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|The Western McPherson Range|Allex Colley| 4| | |The Western McPherson Range|Allex Colley| 4| | ||
|Confessions and Impressions|Jean Thirgood| 8| | |Confessions and Impressions|Jean Thirgood| 8| | ||
- | |Bentghted|Edna Garrad|10| | + | |Benighted|Edna Garrad|10| |
The inimitable Ray Kirkby gives the low-down on the lighter side: Forestalling any libel suit by the Railways, we lay the entire article before you as his, and his alone. | The inimitable Ray Kirkby gives the low-down on the lighter side: Forestalling any libel suit by the Railways, we lay the entire article before you as his, and his alone. | ||
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=====" | =====" | ||
- | My deah, do you wish to be booked together with your parrot to Kilimanjaro via King's Cross? Or do you wish to know how to do the cheapest submarine trip up the Yangtze Kiang? If so, I am your man. I am wonderful and I admit it myself. Of course I had to learn by hard exeperience | + | My deah, do you wish to be booked together with your parrot to Kilimanjaro via King's Cross? Or do you wish to know how to do the cheapest submarine trip up the Yangtze Kiang? If so, I am your man. I am wonderful and I admit it myself. Of course I had to learn by hard experience |
Any simpleton can to the Railway and ask, "Is there or is there not a certain train running?" | Any simpleton can to the Railway and ask, "Is there or is there not a certain train running?" | ||
Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
However, actions speak louder than words, let us to a concrete example. | However, actions speak louder than words, let us to a concrete example. | ||
- | To commence our Queensland trip I considerod | + | To commence our Queensland trip I considered |
Of course, I am not blaming Alex. for what happened. Perhaps I should have had my party in for tutorial classes twice a week. However, Alex, offered to buy the tickets - just "Five returns Dulbolla please" | Of course, I am not blaming Alex. for what happened. Perhaps I should have had my party in for tutorial classes twice a week. However, Alex, offered to buy the tickets - just "Five returns Dulbolla please" | ||
- | The official reluctantly agreed that this could be done, but said it would make little difference in cost so I had to make a lot of calculations to prove otherwise and then, only then, did he abandon his defences and surrender, knowing that I had an atom bomb up each sleeve. With good grace (and, I felt, with some respoct | + | The official reluctantly agreed that this could be done, but said it would make little difference in cost so I had to make a lot of calculations to prove otherwise and then, only then, did he abandon his defences and surrender, knowing that I had an atom bomb up each sleeve. With good grace (and, I felt, with some respect |
- | The impact of a ticket to Border Tunnel onto the brain of the train officials had varying effects. Some expressed great astonishment, | + | The impact of a ticket to Border Tunnel onto the brain of the train officials had varying effects. Some expressed great astonishment, |
Within a hundred miles of our destination we got quite " | Within a hundred miles of our destination we got quite " | ||
Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
"Only one stop today", | "Only one stop today", | ||
- | " | + | " |
The road may have been hard but the climax was worth it. The express came to a standstill and a voice called out "Seats numbers forty two to forty six - Dulbolla" | The road may have been hard but the climax was worth it. The express came to a standstill and a voice called out "Seats numbers forty two to forty six - Dulbolla" | ||
Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
=====The Western McPherson Range.===== | =====The Western McPherson Range.===== | ||
- | As far as I know the Western McPherson region was, until penetrated by Wal Roots and Ray Kirkby, practically untrod by the foot of Bushwalker, so it may be as well to say where it is before proceeding to a mountain-by-mountain description. Perhaps the easiest way of explaining the layout without a map is to imagine we are standing on Wilson' | + | As far as I know the Western McPherson region was, until penetrated by Wal Roots and Ray Kirkby, practically untrod by the foot of Bushwalker, so it may be as well to say where it is before proceeding to a mountain-by-mountain description. Perhaps the easiest way of explaining the layout without a map is to imagine we are standing on Wilson' |
Let us now come down from Wilson' | Let us now come down from Wilson' | ||
