Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 197001 [2016/02/21 16:57] – lucym
+++ 197001 [2016/02/21 19:41] (current) – lucym
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ==== A Walk to Wallabadah ====
 Pat Harrison
 We all have our share of nostalgic yearnings. I think perhaps I have more than my share of the commodity. The hunger for well remembered places was strong upon me as I conceived the idea of traversing the Liverpool Range, a part of the Great Dividing Range, from Murrurundi to Crawney Mountain and then dropping down into the head-
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
-**The Autumn Walks Program March to May is in the Making**
+==== The Autumn Walks Program March to May is in the Making ====
-By leading a walk, you can make 1970 a vintage year. Rack those winos of discontent, and give your fellow walkers a taste of the 12212222ELLE. If unsure about the final choice, contact Dot Noble at 84-4497 (H) or 630-0251 ext 19 (B). Lurking somewhere in her well stocked cellars will be a walk to suit even your discerning palate. February 4th is the absolute deadline, so book now to avoid disappointment.
+By leading a walk **you** can make 1970 a vintage year! Rack those wines of discontent, and give your fellow walkers a taste of the new leadership.
-All the World Loves a Leader
+If unsure about the final choice, contact Dot Noble at 84-4497 (H) or 630-0251 ext 19 (B). Lurking somewhere in her well stocked cellars will be a walk to suit even your discerning palate. February 4th is the absolute deadline, so book now to avoid disappointment.
-Target: For Twelve years
-Jim Brow
+All the world loves a leader!
+==== Target For Twelve years ====
+**Jim Brown**
 I suppose you could say it was Pat Harrison who started it all, well, at least he revived an old flame that had been dormant for about ten years.
-Originally it was back in 1957 that I developed a yearning to visit Broken Rock, that elongated Mount Solitary formation which is the northern end of the ridge dividing Green Wattle Creek and Butchers Creek. The trouble was that I considered it should be practicable to do the trip comfortably in an ordinary two day weekend, and it didn't turn out that way.
+Originally it was back in 1957 that I developed a yearning to visit Broken Rock, that elongated Mount Solitary formation which is the northern end of the ridge dividing Green Wattle Creek and Butchers Creek. The trouble was that I considered it should be practicable to do the trip comfortably in an ordinary two-day weekend, and it didn't turn out that way.
-Over the next two years I made three abortive attempts to reach Broken Rock Trig. The first started from Yerranderie you could still get  there via Burragorang at that time Jack Gentle anct,l'An. Mite [Heather Joyce] joined me in the jaunt, and the plot was to follow the Main Range to Branfan, drop into Butchers Creek, and tackle ange from the saddle immediately south of Shoebridge Mountain. Misty weather and lack of time thwarted us, and we went back via the Kowmung.
+Over the next two years I made three abortive attempts to reach Broken Rock Trig. The first started from Yerranderie you could still drive there via Burragorang at that time. Jack Gentle and John White joined me in the jaunt, and the plot was to follow the Main Range to Branfan, drop into Butchers Creek, and tackle the range from the saddle immediately south of Shoebridge Mountain. Misty weather and lack of time thwarted us, and we went back via the Kowmung.
@@ Line 104: / Line 112: @@
-The third bid  once again from Yerranderie, and in company with Heather Joyce (Mite), Alex Colley and Don Matthews came nearest to success. We went over Bull Island Gap and down the top of Green Wattle Greek, then climbed out into one of the deep saddles in the divide to the west. However, between that point and Broken Rock Trig was another high section with three roughly conical tops, than another deep saddle and finally the knife edge up to Broken Rock. By 4.30 p.m. on the Saturday we were on the third  the most northerly  of the three pimples on the centre part of the range, and it was obviously too far to the northern outlier of the divide. We gave it our best, camped on Butcher's Creek and returned on a cold, squally Sunday via Scotts Main and Byrnes Gap.
+The third bid once again from Yerranderie, and in company with Heather Joyce (White), Alex Colley and Don Matthews came nearest to success. We went over Bull Island Gap and down the top of Green Wattle Greek, then climbed out into one of the deep saddles in the divide to the west. However, between that point and Broken Rock Trig was another high section with three roughly conical tops, then another deep saddle and finally the knife edge up to Broken Rock. By 4.30 p.m. on the Saturday we were on the third - the most northerly - of the three pimples on the centre part of the range, and it was obviously too far to the northern outlier of the divide. We gave it our best, camped on Butcher's Creek and returned on a cold, squally Sunday via Scotts Main and Byrnes Gap.
