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THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER A monthly Bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney 0 Bush Walkers, C/- IngersollJ_ Hall, 256 Crown St.Sydney. MWJAMMAMM.,

No. l6 MM1GH, 1950 Price 6d, to Ja l951,. 516 (posted) Editor: Alex Colley, 55 Kirribilli Reporter: Jim Erown Ave., Milsonfs Point. Production Asst: Bill Gillam Production and Business Manager: Typed by Shirley King Brian Harvey CONTENTS Page 2 4 5 10 12 13 14 Editorial - Election Threats At Our February Meeting Social Notes for March On Rock & Ice by Ron Knightley Reply from H.A. Lindsay Federation Notes by Brian Harvey Swimming Carnival Bear Mountain Hikers by Claude Haynes Conservation in the U.S.A. by Brian Harvey

EDITORIAL Election Threats.

On March 10th you will once again be required to elect the Club Officials, including your unworthy Editor. It might therefore be of interest to know what you are in for if we are re-elected Three years ago we warned that, should contributions lag, the editorial would grow longer and longer. The effect of this menace was salutary, and it was not until the middle of last year that contributions waned. The editorial was creeping well down the third page before readers realised their danger and copy came in in the desired quwatittes. Should contributions lag again the editorial will become not only longer, but duller. It will deal almost exclusively with conservation, whether anyone reads it or not. g Many members expect the Editor not only to edit the magazine, but to spend his remaining spare time in writing up news items and articles to fill its pages. Let it be understood that if members cannot be bothered doing this themselves no effort whatever will be made to persuade anyone to write anything. On this our policy is clear - no articles no magazine. Throughout the year we will continue to criticise: the Bushcraft Association, so long as it remains in the Federation; Mr Lindsay, whenever he identifies the S.B.W. with his doctrines; the National P.,rk Trust, for not conserving the flora and fauna in the Park; and the Federation, everytimo it evades action on conservation matters. Others may be added to the list of heretics. In Club affairs our ideas are firmly embedded in the year 1927 and will never advance. We disapprove of hitchhiking, portable wireless sets, smutty jokes at re-unions, alcohol in the club-room and any like innovations calculated to add zest to the rustic pleasures of bushwalking. In previous years we have given a lot of time and trouble to the encouragement of photography, but when we asked photographers, most of whom never do anything for the magazine, to donate half plates there was no response. Many of them spend ten, twenty, or even a hundred times, the cost of a half-plate on a single trip. IT they are not prepared to show more interest in the magazine they can go to pot, If -re-elected, we want an assistant who will report ealib- doings, and on occasions bring out the magazine. It is sometime very inconvenient to be tied to a magazine production at the same time every month, come holidays or hard work. Everybody else who does anything for the Club has an assistant and the Editor wants one too. It is probably superfluous to point out that with advancing, years wo become increasingly cantankerous. In addition we have gone somewhat stale on the job. It would be much better for to readers if they elected someone young, tolerant and progressive, with a happy disposition, and prepared to work unceasingly fbr their entertainment, If do we will be just aa pleased as everybody else. This step would not stem the flow of articles on conservation, but you would“ at least be spared the editorial. .AT' CY911, 3:513UARY MEET I NG- The President was in the chair and over 70 members werr) present. Three new members were wel3omed to the Club -f Ron larkes-, Bob- Dill and ,Tim Ferguson. After the quiet meetings towards the end of last year this one must have come as a rude shock to them, but we hope it wont be long before they find their voices, learn the rudiments of 17 parliamentary procedure” and join in the enlightened discussion. In the correspondence was a letter from Peter's Ice Cream which brought nostalgic memories of business in 10390 It explained at great length and with apologies in every sentence, just how we had missed out on our ice-cream delivery for the kiddies treat. Vnfailing civility and attention is assured for the future. a Next Allen Strom drew attention to a notice in the Sentinel newspaper. It announced- that on the 10th9 14th, 15th and 16th of February there would be artillery practice at Wattamolia. It was resolved that we should protest to the officer responsible for the notice, as the practice was a violation of the public's right to the use of the park. After the motion had been passed Allan Hardie, who was in good voice, but a little rusty on procedure after his N.Z. trip, rose to gpenk on the subject. He was to14=34t was too A44, late and he must resume his seat. The President then drew attention to an advertisement in the newspapers earlier in the week announcing the sale by public auction of Portion 1 (Byrnes' Estate) at Era. Myles Dunphy had been unable to attend the meeting, but wanted it announced that he had written to the Minister for Local Government