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CONTENTS.
A Walk to Wallabadah Pat Harrison. Z Target for 12 Years Jim Brown 6 Mt. Equipment Ad 10 Hope Observed Observer 11 Joy ReMembered II 12 Paddy's Ad 14 The December General Mooring J. Brown 15
A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to The Sydney Bushwalkers, Northooto Building, Roiby Place,Circular Quay, Sydney. POSTAL ADDRESS: Box 4476 G.P.O., Sydney 2001.
Editor: Bill Gillam, 19 Old Bush Road, Engadine 2233 Business Manager: Bill Burke, Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, 2118 Typist: Christa Younger, 71 Yarran Road, Oatley, 2223 Illustrators: Helen Gray, 209 Malton Road, Epping 2121
MIMINI10 O.NOMINNI 2.
The Sydney Bushwalkers, January, 1970.
A Walk to Wailibadah
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- waters of Quirindi Creek and thereafter following that creek to Tallabadah and the road to Quirindi. The distance along the range to Quirindi would be about twenty miles then about eleven to Wallabadah and another ten to Quirindi. The general altitude of this section of the Liverpool Range is around 4,000'and the course of the imak would involve climbing 8,000'.
Being neither a complete misanthrope nor yet wholly gregarious I asked Bruce Vote at the coffee shop after a club meeting whether he would come. He didn't say yes nor yet a definite no so that I thought he would not be able to come. It was a very pleasant surprise when I received a telegram at Quirindi on Wednesday May 15, 1963, which read: “Arriving Thursday p.m.” He really arrived Wednesday night and slept under the bridge across the Jacob and Joseph Creek because he was reluctant to disturb us late at night. He was duly rebuked.
We left Quirindi at noon on Thursday 16th and had no trouble finding a lift to where the New England Highway crosses the Liverpool Range about three miles north of Murrurundi. Our altitude here was 2200' and the weather wasn't at all promising as we went through a locked gate and along a jeep track to Mt. Helen, distant to the east about four miles and involving a climb of 1800' to its crest at 40021.
The cloud was low but it was a very scenic walk along a comparatively narrow range with extensive views to Murrurundi and the Upper Hunter Valley on our right while on the left, the western side, the view stretched away across the Breeza Plains and beyond to some humps on the horizon which were probably the Warrumbungles. When we reached Mt. Helen we were well and truly in the mist and found our way down in the end by compass to the saddle 8460' below. Once down to the 3500' level we were in the clear again, below the cloud and in country which has generally been cleared of timber. There was a lush growth of grass, even to an untrained eye, the best cattle country you could find.
When we reached the saddle we began to think about camp for the night and whether we would have to use any of the two quarts of water we had been carrying. The saddle led northwards to another feature (3607') and when we reached it we found the left-hand ground sloped uniformly but that the range still went northward to a higher feature (3894'). However, the ground to the right, to the east, sloped for several hundred feet and then formed a high plateau. This treeless plateau was quite extensive and from a distance looked swampy. After crossing this high valley we eventually found water by sound. We could not see the stream but could hear its gurgle beneath the bracken and the grass. There was fish-back fern covering a little runnel with a pure, determined flow.
Camp was made immediately in the long grass nearby and by great good fortune we found enough wood for our needs. The mist swirled and boiled around the crest of the range and always seemed about to descend and close in on us. It never did. From our tent during the night we could see the winking lights of cars on the highway near Blandford. Our camp was on one of the headwaters of Neelahans Creek.
We started at 8.45 on Friday and sidled round the unnamed feature (3894') to the saddle connecting it to Ht. Temi (41119. Mt. Temi is shaped like a groat flathead fish of which our saddle was the start of the tail. The 550' climb from the saddle was simple enough, a narrow rock ridge of basalt chunks with thorn bushes and nettle for stimulation. The crest of Temi is flat and clear. In addition to the far ranging views of the previous day we could now see a very interesting formation, to the north-east,
in the valley of Warland's Creek. This formation, 7allabadah Rocks, rises straight up from the floor of the valley for 1000' and more
than half of this height is sheer. Wallabadah'Rocks in appearance
is a split rock very similar in appearance to Belougery Split Rock in the 'Bungles. It has the same reddish colour as Belougery.
It remained with us as an impressive sight for the rest of the day as we made a half circle around it along the range. There are trees at the base and there appear to be bushes on top.
There was a steep 850' descent off the northern end of Temi to a broad clear saddle and from the saddle a climb up to another unnamed feature(36909, the southern side of which was dotted with several small tarns. In the swampy ground they appeared as pools among the reeds. We now knew that our main worry, water, had. been unnecessary and this was further confirmed at lunchtime on Lagoon Mountain. (3432') Where there is another of these natural tarns. Directly west of Lagoon Mountain through another 450' saddle was another scenic formation - Loder's Peak (34509 which dropped away very steeply on its southern side.
