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) Tri., SYDNEY BUSHWALKER A monthly Bulletin devoted to matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, 5, Hamilton Street, Sydney. No. 66. Price 3d. 31Thff, -.0.-WriN-W-111,1… 19400 'V - – , ,WMP Editor: Dorothy Laary. , Business hianager: Max Swift. Duplicator and Art: Mary Stoddart. Publication) Doreen Harris and Jessie Martin. Staff. ) Bill Mullins and Arthur Salmon,
C 0 N T E N T SL Our Photographers 000 by I.A.B. … Page 1. I Bead My “Bushwalker” … by Ray Bean 00* 1, 3. The Club Library 00* 000 Paddy's Advertisement … … Federation Notes .. … “ 5. Down Canberra day … by “Le Lapin Noir”… ”
U.
“Highlights” sponsored by Stephenson & Bird … Ii9.
Birds by Wills River … Extract 0 It 10.
Stinshxda 'et Tatiti*ts'Chute -Gamp. … “ 11.
At uCturr lawri ille et ing V V … ” 12.
Club Gossip 0100 *00 “ 12.
OUR. PHOTOGRPLPHERS.
by I.A.B.
Did you see the Bushwalkers' Photographic Salon an Friday the 26th of April last
If you didn't* then you missed one of the events of the year and something really out of the Box.
None of us had ever before realized that there were so many photographers stalking about in our midst with weapons at the ready not mere shutterbugs but real photographers. It makes one rather afraid to bring prints into the Club now, lest those who look at them have been practising the vice secretly and think inwardly that they have much better ones at home which they didn't think worthwhile bringtng in. It is however, to be hoped that the Salon will not have this effect on Bushwalkers, and I don't for a moment think that it will since hard struggles up precipitous slopes, down precipitous slopes and through thorny bushes have made them impervious to discouragement of any kind and this is example rather than discouragement. The effect which the Salon really should have is to give Club photographers a good deal more confidence in their work than they had hitherto, but at the same time to mnke them realize that it is not enough merely to click the shutter nt what they cCtnsider to be a pretty view in order to get a photograph which their friends will gaze upon enviously and which will give them a deep inward sense of something achieved.
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Pictures came out for the Salon like rats to the Pied Piper. There were big pictures and little pictures) old pictures and new pictures, long pictures and short pictures, square pictures and oblong pictures, flat pictures and contrasty pictures, coloured pictures and plain pictures, toned pictured and black-and-white pictures, pictures by mail and pictures by women, mounted pictures and unmounted pictures, pictures of girls and pictures of boys, pictures of hills and pictures of streams; in short, all sorts of pictures. And everyone who brought in pictures helped to make the Salon the great success which it undoubtedly was.
Many of the photos were gems from collections made over a number of years and which there had been no opportunity of exhibiting before, but a
very substantial number of them were pictures which had been taken during the 2 past twelve months or so. At any rate, it is clear that the output of members is such that a Salon can become an annual event. Club members should, therefore, go right ahead with theproduction of masterpieces, aiming at having a sufficient number of them on hand by the time of the next Salon to be well re pre sented
But the photographers of the Club are not going to be satisfied with doing nothing more than holding a Salon once every twelve months with a period of dead silence it between. A number of photographic walks have been arranged so that photographers will have the opportunity of practising their art together and lenrning from one another; it is also hoped that small shows can be held every few months for the exhibition of photos token on photographic walks, and of other current work. Club members who are interested are urged to keep in touch with members of the Photographic Committee and to make suggestions, so that their particular needs will bo fully catered for.
And so we progress.
….. MM..
I inhale great draughts of space,
The east and the west are mine,- and the north and the south aro minor'
I am largert better than I thought,
1 did not know I hold so much goodness. All seems beautiful to ma.
—— Walt Whitman'
.CANGMZU_LkTIOPS
To our President and Marjorie on the birth of their daught Sarah Diana Croker, on May 10th.
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LP MY *BUSHWALKSR”.
by Ray Bean.
I read my “Sydney Bush walkerhir, ands in 1938* I found amongst its pages of fantasy* fact* and humour these gems of imaginative thought.