@@ Line 110: / Line 118: @@
-Then Pat Harrison took a party over it on the Anzac Holiday week-end, coming in from Katangra by the Gingra Range and Cedar Road. It was reported 'Cuite fully in the magazine a few months ago and the story mentioned a bit of rudimentary rock climbing on the southern end of the ranges.  There was a reference to the which gives the range its name and is the only way off except for the onde: and *there was 46 miWT10/1 of any rock werk on the northern ridge. I verified this information from  Pat and brooded over it. It would be good for morale to get the best of Broken Rock. All right, we'd do it 3 but we'd throw in a third 7y,__and--; tackle it from a new quarter.
+Then Pat Harrison took a party over it on the Anzac Holiday week-end, coming in from Kanangra by the Gingra Range and Cedar Road. It was reported quite fully in the magazine a few months ago and the story mentioned a bit of rudimentary rock climbing on the southern end of the range. There was a reference to "the break which gives the range its name and is the only way off except for the ends" and there was no mention of any rock work on the northern ridge. I verified this information from Pat and brooded over it. It would be good for morale to get the best of Broken Rock. All right, we'd do it, but we'd throw in a third day and tackle it from a new quarter.
-Putting the plan into execution I left the car at 'vlecllo*-Gap about 7 a.m. on the last Friday in September. Having concluded it was not going to rain in the next 48 hours (and it didn't) I left the tent behind and made fairly brisk time down the aite _Dog 'iro road to the junction of Cos and Kowmung Rivers. After recent rains Warragamba was up to full storage level, and there was still water only two hundred yards below the junction.
+Putting the plan into execution I left the car at Medlow-Gap about 7 a.m. on the last Friday in September. Having concluded it was not going to rain in the next 48 hours (and it didn't) I left the tent behind and made fairly brisk time down the White Dog fire road to the junction of Cos and Kowmung Rivers. After recent rains Warragamba was up to full storage level, and there was still water only two hundred yards below the junction.
-There followed about three hours up the KOy.t1.42.11g; one of my
+There followed about three hours up the Kowmung one of my crossings coinciding with a black snake who was swimming towards the west bank as I waded to the east. After an early lunch I  clambered out at New Yards Creek and fairly early in the afternoon passed the Catholic Walkers Chapel on Scotts Main Range.
-crossings coinciding with a black snake who was swimming towards the west bank as I waded to the east. After an early lunch I  labored out at New Yards CT G CiC and fairly early in the afternoon passed the Catholic '.,'Talkers t Chapel 04 Scotts Main Range.
-A few hundred yards further south and I was striking off along a ridge to the east. Judging from the map, the northern side of this spur could bring me down into Butchers Greek below the 400 ft contour, where I could be marooned by Warragamba water on the western banks so I tended to veer south, and found myself heading straight for the middle of Broken Rock Range. However, it was a nice open spur, and let me down into Butchers Creek in time for afternoon tea, and consideration of the next move.
+A few hundred yards further south and I was striking off along a ridge to the east. Judging from the map, the northern side of this spur could bring me down into Butchers Greek below the 400 ft contour, where I could be marooned by Warragamba water on the western banks, so I tended to veer south, and found myself heading straight for the middle of Broken Rock Range. However it was a nice open spur, and let me down into Butchers Creek in time for afternoon tea, and consideration of the next move.
@@ Line 126: / Line 133: @@
-The next day was to be Broken Lock Day, of course so I was boiling my eggs by torchlight at 5.0 a.m. with the first glimmers of dawn behind the cliffy range, and moved off at 5.40. For maybe five miles it was a gentle ascent on open ridges, with the northern shoulder of the range lifting sharply ahead, and by 7 o'clock I was on the crumbling shalY stuff of the buttress. It was simply very steep, with no real Obstacles, and 7.30 brought me to the first crest, at map reference Bimlow 352062.
+The next day was to be Broken Rock Day, of course, so I was boiling my eggs by torchlight at 5.00 a.m. with the first glimmers of dawn behind the cliffy range, and moved off at 5.40. For maybe one and a half miles it was a gentle ascent on open ridges, with the northern shoulder of the range lifting sharply ahead, and by 7 o'clock I was on the crumbling shaly stuff of the buttress. It was simply very steep, with no real obstacles, and 7.30 brought me to the first crest, at map reference Bimlow 352062.
-The way ahead now dropped slightly, and followed the rim of a kind of causeway leading to the end of the cliff line. The morning was brilliant, the eastern slopes vanishing into a hazy golden film of light, with ghostly timbered slopes rising beyond. I was surprised how little of the Cox Valley I could describe on that side. Far westward, over beyond the Wild Dog Mountains and in Megalong, smoke was rising and maldng the distant hills - last minute burning off before the 1st October, I assume.