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We walked less than a mile that evening to our first camp-site, on the Logan River just outside Rathdowney. At this point we were about 12 miles from Mount Barney, which rises straight from the plain to n height of 4434 foot. We rose early to be rewarded by an Elioth Gruner rendering of the mountain, ascending domes and spires bathed by the rising sun in softly luminous purple light. Throughout the trip the first and last rays of the sun gave us many similar mountain views, though none so breathtaking as our first. | We walked less than a mile that evening to our first camp-site, on the Logan River just outside Rathdowney. At this point we were about 12 miles from Mount Barney, which rises straight from the plain to n height of 4434 foot. We rose early to be rewarded by an Elioth Gruner rendering of the mountain, ascending domes and spires bathed by the rising sun in softly luminous purple light. Throughout the trip the first and last rays of the sun gave us many similar mountain views, though none so breathtaking as our first. | ||
- | At Rathdowney we arranged for provisions to be sent to Mount Lindesay for us to pick up a week later, then travelled by car, past the abrupt mountains rising out of the plain, to Spicer' | + | At Rathdowney we arranged for provisions to be sent to Mount Lindesay for us to pick up a week later, then travelled by car, past the abrupt mountains rising out of the plain, to Spicer' |
+ | Many of the ranges have this appearance in the distance, giving an impression of countless ages of weathering, reminiscent of pictures I have seen of arid ranges in Western China. The arid appearance is an illusion caused by a deep covering of brown grass, which is often the min covering of the steep slopes. In summer these slopes are green. | ||
- | Many of the rf-.nsas havo this appe-.r-nce in thu distn nco, giving ctn improssion of countless ages of worlthorins, | + | From our camp in Spicer' |
- | From our ' | + | |
- | , | + | |
- | trirngul-x | + | |
- | . | + | |
- | odso slopes | + | |
- | hours' | + | |
- | It will be realised thrt it would be impossible to w lk -dong the top of the r-ngu as li;o phould in mobt of our loc 1 17,agos, bee use you would be constantly climbing tho p o.mks, fighting your iirmy through jungle, climbing rock faces -nd sidling round cliffs.,_It is usunaly best to walk nt the foot of the- relnLo. If you tried this in tho rangos no r homu you would be continuously climbing in -Ind out of crook bods, but, becnuso of the absonce of foothills, most of tha coUntry bono-th. t" this range is gently unaul-ting with lolv sadalea between the scPttored hills. So from Spacer' | + | |
- | Next d y we climbed Pnorrn Point, tram which we could see the extraordinary rock froM-tion known the Stu-liner (bohind Yount Stelmor - i e. to the East). It consists of - long cliff' | + | |
- | Another ay's wmlk brought us to tho.Gondmina Gap. We-roached thx: Gap at sundown. An icy-cold wind bleu through it from the West so ,so wont,,, few yrds into the jungle for out cmp. We looked out into open country where the wind blow by day n nd frost formed at night, but it w..a,snug nxid still under our forest c nopye Down w7hemlded by duet between '.knd a coV1/2/ - almost like R " | + | |
- | not,tivlt I'm , -courso.. | + | |
- | North' | + | |
- | view from theactter h s iro-Ar 1:1604 doscribod but not the sons-tion of st,nding on the border of two 8tatas, Fyb the junction of two long ' | + | |
- | bov o. Somo of tho 1-r,ost t oc, were str-' | + | |
- | - since onvelopod their hosts. The outside circumfrendo round tho buttrQSdOsnd dvontitious roots at the baso of some of tho trees | + | |
- | Ii v(-) moasurod 40 feet or more. Some of the largost trees r-p)urea, by their lo-Nos, to be giant stinging trees, often :1D0 or more foot high. Tho older trees were covered with orchids, lichens, vines, st-lzhorns, olkhornS and other growths. Below were ii. 11 15-1.cul: | + | |
- | Two cl., | + | |
- | symmetric lily to sup,iort a verticrl, | + | |
- | foot high. As we ppronched the mount;-An its bflso w,s blondod with | + | |
- | the violet evpning haze and its sciure rock summit wrls spotlighted by t_le setting sun g:-inst the flocaulont roso-rod clouds FJoovo. | + | |
- | Next dy we -ttomptod to climb it, but didn't like, the -lmost perpondiculr shrub-to-shrub ascent. Ted Consthblo, however, w-s undismayed.. Ho roachod the top and when intorviowod (-A the bottom), described the view -Is cIwo inspiring rather thn beautiful. R'ly had boon up ' | + | |
- | nnturo of the ascent. | + | |
- | Our noxt stop was at thfoot of Mount Ba rnoy. This is probi' | + | |
- | lJow, | + | |
- | which could be reacil, | + | |
- | - | + | |
- | Anyone ilanning a trip to. tlie M.cPhersons should g,c) in the period from April to Setember. These are the dry months when heavy rain is unusual, though we were told there were floods last Junee There was not a drop of rain and hardly a cloudy day during our fortnight' | + | |
- | In this region, nature, by providing a heavy summer rainfall, has stayed the -destructive hand of man. During the hot wet summer months the jungle is too green to burn. There is evidence of grass fires, but few areas where there have been tree-top fires. It is all cattle country, being too wet for sheep. The soil i fertile and the grass cover dense. Man, for his wn good, has helped by excluding rabblts' | + | |
