A monthly Bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, C/- Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown St., Sydney.

On Page 1 of our Minute Book it is recorded that on Friday, October 21st, 1927, some members of the Mountain Trails Club “constituted themselves an extra and separate walking body, with a membership of ten; drew up a draft constitution and conditions for future discussion by later members, and advertised the next meeting for Friday, November 11th. At the first meeting (October 21st), after a few routine preliminaries, it is recorded that “the meeting immediately drafted the Objects and Constitution as follows:-

• To amalgamate those who esteem walking as a means of recreation.
• To form an institution of mutual aid in regard to routes and ways and means of appreciating the Great Outdoors.
• To establish a definite regard for the welfare and preservation of the wild life and natural beauty of this country.
• To help others to appreciate these natural gifts.”

Except for the addition of one more object - “To promote social activities amongst members” - those objects have stood. The draft constitution, however, is but a faint reflection of the present legal and grammatical masterpiece. Reading on through the minutes one is impressed by the careful and orderly progress made in the formation of the Club. The early members were enthusiastic, critical, and thorough, consequently their work has lasted.

It was a remarkable association they created. In the year 1927 comfort was at its peek. Films, radios, automobiles, cheap liquor and tobacco, and various proprietary drugs ensured that the joys of life could be absorbed in a sedentary position. Most people could buy or rent a house to shelter them from the weather. But the Bush Walkeks chose to spend all the time they could exerting themselves mightily in the roughest of bush country, carrying large packs up great mountains, getting cold and wet, scratched and sunburnt, braving snakes, spiders, ants and the other horrors of the city dweller. Moreover they showed little respect for the conventions of the days when mixed walking parties were a novelty, and shorts uncommon. Walkers then were much more conspicuous than they are today, and, such is human nature that they could easily have been given a bad name. They realised too that people roaming the countryside incur the suspicion of farmers and graziers whose properties are often damaged by campers. And, most important of all, they had a cause - the conservation of the bushlands - which could prosper only if their reputation was good. They were therefore very careful to create a good impression, and to admit only those who would uphold those ideals.

There was a pioneering spirit in the early days of the Club. Walking was comparatively new, much of the walking country was little known and unmapped. Members were united in the zeal of innovation and came to know each other intimately. Nowadays this spirit is weaker. Walking is easier because ways are known and tracks are worn. We are still lookod on as a bit odd, but most people have become used to seeing us with packs, shorts and hobnailed boots. The Club is larger, and it is impossible to be close friends with so many members.

But one great ideal of the founders stands. In the loose aggregation of people that constitute a big city there has been formed a small community of happy and healthy people with a strong common interest. Sociologists, governments, youth movements and all sorts of well-meaning bodies try to do just that - to bring people together in community life. They seldom succeed because the common interest can't be manufactured. The hardships and pleasures we experience together make for real friondship. Money cannot buy, nor canned entertainment replace, this precious thing.

The old members have handed on a wonderful organisation and tradition. The spirit they kindled, like the flickering glow of the camp fire, warms and unites us. But the Club is the people now active within it. They can make of it what they will. Its future depends on the core of members, both new and old, who work unselfishly for its welfare.

In the absence of the President and Vice-President, Mr. Roley Cotter was elected to the chair. About 45 members were present.

Three new members - Gil Webb, John Thorpe and David Roots - were welcomed.

In correspondence was a letter dated August 26th from the Federation Secretary, who stated that at the July meeting the S.B.W. motion on the opening of a fund for the purchase of the Narrow Necks lands had been deferred till the August meeting. At the August meeting “it was movod that matter be again deferred until futher information was available. The President was loth to accept this motion and by way of resolving the matter it was moved by the writer 'That the scheme to acquire the Narrow Necks lands is impracticable at present'. The motion was duly seconded and carried with only your delegates dissenting”.

“It should not be thought that the ardent and visionary proposals of certain of your members are thought to be unworthy of support” the letter continued “but…. it might reasonably be argued that…. it is unlikely that any person other than walkers could wish to acquire this land…. Members of your Club, in their zeal and wisdom have, it is understood, launched tentative enquiry into purchase price, possibility of sale etc, thus, no doubt, giving to an owner - who can roasonably be supposod to have had no prospect of sale - hope and interest, which might otherwise never have arisen. The possibility could quite easily have occurred where the owner, in the absence of any sale offers, would have been pleased to give his land to the proposed National Park. There is also the possibility that…. the civic authorities might interest themselves in developing the area with roads, lookouts and concrete.” The letter then referred to the “bitter struggle to sell bushwalkers their own magazine, priced at only 1/6d.,” and the difficulty of raising a sum exceeding £400.

Myles Dunphy reported that he had recently attended a conference with the City of Blue Mountains Council on the subject of the Narrow Neck lands and the Greater Blue Mountains National Park. The Council, he said, was concerned about the ownership of the Narrow Neck lands, and, in reply to its representations to the Department of Lands, had received advice that the Department was prepared to furnish 50% of the purchase price of those lands if the Council would advance the remaining 50%.

Bushwalker representatives found the Council quite sympathetic, interested and in accord with many features of the Greater Blue Mountains National Park scheme. The Council controls the area from Bell to Emu Plains, and from the great bend of the Cox to Bell's line of road. Bushwalker representatives pointed out that their interest was in the primitive areas, not the “improved” parks in the built-up areas of the Council zone, and suggested that if the National Park were set aside the trustees should include bushwalkers and naturalists.

Myles Dunphy also reported that timber had been removed from the Blue Labyrinth. On a motion moved by Marie Byles it was resolved to ascertain from Mr. Whaite the area from which timber was being removed, and to inquire from the Secretary for Lands (a) whether permission had been given for its removal; and (b) what was being done with regard to the Greater Blue Mountains National Park. It was decided to write to the City of Blue Mountains Council enquiring whether it definitely proposed to resume the private lands on Narrow Neck and offering the Club's assistance in the project.

A report on the proposal to buy a new projector was received from Ira Butler. There were only about three makes available for less than £50 and these were not suitable for Club needs. The cheapest (about £17) did not cast a bright enough image for Club displays and in anothor type the carrier was not convenient for cardboard slides. More suitable machines would probably be available in this price range later. The Treasurer advised putting a limit of £30 on expenditure unless something really outstanding were obtainable, in which case we might go to £50. After some discussion it was resolved to ask the Photographic Section to consider the modification of the present projector, by purchase of, say, a lens of 4 inches focal length, plus a conversion slide carrier.

Next business was the election of office bearers. Roley Cotter was elected Vice-President and Laurie Raynor Federation delegate. Doreen Harris volunteered as substitute Federation Delegate.

Mr. Hardie's constitutional amendment was lost.

The mooting closod at 9.20 p.m.

On 15th October there will be the greatest social event in the history of the Club. Yes, it's the 21st Birthday Party at the Dungowan! Already excitement is tense, and I can promise you a really wonderful night, full of fun and surprises. The celebrations will be continued in the bush over the week-end, and for this function many people are working hard to give us something to be remembered.

On 29th Octobor, Mr. A. Stone will entertain us with some overseas films, including some which are bound to delight snow revellers.

Edna Stretton, Social Secretary.

Note Particularly. On the 28th October (at 3 Bond Street, at 8 p.m.) Mr. A.R. Eade will pleased to give a lecture entitled “Afterwork on Prints”. We shall pleased to see all the usual faces and any other member of the Club who would care to attend.

By Kath McKay

Adam and Eve may have lived in a flat countryside, but Paradise, by common consent and long tradition, has always been situated upstairs.

Sb up the stairway to heaven we went, on a perfect mid-winter's day, leaving the blue sea behind us and journeying through rich farmlands to the battlements above - journeying, be it understood, not like the saints of old who

“climbed the steep ascent of heaven through peril, toil and pain” -

nor even like the gentleman who prayed (to quote him almost verbatim)

“O God to us may grace be given to follow in the train”.

Ah no, our transport was otherwise. Peter, as all men know, is Keeper of the Gate, but in this Paradise was no curmudgeon of a Peter, peering through the grill and demanding a certificate of fitness before admission. (Rather like an S.B.W. committee.) Keys he may have had, but I fancy they perrtained to his fiery chariot, called by common folk a jeep. In this he swept throut the gate and down the mountainside to one of the villages of the plain, gathered up his pilgrims' bag and baggage and wafted them to the heavenly heights with no exertion on their part whatsoever.

A wonderful Peter this, for though his halo was not visible, a Ray of sunshine always hovered about him, and often as he walked red-gold lightning darted to his side - lightning with four legs, a bushy-tail and an enchanting smile. In short 'twas Brillig, or, as some would say, a dog.

As we explored the celestial territary, unworthy doubts crept into our mind, for on the grassy slope, bless my soul, was a goat, munching rapidly and tirelessly; and beyond him a little she-goat doing the same. Theye paused only to look at us and cry: “Ka-a-th!” in quavering tones, and then resumed their eating. Could this be heaven? Surely heaven was reserved for sheep. Goats traditionally went elsewhere.

Again ehen we reached the holy spot where Peter dwelt, and saw Pinocchio, black, white and handsome, reclining at his ease before a blazing fire, fresh misgivings arose. The boon companion of Beelzebub, here? And did not Virginia Woolf quote the unimpeachable testimony of a bishop that cats do not go to heaven? Ah well, this must be a purer other, a diviner air, where even goats and cats and dogs were welcome.

So we settled down to enjoy ourselves, housed sumptuously in an army tent with boarded sides, armchairs, tables, beds, blankets galore, kerosene heater, primus, Aladdin lamp - in fact, all mod. cons. Here we lay snug o' nights, harkening to the little brook agurgling beneath the blackberry thicket, whence it emerged to run over some spouting, into a pool specially designed for ease in filling buckets. Here too we lay sluggardly o' morns, hearing the clear resonant call of lyre birds and currawongs, the jollification of jackasses - or, if you prefer it, the cachinnation of kookaburras. And when at least we summoned courage to poke our nose over the neat half-door, there was the sun sparkling on the frosty grass, deepening the blue folds of the hills and making a shining mirror of the distant lake.

Tender converse, like as not, floated up from the lane as Ray shepherded her precious goats to their day-nursery; and Bess, Brillig's plain little black wife, ran over to bid us good morning, humbly and ingratiatingly after the manner of her kind. For she was but a village bitch, brought home by Brillig in the largeness of his heart to bear him a son and a daughter; which she did, modestly enough, in a rabbit burrow.

There were days of calm sunshine and nights when the wind roared like strong surf over the cliff tops above. There were walks along the upland pastures with their deep grass and brakes of lillipilli trees, laden with berries cerise and plum coloured, mauve and white. There was the unforgettable picture of Peter, his army boots and khaki clothing giving the scene a parade ground flavour, as he strode towards the henhouse in the late afternoon, crying: “Come along girls!” to the squad of black and tan hens marching obediently in his wake. There was the goat house to be visited - a stout little two-roomed dwelling set in a secluded spot above the orchard enclosure. Here Buttercup had her apartment and Ben had his, festooned with fresh branches of lillipilli to provide a snack when they waked hungry in the dawn.

Then, carefully excluding the goats, there was the orchard itself to be inspected, a goodly stretch of hillside won inch by inch from the bracken by Ray's untiring hands. Infant trees gave promise of flower and fruit in years to come; and past the fence ran the Ben Ricketts Highway, constructed at enormous expense of toil and sweat, giving access by jeep to the orchard and to the potato field tucked, as it wore, in a tail pocket of the hills.

And in tho most sheltered grove of all was the secret garden, with its low mossy wall built by hands unknown - such a place as a lone child might have had for a playground, or a harassed woman as a retreat from the humdrum chores of the farm. Here ferns and creepers made a green twilight, and in the rich leaf mould Ray had set rows of bulbs, where already the daffodil 'hailed far summer with his lifted spear'.

An enchanted place: but after all, was not this Paradise?