“Some days when I become a little more articulate I will endeavour to describe the beauty of the Cox in poetry….
The leaders were always Gordon smith and somebody.
David Stead. “82 Miles in Two Days.” January11938.
“The only difference between us and ordinary madmen is that we know we are mad… ”…How terrible to contemplate a society where everyone was sane and orthodox:”
Marie Biles. Editorial. February, 1938.
”.. his boots are size 12y almost big enough for young Bruce to sleep in. “ .. as brightly coloured as Christmas apples
unnazine a 50.1b. pack dry and then imagine it wet. Hell: said the Duchess:”
Dot. English. “Bush Vialkers in Na.”. Februarys 1938.
*.. within two shakes of an unfolded tent 11.40 the time flew by like the distance…“
Jack Debert “Wading Harry's River.” February* 1938.
21 it is twenty miles to the nearest tree probably it was to provide shade that he grew a moustache.”
“Firelight”. Campfire Chatter. February* 1938.
“The heat doesn't come from just the one small sun in that blue expanses it floods down from the pitiless spaces above.”
grazer Ratcliffe. “Gentle Art of Hitch Hiking!' Aprils1938. *Having no men in the party* swimming was a very convenient matter.”
Edna Garrad “Tramping on Tourist Tracks.” May11938. *How old. were you when you took up walking?“ “About 12 months I expect-”
“Judex”. “The Ph ar Lap of the Bush Walkers”Mays1938 “It scrambled up with no grace and a few grunts…”
Clare Kinsella. “Tiger for a Day:” Julys1938.
“Oh, how I hate the race of packs: I'd like to hit mine with an axe.
And does it feed upon the air, That it grows daily heavier? *006
Grace Edgecombe. “Hymn of Hate”. Ju1y,1938
'“They clambered up into a land bereft of landmark, time, and firm reality es611
Dorothy Lawry, “May se”.” December, 1938.
“The pack may seem a heavy curse,
To be without one would be worse: seas”
“Tuggie”. “In Defence of the Pack.” August, 1938.
“He had really walked 100 miles in 24 hours in the early days. ae were surprised that he had lost his reason so early.”
Alex Colley. “Debert's Last Walk*” August, 1938.
THM CLUB LIBRARY.
The Club Library contains a complete set of “The Sydney Bushwalker”. We hope some of our readers will follow Ray Bean's example.
The Librarian (“Dunk”) hopes that some other Club Members will follow Jack Manson's example. He has just given the Library the following books:-
“Secret Harbour” — Stewart Edward White,
“On Tiptoe” .4.0111.
“Sack of Beyond” —
It SI II
It
“Masqueraders” — Georgette Meyer,
“Sportsmen's Annual”, 1938, “Sportsmen's Annual”, 19$9. Many thanks, Jack.
There %re some books in the library that are only for reference, but most of them can be borrowed for the large sum of Id per book per week. de mention this in case the newer ambers don't know it.
WINTERDW1521.0
Yes they are (or should we say it doss.) It is good to feel the cool breeze and to snuggle in a hOdle round the cheery camp fire. Then after songs have been sung and yarns told, it is good to wriggle into your “Faddymade” and team a deep draught of dreamless slumber.
But maybe other draughts come to worry you and you begin to wonder if your sleeping bag is as good as of yore. Perhaps years of hard wear and constant compne ression have knocked some of the stuffing out of ybur bag. That's to be done? Paddy can fix it of course. Extra down costs 1/3 per oz. Putting it in costs 3/-8 4Zze. is often sufficient but 8 ozs. works wonders. So if the bleak breezes blow bitingly (say it aloud 3 times) fetch your sleeping bag into Paddy and have it fixed up.
By the bye, Paddy gets bags dry cleaned. This fluffs them up and revives the warmth. (4/-).
Paddy Pallin
327 George Street,
'Phone B 3101. sXPAKt. (opp. Palings ).
Ylf
FEDERATION NUMB.
The Federation has decided to hold a Photographic Competition and Exhibition, so watch out for details. The closing date for thenCompetition is to be July 31st, but the results will not be announced, nor the Exhibition of Entries held, until the first week in October so that if any of the entries are also being published in “The Bush Walker” they will not be on show until after they have appeared in “No. 4”.
sub-committee has boon appointed to arrange rules and other details for the conduct of inter-club Debates. The convenor is Oliver Wyndham and the other members are Miss Agnes Miller, and Messrs. Hilary Jackson and –(?) Green.
