the heavy dust haze, scorching the very earth itself.

The scheme as you can see, proved by no means permanent, but the fairies had achieved their object in bringing back happiness to the little forest people, and, unwittingly, they have given to men a great joy in the interminable blue of the hills.

And little Hazyblue seems to live still, for who has not seen him dabbling his quick little hands in the star maze of the summer heavens, unravelling the silver chain and joining it up again just for the love of it.

=====Some Lines=====

Found by Stoddy when rambling in the English Lake District.

Written by "A Poet of To-Day".

So follow the road over the hilltop and down,\\
There'll be a meadow and bushland and ridges of brown,\\
There'll be dawns when the earth is aquiver with light,\\
There'll be friendship and laughter and campfires at night,\\
The shine of the mountains, the gleam of a sail\\
And home like a star-- at the end of the trail.

It is rumoured amongst the mugwumps that a certain soup-chewer with a jail-breaker-cum-bucaneer leer and a mobile abdomen has made his last will and schedule. His final instructions to his executors are said to be "See that nothing passes us on the way to the cemetery."

=====Federation News=====
 
Among the interesting matters dealt with by the Federation Council at its long meeting on February 24th - or by its Honorary Secretary in correspondence during the preceding weeks - were the following...

The owner of the land at the junction of the Warragamba and Nepean Rivers was located and has been asked by letter if the camping fees charged are being demanded with his authority, or not.

Mr. S. Merrin of Toowoomba, who recently visited Sydney for the Jamboree and met "The Bushwalker, No.2", applied for and was elected to Associate Membership of tiao Federation.

The Conservation Bureau reported that there is no access to or from Lilyvale Station except on sufferance through private property. It was resolved that the authorities be asked to resume a strip of land to give foot access from the station gate to the Carrington Drive.

The Conservation Bureau also drew attention to the fact that access to the Nenean River from Emu Plains has been closed through the extension of the Prison Farm. Protest has already been made by various local interests, and the Federation decided to support the Blue Mountains Shire in this matter.

The Garawarra Trust has raised the fee for Permissive Occupancies to £2.12.0. p.a. and the casual camping fees to 1/6d per night or 2/- per long week-end. The Bulli Shire representatives on the Trust have given notice of motion for amalgamation with the National Park. The Conservation Bureau was asked to take any steps necessary to oppose any suggestion of fusion with The National Park.

The Conservation Bureau's Report also contained word that the possibility of obtaining Maynard's Farm had been investigated, but they are unwilling to sell or relinquish it in any way.

Mark Foy' s Ballroom has been engaged for Tuesday, August 8th, for the Bushwalker's Ball; Mrs, Hilda Blunt has been appointed Honorary Orgaziiser, and she will be assisted by a Committee composed of representatives of the various affiliated clubs.

Perhaps the most interesting business of the evening was the explanation given personally by Miss Crommelin of her revised plan for a flora and fauna reservation and nature-study library in the Patonga district. She has purchased 6 acres adjoining the present Reserve for Public Recreation and Flora Protection, and intends to establish the library, and a native plant nursery, on this property. From here she will be able to care for the Park to the north-west and replant wherever necessary, and she asked the Federation to support the application which various bodies interested in conservation have made at her suggestion that the portion of the Park lying south of the new road to Patonga be re-dedicated as a Reserve for the Preservation of Australian Flora and Fauna. The Federation decided to support the application as requested, and to write to the Minister for Lands requesting the regazettal of the area and that it be placed under the control of special trustees, one of whom should be Miss Crommelin, and recommending certan matters for inclusion in the rules to be
drawn up for the regulation of the park.

No wonder the Federation's Honorary Secretary, Mr. C.D'A. Roberts, notified the Council that he has resigned from the Trust of Bouddi Natural Park "owing to
pressure of work"! Notification of his resignation was accepted with regret by the Federation Council, which was his nominator, and it was decided to recommend Mr. Oliver Wyndham for appointment as his successor.

At the request of Mr, J. Debert, conveyed by the S.B.W. delegates, the Federation decided to write and congratulate the authorities responsible for making the excellent new foot track from Tallong down Barbers Creek which gives much easier access to that part of the Shoalhaven River.

Also at the request of the S.B.W. delegates, all delegates were asked to bring before the notice of their clubs the fact that the bottle on Clear Hill has been broken and the records it used to contain have disappeared. It is hoped that if sufficient publicity is given to this matter the tracing of the records and their return to Clear Hill may result.

And so ended four hours of solid work by all members of the Federation Council.