“Fire or Water”: In its title Miss Joacalyn Henderson's booklet poses a straight alternative. Cause No.1 of fires is described as “stock owners who wish to provide a fresh green pick for their stock, or who wish to move their stock easily through forest country”. Burning of the “scrub” is an old pastoral practice of which most city people seem quite ignorant. The results of this practice on our catchment areas, and on the Southern Alps in particular, are described and illustrated scientifically and accurately in this booklet. It appears to be written to convince the people who have the authority to take action to stop the destruction, and a great deal of the text is composed of quotations from the findings of experts. As such it loses a little of its interest for the general reader, but gains in authenticity. The arguments apply with equal force to any catchment, including, of course, the Warragamba catchment, which includes a great part of the proposed Greater Blue Mountains National Park. A booklet like this does more good than years of talking amongst ourselves.

There is a magazine missing from the library files. It is No. 149 - January 1947. Our librarian, Jessie Martin, would be pleased if anyone could supply a copy of this number.

By “Dazed and Amazed”.

You will all have read in the August issue of the trip across the Blue Labyrinth from Bimlow to Glenbrook by Jim Brown, Phil Hall and Ken Meadows. As you are also aware the walk was later programmed and took place on 17-19th September.

Friday 17th September was a windy showery day in the City and earned intending members of the party “you'll be sorry” looks from their workmates and others. It was a bit of a scramble to get through the Friday shoppers, who seemed to be all going in the opposite direction, in time to catch the 5.21 p.m. Camden train. Upon assembly at Camden there were six - prepared to do - or else! Jim Brown, Roy Braithwaite, Tom Kenny-Royal, Ray Moore, Don Read and your chronicler (who, incidently, does not write under the pen-name of “Moorschaum”). We had taken the precaution to warn fond friends and relatives not to enlist the assistance of Search and Rescue if we were a day or so overdue.

When we reached Bimlow the clouds were clearing fast and the valley was bathed in moonlight. Everything smelt fresh and clean after the rain. This beautiful valley should be visited more frequently before it is floodod by the rising waters of Warragamba Dam.

A brisk walk of about four miles brought us to a comfortable camp site under the casuarinas on the Cox . After a light supper, far tastier than the “Monterey” Friday night struggle, we hit the hay at 11.30 p.m.

We forded the Cox immediately after our start at 8.15 a.m. on Saturday and proceeded downstream to Gogongolly Gully, where a timber track took us fairly well up the hillside until the narrowest part of the creek was reached. A narrow rock hole and a couple of pools had to be negotiated hereabouts, then the going gradually improved, as the creek bed widened, and soon after 11 a.m. we reached the lid of a tin nailed on to a tree trunk by Ken Meadows to denote the turn off. Lunch was very welcome in this ferny grove.

Soon after 12.30 p.m. we commenced the 1,000' ascent. The going was steep, but no hand over hand climbing. From the top, the general direction was North and North West along fairly open ridges to Euroka Trig. A high mountain out Kanangra way was prominent, also the Main Range near Hampton. Mr. Harris and Waratah Trig, on King's Tableland, stood out amongst the ridges to the West, and “The Carrington” chimney at Katoomba was on the north-western skyline about 15 miles away. A few waratahs in full bloom grew close to the Trig. Looking down, Erskine Crook was about 1,200' below with several ridges running into it, but all ending with an almost sheer drop of about 300' at the bottom.

About 4 p.m. we began to descend a good ridge into the Creek until about 300' above the water. Roy Braithwaite scrambled over the drop, but in loworing his pack over one of the subsequent drops, ran out of string and the pack started to roll - only one egg for tea after that! The rest of us sidled around to the right and slid down amongst lawyer vines and Kennedyas to arrive all in one piece and to be greeted by Roy with a cup of tea. How we loved that tea!! We camped on a small sandy patch and bathed in a long clear pool.

We were away again at 8.15 a.m. on Sunday. The opposite bank of Erskine Creek looked formidable, but a study of the Liverpool Military sheet showed, right against the western border, a promising ridge, going north, about l 1/2 miles downstream. We decided to go and have a look. Erskine Creek is a lovely stream - pools and rapids like the Grose - and running strongly in spite of a dry winter. There were some fine trees in the creek - because it is too rough for timber getters to come in and destroy. It was mile an hour country, and, even so, we nearly missed the creek which marked the beginning of our ridge. We still had to go a few hundred yards downstream where the steep cliffs gave place to scrubby hillside. Up we went without any trouble until the very top, where a 15' climb was necessary to surmount a rock face.

Next we went north along the ridges. An unusual feature here was the thickly wooded and green aspect of many of the ridges - very little rock showing through. Apparently too far out and too rough to be hacked about by timbermen. There were lovely clumps of wildflowors in parts, particularly Boronia Pinnata and Stylidium (Trigger Plant). Careful compass reading was required here to avoid being sidetracked into one of the surrounding gullies. The deep gash that is Erskine Creek was most impressive in the midst of the comparatively flat-topped hills.

After this we went North-east and the burnt trees around The Wheel showed up on the skyline. Leucopogons (Whitoboards) and heath-like white flowers bloomed en masse, but they were prickly on the legs. We had lunch at 2.30 p.m. at The Wheel - the first water since leaving Erakine Creek.

On we went again at 3.40 p.m., travelling east to The Oaks, where a short rest was welcome. We began the final 5 miles to Glenbrook at 5.20 p.m. - no need to bustle as there was no train until 8 p.m. Pultoneas and Daviesias made a brave show of orange in the gathering dusk and Gompholobium (Golden Pea Bush) was plentiful. We were all glad to reach Glenbrook by 7.20 p.m. and freshen up before train time.

Tough country to be astray in, this area, but good for winter walking. In summer it is very hot and best avoided.

Readers will be intrigued to learn that a new method of direction finding has been evolved by three ladies, including two members of this Club. At least it is known that they departed on the first leg of an extended trip (involving some hitching) without maps, but furnished with an alarm clock. No doubt our Presidential navigator will be eager to know if the new technique rings the bell.

It was recorded in September's gossip column that Eric Rowen arrived at Killcare on an official trip sans torch, sans steak, sans Barden, and resolutely stayed put until those essentials appeared on the following launch. Further investigations reveal that Eric, in detailing his two deputy leaders, instructed them to ensure that prospectives moved 10 yards off the trail, and that the two deputies, with one other member and one prospective, speedily fell into the rear and lost contact. A little later the prospective leading the “official party” reported spider webs across the path. Undeterred, the deputies pressed on, until emerging near a cliff edge, they noted a grasping hand appear over the ledge, clutch desperately at a sapling. Approaching, the two acting leaders, together with one member and one prospective, watched with kindly interest and offered encouraging words as the remainder of the party scaled the cliffs from the water's edge. It will be seen that the deputies, with commendable zeal, carried out their captain's instructions. If the distance at times exceeded 10 yards, this must be attributed to the ardour of the prospective members concerned rather than any dereliction of duty by the deputy leaders.

One of the drawbacks in borrowing a sleeping bag was discovered recently by a prospective (female variety). People do have memory lapses but isn't it embarrassing to ask for the return of portion of one's undergear after the bag has been returned to the owner?

Kevin Ardill issues this warning to all men: If at any time you are unfortunate enough to tent with two prospectives named - so help me, I'm a cad - Molly and Pat, the following routine is suggested. First untie knots in sleeping socks and pyjamas. Second, romove rocks from under groundsheet. Third, do me a good turn and bounce rocks on the skulls of the aforomentionod prospectives.

A now pretender to the custard crown has appeared, this time - just imagine it! - a woman no less! And, what's more, one of the prospective members had the temerity to complain of the difficulty of finding the custard among the lumps of the King's custard. Claude Haynes has suggested a straight out challenge and has offered his services as taster.

Rumour has it that several members are practicing diligently so they my acquit themselves with honour amongst the food, and drink, at the forthcoming 21st Birthday Party. A recent weekend house party at Stanwell Park, arranged purely for practice purposes, was a great success. A good “Orgury” for the party!

Early last month the Walks Secretary took a week's holiday. One would imagine that this great organiser, at whose whim so many parties venture forth on great expeditions, would plunge resolutely into uncharted mountain wastes. But no, he chose “Mountain View” guest house, Burragorang Valley, where he could recline in comfort, while meditating upon the exertions and sufferings of the many S.B.W. parties carrying out the programme he had planned.

It lay on the ground all shiny and clean
The like of this object had never been seen.
Across flooded rivers and ridges miles high
It had struggled and battled with many a sigh.
Tender hands have enclosed it, we've shouted with glee
When the old bloke produced it and made pints of tea.

It lay on the ground all shiny and clean,
This object of envy (the infuser, I mean).
The old bloke was packing, with cunning galore
When rabbits checked out, he is well to the fore.
The rest of the story is sad to relate
'Cause it doesn't bring credit to Eric - his mate.

This Eric's a big bloke, he leapt in the air
His eyes must be dazzled, he landed - guess where?
It lay on the ground, all shiny and clean
But it wasn't the shape that it ought to have been.
So when you see old bloke, don't seek cups of tea
With tact and no malice say “Have one on me”.

Glenbrook Creek Shot: Ken Meadows on a rock, earrounded by a bevy of beauty; taking a photograph - of a lizard.

Mr. H.A. Lindsay's' purpose in compiling “The Bushman's Handbook” is “to guide those who wish to gain that knowledge of the bush and its ways that should be the birthright of every Australian”. “The fundamentals of bushcraft”, he says, “should be taught in the schools”. It should be “part of adult education schemes”. It should “form the basis of Girl Guide and Boy Scout Training”. But it cannot be taught by talking - “you have got to go into the bush to learn its ways, with very little talking but a great deal of demonstration and practical work”.

Many of the methods he describes are harmless enough, but others involve the cutting of trees and the snaring of animals. And these ar the most vital parts of the instruction since one could not survive without water, and native vegetable foods are wholly inadequate. If all the people that Mr. Lindsay seeks to instruct follow his advice there must be a large scale destruction of plants and animals.

It is a relief, therefore, to find that most of those bodies he seeks to convert have not responded. But, he says “There is one opening: in Australia there is a large and ever-growing body of men and women who are definitely interested in this type of study. They are the members of our bushwalking clubs. Sydney has thousands of them on the rolls of the Federation….” But why should they be interested? If N.S.W. bushwalkers went into the great open spaces of the inland and far north the knowledge might save lives. The fact is, however, that those areas are too hot, flat, dry and uninteresting for walking, which is done in the south-eastern coast and ranges. In this region there are very few places which are more than a day's walk from settlement, or a few hours from water. In fact, we cannot recall one instance of a walker's life being endangered by lack of food or water (except perhaps the time when Max Gentle was “perilously short of food” on Tiwilla Buttress). A good knowledge of map-reading and first aid can be acquired in much less time than a practical working knowledge of “bushcraft”. Even for the bushcraft expert it would be much safer, and only fair to the searchers, to go straight to the nearest settlement, rather than wait around scratching out grubs or hoping for an animal to walk into the snare.

There are some people for whom such knowledge is important - those whose occupation takes them far from the net-work of civilisation, and a few other adventurous spirits. But for the ordinary person, or even the bushwalker, the usefulness of such knowledge would be far outweighed by the damage caused during its acquisition.

To those who read Mr. Lindsay's exhortations to observe the bushwalker's code - not to destroy needlessly or wantonly kill harmless creatures - this may seem a hard conclusion. It is, particularly in view of his energetic conservation work in other directions. But the logic is inescapable. Destruction of trees and animals is not conservation.

Those organising parties for October 15th are requested to phone or write to Arthur Gilroy (43 Douglas Haig St., Oatley - phone M4407, extension 321 - business number) not later than 12th October. Arthur will arrange tables and advise re drinks.

Trains leave Central on Saturday at 5.42, 6.40, 8.27, 8.54, 10.30, 11.30, 12.20, 12.44, 1.29, 3.30, 4.30, 5.0 and 6.0. On Sunday morning they leave at 8.25, 9.30 and 10.8. Trains for Sydney on Sunday afternoon leave Macquarie Fields at 2.28, 3.33, 4.33, 5.3, 5.33 and 6.32.

