This is an old revision of the document!
.!-HWALKER yonthly :81)11:.itin devoted to matters of interest to Try) 37dney DuEhlvlkers, 5 Hamilton Street, Sydney .T../.. - No,l1C) IEBRUARY 1944 Price 4d. Editor: Clare Kinsella Production: Yvonne Rolfe AsEt. Grace Jolly Alice Wyborn Bus.Manager: Alex Colley Subscriptions: Marie Kinsella. CONTENTS M….Mi. - Gay Fawkes Plateau Wingen I Mt. Shivering “ Social Events Meanderings Our Own Meeting Federation matters .. S.. Letters from Lads ,the What 2ad4 Says Pao-e J.V.Turner 2 Allan yborn 4 Frank Leyden 5 8 9 9 11 12 14 SUMMER by MICHAEL DU2:-;CEE Into the chasm*ed streets Of, the stifling Town. The sun's hot ardour beats Unpitying downs Slowly time's hour-glass spills And the long day drags 0 my heart is sick for the hills And the naked crags! I would barter a thousand days For a wild hour's space On the stark and perilous ways Of thr? sheer rock-face; The great peaks soar, afar From the Towns' hot glare: There silence and solitude are, And my heart is there. From John OfLoneon's 'eekly. NEW r-DIGLAND NATIONAL PARK AND POINT LOOKOUT GUY FAWKES PLATEAU J. V. TURNER. T12o wrf ter h often ftelt that he should like to contribute an article to theEo pEAgeF.1 on sorJ.F: of him experiences since residing at Armidale in the beautiful New Engl_and District of N.S.W., but has hesitated on the score of (inter aim) his lack of ability to adequately describe the sheer beauty of some of this countryside7 apart from many interesting episodes worthy of reco2.,dre-; for the pleasure of others. As I wrote to someone recently, wherever one looks, particularly during this SI)rinr3-time of the year, it appears like a canvas from the hand, nay the heart and mind of some Master Artist, as indeed, according to the Ecclesiastics, it certainly is: However I am now impelled to put pen f6 paper, not about the New England generally but of a recent sojourn to and in' the famous New England National Park, in the hope that even as inadequate as the description shall be, it may have sufficient merit to perhaps persuade some folk who have not already been there, to go and see for themselves, sOmething of the beauty and interest which are to be found within this area. So, finding myself free one Sunday froe the usual V.D.C. duties accepted an offer from my C.O., who had buc-:iiies out that way, for a lift for part of the journey. We left Armidale e rly one typical New England Spring morning, with the frost still white on the ground and the new growth of the Elms and the Poplars, the Males and of all th wondrful wealth of deciduous trees shimmering in the early sunli;eht and drove East along the Grafton Road, passing in quick succession, Cweiifsioners Water, Gara River and the turns-off to Metz and Hillgrove. These two last-named are old mining setticmontR, the latter once boasting a population of 6000-7000 People, now however merely a ghost town, but still with its spectacular Gorge. We soon aseed through Wollomombil another erstwhile important settlement, it too with its famous Gorge, resembling Hillgrove. Here, crossing the Chandler River, the road splits; South East down the Big Hill to George's Creek, the Macle y River and Kempsey. North East over the Snowys to Ebor, the Nymboida and Clarence Rivers and 'Grafton, not forgetting of course the turn-off to Dorrigo and down the beautiful Mountain of that name, to the equally beautiful Bellinger River. We tank the M.E. turn and paseed through sleepy little Yooroonah. (I love the names of lots of these small country settlements, many comprising part of station properties after which they are named; Waioma is anothar) A halt was necessary to ioast4 through the gate in the dog-proof fence. i We were now in the “Falls” country where the precipitous nature of the terrain rakes an effective natural barrier, supplementing the fence. Next we climbed the Snowys, over which the road- crosses at 5000 feet., close by being the Ebor Falls. By the way Armidale is about 3600 ft. My “hitch-hike” ended at the turn-off to The New Engle:nd National Park and Point Lookout. Naturally it was good to leave the car and once.,,leeein to' fee.: the pressure of the rucksack upon one's shoulders and the delightful creneh of mother earth beneath one's boots, We all know what it is, this fecA_Lng of elation at one's own efforts to “get there” and-on this day I sensed it to the full. All was at peace with the World (for no at any rate) I ste rted on the.9 mile jaunt to the Lookout. ITLInn an lily own my thoughts inv-triably fly to such philosophers as may be found F.3)00n oeerlese eseays on the out-of-doors of Keats, Stovonsol2 and otheis .Th; 7.e1e edly Road” etc.. There is something iaceeeiparably sateieyIng eaals ceie ce:Itiany on occasions and this was sunh a eee, I wa.