on behalf'of the conservation bodies represented in the JUly deputation, asking whether the Minister could either prevent the sale, or force the auctioneers to explain that it was an open space under the County Plan and will probably be resumed. Even if the sale was not stopped this ation: would prevent the price of the land from going far above the Valuer- General's valuation. Allan Hardie then announced that one member present was willing to put up 500 if the Club desired to bid at the auction. The offer was accepted, but it was considered that there was no need for one member to shoulder the whole burden. It was resolved instead to form a syndicate, composed of members and any- body else interested. The syndicate would borrow money, bid for the land, and if successful, hold the land until resuailed. In view of the uncertainty of the position re resumption and the shortness of time the organisation of the syndicate was left to one member Alex Colley. Contributors were warned that, should the land be resumed at a price below the price paid at auction, they would not be repaid in full. Attention was drawn by Claude Haynes to an announcement in the “Sun by the Minister for Lands that he, the Minister, considered the land should be resumed and become part of the National Park. Mouldy Harrison pointed out that the announcement was ambiguous because the Minister had said that The vote for National Parks Resumptions has been allocated for this year, but the area could be resumed by the Government at any time. Allsm Hardie slipped further backwards when he started to talk about the National Fitness offer to resume. Two old campaigners sprung to their feet on a point of order and Dorman was forced to subside once again. However he was successful in having 50 of Club funds voted for the purchase. On Mouldys suggestion the President was chosen to represent Club interests in the syndicate. Next came the annual debate on where to hold the re-union. Rene Brown spoke for Moorabinda. Bill Gillam, who was to inspect Euroka, said he hadn't been, but it was a very nice placo anyway. 4. Len Scotland' discribed the attrabtiono of Morella Kareng and “Stoddy”-stated the case for Bare -6eek. Jack Wren said that the Heathcote reserve trust didnit like large gatherings of people there. This brought the observation that, tbnsidering the S.B.W. had paid ,Z7.- a year for many years to leese the area, so as to help along the primitive reserve scheme, it would be Pretty tough if they couldnrt camp there themselves now. One after another these places were voted for and each time the “noes” had it. Then it was moved that we vote for the places on the preferential system. This led to several other places hen fT included in the list and a further motion that all -.pLees which were not supnorted by 10 first preference votes be eli=int'ed from the ballot. Three places - North Era, Moorabinda, and Morella Karong, obtained the necessary 10 or more votes. Members were than issued with ballot papers and the President explained that the three names should be written on the papers in the above order and figures indicating the order of our preference placed alongside them on the right. Ray Kirkby asked whether we should use Roman or Arabic numerals and was told to use Arabic. Morella Karong ipLis the pince chosen when the votes were counted., John Noble then moved that this procedure hould be adopted as a standing order for future selection of re-union campsites. Protests that the meeting couldnTt bind future meetings were over-ruled by invoking “parliament_ aryprocedure,” and the motion was carried. Henceforth re-union campsites will be chosen by preferential voting for all places nominated which can command ten first preference votes, and Arabic numerals will be used in recording our preferences. - In general business it was decided to write to the National Park Trust, asking whether the new shack erected on the north headland of Marley beach, and the trees cut down around it, were on privately owned land.

At this stage Dorman, whose oratory had misfired on three previous attempts, scored a bulls-eye by asking Whether the boy scouts had offered to give us space in their new building, and was there anything concrete in that? This query broke up the meeting which closed at 9.3C P.I.T.

SOCIAL NOTES FOR MARCH There is an alteration in the social programme this month. There will be a free night on 17th. This will give you a chance to start preparing for that big Easter trip. On 31st Ira Butler will show us his films and I can reconmend a very enjoyable night. FEDERATION DANCE. This function will be held on Friday, 24th March, Council Chambers. Tickets are 4/- and supper will be provided. Tickets can be obtained from the Social Secretary now. So make a party and go along. With our big membership, the Federation is expecting many tickets to be sold. E. Stretton0 SOCIAL SECRETARY. , 5. ON ROCK AND ICE by Ron Knightl*7. 