In every issue lately there has been a report of someone getting hurt. This time Dennis Gittoes was the unlucky one - and how unlucky! He was seated on a tarpaulin which covored a lorry load of packs and skis, on his way from the Hotel Kosciusko to Smiggin's Holes, where he was to join the S.B.W. party bound for Bott's Camp. The wind caught the tarpaulin, a pack rolled, and Dennis fell off with the pack and the tarpaulin. He fell on his back and was taken to Cooma Hospital for an X-ray. This revealed that two vertebrae had been displaced, so his back - and front - had to be set in plaster. However this didn't prevent him from walking around, and a couple of weeks later he came home to Sydney in a railway sleeper. He was in the Club a couple of weeks ago and looked very well, though somewhat unbending. In no time he was working for the magazine.

Our very boat wishes to Gwen Roots, who has announced her engagement to Sam Myers.

We are pleased to report that Peggy Bransdon is walking quite normally again after her accident at Bank Holiday week-end, though it will be a little while before she can do any hard walks.

To Topographical Tigers. Mellong 1” Mile Military sheet now available. This map shows 1 house, 1 road and a heck of a lot of wild country.

U.S. Army Ponchos. Paddy has secured a supply of extra lightweight ones. They are a good cape. They button up into a good waterproof sleeping bag or two of them clip together to make an A tent which would shelter 4 persons.

Screw top jars. Plastic 8 oz. jars 2/6 each.

Paddy Pallin, Camp Gear For Walkers.

327 George Street, Sydney. Phone BX 3595.

This month we celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the Club, which took place at a meeting on 21st October, 1927.

Until then there was no mixed recreational walking club in Sydney. When the few enthusiasts of those days went walking the general public stared and even laughed at them. Today there are over twenty clubs and shorts and packs pass almost unnoticed on the streets. I feel that our Club can justly claim to have had a large share in bringing about this big increase in bushwalking as a recreation.

In the twenty-one years of our existence our membership has increased from 43 to nearly 300. But our influence has not been due so much to our numbers as to the strength of our walking activities, which has been a feature since the beginning, and to our efforts to preserve the bush. Our Walks programme now lists three walks practically every weekend, and there are many additional walks arranged by groups of members.

I feel further that the outstanding success of the Club as a club is due to the fine spirit developed amongst members during their walks. Right from the beginning members have taken a wide, rather than a narrow interest in the bush. They have not been content just to travel through the bush and look at it, but have had a real love of it, have come to know it in all its moods, have helped others to appreciate it, and have worked to preserve it. In other words we have not only enjoyed to the full our bushlands, but have thought of others and the future instead of merely selfishly and shortsightedly thinking of ourselves and the present.

Looking back I think that we can celebrate our Club's twenty-first birthday with pride and can look forward to many years of bushwalking. While we carry out our objects to the full so will the Sydney Bush Walkers remain strong.

Tom Moppett

Those include those who attended the meetings of 21st October, 1927 or the 11th November, 1927.

Those who attended the meeting of 21st 0ctober, 1927 were:

• L.Roy Davies
• John Gillespie
• Maurice Barry
• Harold G. Peatfield
• Albert Crandon
• Myles J. Dunphy
• Alan P. Rigby
• W. John Cockerill
• Eric A. Dickson

At the meeting of 21st October Roy D. Rudder, Lazarus Pura and Frederick McKenzie, though not present, were deemed qualified members as from this date because they had written in answer to the notice of meeting.

Those who are included by reason of their attendance at the first public meeting on November 11th, 1927 were:

• Herbert R. Gallop
• Frederick Ric
• Jamos M. Pawley
• Walter Macqueen
• Walter Tarr
• Alfred Gallagher
• William Livingstone
• Charles Kilpatrick
• Ernest E. Austen
• George Banks
• Gwen Adams (Chowne)
• Joan Austen
• L,B. Loxdale (Miss)
• M. Loxdale (Miss)
• Lilian Smeaton
• Doreen Smeaton
• H.M. Shorrard
• Winifred Lewis (Chardon)
• Roger Murphy
• Ken Matthews
• C. Baker Baldborg
• G. S. Mitchell
• F. G. Portlons
• Lyle Brown
• Arthur M. Cook
• Arthur Hudsdon
• Alan King
• J. (Dan) Taton
• J.V. Turner
• Gordon Smith

In the opinion of Myles Dunphy, who was Acting-Secretary than, Jack Debert should be regarded as a foundation momber because, although he was not present at either of these meetings he had attended the two provious Mountain Trails Club meetings and knew what was afoot, but was absent on business at Orango or Bathurst.

Including Jack Debert the number of foundation members was 43.

Until the meeting of 10th February, 1928 a Chairman was elected for each meeting. Chairmen up till that date were Alan Rigby (21/10/27), Eric Dickson (11/11/27), Roy Rudder (9/12/27) and Frank Duncan (13/1/28). Jack Debert was elected Chairman and later on President at the mooting of 10/2/28. The full list of Presidents and Secretaries is as follows:

(* Acting Secretary)

HOW THE SYDNEY BUSH WALKERS BEGAN Compiled from the “Minutos”.book of the Mountain Trails Club by Myles J. Danphy. Soptombor, 1948 For some years prior t6 2927 the N.S.N. Tourist Bureau had directed all inquiries concerning walking tours to the honorary secretary of the Mountain Trails Club) with instructions to write direct to the inquirers. An inquiror might phrase his or her request in a low linos but the worthy soCrotary, having the interests of the recreation at heart, could not frame his informative answer in similar brief torms; often an adequate reply required four closelywritten pages and a sketch map, perhaps more. Sometimes neither acknowledgment nor thanks wore received for offorts which used up a lot of precious time, and could only have boon compiled by an oxporioncod walker. By 1926 this work hadbecome a rather onerous duty for one person, but as the inquiries wore addrossod to the Club the matter was discussed by” members, from time to time, in an attempt to discover how best to handle the snowballing situation in a helpful and not discouraging manner. One good rosult which ensued was that some of the enquiring walkers wore invited to M.T.C. meetings to take part in ' discussions; a few woro invited to become members and did so. A fair proportion of the enquiries wore from women walkers; none of those was invited to the club but their needs wore just as important as those of the men. Amongst those who attended M.T.C. meetings were Lazarus Pura (010,otad 5/3/1926) Oscar Blanc, C. Witham, Pogson. Cullinano, E.Barry, Haceks, F. Rica (elected 16/3/28), Bert Roos, Jack Willoughby, T.Fuller, W.Williams, .Pawley, Withey, - A Bailey, William Livingston (oloctod 16/3/28), Alf Gallagher (elected 16/3/28), W.Macqueon, Jack Dobert, 0.W.Joncs, Vic.Thorsen, Taylor, and A. Gray. In the noontime certain correspondence had appoared in “The Sun” newspaper rolativo to the mattor, as follows 1 (/) WALKING TRIPS (“The Sun”, 2/8/27) . WALKING TRIPS . lir. 3Debert to walking enthusiasts: I should like to see In Sydney a “Hiker's” Club. where “hikers” could meet and .discuss routes. places of In- terest , and so an a long-felt want for those who go on walking tripii Many walkers ne doubt prefer to go with their own friends, or even alone: rather than be hotberod with organbe- ins trips: hut their Information wptied valuable- to others. 6..nel an.) would sugicest q free arid 44414)1 mee!inc. fe.r all those who “Itit'ihe tratl” or- ganised trips could be arranged few th.tsp whowished. and. TV) doubt, the priTOTTI9 would be .one. eff mutual 'bene- fit .Tbe club Should. natbrally, -he open to lady members feer pne Nees a?“ TOrt.oy of the fair sex on ”.:ie trait as men, 14 (2) HIKING (“The Sun”, 4/8/1927) Miss Joss Scott writes : I and sevoral girl friends road with considerable interest the letter of Mr. J. Diabort advocating the formation of a “Hiking” club. With the approach of Spring tho beauties of the countryside scam to lift their voices appealingly to the Ihikori, calling him to view their uniudorned splendour. With some friends I periodically go out on walking tburs, and find it a very healthful and interesting pastime. 4 It is one which, were it easier to got information re routes and convonioncos for camping, would be unsurpassod. (3) WALKING TOURS (“The Sun”, 5/8/1927) Mr.11ylos J. Dunphy (Secretary, Mountain Trails Club) writes ; The Mountain Trails Club of N.S.W. has specialised in walking and camping tours, and the prosorvation of native fauna and flora and beauty spots, for the past 14 yoars. Any intorestod visitors are wolcome at the meetings hold second Friday every month, 7.30 p.m., at Room 3, N.S.W. Sports Club Building, side entrance, 10 Hunter Street, Sydney. The club is an amateur exploring ono; its members preferring rough country right away from dottlomont, and for that reason membership is by invitation only, and ladies arc not eligible for membership, although on Soma easier trips they have been included in the parties, carrying their own packs, notably to Barrington Tops, Bulge. and. Comboyno Plateaux, Burragorang Valley, Iarrowitch, etc. Any information as to known routes* and kit will be gladly given. Tho immediate result of those letters was that the not M.T.Comeeting hold on 13/8/27: Messrs. Livingstono,'Gallagher and Dbbort, and 0.W. Jones A walk to*Gario was arranged for 28th August. - 411. dovon men visitors callod at Pawley, Withey, Bailey, Mdcquoan, wrote applying for membership. At the naxt mooting, hold on 9/9/27, the following visitor's attonded::MessrS.' Pawloy, Livingston, Gallaptor, Thorsen, Taylor-, Dobort, Gray and MacqUeen. Another walk was arranged from Bundeona to Helonsburgh for 18th Soptember. At the mooting held on 14/10/27 Messrs. Lvingstono, Gray, Rico and Gallagher attondod. It bocamo plain to the Trailers that the club should do something to help the unorganized male walkers without having to break its constitution. The question wass how far could the process of absorption be carried without changing the club's unique character? Its members would hot dabsiagotheir bush brotherhood. - A special mooting was pqrlod foi 21st Ootobor,,1927. The motion*: “That the club create probationary mombbre:wae arguad.at length, with the result that probationary momborship-,ma,dthoughttbe.lUnsatisfactory. Members wore in a quandary; they wore animatod,..1.0Y: f.ho dosirt.lo. do. something for the unattached walkers who expected assistance, but ,thayjc.gald.'not”..edmit ladies to membership, or any non who lacked thb trailer irietinct–.amd.b.iishmanship. . . It was decided a lotter plan: would IDA . fofm , a.separato walking club, distinct from the M.T.C., hairifriff its:oymmanagement, but by name or symbol to dhow it was formed under the auspiopd of'tho-M.T.C. – it was agreed that tho M.T.C. could not do loss th'anrondara 010.c service by forming a now k0:1-king club, with an easy constitutpid.rOtritl.,bv9ricanditioris of membership, – with tlya definite objoct of being a rocron4gnal:76.1korst club, purely and dimply, and opon to members of both 'Elexos*—, .tomo:.M4bers*.of the M.T.C. would be pleased to belong to such a free club. 15 Alan P. Rigby moved that “a new walkinE club be formed hero and now”. The - motion:wassocended by '4.ROy-Davies and ca,:ried unanimously, the members present being M.L.Borry (chairman); L.R.ravies, A,J.Orandon, A.P.Rigby, E.A.Dlckson, J. Gillespie, H.G.Peatfiold, and M.J.Dunphy (hon.secretary) -7 It wat resolved that :tbroO.absent members who bad.written the socretAry in support of the matter be Abomed members of the now 'club; they were: R,D..Rudder, L.Pura, and F.McKenzie.- in all eleven mmbers. Thereupon the M.T.C. mooting was declared closed by the chairman and the first mootin,7 of the now walking club was declared :Ten (21st October, 1927). A.P. Rigby was requested to act as chairman and M.J.arlapi:y wae appointed acting secretary. On the suggestion of M.J.rUnphy the name of the now club tentatively was declared to be “the Waratab Walking Club”, because of the M.1'.0. badge emblem and the affiliation or association the M.T.C. considered desLrable. The objects and constituticin of the new club wore drawn up immediately, the date of next mooting decided, and it was arranged that notice of mooting should be inserted in “The Sun” newspaper.. MEETING NO. 2 The press notice for this mooting read as follows t NEV WALKING CLUB (“The Sun”, 5/11/27) ) The Secretary of the Mountain Trails Club, N.S.W. (Mr. Myles J.Dee:Ay) writest- It should be a matter of interest to all recreation walkers in t:le Stato, that primarily through previous correspondence in “The Sun”, a new walking ,:lub was recently formed,' under the auspices of the M.T.C., and affiliated with it. This action should fill a long-felt want. Membership is open to all waning enthusiasts of either sex over the age of 16 years. - All interested are invited to attend the next meeting, to be held Friday, November 11, at 7.30 p.m., Room 3, side entrance, N.S.W. Sports Club Building, 10 Hunter Street, when the constitutionwill be reviewed, the personnel listed, and further tours arranged. No meeting of the M.T.C. was held on 11th November. This allowed the interested M.T.C. members to attend this second meeting of 'the Waratah Walking Club“. Many visitors turned up, includbg a number of ladies. Mr. Eric A.Dickson was elected acting Chairman. _Mr. Charles G.Kilpatrick was elected hon.socrotary. The mooting discussed the Objects, Constitution and Gonditions of Membership, the Club's name, and annuil subscription. A committee was elected ta dridw.up a programmo of i few walks. The olub was not yet named “The Sydney Bueh “fal'ers.” 'MEETING NO. 3 - held on 8th. reeember, 1927. . As before, this mooting was held in the green-painted Long Room on the First Floor of the N.S.W. Sports Club Building, 10 Hunter Street, Sydney. Thirty-eight or more poreons attended. At this meeting the name “The Bush Walkers” was chosen, then altered to “The Sydney Bush Walkers,” as recorded in tb Minutes d- the mooting. Won, that is the way it began. R.D. Rudder and other M.T.C. members for 0 While wore in favour of establishing a branch club of the M.T.C. FroM the clubts point of view this idoa at first appeared sound, but the autonomous club idea won out. main idea was to start the now club off in the right direction,-with tho physical pleasure of walking controlled by an ideology wherein appreciation 16 . of outdoors, mutual aid, sociability, and the preservation ce wild-life, flora, and the natural beauty of tho country wore all combined. It is not generally roalisod that the Objects of the Sydney Bush Walkers aro a simplified version of the Trailers' code. As it happened they foll.into good' hands, and through the S.B.W..and the N.S.W. Federation of Bush Walking Clubs tho whole bushwnlking movement has boon more or loss modelled on the some Australian budhland culture. Wo in our day are too close to the bushwalking movoment-to sof) it in proper porepoctivo, many of us will not live long enough to appreciate its real _importance as a driving force which is a philosophy translato& into action and works,. a unique oducating agency and a remarkable phase of national solf-appraiso,moa based on confidence. Nobody laughs at bushwalking. Nobody could laugh at youth controllod by a noble ideal. Tho groat results of budhwalking - how it affects the bushwalkor and his environment ho forward in the future. When trailers, bush-trackers, bushlandors and bush-walkers have ceased to exist as activc social entities and propagandists, the tangible results of their social, cohstructive and long-sighted planning will everywhere remind pooplo that those uhdesecrated parklands wore secured as environment for living by clear-headed idealists who had both foot on 'tho ground. It will be rocorded of them that they delighted in the bushland onvironmont in their own time, and all it had of flower, fur and feather, and 'wont to no end of trouble to preserve it for the people of the future. Every reserve, every parkland, every troo and track preserved for the future will bo a monument to the sanity of bushwalkors, their brother consorvators, and the authorities who helped in the good work.

