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+====="Sadly Mist"=====
+By "Mumbedah".
+Sproggo and I lurched across the road to Harrington's Corner from Katomba Station, and depositing our groaning rucksacks on the weighing-machine to be found there, for the expenditure of the sum of 2d. that our respective loads were 59 and 60 pounds. Not deiging to walk out upon the road to the Explorer's Tree, we were comfortably and speedily conveyed thereto by a taxi, and then commenced the long descent to Old Man Cox via Nellie's Glen and the Six Foot. It was growing dark when we reached the old hotel site, and although we understood Harold Chardon's party had come up on that morning's "Caves", we could see no sign of them nor any fresh footprints, so camped forthwith on the firewood on the "far" side of the creek. Next day, with 43 meals still in our Paddymades, we wended our way slowly downstream resting at frequent intervals as we had tons of time on our hands (and feet). Late in the afternoon, just below the big bend where Gibraltar Creek comes in we were overtaken by the worthy Harold, with whom we naturally joined forces, and camped that night at the junction of Little River. It was upon this occasion that I heard Dorothy Lawry first recite her now-famous "hippopotomus" poem for the first time. Early on the following forenoon, we all climbed the steep hills which rise up from Jack Kirby's homestead, and were rewarded with a new and magnificent view of the Dogs. I afterwards learned that this was Bald Hill and that wild goats abound on top thereof, which undoubtedly accounted for our irresistible urge to climb the particular hill. Sproggo and I said goodbye to Harold and his caravan and proceeded once more down the Cox, only to find, that due to an amazing burst of energy we were again overtaken whilst enjoying a late lunch. They waited for us to finish, and shortly afterwards, we came upon a large eagle sitting on the grasey bank for no apparent purpose. Investigation revealed it was caught in a rabbit-trap, and throwing a ground-sheet over its head, released it, whereupon it just stood and looked at us. Apparently it had been there some time and was about all-in from pain and hunger. Some weeks afterwards I was derided for not having killed the bird, and had a difficult task to convince my friend of the principles of the walkers. Once more we had the pleasure of the congenial company of the previous night on the triangular flat at Harry's River. We had arrived there early and attempted to find a camp site up through the Canyon, but the winter sun left likely spots damp and chilly. For late May, it was a beautiful night, and the flat resounded to the harmony of our voices in choir. Here our trails parted, Harold going on down to return to Katoomba via the White Dog, whilst Snroggo and I were going up the Jenolan, so on breaking camp the following day we said goodbye and said we'd see them in the Club the following Friday fortnight.
+It was the first occasion either of us had been up the Jenolan and we enjoyed breaking country then new to us. We turned up what we rightly judged to be Mumbedah Creek, taking our cue from the blaze on the big casuarina at the junction of that watercourse. We had been following a very large footprint left on the soft parts of the creek-bed, and just as we topped the jumble of boulders which bar the way a few miles up, we received a rude shock to see a great bovine head glaring at us a few yards distant. Rucksacks were slipped off in record time, and jumping aside, we directed a few small rocks at the huge steer, who made off up the mountain side. Desite his thick neck, buffalo horns and bulk, he was extremely nimble of foot and we were not at all displeased he was a bit shy of our company, and didn't stay for lunch. Norbert Carlon afterwards related to me that this same steer had strayed away from his mob years ago, and had not been seen for a long time. He creatd a nuisance by attracting tame cattle away from the Cox.
+There was quite a flow in the stream, and we kept going until the sides closed in and the way lay over and round moss-covered rocks, very slippery underfoot, particularly with our 37 meals still loaded up. Into the bargain, light rain began to fall, the mist obliterating the upper parts of the ridges, so we back-tracked to a beautiful oval-shaped flat which opened up on the creek, bracken-covered, with towering blue gums on the lower slopes, and a tranquil peacefulness about it. I consider it is in such spots as the one described, deep in the mountains, that we can really appreciate the peace and quietness which can only obtain in so wild country far from the main tracks, and where we seldom tread, except at odd intervals. These are the places which we are fighting to preserve for all time, and our knowledge of them should make us work harder to have the Greater Blue Mountains National Park a reality.