+The way ahead now dropped slightly, and followed the rim of a kind of causeway leading to the end of the cliff line. The morning was brilliant, the eastern slopes vanishing into a hazy golden film of light, with ghostly timbered slopes rising beyond. I was surprised how little of the Cox Valley I could descry on that side. Far westward, over beyond the Wild Dog Mountains and in Negalong, smoke was rising and masking the distant hills - last minute burning off before the 1st October, I assume.
@@ Line 137: / Line 144: @@
-The pack was left at the lunch spot, and with just a camera I went on to the highest point, Broken Rock Trig 2506', twenty minutes or so to the south. Once on it, it was obviously the top of the range, with a nice outlook south to the blue breaks around Yerranderie, and the three coned top next south along the ridge. It TZS eiLetly noon, the light erong but hazy, and thate wera-no shadows in the gorges, so I took only a couple of "record" shots. The trip point is a stout pole mounted in a pile of rocks, some of which have tumbled away, so that the whole affair has a drunken lean. A queer target to be one's objective so long, but none the less satisfying to make it.
+The pack was left at the lunch spot, and with just a camera I went on to the highest point, Broken Rock Trig 2506', twenty minutes or so to the south. Once on it, it was obviously the top of the range, with a nice outlook south to the blue breaks around Yerranderie, and the three coned top next south along the ridge. It was exactly noon, the light strong but hazy, and there were no shadows in the gorges, so I took only a couple of "record" shots. The trip point is a stout pole mounted in a pile of rocks, some of which have tumbled away, so that the whole affair has a drunken lean. A queer target to be one's objective so long, but none the less satisfying to make it.
-That follows is always anti-climax: the return to the pack took only 15 minutes and the descent via the "Teak" into the warmth of the westering sun was slow and thirsty over loose crumbly surface well litteted with slippery leaves and twigs. But it was also uneventful, and I made afternoon tea by Butcher's areek, before going downstream to the foot of the ridge which had deposited me on the stream about 24 hours earlier. Then up to Scott's Main Range to sleep under brilliant stars at the Catholic Walkers' clearing.
-The final morning had a dreamlike. quality. There were several steam-hauled tour trains abroad tha I was keen to sight. To fit in with their schedules, I moved off at 3.30 a.m. and saw:-
-	The Sydney Bushwalker.	January, 1970
+What follows is always anti-climax: the return to the pack took only 15 minutes and the descent via the "break" into the warmth of the westering sun was slow and thirsty over loose crumbly surface well littered with slippery leaves and twigs. But it was also uneventful, and I made afternoon tea by Butchers Creek, before going downstream to the foot of the ridge which had deposited me on the stream about 24 hours earlier. Then up to Scotts Main Range to sleep under brilliant stars at the Catholic Walkers' clearing.
-(a) the dawn on' Mount Cooken
-(b) sunrise on Cox's River.
-(c) the car at Medlow .Gap about 9,30 a.m.
+The final morning had a dreamlike quality. There were several steam-hauled tour trains abroad that I was keen to sight. To fit in with their schedules, I moved off at 3.30 a.m. and saw:-
-(a) 3009 at Blackheath-(Zig Zag railway tour)
+(a) the dawn on Mount Cooken
+(b) sunrise on Coxs River.
+(c) the car at Medlow Gap about 9.30 a.m.
+(d) 3009 at Blackheath (Zig Zag railway tour)
 (e) 3203 at Menangle (Rotolactor tour)
-(i-) 3214 and 3642 at Helensburgh (South Coast tour)
+(f) 3214 and 3642 at Helensburgh (South Coast tour)
-(g) an appalling traffic jam on the South Coast Road as people took advantage, of the first really fine Sunday in some weeks.
+(g) an appalling traffic jam on the South Coast Road as people took advantage of the first really fine Sunday in some weeks.
-All in all,tou could count it.a.successful day too.
-BETTY HEY700D nee. PRYDE).
+All in all you could count it a successful day too.
+==== Betty Heywood (nee Pryde) ====
 Our more senior members will regret to learn of the loss sustained by Betty Heywood in the passing of her husband Richard Heywood in U.S.A. on Wednesday 3rd December.