HOW IT	BEGAN 

by Jack Diabort . :Sitting in a “preserved” seat on the “Chips; brother belongs Australia's most Toxeluaivo train, “Tho Fish” – one holiday Friday evening, I saw a group of hefty bushwalkors setting off dawn the platform to look for soats in the 5.17 p.m: Nbuntains train. ' Thoy looked just like bushwalkors havo looked for years; nobody looked twico at them as they wont past. But my mind flashed back twenty-ono years, and I' wondered if the walkers of today realised that in that &bort space of time the buahwalkor had passed from a curiosity to the crowd into just a crowd commonplace. Lot's go back 1927 KinesBirthday week-end and I, a solitary walker, was doing the Bridle Track to Jonolan Caves. I thought a good deal about the formation of a walking club in Sydney. Shortly afterwards, returning from a week-end walk down the South Coast, I drafted a letter on the subject to the “Sun”, as the train rattlod Sydney-wards. On August 1st, 1927 the letter was printed (see Mylos Dunphy's articlo ”- Ed.) co: , It brought forth into print three other letters on the subject and to ms a warmly friendly noto from Frank Duncan. To decided to arrange a walk – Frances Ramsay, Dympna Cusack, Anico aincan, Coe. Goldberg, Frank and I – and we made plans for a club and What it might do. 17 ' . Then I attonded a Mountain Trails Olub monthly mooting, listened to what Myles Dunphy and his henchmen ha l to say, and put for,,-7ard my own idos. Thor I galnod somo supporters, among them Alan Rigby ar.d iValtor Maoquoon. . ,

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wont on a -walk with the Mountain Trails Club, but still felt we should. form a different walking group. So after a d:I.acussion among thoso intorostod we decided to call a Mooting, by advertisomcint, for tho,purposo of forming a move club. And in October, 1927.a mixed walking club began. At a later mooting I was appointed Chairman becauso nobe-dy elsowould

accept the job	and by the same devious moans tic-2,1,mo the club1l6 first Prosidont.

Compared with the mootings all walking was easy. Vo spent hours on tho soloction of a club name. One of the biggest bones of contention was I./botherwo should prefix “Them to our title. One strongly suprorte ti10 was “The – Bush walking Club of Sydney*.

Eventually, however, after a good deal of "7o "The or not to 'The"ingt we decided by ballot on Docomber 9  1927,  to be called "The 8ydnoy Bush ilalkore.

The law of :lobate was a knotty problem at those early rnuot:ngo Ic ore small group of individualists, young and enthusiastic:, ga comm.-1.10d meetings early, finidi ed lato. It took about three mootings to finally Li.oloot the beautiful badge, do signed by Alan Rigby, that we all prize Go highly, The competition was keon and I often wonior whathgpponod to other excellent dosigns suggested. But ovon more meetings woro roquirod to franc the constitution, arid at ono stage in the Club' s early history manbors wore to hi-ve blazoro to wear. Try it out on some of tha “eldstors”. Mention “Hookers No.2” or “Bottle Groonw, note the grins and ace if you can got them to toll you the sto-1V In the meartime we walked lots, talked much, had growing pains and had to look for lar gor club rooms. The social silo developed rapidly. ITo had debates arid talks on carving gear, moat eaters etc. Loctures and dances were organisod and one way and anothor we had our fun from the tart. As I said before, the bushwalkor of toy is token for granted by the crowd.

But not in 1927	Maio thembors who left home in Fh orts had to taco dorisivo

cries of “Yah, footballorl” and it took samo courage in those far off days to return home to a select Harbour suburb on the churchpar('a boat on Sunday night, with grubby shorts and a hefty pack. But we had our probloms too. Privato parties bocano a bore of contention, for instal. co. Many members considorod that private parties took members away from club walks. Actually it was never want for mcmbors to attend official ks only. Besides, privato 'parties showod enterpriso in finding now walks. There was no Paddy Pallin in those days or, rather, ho was not turning out lightweight carving gear for wAlkors. No spent a good deal of time– and argument in raking, )ur own gear. There was always the rucksal,k, v.. swag carrier discussion. Some of the gear was both weird anl vondorful but grin:Tidally we nada or found the most suitable oquipment for our noode. Healthy rivelry existod botweon the vc.,,getorians and the moat eaters. Tile former said the moateaters had to oat more to =A up for the woiga, ce moat they, X Name proposed by Maurie Berry Ed. 9 carried. The latter, in retaliation, claimed the vegetarians continually picked at nuts and raisins and even ate food in The middle of the night. “Nut Meat” even became famous in club songs.

Eight Hour Week-end 1928 (as it was then called) saw the introduction of "Mandolborg" (Tom Herbert) into club ranks. Older mombors will recall how the name was earned, but for the younger once ....

A pawnbrokor, by name Mandelberg, had a shop in Castloreagh Street whore David Jonas' Elizabeth Stroot atoro now stands. Ho earned .famo by knocking down tho scaffolding for D.J's now building with an axo as fast as the- workmon could oroct it. Ho refused to move out of his store and his goods wore displayed by hanging outsido on ovory available inch surrounding his windows. Tom Herbert lost nothing in emulating this last trait of tho famous pawnbroker food, equipment, etc. hung from every possible, and a few impossiblo, points of his rucksack as ho rattled his way down the Nattai! The social side made rapid stridesf from the inccption cf the cll.:b.. Moro wore play-readings, lectures, concerts, ,…ances, thoatrci partioc,,, c…uito a number of members the club' s activities were so extensive that it as almost impossible to have other interests, Again, this promoted more healt:Tv criticism - betWoon the walkers and the talkers. Phrases like “loaders”, “whippors-in” , “incompatibility”, “co-tenting”, “Dorman Long”, “re-unions”, “consors”, all have a club history, vhich if tine and paper rationing permitted, would be worth recalling. For some there was oarly need; others, like Topsy, “jus' -growcid”. LO-t pick one or two at random. “Villippers-in”. New and prospective walkers invariably “he.d walked all over tho Blue Mountains'. But it was early found that bushwalking was slightly ciifferont. Many prospoctivo mombors soon found thomsolAros trailing wearily at the end of tho party.. Hence the psychological effect of having a seasoned and experienced .walker at the roar of tho party saved faco, end als, provontod the breaking up of many trips.

"Club censors". This expression originated early in the Club's history when two mombors had the offrontory to be photographed dn an official trip without shirts! It was a warm day, a rest was taken - and 'so-was a photograph. In the club rooms the next Friday nitt it was a sensation. "It wasn't DONE", "it wasn't cricket".... The photographer promisod not to publicly exhibit the snaps. Ho may oven have promised to lurn the film. Was it any wonder that active healthy spirits formed a "Board of Censors", which made its appoarance at many future re-unions?

Old =labors v. new members early bocarocs a hardy annual. Talk of limiting momborship whirled round many .dying camp firos. “Incompatibility”. What and what trouble - that word caused. Thoro was the caso of the young girl who proved “somewhat incompatible” to so ms lady mombors of the club. The fact that sho was not approved by tho S.B.W. causod a groat deal of trouble. There wore threatened resignations, end much t.alking by the then President to smooth matters over. . Narrowmindodnoss of some club members always caused amusomont. Mich tills was spent around camp fires and on walks criticising folks who did the same thing each week-end by going to races, football, golf, etc. Yet the enthusiastic walkers wor0 just as guilty! 19 . Older members may remember the Presidential Letter one overzealous President, upon his election, sent out to every member. Tlie club 'wassupposed to be “at the cross roads”. But the club alrvived. And tucked away in my archives” there's a copy of that twopage letter still. Another crisis was on the nude bathing problem. It was a tricky business, and one or two resignations took place. 1 There was even, once, a very serious move made for the club to issue efficiency badges for those smart enouph to pass tests; loaders wore to wear a special badge. Can you imagine how well we dhculc: all have looked in our “Hookorta No.2 blazers complete with flannel flower AU') efficiency badges. It may be of interest, to many members of the Federation, as well as to club members, to know that some years boforo the Federation oamo into being, a number of delegates from the Mountain Trails and 8.B.W. consumed rxpiou5 cups of coffoo in Nbckbollts Cafe an two occasions to see if the time were rip3for the formation of the Fodoration. Tucked away in the Debert archives are many interesting souvenirs, records, photographs of early S.B.W. days. Occapionnally in a very full life tiro permits of a quick glimpse into the pages of the past. They are good to look hack upon, and it's hard to realise some of thum happened twentyone years ago. But those intorosting incidents are a job for a pen more able than mina. I'll concludo with a reference to sayings that you might still hoar in Bush Walkor walls. Those famaas or was it infamous Bert Bros. (HerBort and DerBort) had ono that cropped up with monotonous regularity. . ,_ . _”Tho club is not what it used to bo” one Bert brothor would say when things wore not so .rosy in club affairs. To which the other brother would reply !qt novor was”.