+Originally we intended to make a direct assault on Gouougang, and in the club room Myles had talked us out of doing so on the grounds of the going being too steep, so we had decided to make the ascent on the opposite side of Mumbedah Creek, to reach the tableland. Rolling up the wet tent next a.m. we took a long draught of water, and reckoned on our next drink at Cunningham's at tea-time. Up we went, up and up, the very short, steep and not so sweet ridge leading up to Moorara Heights, which are nothing less than a ridge-capped mountain, nearly as high as Gouougang, enclosed by the triangle formed by Jenolan River, Mumbedah Creek, and backed by the main plateau. We came upon a couple of shallow sadddles apparently winter cattle-camps from the ornamentation, and as we rested thereon, obtained grand views of the lower Jenolan, with the Gouougang Range on the right. High up Mumbedah Creek we could make out several waterfalls, which we mentally noted to visit - some day. The going had been extremely steep in parts, although open timber, and to record the grade, I took a photo of Sproggo coming up towards me on all fours. The printed result afterwards made it appear he was about to take off on a hundred yards sprint at an S.B.W. sports carnival, and I had to discard the photo in my attempts to impress my walking friends of our feat. Rain again set in, and with it crept down a mist weaving in and out the gullies and valleys, and soon we were enveleped in its soft mantle which deprived us of further scenery, and dulled our sense of height. We halted for "lunch" and although we had no water, lit a fire for company and enjoyed the celery Sproggo produced from his capacious pack. Celery is to be recommended for "dry" meals as it contains a fair amount of moisture and may be soaked before leaving camp. Then up again, and in fifteen minutes we were standing on a stony top and gave vent to a hearty cheer to signify our conquest of the mount. The mist was now in the pea-soup category and visibility was limited to about 30 feet. According to the map, the ridge ran a few points west of south-west, about 230°, and was connected with the tableland by, apparently a saddle-back. There was abundant rocky-outcrop, all on the fault, and where it wasn't stoney, saplings grew in profusion following a recent bush-fire, so that when we pushed through them our rucksacks bacame caught, and we were showered with drips off the leaves. After going a while, we found ourselves losing height without sign of a saddle, so we stopped and cogitated, peering this way and that into the solid white deathly silence. Even the rush of the water in Cams Creek had died away and the whole world seemed to stand still. There were several likely leads-off which might take us across the elusive saddle so we tried them in turn, each time losing height rapidly and ending up in the beginnings of groves of tree-ferns, so we back-tracked time and again only to find it was the same everywhere. We halted on a little flat with the firewood laid on, and decided to call it a day, and made camp where, I am certain, no one had camped before, nor since. As the reader is aware, we had no water, nar was there any possibility of drawing any from the nearest creek, about 1000' below, so in true bush-walking manner arranged the "Abdul" to drain into the bucket. The trees only dripped occasionally with condensed mist, but by half past four we had a bucket a yellowish fluid with a variety of objects floating therein, mainly from our camp-site of the previous night. However, nothing loth, we soon knocked up a pemmican stew (yes, it was obtainable then) and a brew of golden tea and were as happy as sand-boys. After a short debate, unanimous agreement was reached that this would not be a likely popular camping spot, and therefore did not hesitate to have a man-sized after-tea fire without thought of leaving a few logs for the fellow to follow us, which of course is part of our code (1). We were forced to the most remote corners of the tent to escape the heat, and had a most comfortable night despite the altitude and time of the year. We went to sleep wondering what the morrow would bring forth.
+Peering out in the grey dawn, I beheld a sight which did credit to our navigation of the previous day, insofar that we were actually camped ON the saddle. I drew Sproggo's yawning attention to the matter, and we up and doing forthwith.
+Well, we were on the UPPER end of the saddle, and observed that it DID dip quite a bit in the centre and therefore it COULD have been mistaken for the beginnings of a ridge leading down to the Jenolan, particularly as we had been unable to SEE the further end. We consoled ourselves with the argument and recorded that we had only been delayed by the inclmency of the weather. There was evidence that this was an old cattle route by the weathered blazes on the trees which continued almost to Cuntlingham's, where we stopped for lunch. After passing men engaged in pulling down trees to "improve" access to the Walls, we spent the night at Morong Creek, and was it cold? We expected to wake up to see snow-covered earth in the morn but were only rewarded with rain. We hit the big cave for a late lunch, very wet and miserable, and after eating, as the rain had set in good and proper, scoured the neighbourhood for that scarce commodity known as firewood.
-By uMumbedah".
-SnroL3go and I lurched ncrose the road to Harrington's Corner from Katomba Station, and deositilg our groaning rucksacks on the weighing-machine to be found there, fon the e:e)enditure of the sum of 2d. that our respective loads wore 59 and 60 oands. ot deigen to walk out un ,n the road to the Exiorer'c Tree, we w,re comfortably and speedily conveyed thereto by a taxi, and then commenced the lonz. descent to Old Lian Cox via Nellie's Glen and the Six Foot. It ves growing dark when we reached the old hotel cite, and although we understood Harold Chardon's :.e rt: had cone tti on that morning's "Caves", we could see no sign of them nor any fresh footr-;_nts, so camped forthwith on the firewood on the "far" side of: the creek. Ne:t day, with 43 meals still in our Paddymades,
-we wended our way slowly downstream resting at frequent intervals as we had tons of time on our h nds (and feet). Late in the afternoon, just below be big bend whore Gibraltar Creek comas in we were overtaken by the worthy Harold, with whom we naturally joined forces, and camned that night at the junction of Little River. It was upon this occasion that I heard Dorothy Lawry first recite her now-famous "hipnonotomus" poem for the first time. Early on the following forenoon, we all climbed the step hills which rise up from Jack Kirby's homestead, and were rewarded with a new and magnificent view of the Dogs. I afterwards learned that this was Bald Hill and that wild goats abound on top thereof, which undoubtedly accounted for our irresistible urge to climb the particular hill. Sproggo and I said goodbye to Harold and his caravan and proceeded once more down the Cox i onle to find, that due to an amaming burst offlergy we-were again overtaken whilst enjoying a late lunch. They waited for Us to finish, and shortly afterwlrds, we came upon a large eagle sit+ing on the grasey bank for no aennent purose. Investigation revealed it was taught in a rabbit-trap, and throwing a ground-sheet over its head, released it, whereupon it just stood and looked at us. A7;,. arently it had been there some time and was about all-in from pain and hunger, Some weeks afterwards I was derided for not having ldaled the bird, and had e, difficult task to convince my friend of the princln3les of the walkers, Once more we had the pleasure of the congenial com-eany of the previous night on the triengelar flat at Harry's River. We had arrived there early and attemnted to find a canp site up through the Canyon, but the winter sun left likely spots damp and chilly. For late May, it was a beautiful night, and the- flat resounded to the harmony of our voices in choir. Here our trails parted, Harold going on down to return to T.;atoomba via the White Dog, whilst Snroggo and I were going up the Jenolan, so on breaking camp the following day we said 4 goodbye and s id we'd sea them in the Club the following Friday fortnight.