-3 recey awakened from my lonesomeness by the droning overhee e ne/Itl-engined Bomber, which brought one back to the stern realiLies cf life, But only momentarily. It is a gratifying feature that the vcry sw j.ftAces with which these disturbances come upon one is the means by which they e co quickly dispelled, That Bomber wasn't losing any time The Guy Yawkes Plateau, along which I was travelling, is a remarkable piece of cnenf.7'y Of varying width, it extends for some miles and carries a number of Seleetons, mostly cattle, some dairying and at the end of it all the New Ene:Jeeid National Park. It is flat to tredulating,country but of course very eluiuted and one thus receives a great surprise when, perhaps rounding a bend there before one is a fast flowing stream, apparently coming from - and going to - nowhere. The first I came upon could not be said to be aesthetically named. Bullock Creek, the sign-board said. Well whether bullocks frequented it or not, I was easily tempted to quench my thirst and believe you me, that water was like all the streams hereabouts, super Al. You know, like any of the cascading waters of the upper streams of our Blue Mountains and that is enough recommendation. There are many of these streams, some more interestingly named than Bullock, The Serpentine-is one of the largest, *hile the Styx and Little Styx are entrancing in their loveliness. All trout streams of course. The tittle Styx has been put to a very useful purpose by being harneseed as a hydroelectric scheme for a timber mill on the Plateau. I was fortunate in having an opDortunity to see the comeleto schaele in operation and to one uninitiated in Hydro-electric A:orks, it made ;:1 -)-xticulurly interesting diversion. Fortunately for the scenic welfare of the locality, Mr,Cooper, the M.11 Proprietor has definite vievvs on aesthetic values Hir3 ene left with an assured feeling that what at present is somewhat of an eyeore will in time be converted into harmonious keening wiln its beautiful eurroundings. Leaving the Little Styx, I was soon actually in the Park its?lf. Well to describe this place, with its tropical loveliness, its flora and fauna of all description, it3rushing strewes, is just beyond me, suffice it to say, that if at all, it is oily excelled by the magnificence of Point Lookout, which I was presently to reach. The track leads up a stiff incline through tall timber, giving no indication of what is in store for one, until suddenly there burets upon one a panorama as breathtaking as it is colossal, Spread out before one is a view - well (without wishing to draw comparisons) think of several Splendour Rocks, rolled into one, The head waters of the Bellinger, the Hastings, the Macleay, the Nambucca in a splendid array. Away to the East the Pacific rolls in on the many beaches within view while close at hand one glimpses entrancing little “intimate” views, I call them, of various settlements nestling in the valleys immediately below, with the lower settled reaches of the Bellinger all contributing to a never-to-beforgotten scene. I hope by the way that my enthusiasm has not run away with me, I must say that the day was apparently a suitable ono, locause I learn that the view is not always thus. How ver, as in all other pe-sacts of life, one has to take pot luck on that. a I left the place with a,sort of feeling of bewilderment, firmly resolved that I should endeavour to make an “Official” Club walk out of it end so it is that the current programme shows it set down for Xmas-New Year v.:cetion. My next port of call was “The Moseleys” for as such has Cliff Moseley's Dairy Farm (he claims it to be the highest Dairy Farm in the Commonwealth by tha ci y) come to be affectionately known to those fortunate SB.W's and others who bucz:n Jae i e, One cud not, I think, pay a greater tribute Lo Cliff and hi r Tz:27,,D 017i t co ray that in my opinion, they are the Canons of the Guy Fo wk-.-3sQ They have a lot of time for Bushwalkers, let me here record, and are ever rsady to make welcome and to assist with their knowledge of this countY:7, any folk who drop along that way. I stayed the niht at the Moseley's home and the only fault I have to find is like other folk of their kind, one becomes so cngrosced in a wAlter of interesting talk, that time is forgotten and next m.,,Ining one finds the blankets an overwhelmingly comfortable sort of plai;e, So it was during convers-ction that I suggested the idea of my “Ofticia1” and Cliff generously volunteered to accompany the 'party well on its way down to the Bellinger, pointing out places of interest and (whisper it fclks2) to actually “pack” on his pony such of our gear as we may find a bit too onerous for the