- | This article would notbe complete without a'note on the luscious Queensland fruits and vegetables. We had pineapdleS, custard apples and some tomatoes and other vegetables. The fruits were rich ana sweet, even the tomatoes were i,L4eet and the vegetables full of aistinctive flavour. By comparison our local products are | + | |
- | mere skins filled with ' | + | |
- | will be entirely popUlated by voracious vegetarians. | + | |
- | : | + | |
- | These two WalkShave: | + | |
- | Leon B1u er Mitta gong Nattal Nattai PasS. - Couridjah. | + | |
- | Set Aboh , | + | |
- | - | + | |
- | Ron.Knightloy.: | + | |
- | Marular Set' | + | |
- | Dlade on- Oct' | + | It will be realised that it would be impossible to walk along the top of the range as we should in most of our local ranges, because you would be constantly climbing the peaks, fighting your way through jungle, climbing rock faces and sidling round cliffs. It is usually best to walk at the foot of the range. If you tried this in the ranges near home you would be continuously climbing in and out of creek beds, but, because of the absence of foothills, most of the country beneath this range is gently undulating with low saddles between the scattered hills. So from Spicer's Gap we made our way down the grassy open forested ridges and slopes to the cleared cattle country below. It was rich volcanic grassland, warm and pleasant in the northern winter sunshine, and delightful for camping. Most of the creek beds were dry, but here and there the water came to the surface and there were springs and soaks in side creeks. We camped in full view of Mount Steamer, an imperious mass of horizontal strata and steep brown corrugated slopes, thrusting majestically into the lowlands. |
- | r | + | Next day we climbed Panorama Point, from which we could see the extraordinary rock formation known the Steamer (behind |
- | , | + | |
- | 8. | + | |
- | Jean Thirgood handed in some lovely paper which, by invoking. the Prime Minister' | + | |
- | " | + | |
- | -- | + | |
- | This perta1ns of course to the " | + | |
- | Our destination was cueensland to strangers, Southern , | + | |
- | to people les strange and the Border to our intimates. And Dulbolla | + | |
- | was only a little trifle tossed hither and yon with incredulous ticket inspectors. The Engine Driver was the only living soul who | + | |
- | knew! And lo- and behold as if he were our benefactor and guardian he | + | |
- | sto,ped the train at Dulbolla and we alighted, to the great amazement and deep interest of all who witnessed the event. | + | |
- | We loaded our protesting backs with many pounas, and each carrying a parcel in hand - in two instances this contained 55 medium | + | |
- | sized carrots and 60 medium sized onions - we began. However, a dumping ground was selected after great deliveration, | + | |
- | it as do old accuaintances who have undergone many strange experiences in the interim. | + | |
- | The variety and number of instructions delivered by our leader, to the unsuspecting countrysiders formed a pleasant store in my mind upon 1,hich to ruminate when the, need for something to worry about arose - having ,looked in vain for other sources. Except once, that | + | |
- | is When our worthy Benighted. were but fledglin6s at this occupation, the. howling gales and bitter cold were fitting stimuli to my heated imagination - portion of such heat being generated by their own unused) | + | |
- | downy sleeping-bags. But they dashed into camp the following morning | + | |
- | aglow and agog after their comparatively pleasant night spent in the jungle. And I who had been lying awake the night thru - worrying - had not even time to heat the' meal of ihe previous evening for them an It must be admitted that a splendid opportunity for worrying was overlooked when thesBenighted spent the dark' hours on Barney. This | + | |
- | mighty fierce mountain deserves a teal name'. Having scrutinized it | + | |
- | carefully they had decided that climbing B,arney was fitting only for a trapeze artist, so high and nooky and wild aid it seem. But the | + | |
- | courageous Were undaunted and set off, at near dawn but d:Id not return | + | |
- | till 11.30 A.M. the following' | + | |
- | both mentally and physically from indescribble suflerings. Sleeping | + | |
- | between jagged crags and boulders-On a fairly sheer mountain side in | + | |
- | . the biting wind, and suffering the tortures of imminent death from an unruly fire which threatoned to 3Q1,104 madly round the crazy peaks was | + | |
- | not unduly oo qr,table, it seem | + | |
- | : | + | |
- | 9. | + | |
- | The Border Fence but an im;: | + | |
- | depicted it as a stark tall uninteresting wire erection designed to torme4lt stray ' | + | |
- | pop back quite conveniently to homely N.S.W.' | + | |