In April George Loddr was appointed convenor of the Federation's Publicity Bureau in place of Horrie Salmon, who had resigned when he enlisted in the Air Force, As Horns was still roaming around Hyde in May when George vent intb Militia Camp, the ne* convenor thought it would be a good idea to get the old convenor to act for him - but what about the nice holiday Horrie was having from all official duties? A well-earned rest it was too:
The Publication Committee is asking for contributions to this year's “Bush Walker”, and they are all Wanted before the end of June. You can hand your picture, article or poem to Tom Herbert, thegditor, pr 'Mouldy”, who is the Advertising Manager and also accepts paid contributions from advertisers.
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DOWN MtpERRA WAY.
by. “Le Lapin Noire.
It was a fine sight on the night of Easter Thursday to see the “Tigers” getting into a luxurious limousine and an elegant motor coach at N0.5 Hamilton Street. The limousine went north, the motor coach south. It kept on going south, hour after hour. By midnight it was at Goulburn. At 2 a m0 it was navigating its way through Canberral and at 3 a m. it pulled up near the Cotter Dam and We turned out to sleep on the fallen autumn leaves. Three hours' sleep and we were up again and eating.
Breakfast over, we decided to look at the dam, 400 yards along the road, so we got into our motor coach and were driven up to it and back again l Then we set off for Mount Franklin, with a stop for sight-seeing at Mount Aggie. By 11 o'clock we arrived at the Mount Franklin Chalet, and soon afterwards we started off to-Ginini Creek –all-so clean and so fresh.
e
Down me ,went into the'g ullywhe. hfire had been., through the thin,
twisted, blackened undergrowth, over..b oulders.6.driage4 skidding on steep creek banks. Lunch -amidst the tall timber, then on to Ginini'ail A 600 ft e climb down a 45 degreey loose, shalyDgountain,- but it wauld:beeall right at the bottom anyone could see from the top that it would be easy going, and only
two miles to the Cotter River, which was delightful. The charcoal thickened, the banks becme steeper. The party strung out. Some went singly, some formed small, muttering groups* At times they would look up and exclaim in wonder at the scenery. Most of their exclamations began with a “b”. Two hours from the
falls and we came to the Cotter River. Soon we would camp, on those delightful. grassy flats that were just around the bend. Another hour's struggle, and we came to the flat. “Ma!, we camp” “N4 says the black rabbit, 'we have not gone far enough. There are plenty more flats.” The banks close in, the undergrowth thickens. The only place to walk is the river bed.
(N.B. The Canlyerra people are drinking this water about now. ) We put our
heads down and burrow when we don't wade, Darkness is closing in. From the midst of a dense, blackened thicket comes cLcry, “We'll camp here. You pull out the dead shrubs, and chuck auv a few of the rocks, Bill, and I'll move some of the logs. Aren't We lucky to find a spot like this” There was no Rudible cogmont. This was because most of us were too far behind to make our opinions heard.
The stars are just fading, a fire sparkles up. “All up”, says a sympathetic voice. Nothing happens. Another voice breaks the silence, “Git arp,” - and we get upo We swallow our breakfast and head into the scrub again. In a couple of hours wo shall came to Kangaroo Creek, the start of the mally good open country. Two hours later and tho charcoal babies still fight on, steep, fire swept mountains on either side, burnt trees as far as the eye can see on bare, shaly hillsides. Another two #purs, and Kangaroo Creek is still around the bond. We ceet on a blackened flat. The black rabit maliciously desceites the beauties of the scenery in 1937.. Soon after lunch we come to that miserable watercourse Kangaroo Creek, and –there is only another 12 miles to go to the Cotter Homestead, where we camp. At four miles an hour, without rests, we should make it easily. As we walk, the distance we have to go lengthens and contracts in an odd manner. At times we don't seem to be making any progress at all, but at other times we cover two miles or so in about five minutes. Perhaps we wore unconscious part of tho time.