=====Club Gossip=====

Ex-President Tom Herbert, who is now President of the Federation, was haled before the Annual Meeting by Retiring-President Maurie Berry, who expressed the appreciation of all of us for the years of splendid work Tom has done for the Club and the Federation. Maurie also presented Tom with a wedding-present from the Club and, on behalf of all members, wished the Herberts long life and happiness. In replying, Tom said that - as a good gas man - he would probably have to learn from "electricity engineer Debert" how to use tie electric reading lamp --- and then he went home without the bulb!

Of course Scotty Malcolm was down from Newcastle District for the Re-Union, but we learned to our sorrow that he has now been transferred to Grafton, and will be away off there permanently. We hope there is lots of good walking country round Grafton. If Ian finds it, and lets his S.B.W. pals know of it, the people of that district will be opening their eyes at parties of bushwalkers carrying huge holiday packs.

There was a Re-Union, so, of course, the Rootses left Brisbane and came to Sydney for their annual holidays, the whole family of them. They arrived in time to attend the Annual Meeting (where Wal. was soon working hard as a Scrutineer) and spent a week gadding about Sydney seeing various of their old friends before heading for the Mountains once more. Alas that they had to return to Brisbane before Easter!

=====Final Reminder=====

It Intending students are reminded that the **First Aid class** starts on __Wednesday 12th April__, and will be held at the __George Street North Ambulance Station__. It will last for ten Wednesdays and will cover the usual St. John's Ambulance First Add Course, plus some additional instruction to meet the needs of bushwalking. The fee is the usual Five Shillings (5/-) and in addition each student will need an instruction book and a triangular bandage.

Those interested in this class should enrol at once with Mouldy -- Mr. L.G. Harrison to the uninitiated.

====Velan Proofing====

Have you heard of Velan proofing? It is the latest triumph of the chemist. Proofing renders fabrics water resisting, without making them air tight or altering the feel. This of course is achieved by a number of processes, but the extraordinary thing about the Velan process, is that the treated fabric may be washed, boiled or dry cleaned without affecting the water resisting qualities of the material.

Velan treated material is thus suitable for shower proof clothing such as lumber jackets.

Paddy has Velan proofed Japara in a Khaki colour. In a short while, navy blue and natural will be added to the range. The cloth may be bought by the yard (2/9) or made up into jackets or what you will.
====Midget Tent.====

Paddy has a new tent to show you. It is no roomy mansion, but rather an improved waterproof sleeping bag. A miniature proofed tent with a sewn in floor or a proofed sleeping bag with a ridge cord in the roof, as you will. It is designed for him who camps by himself. Weight is less than.2 1/4 lbs. for tent and sewn in groundsheet.

F A Pallin,

327 George Street, Sydney (opp. Palings)

Phone: B3101.

=====At Our Annual Meeting=====

About a hundred members attended the Eleventh Annual Meeting -- at least, there were 94 there while the Minutes of the last one were being read, and after that our reporter was kept too busy to count the late arrivals.

It addition to --

Adopting the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st January, 1939, as sent to all members;

Electing Officers, Committee, and Honorary Auditor as listed on the back page of this month's "Sydney Bushwalker";

and Making two Alterations to the Constitution in the terms of the Notices of Motion given:

the meeting on 10th March, 1939 ---

Welcomed two New Members - Miss Astrid Lansberg and Mr. John Harvey;

On the nomination of Mr. Ossie Brownlee (retiring Room Steward) elected Mr. Maurie Berry (retiring President) to be Room Steward for the ensuing month;

Heard Jack Debert announce that the Re-Union would be held the following day, and Sunday, regardless of the weather (which was still foul);

Resolved that the **Annual Subscription** should again be Ten Shillings (10/-) and the Entrance Fee 2/6d; (Yes, all Subscriptions are now due, and Ron. Eddes is the man who is issuing receipts this year).

Learned that the Melbourne Walking Club's hut on Mt. Donna Buang had been burned down in the recent bushfires, when the picture of The Blue Gum Forest presented to them by the S.B.W. was also destroyed; and resolved to replace this picture.

The meeting also resolved to send "The Bushwalker, No.1" and "No.2" to The Alpine Club of Canada, from whom the S.B.W. had received "The Canadian Alpine Journal", a very fine publication.

From the Correspondence members present learned that --

Arthur Salmon is visiting New Zealand, and Barry Lee is sp6hding his holidays in Hobart, and other parts of Tasmania;

that Cora Dunphy is once more a member of the Club, but Don. Peterson has resigned, and so has Kath. Mackay, who is now living in Townsville, while Les. Douglas, now of Brisbane has been transferred to the Non-Active Members' List. Another old friend, Bill Chambers, who has been in bad health for some years is now well along the road to strength and happiness again, and has rejoined the Club as a Non-Active Member. Later he hopes to be able to transfer to the Active List. This is good news.