- | Fence, moreover; was heedless of hills or dales end trotted' | + | |
- | uncompromisingly uP mountain sides which pd)roached the near vertical, and to)pling over a trig, fell down the other side. Why on earth raboits waild' | + | |
- | and gaze at the towerinE timbers bedeced with staghorns and trailing vines and \,,e could look into tile mysterious depths of the juhgle from | + | |
- | our unimpeded ,pathway and vatch the cool )lay of light and softened | + | |
- | gloom in the green depths beyond And, one evq nng after a stu pendous day when the search for water as imminent and the moon had been accomeanying us for an hour or more a man-made contraption called a tank was nicely set in the t '11 rasp,es. And the tank uas filled with waterl- | + | |
- | , - | + | |
- | But Lindesay: Ire ,first saw Lindesay at ver., close quarters looming up starkly in a ' | + | |
- | threatening the ramparts.. But at atill cdoser quarters it was sunset. | + | |
- | Walking thru places which were all "Brue Gums" put together and tore, we watcheu the flecked clouus iv u ink behind | + | |
- | g_,ntle fire but it remained mysteriouo and aloof like some fairy castle full of unimaginable things. | + | |
- | . | + | |
- | Lindesay remained' | + | |
- | Barney, now is a different roposition. ,On another trip we stumbled fairly easily and accidentlly onto a wondez-ful vantage point, from thich to )rize smIle-.of its secrets. We,gazed into its craggy heart with its sheer rock faces and little gaps joining some of | + | |
- | , | + | |
- | its peaks. Forming | + | |
- | ,riihty gorge pouring forth noisy waters, and away to the right the mountain pea1c2 fell more gntly down, ,cut by acaother stream of longer history and more patient behaviour. 'There is a, can') site belonging to this part of the story which is only in our imagination as yet. But I think it is worth traVelling nearly 600 miles to camp in this enchanting place. 1Jo,- pbor' thincE,' | + | |
- | 10. | + | |
- | In contrast was the countrY further west - -Having Said goodbuy to | + | |
- | one of our darty in th-e salWorious town of Woodenbong, a centre noted | + | |
- | for its service cars and gangling poor blcks (but considerably enlivened by them ' | + | |
- | country. Our spirits were low from dust, )oor,ring bf3rked trees | + | |
- | and scrubby scrub and a spatter of rain made the dust more murky. I thought "What a dreadful hole" and looked out once again to see a notice board saying " | + | |
- | Court House. | + | |
- | For the last two days we were all pioneers and as such had | + | |
- | been our troubles, but we only suffered for one half day and in the | + | |
- | afternoon of this day had some interesting views of granite formations | + | |
- | which burst forth from the surroinding countryside. It was here we - had our coldest camp, right under a granite mount2in and (I think) at over 3500 and also in the middle | + | |
- | frost-bitten grasses. As the moon rose up at the side of the domed Liountain the dingoes uttered plaintive lament and left an eerie ceition to keep us company. | + | |
- | Incidentally, | + | |
- | As usual this 1vaS a local mystery but I think we did just touch its boundaries. | + | |
- | My last impression Was Wnllangarra. Dust and stock routes and | + | |
- | darkness looming, and someone saying jbkingly " | + | |
- | to locate the town from the station we remained put - at which it | + | |
- | began to rain and meant it. | + | |
- | So our story just about ends with some really ' | + | |
- | by the Qrland R.R.R. in the matter of dinner tnd with eedh member having a comfortp ble journey home. | + | |
- | But Lindesay., Barney and the otheTS.belong to a remote world and have already assumed a dre-mlike quality. | + | |
- | Edna Garrad made sure we'd print her version - typed it out toto. A treatise upon the art of camping out - completely out | + | |
- | " | + | |
- | Bushlholkors do not often find themselves benighted, but on p. recent holiday in the McPhersons and the Great Dividing Range we twice | + | |
- | 11. d. this experience within a fortnight. Our camps were in lovely sunny valleys or in gaps between the peaks, and from here we did our | + | |
- | climbing without packs. | + | |
- | On the first ryolasion, we climbed Mt., Cordeaux in the morning and | + | |
- | in the afternoon three ofthe party dectided to traverse Mitchell' | + | |
- | 11. | + | |
- | ; | + | |
- | There is a tourist track from the, E..a, | + | |
- | peak, nicely graded. 0n arrival, we Id r glorious p,T_nornmic view of | + | |
- | plains and peaks, ;although is was so windy we had to hnng onto grass trees and 'small shrubs to prevent ourselves being blown off! On the | + | |
- | far side of the mountain there is no trnck md we made our wfly through jungle and grass. It took considerably longer than we anticipated and | + | |
- | a1thou0i. we expected to be reaching camp in torchlight we thought that by the time it was dark we would be on a track again. However we took | + | |