And another … “After all, this is a WALKING club”. Then there was “Those who-talk and walk; those who talk and never walk, and those who neither talk nor walk'. . And whon there's some contentious matter to discuss at a general-meeting, and you sO0 tho. crowd rolling up you may say “Oh, it's the same even today”. 'Maybo there is nothing now under the sun after all. And ad, vory many happy roturna to you all, from one who learnt much from tho Club and its members, and fools all the bottor for having boon a Sydnoy Bush Walker.' 4 ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR.- T By Taro (Tho 'Llxke by 'Fluke). Sydney was - is - and forovor shall be, tho finost Starting point for any ovary kind of walking. . .I had the good luck to catch the fever at a vary early ago - 4 to be prociso - when I Wandorod from honn one sunny Sunday afternoon -: and was lost, and found - at.tho back of Mt. Rannio - only a mile away, but enough- I' had' 'soon tho blue hills molting into distance. . In thoso happy early oightios we livod a stonol s throw from Were.Patk,. unlimitod immensity to young oyos. - : ;-. At the swath end Mt. Ronnie ever beckoned - invitation to ci..nuch wider horizon. Right nearby was Nt.,Stoelo, with a properly rigged flagpole. fenced in, and now tho flagpole has vanished only the concroto base. omains, inseribod 1870 - and oven Mt. Ronnie is no moral It was probably flattened. 'right out to improvo the golf courso remember - sport is the only' god worshippe-d.in. Australia, No S.B.W. would waste time by slipping up there now for an_oyoful., It is on. the right of Cleveland .Street whon you aro going to AnZac.Avonuo.)

Right 1n the foroground looking south - .1s tjle immonao omoraldsaucor. --dotted with figures	tiny -- but slogging liko hell = it would not 'be.atIbutter.flios. - 'so what? Boyond. is Konsington'and a vast. .stretch Of Botany Bay blue r beyond the blue all tho slopos, of Sutherland	-Como'round again and you sOo'all the do so packod Illawarra sUburbS. - and over thorn the scuthorn slopes where Jollore lies. Wo wbst arc all our old friends, boginnipg at Prospect .24 miles - away and skylining at Gangerang and Katoomba. Then On to Kurrajang falling dawn Colo way, then all the hills district towards Horneby,.and the .bridge colossal, joining two big city blocks. ,,Curiougly this ears aspect may be had 'by looking dawn Pitt Street at the G.P.O. The 'east view.begiril; with the tops of a magnificent cluster of.old Moreton Bay figs right at your 'feet, themce on to Centennial Park and WavorlIty Hoights. Stop - shame on mo: -. I almost forgot to tell. you there is a fine if distant view of Randwick racecourse buildings.

0,0' up this hill - -any day of tho year . Sunday is best (no 'smoke) and - you will have it all to yourself.- Milliona. rush by N.S.E.W. and all that fine panorama gapes for an admirer. In my baby days it was just scruband sandhilis right to Botany Bay - same looking oast to Wavorbyridge. Centennial park was yet to ho and .now the only evidonco of its past is the fenced in bird sanctuary.., Lb you know it? . The -cricket and agricultural grounds were very much smaller bit by bit thOy nibbled and now extend to Certennial Park mad Moro Park Road, swallowing the old military riflo range with Its quarry and swimminglole at the top end. On tho south side Mt. Ronnio-foll away to a large swampy area - the rubbish tip for all Sydney for over half a century, but now, ina quiet brick building with a tall chimney, thoy incinerate the samo old rubbish.

With so much virgin country' so near, it was easy to got the gontle-nabit,of bushwalking. Whoro now is Kensington was known as Geobung.Flat, lihoppors they wore too. It was also the haunt of the biggest and goldenost booties I!vo over soon. The toll ba cottage was lust aboat whore all the tram crashes occur - somothing spooky about this'. There was a stone drinking fountain at Cleveland Street cornor. I bolievo it is still there with its dato chisollod on the front.

20 and 2.1 A .delightful crook ran throujl -the flt, probably 'fed from the Centennial aroft. .. Maly a Saturday wo kids pad.dod Out then:I.-to 'boil the billy and fry thechips.

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-.Goebung Flat was a great dri-11 groUnil -for the military. The voluntoors - yes, I said volunteors - in bright rd cantos-blue trow and snowy helmets - marchod out there., band and all,i'on many .a Saturday afternoon.. , Many a Um we kids marched back with thorn - in front or the band. Yes, I said in front - authority did not mind a bit (imagine tha trouble at Canberra if any kids triad it nowadays): On ono vary special day the Soldiors killed a 5 foot, snako, tied it to a- bulrush stalk and yours truly had tho honour of marching ahead. with the trophy. .ilo the band did its..FF boat with Mr. Gounod's - Soldiors' .Chorus. By the time we reachod.Captain Cook Hotel at top and of Mooro Park I felt the most important bloke in Aust.ralia ba.rofoot and all - when suddonly from the- roadsido dashod an angry figure - I was .grabbed, and drug home for a bolting - yea, you gue.sse.d, right -it was Mum the .lookout for. the little wretch who would not stay homo! Ldng, long, ago a cove who know this was going to happen wrote “sic transit gloria Inindi”, though as a matter of fact it happened on a Saturdeo. Another marvollous turnout. for bush-minded kids wail a real .wild. west brought from Amorica by Dr.. Carver; a glass” ball sharp shooter. There wore real . POwboys, with their. ovm horses! Envy mo, you kids of all ages, saw- and oven spoko to real livo injuns 'with-their wives id kids and wigwams! An extremely - largo cowboy showed me how to hold, fold on d throw a lasso. I haven't fergotton, and if any S.B.W. wtmts to know how just soo me - no charge. All this happened at the bottom ,end of Moore -Park against the zoo. fonce. To add a final touch of .; realism, A. & G., a firm of sippwriters still in Sydmy, did. a huge Painted cut, out of the Rocky Mountains. And whilo the raids and burning atocktidosrand.bangini gunsVoro on, thoro was the snow-topped rango to prove it. Just tho stuff Holly- wood is still doing. Pity the poor -collUloid inoculated kids of today they - have. -ovorything, bar the real thing: . We kida.had another camping ground right at homs in a' paddock now hou.s.ins the. Black. and White Cab Company. We had good roomy twits which cost exactly nothing. HOW? Simple. In those generous days .chaff . and cornbags could be had for the asking, especially by tho.eu.per-aakers. We unpicked them and re-made-them into A tents, floors and all. Happy, happy, Saturdays: Of course the tents wore not rainproof, but, somehow ire wore always home when it ,rained - Mum saw to s that, -alai: Sad to rolgte, Dad changed his job, and we moved over right next to Redfern Railway Station. The hish wandering gave way to the .fascination of choo. choos, not Ei. bad .exchange - I still lovo the iron horoos.:

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Luck was still with mo - was parlaying with a storkio talkie, oo II was sent to' an aunt at Mosm9.n Bay, enchantment for yours truly' as it did not includo school: It was just a -buoh road from the ferry to the house. Luck again - Unkio bada paah for what they called gypsy teas - they .just. ,cooked everything, packod', and about 5 p.m. amblod off to a cosy nook..or boach to boil the billy and master tho.pUddons. Hoavon indoodl Balmoral Beach was the favou-rite ana the track down' fromi the mexin road ws.a oxactly like the (private.) trackstilwused havo down to North. Era. We genorally had the whole beach to ourselves, ;ofton staying till after dark, then ho for a glorious moonliuht walk home through scentod bush! Cedar rowboats could ho hired for a bob. or two and Unkio took me miles round all the little .cOvos and beaches which still abide at lovoly Mosplan. School again, but not in Crown Street, Whore, from the top floor classroom I could soe my blue hills to Gangorang any day. In duo course I arrived at the stage of the first job - in the City. It was a fine excuso for rots mor6 walking - most of the toilers walked to work, though there were cissies of course, who would snatch a lift. Plenty of two horso tabletop lorries trotted to town early ovory day, and lots of youngs and no so youngs would leap up and sit dhouldor to shouldor, loaving sow 40 logs dangling like a fringo all round. The drivers and the noddios novor minded a bit - in those good old civilised days before the . poison of progress. Boing thorn fairly affluent on 5/- por week, out of which I collected 6d., I saved and bou7ht a atop watch - hold your breath - it cost um 7/6d. nowl Aftor that ovory walk was a flat out, with one eyo on the watch. Strange to relate, those distancos are still there quite unaltered. If any of you Teel inclinod you may havo a go at than. Leave the G.P.O. in Goorgo Street at peak hour and arrivo at Orchard's Corners Railway Squaro$ and do it in 10 minutos (1 milo). I doubt whether our 5,000 oloctric trams make it in that time in 1948. Loge forever, hooray: A favourite Sunday morning walk was from Railway Square, across Redforn, /-throut Centennial and Wavorlgrto Bondi Beach; and thoro was not a brick or a house in sight: Just sand and struggling scrub. The beach was tough, but easier than the scrubs then on top of the ridge wtls a hard road loading to the lighthouse. .A look over the Gap, than back via Rose Bay and Darlinghurst in time for lunch. This was all about 1895-6. A biggor walk was Parramatta and back (in 6 hairs). The bush (Rateay's Bush) began at tho Mout Inn where Haborfiold is, and whoro Liverpool Road moats 'Parranatta Road. There was not much in the way of houses on the right side of the road after that. The Bath Arms at Burwood 'was the next special spot - it had a water. tap - also othors - but not for mo. The really wide open spaces began after leaving Homobush, noxt landmark being the old Newington College lodge gate, though tho College was already moved to Stanmore. On one occasion I drove ma a bit hardor, taking the train hone. Mk diary records the time for ovary mile - . 12,1%11,12,14, and so an for hours - an average of 12.41 minutes per mile. Its all yours for the doing. It was a very lonoly walk - only an odd sulky or two. Now any yard of it is as hasty as George Street, anytime. There was nothing to Boo until Auburn, whore from the top of Gibbon's Hill the Whole West opens eut. But now, what a changol The thousands of trees havo given way to housetops and factorios. You must look West from St. Mary's hill to get what the Auburn view . used to be. I little know that I was to become wedded to Auburn and that nountainsoapo. Anothor lonely and bushy walk was out to MaroubrA, which was exactly as North Era is now, but quito Shelterless save for one stony outcrop, Which had a lonely drip, drip into a jam tin. Tho track on to La Porous was real National Park stuff, I never crossod to Kurnoll because no boats ran in those days. But I did get there - 40 years lator. About 1900 Mr. S. Hordorn used to keep no in odd cash. I worked on tho fourth floor of the factory and, once again, by infloxiblo fato, the blue to Gangorang was mine any clear day. Than I dnangod to a job at Clydo, which drove me to'iIi4o,at Auburn, whore, aftor long seeking, I found the allotment which gave me my lifcillong bluo distance for koops: To get back to the track again - in 1900 we dhaps had a rogular Sanday walk to Bronto. We loft about 6, going out through Centennial Park - dowy and lovoly always - to WavorITtram terminus. Then, tic), for a wild dive glide and slide, skiing down the sandy runways and tufty grass, and after that the ehampagns of'Brfonto baths! A play and a bask,thon a walk back again to L., lato breakfast about 10 a.m. No one dreamed of tramming, it would have opomod ridiculous. Than began a long spell of week-and camping at Little Coogeo - fussily called Clovolly nowadays. Half a dozen pals would go out on Friday nights and stay till sunsot on Sunday, often spending a wholo 1/- at a drama or opera on Saturday night - than home to tontvillo and a cuppa, and porchanco a swim: Pluto wallowing in luxury: We loft all our goods in the 9×7 tent and in years never lost a thing. But now - not only the contonts, but the tent itself would' bo pinched! Yea, I'll say progress is a mockorl The whole outfit primus and all - no wood out there - was packed in a standing cupboard and stored at a nearby cottago. Think of thia, you buroaucratm.bouncod citizens! For yoars wo oroctod that tent on a public rosorvo, and never askod pormission from anyono, and wore ?lover interfered with. Today, if you wantod to put up a tent in your own backyard, some damned ordinance or tinpot councillor would forbid. So thoro you are, brothers and sisters, we soniloiors had all the fun of tho fair for noarly nix - poor in cash - bat rich in freedom. Millionaires] MY EARLY CONTACTS WITH THE 6.B.W. .7 By Allan Hardie. 7 * ESvid Stead's locturo in tho Club room on the 20th August, 1948, tracing the evolution of spocios from tho singlo-coll protoplasm, through cartilaginous fishes: and strong-boned mammals to tho cerebrated homo sapiens, romindod me that oven bush-walking clubs had their stages of ovolution. When I first came into contact : with tho S.B.W., this club was just omorging from its embryonic stago and ontor- - ing on its cartilaginous epoch, inasmuch as vioits to each other's hone woro relied on mere to hold the members together rothor than regular meetings in a regular mooting place. This stago of development may bo noticed today, if one observes 7 the conduct of those clubs just newly becoming affiliated with tho Foderation. But our club, after twenty-one yoars' existence, has now assumod the proportions of a hugo, joint-stock enterprise, a veritable factory turning out bushwalkors by the score, with its toam of office-bearers doing their routine work with mathomatical precision, and with its committoo, like a board of directors, jealously scanning the credentials of prospective members, and making them do their pattorn walks. But that was not always so. When I jainod S.B.W., they did not make you do any test walks: rather they solicited and invoiglod you into the club. Moreover, there wore so few that you wore thrown together with the Darla persons, whenever you wont out on an official walk. Hence the early club members got to know each other intimately: they know each other's peculiarities and foiblos, and they sang songs about each other. - It was on Now Year's Eve, the 31st Dbcombor, 1927, when I fi*Eitom4 members of S.B.W.. With my Scotch friend, I had walked over twenty-four miles hat day from Boll to Bilpin (noar Kurrajong Heights), and was fooling very tik.od as I prepared our camp for the night. Along the road cam four walkers, two men and two women, all carrying packs. One of the mon gavo me a visiting card, and introduced himsolf to ro as Mr. Charlos Kilpatrick, tolling me that he was tho Honorary Secretary of a nowly-formod club in Sydney, and invited me and my mate to 24 .join it. Then ho began to unfold to me tho wisdom they had gained by forming a club, which allowod thorn to pool their ideas. The straps of one 's haversack need not hurt tho, shoulders, he oxplainod, becauso a towol placed around tho neck end .under tho straps would act as a pad. Nor nood ono havo to put up-. with the torture of blistered foot: after lotting out the wator with a noodle, a pioco of sticking plastor placod over the blistor.would act tts a nOw skin. I marvollod at this colloctivo knowlodgo. Thom one of the girls spoko of their having dono a walk in the moonlight to Mount. Wilson,–And I was thrilled to the core with thoughts of romance. ; The other girl continued the conversation by speaking of an ingenious member of their party whoa had invonted a shower bath,' which ho suspondod from the bough of a troo, pouring hot water into it, and cleansing himself of his body odour to his hoart's contont. This resourceful person turnod out to be none other-. than tho evergreon Taro. During 1928 I loot my walking companion, he having becomo a Sunday School teacher and obsossod with tho idea that walking on the. Sabbath was irreverent. So, forced to seek now company, I looked up tho visiting card, rang up Mr. Kilpatrick, and attended my first mooting of the Club, then in promises above tho Boy Scout Shop in George Street, toward the end of 1928. A visiting speaker had just iten a discourse on the art of carrying equipment, which was followed by an “all inn and “free for all” discussion. Two schools of thought emerged, those in favour of the rucksack newly coming into vogue, and those championing tho caUto 'a the military haversack, while a third minority group, led by Mylos amphy, waged a kind of guerrilla war with argumcmts for tho swagman s way of bearing his burden. Next came my first .walk and camp with*tho CEA. I say “with” becauso it was shown on the walks programme; but, as a matter of fact, it was a solo walk in the twilight from Lilyvale to 'Burning Palms. As I came down the ridgo botwoon Burning Palms and Era late, on that Christmas Day in 1928, I could see only one fire at Burnin'F'Palms, and that belonged to tho one and only camp there, that of the S.M. No shatais had .boon built then, because tho depression that brought the shacks with it had not yet arrived. There -wore only two club-mombers in the camp, namely, Rene Brown' and Maurico Borry, the latter (as he still does) dividing his loyalty between S.B.W. and the Mountain Trailers. Ho entertained no. with the story of how Burning Palms came to got its memo. The withbrod loaves underneath somo cabbago-treo palms gavo certain members of tho Mountain Trails Club the impression of trees burning and yot -novor boing consumed, just as Moses in antiquity was improssod by tho burn-. ing bush that gave tho Pr osbyterian Church its Latin slogan, “Noe Consumobatur”. On Boxing Lbw the MA. Club turnod up in full force. . -

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My next walk was out to Bushwalkorel Basin from Letimoah on the following. Australia Day wook-end. :With furtive .glances Frank amcan obsorvod.nv form over the four miles, and beford the end of January I was a member of tho Club.. Next Easter came rffy first really strenuous walk with the Club - from Blackheath along the Grose River toRiehiond in the days when tracks had not properly been made. Only six persons (four men and two girls) turned up, so strenuous the trip promised to be, and the leadership was left to an eighteen-year old prospective (how the times have changed!), a ruddy-cheeked youth whose only topic of conversation was his description of solo walks to Kanangra Walls and Thurat Tops. In this way I met Max Gentle.

But what impressed ma moat of	iri tilos early-days were the boustizvhirming parties, which found their place in the walks pro grammo. . At the aincancit homq atCastlocrag furniture would be uncoromoniously shifted to the back-yard to make room for bush.walkers to &moo and sloop; while the Austons would annually throw their home open at Concord, to syrichroniae with the Public Schools' Regatta. On one occasion the play, "The Warrior's Husband", dealing with the ancient Amazons and

4 . Trojans, was enacted in their backyard to the accompaniment of barking from their neighbours' dogs. Another annual event was the rehearsal at Rono Brown 's home at .,Artarztion. on the Sunday before the entertainment in St.. Janos. Eal1,on the Club 'became. too' largo for the AuEton 'a homo, the twoartoroy abcd.: of the Roots family at. Burwood was the next to bd convertod into a rondo e:a c 7g.tta2:;air. Hero a notable competition was once held: from childhood photpgraphs dl.splayed around the-. house you had to guess what members wore rep rosonteel,… To girls won, and for

their prizo they wore allowed to havo tho first pick of tho, victuals for supper.

So the Club wail kept together in the early day.av the days of the _tiroloss conservationists, the fruits of whose labours the present generation are now enjoying.- When I hear the latter asking for a motor road along Narrow Neck-, I wonder 7what the Club will be like twentyone years from.now.. GARAWARRA. OUR MAIL:EN. EFFORT IN CONSERVATION. By Tom Herbert. -

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Our Club now looks back. over 21 years of its history,end not :the-I-east of the

highlights is the Club's record in the sphere of conservation, and in that sphere “Operation Garawarra” rust go on the rOcord as one of the matjo,r yiet,a-riqs-,of the bushwalking movement. The Club, of course, does not claim all tho credit for the victory, but it is justly proud of the part it played with kindred clubs and organisAiaris in prosorvling for posterity a choice area of coastal bishland that will- alrhys .!,ho, joy of recreational walkers and campers. The name Garawarra is a combination of Gara (Garb) and Illewa.rra, and was suitably chosen when bushwalkors started the -agitation, for tho reomption of the Gara Estate and surrounding bushland, totalling in all 5,000 acres. The full.. .objective was not achieved and at presen.t the reserve consists of 1,465 acres adjoining the 'southern boundary of National -Park, with the privately owned lands at North Era; Era, and the.head of Black Gin Crook breaking a continuous reserve of glorious coastal scenery. Even the gem of the Reserve, Burning Palms beach, is somewhat tarnished by the presence of many unsightly shacks on the southern slope of the northern headland in the Gara Estate. . , . : The first record we have of. allushwalkor “Aiscoverine Burning Palms is from Myles Ilinphy, who, with the instinct' of an explorer, followed southward the trail from “the Posts” just off the Gario Road in July 1913. Thoso.who know Mylop can imagine his ocetacy as ho explored what was thon a primitive paradiso, apparently frequented only by occasional fishermOno Oabbage.troe palms reared theirtheads on the terraced slopes.that ended 'almost on -tho beach. Treos, vines and shrubs grow in tropical profusion and vandalism had not shown its ugly scars. The name “Burning Palms” became attachod to the place arising, f:rom a small incident. At night liglos sot a light to some doad cabbage tree pa lta leaves and hoisted thorn aloft. The beacon was obsorvod by some campers further no0h, who lit a flare in reply. . As time wont 'on the need for protecting the place became of first rate urgency. Timber gotters had bocoro-,activo, hunters with rifles and dogs wore playing havod, 26

the wild flower' glutton was reaping a harvest, and cattle roamed their wilfhl way.

Myles 'runphy, as Secretary of the Mountain Trails Club, one of the very fow walking Clubs of the dEy , had his Club pressing hard for reservation, but all they .could get from officialdom was a statement that reservation was not warranted. That was in 1925 andstemporarily balkedsthe mombors of the Mountain Trails Club, to the Bush Tracks Club did all they could in a voluntary capacity to patrol the area and stem the tide of vandalism. In 1927 the Sydney Bush Walkers camp into existonco and some Mountain Trails Club members wero actively associated with the now club, which was open to both sexes. Right at its birth the met its first conservation task and as the Club's membership grow so did the intensity for “Operation Garawarran. Airing the depression years of the early 1930's bushwalking became more and more popular, and those genuinely attracted to bushwalking as distinct from the passing vogue of “mystery hikosn formed new Clubs, which were immediately enlisted in the growing army for -the battle of Garawaxra. the An important step in the campaign was the formation in 1932 of/New South Wales Federation of Bush Walking Clubs, -thus bringing together for combined action the whole bushwalking fraternity. The- immediate and urgent objective was Garawarre. Publicity in tho press, printed handbills, deputations to Ministers of the Crown, and correspondence with all organisations likely to be sympatheticsroused more and more onthusiasm,and to cap it all the petition to The Minister for Lands 1 was drawn up and nearly 5,000 signaturos obtained. 1 The work of obtaining these signatures was immense, as large numbers of non- 1 club walkers had to be contacted at Railway Stations and in the bush at week ends, and other people genuinely interested' had to be sought out. In due course the petition was presented to the -Minister for Lands, the Hon. E.A. Buttenshaw, and the outcome was the dedication of 1,300 acres for public recreation on August 17, 1934. The new reserve was named Garawarra Park and there was a definite promise from the Minister that as long as he was Minister for Lands Garawarra would remain roadies, although it was not officially recognised as a primitive area. On January 25th, 1935 seven trustees were appointeA to control Garawarra Park. They were Messrs. H.W. Whiddon and W.F. Leighton Bailey, of the National Park Trust, E.J. Ryan and A.H. Fackender of the Bulli Shiro Council, J.V. Turner and W.J.Roots of the N.S.W. Federation of Bush Walking Clubs, and G.P. Allman, Under Secretary for Lands. :roe Turner and Wal Roots wore two 6.13.W, members who had done yeomen service 1 in the fight for Garawarra, and it was fitting that they should be aelocted to act as 13ushwalkors1 representatives on the Trust. Theo Atkinson (Ru.cksack Club) replaced Wal Roots when he resigned, and I replaced Joe Turner when he resigned. ; The Bushwalkers1 Trustees have had no easy task over the years astriit.npst be said that as a minority they had to withstand strong pressure to allow permissive occupancies to romain on the Reserve, and also to fight strenuously against a determined move to have Garawarra added to National Parks. 27 In the depression years and prior to the Park being dedicated many shacks and permanent camps wore erected in the vicinity of Burning,Palms, gnd one shack in thO jungle south of Burning Palms had been built of trunks of palm troos. Horrible damage had boon done to the natural landscape and despito stubborn rosistenco the unauthorised squatters wore ejoctod from the Park. A few well-conducted pormanont campers who had boon there for some years before the Park was dodicatod wore allowed to remain under permissive occupancy, and the rovenuo from their rentals helps to finance the Park administration, which depends chiefly on a small Government subsidy. Small additions to the original grantlirms brought the total acreage to 1,465. Garawarra has to some extont recovered from the blitz of tho vandals of years ago, and for the last ten years a ranger has been paid to patrol the Park at week-ends. 'What Garawarra could have been but for the efforts of Bushwalkers is vividly illustrated by the village of Shacks and humpias that appal the eye on the . adjoining Gara Estate. HOW BLUE GUMFOREBT *AS SAVED FROM THE AXE. In 1931 Mr. C. Hungerford, farmer, of Bilpin, obtained a Conditional Purchase Lease in the valley of the Grose River which included what is now Reserve 63,521. On the Eight-Hour Week-end he started to rinjoark the troos on that flat, but, fortunately, a small party of bushwa/kers was camping in the Blue Gum-Forest-that wook-end. Some of them wore members of the Mountain Trails Club and SOMO belonged to The Sydney Bush Walkers. On hearing the chopping, they approached Mr. Hunger- ford, and succeodod in getting him to stop ringbarking and to agree to sell thorn his rights in the area for 10, provided it was paid by 31st Decembor, 1931.