adequate enjoyment of the journey. I left the Moseleys, the New England National Park and Point Lookout with joyful feelings that a man is privileged to associate with such people and such country and that D.V. it would not be the last time I should again travel those parts. “WINGEN” by Allan Wyborn_ As the club ha a the intention of visiting this s'oot shortly, a brief description of this geological “freak” would seem opnortune at this time. The word “Wingen” is the Hunter Valley aboriginal name for “fire”, but the 800 feet hill is better known as the Burning Mountain, uni ue in lustralia and probably the world. The first white man to see it was a Dr.Little, in 1826. The smoke he saw rising from the hillside appeared little different from an ordinary small bushf ire, but the blacks with him expressedtheir fear of the place and would not accompany him when he went to investigate. It is situated among the mountains about 90 miles north west of Newcastle, 12 miles north from Scone and just op-,)osite the huge bulk of Mt i:durulla, 4171 ft. The combustion extends over a small area of the summit of a group of hills which divides the Valley of the Kingdom Ponds from that of P-ge's River. The fact has long been established that the Burning Mountain is the combustion of the Greta coal seam which here extends to a great depth, Sulphurous blue smoke ascends from vents and cracks in the sandstone crust, the widest crack being about a yard. The sandstone has also subsided in steps in the wake of the fire, some to a depth of over 20 feet proving that the coal seam here is very thick. The margins of the cracks rhe the fire now is, are lined with efflorescent crystls of sul-ohur. The ground indeed is too hot to stand on for long, although no sign of coal can be seen. One of the reasons why the seam has been burning so long is that it was tilted by some geological action at about 60 to the horizontal, thus allowing for ventilation. Of latter years the fire has been gradually declining, and this is believed either due to the seam changing to a horizontal direction, or being out by a basaltic dyke about 30 feet wide which is running in the 5Q Direction of the mountain. Tho df_stance ovr which the fire can be traced as having moved is aboiat a milc ard th-il)a2terp, and at this distance from the main fire a small in :=J;1.17 but'fningat what is called the Little Burning mountain. This aeadr; );c–, the iAlr,a bhat the fire started in the middle and worked in two direutionol alitl along these lines the lowest estimate of the duration of the fire is 1500 years, but it 'probably started at some period before the birth of Chri-7t. . The origia of the fire will never-be known; it must remain a deep mystery of this ancient continent of ours - as mysterious as the origin of the bunyip tradition, MT. SHIVERING by Frank Leyden flIt was a ball as big as that, that broke in one of the bearings of the bus just a while ago, We can't replace it. Otherwise we could easily have taken you down to the Valley tonight.“ “Cosgrove! You're to blame for his.” A long drawn out moan punctuated by a blast of steam from Puffing Billy as Mt.Shiliering took up a strong defensive position behind the surging throng for Burragorang outside Camden Station. The pathetic picture of four lonely bushwalkers (one with hairy legs), deprived of transportation, presented itself, as one by one the three over-packed cars drove off. Low gurgling of derision from Billy as dark night closed down on the scene of the tragedy. But,nol History is made at night! Feverish plotting by agile and cunning brains-scampering of legs to the four winds of Camden–a taxi–seven pounds to 4rranderieyou're one of these Blank-hikers–a garage -an empty coal truck going to the Burrarsorang. “Put the ground sheet down.” “The coal dust is in my eyes.” “It's in my pack. It's in my shirt,” “It's in everything.” “Better to stand up and hold on to the top of the cab.” A veritable blizzard of coal dust as Mt.Shivering ap7roached at 50 m p.h. Four determined bushwalkers hung on like mice to a mouse-trap– tent, bettered, bumped, bruised and blasted on the back of a powerful coal truck that sped like a black meteor into the night. The big dipper, ski descent from Mt,Tate– all were compared in croaking falsetto voices as the icy blasts penetrated the pulmonaries. Arrived at the Burragorang the t.four blackened figures wended their way to the river and, after the usual ceremony of finding a camp spot, settled down for the night. That will cost you a shilling.” “Gilroy will pay for it. We'll walk on., She might want to charge a shilling each, That's tiie worst of these motor camps,” walk to the Upper Burragorang, Might be able to get on the Yerranderie mail car there.