- | wrong ridge -und had to retret and then found ourselves w-ndering | + | |
- | around in the jungle on the range by the light of one torch between | + | |
- | three of us - being scratched by thorns and torn by brambles in unmerciful fashion.. J.Qgot on to what proved to be the right ridge | + | |
- | and -s the torch was about-finisEed and there appeared to ' | + | |
- | cliff ahead, we made camp as best we could without tent, sleeping bag or groundsheet. We wJro at about 2,000 ft. above selevel and it was the middle of June. Need I spzr more? We built A ,iarge fire, and would hrvc1 liked. an ec.,ualiy large fire behind us, but the wind was L% high and even with the little fire we did build the frmes would sweep towards us in the wind. We had no water and very' | + | |
- | On the second, | + | |
- | of the : | + | |
- | enormous quantities of food, tilen stretched out in the sun for a | + | |
- | huvonly sleep. By next morning any discomforts were forgotten and ,u started off for fresh fields to conquer. | + | |
- | STOP' | + | |
- | Do you know whal Wo hear hat the l' | + | |
- | tOw, this stork took a lot of catching, but we have authoritative information that another ex-President is rocking a cradle. Way bacx in February, the Richard Orockers acided Caroline Maljorie to the family tree. Yes, that was why tiwy missed their first reunion: Both mother and daughter doing well. | + | |
- | Did you know the reason behind the extra-broE-dness of Bob Eastoe' | + | |
- | name, Jonathan; date, 18.7.46; weight at birth, albs. Long in limbs, -nd , | + | |
- | Sheila Garrad now answers to the name of 7Mother", | + | |
- | Who will be next? Rumour has t. that evants _are )onding. Watch next issue for furtiler development-SI Apply this-pffibe, | + | |
+ | Another day's walk brought us to the Condamine Gap. We reached the Gap at sundown. An icy-cold wind blew through it from the West so we went a few yards into the jungle for out camp. We looked out into open country where the wind blew by day and frost formed at night, but it was snug and still under our forest canopy. Dawn was heralded by a duet between a dingo and a cow - almost like a " | ||
+ | |||
+ | North of the Gap is the highest point of the ranges, Mounts Superbus (4,493 ft.) and to the South is Wilson' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Two days' walk through open timber, not unlike our Bluegum Forest, and through more cleared country and jungle brought us to Mount Lindesay. Most of the way we followed the border fence. Though this involved a very steep climb over Mount Clunie, any alternative route would have been much further or rougher. Lindesay is a beautifully proportioned mountain, its lower slopes rising symmetrically to support a vertical block of basalt 600 or more foot high. As we approached the mountain its base was blended with the violet evening haze and its square rock summit was spotlighted by the setting sun against the flocculent rose-red clouds above. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next day we attempted to climb it, but didn't like the almost perpendicular shrub-to-shrub ascent. Ted Constable, however, was undismayed. He reached the top and when interviewed (at the bottom), described the view as awe inspiring rather than beautiful. Ray had been up before but must have travelled too fast to notice the hair-raising nature of the ascent. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our next stop was at the foot of Mount Barney. This is probably the most imposing mountain in Australia, as it rises straight from nearly level country some 500 feet above sea level to a height of 4434 feet. It is difficult, though not dangerous to climb. We followed Barney Creek, which rises between Mount Barney and Mount Bellow, and came to a most spectacular gorge. From the bottom of the gorge we looked up an almost unbroken rock face to the west peak of Barney. The creek poured through narrow gap into a great pool which could be reached only by crawling through a hole in the rock wall. We believe that on the upper reaches of this creek, if anywhere, there may be a truly primitive area. There is no grazing and almost certainly no route for taking out timber. It may even have escaped fires. A week or more could well be spent in exploring the Barney locality. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Anyone planning a trip to the McPhersons should go in the period from April to September. These are the dry months when heavy rain is unusual, though we were told there were floods last June. There was not a drop of rain and hardly a cloudy day during our fortnight' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In this region, nature, by providing a heavy summer rainfall, has stayed the destructive hand of man. During the hot wet summer months the jungle is too green to burn. There is evidence of grass fires, but few areas where there have been tree-top fires. It is all cattle country, being too wet for sheep. The soil is fertile and the grass cover dense. Man, for his own good, has helped by excluding rabbits. Thus the fire, droughts, sheep and rabbits team has never got a start on the mountains, which show no signs of erosion. Much of the country is too rough for timber-getting and here man has co-operated positively preserving some of the best remaining forest areas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This article would not be complete without a note on the luscious Queensland fruits and vegetables. We had pineapples, custard apples and some tomatoes and other vegetables. The fruits were rich and sweet, even the tomatoes were sweet and the vegetables full of distinctive flavour. By comparison our local products are mere skins filled with cellusose and water by the use of forcing fertilisers. In time to come I believe that Southern Queensland will be entirely populated by voracious vegetarians. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Walks Programme.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | These two walks have been interchanged: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leon Bluer: Mittagong - Nattai - Nattai Pass - Couridjah. Set down for Oct. 11, 12, 13. Will take place on Sept. 20, 21, 22. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Ron Knightley: Tallong - Badgery' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Jean Thirgood handed in some lovely paper which, by invoking the Prime Minister' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====" | ||
+ | |||
+ | This perta1ns of course to the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our destination was Queensland to strangers, Southern Queensland to people less strange and the Border to our intimates. And Dulbolla was only a little trifle tossed hither and yon with incredulous ticket inspectors. The Engine Driver was the only living soul who knew! And lo and behold as if he were our benefactor and guardian he stopped the train at Dulbolla and we alighted, to the great amazement and deep interest of all who witnessed the event. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We loaded our protesting backs with many pounds, and each carrying a parcel in hand - in two instances this contained 55 medium sized carrots and 60 medium sized onions - we began. However, a dumping ground was selected after great deliberation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The variety and number of instructions delivered by our leader to the unsuspecting countrysiders formed a pleasant store in my mind upon which to ruminate when the need for something to worry about arose - having looked in vain for other sources. Except once, that is. When our worthy Benighted were but fledglings at this occupation, the howling gales and bitter cold were fitting stimuli to my heated imagination - portion of such heat being generated by their own unused, downy sleeping-bags. But they dashed into camp the following morning aglow and agog after their comparatively pleasant night spent in the jungle. And I who had been lying awake the night thru - worrying - had not even time to heat the meal of the previous evening for them and it must be admitted that a splendid opportunity for worrying was overlooked when the Benighted spent the dark hours on Barney. This mighty fierce mountain deserves a real name. Having scrutinized it carefully they had decided that climbing Barney was fitting only for a trapeze artist, so high and rocky and wild did it seem. But the courageous were undaunted and set off, at near dawn but did not return till 11.30 a.m. the following day! And then I could act my long awaited role of ministering angel, for they looked worn and as if torn both mentally and physically from indescribable sufferings. Sleeping between jagged crags and boulders on a fairly sheer mountain side in the biting wind, and suffering the tortures of imminent death from an unruly fire which threatened to dance madly round the crazy peaks was not unduly comfortable, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Border Fence but an impoverished concept to the unenlightened. Not having previous acquaintance with such a phenomenon my imagination depicted it as a stark tall uninteresting wire erection designed to torment stray animals, inclusive of the human species. But here we discovered a friendly thing, for if one tired of Queensland one could pop back quite conveniently to homely N.S.W. Not so the rabbits for they are regarded with just ire by the Queenslanders and sturdy boundary riders keep watchful guard over their meanderings. This Fence, moreover, was heedless of hills or dales and trotted uncompromisingly up mountain sides which approached the near vertical, and toppling over a trig, fell down the other side. Why on earth rabbits would choose such an occupatiOn remains a puzzle. But apart from these small inconveniences we found it a delightful trail along which to roam. We could walk very comfortably along thru soft ferns and gaze at the towering timbers bedecked with staghorns and trailing vines and we could look into the mysterious depths of the jungle from our unimpeded pathway and watch the cool play of light and softened gloom in the green depths beyond. And one evening after a stupendous day when the search for water was imminent and the moon had been accompanying us for an hour or more a man-made contraption called a tank was nicely set in the tall grasses. And the tank was filled with water! | ||
