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| Here is a proposal. A list is being prepared of members who are at battle-stations and you are asked to adopt one, and __guarantee__ to supply him or her with reading matter or photographs each fortnight or month or more often if you wish. | Here is a proposal. A list is being prepared of members who are at battle-stations and you are asked to adopt one, and __guarantee__ to supply him or her with reading matter or photographs each fortnight or month or more often if you wish. | ||
| - | You may find certain books or magazines hard to procure but there is for instnce | + | You may find certain books or magazines hard to procure but there is for instance |
| Again and again the Services Committee has received letters of thanks for photographs that bring back to these people far away, memories of Coastland and mountains where you are still free to roam. | Again and again the Services Committee has received letters of thanks for photographs that bring back to these people far away, memories of Coastland and mountains where you are still free to roam. | ||
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| So on a very windy morning we set off from Seaman' | So on a very windy morning we set off from Seaman' | ||
| - | In the teeth of a howling gale we made our way to the South Ram's Head, hardly able to keep our feet against the blast. For once I felt more kindly towards my pack, as I am sure that it was only with its help that I remained anchored to the ground. Very glad were we when the track dropped and we were in comparative calm. At lunch time we arrived at a very charming spot beside a creek and backed by a grove of trees; most pleasant after the barren slope with patches of frost-blasted spectre-like gums, from which we had just descended. Fate here stepped in. The jade, deciding that things were going far too easily, led us down the garden path, in the shape of a track taken by mistake by a stockman a few days previously. By the time the mistake was discovered, we decided it was too far to go back, so emerging on to a saddle, we held a council of war, scouted around and finally decided on a ridge which we hoped might lead us in the way in which we should go. On entering a belt of trees we were greeted by a burst of derisive laughter from a number of kookaburras. When I wasn't dropping down a hole in a thicket of brambles, I was catching my foot on rocks hidden in the long grass, missing my balance and nearly taking a somewhat | + | In the teeth of a howling gale we made our way to the South Ram's Head, hardly able to keep our feet against the blast. For once I felt more kindly towards my pack, as I am sure that it was only with its help that I remained anchored to the ground. Very glad were we when the track dropped and we were in comparative calm. At lunch time we arrived at a very charming spot beside a creek and backed by a grove of trees; most pleasant after the barren slope with patches of frost-blasted spectre-like gums, from which we had just descended. Fate here stepped in. The jade, deciding that things were going far too easily, led us down the garden path, in the shape of a track taken by mistake by a stockman a few days previously. By the time the mistake was discovered, we decided it was too far to go back, so emerging on to a saddle, we held a council of war, scouted around and finally decided on a ridge which we hoped might lead us in the way in which we should go. On entering a belt of trees we were greeted by a burst of derisive laughter from a number of kookaburras. When I wasn't dropping down a hole in a thicket of brambles, I was catching my foot on rocks hidden in the long grass, missing my balance and nearly taking a somewhat |
| - | It was a delightful spot to camp, the creek taking a big horseshoe bend, enclosing a grassy flat from which numbers of gums reared their stately heads. We rose at the crack of dawn, and while prowling round in the dark, for some or other, I think every one of us walked into the water buckets. Edna, I think it was, distinguished herself by putting her foot into one, an extremly | + | It was a delightful spot to camp, the creek taking a big horseshoe bend, enclosing a grassy flat from which numbers of gums reared their stately heads. We rose at the crack of dawn, and while prowling round in the dark, for some or other, I think every one of us walked into the water buckets. Edna, I think it was, distinguished herself by putting her foot into one, an extremely |
| Ray and Grace having spied out the ridge they thought might take us on our way, hopefully led us forth and before long we struck a well-defined stock route, which seemed very probably the one which we should have been on all the time. Rejoicing, we went on, there being a cold wind which was not conducive to lingering. After some hours we began to drop very much, the ridge widening out into beautiful parklike grassy flats. Numbers of the loveliest gums marched in stately files right to the Snowy Creek, on the banks of which were the remnants of the hut formerly owned by Banjo Patterson' | Ray and Grace having spied out the ridge they thought might take us on our way, hopefully led us forth and before long we struck a well-defined stock route, which seemed very probably the one which we should have been on all the time. Rejoicing, we went on, there being a cold wind which was not conducive to lingering. After some hours we began to drop very much, the ridge widening out into beautiful parklike grassy flats. Numbers of the loveliest gums marched in stately files right to the Snowy Creek, on the banks of which were the remnants of the hut formerly owned by Banjo Patterson' | ||