“ “Keep our shirts on. We might get a lift.” 0 “No, it's too hot.” Burragorang valley was beautiful in the early morning sunshine. The river was wide and fast, the fields green with fresh spring crops. Amid the 6, ….. crunching of boots on gravel, the clicking of cameras and the casting of aspersions, the eight miles were rapidly culminated. After a salutary visit to the local inn (no home made bread kart) and abluti',r, in the murky river (after due consideration), the 11-2randeric mr,il carat last arrived. It_was_pcked:with passengers, bread, meat, mail etc and the top was piled high with luggage. So perforce we draped ourceives cn the running boards, mutterins the usual sayings such as “Good job Johno isn't here”. etc. O p OOOO “Be-Et view in N,S,Wales, Can see Newcastle from the top.” We thrilled as we heard Mt.Shivering described by one of the locals, and carefully listened to a description of how to get there. So after a careful study of the map, we climbed over the back of Yerranderie Peak, loEt the tracks climbed the wrong ridge, found and lost the right and wrong tracks many times, wandered willy-nilly through the bush (Coolong Maze on the map) until we arrived at Conlong station. From there we followed the track over Barallior Pass, “I'm not going a step further in the dark. I'm going to camp at the first water,” “Just down here a bit, Bill”. “We're all tired. No use going any further.” “Big day tomorrow”. “Here's water. This'll do.” 'Don't put your pack down until Bill puts his down.” “Lie on the ground Bill, See which way your feet go so we can put the tent up.” “Frank's going to make the Alpine Hut Ridding. None of this for you Arthur t unless of course we have too much.” “Wouldn't touch the vile stuff.” “There's Colin Lloyd?” “He's lying down resting before he has the pudding.” “Gee; the stew was good. Why don't you bring some decent food out with you Arthur? You'll die of starvation. Ahal here's the pudding. Isn't it good? What do you think of that Arthur? “Rotten tack.” “Well I like that. F,-,ncy calling our pudding that “Having coffee, Bill? “No room. I'm going to bed. Where's a stick so I can dig a big hole.” Flying in clods in all directions a la rooster scratching, as hip hole is excavated in the mud, And so next day to Bindook Via BILL COSGROVE'S TRACK (see map). Bindook was originally Band Hook as the fish were so large in the creek(Aboriginal Folk-lore). Having obtained directions from Mr.Lang, we turned northi crossed the Gap and followed up a swampy creek leading to the MT.Shivering ridge, The Oberon Stock Route follows this ridge. “We ought to be soon at Mt.Shivering.” “Ucaloss we've passed it,” l'There's been a wonderful forest all the way this trip.” “We don't want to be Bonnum Piced again.” (On the Easter trip we had m.:;.sEed bonnum Pic by a few hundred yards on account of the time.) . a El.:7ring lived up to its name, A piece of paper on the trig told who 4/ hadn't been there. We didn't see Newcastle. So after descending the basalt mass we resumed our way to the Big Flat. Spring Ridge is good walking, pI 7
but neither easy to find nor to follow. Towards the end, ana just before the fjr:17 C'.cscent to the ri'rer, a number of peaks (The Hellions) rise up 1-117.e Thc -)f the upper Kowmung is seen from hero in rpenCcluir, Lf!ad:.rN down to the river the ridges vu.)re clothed. with yCLLCw e,rt;rialcitin aiLd wattle as though they were aflame. Tho river itrielf waxr,eedingly beautiful – wide and deep, fast flowing, crystal clear :1113, iGy r,old, Primitive and unspoiled, it merits preservation if anythin: ev,.r pre,c;erved, “Is Arthur across yet? Can't sec in the dark.” His pack is all wet ”- “Sticks are no good, the current is too strong,” “Have to go slow, the rocks are slippery.” No use crossing any more in the dark. Camp here.” “Back where the grass is.” “What's Arthur cooking? Those smelly chopsl rJhat are you burning them like tbat for? Flames everywhere? “He's lying on his stomach eating theu now, with two li42htd candles in front of him,” mNe'll p ck up iad get away =.4t five in the morning, no time for breakfast bdfore we co.” Next morning at seven a m. after a good breakfast, we r,et off at full speed down the river, more in the water than out or it and in the netles. Time was short. We had to meet the l'erranderie mail car at noon. So we decided to go to Lannigan's creeki, “Lannigan's creek is easily recognised.” “There's a straight part of the Kowmung just after the bend at Waterfall Creek.” We should have been at Lannigan's long ago.