-Betty9 of course9 is a daughter of our much revered Member Charles (or Charlie) Pryde. For years Betty has been resident in America and her address is
-: Mrs. Richard Heywood, 30 Saxon Road,
-Worcester 016029
+Betty of course is a daughter of our much revered member Charles (or Charlie) Pryde. For years Betty has been resident in America and her address is:
+Mrs. Richard Heywood
+Saxon Road,
+Worcester 01602,
 Massachusetts U.S.A.
-)/L.	-t.0
-!	/ I i'--4
-/
--/
-NEW BIGGER SHOWROOM FOR WALKING GEAR.
-"THE CANOE CENTR", A COMPLETE DISPLAY CENTRE FOR "GEOFF BAR= CANOES, KAYAKS AND ACCESSORIES
-HIRE YOUR FAIRY DOWN SLEEPING BAG, H-FRAME PACK OR TENT FROM OUR EQUIPMENT HIRE DEPARTMENT.
-USE OUR NEW, FREE LIBRARY SERVICE FOR
-:7=Rs AND anaais.
-And just to make sure we are giving you top- service we open at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday mornings - you can park right in front so make MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT your first stopl
-Pacific Highway, Borth Sydney.
--6504.
-The Sydney Bushwalker.	January,1970.
-	..........-
-HOPE OBSERVED.
-Observer.
-One of the words to appear in the sixties was "environment" - an awareness that the quality of life could be as big a consideration as income tax policy. Concern with pollution, whether it be air, water or urban landscape is very likely to become a major issue, in some centres literally a matter of life and death, in the seventies. From this rather narrow immediate concern there has already grown a surprising interest, in the Western world at least, in the overall environment which we recognise as conservation. This is shown as a now willingness to consider other than purely economic factors whetherin land use, insecticide or a dozen other things. The Little Desert scheme in western Victoria, though shown to be economic nonsense, under present market conditions, would almost certainly have been maintained unless conservationists had also shown it to be cultural vandalism. Barrier Reef drilling5, Colong mining, development schemes not yet proposed, could, hopefully, be looked at with similar realism.
-Ironically, Australia's huge mineral development in the decade could alter the whole of the quality of Australian rural life. The rather dangerous argument of having to rely on exports of rural, products to maintain overseas balances is rapidly -becoming out of date. Coupled with chaotic marketing conditions for practically all rural produce there is a very real chance that much margianl rural land will find other use. Per far too long a one..;,crop economy has had to be tolerated, producing rural idiocies too numerous to list The desolate way of-life of a North Coast dairy far= will be loss attractive and in an age of increasing affluence should not be tolerated. The poorly considered extension of wheatland in recent years has already extracted its price.
-In the Sixties New South Wales saw the beginning of Professionalism and investment in the running of its established National Parks. This saw an almost immediate very large increase in the attractiveness and use of the Parks. Without such use justification for the investment is difficult and justification for further Parks even more so. 'The current unified policy for llational Parks could ensure that the popular use ones, close to the city, will contribute economiCally and in general interest to the more remote ones. Certainly introducing people to the parks could not fail to increase aeneral awareness of the need for more parks, for more foreshore access and more investment.
-One dream of the Sixties was a "high-country" national park to include the greater partof the divide of the eastern states. Such a
-:	The Sydney Bushwalker.''	January, 19.70.
-park would be sensible, economically and culturally'.and would rival any in the world. It could be part of the better life we hope will be ours in the seventies.'
-JOY R.MMSERED.
-Observer.
-Everyone should have in their lives an Era Period, whether it
-is a few days, a summer or one's youth. Era and socialising were,
-in my youth, synonymous. One went there on ten minutes notice on
-any week-end between November and Easter, argued whether to go by
-the rocks, the Granites or Thelma Ridge - it depended on the time of arrival, financial state (taxi, bus or rare private car) - then argue& whether to camp at Stockyard, among the lillipillis, on the flat among the leeches, on the hill to catch the breeze.
-I had a tent that pitched well on the flat but looked very shantytown pitched on the slightest slope. Its one redeeming feature was a clip-on mosquito net. To prove my depthless amiability this abode was collapsed at least a dozen times one night to exclude insects. Inevitably one mozzie was always left. The tent would be collapsed and rolled on to eliminate the one mosquito. At last peace reigned. Towards =ming a southerly demolished the tent around us. We did not stir but clutched the tent net and- a variety of food. bags as a security-blanket. 7hen,the sun beamed. we covered our heads and slept on. Unembarrassed we woke at midday,
-swam, ate four o'clock lunch and slept that night somewhere between an as hut and the lillipillis.