| - | Soon we reached the Murray, winding its way through grassy flats, our ridge having brought us to our goal in about four hours of continuous descent. After about half-an-hour' | + | Soon we reached the Murray, winding its way through grassy flats, our ridge having brought us to our goal in about four hours of continuous descent. After about half-an-hour' |
| Having been told there was a swing bridge, we approached the contraption and what an approach! Just a tangle of brambles which grasped every portion of one's anatomy as one scrambled up to its slatted flooring. Don't misunderstand me. It was not all slats, slats and gaps (large gaps) was the construction. I did a cake walk across with one hand grasping the fencing wire that did duty as a rail and the other grasping my plate loaded with mugs and containers, and as the swing became more violent, expected to see them hurtling into the depths below. | Having been told there was a swing bridge, we approached the contraption and what an approach! Just a tangle of brambles which grasped every portion of one's anatomy as one scrambled up to its slatted flooring. Don't misunderstand me. It was not all slats, slats and gaps (large gaps) was the construction. I did a cake walk across with one hand grasping the fencing wire that did duty as a rail and the other grasping my plate loaded with mugs and containers, and as the swing became more violent, expected to see them hurtling into the depths below. | ||
| - | The track to Geehi led us through the same delightful parklands filling one with the desire to linger, and rebellion at having to proceed. We now found we had an addition to the party in the shape of one of the dogs and to our consternation nothing we could do could make him go back. We would think we had been successful, then would turn round to find an enquiring head with a very determined expression on its face appearing round the corner. He had decided to join the party and join it he would by hook or by crook. However we thought when no food was forthcoming he would depart, but never were people more mistaken, he just sat at a respectful distance while we had our meal. There was no food for him for we had made the startling discovery that we had lost the macaroni and soup meal, this in addition to being short of sugar and butter. Still we had hopes that he would return to tho bosom of his family as we slept, but alas, in the early hears of the morning we were awakened by a series of short, sharp barks. I concluded resignedly that he was catching his breakfast. Grace, noble soul, volunteered to take the hound back, adding 3 miles to the 12 to Geehi Flats. | + | The track to Geehi led us through the same delightful parklands filling one with the desire to linger, and rebellion at having to proceed. We now found we had an addition to the party in the shape of one of the dogs and to our consternation nothing we could do could make him go back. We would think we had been successful, then would turn round to find an enquiring head with a very determined expression on its face appearing round the corner. He had decided to join the party and join it he would by hook or by crook. However we thought when no food was forthcoming he would depart, but never were people more mistaken, he just sat at a respectful distance while we had our meal. There was no food for him for we had made the startling discovery that we had lost the macaroni and soup meal, this in addition to being short of sugar and butter. Still we had hopes that he would return to the bosom of his family as we slept, but alas, in the early hears of the morning we were awakened by a series of short, sharp barks. I concluded resignedly that he was catching his breakfast. Grace, noble soul, volunteered to take the hound back, adding 3 miles to the 12 to Geehi Flats. |
| - | Arriving at the flats, we were delighted with the situation, all three rivers, Geehi, Swampy Plains and Bridges, coming in at this point. The whole was enclosed in a circle of ranges and ridges; Hannel' | + | Arriving at the flats, we were delighted with the situation, all three rivers, Geehi, Swampy Plains and Bridges, coming in at this point. The whole was enclosed in a circle of ranges and ridges; Hannel' |
| After having viewed the Geehi hut, we crossed another of those delectable bridges and came back to the Geehi, to find Grace had arrived with a tale of woe re the hound' | After having viewed the Geehi hut, we crossed another of those delectable bridges and came back to the Geehi, to find Grace had arrived with a tale of woe re the hound' | ||
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| In the distance was the sunlit Murray Valley, the Murray Gate, and Mount Buffalo. Beyond spread range upon range as far as the eye could see. One felt a veritable God enthroned on high and monarch of all one surveyed. | In the distance was the sunlit Murray Valley, the Murray Gate, and Mount Buffalo. Beyond spread range upon range as far as the eye could see. One felt a veritable God enthroned on high and monarch of all one surveyed. | ||