+ | |||
+ | But Lindesay! We first saw Lindesay at very close quarters looming up starkly in a greenish light, and gathering clouds were threatening the ramparts. But at still closer quarters it was sunset. Walking thru places which were all "Blue Gums" put together and more, we watched the flecked clouds show up pink behind the darkening tree tops. And we swung around a curve onto Lindesay. It was aglow with gentle fire but it remained mysterious and aloof like some fairy castle full of unimaginable things. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lindesay remained a mystery to most of us for it is only to a select few that its secrets are yielded. This few should be designed is make for treading airily into space when the grass trees and crumbling rocks do not inspire earthly faith. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Barney, now is a different proposition. On another trip we stumbled fairly easily and accidentally onto a wonderful vantage point from which to prize some of its secrets. We gazed into its craggy heart with its sheer rock faces and little gaps joining some of its peaks. Forming the whole panorama into a cohesive whole was a mighty gorge pouring forth noisy waters, and away to the right the mountain peaks fell more gently down, cut by another stream of longer history and more patient behaviour. There is a camp site belonging to this part of the story which is only in our imagination as yet. But I think it is worth travelling nearly 600 miles to camp in this enchanting place. WE, poor things, discovered it when our stay was over. Not that it is a reflection on our other camp sites. For they were delightful and the weather treated us to a quite exemplory performance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In contrast was the country further west. Having said goodbye to one of our party in the salubrious town of Woodenbong, a centre noted for its service cars and gangling poor blacks (but considerably enlivened by them ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | For the last two days we were all pioneers and as such had been our troubles, but we only suffered for one half day and in the afternoon of this day had some interesting views of granite formations which burst forth from the surrounding countryside. It was here we had our coldest camp, right under a granite mountain and (I think) at over 3500' and also in the middle of swampy land covered by pink, frost-bitten grasses. As the moon rose up at the side of the domed mountain the dingoes uttered plaintive lament and left an eerie sensation to keep us company. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Incidentally, | ||
+ | |||
+ | My last impression was Wallangarra. Dust and stock routes and darkness looming, and someone saying jokingly " | ||
+ | |||
+ | So our story just about ends with some really generous treatment by the Q'land R.R.R. in the matter of dinner and with each member having a comfortable journey home. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But Lindesay, Barney and the others belong to a remote world and have already assumed a dreamlike quality. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Edna Garrad made sure we'd print her version - typed it out in toto. A treatise upon the art of camping out - completely out! | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bushwalkers do not often find themselves benighted, but on a recent holiday in the McPhersons and the Great Dividing Range we twice had this experience within a fortnight. Our camps were in lovely sunny valleys or in gaps between the peaks, and from here we did our climbing without packs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the first occasion, we climbed Mt. Cordeaux in the morning and in the afternoon three of the party decided to traverse Mitchell' | ||
+ | |||