“ “The map must be wrong, get your compass out.” “I've been just above Church Creek and this part looks familiar,” “We've been walking two hours, we must be nearly at Church Creek, that's what it is.” “Cosgrove! And you've been here before too! Won't get home tonight now. What are we going to do?” “Try this ridgeldgood as anything. We might be lucky.” “Here's a track, Look! There's Coclong, And there's Church creek. Should easily make it now.” We followed the track up Harmer's Fige to Squatting Rock Gap and then down TqnlAi creek to just below the Post Office at Yerranderie. Before leaving -Plecrek we had “a clean up”. Dill and Arthur went on to the Post Office hold the car. There was no particular hurry as mail ears are alwaye 1;ifo We w,re constantly assured of this, and conr3tnt reetition is infailible9 or is it? As we ar.Aved, two exc,tu6 fiures rushed out of th Post Office waving arms and shouting incoherently. “Th= [7cne To car's gone! Missed it by fifteen minutes.” “0 Cc;r4x:'o vo76 jittae jhe.” bcweve-T zhowcd that the facts had been given without equivocat)f)a in tho first statement4 “Me car cs gone all right and we 're stranded tri all.” “It3s a wicked world.” YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR for FEBRUARY AND MARCH 25th February Mr. J. McRorie with the aid of his Movie Camera, will show us what is being done by the National Fitness Council for the Youth of Australia. llth-12th March ANNUAL RE-UNION . 24th March Lecture - Mr. Miles Dunphy. A woman visitor to the London Zoo asked a keeper whether the hippopotamus was a male or female. “Madam,” replied the keeper sternly, “that is- a question that should be of interest only to another hippopotamus.” Julian Huxley' a MEANDERINGS A It seems to he a little late to be writing of the Christmas holidaysbut tl:Zeo is our -1:.st :rePortunity as the January issue of the magazine had to be prepared before Ch::i;eumas, The weather in all respects favoured the campers, and those who ce,11,e through unscathed from Mr.Hartigan's Christmas Course for Com andos at Central reported very enjoyable trips. Eras which is most “get-at-able” for those eeople who do not have a long break at Christmas time, was very popullr again this year, though e. trifle hot for some folk who were therefore, rather taken by eurpriee. Blue Gum Forest entertained a few parties. The President who was there for the New Year found quite a few young trees and fixed things for them to grow up the right way. Those who simply love rowing, took themselves to Ersk,ne Creek, Down south, Yeola called, and many answered and a few more walkers looked up Meryla again. Mr. Dibley and Yr. Cotter walked around Kosciusko way and listen son it was good. Someone who was at Era, tells of a storm that came down one night on the overcrowded settlement. Above the sound of the rain came the noise of many scrapings. Peering froa her tent she saw hundreds of hands apparently disembodied, frantically digging trenches. Aftermath of above storm. Pathetic scene at creek side, reminiscent of earliest evacuation pictures when hordes of Bushwalkers endeavoured to identify the hopelessly mixed butters and jellies which had been swept by the storm from their carefully chosen crannies and hurled into a comradely gathering at the bottom of the creek, A certain Bachelor in the club was asked by a certain Benedict in the club, if he was going to take his girl friend on a canoing trip. -“Oh No”, said the Bachelor, shocked to the core, “Far too dangerous”. Then said the married one, “But I am taking H—-a”. “Yes, but that is different said the Bachelor, “She is a Wife,” We trust H. will not make too much fuss if the canoe overturns, but will remember in time that she is only wife, not a friend. Jean tells us that her Tom has been awarded a Bar to his D.F.C. Congratulations etc. to you Tom. Bill Cawood has returned to Sydney after beinF3 a prisoner of war in Germany. Remembering Rene Brown's partiality for tea he thou htfully boue ht a couple of pounds for her in Ceylon. We hope he looks in at the Club soon. Bill is the first Bushwalker prisoner of war to return to Sydney we believe. This month's nice thought. Bachelor is a negligible J 7Lss of obstinacy entirely surrounded by susicion.” AT OUR OWN METING Marie Byles announced that it had been found that the Valuer Generals Valuation of lot 7 Era was 6 per acre and not Z10 per acre as the owners informed us. It was thought that the owners were under a genuine misapprehension,. but it would be necessary to apply for a revaluation or come to a .o ele agreement before the Treasurer's consent could be obtained for the pnicluse. Its resolved that the Club would be prepared to accept gifts from indivirlu_lo c:?g3111sat1onq outside the Club on the underst-mding that such gifts nct give the donors or organisations they represent any claim to the manr)ment of the area. J71l Wilkins and Peter Jones were elected Room Stewards, The