From the Federation Report it was learned that two of the Trustees of Garawarra Park have given Notice of Motion that at the next meeting of the Trust they intend to move that the Garawarra Park be fused with The National Park.

The Meeting was unanimous that everything possible must be done to prevent such a fusion; there was considerable discussion as to ways and means, and it
was resolved THAT letters be written to the Trustees and to the Minister for Lands protesting against the proposed merger, THAT the letters be sent to the Federation, and THAT the Federation be asked to forward them on if thought advisable. The bushwalkers' representation on the Garawarra Park Trust is only 2 out of 7 although but for the bushwalkers there would have been no park, but on The National Park Trust their representation is none out of seventeen.

The election of the Social Committee and the consideration of the proposed reservation on Heathcote Creek were left to the General Committee for attention, and the meeting closed at 10.50 p.m.


====From "Death Comes for the Archbishop" by Willa Cather;====

"When they left the rock or tree or sand dune that had sheltered them for the night, the Navajo was careful to obliterate every trace of their temporary occupation. He buried the embers of the fire and the remnants of food, unpiled any stones he had piled together, filled up the holes he had scooped in the sand. Since this was exactly Jacinto's procedure, Father Latour judged that, just as it was the white man's way to assert himself in any landscape, to change it, make it over a little (at least to leave some mark or memorial of his sojourn), it was the Indian's way to pass through a country without disturbing anything; to pass and leave no trace, like a fish through the water, or birds through the air.

"......They spent their ingenuity in other directions - in accommodating themselves to the scene in which they found themselves.

"......The land and all that it bore they treated with consideration; not attempting to improve it, they never desecrated it."

====From "The Rue-sac" Vol.4 No.1 - the magazine of The Ruc-Sac Club of Wellington, New Zealand;====

"There is something to marvel at in the glories of Nature, and in the crass stupidity of men....."
This writer was referring to the actions of white man.

=====Re-Union 1939=====

Using Jack Debert as a loud speaker, the Re.Union Committee announced that the 1939 Re-Union was "going to be __different__", and the sound of that announcement was heard even beyond the ends of the earth.

Now, when the members of the S.B.W. received the word that the Re-Union would be held at "Morella-karong" on March 11th and that it was going to be "different", many of them shook their heads sadly and felt that the Re-Union Committee was right, for there would certainly be no swimming, and probably no washing, and maybe a good deal of trouble in getting drinking-water, for all the creeks of the district had stopped running weeks before, and the drought still persisted....

Far off, in a cool grove of the distant heavens, reclined the ancient, and honoured god whom the old Romans worshippd as Jupiter Pluvius. To him, thin and clear, came Debert's voice announcing that "the 1939 Re-Union is going to be __different__", and the god smiled to himself at the effrontery of men, those puny creatures who told themselves, and each other, that they could arrange their own affairs t could organise things that would be "entertaining", or "improving", or just "different". And the great god was vastly amused by the antics of mankind. Then again the thin, clear voice reached his ears, and the Rain God thought -

"It is marvellous for a man's voice to carry to the outermost ends of the heavens. He must be a great man whose voice carries so far; it would be a pity if so great a man were made to look foolish in the eyes of his friends; the 1939 Re-Union SHALL be 'different'."

And the great god having spoken, of course it __was__ different....

There was a time when many millions of Mighty Myuna Men, and their friends and relations, lived in the Sydney district and worked and played and made beautiful the land by carving high cliffs and deep gorges and decorating the gullies with lovely pools and sparkling creeks. Then came Man and built a great city at Sydney, and in their leisure time many of the men and women of Sydney enjoyed the beauties made by the Myuna Men and their friends and relations; and the Myuna folk explored the great city and discovered the marvels of civilization, and learned from the radio and the telegraph and the newspapers what Men were doing throughout the world - to each other and to the world.

And there came a time when the many millions of Mighty Myuna Men grew disgusted with Men and their ways, and so decided to leave the world and go to the farthest ends of the heavens to the home of the Rain God.

So Drought took possession of all the land, for there were no Myuna Men to oppose him, and the people began to groan and to long for rain, but no rain came; and the creeks and river dried up and the land was parched; and the bushfires came and devastated the land, but still the Myuna Men, and their friends and relations, stayed happily in the home of the Rain God.