At that time thoro was no N.S.W. Federation of Bush Walking Clubs (it was

formed in July, 1932) so, from the members ortho Mountain Trails Club the Sydney Bush Walkers and the Wild Liko Presorvation Society of Australia was formed the BLUE 0I-JM FOREST COMMITTEE, viz:- M.T.C. : Messrs. Myles J. EUnphy and Alan P. Rigby; S.B.W.: Messrs. Harold Chardon, Walter Roots, Noel Griffiths and Joe Turner; W.L.P.S.: Mr. Roy F. Bonnett. On 12th FobrUary, 1932, Miss Dbrothy Lawry was elected to fill the vacancy on the Committee caused by Mr. Chardon's resignation. The arrangement with Mr. Hungerford was confirmed at a meeting the Committee had with him in The Blue Gum Forest on 15th Novombor, 1931, at which Mr. J.C. Lockley (“Redgam” of “The Sydney Morning Herald”) was present. On the way-up Govott's Leap Crook on the return journey to Blackheath, Mr. Lackley'commented On the great, rocky “pylon” an the left, which was later officially named “Lockley Pylon”. The “S.M.H.” gave valuable publicity to the purchase of Tho Blue Gum Forest by bushwaIkers and other nature lovers, -and their gift of ijiVita4he community for a rocroation rosorves ' Tho Wild Lifo Preservation Society donated 25 bushwalkors and tree lovers gave 25, and Mr. W.J. Glossy lent tho:Committoo 80 free of interest for two years, so Mr. Hungerford roacivod his 150. The Blue Gum Forost Committoo then 28 arranged with the Lands rbpartmeint for the dedication of the aroa as a RoserVo for Public Rocroation, and advised the rbpartmontal officors of the sarrouhding areas that wore saitablo for reservation. By further appeals and donations, as wall as frOm the proceeds of various entertainments they arrancr,od, the bushwalkors raised the 80 and on 1st rbcombor, 1933, ropaid Mr. Cloary's loan. OUR MAGAZINE. By Dorothy Lawry. The editor asked ne to write an article on the birth of the magazine, and as I was at tho meeting of the S.B.W. at which the suggestion was first mado that we should have a Club Journal and than became or of its first Publishing Committee, I suppose I know as much about its birth as anyone now active in the Club. However, 1931 is quite a while ago so refreshed my momory by browsing through some of the early issues. In No. 13, of Juno 19,2 I found the following Editorial by Brenda White, Which is to the point, so I quote it in full. ' “EDITORIAL” “Whon the Publishing Committee brought out the first issue of tho “Bushwalkor* In Juno, 1931, it was rather in the nature of an experiment. We thought it was high time a Club of our standing hid some kind of a paper, either official or unofficial, in which the members could 7.ir their views (and talents) in prose and song. On putting the matter to a General Meeting, we rot with rather a disappointingly lukewarm rocqption - the Club as a whole did not soon inclined to tako up the suggestion, so it was ours for a private venture. Half a dozen enthusiasts banded togethor, threw in the nucleus of a working fund, and 'Tbo Aushwalker' camo into being, with Mail. Hill as Editor. “We. Are greatly indobted, as era so many others, to Myles Dunphy for lots of the spade work - in fact, on looking through No. 1 wo find that it was entirely written by Marj, Rene Browne, Taro and the over obliging and capable Myles, who also nada arrangements for the printing. “Marj. said in her editorial t 'This first publication is brousbt forward with the hope of future continuous help and patronage of our members; and in this respect the Publishing Committee invites thorn to consider their various exporionees in the light of common interest to follow members, and to hand in clearly written accounts, in serious or humourous vein, together with personal items or jokes concerning members or walking. Constant featuros of future issues will be reports of social events and equipment section. o did not know what kind of a reception our little one would get, but hoped for the best - and, as sometimes happens to optimists, we were not disappointed. So we gaily wunt our way, worrying. longsufforing people for contributions, and really their cheerfulness .under provocation is amazing, and will probably earn thorn a reward when they Igathor at the river' (not the Kownung).

At length we arrived at our little one's first birthdays which we.colobratod in a fitting manner by issuing our First Annual Number. A tow eeke later we a roceived a nasty jolt - a little pink paper made its appearance in Sydney 7 fr,e, nark you - and it bore on its title page the legend - 'The Hiker and Aushwalkerl. Seeing we had not registered that pat word of ours, 111ushwa1korl, e9 we could not prevent other people from using it, so we decided on the rechristening of our infant and legal adoption by the Club, and now on its second birthday we wish most sincerely to thank all those who have given their support, both literary and 'financial.* And now, in October, 1948, we have come to the Club's 21st birthday celebrations and this special issue of *Tho Sydney Bushwalker”, the ordinary issue of September, 1948, having been No. 1.66. The pablishing committees certainly have had the *continuous help and patronage df our members” 1 But the newer members may want to know more of the babyhood of our magazine The “half a dozen enthusiasts” who banded together and became the first Publishing Committee of *The Budhwalker” wore : Misses Marjorie Hill (Editor), Brenda White, Reno Browne and Dorothy Lawry, and Mr. Myles DUnphy. TO finance the journal we each throw in 10/ which was refunded to us by the Club when it adopted “The Sydney Bushwalker” as its official journal. No 8 of let August, 1932, was the first issue to carry the new name and the Club's blessing. In No. 10 the names of Marjorie Hill and Brenda White changed places and Brenda continued to edit “The Sydney Bushwalker” until the beginning of 1936, when She resigned in order to launch a magazine for the Coast & Mountain Walkers “Into the Blue*. Under BrendA White's editorship it was, of course, a success from the start. No. 23, of F.ebruary 3315, was the last number to bear the names of the original Publishing Committee. From No. 24, April 1935, we miss Marjorie Hill and Rena Brownels names, but gain.Marie Bylos, Graham Harrison and Jack Dbbert. The First itianua/ Number to which Brenda White referred in her editorial quoted above should not be confused with *The Bushwalker” annuals as we know them now. It was a duplicated number like all the rest of our Club magazines, with the exception of the three printed Annuals of *The Sydney Bush Walker* which the S.B.W. published in April, 1954, November, 1935, (instead of that October as planned) and November, 1936. In 1937 the first Annual published by the N.S.W. Federation of Bush Walking Clubs appeared, as *The Bush Walker” and the S.B.W. retired from that field. Our Club magazine used to appear every second month, mad usually sold at 1/ per copy, but every now and then we found wo had a slight surplus in kitty and tlat the magazine was a page or BD smaller than usual, so that issue would be sold at 9d a copy. This Was how it was to the ond of 1936, buts if you have a complete set of magazines you will find that, although there is no break in the numbers, there was no issue in April, 1934, nor in October or December, 1935. This was because the Publishing Committee was then busy getting out the printed “Annuals*. The 1936 issues appeared in January, March, May, July, September, but not November, again because of the *Annual*. Under-the editorship of Marie Byles who hhd followed Brenda White, some changes were made in January, 1957 – A Sales Manager (Bill Mullins) was adopted and annual subscriptions far the magazine wore instituted; and tha magazine became d quarterly instead of a bimonthly publication. iik:f The April, 1957, (No.55) issue was the first to carry a nap; our fil-st advertisement had appeared in No. 2, of April, 1951, and was that of Mr. F. A. Pallin of 93 Bent ttrocto Lindfield. It stated that “a card to the address below will bring me into tho Club ary Friday.* so evidently our magazine is just a little bit older than.Paddyle business. 30 Talking of No. 2$ in the Social Notos there appoarodtho following ; “Mr. and Mrs. Roots are to bo congratulatod on the birth of a Son. We hope he will not Put Gwynnothts no so out of joint too much”. And now Go h and. David aro both members of the Club: By 1937 Club mombors had bocomo so used to thoie magazine that they did not appreciate its appearing only onco every throe months, DO in October of that yoar appeared tho last “quarterly”. And in December, l937, we saw for the first time “The Sydney Bushwalkor” in its present form, cover and all. The S.M. had bought a duplicator; Bill Mullins and his assistants had undertaken to do the work of proluction; the journal had bocome a monthly, and it sole at 3d a copy: In April, 1938, Marie Bylos rosignod the editorship as she was busy with preparations for hor trip to Western China, and I was tho olitor for the next four.yearc, but by that time the babyhood, and most of the growing pains, of our Club magazino had passod into history. And in the Club lihrark,aound within the covers of those old issues of “The Sydney Bushw-aker” you will nuch Club and personal history, and many happy memories, arlyf Friday evening that you earo to browse there. .REFLECTIONS BY PADDY. It was a thing of shining beauty that first tent. My cobbor Dick and I had tOught a dozon yards of alurdnium painted Airship fabric . a remnant frob the 1914-18 war. The tent was out and laboriously fashionod on Motheria.sewing machEne. Its first trip was in 'Easter 1919 through the English Lakos par push bike. Shortly. after that I..got a job.in London and before long I was at bolts with tho Matron of tho.Y.M.C.A. for.hahging a newly oiled japara dheet on'a line on tho flat roof. I must day she had reason to be upset for the wind had unfortunately brought nyproeious *got into contact with her precious washing. In 1926 I arrived in Sydney and being Boy Scout, I boon:found rf way to the Scout Headquarters nd the Scout Shop. On onquirtng after light weightamping gear, I was shown a 66 balicO tent and fly at which I uttered the prescient remark that there was a wonderful opportunity for sonoone to startihkin7 light weight' camping gear in Sydnoy. Tho scene changes, we pass-lidhtlY over a couplo of years spent in the-budh ale thenback to the fleshpots of.Sydnoy. In October 1930 rzr wifo and I sot out for's:canoe trip 3own to Shoelhavon.. On the way. out we had rogibtorod our votes in the State Election. At Marulan on the Sunday ,morning, we learned that Jack Lang had won the oloction. We had an eventful and enjoyable trip bat on returning to the 'office I found that Jack Lang had so frightened the financial institutions with his talk of a Capital Levy and what not that ny particular financial institution had decided it cauld dispense with tha seriticos of 20 or so.clorks. I was included in that 20.. I remember to this day the fooling of roliof I Irld as the nova was' broken to mo. I hated pen pushing anyway. I had coro all the way-from England49,odge it and then /andoi back to it. And now I was free again. The future was darkiand cloudy but .I felt athough a great weight had boon liftel.from my dhouldere. I know for 60rtain that I would never return to an-office jot. Than came back to me my.oarlier thought. about lightweight camping gear. Camping and the out-ol-dooTs Wad passion.with no.' I know That was wantod and in a sort of way I knew how. to mako it. . 31 The spare bedroom became the first Paddymade Workroom., , A secondhand treadle machine the first piece of machinery. Soon I was &in.; well enough to warrant moving into the City and I rented a dingy room in George Street, I had hardly moved in before the Government Savings Bank suspended payment which immobilised all my tiny capital. ' In the meantime my wife secured a job and helped to supplement my meagre In 1931, Oliver Wulf,then a lad of 14 joined me and he has been my right hand man ever since. .He is now doing the behind the scenes job of Factory Manager and is therefore seldom seen nowadays in the shop. From the beginning the Sydney Bush Walkers showed a helpful interest in my enterprise and I must here record gratitude for the many kindnesses shown to ma - by members of the Club. In a way the growth of the “Paddymade” business is a reversal of the usual law that mand creates a Supply. In this case it was a question of Supply creates a Demand. Prior to my starting 'in business if a person wanted to go bushwalking he had to make his own gear. This naturally 'limited the number of walkers to those who were able to make thbir own outfit or persuade a friend to do it for them. When a supply of lightweight gear became available, more people 6 were able to go walking. As more and more people began to take to Bushwalking, it became necessary to explain the fundamental principles of the game and after persuasion from my friend Dick Graves, I wrote that little book which is known affectionately as tho BushwalkerstBible. Here again budhwaiking and canoeing friends assisted with contributions. In 1932 the business was moved to larger,premisos at 312 George Street and in 1936 another move was 'made to the present address. The war years interrupted the flow of materials and put lots of spanners in the works. Bud walkers in common with the rest of the community were caught in the whirlpool of war and BOMO alas never returned. We still feel the effects of war and it may ho years before the orderly flow of materials will be resumed, but bushwalking as a recreation is growing in strength from year to year. I feel very proud to servo the walking fraternity and to bo able in some small measure to assist in the promotion of its welfare. THE FIRST WALK DOWN THE COLO. Maxwell Gentle. The river flats of the Hawkesbury, near the Colo junction, fiwed some of the first farm land in the colony of Now South Wales. Local logond diy8 that in thOso-early days, a stranger entered the locality' his legs and arms b19eding and his skin torn to shreds by vines and jagged rocks. The man had walked dawn the Colo River. earnings. 32 Littlo is known of the early history of the Colo, except that it was considorod as a possible railway route to thellest, in thd.L.ttor half of last century. - According to a writer in the Sydney Herald of 1878, “tho Blue Mountains railway may have boon a very fine thing to accomplish. The zig-zags, the hug climb, the wonderful grpdionts; and the snako-liko curves have boon the admiration of tho unloarnod, but they have boon the wonder of the skilled engineer. Since the published accounts of Mr. Townsendh romarkablo explorations in the Colo Valley, it has been realised that a better and loss costly route could have been found. Thor is an oxtra-ordinary difference between the existing zigi-zag - railway, and all other railways soon in Europe and olsowhoro. In these latter cases, the linos invariably run up a valley on the one side, have their summit