next meeting of the Recreational Areas Subcommittee of the National Fitness Council will discuss representations for the resumption of the Era Byles has been asked to attend to give the Clubs views, For her guido nce it was resolved that the Club favours resumption of all the land betrJeen.Garrwarra Park and National Park provided that it be used for recreational purposes, and that the North Era area, including lot 7 be reserved for camping, In view of the fact that Morella Karong is now part of the new Heathcote Creek Reservation it was decided to discontinue payment of the annual rental, thereby forfeiting the lease. This course was suggested by the Lands Dept. in an interview, John Hunter was elected as Federation delegate to replace Ray Kirkby, who has been transferred to Brisb:ne. The Walks Secretary appealed for leaders for 9 one-day and three weekend walks on the next programme. Reg Alder moved that “The action taken by certain members in regard to indecent and obscene behaviour at Era was ill considered and'not in the best interests of the walking movement.” He explained that the Federation had reported to the Police Dept. that nude bathing was talking place at North Era and had asked for a policeman to be sent to the area. Police had been sent at New Year and had found two Club Members sun bathing in the nude in a secluded place, This was a serious matter for the members concerned, and their action was qu:lete harmless. It was not the wish of the Club members that such action be taken and before taking it the Club should have been consulted. The result of the Federations letter should have been foreseen. The motion was discussed at length. Bill Hall agreed with the motion saying that the action was ill-considered, but the harm was done now and our main concern should be to prevent the police from taking action against the members concerned and, if necessary to defray any legal expenses on their behalf, Ruby Payne-Scott said that the police should not have been called in. It had beensuggested that the youths whose behaviour had led to the complaint to the police were members of an association. If so the association should have been approached or the youths themselves approached directly. Frank Duncan said the matter should have been referred to the Club. He pointed out the need for tolerance and humour in these matters, pointed to the advance in ideas on nude bathing, and recalled the time when certain Club members had been very Teabh because photographs had been passed round in which were shown members with bare chests. Dorothy Lawry said the question was not that nude bathing but of offending the public. This had been the purpose of the old regulation rcouiring members to wear shirts in the vicinity of houses. There vas no harm in nude bathing in secluded places and there had to be trust and understanding in these matters in some situations. North Era was not a secluded place and was in view of Governor Game Lookout, Wel Roots agreed that we should keep our sense of humour, It was easy to be wise after the event. The report to the Police had been made in perfect gnod faith and it was unwise to blame the Federation officials. Alex Colley saidlthat the motion .11.10- read like a vote of censure. He pointed to the great volume of business dealt with by the Federation at its last meeting and doubted whether any would have brov ght ul.) any objections had they been present. howevor 6clegatos Phoaid or-moult the Club whenever possible unless the matter rE.(11Arod urgont action, Mouldy Harrison said that the two Mealbers cauc-,ht had been doing something not complained of. The matter had awakened Eene of rEponsibility, decency and pride in the Club. acie Bylas said that a mrii:bor had complained that certain youths had exposed thiselves in indcent atti'cuele and had sneaked up when girls had been undrecAng. A draft of the lot her hod been approved by the Federation without diseent, A Police InFTector had informed her that probably no action would be taken, The oomplaint had been not against nude bathing, but against indecent behaviour, AnrAs Duncan did not think that the bringing' of a policeman to Era would improve the morals of the young. Dave Stead thought that calling the Police down might mean that a lot of our members would be kept away from Era. There could be no conviction if the bathers could be seen only from such a distance as Governor Game Lookout, Renee Brown said that the suggested action had been announced by the President at the last meeting. Every'oody had tacitly approved. The CA_sagre,-31nent should have been brought up then. Reg Alder in reply sid that many people had been wise before the event. The results of the Federationls action had been