Then, there came a day when Queen Asyouwere, the lovely ruler of the Myuna Men, said to her people -

"Lo, I breathe an elusive aroma of marmite and milk, and other things.

From a great distance, even from our far homeland, there is wafted to me an invitation from The Sydney Bush Walkers to visit their campsite at 'Morella-karong' again and there hold a great Re-Union of the Mighty Myuna Men. What say you, my people, shall we go there and re-une?"

And some of the people asked, "What is a Re-Union?"

Then some of the three million mighty Myuna Men who had accompanied their queen Asyouwere to an S.B.W. Re-Union two years before replied,

"At a Re-Union many old friends meet and talk of happy times they have spent together; they re-une lovingly, and greet Dawn, and make dampers." As they finished speaking, many of the younger Myuna Men cried,

"Lot us all go and re-une; We'll show them how to make things damper!"

So many millions and millions of Mighty Myuna Men, and their friends and relations, came pouring from the outermost ends of the heavens to re-une at "Morella-karong" and to compete with each other to see who was the best damper-maker. They all had such a wonderful time re-une-ing and making things damper, and damper still, and still damper, that they were even to busy to hail Dawn the first time she came to the Re-Union. And each morning they were having a better, and damper, time and Dawn slipped into camp unnoticed, and unhailed, so they kept on extending and extending the Re-Union until the S.B.W.'s began to get very worried. They thought these guests of theirs were staying so long that "Morella-karong" would be so crowded with Mighty Myuna Men that there would be no room for S.B.W's....

But again Debert spoke, and said - "The Re-Union will be held regardless of the weather!" And the Rain God heard him, and told the Mighty Myuna Men it was time they stopped re-une-ing and went about their work, so they rose like mists and floated away on the clouds, leaving a spotless and green campsite for the 1939 ReUnion.....

The many S.B.W's who packed as the rain still fell, and told themselves that there would probably be only about thirty at the Re-Union, and it would probably be fairly sloppy and uncomfortable, but they were not going to miss it, found Myuna Creek running, plenty of clean drinking-water, lots of water to wash in, and even enough in the pool for swimming - and the Sunday was so hot they were all glad to swim.

Some members "squibbed it" and have been kicking themselves ever since,
but the official count at the campfire was 120, and the total attendance including those who came down on the Sunday was 130 members and past-members, 10 children, and 4 visitors.

As secretary of the organising committee, Jack Debert was a very busy man for the whole week-end, and noticeably quiet. 0n Saturday afternoon he had the boys all working, collecting firewood, building the ceremonial fire, and setting
the stones in the circle that marks the Place of Re-Union Campfires past, present, and to come.

With a well-built pile of wet wood to ignite, electricity sales dropped
to zero, and the ceremonial lighting was performed very effectively and spectacularly by the four marching torch-bearers who blew the flames of their kerosene flares on to the central pyre.

Soon came the call for all those members elected since last Re-Union; followed shortly by the announcement that they had unanimously offered themselves as subjects for the new "compatibilometer" machine, which had not yet been fully tested. The machine proved a great success, providing much fun, and showing that it, or its operators, really knew the individuals whose history or characteristics it told. This ceremony ended, from the outskirts came the faint cry of a young baby, which was recognised as the voice of John Lonsdale Berry, and the machine did a spot of prophesying, claiming this young man as a "Future Pres.".

When the time came for the inauguration of Richard Croker as President for 1939/1940, he was invested with a new and very handsome set of Badges of Office, which Harry Savage had carved from horn and presented to the Club.

Last year we had a pre-arranged entertainment; this year's campfire had more the spirit of a corroboree and was made up of a well-balanced mixture of rehearsed and unrehearsed items, among the former being the one serious, and outstanding, performance - "The Spirit of Garawarra".

Congratulations are also due to performers and organisers for the "Strong Man" circus turn given by Max Gentle and his assistants.

Another old member who has been hiding his light under a bushel is Myles Dunphy. The organising committee also dragged him into the open, and when Myles finished playing his mouth-organ loud were the cries for more, and still more of his very pleasing music.

Among the unrehearsed items, the hit of the evening was the serial of "the South Sea Adventures of Gussie Guzzleguts and the lovely Malola" as told by
Tom Herbert, Bill Milling, Val Roots, Gordon Pritchard, and Ray Been. 'Nuff said!

Gordon and Ray were also in excellent form when they presented "A Day in the Life of the Dictators".

These highlights were interspersed with songs, choruses, rounds, etc., and then came another highlight. This year the Committee provided cakes as well as COCOA for supper.