3.30 A.M. Curse the alarm. Three sleepers in the ice-c9ve gave no sign of life. The Leeder, however, was vastly different. Rustlings and scrapings announced the preparation of first breakfast (second breakfast would follow, at or after sunrise.) Hearing the prinus spluttering, I cocked a cautious eye at the ,clock. Another cautious eye winked at inc from the adjoining sleeping hag. “Ahoy l So you are awake” burst out the leader. “Nip out and rouse the others.” Slowly, I started to nip. Out from the beg I drew pairs of sox, cap, singlet, sweater, mittens, and shirt; the wet clothes of the day before, taken to bed that the bodily heat might dry then. overnight. Next, I began to emerge myself: balaclava, singlet, two shirts, three sweaters, wind jacket, belly-band, shorts, long uderpants, trousers and sundry sox, with me inside the lot and still shivering. Ruefully, I glanced at the other flea-bag the winking eye positively leered in triumph. I peeled off the sox, one by one, and again donned the wet footgear of the day before. Clammy sox and frozen boots - the joys of mountaineering. As I stumbled into the entrance snow tunnel, snow fell down my neck and water trickled down my face. I hit the onen air with a shudder. High on a glacier at 8,000 feet, hours before dawn - how I longed for Blue Gum and a camp firel Staggering and stumbling, muttering and mumbling, I toddled off through the snow to No. 2, Troglodito Terrace. On the Benar Glacier r, N. Z., where firm snow lay at an angle of 30 degrees against the side of Mt. French, three caves had been dug, each about 107 x 107 and 57 high, with their ceilings about 37 below the snow surface. Marvellous things, ice caves. Their virtues were extolled to me a dozen times on the way up. Blizzards might bring temperatures down to fifty degrees of frost, but in an ice cave it was never colder than 20 of frost. They forgot to warn me that, it was never Warmer, either i Winds might cave in a tent, but no wind might cave in a cave. No, nor do breezes clear it of B.O., smoke, primus fumes and cooking smells. Sleeping is a joy in ice caves; you carry air-mattresses, which you blow up and sleep on. Only snag is that they must be blown up four times nightly - which, in this instance, was four times Knightley, as being the Apprentice, the bung-holes were all up my end. As also wore ropes, spikes, crampons, packs, ice-axes and water bottles. Yes, wonderful things, ice caves. As I staggered towards No.2; I gazed up at M., French above me, and felt a complete loathing. Twelve months before, we had started out from down near the snowline on the other side, and after five hours of real climbing had returned defeated. Then, I had thought Mt. French to be a MOUNTAIN. 6. Last night, from our lofty snow-cave, we had strolled up to the summit to watch the sunsets And here I was next morn, foaming round the glacier shrouded in mist. Mist - ugh l For three days, weld seen nothing but mist. We'd come up the mountain carrying packs, ropes, air-mattresses, trenching tools, primuses, fuel, wood, food, ironmongery (pitons, et.), tarred paper, candles and lanterns; weld slaved for hours cutting out tons of snow and ice for our homes - all this, with visions of assaulting and being the first to climb (the conquest was a foregone conclusion) the terrific Coxcomb Ridge of :Ft. Aspiring. Yet all weld-seen was mist. Mist and rain and wind. For three days, weld got up at four, wnited until dawn, and then gone back beneath the ice and shivered. Crazy, that's what. Just a crazy flannel-flower loose amongst N.Z.ts crazier mountaineers. No. 2 was fast asleep. But not too fast asleep to summon up a speedy torrent of language,. culminating in, “Howls the weather?” “Lousey.” “How lousey7” “Mist.” “Any wind?It “No.” “Any rain?” “No.” “Good, Let's go back to sleep.” “Good, I'll ditto in No. The leader greeted me cheerily with a most inane tj:;:estion: “Ready for breakfast?” I was ready to die. Breakfast - lovely thought. Four bodies - eight nous and eight legs - on one sleeping bench0 lNuff said. Came 4.30, and suggestions of moving. Out into the chilly mis again, with thoughts of connuoring Mt. Avalanche, 8,400 feet high, and some 3 miles away across the trough of the glacier. Standing outside the caves, eight climbers roped up into three parties. How I hated that rope l It had been the leaders practice every morning to go round lifting the packs, and throw the ropes on the lightest ones. Being a model product of S.3.1:1. I copped a rope every time. Ten pounds of rope, except when it was wet (which was always), when it weighed twenty. Thank goodnecs we were using the monstrous thing at last. I led off across the surface of the glacieli. Donvt get any illusions about why I was in the lead. Firstly, being the littlests I was probably the slowest, and noone felt like dragging me along, sled fashion. Secondly, being a mere insignificant Bushwalker, I might best be sacrificed in a crevasse. 7. The snow was soft and slushy, the mist was all around, and the grey of dawn filtered through. But as limbs warmed up with the movement, spirits started to rise as the feeling grow,that at last we were away. Mt. Avalanche - never before traversed. And by our hopes, before that day was past, the feet of men might go right up and over yet another of New Zeland's giants. The trek was on, and as shiVers ceased and even the feet plodding in the snow warmed up, we looked forward to sunrise, the lifting of the mist - and a mountain. For an hour, there was nothing but the crunch, crunch, crunch of feet plodding in the snow. Down across the valley of the glacier we went and apward on the ice that ringed the rocky pyramid of Mt. Avalanche. The all-embracing mist thinned slowly and soon th!: rising sun shone dimly down through