-Era was the place for the most candid of candid photography, the results of which were best kept to. oneself. From one reel I showed precisely one print - a completely innocuous, out of series shot of a pcelr of horses grazing on the hillside between north and south, It is a print of which I still remain fond-. I wriggled on my stomach, downhill after the horses as they moved on continuously. Perfect composition came only moments before physical collapse.
-There was always a balance of alternatives between availability of water and the prevalence of leeches. Paradoxically one walked further for water, in damp years to escape camping with the leeches. Good cicada years were earsplitting. Towards the end of summer bind-i-eyes were an obsession. I remember vividly the peculiar
-.	The Sydney Bushwalker.	January, ]970.
-,	.
-.	.
-agony of one girl 'walking tow4r1s the' btabh-barefoo'ted-BOth foot picked up burrs simultaneously. She sat down. Both buttocks ditto. She tried .a handstand, the last desparate recourse. One hand found fienay territory.
-The aboriginal midden provides still the perfect spot for sun-. baking. There are endless combinations and possibilities of direct and reflected light and cooling breeze. Either beach was sure to provide just the right surf or the right company. We swam and socialised with future notables, cursed the grazing animals and then late on Sunday ran up a ridge to beat someonets sister s record attempt.
-Era this year is greener than ever. The water in Stockyard
-is as clear ana sweet, the leeches still find the one person in the party terrified of them. There is more driftwood than ever to collect and dry and hide in the trees. Cicadas are having a tremendous year. Surf breaks beautifully on the bank. People still walk past with mysterious loads. Optimistic fishezmen still stand on the rocks. Among the age-old shells and chipped stone on the midden we found a 1925 sixpence.
-An epic account of a voyage down the Murray from Tom Groggin to Khancobin has been promised indirectly to grace a future issue. This report, which will rival Shackle-bents escape from the ice, will appear when
-the author has the manuscript typed since he wishes to avoid ambiguities appearing in the final article. Ho is not going to risk recumbent, redundant, reeling lions in any of his simile or metaphor.
-.
-PADDY PALLIN
-Lightweight Camp Gear
-, Nor, /09A Sathurst Stroet, Sydn'Y
-vleileamseicamciallinimpoitionipmpragiglos/Ptist
-oursos~7.,i
-. Take a good pack, strong, comfortable,
-trustworthy. Use it for 5, 10 or 20 years. It becomes your good friend which is capable of taking occasional abuse, responds to care, you recall that like a good friend it never lets you down and you shared many good times together.
-Then the time comes for a necessary repair you know you Can take it back to where it .became yours for .careful attention to the wear and tear of the years of hard work. because it FADDYMADE. .
-From PADDY PALLIN PTY. LIMITED, 1st FLOOR,
-A BATHURST STREET;	fq7--	, ._	4'4
-SYDNEY.	N.S.W.
-e	;.
-..	..,	.
-!,1
-e I
-r\ irs, 1 il 1
-$ it	,
-,2685.
-.	The Sydney Bushwalker.	January, 1970.
-The December General Meeting. Jim Brown.
-The last meeting of the calendar year saw four members welcomed  Pat Masson, Jan Phillips, Ruth Morgan and George Mayer  and there would have been five had Wendy Major been present.
-No one wanted to raise any matters on.the count of Minutes, but Don from the Chair, pointed out that we were still short of a Federation Delegate, whereat Jim Calloway was nominated and appointed. Don went on to say that the Kangaroo Valley land Management Committee met on the site early in November, and conferred with the Quakers next door who aid not now seek grazing rights on our block.
-Frank Ashdown was inspired to ask how the Annual rates would now be paid,- and was told the amount of about $24 p.a. would be met from the Clubs normal funds.
-,,,,,,....s;..witmasw=.11 ' ir"...T..,,,p.".,
-	.	-7-41.,;,',.. e,;,..7.4
-,-,-.,  r,,,;," e-f
-V1PP '
-I Ti	}
-ill
-! '}
-	i
-.	1
-.-...._._ '
-I \	1	,	,,,,,,-`46104.:(?,..r
-N 0 A- / .'	. E.--'4
-	----,, )))),) - --,,.	_,d<-	L
-I	I.;!
-I. 	-
-	lk/. '''' '	0"7-'''' ,	el. i)-*r.
-....	14 ! .) :4/ . 1,
-.1=4>
-,
-m _.___-_ir
--' I			.	ill
-.'
--
-.
-I;
-.\\
-IN
-'--- '	f	;	/V 4 ) 	.r7L7.-/
-	f
-....._ . -.( \	, / / .///' .../),,,,,,,--%,..,...,,,.-__ -;	\ --- _ -__-,....,
-\
-c-124 \ \ i	1 i :::,/,.e14'
----4.--.......,....-.,	o ,.........."