-"S.A.DLY MIST"
-aaaa  a ..a."
-It was the first occacion eihr of us had been up the Jenolan and weL e-n/.&d. breakin country thell new to us. We turned up what we rightly judged to
--!_ro'heh Creek, taking our cue from the blaze on the big casure-le. e.17
-e' -w-rion of that watercourse. 7Te he,d been following a very L--o7e
-t parts of the creek-bed, and just as we topped the 171pil-):1 of beullwes
-le e the way a few miles up, we received a rude shock to sec a 7iee t beine hu, t.::_aring at us a few yards distant. 7luc1-sac1:s were s1i212cd .eeeera tl,Ite: and jumping aside, we directed a few small rocks at the Le,,:e e: ee r3 rede off u the mountc.:n $1Cl3. Desite his thick neck, buffalo ilern an 11c- ,g%es e-!:trereely nimble -of foot and we were not at e.11 diseleased he 7as a b*t
-Ir oC.(yer company,,an d t stay foI4 lunch. 14)xbert Ce rlen Lerterw_rds related t(.) IT,') that this szme steer '_ved strayed awzey from hir mob years a:;.os and hed not
-en ;een Zor a lons time. He creatd a mu:isance by attracting tarea cattle away from,the Cox.'
-There Was, quite a flow in the stl-eaell and ie kept going until tho rides cloced'in and the. way lay over e nd round moss-covered rocks, very sli,eeeery underfoot, particularly with our7 reeals still loeded up. Into the bargain l light rra iu basan to fall, the m st ol)literatiro-the unl:er parts of tho ridges, so we bLek-treci,:ed to a be-ut-%ful oval-sha-eed flat which opened uee on the crook, bracken-covered, with toerin-g blue gums on the lower slcepes, and a tranquil peacefulness about it. I consf,_der it iF 7(1 suc'l sots as the one described, deer in the mountains, that We ce-el really aj.:-,r,ciate the peace and quietnecs which can only obtain in so child country far from the main trucks, and vihere we seldom tread, except at odd intervals. These are vho --)laces which we ara fiL:htins to preserve for all time, and our keowledge of nam should make u8 we rk harder to have the Greater 7:1u5 Mounta-Ins 1,Tatiol Park a reality,
-, Originally we intended to make e. dir..,ct assault on Gouougang,. cnd in the club room Myles had talked us. out of doilig so on the grounds of the going being too steep, so we had decided tC make the ascent en the oleosite side of 1-umbedah Ce'4.-c:i to reach the table-laid. - Rolling up the wet tent next a m, we toek a :.long draught of ;,iaterf and reci,oned on our next drink at CunninghLt mis at tea-
-. tirile, Up, we went, 'LID and t, the very short, steep and not so sweet ride
-le ,.ding up to oorara Heigl:ts,,whieh axe nothins los- than e. ride-caIwuntain, mearly 'as high as C.keuouge ng, enclos d by the triangle famed by
-Jenolan River, Lumbedah Creel:, and hacked by the /.flan plateau. We.. came upon a couple of sh=ow sad-Iles a parently winter cattle-camps from the orna.,,.entation, and ;..L.5 we rested th,reon, obtained srand views of the lower Jee:olan, wit:, the Gollougang,Range on the riht.. High up ilumbedah Creek w, coUid make out several Irvtu=Ealls, which we mentally noted to visit - FOM day. The :.;-oieig had boon extremel:ci'steep pert, although Don til l.ber, and to r6cord the 4e de, I took
-a 1,:hoto'of Sproe;,30 coming u- towards me on all fours. The printed result afterwards made it appear he Was aloeu to tan off on a hundred yards o:)rint at an
-eelpoTts carnive.11 eeLld I had -co discard the photo in my atemots to iml)ress :z1:1 walking friends of' our e6t. Rain again set in and Yith it crept down a
-mist weaving-in and out 'the gullies and valleys, nd soon we were envelepo d in its soft LtlC whieh deprived us of furt:eer scenery, and dulled our se2e se of heiht, We haDted for "lun'en'i and lthough we had no we,ter,, lit a fire f(ex. ,company andeenjoyeci c ir S c o preduced from his ca-ece cioUs pack. C,Lery Is to be reco'le,n,Ifef: for "dry" incalc as it contains a feir af,lount of molFture and may be soa c.,..dbefore' lco vine-'6, Then up agein, .'.nd in fifteen minutes. we were ,Ft-ndin's oe. a stony top aad gave vent to a hearty cheer to signify our cOnouust of the M.ount. The mist was now in the pea-souia category
-.A.. .
-and visibility was limited to about 30.fet. According to the map, the ridge ran a few points west of seuth-west, about 230, and was connected with the tableland by, aPParently a se ddle-back. There was abundant rocky-outcrcep, r111 on the fault, and ,./h :r it w.- sn't stoney, saplings grew in profusion a recent bush-fire, so that when we PncYLed through them our rucks c]es
-co_u;ht, end we were sinew red with dri-,ps of the leaves. ;j-ter going a vieLle, we found ourselves losing height without sign of a saddle, so we steyoed and cogitated, peerin eay. and t'.at into the smlid white deathly silonoei 72,7en
-the rush of the w-ter in Cams Creak had died away and the whole world.6.ee2 to stand ntill, Th re were several likely leads-off which might take us across the elixeiee saddle so we tried them in turn, each time losing height rieeidly and ending ue in the be,dne_ings of groves of tree-ferns, SO WO back-tracked thee and aain only to find it was the seme everywhere. We halted on a little flat with the firewood laid oe, and decided to call it a day, and made camp where, I am certain, no one had coped before, nor since. As the reader is aware, we had no weter, n,r was there any ,possibility of drawing any from the nearest creek, about 10001 below, so in true bush-walking maneer arrane:.ed the Abdul'T" to drain into the bucket. The trees on17 dripped occasionally pith condensed mist, but by half past four we had a bucket a yellowish fluid with a variety of objects floatin:3 therein; mainly from our cam,e-site df the previous ni,:fht, However, nothing loth, we soon knocked tr.) a ne=ican stew (yes, it was obtainable then) and a brew of golden tea and were as happy as sand-boys, After a short debate, unanimous agreement was reached that this would not be a likely popular camping spot, and therefore did not hesitate to have a man-sized after- tea fire without thought of leaving a few logs for the fellow to folloW us, which of course is -art of our code (1). Te w)re forced to the most remote corners of the tent to escape the heat, and had a most comfortable night despite the altitude and time of the year. :le went to sleep wondering what the morrow would bring forth.