| - | We had just finished lunch when Ken rode up on mustering bent, and was very surprised to find we had arrived already. The motley array of garments which Ray had on the trees to dry, together with the tents and other miscellaneous articles, I am sure afforded him a great deal of amusement. It certainly looked as if we were settled there for the day. After two hours basking in the sun, we wound our way round Townshend | + | We had just finished lunch when Ken rode up on mustering bent, and was very surprised to find we had arrived already. The motley array of garments which Ray had on the trees to dry, together with the tents and other miscellaneous articles, I am sure afforded him a great deal of amusement. It certainly looked as if we were settled there for the day. After two hours basking in the sun, we wound our way round Townsend |
| Once more making our adieus, we took a short cut down the Snowy, back to Foreman' | Once more making our adieus, we took a short cut down the Snowy, back to Foreman' | ||
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| Having finished my allotted span at the Munitions Laboratory, and as there was an urgent call being made just at that time for volunteers to bring in the grape harvest at Mildura, and some thousands of pickers were required if the harvest was not to be lost, I entered my name with the Harvest Labour Bureau and was right smartly and without further delay allotted to Redcliffs, up in the Murray River Irrigation area, 350 miles from Melbourne. | Having finished my allotted span at the Munitions Laboratory, and as there was an urgent call being made just at that time for volunteers to bring in the grape harvest at Mildura, and some thousands of pickers were required if the harvest was not to be lost, I entered my name with the Harvest Labour Bureau and was right smartly and without further delay allotted to Redcliffs, up in the Murray River Irrigation area, 350 miles from Melbourne. | ||
| - | A special " | + | A special " |
| - | The Jacobs household consisted of Dad Jacobs and Mum and two charming and talented daughters 18 and 20 years of age. I was boarded at their house, two other young lasses were boarded next door, a young married couple and brother put up a tent in the vineyard, and several men had shacks down by the river. We worked from 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. and the sun shone strongly all day on the bright red earth and I sat under the vines and pickd purple currants for a week at the rate of 100 or so buckets a day (the bucket is really a flat tin which holds abour 20 to 25 lbs. of fruit) at £1 per hundred, and the next week golden sultanas at the rate of 200 tins a day. Before we got enough men on the job to do the heavy lifting I assisted Pa with the loading. Daughter Barbara drove the tractor towing a long wide dray, and up and down the vine rows we dashed, Pa and I running on opposite sides and stacking the filled tins on the dray. Then we'd lumber off with our load to the racks, the tractor and its loosely attached purple hindquarters looking like a not-too-well-organized huge insect. Here we'd empty the fruit out onto a wide flat tray, and Pa with a smart sudden jerk would spread the grapes out over the wire mesh racks. Then we'd load the empties back on the dray and Barbara would run us down the unpicked rows while Pa and I threw out bundles of tins at regular intervals under the vines. By the time we'd loaded and tipped and re-stacked and hurled the tins forth again - several hundred tins up to 25 lbs. weight each - we sure knew we'd been working. I was there about 3 weeks, at the end of which time I banked a cheque for £20 and sang the praises of piece-work which allowed an energetic person like myself to reap the reward of extra work. | + | The Jacobs household consisted of Dad Jacobs and Mum and two charming and talented daughters 18 and 20 years of age. I was boarded at their house, two other young lasses were boarded next door, a young married couple and brother put up a tent in the vineyard, and several men had shacks down by the river. We worked from 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. and the sun shone strongly all day on the bright red earth and I sat under the vines and picked |
| Returning to Melbourne I found that a party from the Munitions Lab. with whom I had been discussing the possibility of taking our annual holidays in Tasmania, had finalised arrangements, | Returning to Melbourne I found that a party from the Munitions Lab. with whom I had been discussing the possibility of taking our annual holidays in Tasmania, had finalised arrangements, | ||
| - | The Tourist Bureau had told us that there was no chance of getting | + | The Tourist Bureau had told us that there was no chance of getting |