-(..	.,..,,
-,410
-.	The Sydney Bushwalker.	January, 1970.
-Correspondence told: Us Beryl Chapman had bean r.einat.ated to membership and Jean and Tom:Moppett had transferred to non-active. There was a rather non-committal reply from the Premier to our request that the Sim report on beach mining be given an airing in Parliament.
-The Secretary read the month's.. financial statement,- showing income of .$25, expenditure of $142., and on hand in the current - account at the close of November $690.
-Walks Report included the autobiographical comment of some leaders interposed with the Walk's Secretary7s account. Early in November Frank Leyden's jaunt to the Valley of the Swamps, out from Bell, found reduced wild flowers after last year's fires, and Pleasant camping at the "Swamps" about 4i.ho=s walking from the Deep Pass car park. On the Sunday there had been two day walks: Nan(7 Alderson and party went into the Red Hand Cava-Campfire Creek . country, finding the creeks well up after rains. Your reporter with team of 18 visited Burning Palms and rock-hopped to 'Throng Beach.
-The following week-end, which was most wet, was rather a flop, and Instructional Walk being cancelled for lack of prospectives, an. Ramon U'Brien's Grand Canyon ;jaunt because of a superfluity of water. Alan Hedstrom took Owen Mark's trip (Owen being. on the Pacific Islands Grand Tour) and Frank Leyden with a samll party of 5 momberswent to Peat's Farm - a little visited area on Hawkesbury estuary.
-The week-end 22-23 Nov. was gloriously fine and David Cotton's team of six went to the Wild Dog Mountains, finding outsize nettles in Carlon's Creek and spending a night camped "on a 45-deg slope". Barry Wallace took a crowd to,.Yalwal and Danjera Creeks camping early after a near mutiny, they still arrived. back to the cars good and early on Sunday but found a pleasant way to kill time in Nowra where George Mayer had access to a Club. On the same weekend Sam Hinde took. people into seldom visited territory near Spencer on the Hawkesburys his account of the trip was sburrilous, highly coloured and should be ignored (especially most references to your reporter).
-To conclude the month Spiro Ketas plus-six others came down from Kanangra to the Kowmung via CaMbage Spire and-did come 1i-being downstream, and Owen Marks somehow prevailed on 31 people to . trudge from Bundeena to Garie (morning tea at Marley provided).
-Came Federation Reports for November and December, with Wilf Hilder explaining there had been two schools of thought about in-. stalling a second plaque to Tare at Clear Hill, the final decision
-.	The Sydney Bushwalkor.	January, 1970.
-being no additional memorial but possibly the use of the funds available on improvement of ways and means of leaving the Narrow Nock peninsular.
-The vacancy for Federation Treasurer had been filled, but an Auditor was yet required. Affiliation fees for 1970 would be the same as '69, the Ball would be in September, place and date to be chosen, and the Federation Reunion on April 11-12 at Sugoc Creek near Vangriove Creek (via Spencer).
-The Catholic Walkers were now affiliated: Kuringgai Chase Trust evinced some interest in walking tracks and seemed willing to improve them and include them in their information literature. Federation was watching with some concern the Blue Mountains Council's schemes for a fire road into Grose Valley.
-Wilf reported new 1:50,000 maps of Ettrick and_ Bonalbo in thc far north-east of the State, a map of the Jacob's River area (covering The Pilot and high spots south of Kosciusko) and provisional maps embracing the Apsloy and Macleay River Gorges - quite preceipitous ravines. Publications of interest were "The Melbourne Walker" 1970 edition and a Periwinkle book "Wild Flowers of South-East Australia."
-On to general business, and Frank Ashdown explaining that
-his talk in January would not ho on "English Countess" but "Counties". Ho hadn't been able to find a countess on his recent visit to Darb - not even Lady Chatterloy. From the Chair Don said members attending day walks should contact the leader and not just turn up: allother things apart, the trip may have been changed. Then, as he dongod the gong at 9.5 p.m. ho wished us all a Merry Christmas.