-Peering out in the grey dawn, I beheld a sight which did credit to our navigation of the Previoud day$ insofar that we were ac%ually vazned ON the saddle. I drew Slproggots yawning attention to the matter, and we LID and doing forthwith.
-Well, we were on the IT= end of the saddle, and observed that it DD dip quite a bit in the centre and therefore it COULD have been mistaken for the beginnings of a ridge leading down to the Jenolan, particularly as we had been unable to SET the further end. We consoled ourselves with the uesument and
-recorded that we had only been delayed by the inclmency of the weather. There was evidence that this was an old ea le route by the weathered blazes on the trees which continuea almost to Cuntlinghamts; where we stopeed for Tunch. After paSeing men engaged in pulling down trees to "improve" access to the 78_14, we
-sent the night at T.-.erong Creek, and was it cold'? We expected to wake up to
-see snow--covered e,..rth in the morn but were only rewarded with rain, We hit the big caTe for a late lunch, very wet and miserable, and after eating, as
-the rain had sot in good and proper; scoured the neighbourhood for that scarce 0 commodity known as firewood
 (To be continued)
-/ L1
-L. --------i..,-,------ \\,
-(
-.1'
-: - 7_ r ef.
-la
-AT UUR CITE 1.1EZZI77_17
-Three new members were welcomed - Peter Jones, who was admitted last month, Hazel Firth and lob Iouner. It was announced that David McGoffin had ben admitted, but wa.: away in DriOeane.
-A vote of thanks to Dorothy Lawry was passed, in recognition of all the trouble she has gone to to Prevent the establishment of a sanitary de-,ot on the Warrah swamp. Dorothy, in reply told us the present ;Position, She has, at the re:luest of the Woy Way Council, found an alternative site and is going 12.-D there to show it to the.Council. She said that in any case the Council couldn't go ahead at VTarrah without the consent of the Park Trustees, one of whom was Miss Crommelin.
-It was poinouncod that Lolilehody had broken the padlocks on our map drawers, though no maps had gone, Bill Hall offered to rePair the damage.
-Renee Drown said that du torationing and other difficulties arising from th- war, the children's Christmas treat might have to be abandoned this year. It was decided to attempt to or,:anise it and to aop,ply to the Rationing -Commissi,on for the necessary sup lies. Members were asked to save some iPot-
-r
-The Bushwalkers1 Services Committee has been very -ctive. The Committee has post d a copy of "Australia 0f2icia1 Handbook and a collection of scenes entitled "Australia" to the lads overseas, so as to help them "to answer some of ]:.1Laggeri1g questions which they are asked by folks on the other side". Tho Rovor Ramblers' barbecue yielded KL for the Committee, and the
- S.33.117. Dutch Auction In adCition to the above publications 116 Yo gr-zine s, 116 "Wildlife" magazines c.,.nd 15 letters each cIntaining a photo wore posted in September.
-FEDERATION' NOTES
-At the Annual Conference it was recommended that the Federation should wholeheartedly sup-port the Youth Hostels Movement in such matters as active instruction, help and advice; and not limit support to the conservation aspect, as was moved at the Conference by Mr. -1=enyon.
-The Hon.Secretoxy was instructed to write to the Premier, Mr.
-congratulating him on his decision to have over a- million acres of Southern F,ITI. dedicated as a Show National Park. At the same time the suggestion was to be made that Trustes to manage the park should be appointed as representatives of interested bodies for short terms instead of an individuals for life.
-In connection with the -oroposed Tlue Mountains National Park the Conservation Bureau suggestes that throe Wilderness Areas should be advocated as follows:
-.-Cox's River country from F.Teakfast Creak to Cedar Creek or - Ko:duml5a. Creek.
-. The Taue Labyrinth betwon the 17arragamba River and Bedford and
-Glenbrook Creeks, from the Kings Tableland Road to Lmu Plains,
-, The Wentworth Creek country from Linden Creek to the 1,1t flay ridges. G These recommendations Were endorsed ad the Hon.Secretcl r- was instructed to write conveying them to the flue 1.:ountains Shire Council as sonsors of the proposed park.
-_ THE LIDD.ARY
-Many members rrobably don't realise that we have in the Club one of the c'h---..apest libraries in town and one in which you will, probably be able to read ,Y-c d new books long before' you would stand a chance of getting them out of an ulliary library. Here aro the rules.
-,"The Librarian may purchase any book when nine Devole sign a petition for its purchase and /Day a fortnightly gubscription in advance. It shall be th, duty f the ,,proDosor of the book to collect the subscrilDtiOns and,hand,them to the librarian,
-Non-fiction boks of interest to walkers are to be 1Yurchased by the librarian whe4 five pponle sign a petition and pay a f ortnightly subscription and the Committee votes the balance of the purchase price.