anticipated by many at Era a week before it ha-opened. He said that delegates should consult members on any matter not stated in the objects of the Club as set out in the Constitution. The Club was now the laughing stock of Era and Helensburgh. The motion was defeated, but it was decided, on a motion by BiT1 all that the Club would pay for competent Council, if necessary. The Business Manager of the Magazine said that as both Fifi Kinsella who looked after subscriptions and himself would be unable to continue with their work, the Magazine Committee would be pleased to know of anybody who would take over these duties for the magazine. Another job was that of reporting Club and Federation meetings. FEDERATION NOTES A new Reserve has been dedicated for Public ecreation. It includes most of “Miarra” and 'IMorella-Karong”, It is about twice the size of the area asked for. The Federation is recommending two trustees, one of whom is Bill Hall. The Youth Hostels Committee is recommending hostels and sheds in the vicinity of mountain towns, One is suggested on the PaLlcon'oridp /Grose River Ridge. The Federation recommends that this be placed near the town. The question of the resumption of Era was mentioned in a re-2ort of the Youth Hostels Extension Committee and Dorothy Lawry advised the Federation of the action of the S.B.W. regarding lot 7 North Era, FeCteraion resolved that the S.B.W. be asked to write to the National Fitness Council suggesting a do-outation re :Era to the minister for Lands aKJA that the Federation write to the National Fitness Council on the Tb“Garl'77.77rra Park Trust reports that it may soon be posible to fence the northeril boundary, LETTERS FROM THE LADS AND ),ASSES P.717 Bi-:eke writes: 11,12.43, Very pleased to recivo the Club's Christmas paoecGilig,s the ()tiler day. I'm afraid that this lett,:r will have to suffice frem me as greeting cards are something that just ,don't sem to exist up here, I believe some of the units round about are printing, their own, The hospital kicked me out three weeks back, They decided to turn the ward I was in, into a medical one and had a grand clean up. Was beginning to get a bit fed up with the place, even though I was in with a perticular/y good crowd, so wan't sorry to leave. The con,iepot has grown on me to such an extent that I'm beginning to like the place, The first week wasn't so bright; dragging a pair of heavy, mud plastered boots around was all I could manage. The place is a loafers paradise and up to the present apart from walking on and off parades, I've devoted myself wholly or solely to punishing the cot. Of course there is'a little work available for those inclined, but to be quite truthful I just haven't had the inclination. Lost a stone and a half up to arriving here but hav9, put a lot of it back by now For New Guinea we are being fed like kIngn and plenty of it too. In addition to the normal three meals morning, afternoon tea and supper are provided so you can see that we don't do too badly, The camp amenities are &imilar to those at the hospital with the exception of the A.E.S. The chap in charge of the latter completed his education at Oxford, has travelled widely and has given us many iEtoresting lectures. The members of the services will, on the whole, have a much broader education and outlok than the civilian when this is all over, I've talked the Doc. into making me Al again. I'm to do a week's marching and P.T. to see if my knee will stand up to it and then I'll be off once more. Will probably spend Christmas in a staging camp somewhere. The C00. doesn't seem to be in any hurry to discharge the chaps from here in fact just the opposite. Rather unusual for the army; the usual idea breig to kill off the old hands ac quickly as possible. Strangely enough the more service a chap has seen the less inclined he is to went to maliner round theae, areas I was yarning with a young chap - not yet 21 - yesterday, He had escaped from Malaya after the fall of Singapore and after e elpell in a base unj t, had joined the comreandos. Was in a hurry to get haele to his meb up the Y.:.rkham Valley because, to use his own words, “a Dle ls a mug but I feel guilty loafing around here while my mates are up top”, a rather amusing yarn from another chap, a member of a “spotter” These groups are sent to the most outlandish –daces for months on enJ and their sole duty is to report1 by wireless, all hostile aircraft ovorheacl, The day after he took up duty at his last sta%ion he ree'. tn a nearby village, On arrival the chief immediately noir:e:eeJ a Eeloction of women for him to take his choice, A gesture of reenle, eoue'te!ey to ony visitor, white or black, to a v..!Illage in the intelinr, 00 that chap told me. When