-.4
-A
+==== Hope Observed ====
+**Observer**
+One of the words to appear in the sixties was "environment" - an awareness that the quality of life could be as big a consideration as income tax policy. Concern with pollution, whether it be air, water or urban landscape is very likely to become a major issue, in some centres literally a matter of life and death, in the seventies. From this rather narrow immediate concern there has already grown a surprising interest, in the Western world at least, in the overall environment which we recognise as conservation. This is shown as a now willingness to consider other than purely economic factors whether in land use, insecticide or a dozen other things. The Little Desert scheme in western Victoria, though shown to be economic nonsense, under present market conditions, would almost certainly have been maintained unless conservationists had also shown it to be cultural vandalism. Barrier Reef drilling, Colong mining, development schemes not yet proposed, could, hopefully, be looked at with similar realism.
+Ironically, Australia's huge mineral development in the decade could alter the whole of the quality of Australian rural life. The rather dangerous argument of having to rely on exports of rural products to maintain overseas balances is rapidly becoming out of date. Coupled with chaotic marketing conditions for practically all rural produce there is a very real chance that much marginal rural land will find other use. For far too long a "one-crop economy" has had to be tolerated, producing rural idiocies too numerous to list. The desolate way of life of a North Coast dairy farm will be less attractive and in an age of increasing affluence should not be tolerated. The poorly considered extension of wheatland in recent years has already extracted its price.
+In the sixties New South Wales saw the beginning of professionalism and investment in the running of its established National Parks. This saw an almost immediate very large increase in the attractiveness and use of the parks. Without such use justification for the investment is difficult and justification for further parks even more so. The current unified policy for National Parks could ensure that the popular use ones, close to the city, will contribute economically and in general interest to the more remote ones. Certainly introducing people to the parks could not fail to increase aeneral awareness of the need for more parks, for more foreshore access and more investment.
+One dream of the sixties was a "high-country" national park to include the greater part of the divide of the eastern states. Such a park would be sensible, economically and culturally and would rival any in the world. It could be part of the better life we hope will be ours in the seventies.'
+==== Joy Remembered ====
+**Observer**
+Everyone should have in their lives an Era Period, whether it is a few days, a summer or one's youth. Era and socialising were,
+in my youth, synonymous. One went there on ten minutes notice on any week-end between November and Easter, argued whether to go by
+the rocks, the Granites or Thelma Ridge - it depended on the time of arrival, financial state (taxi, bus or rare private car) - then argued whether to camp at Stockyard, among the lillipillis, on the flat among the leeches, on the hill to catch the breeze.
+I had a tent that pitched well on the flat but looked very shanty-town pitched on the slightest slope. Its one redeeming feature was a clip-on mosquito net. To prove my depthless amiability this abode was collapsed at least a dozen times one night to exclude insects. Inevitably one mozzie was always left. The tent would be collapsed and rolled on to eliminate the one mosquito. At last peace reigned. Towards morning a southerly demolished the tent around us. We did not stir but clutched the tent net and a variety of food bags as a security-blanket. When the sun beamed we covered our heads and slept on. Unembarrassed we woke at midday, swam, ate four o'clock lunch and slept that night somewhere between an Era hut and the lillipillis.
+Era was the place for the most candid of candid photography, the results of which were best kept to oneself. From one reel I showed precisely one print - a completely innocuous, out of series shot of a pair of horses grazing on the hillside between north and south. It is a print of which I still remain fond. I wriggled on my stomach, downhill after the horses as they moved on continuously. Perfect composition came only moments before physical collapse.
+There was always a balance of alternatives between availability of water and the prevalence of leeches. Paradoxically one walked further for water, in damp years to escape camping with the leeches. Good cicada years were earsplitting. Towards the end of summer bindi-eyes were an obsession. I remember vividly the peculiar agony of one girl walking towards the beach barefooted. Both feet picked up burrs simultaneously. She sat down. Both buttocks ditto. She tried a handstand, the last desperate recourse. One hand found friendly territory.
+The aboriginal midden provides still the perfect spot for sun-baking. There are endless combinations and possibilities of direct and reflected light and cooling breeze. Either beach was sure to provide just the right surf or the right company. We swam and socialised with future notables, cursed the grazing animals and then late on Sunday ran up a ridge to beat someone's sister's record attempt.
+Era this year is greener than ever. The water in Stockyard is as clear and sweet, the leeches still find the one person in the party terrified of them. There is more driftwood than ever to collect and dry and hide in the trees. Cicadas are having a tremendous year. Surf breaks beautifully on the bank. People still walk past with mysterious loads. Optimistic fishermen still stand on the rocks. Among the age-old shells and chipped stone on the midden we found a 1925 sixpence.
+An epic account of a voyage down the Murray from Tom Groggin to Khancobin has been promised indirectly to grace a future issue. This report, which will rival Shackleton's escape from the ice, will appear when the author has the manuscript typed since he wishes to avoid ambiguities appearing in the final article. He is not going to risk recumbent, redundant, reclining lions in any of his similes or metaphors.