At last ve are out of the fire area. Steep banks and rocks give way to long flats, covered in brown Kangaroo Grass, and surrounded by black and white ash trees ( the Black Ash looked dark green to us). The clear Cotter winds around the flats. The sun is pleasantly warm, and the air light and dry. We have just covered two miles in five minutes and feel a bit better. But the black is pointing upwards at a stee* angle. “That is where we go tomorrow,” says ho4 The hardier ones looked up and winced, The rest of us were afraid to look up.
Towards evening we came to a wide flat surrounded by great, rounded mountains, capped with bare grey granite, shining in the light of the setting sun. A two-roomed homestead with red doors nestled in the ash trees by the river bank: Some horses were grazing on the flat. They were the only domestic animals we saw an the Cotter, that is why the grass on the naturally clear flats was so long and so even. Up here there were no burnt trees, no trace of the axe.
Next morning we got up 2, 412, early. We had to climb Bimberi ( the native nee for Everest), de started off through tall mountain ash treesotraight up for nearly a thousand feet, then along a gently sloping, winding ridge 9 then up anothar steep pinch through dense, low undergrowth and we emerged on to tussocky snow-grass and snow gums near the top, Up a gradual slope to the trig. station, and we take a look around at mountains, valleys, high plains and more mountains. On the southern skyline is Mount Jagungal, and beyond more high mountains, perhaps Kosciusko.
de pick our way down through the granite boulders on the other side of the mountain. This is new country to all of us the part we had been warned might be really tough, Oa travel by a 10-mile-to-ithe-inch &hap which is largely white sppeess, A long debate as to bur route took place on the way down and differencee were resolved by striking an average and going that way. Our spirits rose when we came to a clear trickle of water and a track: Soon after lunch we crossed a creek and came to a house, Differences of opinion again arose, and we divided into mall bewildered groups, After a lot of shouting contact was established and we were on another tr=k, We got instructions from the house. They directed us to CurrangoramblaStation. We followed the instructions according to cur interpretation and arrived at “The Pockets”. 116 were pleased to find out that had we gone to Currangorambla we would have been 6 miles out of our way.
little later we were walking along a. long, narrow, sunlit plain. A stockman appeared in the distance cantering towards us, two dogs running alongside his horse0 Be turned out to be Tam Taylor, looking very clean and neat, wearing a blue shirt to match his blue eyes and rod cheeks. Ho directed us through a maze
of fences, rocks g creeks, beehives, etc., to Peppercorn Hill, We wore disappointed when we had to leave Tom, whose fund of anecdotes is famous Another half hour and, as the sun cot, we were speeding over Caves Creek, past an unearLhly
6 looking limestone gorge and the Blue Pool we just had time to turn our heads to see whore the Blue Pool would be if we had tine to go and look at it): We camped that night by a,waterhola near Coolaman House.
It was cheering to know that we mere only an hour and a half behind schedule, and everyone got up oven earlier than usual. Geoff had drawn us amap of this part of the country. Several sausages showed whore tho hills lay 0 geographers might well use the sausage as a topographical symbol, it is ranch superits to hairy caterpillars and black snakes). Wo sped on, spurred by the
alarming manner in which our destination seemed to oscillate backwards and forwards according to local and official estimates of the distance. For some time the place seemed to be gaining on us. de met a chap in a sulky, but he was a stranger to the country, k little later a horseman galloped up behind us. He' had come specially to tell us not to follow the sulky's tracks because the chap in it as lost and we might have biased a branch of the track. This horseman was a real friend and came with us for nearly a mile to show us the turn off, carrying one of the girls' packs on his back. He gave us the good news that we had only ten miles to go.
After lunch the track was all downhill. Six miles down the track we met another horseman. “How are you going?” p says he, “Good-oh”, we replied.
You've got 18 miles to go yet.” “Ah, no our motor coach will be waiting for us 4 miles away. ” “Yes, but the motor coach is stuck up on top of the mountain, it can't get down.”
We arrived at our destination right on schedule, but the motor coach didn't. It remained on top of the mountain eleven miles way ( or 14 “bush miles”). Tile grin left the face of the black rabbit. Somehow we all
arrived at the coach by 9 a mo, mostly by a car which we hired in the valley. One superman walked all the way.
