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194908 [2016/02/19 15:13] kennettj194908 [2016/02/19 15:37] (current) – [At Our July Meeting] kennettj
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 The Cumberland County Council representative stated that the Council was interested in reservation of the area and, if and when the County Plan was approved by Parliament, large sums of money would be voted for reservations. S.B.W. was the only body represented at the meeting which had any objection to resumption by National Fitness, and that was only on the score of our preference for addition to Garawarra. Mr. Gordon Young had informed the meeting that he would not go ahead with resumption of Era without the full approval of S.B.W., and asked that the Club investigate the possibility of the Lands Department resuming and adding to Garawarra, and advise him within approximately a month. The Cumberland County Council representative stated that the Council was interested in reservation of the area and, if and when the County Plan was approved by Parliament, large sums of money would be voted for reservations. S.B.W. was the only body represented at the meeting which had any objection to resumption by National Fitness, and that was only on the score of our preference for addition to Garawarra. Mr. Gordon Young had informed the meeting that he would not go ahead with resumption of Era without the full approval of S.B.W., and asked that the Club investigate the possibility of the Lands Department resuming and adding to Garawarra, and advise him within approximately a month.
  
-Discussing the report, it was questioned whether Era had now been classified as a rural area, in which case buildings could be constructed on each block of 2 acres, but concensus of opinion was that Era was still rated an open area. In view of the Cumberland County Council's interest, it was resolved that we write that body,indicating our views on preservation of Era.+Discussing the report, it was questioned whether Era had now been classified as a rural area, in which case buildings could be constructed on each block of 2 acres, but consensus of opinion was that Era was still rated an open area. In view of the Cumberland County Council's interest, it was resolved that we write that body,indicating our views on preservation of Era.
  
-Marie Byles urged that we make up our minds as soon as possible on our course of action, as National Fitness was keen to acquire lands at Narrabeen, and may proceed with that plan in lieu of Era +Marie Byles urged that we make up our minds as soon as possible on our course of action, as National Fitness was keen to acquire lands at Narrabeen, and may proceed with that plan in lieu of Era if we hesitated unduly. Mr. Young would only take action to acquire Era if the whole of Era, including Portion 7, was to be embraced by the resumption.
-if we hesitated unduly. Mr. Young would only take action to acquire Era if the whole of Era, including Portion 7, was to be embraced by the resumption.+
  
 Myles Dunphy expressed a less convinced attitude. He contended that addition to Garawarra was the most desirable course, as resumption by National Fitness may lead to Era becoming entirely a National Fitness concern, particularly if the trustees appointed were wholly from the Association. He urged that we make further bids to interest the Lands Department. Myles Dunphy expressed a less convinced attitude. He contended that addition to Garawarra was the most desirable course, as resumption by National Fitness may lead to Era becoming entirely a National Fitness concern, particularly if the trustees appointed were wholly from the Association. He urged that we make further bids to interest the Lands Department.
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 The little township whose neighbouring rocks you were to investigate was left behind; by nightfall you were camped miles away, in a lonely little gorge, beside a clear, cold stream, oddly aloof in its sound. Ironbark shadowed the camping place; there were among them a few dead trees, with fantastically twisted limbs, stabbing sharply into the silver-blue of a winter sky, and creaking unexpectedly in the still air.  The little township whose neighbouring rocks you were to investigate was left behind; by nightfall you were camped miles away, in a lonely little gorge, beside a clear, cold stream, oddly aloof in its sound. Ironbark shadowed the camping place; there were among them a few dead trees, with fantastically twisted limbs, stabbing sharply into the silver-blue of a winter sky, and creaking unexpectedly in the still air. 
 The little white tent - a symbol of independence and isolation - was dwarfed more than ever when The little white tent - a symbol of independence and isolation - was dwarfed more than ever when
-that first warming five of your own was lit. It was oneself against - +that first warming five of your own was lit. It was oneself against - or held within - a boundless universe.
-or held within - a boundless universe.+
  
-A mood of high elation lighted your steps the next morning. The crisp yellowed grasses crackled with frost; you set out with a wild and ancient chant - +A mood of high elation lighted your steps the next morning. The crisp yellowed grasses crackled with frost; you set out with a wild and ancient chant - am the overlord of the hills and the high places,
-HI am the overlord of the hills and the high places,+
 And it is the frozen breath of the mountains that I seize and make into words. And it is the frozen breath of the mountains that I seize and make into words.
  
-Everything was an excitement; the gold brocaded lustre ofschists, the silken blue-grey sheen or phyllites, the brilliant green of watercress against vermilion walls of granite. There was a glorious wall-like mass of reddish-purple porphyry, studded with squarish creamy-white crystals; a most comical, ridiculous, gargantuan pudding of a rock, which you followed up hill and down dale for miles. It led across a rai]way cutting; a climb up a steep fifty-foot slope of gravel, you tackled gaily, and slid to the bottom in a cloud of dust, specimens, maps and instruments - to be picked up and dusted off by a crowd of highly amused workmen on a trolley.+Everything was an excitement; the gold brocaded lustre of schists, the silken blue-grey sheen or phyllites, the brilliant green of watercress against vermilion walls of granite. There was a glorious wall-like mass of reddish-purple porphyry, studded with squarish creamy-white crystals; a most comical, ridiculous, gargantuan pudding of a rock, which you followed up hill and down dale for miles. It led across a railway cutting; a climb up a steep fifty-foot slope of gravel, you tackled gaily, and slid to the bottom in a cloud of dust, specimens, maps and instruments - to be picked up and dusted off by a crowd of highly amused workmen on a trolley.
  