clouds above. Came the dawn breeze, cold and piercing. Crawling like flies upon the bosom of the snow, we mounted, step by step, towards the rocks. Pausing for a moment where a swirl of crevasses demanded inspection, we had time to watch the sunrise. Cloud shone crimson, rock turned mauve, ce gleamed pink beneath the morning glow, 9 g jagged peak and jumbled glacier swam high above a sea of cloud, range by range on every han. Soon after, we came to the rocks themselves: the end of snow for a while. Good clean sunwarmed rock. 9 9 Did I say sunwarmed? We shall see. The dawn breeze became a wind, tha sunlight gave place to mist again. And yet, we climbed. We edged our way upwards on a ridge like a giant, upturned saw. Sometimes, we wedged feet into vertical cracks and with closed fists jammed in labzve mounted inch by inch by vertical steps. At other times, we clung to the very lip of the ledge and inched our way across the intervening gaps. Needless to say, I was not in the lead herel I wished myself miles away - even the ice-cave saemed heavenJ That cold, damp, smoke-filled hole seared Paradise by comparison with this wind-swept buttress, Frozen foot, pozen fingers, the parka hood dropping in my eyes as I made a a grab for the lip of the ledge - how I longed for that camp-fire at Blue Guml Upward, upward, upward. What about breakfast? Who wanted breakfast in that chilling blast? The ridge abutted the very face of the mountain, scarce five hundred feet below the sumNit. Scarce five hundred feet - misprint, should read, “Scared.” Slabs. Smooth, steep slabs like roofing tiles. Loose. Someone forgot to wire them down. First, you jammed yourself into a crevice, belaying the rope around your shoulders as the leader climbed to the full extent of the rope. d Rocks that he dislodged whizzed down and struck like cobras Cloute , on the skull, battered about the face and hands, you waited anxiously until you could _call, “Only six feet left!” 2. And then it was your turn. Clawing hands and scraping nails, body pressed flat against a vertical face, or crazily balanced on some teetering ledge; heart in mouth, and knees aquiver, you shivered and shook your way aloft. Mountaineering - grandest of sports! How you envied miners! “Here's the summit!” called the leader. “The summit!” echoed back from rope to rope. We were there at last: Now for breakfast - or is it lunch? Ah, what a meal: there was room on the summit for one; we were eight; I was third. Guess What? You guessed it - half wedged in a crack in the rocks, half buried in snow,.andhalf dead from the mist and wind, I ate my painful meal. oh, forSolitary and a heat- waveJ Oh, for Govett's Leap and scones and cream 3 And there was I, half stiff from rigor mortis, lunching on scroggin, cheese and cold water. Over lunch, The Leader announced The Plan. Five would return the way we'd come and bettle round to the foot of the other ridge, down which three of us should'endeavollr to climb. If we got into difficulties lower down, the five could yell instructions to us. “Us.” Note that. I was one of the three mountain-mad individuals who were to attempt the conquest of a ridge which had never before bowed beneath the foot of Man. Had I been treated to a preview of that ridge, I'd have hot-footed it pronto for the Cox. I was soon to have visions of flying there - with an tarp in me 'and. From the summit, I led off across a sixty de'gree wall ff snow. No kidding! Stand your setsquare up and note the angle. Put a pin- point at the top, and that's me. Put a mass of upturned pins below, and they are the rocks I could see from the corners e2 my frightened eyes! Shiver? Not much. I rammed the haft of the ice-axe deep into the snow at every step, as I moved sideways across that awiul wall. Step by step, tr,eading out a path for the others to follow. On the rocks again, I belayed the rope, and was joined by No 2 and the leader. From here, it was plain sailing - straight down2 Ropelength by ropelength, we scratched and cla,ed way around and down the spires and gendarmes that barred our way along that ridge. Presently I came to a place where the ridge dropped really steeply - we'd only been playing bef6-1,4; On inspection, the leader descried a small ledge some forty feet below, and propsed to lower me. foot by foot from a rock above. I craned my neck over the drop and saw - gulp - nothinF Just space. And mist. The awful crags dropped cheer away,. to 0. disappear in fog sonichundres of feet below. What jagged teeth of rock, that yawning crevasses did I Imagine beneath the 7.cant whiteness into which I must now descend, with only a thin strand between me and Eternity: The leader lowered me, foot by foot,. At each jerk of the rope, I yelled blue murder and demanded that the rest of the rope be thrown .down, that I night continue the drop, hand Over hand. I felt much better then - until I reached ice on the rope, where the hands could get no grip: Somehow, I reached that ledge, and jammed myself deep into a crack big enough to hold my body. No. 2 followed, a frantic, quivering, sobbing being that scarce had strength to stand upon the ledge. When the leader came, we were off again - more jagged teeth to climb, but none so fearsome as the last. How far was it to the glacier? Would another, longer drop send. . up scurrying back the way we'd come?, Could we reclimb that awful