he declined to select one of these the chief immediately rounded up all the young maidens, on his failure to take one of these, paraded his own wives - the highest honour he could pay to his visitor. The chief told the rest of the group later on that he considPred him very unsociable. Broke away from the usual routine lilHallac-su6y1 and two oY us roused sufficient energy to inspect a nearby 'rubbr -p1::.p b,ALopo The chap in charge was very obliging and explained the wholo IrJ..11JLess to us. I was surprised at how sim,de the process really is, a k.:_d of fourteen could handle it. On the way back availed ourselves of th,e ouportunity Of getting a couple of pineapples. They were that good we went back yesterday and got a sugar bag full. I've vaited a long time for th,it, but its well worth it. Aftc!rno n tea's on so will say Cheerio with best wishes for some gool, walking ff d cam.:ing over the holiday season, Peter Allen England 16.10.43. I hav a letter and an Airgraph to answer and it is about time I got going. A lot of our mail metst h ve been held up ,because in the last two or three weake I 'reeve received the May, June and July issue of the Sydney Bushwalker. Other reading matter arrived including the 'Walkabout” and Argosy and a tin of sweets arrived at the same time. They are very welcome as they are rationed. All we can get is 2 oz of chocolate a week. For all these things I would like to thank the Services Committee, without such gifts from home things would indeed be very different. It is good to hear that the drought has broken. I received a paper from home giving an account of the rain. Robertson must have been washed away with 48 inches of rain. The bush must look different now fresh and green, the creeks running etc. Won't we give it a hiding when we get back. Thanks for the photos they certainly bring back old memories. The one taken from Splendour Rock has also arrived. I have quite a lot of the Australian Bush land now and have a look through them every now and again, The typewritten airgraph letter is a big success? It is very easy to read although the typing is only about 1/16 of an inch high. I was having some photos printed to send home but ran into the same trouble as yourselves - shortage of paper. Up till now I have been lucky, this is the first time I have had no negatives returned to me. Has anything been heard of Gordon Smith yet? The Pea Picking effort must have been a great success but I'll bet it was back breaking work. I am due for leave at the end of the month and am ving to Lands End and the Scilly Isles. I am hoping there is a plane flying down that waym it will save us a lof of time. We go up for a flip now and again. Went up for a test a few days ago. Reached a height of 21,000 feet, had to use oxygen but it is no different to ordinary atmosphere. When descending you hove to be very careful of your ears. It is advisable to keep yawning; that relieves the uneven pressure on the ear drums. It w9s a cloudy day and the vis- ibility was not very good. It never is where we are, there is alw3ys a ground mist, sometimes it is im)ossible to sea the drome until almost over it, Well Dunk, that is all the news. I am in the best of heo lth and hope the club members can say the same. This should arrive about Christmas so besides the usual seasonal gretings I wish everybody “good walking in the new year”. 71ith lots of luck I might be there to join them before it is over. DRY YOUR OWN In these days of make do and mend, queues and ration books, we are lv zed to mancinz for ourselves As usual that enterprising ston of the community, the bushwalkers have tackled the food qu tion, with characteristic initiative and many are overcoming the denydrated food problom by drying their own. .10.11,11. ……—–.- Very timely then in the publication by the Victorian Department of Agriculture of a pamphlet giving full particulars of how to make a dehydrator from a few bits of three ply and another explaining the methods of dehydrating various fruits and vegetables. Etymologists will be interested to learn from the pamphlet that that poor-relation-only-used-by-vulgar-people word “dried” has quite a distinct meaning from its high-born cousin “dehydrated”. Apparently if one extracts the moisture from potatOes by exposing them to the sun, they are “dried” but if one achieves the same result in an oven they are “dehydrated”, Similarly the walker having tiled in the sun Ivo aore steep mountain side'Might'claiM to be dry, but the stoker having eT.2.plrated his moisture by artificial heat would be dehydrated. But we di -ss – Paddy has the pamphlets for those to see who don't wish to get their own copy, PADDY PALLIN Cam Gear for Walkers 327 George Street SYDNEY Phone B3101. 4