 You went up again and scrambled through the railway fence, in no way cast down by the incident. In this mood, even fences were endurable; after all, they were useful in checking directions, since most of them ran either north-south or east-west. You went up again and scrambled through the railway fence, in no way cast down by the incident. In this mood, even fences were endurable; after all, they were useful in checking directions, since most of them ran either north-south or east-west.
  
- +The cold was so exhilarating, and hunger became so compelling, that you ate your lunch hurriedly, well before noon - eager to be on, exploring and collecting - following an intricately winding creek along its narrow gorge, lured on in spite of the brevity of the winter day, to explore the next bend. The twisting creek seemed to hold a mocking spirit which was age-old; a part of the place itself. You felt that something wild and secret must have happened there, and given rise to a legend far back among the aborigines. As the sun went down there was an unearthly gleam of twice-reflected light from the grey and purple walls; these were now of massive limestone, with the contours and texture of an elephants hide. The spirit of the place continued to beckon you - and laughed when you stumbled into clear icy pool, fringed with brilliant red-brown and glowing green plants.
-The cold was so exhilarating, and hunger became so compelling, that you ate your lunch hurriedly, well before noon - eager to be on, exploring and collecting - following an intricately winding creek along its narrow gorge, lured on in spite of the brevity of the winter day, to explore the next bend. The twisting creek seemed to hold a mocking spirit which was age-old; a part of the place itself. You felt that something wild and secret must have happened there, and given rise to a legend far back among the aborigines.As the sun went down there was an unearthly gleam of twice-reflected light from the grey and purple walls; these were now of massive limestone, with the contours and texture of an elephants hide. The spirit of the place continued to beckon you - and laughed when you stumbled into clear icy pool, fringed with brilliant red-brown and glowing green plants.+
  
 The light imperceptibly lessened, until at last you realised, with a slight shock, that it was quite dark. Perhaps not quite; the bush itself had a luminous quality, with ghost-white trunks helped by the glow of stars. But your torch with its bulb broken by the fall down the cutting was useless. It would be suicidal to retrace your steps down that gorge in the dark. It must be at least five miles in a direct line across country bock to camp: you hoped it would be over merely undulating ground with no unexpected creeks to cross. That didn't sound too bad; but you were already tired and cold, with forty pounds of laboriously-gathered specimens on your back; and as you tried to keep a constant direction, stumbling over boulder-strewn ground, a growing fear was mounting at the base of your brain. Useless to try to argue yourself out of it (that a night out doesn't matter anyway - you can always curl up in a groundsheet and sleep till morning). Somehow you feel a rising hostility in the bitter air and the dreary pattern of dead branches. The light imperceptibly lessened, until at last you realised, with a slight shock, that it was quite dark. Perhaps not quite; the bush itself had a luminous quality, with ghost-white trunks helped by the glow of stars. But your torch with its bulb broken by the fall down the cutting was useless. It would be suicidal to retrace your steps down that gorge in the dark. It must be at least five miles in a direct line across country bock to camp: you hoped it would be over merely undulating ground with no unexpected creeks to cross. That didn't sound too bad; but you were already tired and cold, with forty pounds of laboriously-gathered specimens on your back; and as you tried to keep a constant direction, stumbling over boulder-strewn ground, a growing fear was mounting at the base of your brain. Useless to try to argue yourself out of it (that a night out doesn't matter anyway - you can always curl up in a groundsheet and sleep till morning). Somehow you feel a rising hostility in the bitter air and the dreary pattern of dead branches.
    
-The panic grew, and befuddled your mind so completely that all sense of direction was lost; you gave up and simply let your feet, sensitive to every conformation of the ground in their softsoled, much worn shoes, carry you where they liked. Then, strangely, you realiped that a foot can acquire a feeling, like an animals, for a track; you no longer stumbled quite so much, there was a narrow way between those viciously sharp chunks of rock; and you followed it numbly, hopelessly. The slight track appeared to veer suddenly to the left; you tripped over a root, and came down with a stinging blow across the cheek -- wires A wire fence, running north-south, almost certainly the main one which would lead you back to camp. It was the most welcome, friendly thing in the world - you nearly kissed those chill, taut wires. Amazingly, your pace quickened as you followed it closely, when before you could barely keep on your feet. In an incredibly brief time, the fence had led you back to a recognised corner of the creek you camped on, with the white tent gleaming just ead. As you started a fire, you remembered suddenly your hatred of fences, and felt oddly sha,ken; then realised that your life would always be governed by an inexorable alternating rhythm; from an escape into purely mathematical and musi'Jal, chill and austere patterns swirling through unexplored spaces, back to the limitations and restrictions of your own mind and body.+The panic grew, and befuddled your mind so completely that all sense of direction was lost; you gave up and simply let your feet, sensitive to every conformation of the ground in their soft soled, much worn shoes, carry you where they liked. Then, strangely, you realised that a foot can acquire a feeling, like an animals, for a track; you no longer stumbled quite so much, there was a narrow way between those viciously sharp chunks of rock; and you followed it numbly, hopelessly. The slight track appeared to veer suddenly to the left; you tripped over a root, and came down with a stinging blow across the cheek -- wiresA wire fence, running north-south, almost certainly the main one which would lead you back to camp. It was the most welcome, friendly thing in the world - you nearly kissed those chill, taut wires. Amazingly, your pace quickened as you followed it closely, when before you could barely keep on your feet. In an incredibly brief time, the fence had led you back to a recognised corner of the creek you camped on, with the white tent gleaming just ahead. As you started a fire, you remembered suddenly your hatred of fences, and felt oddly shaken; then realised that your life would always be governed by an inexorable alternating rhythm; from an escape into purely mathematical and musical, chill and austere patterns swirling through unexplored spaces, back to the limitations and restrictions of your own mind and body.
  
  
194908.1455855203.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/02/19 15:13 by kennettj

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