Three hours later, and for the second time on the trip, we were in Goulburn after midnight, looking for food. Only one cafe showed a light. We went to the door, which was closed. Through the glass door we could see 20 or 30 people chewing steadily. We knocked and some looked up, de made more noise and they all looked up, their jaws moving tytbmically. The more voracious of the party started gnawing the woodwork -and this brought out the proprietor. His palms turned upwards, his shoulders lifted and his head fell to one side, I am feeneeshed.” But there would be something left at the railway. So we drove round, bought platform tickets, a nd ate.
The sun was lighting up the clouds as we drove up Po-rrama tta Road to Central Railway Station. Neil, our driver, cheered up. Those buildings p weren't they good? Trees, trees, he didn't know there were so many.
This morning we didn't got up, de Just changed and went to work.
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11. 71
sponsored by
SE..P.HENSOR_ & BIRD.
Opticians, Optometrists and Orthoptists.
MOtrie N. Stephenson A.S.T.C.(Dip.Opt.) F.I.O.
PTVE.L.,IIION OF SFECTICIES.
There is no certainty as to the name of the inventor of spectacles or the date of the invention.
The claim can be narrowed to three persons – Salvinus d'Armatus, klexander de Spina and Roger Bacon, and the date to sometime near 1300 A.D.
Evidence seems to favour the claim of A. de Spina who lokbakitd. assistance from Bacon's theoretical knowledge and the date of his invention is about 1285.
Bacon published his 'Opus Major' in 1266 and suggested the use of lenses as an aid to vision, and de Spins, is known to have had access to this volume. Furthermore Friar Jordon a monk of Pisa stated in 1305 that - “it is harely twenty ye ars since the art of making ape ctacle s was invented -I have ray-self seen and spoken to the man who first made them” - and he alluded to de Spina who visited that mo 'nasty in. 1285.
The claim in favour of Armatus for the invention of spectadles is based on one statement only, the epitaph on a tomb – “Here lies Salvinus d'A.rmatus
of the Armati of Florence. Inventor of Spectacles. God pardon him for his sins. A.D. 1317.
This is apparently an unsupported claim and it is believed that Armatus was a spectacle maker although not the inventor of spectacles.
There is no evidence to support the statement, but it has been suggested that ape etacles were never discovered in Europe, but the idea was simply imported from China. This- is upheld on the grounds that William of Rubruckis “Itinerarium” was accessabl'e to Roger Bacon, who copied the idea of a spectacle therefrom* This suggestion is quite fictitious and unsubstantiated. The earliest authoritative reference is made by Marco Polo who was in China about 1368, when he briefly rentioned that old. people need lenses to read fine print 1.1 a custom by that time not uncommon in Europe*
*Phones B. 1438 ACB 4406.
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BIRDS BY WItiLS largE4_01pamou
An Extract from “I find Australia” by Wm, Hatfield (Our copy S.B.W. Library)
The bird-life along that river counted for more than mere food, though in
a yarn of the practical side of life like this I can put food first. Even budding authors have to eat. But it was wonderful to be wakened by that marvellous bird-chorus in the mornings. Before the galahs began their screeching preparatory to their morning aerobatics over the tree-tops as a pipe-opened for their long flight out over the plains, the butbher-birds gave out their clear sweet call, on surely the most beautiful notes in the range of music.
have heard the lark, the thrush, and blackbird, the linnets and reed Varblers and the far-famed nightingale, but I award the palm to the Australian butcher…bird. And he is a friendly cuss. A bit of meat thrown near the hut
will bring him close, and he will sit on the bough to which he takes it to eat and sing to you for your thoughtfulness. When he has gorged his fill he takes the meat just the same and skewers it on the end of a twig o But if any other bird thinks he has gone away and forgotten it, let it look out A crow's superior weight will not allow him to get away with that sort of thing.
And the magpies. You warm to the magpie for his husky attempt to emulate his near kinsman. He sounds just like a butcher-bird with a bad attack of laryngitis, finding out the hash he is making of it then turning it to burlesque of himself. But he can become a nuisance if you leave a bit of flesh on a hide you have pegged out. That bit of flesh must come off, no m atte'r how much you valuable hide suffers in the process.