wall? Would we be trapped, unable to go forward or back, to spend the nght upon that fearsome ridge? Would the gathering blizzard freeze us to death before the nightwas through? As we won our way foot by foot, we scanned every flat place as a possible spot to spend a night. But Was that a cooee? Listen: Faintly above the scream of the wind came cries. Where were they? In the mist. The -eist. Oh, fara single peep at the glacier: Downward still we went, until - ah, there they are. Five shadowy shapes appeared, not two hundred feet below 1-1.5 We were doWn1 We yelled and shouted and jumped for joy. We'd soon - gulp: whet was this? One single drop far longer than our rope could span, lay between us and the ice. We had come so far, and still we wore not home. With feelings akin to despair, we searched far some way down. And we did get down - an easy way. Simply a matter of clinging to that wall with tooth and. nail down a slender crack that ran for . thirty feet to a ledge, and following this ledge across the face to a rib of rock that enabled one, by sitting astride and hanging on with knees, ankles, elbows and hands, to scramble to the ridge below. Dead easy -looking back: But we were down - really down o Back on the snow. How I loved the snow: Good, clean2 white snow, so lovely and so-b- to Toaq in. We were over - con quest was ours! That great rock pyramid was no more amongst the list of New Zealands “Untraversed The horror of the ice caves, the awe of mighty drupz. - whqt Wii j-P these bes:Ide the 10. thrill of conquest? Somehow, the plod, plod, plod across the homeward snows seemed nothing. Albeit the wind was now near blizzard force, external things seemed not to matter. We had come to climb, and climb we had. Now may we go back to eat: long, cold drinks and satisfying meals. Mt. Avalanche stood supreme no more, and a flannel-flower bloomed amongst the victors1 REPLYyROM Have read your comments in “The Sydney Bushwalker” and would like to give my side of the question. In regard to the criticism of my “Bushman's Handbook” in the Journal of the Wild Life Preservation Society, there is this to be said; when they describe my suggestions for snare dt-igns as “Impracticable” they are all at sea. Day after day, while working as an Army instructor, we caught rabbits, hares and — in areas Where they were not protected — kangaroos and wallabies with those same “Impracticable Designs”, which have been used by primitive races fovcountless thousands of years. If the records at HQ in Melbourne could be published they would give proof of numerous cases where this type of training helped to save the lives of many soldiers, seamen and airmen. But let that pass. With regard to “Living Monuments, I see with regret — and bewilderment — that you object to the BuLhwalking mo-soment being linked with some sound and practical conservation ideas. Well; you , re hereby assured thet I shall never offend again in that particular w_ly and in future shall mention only my own club in S.A. in matters of this kind. Once again you air the weird fallacy thst by aiding anybody to help wildfowl to brood you are only helping to provide targets for sportsmen. The facts are otherwise and I thought I had made this point clear in my booklet. The same cry was raised in America when “Ducks Unlimited” began thair wonderful work; nothing can alter the fact — which American birdlovers now admit — that America now has more wildfowl than at any other time within living memory. In fact, — and Crosbie Morrison will back me up in this — the work of Ducks Unlimited was actually too sucessfuli So many ducks were bred that the shooters were unable to keen their numbers within bounds and a halt had to be called on the work because the ducks were becoming too numerous for the available food supply. With regard to the “Living firebreak” of trees with non-inflamab-le foliage, planted in strips across the worst fire areas to chs,ck running fires and to provide a surnly of very useful timbers in years to come; I honestly regarded this as any own original idea, based upon existing examples in Australia, where such trees had actually checked big fires. I now find that the idea has been used for years in America and South Africa, and its success is proved beyond dcubt. Where is your argument now? 11. The re-establishment of the Koala in South Australia is also beyond doubt. Minchin started with five pairs of the animals; there are no wild ones within 300 miles of his breeding establishment. His work has been so successful that he is using the surplus animals to stock a large sanctuary on Kangaroo Island. If his work is not successful, where does he get the young which the mother Icalas can be seen carrying, the numerous adults which he sends to Kangaroo Island by plane and which can now be seen scattered through the timber for twelve miles along the banks of the river at Hog Bay? In conclusion, I would like to offer you some well-meant advice which is, like what I write, based upon facts learned as the result of hard experience. You are ignoring the basic principles of scientific investigation by jumping to conclusions, you put forward theories as facts and you let sentiment over-ride reason. It can lead only to trouble and perhaps to disaster. Take the case of the Bushcraft Association — with which I, personally, am in no connected. Back numbers