-The Committee shall :ziot, in any period of six months, vote more than
-E2.10.0 for the purchase of-such bor:iss,
-The charge for new books shall be ld. per fortnight (or' part
-thereof). per 2/6 (or p rt thereof) of the book's purChaso price..
-The charge for books at pres,nt in th,.library '(that ,is at 'tho time of the formulation of these regulations) shall be ld. for the first fortnight and 2d. per wk thereafter,"
-This means that if you want to read anz ho 1r all you have to do is to
-colloct a fortnight's subscription from 13- others and band'their names 'and subscriDtionsi together with your own, to the Librarian. If th, bonk is
-popular it will take about 10 minutes to do this. If the book is non-fiction and of interest to walkers (e g. Elyne Mitchell's "The Australj, n ;Al'Ds" you need only collect four other naals and subscriptions) If you do this you will be the first to have the books.
-I have done this for a couple of books I wanted to read and had no difficulty whatever in getting the necessary subscribers. And when the bo,k is
-bought it is there for good for You, or any other member, to read.
-.41 il
+----
- BIRTH H. M. Green
-. heard. a voice in the night, the green night, the warm ni,ht; "Take, for the earth wake's; hear its birth.",
+=====At Our Own Meeting.=====
-I listendd,an4 hark, through' the thick, dark, the quick dark, I heard the green sprouts sprouting all over the earth. AS I crept, soft-step,)ed, while the world slept.
-Lo, from her grey dream., heavy and cold
+Three new members were welcomed - Peter Jones, who was admitted last month, Hazel Firth and Bob Younger. It was announced that David McGoffin had been admitted, but was away in Brisbane.
-Earth broke, and the hills wolp and the plains woke.,
-And out of the swelling seas in the east, light rolled
+A vote of thanks to Dorothy Lawry was passed, in recognition of all the trouble she has gone to to prevent the establishment of a sanitary depot on the Warrah swamp. Dorothy, in reply told us the present position. She has, at the request of the Woy Woy Council, found an alternative site and is going up there to show it to the Council. She said that in any case the Council couldn't go ahead at Warrah without the consent of the Park Trustees, one of whom was Miss Crommelin.
-Then like a child the day smiled and the year smiled, and my
-heart smiled,
+It was announced that somebody had broken the padlocks on our map drawers, though no maps had gone. Bill Hall offered to repair the damage.
-For over the tomb of buried gloom
- Spring ran wild,
+Renee Brown said that due to rationing and other difficulties arising from the war, the children's Christmas treat might have to be abandoned this year. It was decided to attempt to organise it and to apply to the Rationing Commission for the necessary supplies. Members were asked to save some potatoes for the event.
-AS I 1.7AS SAYETG
-Mr. and Mrs. Charles FL:afe have been promoted to PAREITTS. Reason for such promotion being the arrival of a son. to their establishment. We would U'Le to take this op-?ortunity while congratul-eting them on this hae:e2y event thanking them and Alice Wyborn for the hard work the- do for the magazine behind the scenes. These hard working people have the unenviable job of Roneo-ing the pages ever: month on an old and crank. machine. We have men the machine and are convinced it is a conecientious objector.
+The Bushwalkers' Services Committee has been very active. The Committee has posted a copy of "Australia - Official Handbook" and a collection of scenes entitled "Australia" to the lads overseas, so as to help them "to answer some of staggeri1g questions which they are asked by folks on the other side". The Rover Ramblers' barbecue yielded £6 for the Committee, and the S.B.W. Dutch Auction £3. In addition to the above publications 116 S.B.W. Magazines, 116 "Wildlife" magazines and 15 letters each containing a photo were posted in September.
-Further additions to the junior section of the Bushwalkers. A daughter to the Iredales, Ken and 1:,erle, and to Jr,2: Mrs. Edgar Yardley also a daughter. The buf:h is reeing to be pretty crowded in about twenty years time.
-We hadn't seen L:ay 13oyd in the club for some months so were pleased to renew our acuaintance with her whet she came in the other night. She has married lately and is no- Mrs. Jack Simpson, Now this is off her mind we hope to see her more often.
+----
-Another lass to join the mareied women's union is Joyce Henhedy WeJ., havenit soon Joyce lately to extract any informi ltion from her so we can't tell you his name.
-Was it malice aforetheureht that prompted the Social Committee to stage a "Back to Childhood" party the other night. (77e had better be precise, Friday the 22nd) or hadn't they thought. The resUlts were quite starling, Some people thought, ae;arently that the addition of a bow, or shall it be beau, was sufficient to trans,eort them back to those so called happy days. Some leaped back and others crawled back to childhood.
+=====Federation Notes.=====
-For instance, there was one costume that simply shrieked for attention but we took the :Lind view that it was meant for camouflage, So 11
-Rapunzel certainly let down her hair, gorgeous ,laits they were too, Mit as we left rather early in the evening we don't know if anyone took advantage of the offer.
+At the Annual Conference it was recommended that the Federation should wholeheartedly support the Youth Hostels Movement in such matters as active instruction, help and advice; and not limit support to the conservation aspect, as was moved at the Conference by Mr. Kenyon.
+The Hon.Secretary was instructed to write to the Premier, Mr. McKell, congratulating him on his decision to have over a million acres of Southern N.S.W. dedicated as a Snow National Park. At the same time the suggestion was to be made that Trustes to manage the park should be appointed as representatives of interested bodies for short terms instead of an individuals for life.
+In connection with the proposed Blue Mountains National Park the Conservation Bureau suggestes that three Wilderness Areas should be advocated as follows:
+. Cox's River country from Breakfast Creek to Cedar Creek or Kedumba Creek.