level on'tho watprshod lino and descend by a valley on the other aide.	On the

Blue Mbuntains ralway, the stato of things is quito different. The summit level instead of being at Rydal, the true watershed lino betwoon the coast waters and the Murray tributaries, is at Clarence, many miles nearer Sydney. Instead then, of ascending 3000 foot in 75 miles, the line actually climbs 3000 feo4.. in 30 miles, a most enormous d.ffaronco”. Referring to the Cole Valley proposal, ho says “a practical route has actually been pointed out, just whore one would be looked for, following up a . valley, and rising 3000 foot in 100 miles. .Tho proposal involves considerable tunnelling, in which respect it resembles those European lines, already mentioned. Let us have the survey made, as quickly as possible”. Seven years later, in 1885, a railway route was surveyed up the Colo valley, and a pack horse-track constructed along the river. . It was in 1931 that the late Gordon Smith and I started from Capertee Railway Station, on a walk to Kurrajong via the Colo valley. Daybreak founcAs walking along tho roadway towards Glen Alice. It circled round the heads of Coco crook, and after passing under the shadow of spectacular sandstone walls, a more open countryside was reached over which Ivor scattored numeroud sheep stations. We had left the aptly termed Tower Mountain behind.us, and were soon abreast of the Rod Rocks on our right. The conical Tyan Peak appeared to the North, and it seemed to be tho highest mountain in the district. On reaching the Caperteo River crosising, we left the Glen Alice road, and followed that sluggish river downstroam. The river itself was a chain of water- holes, fringed with river oaks and occasional willows. Along the broad flats we passed acres of lucerno paddocks, and then decidodto camp a night on the river bank downstream. Naturally, we felt very tired, having on that hot summer days walked 27 miles along a hard rocky road. We carried only 40 lb packs but lad no sleep at all on the train journey of tho previous night. Walking down the Capertoo river next morning the valley was reminiscent of Burragorang but here the cliffs rose higher and wore much cleaner cut. An abandendd Oil Shale Mine was passed (it was later to beome the site of .Glen Davis) and soon wo-reache'd the junction of the Running Stream. Then .a track 4W10-',. followed along the southern bank of the Capertoe for a further 5 miles amid pe ruggod grandeur of mighty sandstono walls. From this point, known is Barne's Flat, a break was soon in the sandstone walls on the northern sido of the valley. There was a basalt ridge loading up to it. 33 ' . Qn the follv/ing morninc this basalt ridge was chosen a-s our way of access-to the higher sandstone tabloland beyond, because we wanted t6 climb Mt. Uraterer,' which lay in the same direction. Late that afternoon it's summit was reached and we rested there to view the expansive cyclorama. In the foreground was a maze of wooded gullies and cliffs and crags. We considered the groat outlook for some time. Nightfall found us.with our tent under-the quince trees th.oro and within a foly yards of an excellent spring. Leaving Uraterer next day we found our way back to the eaportee river aftor BOMO difficulty and reached our campsite there in the late afternoon. Following the Caportoo downstr.:cm, the bridle track hugged the southern bank, and saved us much timo the next day.

Two miles before the Wolgnn junction the track vaishod and we plunged into . the roughest walking that we had up till this time experienced. The banks wore - formed of heaped up boulders, overgrown with hlackborry, lawyer vines, lantana and nettles. It was an enervating exporienco and aftpr doing a mile and a half in four hours camp was made in the only spot wharo it was possibld to lie down. -
suggestod .giving up the venture, but Gordon muld not agree, o nokt morning.we pushed on to the inflow of the Wolgan.

. Below this point the river assumes the name of Colo and flows swiftly between hugo bouldors for one 410 after which there is a mile long tretch of sandbank a pleasant relief. Scrambling over boulders and bashing our way through lawyor vines then became the order of things, alternating with short stretches of sand bank. Frequent waist coop wading was necessary and on ono occasion I.became alarmed to see.Gordon knoo deep in. quicksand. -The cliffs on oithor sidb now presented a more broken appearance and we saw gigantic sandstone caves at great heights abovo the river.

?ho Wollomi crook was soon flowing in from the north botwoon towering cliffs, and we camped far the night 'on a sand bar, half a mile or so-furthor down the Colo. Noxt day, on continuing down the river, thd sandbanks vanished and we found that .clambering over boulders was good for all round muscular devolopmait. The sandstono in places had a topping of ironstone *loll mado it slippery.	.

The Colo river is in the form of long smooth pools, alternating with rapids whoro the water flows through barriers'of rocks. Those barriers were usually the only practical crossing places. Th4going was frightfully rough and it seemed that around each bond the inevitable precipice roso dhoor out of tho wator, compelling us to cross to the other side. - Tho monotony of rocic hopping was broken by a rough passago through lawyor vines and blackborrv bushola. Wo wore very disappointed in the fact that the blackberry was not in rrait. The pools toomod with porch and cols at this time and . grillo& fish provided a welcome addition to our meth. At the close of the third day from Wollomi crook we reached tho Wollangambil junction and we found that the most scenic parts of the Colo' had tiONtopn left behind. In most places the towering walls of sandstono roso almost from tho waters edge, but in -places a cliff 'faco of more moderato height was soon,Trom the foot of Which descended a forest clad slope to the waters of tho'Colo.

,f

34 Below the Wollangambe junction the old survoyorsIpack horse track was located on a stoop hillside on the southorn side of the Colo. It-strayod from the stream and for a groat part of the way wriggled round the stoop hillsides, hundreds of foot above. Budhcs had overgrown the track and landslides obliterated large portibns of it but we nanagod to follow it during the next two days down to Armstrong h orange orchard, jut above Upper Colo. From this point a road loi to Kurrajong. This was the complotion of our 11 lays walk from Caportoo Railway Station via Mt. Uratoror and the Colo River. THE TIGERS. Dot English. The Tigoro hunted as a pack for a briar throo years. The namo was given them by admiring rabbits aftor a marathon 70 mile trip from Wentworth Falls to Cloudmakor and back to Katoomba via Canon's Head (before pitons), on Anzac rook-end 1937, and they fadod out by 1939 or 1940 as the war got undo/Amy and its members wore scattered, , The leader was Gordon Smith, vocorifously assisted by Jack Dobert, On the original trip there were these two, Hilne Galliott, Max Gentle (guide), Dave Stead, Bill McCoskor, Lon Scotland, Alex Colley and Dot English. On later trips there appoarod a few additions in the shapo of Joss Martin, Mary Stoddart, Bert Whilliorip, and later Tim Ooffoy, Irving Calnan and Bill Hall, and a few droppings-out occurred in th6 shapo of Bill McCoakor and Left Scotland, but 'hose formod the nucleus of a gang who were off ovary wook-ond doingppllosal foals, reports of which made the moro tondor Bushwalkors quail. Some a'trips which COMO back to mind are swimming the upper Kowmung, the first assault on Arathausa Canyon, the upper Cox after bushfiro (grimt), tho Clyde, Shoalhavon, Wolgan and Oapertee, *no Grose in recor .mo, in fact there was hardly a part on tho Blue Mts. map that didnit sea us one week-and or another. Smithy'i tri/ls wore always woll organisod. I can only romombor one trip an which we missed the last train home from Katoomba, and that only by a fow minutes becauso ovoryono's watch was wrong. Months of organising went an bcforo our 3-month trip to Now Zealand in 1937. Only three Tigers were able to get the time off. Our party of 8 spent a month motoring ,nd sight-isooing in the North Island and two months wi king and mountaineering in tho South Islands and the whole trip, inclusivo of fares from Sydney and hire of car, workod out at 30 for the throo months, (That bust onus a bit of hair…tearing among prosent-dqy members :contomplating a Now Zealand trip).

Smithy was a chanpion road-walker and hold most of the long distance records for Australia. Ho wanted to establish a 24-hour record for Australia, and managod to porsuado most of the Tig,ors to be in an it. The event took place around a 2-imile measured co urea in Centennial Park, from mid-dy Saturday till

mid-day Sunday. Smithy covered 114 miles, Jack did 100, and Dave Stoad finished 3rd with 80. Others of us who wishud to got away thot night for a wock-ond bushwalk did 30, 40 and 50 miles before dashing off to Central for our train. Aftor this event somo of tho Tigers gave tonporary itllogianco 0Ahe .Road Racing Club, and bushwalks wore organised 17th a view to training for forthcoming racing events. One such walk I remember was from Katoomba to Picton one week-end– 82 ladles. Most of the crowd deported by an early train, but Max Gentle, his brother Frank and myself couldn't got away till later. We =nth() 14 miles from Wentworth Falls to Kill's Cottage in Burragorang and got there soon after dark.