of your magazine show a long series of attacks made upon them — all based on hearsay evidence. Finally, you did investigate their activities and the finding was that you “Owed them an apology.” The correct course to pursue, both from considerations of fair play and to save yourselves from the humiliation of finding that you were wrong, is to investigate first and,attack — if justifie — later. Another example of this is attacking my idea of aiding sportsmen to help breed plenty of wild ducks. It is obvious by your ccmmenzs that you have not read the book “The Ducks Came Back”, or the many reports made by the United states Fisheries and Game Burequ. These show that for every additional duck bred to be shot, 100 are b:7ed to die from natural causes. Why not read those official publications instead of making an attack on the idea which you could not back up if it came to a showdown and which can only bring discredit on you if you attempt it? Try to- avoid anything which will brand you as cranks, and at all times shun association with cranks, as these people C.,o nothing but blight the causes they set out to aid. You coulan!t geta. etter example of this than the original attack on my Bushmn?s Handbook, made by a member cf the Forestry Advisory Counctil of He sought to have it banned; what he did do was to give it 7.hb.-t noney could not buy -7-! publicity on the front pages of the nespaperc; of four states. As a result the first edition sold cut in record time and the second edition will soon appear. I can only pray that similar people willtry to “Harm” my novel in the same way — I can stand quite a lot of that sort of thing. It is the sot of good luck of which every writer dreams. In fact, as one who earns a living by writing I have to check up on everything which appears in print under my name; one mistake and a writer is forever suspect in the eyes of editers This being the base, anyone who attacks what I write will find that he cannot back up his statements. 12. .Finally, lot me suggest that we try to work in collaboration in future and not to waste time and energy in this internal dissension. Tho task ahod of us is too big and too irpertant for usto wrangle about it; on my part I can promise you only sound ideas based upon actual working examples. If we build upon that SUTO foundation we o may got somewhere. If we lot sentiment over-ride reason and we air theories instead of ascertaining the facts we are trying to build - on quicksands. In that way madness lies. Comments: Sorry to hear the snares work. Never questioned truth of duck story. Would still like Forestry Dept0 opinion on firebreak scheme. Havo no opinions of Yr. Minchin's koalas. Hote advice. No apology made to Bushcraft Association. Not interested in sales of “Bushman7s Handbook.” Wntt collaborate in building ducks nests and snares. Ed. FEDERATION NOTES Brian G, Harvey. EPA It was resolved that the Conservation Bureau be authorised to write to the Minister for Lands requesting that all tho 300 acres be added to Garawarra park, failing which consideration be given to the removal of the Gar:Iwarra Northern boundary to a lino running down the centre of Somi-detached He:)d, thus giving Garawarra the entire length of Burning Palms beach. CONSERVATION BUREAU reported that the Federation advocated that the Fauna”–131,o177ectibn 1.7rnel give consideration to following as Faunal Regional Reserves:- Harrington-Gloucester Tops Mark Morton Reserve to Clyde Mountain Macquarie Marshes A Western Lands area to be decided. SEARCH & RESCUE SECTION will meet at Paddys at 5.30, Tuesday 14th MarcE7—17=117mbers are required for this:imLori;ant section (See Jim Brown of.S.B.W.) FEDERATION DANCE will be held at North Sydney Council Chambers on Fridaf241h7March. Tickets 4/-. All North Shore trams except Chatswood and Lane Cove pass door. LINDFIELD BUSEWALKIFG CLUB made application for affiliation and will now investigated as per recent amendment to constitution. Will be considcd for election at April meeting of Council. The HONI.Jff SECRETARY. tendered his resignation to take up new position in Tasmania. The position remains upon - any 77oluntoers The FEDERATION ANNUL REUNION will be hold at Euroka Cleal-,ng on 13. 6/7th May, provided State elections do not coincide. F1111 moon guaranteed. Canoeists may pLiddle up from Perrlth, and launch service is being investigated for thoo with young children wishing to attend. The STANDING INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE to investigate' the credentials of applid1ne-clubs is compose of Keissrs. Paul rarnes and Bruce * McInnesSof S.B.W. and Mr. Ron Compagnoni of C.M,W. a.. aro 101..aldaimii…4PORSSIIIISMINL SWIMMING CARNIVAL The Swimming Carnival was held on O'Hare's Creek, as decided at the General Meeting, and it proved a very good place for it. The camping was pleasant, the pool deep and about 40 yards across - and best of all, it was free. Heavy rain on the Saturday probably kept away a number of members, but it was fine on the Sunday and there were enough present to have a good carnival with some keenly contested events. The results were as follows:- Men's Freestyle 15t Bert Whillier Ladies Freestjle awenCJeweI14-,11 17 1? 