+. The lue Labyrinth between the Warragamba River and Bedford and Glenbrook Creeks, from the Kings Tableland Road to Emu Plains.
+. The Wentworth Creek country from Linden Creek to the Mt. Hay ridges.
+These recommendations were endorsed and the Hon. Secretary was instructed to write conveying them to the Blue Mountains Shire Council as sponsors of the proposed park.
+----
+=====The Library.=====
+Many members probably don't realise that we have in the Club one of the cheapest libraries in town and one in which you will probably be able to read good new books long before you would stand a chance of getting them out of an ordinary library. Here are the rules.
+"The Librarian may purchase any book when nine people sign a petition for its purchase and pay a fortnightly gubscription in advance. It shall be the duty of the proposer of the book to collect the subscriptions and hand them to the librarian.
+Non-fiction books of interest to walkers are to be purchased by the librarian when five people sign a petition and pay a fortnightly subscription and the Committee votes the balance of the purchase price. The Committee shall not, in any period of six months, vote more than £2.10.0 for the purchase of such books.
+The charge for new books shall be ld. per fortnight (or part thereof) per 2/6 (or part thereof) of the book's purchase price.
+The charge for books at present in the library (that is at the time of the formulation of these regulations) shall be ld. for the first fortnight and 2d. per wk thereafter."
+This means that if you want to read __any__ book, all you have to do is to collect a fortnight's subscription from 8 others and hand their names and subscriptions, together with your own, to the Librarian. If the book is popular it will take about 10 minutes to do this. If the book is non-fiction and of interest to walkers (e.g. Elyne Mitchell's "The Australian Alps" you need only collect four other names and subscriptions) If you do this you will be the first to have the books.
+I have done this for a couple of books I wanted to read and had no difficulty whatever in getting the necessary subscribers. And when the book is bought it is there for good for you, or any other member, to read.
+----
+=====Birth.=====
+H. M. Green
+I heard a voice in the night, the green night, the warm night;\\
+"Wake, for the earth wakes; hear its birth."\\
+I listendd and hark, through the thick dark, the quick dark,\\
+I heard the green sprouts sprouting all over the earth.\\
+As I crept, soft-stepped, while the world slept.\\
+Lo, from her grey dream, heavy and cold\\
+Earth broke, and the hills woke, and the plains woke,\\
+And out of the swelling seas in the east, light rolled\\
+Then like a child the day smiled and the year smiled, and my heart smiled,\\
+For over the tomb of buried gloom\\
+Spring ran wild.
+----
+=====As I Was Saying!=====
+Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rolfe have been promoted to __parents__. Reason for such promotion being the arrival of a son to their establishment. We would like to take this opportunity while congratulating them on this happy event thanking them and Alice Wyborn for the hard work they do for the magazine behind the scenes. These hard working people have the unenviable job of Roneo-ing the pages every month on an old and cranky machine. We have seen the machine and are convinced it is a conscientious objector.
+Further additions to the junior section of the Bushwalkers. A daughter to the Iredales, Ken and Merle, and to Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Yardley also a daughter. The bush is going to be pretty crowded in about twenty years time.
+We hadn't seen May Boyd in the club for some months so were pleased to renew our acuaintance with her when she came in the other night. She has married lately and is now Mrs. Jack Simpson. Now this is off her mind we hope to see her more often.
+Another lass to join the married women's union is Joyce Kennedy. We haven't soon Joyce lately to extract any information from her so we can't tell you his name.
+Was it malice aforethought that prompted the Social Committee to stage a "Back to Childhood" party the other night. (We had better be precise, Friday the 22nd) or hadn't they thought. The results were quite starling. Some people thought, apparently that the addition of a bow, or shall it be beau, was sufficient to transport them back to those so called happy days. Some leaped back and others crawled back to childhood.
+For instance, there was one costume that simply shrieked for attention but we took the kind view that it was meant for camouflage. So!!
+Rapunzel certainly let down her hair, gorgeous plaits they were too, but as we left rather early in the evening we don't know if anyone took advantage of the offer.
 Jean West was a bewitching child with an enticing view of gingham bloomers, or bloomer, as the trouble seemed to be confined to one leg.
-The men found it harder to get back to childhood. They couldn't kid us or themselves, and we were almost sure that the exponents of the "Jitterbugging" is that right? would be thrown into the press seats but no luck. There seemed to be a lot of energy going to waste there, Haven't they heard of Bushwalking?
-We are now looking forward to the Back to second childhood party, w1.411. we hoe to be well to the front.
+The men found it harder to get back to childhood. They couldn't kid us or themselves, and we were almost sure that the exponents of the "Jitterbugging" is that right? would be thrown into the press seats but no luck. There seemed to be a lot of energy going to waste there. Haven't they heard of Bushwalking?
-.
+We are now looking forward to the Back to second childhood party, when we hope to be well to the front.
- a a a a . a _a a a aa a  a 0 ao a a am. ma... a. a a a a a a um. a a  r..-+ b.
-later editions of that "tooic magazine" The Sydney Bushwalkeo. rot 'heing a Shakespeare, I'm afraid that it is be ond my power to adequately put my feelings into writing. All I can say is, that it is wonderful to feel th,ot I have not bean forgotten my "civi street adventurers" and that Pm onl_y looking forward to the do- when we will be able to go on those walks tcgenes again. It brings back. many sweet memories when I read the earlier edi'elens of theS.1.3.W, and sets no "adreaminl of the days when this ruddy war is ovo2, At present we are came)ed in a Ver7 pretty spot, surrounded by bush which looks very beautiful all dressed for sering. All is very quiet and life is a weo bit slow and quiet but we are luckY in that we have plont of work to
+----
-do and the time flies almost unnoticed. Ahl there goes Light s Out", so I
-guess it's time to see; che-rio- for the. preoent and thank you ogain for all the magazines etc. Happy Bushwolking to all, I'll be seeing you.