Butcherbirds warbling their throaty, flute-like song, magpies chortling back at them in derisioh, ga/ahs screeching above the trees and down at the edge of the waterhole, pigeons cooing and yodelling back in the scrub on their dainty approach towards the water, big white cockatoos and cheeky corellas putting in their harsh screams, and little quarrion parrots and budgerigars whirring past the window with their trilling chorus, croak of a flight of pelicans or herons winging high along the river – who wouldn't get up fooling ho could write, with an nlarum clock like that outside and a smiling bride within? I felt I had everything tho world could offer.
“He walked Eklong briskly, feeling that he was stopping out of a harissod world into a simpler, happier ono, even if of a more primitive typo, where his thoughts would be only of winds and currents, of waxes and of the wild birds that skim them, of dons and ovenings that are sheer intoxicating poetry to the man who likes such life.”
Ganpat.
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SUNSHADE -NT - 'CHUTE - GAM?.
Dessicated to Marie B. Byles.
by Paddy Pallin.
Being a reply to an open letter suggesting that umbrellas are a “good thing” for Bushwelkers to carry.
,
…. …..—
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And gambolling parasol it hand. :. , / - .– , / /
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O'er mountain top to boot –”–4…f..;.; ./-i f / / it”I' / / I 1
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How handy then would brolly be
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To use as parachute. ….,,,……….1 /- / I 1
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And having braved the noonday heat And plumbed the chasm deep t With zipped-on walls you make a tent
And lay you down to sleep. i
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And in the morn when storm clouds lower You'll be a lucky fella
Tin easy now to thwart the rain
Nee th spreading umbrella.
So sun and rain can harm you not No need to fear the damp
From beetling crag you safely drop With Sunshade tent - *chute gamp
When burning sun rides in the sky Heart pants for leafy glade.
If you equipped in latest style You'll use the old sunshade.
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AT OUR ogN LESTI,Ng,.
May meeting VW well attended. Vioe-President Cotter took the chair, and with words of wisdom he attached the Club Badge and Constitution tia the new members - Marie Kinsella, Marjorie Price, Laurie Greenacrel and Clem Hallstrom. We welcome them to our midst.
Bobbie Cooper and Alma Whitfield received Swimming Prizes, Mary Stoddart who won the Damper Competition at the Re-union was presented with her prize, also Arnold Barrett who came second.
The resignation of Muriel Cox was accepted with regret.
The Working Bees at both Morel/a-Karong and Cheltenham reported lots of good results.
The Constitution, which one of our members felt had been forgotten, was given a vigorous airing. But the question “Are new members admitted into the Club too easily?” was dismissed) as it was considered that the Committee dealt with the matter satisfactorily. The Constitution was folded away with its moth balls.
The meeting closed with a query as to what happens on Friday night, with a coal strike and no light.
We shall seel!
.. OM 11111.
CLUB GOSSIP.
The Zditor and her chief assistant both had holidays in May - just when the hagazine was being prepared so the services of a “Special Correspondent” had to be enlisted.
From “Our Special Correspondent”.
A massed attack on Holidays is in progress by a large force of Bush Walkers the southern flank being led by Vice-PresidentEdna Garrad, whose party have taken up strong positions – we hope - in the Tumut-Canberra sector, Various points in the bush have been contacted by all the school teachers who have joined tns hol iday forces.
Our HoneMembers the Canons' are now Grand-parents. Gwen Clark, down from Parkes for the School holidays reports tho t Bernadette Allen's daughter is to be called Carleen The Carlos, we hear, were surprised by a visit from Jack. Still walking and not on crutches yet.
Our S.C. reports that the Working Bee at Maitland Bay, besides doing admirable work, was a social success. The @amp wire sparkled with song and mirth. Paddy, Mouldy and Frank Duncan being in good forma It was good to se s so many new and old members out working and enjoying themselves.
Flo Allsworth cheered the workers on by her constant visits to each party. Dune. was there in the midst of the cooking. And even the Baby Carruthers did his bit. Congratulations to the Bouddi TruaL