2nd Kevin Ardill 3rd Eric annah Breaststroke 1st Bert Whillier 2nd Claude Haynes 3rd David Roots DivinE 1st Claude Haynes 2nd(J:ack Ferry (Bert Whinier Vera Matas:Ln Phyllis Ratcliffe B'stroko Vera Matasin Gwen Jewell Mary Macdonald Diving Vera Matasin Owen Jewell Phyllis Ratcliffe Sea,Emjc Spoon Race TICh!s lsf-Bort Whinier 2nd - Chapman 3rd David Roots Ladies ” Vera Matasin ” Pat Newman Cork Scramble Terrrs—=-Kevin Ardil 1 (19) 2nd David Roos (16) 3rd - Chapman (15) Ladies? 1st dead heat Vera Matasin Mary Macdonald (20 3rd Pat Newman (14) Mandelbeu Cup 1st Phyllis Ratcliffe & Claude Haynos 2nd Gwen Jewell 8.1 Don Frost 3rd Vera Matasin & Tack Perry a Bill Henley Cup:- Point Score Won by Vera Matasin Two weddings to report last month. Bob Younger and Ch/ista Calnan were married on Febr 10th0 They arrived back in time to attend Phil Hall and Betty Hurley's wedding reception on Teb;ta:.y24th, We wish the four of them all the bes. Many of the guess came on to the Club dance after the recuption, their eyes sparlJi:cg with good health and good spirits PALISADES INTERSTATE PART, BEAR MOUNTAIN HIKERS. By Claude Haynes. Mishaps to hikers as nentioned in S.1.W. : anuary issue prompts one to outline an interesting system which is being carried out at Bear Mountain Park, though it is not suggested as being suitable for our own wide open spaces. The Park Police register the hikers and keep a check list to make sure that no one gets lost in the 45000 acre playr;round, which is only 45 i1es from New York. The Park contains scre very rugged country, including part of the Appalachian 2dountains, as well as easy hiking country. All told there are 250 miles of trail and twelve permanent stone shelters. These shelters, no doubt, are for exceptionally rough weather - it is claimed that the winter snows cut only slightly into the nuTPber of inveterate walkers who weekend in the Perk all the year around. The police registration system, Wol ch s purely voluntary, helps protect the hikers and park police against man hunts through the mountains for hikers who are (1) actually lost or 2) erroneously reported lost or (3) are safely back home. The police pin half cr a big baggage tag to the hiker, put the other half in their files. They check caypers out as well as in and thus know pretty well how many people ar e wandering through the woods end are still to be accounted for. The registration scheme is tied in with a Juniow Ranger Plan, which also serves to teach city boys and girls the wonders and uses of nature and to prevent vandalism. The plan was inaugurated in 1947. The only conditions connected with registration are the hikers duties outlined on the back of the tag: Keep your park clean; protect wild life, prevent forest fires and report all vandalism to the patrol force. It is claimed that the scheme has resulted in a lessening of damage, fewer hikers lost, and that there have been no forest fires since the plan was put into operation. - FRENCH1,,IAN!S CAP. By Len. Fall. Party: Len Fall, Gladys Martin, Kevin Ardill. We had heard a lot about FrendimanIs Cap, so decided to make a trip to it at Christmas ,if time permitted after doing the Port Davey trip. Time did perni t and we left Hobart on the 9.15 bus on Sunday 1st January. We had decided to walk as far as the Loden Reserve a.. 17,oL. lea'Ying 15. the bus, but fate took a hand and the bus broke down at C.se,. se that we had to wait for anat.-_her from Hobart. arriving at the Derwent e Fridge at about 4 pm e farwelled numerous parties going to the Reserve. At the Jane River trank we slept in the oement hut. An early start was JI.(1.icflted as we intended to make the Lake o Tahune in one day. Leaving the h.1.1.t at 6.13 we arrived at the Cap turnoff at 7.15, and then went down to the Franklin. River. This track has been recut recently and leads to a new flying fox across the river in place of the old bridge. The new track rejoins the old track at about 15 minutes walking time from the River and has been well made. A short walk and then one starts to climb through rain for est out on to 2 saddle Which led on. down into the Valley of Flowers. A short pause on rt- i e saddle to admire th n vi ow of Frenchman and surrounding country, then down the valley to the Loden Reserve. Care is needed here as the track is not very clear, although understand it is to be recut. As the weather was still being unkind we did not pause, but pushed on over a short ratch of button grass to more scrub and creeks and then more grass. Did say grass? Sorr7, mean't mud. A sign post here indicates ''FrenchaianTs Cap and Thilps? Lead. - About this time someone mentioned dinner, so all throe looked for some reasonably dry ground. Shortly afterward we started and ate lunch. Moving on over l'hilps f Lead, climbing through rain forests again, we met a party coning mt. After exchanging comments about the weather we continued our journey on to button grass and then through timber down to Lake Vera, passi rig another p arty who were dr7ing out after coming down fro IN Lake Tahune that morning. After going around Lake Vera, we started to ,climb the Barren Pass. The weather was getting worse and it set 11B wondcrinr, what would greet us at the top. Another holir: was called at a rock overhang about 10 minutes below the top of the Pass, it being perfochly dry here. After half and hour Is rest and a nl:ig of tea we pushed on and over the Pass as the sun shone for a few minutes, than sidled around the Ridge. We noticed that snow had been falling earlier, and