+==== The December General Meeting ====
+**Jim Brown**
+The last meeting of the calendar year saw four members welcomed - Pat Masson, Jan Phillips, Ruth Morgan and George Mayer - and there would have been five had Wendy Major been present.
+No one wanted to raise any matters on the count of Minutes, but Don from the Chair, pointed out that we were still short of a Federation Delegate, whereat Jim Calloway was nominated and appointed. Don went on to say that the Kangaroo Valley Land Management Committee met on the site early in November and conferred with the Quakers next door who did not now seek grazing rights on our block.
+Frank Ashdown was inspired to ask how the annual rates would now be paid, and was told the amount of about $24 p.a. would be met from the Club's normal funds.
+Correspondence told us Beryl Chapman had bean reinstated to membership and Jean and Tom Moppett had transferred to non-active. There was a rather non-committal reply from the Premier to our request that the Sim report on beach mining be given an airing in Parliament.
+The Secretary read the month's financial statement showing income of $25, expenditure of $142, and, on hand in the current account at the close of November, $690.
+Walks Report included the autobiographical comment of some leaders interposed with the Walk's Secretary's account. Early in November Frank Leyden's jaunt to the Valley of the Swamps, out from Bell, found reduced wild flowers after last year's fires, and pleasant camping at the "Swamps" about 4 1/2 hours walking from the Deep Pass car park. On the Sunday there had been two day walks: Nancy Alderson and party went into the Red Hand Cave-Campfire Creek country, finding the creeks well up after rains; your reporter with a team of 18 visited Burning Palms and rock-hopped to Werrong Beach.
+The following week-end, which was most wet, was rather a flop, and Instructional Walk being cancelled for lack of prospectives, and Ramon U'Brien's Grand Canyon jaunt because of a superfluity of water. Alan Hedstrom took Owen Mark's trip (Owen being on the Pacific Islands Grand Tour) and Frank Leyden with a small party of 5 mombers went to Peat's Farm - a little visited area on Hawkesbury estuary.
+The week-end 22-23 Nov. was gloriously fine and David Cotton's team of six went to the Wild Dog Mountains, finding outsize net tles in Carlons Creek and spending a night camped "on a 45-deg slope". Barry Wallace took a crowd to Yalwal and Danjera Creeks: camping early after a near mutiny, they still arrived back to the cars good and early on Sunday but found a pleasant way to kill time in Nowra where George Mayer had access to a Club. On the same weekend Sam Hinde took people into seldom visited territory near Spencer on the Hawkesbury: his account of the trip was scurrilous, highly-coloured, and should be ignored (especially most references to your reporter).
+To conclude the month Spiro Ketas plus six others came down from Kanangra to the Kowmung via Cambage Spire and did come 1i-loing downstream, and Owen Marks somehow prevailed on 31 people to trudge from Bundeena to Garie (morning tea at Marley provided).
+Thence came Federation Reports for November and December, with Wilf Hilder explaining there had been two schools of thought about installing a second plaque to Taro at Clear Hill, the final decision being no additional memorial but possibly the use of the funds available on improvement of ways and means of leaving the Narrow Nock peninsular.
+The vacancy for Federation Treasurer had been filled, but an Auditor was yet required. Affiliation fees for 1970 would be the same as '69, the Ball would be in September, place and date to be chosen, and the Federation Reunion on April 11-12 at Sugec Creek near Mangrove Creek (via Spencer).
+The Catholic Walkers were now affiliated: Kuring-gai Chase Trust evinced some interest in walking tracks and seemed willing to improve them and include them in their information literature. Federation was watching with some concern the Blue Mountains Council's schemes for a fire road into Grose Valley.
+Wilf reported new 1:50,000 maps of Ettrick and Bonalbo in thc far north-east of the State, a map of the Jacobs River area (covering The Pilot and high spots south of Kosciusko) and provisional maps embracing the Apsloy and Macleay River Gorges - quite precipitous ravines. Publications of interest were "The Melbourne Walker" 1970 edition and a Periwinkle book "Wild Flowers of South-East Australia."
+On to general business, and Frank Ashdown explaining that his talk in January would not be on "English Countess" but "Counties". He hadn't been able to find a countess on his recent visit to Darb - not even Lady Chatterley. From the Chair Don said members attending day walks should contact the leader and not just turn up: all other things apart, the trip may have been changed. Then, as he donged the gong at 9.5 p.m. he wished us all a Merry Christmas.