| We eventually reached Waldheim, the guest house at the Northern end of the Reserve, and thawed out in front of a big log fire. A large stew and a warm bed and life once more assumed a rosy hue. We awoke to find all the mountains and highlands covered white (and this __March__, and __Australia__! - incredible!). The huts are spaced through the Reserve at 1-day stages (anything from 8 to 15 miles) and the track goes through rugged mountainous country, peaks and lakes and innumerable tarns, swampy button-grass plains, birch forests and pine forests filled with thousands of wallabies and wombats and almost __millions__ of possums at night. This is the most marvellous mountainous spot in Australia. I had no idea we could turn on such New Zealand-like scenery. We walked 150 miles and climbed 10 first-class peaks in as many days. They are only 6 thousand footers, but one forgets they are not so high as the Mt. Cook giants and enjoys them just as much. We had snow the first day, and then a fortnight of perfect sunny days, so once again the gods smiled on me. And once again, just to keep up the old tradition, we managed to get ourselves benighted while completing a successful traverse of four 5,000 ft. peaks. One of the party was quite new to mountaineering and so somewhat slow on the rough stuff, so the final burst of speed which would have just got us back to the hut by dark had to be foregone and we spent a pretty cold night, first sliding and crawling and falling down through a mountainside of dwarf beech (or birch) in the dark, then through dense almost impenetrable wet forest along the valley floor until they called a halt, so I bedded the party down on a spot of dry ground and covered them with dry dead palm leaves, then crawled into the pile myself and shivered and dozed and woke and slapped ourselves and each other, and changed our positions and sang all the songs we knew, beating a tattoo meanwhile on the beck of whoever happened to be in front of us, while the river gurgled and rushed and crept through the dark tangle of trees and vines, and the glow-worms turned on their cold ineffectual fires in all the crannies and crevasses in the moss. | We eventually reached Waldheim, the guest house at the Northern end of the Reserve, and thawed out in front of a big log fire. A large stew and a warm bed and life once more assumed a rosy hue. We awoke to find all the mountains and highlands covered white (and this __March__, and __Australia__! - incredible!). The huts are spaced through the Reserve at 1-day stages (anything from 8 to 15 miles) and the track goes through rugged mountainous country, peaks and lakes and innumerable tarns, swampy button-grass plains, birch forests and pine forests filled with thousands of wallabies and wombats and almost __millions__ of possums at night. This is the most marvellous mountainous spot in Australia. I had no idea we could turn on such New Zealand-like scenery. We walked 150 miles and climbed 10 first-class peaks in as many days. They are only 6 thousand footers, but one forgets they are not so high as the Mt. Cook giants and enjoys them just as much. We had snow the first day, and then a fortnight of perfect sunny days, so once again the gods smiled on me. And once again, just to keep up the old tradition, we managed to get ourselves benighted while completing a successful traverse of four 5,000 ft. peaks. One of the party was quite new to mountaineering and so somewhat slow on the rough stuff, so the final burst of speed which would have just got us back to the hut by dark had to be foregone and we spent a pretty cold night, first sliding and crawling and falling down through a mountainside of dwarf beech (or birch) in the dark, then through dense almost impenetrable wet forest along the valley floor until they called a halt, so I bedded the party down on a spot of dry ground and covered them with dry dead palm leaves, then crawled into the pile myself and shivered and dozed and woke and slapped ourselves and each other, and changed our positions and sang all the songs we knew, beating a tattoo meanwhile on the beck of whoever happened to be in front of us, while the river gurgled and rushed and crept through the dark tangle of trees and vines, and the glow-worms turned on their cold ineffectual fires in all the crannies and crevasses in the moss. | ||
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| For those who can read between the lines there are several lessons to be learnt including - | For those who can read between the lines there are several lessons to be learnt including - | ||
| - | (1) (a) Democracy will always get __there__ (b) and poscibly | + | (1) (a) Democracy will always get __there__ (b) and possibly |
| (2) We are therefore fighting for the __right thing__. | (2) We are therefore fighting for the __right thing__. | ||
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| But, yearning after the original venture, everyone cherishes resentment in his heart and, as we collect our hats, the whole structure is undermined, at the door one begins to wonder where one is going, at the corner of the street no-one knows where anyone is going. The fact that Sunday is untouched seems to be just asking to have the matter thrashed out further, so we decide upon a Sunday walk and seek people out in various parts of George Street and the restaurants contiguous thereto to apprise them of the rendez-vous. | But, yearning after the original venture, everyone cherishes resentment in his heart and, as we collect our hats, the whole structure is undermined, at the door one begins to wonder where one is going, at the corner of the street no-one knows where anyone is going. The fact that Sunday is untouched seems to be just asking to have the matter thrashed out further, so we decide upon a Sunday walk and seek people out in various parts of George Street and the restaurants contiguous thereto to apprise them of the rendez-vous. | ||
| - | Sunday - day of rest - quite true, perhaps, some time before dawn. Up hill and down dale every conceivable plan to implement trip " | + | Sunday - day of rest - quite true, perhaps, some time before dawn. Up hill and down dale every conceivable plan to implement trip " |