+=====Letters From The Lads And Lasses.=====
-R.H.Smith 19th October 1943. Adv. L.H.W.Sigs. It is with regret that I cannot find sufficient time to suitably reply to yout frequent parcels and reading matter. I can only say that I a: reciate your work immensely, and I must admit that the most eejoyable reading matter that I get, are the magazines from you and an occasional " Into the 13lue" from my Sister.
-S. Mail just in. Another-S.2).a. Thanks again.
-Bill Burke 7th October 1943. You can consider yourself exceptionally lucky in getting this latter. Was rieht out of paper with prospects of further supplies exee otionally bleak when a couple of War Correspondents strolled through the ward. This is part of one of their notebo
-No doubt by this time my name will have occupied a line in the leading dailies. Nothing to it actually, mv little guardian angel got lost in the jungleThmd while he was absent the Jai took the oportunit- of landing a mortar a bit close 'cc:5 me. Heard it fired; but my hole wasn't up to its usual high class standard - was :out down rather hastily - and me- long legs would insist on sticking out the end. Just far enough to catch a bit of mortar shrap at the back of the knee. To quote the medical word "D.Wel left knee, track ae)pears to be superficoal".
-We were in a bit of a hot snot at the time; he got five out of the six in the section. killed my best :al with M.G. fire, but only slightly wounded the other thr e. The: are already back with the lads. My only regret is that I didn't put my brand on enough of them; however, the company attended to that the following day; just tore straight into them, killed over sixty and would have ijot the rest only they were too fleet of foot.
-Getting the wounded out u-.) this wao,' is a pretty filthy show. I was
-in the battalion R.A.P. for 23 hours before I could be evacuated as the-: had to wait for a jeep track to be cut through to us. At that we were lucky; the majority of us expected to s-.2and at least another day there. Can't say I enjoyed the stay as he was still dro7Ding mortars around the area - one landed in the middle of the R.A.2, which,meo nt that we all had to lie in holes in the ground with the dirt falling in:at the slightest movement. It's a funny thing that, one can lie in all the filth in the world for weeks and not notice it; get wounded and you develop a passion for cloanliness. T saw one chap so badly wounded he died within the hOur and 7et the filth on him was all that worried him. The e. eat moment dawned at last, how over, *
-one of the orderlies just slung inc over his shoulder and the first stage of my trip commenced.
-L:TTRSPECEIV..iD FROT:j. TEE LADS AND LASLIS
 Letters were received this month from:-
-Arthur Austin..,.     S,B.W. Ted
-R.H.Selith    ,Rucksack
+Arthur Austin (S.B.W.), Ted Patterson (Rucksack), R.H. Smith (Rucksack), Bill Burke (S.B.W.), Jean Ray (C.M.W.)
-Bill Burke..... ................ ...S.B.W.
-Jean Ray 4 .. 4 .. 4
+===Max Gentle writes from an island "somewhere in the Pacific".===
-ne e7- Gentle writes frm an island "somewhere in. the Pacific".
-"There are mountains on this island more than twice the height of "Key", In my locality I have been,on a hike in off duty hours. By followino a Dr:W road up a range higher than Guouogang I reached the present ternination and then continued the climb u-o a ridge along a real jungle trail. It was illeemparably gloomy, even on the naroow ridge, and the unfamiliar timbers were interolingled with Eandanus Palms entwined with giant creepers, Strqnge ferms formed a. background to brilliantly coloured butterflies. I haven't yet seen the world- bico..est butterfly (troides Alexandrae). which inhabits the island, but those alreody seenewould rival those of Brzil.
+"There are mountains on this island more than twice the height of "Kosy". In my locality I have been on a hike in off duty hours. By following a new road up a range higher than Guouogang I reached the present termnation and then continued the climb up a ridge along a real jungle trail. It was incomparably gloomy, even on the narrow ridge, and the unfamiliar timbers were intermingled with Pandanus Palms entwined with giant creepers. Strange ferns formed a background to brilliantly coloured butterflies. I haven't yet seen the world's biggest butterfly (troides Alexandrae) which inhabits the island, but those already seen would rival those of Brazil.
-As for re-)tiles I h even't seen a crocodile yet, nor have I seen the gree] tree snake or the brown tree snake, the death adder or the taipan, the latter being the second largest venemous snake on earth. I don't want to see or feel any reptiles and as for the fauna, the bush rats are most troublesome We have tried ingenious ways of traoing them and when the right method was found we caught 35 in our tent in three nights. Rats are considered dangerou; here because they carry a buthh mite known as "Trombicula Minor" res:eo:Isible for scrub typhus.
--
+As for reptiles I haven't seen a crocodile yet, nor have I seen the green tree snake or the brown tree snake, the death adder or the taipan, the latter being the second largest venemous snake on earth. I don't want to see or feel any reptiles and as for the fauna, the bush rats are most troublesom. We have tried ingenious ways of trapping them and when the right method was found we caught 35 in our tent in three nights. Rats are considered dangerous here because they carry a bush mite known as "Trombicula Minor" responsible for scrub typhus.
-The mosquitoes are not really had here because the swamps are frecluently
-sprayed with Lalariol. However we keep our bodies well covered at niht, as a precaution.