+ | There is a tourist track from the gap practically to the top of the peak, nicely graded. 0n arrival, we had a glorious panoramic view of plains and peaks, although it was so windy we had to hang onto grass trees and small shrubs to prevent ourselves being blown off! On the far side of the mountain there is no track and we made our way through jungle and grass. It took considerably longer than we anticipated and although we expected to be reaching camp in torchlight we thought that by the time it was dark we would be on a track again. However we took a wrong ridge and had to retreat and then found ourselves wandering around in the jungle on the range by the light of one torch between three of us - being scratched by thorns and torn by brambles in unmerciful fashion. We got on to what proved to be the right ridge and as the torch was about finished and there appeared to be a sheer cliff ahead, we made camp as best we could without tent, sleeping bag or groundsheet. We were at about 2,000 ft. above sea level and it was the middle of June. Need I say more? We built a large fire, and would have liked an equally large fire behind us, but the wind was high and even with the little fire we did build the flames would sweep towards us in the wind. We had no water and very little food; a mouthful of chocolate and some raisins. We made a bed of grass and settled down to wait for the dawn. Surprisingly enough however we did get a considerable amount of sleep. One member of the party was so near the fire that the following day found his back burnt and blistered through his shorts: I awakened at one stage to find the bedding on fire as we had all edged closer to the warmth and worked the grass with us. When dawn came we found that the seemingly difficult cliff was easily negotiated and we were back at camp in about forty minutes. The balance of the party had spent a very comfortable night on our sleeping bags and we arrived in time to prepare their morning tea! So much for our anticipation of staggering into camp to be welcomed with food and drink. However the food that they had cooked for our tea the night before made a very good breakfast. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the second occasion we had climbed Mt. Barney (the grandest mountain I have ever seen) and had sought a route down a ridge without success. We had wasted considerable time looking for the ridge and were still not very far from the 4,000 ft top when it began to get darkish. The going was terrific. We were swinging along on saplings like Tarzans one minute, crawling under logs the next, walking on ferns and having our legs subside into space unexpectedly and somewhat painfully the next. Then there were rocks and rock faces to be negotiated and pieces of skin seemed somehow to be continually left behind so that our hands and knees became very tender and the scratches of fresh thorns was agonising. We continued on until it was so dark that it was dangerous in torchlight, and once again settled down for a night. This time however there was insufficient space to lie down, the only possible place to make a fire on the hillside being a small portion of rock enclosed on three sides, but with a nasty crack which allowed the draughts through. A fire was lit and immediately the whole area in which we were sheltering was aflame, the sparks having caught lots of dry leaves and small sticks etc. It was only by quick action that the one rucksack we had was pulled to safety. All that night the boys were making trips to the outer edge of the rocks to extinguish small fires which started. The wind was again high and sparks were blown everywhere. During the night the sky became very overcast and I had visions of torrential rain beating down on us, but this was something we were spared. The last straw as far as I was concerned was when a bush rat ran across the rear of the shelter. We had practically no sleep and were very glad when dawn came. It had been a strenuous climb up on to Mt. Barney and it was a strenuous climb down by the route we took. We were extremely glad when we reached camp at about 11 A.M. We ate enormous quantities of food, then stretched out in the sun for a heavenly sleep. By next morning any discomforts were forgotten and we started off for fresh fields to conquer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Stop Press on the Stork!!===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Do you know what? We hear that the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Now, this stork took a lot of catching, but we have authoritative information that another ex-President is rocking a cradle. Way back in February, the Richard Crockers added Caroline Marjorie to the family tree. Yes, that was why they missed their first reunion: Both mother and daughter doing well. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Did you know the reason behind the extra broadness of Bob Eastoe' | ||
+ | name, Jonathan; date, 18.7.46; weight at birth, 8lbs. Long in limbs, and screams like a bushwalker on a ridge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sheila Garrad now answers to the name of " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Who will be next? Rumour has it that events are pending. Watch next issue for further developments! Apply this office for tickets in the Sweepstake on the Stork!! |
194609.1462754861.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/05/09 10:47 by tyreless