| By lunch, triumph! oddsboddikins! eureks! a decision is reached. We shall follow plan Axb if Y is suitable, B and C willing and provided three men are prepared to walk the twenty five miles of road. We eat lunch with satisfaction and pride because of the finality of pain AxbY? | By lunch, triumph! oddsboddikins! eureks! a decision is reached. We shall follow plan Axb if Y is suitable, B and C willing and provided three men are prepared to walk the twenty five miles of road. We eat lunch with satisfaction and pride because of the finality of pain AxbY? | ||
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| Do you now think that every detail was irrevocably settled and that the trip was performed with the closest co-operation? | Do you now think that every detail was irrevocably settled and that the trip was performed with the closest co-operation? | ||
| - | Poor innooent! Read next month' | + | Poor innocent! Read next month' |
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| =====More Gossip.===== | =====More Gossip.===== | ||
| - | The Social Committee put on a vary nice dance for us on Friday the 13th June in the Club room. Members were asked to come dressed in the sleeping wear they affected when camping out. Fortunately, | + | The Social Committee put on a vary nice dance for us on Friday the 13th June in the Club room. Members were asked to come dressed in the sleeping wear they affected when camping out. Fortunately, |
| An exceedingly well turned leg was displayed to great advantage by Grace Edgecombe who chose a pair of Gents Natty underpants Rag Alder' | An exceedingly well turned leg was displayed to great advantage by Grace Edgecombe who chose a pair of Gents Natty underpants Rag Alder' | ||
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| Arthur Gilroy, timing it very nicely made a late entrance very effectively, | Arthur Gilroy, timing it very nicely made a late entrance very effectively, | ||
| - | We hope the committee was pleased with the large attendance. The orchestra was most generous and played everything except the one thing that seemed to us to be most appropriate for the occassion, or perhaps they had never heard of it, "I wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep" | + | We hope the committee was pleased with the large attendance. The orchestra was most generous and played everything except the one thing that seemed to us to be most appropriate for the occasion, or perhaps they had never heard of it, "I wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep" |
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| - | Another junior | + | Another junior |
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| ===Rory Lofts:=== | ===Rory Lofts:=== | ||
| - | Up Queensland way. Dear S.B.W.s. I was very pleased to receive the May issue of the S.B.W. today. Its good to get a breath of the old fellowship of the bush which seems to come with each issue. Although my whereabouts are all shrouded in mystery, I can talk of some things without fear of the razor blade. I find this one of the most interesting places I have been in from a walker' | + | Up Queensland way. Dear S.B.W.s. I was very pleased to receive the May issue of the S.B.W. today. Its good to get a breath of the old fellowship of the bush which seems to come with each issue. Although my whereabouts are all shrouded in mystery, I can talk of some things without fear of the razor blade. I find this one of the most interesting places I have been in from a walker' |
| I introduced our chaps to the ground sheet method of crossing streams one day, but only one chap was game to risk it, the others preferred to cross the river where they thought they could wade, the result was the three of them got washed off their feet wetting all their gear including rifle, glasses and compass and the rest got wet to the waist while the other chap and I crossed easily and had dry equipment when we got there. So much for doubting Thomas, we bushwalkers can teach the army lots. | I introduced our chaps to the ground sheet method of crossing streams one day, but only one chap was game to risk it, the others preferred to cross the river where they thought they could wade, the result was the three of them got washed off their feet wetting all their gear including rifle, glasses and compass and the rest got wet to the waist while the other chap and I crossed easily and had dry equipment when we got there. So much for doubting Thomas, we bushwalkers can teach the army lots. | ||
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| ===Bill Burke:=== | ===Bill Burke:=== | ||
| - | Up Queensland way. I won't enlarge on the heartbreak that leaving the fair city of Sydney occasioned. Sufficient to say that there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. That is, until the train started to move. The cobber is a bit like myself; hasn't a care in the world and being travel minded after three years of wandering the prospect of peering over the next hill caused our spirits to soar. The first day paseed | + | Up Queensland way. I won't enlarge on the heartbreak that leaving the fair city of Sydney occasioned. Sufficient to say that there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. That is, until the train started to move. The cobber is a bit like myself; hasn't a care in the world and being travel minded after three years of wandering the prospect of peering over the next hill caused our spirits to soar. The first day passed |