+The mosquitoes are not really bad here because the swamps are frequently sprayed with Malariol. However we keep our bodies well covered at night, as a precaution.
-Arthur Austin 15th October 1943. _Today I received a copy of the July
-_ _ . _ _ ,
+===Arthur Austin - 15th October 1943.===
-is uo of the 23ushwolker for which I am truly grateful. It cheers one up to read of the news from the members. You will notice by the above address I am in New Guinea once again. This time ex,eeriencing a much nicer climate than be-ore. Strange eo say the scenery is really magnificent, At present where I am stationed remind,:, one of our tr2ical Blue Mountain country. You ca': rest assured I do as much walking as,possible and really enjoy it. >T.hope to be able to contact Les Douglas before retuTitin,g to the mainland also a few more of the lads whilst moving about. I hear regularly from George ircher and Bil: Cawood who have not had such a fortunate time as I, but true to the real Ause ie spirit are bearing up well as -P.C).';]. We are all looking forward to those happy days which were so enjoyable in the past and perhaps it will not be long before we are enjoying all those happy times again. Many thanks for the publication s_nt in the past and my sincere regards to all melebers of the Services Committee for their great efforts. Words can hardly express appr-ciation for their untiring work in keeping reading matter up to the lads awaY. Regards to all my friends in the club.
- Ted Paterson - 16th October 1943. Todao- I received another magazine from you I'm afraid I don't write to you very often to express my sincere aeopreciation of the way in which you have constantly kent me sup-)lied with the earlier and
+Today I received a copy of the July issue of the Bushwalker for which I am truly grateful. It cheers one up to read of the news from the members. You will notice by the above address I am in New Guinea once again. This time experiencing a much nicer climate than before. Strange to say the scenery is really magnificent. At present where I am stationed reminds one of our tropical Blue Mountain country. You can rest assured I do as much walking as possible and really enjoy it. I hope to be able to contact Les Douglas before returting to the mainland also a few more of the lads whilst moving about. I hear regularly from George Archer and Bill Cawood who have not had such a fortunate time as I, but true to the real Aussie spirit are bearing up well as P.O.W. We are all looking forward to those happy days which were so enjoyable in the past and perhaps it will not be long before we are enjoying all those happy times again. Many thanks for the publication sent in the past and my sincere regards to all melebers of the Services Committee for their great efforts. Words can hardly express appreciation for their untiring work in keeping reading matter up to the lads away. Regards to all my friends in the club.
+===Ted Paterson - 16th October 1943.===
+Today I received another magazine from you. I'm afraid I don't write to you very often to express my sincere aeopreciation of the way in which you have constantly kept me supplied with the earlier and later editions of that "tonic magazine" The Sydney Bushwalker. Not being a Shakespeare, I'm afraid that it is beyond my power to adequately put my feelings into writing. All I can say is, that it is wonderful to feel that I have not been forgotten by my "civi street adventurers" and that I'm only looking forward to the day when we will be able to go on those walks together again. It brings back many sweet memories when I read the earlier editions of the S.B.W. and sets no "adreamin' of the days when this ruddy war is over. At present we are camped in a very pretty spot, surrounded by bush which looks very beautiful all dressed for spring. All is very quiet and life is a wee bit slow and quiet but we are lucky in that we have plenty of work to do and the time flies almost unnoticed. Ah! there goes "Lights Out", so I guess it's time to say cheerio for the present and thank you again for all the magazines etc. Happy Bushwalking to all, I'll be seeing you.
+===R.H.Smith - 19th October 1943. Adv. L.H.W.Sigs.===
+It is with regret that I cannot find sufficient time to suitably reply to your frequent parcels and reading matter. I can only say that I appreciate your work immensely, and I must admit that the most enjoyable reading matter that I get, are the magazines from you and an occasional "Into the Blue" from my Sister. P.S. Mail just in. Another S.B.W. Thanks again.
+===Bill Burke 7th October 1943.===
+You can consider yourself exceptionally lucky in getting this letter. Was right out of paper with prospects of further supplies exceptionally bleak when a couple of War Correspondents strolled through the ward. This is part of one of their notebooks.
+No doubt by this time my name will have occupied a line in the leading dailies. Nothing to it actually, my little guardian angel got lost in the jungle and while he was absent the Jap took the oportunity of landing a mortar a bit close to me. Heard it fired, but my hole wasn't up to its usual high class standard - was put down rather hastily - and my long legs would insist on sticking out the end. Just far enough to catch a bit of mortar shrap at the back of the knee. To quote the medical word "B.W., left knee, track appears to be superficial".
+We were in a bit of a hot spot at the time; he got five out of the six in the section, killed my best pal with M.G. fire, but only slightly wounded the other three. They are already back with the lads. My only regret is that I didn't put my brand on enough of them; however, the company attended to that the following day; just tore straight into them, killed over sixty and would have got the rest only they were too fleet of foot.
+Getting the wounded out up this way is a pretty filthy show. I was in the battalion R.A.P. for 23 hours before I could be evacuated as they had to wait for a jeep track to be cut through to us. At that we were lucky; the majority of us expected to spend at least another day there. Can't say I enjoyed the stay as he was still dropping mortars around the area - one landed in the middle of the R.A.P. which meant that we all had to lie in holes in the ground with the dirt falling in at the slightest movement. It's a funny thing that, one can lie in all the filth in the world for weeks and not notice it; get wounded and you develop a passion for cleanliness. I saw one chap so badly wounded he died within the hour and yet the filth on him was all that worried him. The great moment dawned at last, however, one of the orderlies just slung me over his shoulder and the first stage of my trip commenced.
+-----
 YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR for
 NOVENDER and DECEMBER