hastened on as we expected more. Just as we reached the exposed Ridge before dropping into Artichoke Valley a bliz7ard caught us, nearly blowing us off our feet. Taking shelter a few minutes, we had a drop of Kevin's Emergency ,I-4ati oni then pushed on up past the Twin Peaks around to the hut at Lake Tahune - most welcome of sights after 11 hours walking timeTwo Sydney boys, who had arrived only a few minutes before, were in residence. They had a fire going but informed us that all the wood was wet. Another party had used all the dry and replaced it with wet, so Kevin went out into the snow again, with his axe, to cut the wood. The weather was most unkind. The next day was spent eahin,7, sleeping and chopping wood. The third day i was still rainf, so we decided to pull out, leaving at 8.30. As so -often happec3 the l6 weatho cleared later in the day, but we were on the way home. T 6/ rdached the cement hut about 6 that nigh, and so ended my first trip to Frenchman?s Cap. Oh well, better luck next timet Perhaps: CONSERVATION IN THE U.S.A. .0.111311,asr.. Ala by Brian G, Harvey The Anerical Magazine “Outdoor Life”, in 1946, staged a nationwide competition to interest the citizens in the need for conservation consciousness. This took tho form of r3 competition to select a pledge on conservation ideals, and great interest was shown amongst all outdoor organisations, school-children, and the radio. The winning entry “I give my pledge as an American Citizen to save and faithfully defend from waste the natural resources of my country, it soil and minerals, its forests, w,cters and wild life.” Attractive plaques were made in embossed metal, surmounted by the symbolic oagl e, and the profits of the proceeds of those were used in conservation projects. - It is possible that we could interest ourselves ins, similar propagation of our ideals, and enlist the Education Department, radio stations and preservationalists (such as the National Trust, “W.L.P.S., Youth Hostel Movement and the like.) It is only by nation wide campaigns such as thin that vie will achieve our desired objects. Did I hear someone suggest that the proceeds of Lot 7 at Era may be turned to such use? Congratulations to the Roy Davies (in England) who are the proud parents of a daughter. Frank Leyden left for London on 6th January on RQ.M.E: 3tra',7heden0 He plans to do a lot of mountaineering and may ()von now be scaling an 000000*a no Those who have camped with Role 77- Cotter will well remember his usual wish after a good evening meal that there aould be 7 different kinds of pudding for his delection, Well, on a recent wet week-end at IID)rloy Pool, his wish was granted, Thankr:i to a bt of good organisation on the part of his umzal rein7.:.,e of .rnelIlbcy. of. the fair sex, no ,less th t 10 different kinds of' stewe,J ard confections were served to memb:prs of the f(-)ed and a fow others. You see, there was a hit loft over Ye= ropoi:02, although delicious, the array of goad t inga a bit of a stain an 17. the stomach. Roley seemed quite happy and mast have been contented - there wasn7t even a snore during the nightt Oh Ye BackL Wrong again?. This story has nothing to do with the Tasmanian axemPn. It coniJorns Claude Haynes and Bert Whillier. Claude was stricken with a nasty pain in thc! bock on the Tuesday before the swimming carnival. But he made a recovery and turned up on the . Sunday to help run the carnival. So good was his recovery that he entered in some of the races too, and one of the gleaming highlights of the carnival was the Haynefs head surging to victory in the Mandelburg Cup, past many younger and woolier heads0 At lunch time Dr. Bert Whillier advised him on how to auid sore bcks. It had to do with the opening and closing of the pores. Quite simple - if the pores closed when the skin got cold the chills could not enter and no sore back. Just a mutter of diet - et the right things and the pores would open and close at the appropiato times. Next week Claude got a phone call from Evelyn Whinier - could be came up and get a bathing costume that had been left behind at the Carnival? Sorry Bert couldnft take it up because he was in bed - with a chill in the back: PROGRESS …until a few years ago the same unbroken solitutude has reigned avery winter in these vast mountain spaces Bat how different to-day f, The whistling of engines pierces the stL]ln,sss, trains puff breathlessly to and fro, the black coal-smoke driItis uiwa rd from the gaping Lunnols mouth into the blue sky abo7e ,nd so-calJ.nd civilisation creeps up and up into thosc2 hihiand with its big hotels and throngs of inevitable tourists. Of course it is all very “convenient,” very 17comfortable,T2 One A can go to bed to-night in Oslo and get up early to-TI:orrow to breakfast at Finsc of Hallingskied, and take a m;11,Con JoLol o the Voss Glacier in the forenoon: All this convenience attracts many people to the mountains who would otherwise ne7or go there But If it did not bring so much else, of a kind whic h does not exalt usg All manner of luxury, food and drink and dress, and cai-ds and folly Nowadays, people cone up into the mountains to stay at else of these big hotels, merely in order to kill time; they spend days and weeks in noisy gaiety, and taen have to go back to town to rest.” Fridtjof Nansen

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