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| Of course bushwalkers never do cut down trees for the obvious reason that they would be ostracised from bushwalking society if they did. But why this strong feeling in the bush-walking world against little boys with tomahawks who slash the young saplings and rejoice at the glorious crash if they can bring a bigger tree down with their small hands? Why our horror because a letter in the paper tells us that a timber mill is going into a forest at mount Wilson? | Of course bushwalkers never do cut down trees for the obvious reason that they would be ostracised from bushwalking society if they did. But why this strong feeling in the bush-walking world against little boys with tomahawks who slash the young saplings and rejoice at the glorious crash if they can bring a bigger tree down with their small hands? Why our horror because a letter in the paper tells us that a timber mill is going into a forest at mount Wilson? | ||
| - | If we have ever thought about it the first reason that has flashed through our minds as to why we should not cut trees, is just that the trees are lovely and we don't want to see bhe beauty taken away from our land. And that alone would be ample reason for not cutting trees. Too often in this materialistic age we forget that beauty is an end in itself, and in some cases far more important than material wealth. I once read of a poor peasant in China who had a beautiful maple tree growing | + | If we have ever thought about it the first reason that has flashed through our minds as to why we should not cut trees, is just that the trees are lovely and we don't want to see the beauty taken away from our land. And that alone would be ample reason for not cutting trees. Too often in this materialistic age we forget that beauty is an end in itself, and in some cases far more important than material wealth. I once read of a poor peasant in China who had a beautiful maple tree growing |
| In the same class as the preservation of beauty is the preservation of the unique fauna and flora of our land, a fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world, and which rapidly disappears once the forest protection is removed. Why preserve the fauna and flora? Because like beauty it is one of those spiritual values without which mankind would probably perish. | In the same class as the preservation of beauty is the preservation of the unique fauna and flora of our land, a fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world, and which rapidly disappears once the forest protection is removed. Why preserve the fauna and flora? Because like beauty it is one of those spiritual values without which mankind would probably perish. | ||
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| When we cut trees along river banks and on steep hill-slopes we remove the tangle of little roots and the undergrowth (which will grow only under trees) that hold the soil in position and also hold the rain like a sponge. This means that when the rains come they wash the soil away causing bad soil erosion; and the water itself also runs off rapidly for it is no longer held back by the sponge of the tiny roots. In country cleared on the steep slopes and along river banks, you will find that the streams and rivers tend to be higher during heavy rains and lower in dry periods than in country that has not been cleared. And the object of the recently instituted Soil Erosion Board is to prevent tree-cutting in such places. Have you ever stopped to consider why Middle Harbour is so much less muddy than Lane Cove. The answer is that the headwaters of Middle Harbour are still bush clad. The headwaters of Lane Cove are very largely cultivated and therefore cleared. That muddiness is a sign of soil erosion, and of rapidly drying up streamlets. Have you noticed how a dependable streamlet of ten years ago (like that of North Era) has ceased to run except after rain. Think back and remember that bush fires have swept through the catchment area very often or cattle or man have trampled it down. This means that the undergrowth has never properly regrown, and the sponge of the roots which held the moisture that formed your streamlet, has gone. The cutting down of trees has exactly the same effect as bush fires, cattle and crowds of people. | When we cut trees along river banks and on steep hill-slopes we remove the tangle of little roots and the undergrowth (which will grow only under trees) that hold the soil in position and also hold the rain like a sponge. This means that when the rains come they wash the soil away causing bad soil erosion; and the water itself also runs off rapidly for it is no longer held back by the sponge of the tiny roots. In country cleared on the steep slopes and along river banks, you will find that the streams and rivers tend to be higher during heavy rains and lower in dry periods than in country that has not been cleared. And the object of the recently instituted Soil Erosion Board is to prevent tree-cutting in such places. Have you ever stopped to consider why Middle Harbour is so much less muddy than Lane Cove. The answer is that the headwaters of Middle Harbour are still bush clad. The headwaters of Lane Cove are very largely cultivated and therefore cleared. That muddiness is a sign of soil erosion, and of rapidly drying up streamlets. Have you noticed how a dependable streamlet of ten years ago (like that of North Era) has ceased to run except after rain. Think back and remember that bush fires have swept through the catchment area very often or cattle or man have trampled it down. This means that the undergrowth has never properly regrown, and the sponge of the roots which held the moisture that formed your streamlet, has gone. The cutting down of trees has exactly the same effect as bush fires, cattle and crowds of people. | ||