About mid-night, when folk were moving round a bit, and even thinking of going to bed, down came a smart shower to make up their minds for them, but it did not last long, and soon the "tuff" remnant were noisily playing rockets, zulus, and trains... Gradually this noise subsided and the sounds of Taro's piccolo and quiet singing were heard again. Gradually more and more tents and sleeping-bags were filled, till only a handful of die-bards "greeted Dawn".

Came the sun, and heat, and the folk from the morning trains; swimming, and the Damper Competition, which was won by Roxy Barrett. That's why she can no longer wear any of her old hats,so, you other married men, be warned and don't let __your__ wives enter for any competitions.

=====Erratum=====

====March Issue, Page 7. Line 3.====

"Lannigan's and Matheson's Creeks" __should have read__ "Landrigan's and Matheson's Creeks."

__Landrigan's Creek__, sometimes called "Hanrahan's Creek", rises between Rocky Top and Roly Whalan's Hut, and comes in on the LEFT bank of the Kowmung River about a mile above Misery Ridge.

__Lannigan's Creek__, - mentioned 14 lines from the bottom of Page 7 - rises to the south of Colong Caves, and comes in on the RIGHT bank of the Kowmung River a little above Billy's Creek, and about 12 miles below Landrigan's Creek.

=====From Here, There, And Everywhere=====

This feature has had to be omitted this month; it has been literally
squeezed out by local news, but we hope next issue to publish some very interesting extracts from some of the magazines we receive from other clubs. During the past three or four weeks the S.B.W. has received all of the following, and they are now in the Club Library:-

"Into the Blue", No.12 --- from The Coast & Mountain Walkers, Sydney;

"The Aborigines' Protector", June,1938, and January, 1939 --- from the Association for the Protection of Native Races, Sydney;

"Bulletin", January,1939 -- from Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Washington, D.C.;

"Bulletin" Jan-Feb-March, 1939 - Mountain Club of Maryland, Baltimore, U.S.A.;

Schedules for Nov. 1938, Dec. 1938, and Jan-Feb-Mar 1939, from the Hiking Trips
Bureau, Ho-ho-kus, N.J. (which seems to be part of New York);

"The Canadian Alpine Journal", 1937 -- from The Alpine Club of Canada, Banff; 

"Ladies' Alpine Club", 1939 -- from The Ladies' Alpine Club, London.

(Both the alpine journals contain marvellous photographs as well as articles.)

Two magazines that come regularly from Wellington, N.Z., are "The Tararua Tramper", and "The Ruc-sac".

=====Office-Bearers 1939/1940=====

|__President__|Richard Croker.|
|__Vice-Presidents__|Jack Debert and L. G. Harrison (Mouldy)|
|__Hon.Secretary__|Tom Moppett|
|__Hon. Assistant Secretary__|Jean Trimble.|
|__Hon. Treasurer__|Ron. Eddes.|
|__Hon. Walks Secretary__|Bill Hall.|
|__Hon. Social Secretary__|Edna Garrad.|
|__Committee__|Clare Kinsella, Anne Bransdon; Brian Harvey, Tim Coffey|
|__Trustees__|Maurie Berry, Dorothy Lawry, Joe Turner.|
|__Delegates to the Federation__|Alex.Colley, Brian Harvey, Tom Herbert and (from August, 1939) Dorothy Lawry.|
|__Delegates to the Parks & Playgrounds Movement of N.S.W.__|Hilda Blunt and Grace Edgecombe.|
|__Honorary Auditor__|Harold Chardon.|

=====Alterations to the Constitution=====

Made at the Eleventh Annual Meeting - 10th March, 1939.

__Section 9, Committee__: Delete Sub-section BB, and replace with the following:-

__Sub-Section BB-__

There shall also be elected at the Annual General Meeting, delegates to the N.S.W. Federation of Bushwalking Clubs. Such delegates shall act during the Federation's year and two of them, who are not already members of the General Committee, shall be selected by the Meeting to take their places as members of the General Committee at the commencement of the Federation year and shall continue thereon until the end of the Federation's year. In addition to ordinary members of the Club, any office bearer or committeeman shall be eligible for election as delegate to the Federation.

__Section 12, Finance.__ The following is the new wording of --

__Sub-Section (a)__

An account shall be opened in the name of the Club at some suitable banking house, and the President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, or any two of them shall jointly operate on same, provided that the signature of any of the above officers shall be sufficient endorsement for cheques paid in to the Club's banking account. A  financial statement shall be presented to the Committee monthly.