| - | So much for why you should not as a rule cut down tres. Of course there are always exceptions. But prima facie a tree should not be cut, and if a person wants to cut it, the onus lies on him to give a good reason why. | + | So much for why you should not as a rule cut down trees. Of course there are always exceptions. But prima facie a tree should not be cut, and if a person wants to cut it, the onus lies on him to give a good reason why. |
| Next month we shall discuss why trees and forests should be cultivated. | Next month we shall discuss why trees and forests should be cultivated. | ||
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| A building is being erected at Little Marley on a permissive occupancy in front of the Hostel. The Youth Hostels Association is asking that no road be allowed within 50 yards of the hostel; and no camping within 80 yards of it. It was decided to write to the National Park Trust and to the Youth Hostels Association asking that the road be closed right back to the Bundeena Road, and that the suggestion about camping be scrapped, as 80 yards from the hostel would take in the whole camping area at Little Marley. | A building is being erected at Little Marley on a permissive occupancy in front of the Hostel. The Youth Hostels Association is asking that no road be allowed within 50 yards of the hostel; and no camping within 80 yards of it. It was decided to write to the National Park Trust and to the Youth Hostels Association asking that the road be closed right back to the Bundeena Road, and that the suggestion about camping be scrapped, as 80 yards from the hostel would take in the whole camping area at Little Marley. | ||
| - | The expenditure of thi Legacy of £90 from Arnold Rae was discussed. Inquiries are being made about leasing Block 7 at North North Era and also about land at the junction of Long Angle Gully and Fitzgerald Creek. | + | The expenditure of the Legacy of £90 from Arnold Rae was discussed. Inquiries are being made about leasing Block 7 at North North Era and also about land at the junction of Long Angle Gully and Fitzgerald Creek. |
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| =====At Our Own Meeting.===== | =====At Our Own Meeting.===== | ||
| - | Two new members, Russell Wilkins and Vic Bolton were welcomed by the President. After some discussion it was resolved that the Club disapproved of any restriction on camping at Little Marley (see Federation notes). The President informed us, with deep regret, that Norm Saill has been killed in action in New Guinea. The proposed shale retort on Narrow Neck was discussed. Norrie Macdonald and Frank Freeguard, who were on leave from the Army, thought that any restriction on the location of the proposed retort might be detrimental to the war effort. Stan Martin pointed out that shale oil could only be used for civilian purposes. Marie Byles thought that the war was too often made an excuse for despoiling natural features. It was eventually resolved that the Club disapproved of any interference with the rock escarpment forming the Narrow Neck Peninsula. Phyl White, owing to the illness of her father | + | Two new members, Russell Wilkins and Vic Bolton were welcomed by the President. After some discussion it was resolved that the Club disapproved of any restriction on camping at Little Marley (see Federation notes). The President informed us, with deep regret, that Norm Saill has been killed in action in New Guinea. The proposed shale retort on Narrow Neck was discussed. Norrie Macdonald and Frank Freeguard, who were on leave from the Army, thought that any restriction on the location of the proposed retort might be detrimental to the war effort. Stan Martin pointed out that shale oil could only be used for civilian purposes. Marie Byles thought that the war was too often made an excuse for despoiling natural features. It was eventually resolved that the Club disapproved of any interference with the rock escarpment forming the Narrow Neck Peninsula. Phyl White, owing to the illness of her father |
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| |July 23rd, 8 p.m.|Lecture by Palmer Kent: "The Real Facts Behind the Malayan Campaign" | |July 23rd, 8 p.m.|Lecture by Palmer Kent: "The Real Facts Behind the Malayan Campaign" | ||
| |July 30th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Dance: Novelties and Supper -Dancing 8 - 11.| | |July 30th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Dance: Novelties and Supper -Dancing 8 - 11.| | ||
| - | |August 2Oth, 8 p.m.|" | + | |August 2Oth, 8 p.m.|" |
| |August 27th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Party.| | |August 27th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Party.| | ||
194307.txt · Last modified: 2016/10/27 13:55 by tyreless