The continuous ups and down along this range were soon to end,
for after making an abrupt change of direction to the east at Lagoon Mountain we dropped down 900t, climbed up the same height to
4. The Sydney Bushwalker:, January 2 '1970
another unnamed 1)eak took our last look at 7aLabadell Flecks which were now directly south of us at th-ir closest point to our walk, and then headed due norLh down a beautiful lonc ridge to make camp at 4.20 near the headwaters of uiririli Crook and just a:belie its junction with Splitter's Creek. Here nna there on the hillside as we came down this ridge could le sour' ring-barko,2 trees vvhose brow-J1 dead leaves gave an attractive autueinal appearance as they shone golden in the afternoon sun
Anyone who has walked with only one companion and campea far away in new country will know how satiefying wore tho camps of this night and the previous night In my case I ife,la tho added pleasure, after many years, of being near the SOUTCO of the stream upon whose banks twenty miles downstream I first saw the light of day nearly half a century ago
On Saturday morning we set out at 820 with one pack between us and
took the long ridge on the western side of SPlittO2S C-2,_;0:( (Ref,
96090 Land l Map Quirieldi :3 1 31680) and completed the 2600' climb to Crawney Mountain (4736) at 1015 arriv-inz tbere. with Bruce's hat filled with mushrooms he had gathered on the way It was unfortunate that above the 4000' level the range was cOV057Qa in a thick mist, blocking the splendid panorama of more than twenty miles to Yunale and Quirinal. From Crav.rney Mount an there are three water-sheds3 one to the north-east and the beautiful Pool River which In turn finds its way to the Naulei one to the southeast to the ocually beautiful Isis River which feeds the Hunter ancl the thLra westwards down the valley of Quirincl_i Creek which winds its ray past oasurinas, green flats and pleasant fams and fruitful roil and on through Tallabadah and Quirindi, around 71'1pda:thought it Hill and across the Breeza Plain to lose itself in the Mock! Rivo
We followed the range sodthwards from Craveaey down a 5003 saddle and across a peak, very reeky end. narrow, :ena deconded by the reference 994894 which brought us back to tine blue tent by a complete circle. This is a splendid walk, the narrow spine of Peak 4686 it was fascinating to see the reLst swf,21ing on the Isis River side while the other side was clear
Pain had begun to fall as WO reached camp, but by Bruce'e effort we were soon eatin mushrcems fr3ed in buner, There are three or four settlers along this =eel: boteen our eemp and Wallabadah and consequently there is a road of sorts ce. true bush road which did nothing to spoil our day And what better way to prepare for the ten mile road bash frole 17allabadah.to Quirindi than downing a couple of classes in an old country pub while the rain drummed devil outside.
Bruce and I are both purists - at opposite ends of the spectrum. He doesn't like to walk on roads? I like to walk anywhere end everywh-zre. A mile from 7al1abadah7 tea overdue, a truck .caT:a along and
The Sydney Bushwalker. January, 197).
to Bruce's obvious delight would not move unless we were on board.
Maps? There are excellent ones of the area by the Land g Dept - in a.scale of two inches to the mile; we used the Quirinal “B” and D“ sheets and one of the joys of the walk was the use of these maps to find our way. A last word. The winter is the best time to walk in these ranges. Snow falls on the high ground and there are hard frosts throughnidwinter.
THE AUTUMN WALKS .PROGRAMME 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.
ALL THE WORLD LOVES A LEADER.
6. The Sydney Bushwalker. January;1970.
TARGET_ FOR T7ELVE YEARS. Jim Brow
I suppose you could say it_Fas Pba Harrisonyfno. started. it. ails.. .well, at-least he revived an old flame that had boon 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 twoday weekend, and it didn't turn out that may, -
Over the next two years I made three abortive attempts to reach Broken Rock Trig. The first started from Yerranderie you could stbill 4eive there via Burragorang at that time Jack Gentle anct,l'An. Mite joined me in the jaunt, and the plot was to follow
s Main Range to Branfan, droP into Butchers Creek, and tackle ange from the saddle immediately south of Shoebridge Mountain, isty weather and lack of time thwarted.us, and we wont back via the Kowmung.
A few months later I was at it again; this time from Bimlow, the lower Cox River and Green riattle Creek, It was a solo trip in high summer, and I couldn't find any break in the cliff overlooking:, Fritz's Creek. I decided I was too young to die of heatstroke and retreated again.
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 best, camped on Butcher's Creek and returned on a cold, squally Sunday via Scott's Main and Byrnes Gap.
At that stage I threw up my.hands in disgust, declared
that Broken Rock grapes were sour, and wrote it off. Except that, over the years I occasionally found myself locking at it on maps especially after new and detailed sheets were finally published some four or five years back.
7. The Sydney Bushwa,lker. Ja,nuary-,19:1-0
Thou 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 magacT.ine a few months ) ago, and the story. mentioned. .a bit of rudimentai” y rock climbing on the southern end of the rango.s -there was a reference tothe 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 got 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.
Putting the plan into execution I left the car at 'vlecllo*-Gap about 7 a.m. on the last Friday in September. Havinc concluded dt 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_ Kowinung 'Rivers. 2,-fter recent rains Warragamba was up to full storage level, and there was-still wator only two hundred yards below the junctionc r
There followed about three hours up the KOy.t1.42.11g; one of my
crossings coinciding with a black snake who was syrimming. towards the west bank as I waded to the east. -132-ter early lunch I labored out at New Yards CT G CiC and fairly early in the .afternoon
passed the Catholic '.,'Talkers t Chapel 04 Scott s Main Rang.e..
. .
A fet 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 Warragamlla 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
It seemed sensible to go downstream-until I was opposite the northern limit of the cliff line, passing on the way quite a few evidences of farming activity in the days before the flooding of the valley - bits of old fencing wire, short lengths of rough road, even a small herd of half wild cattle. Finally. I camped just above the slack water on a wide flat with open forest. .
The next day was to be Broken Lock Day, of cburse9 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 oft 5.409 For maybe lir miles it was a gentle aScent on open ridges, with the northern shoulder of the -range lifting_sharPly abead, 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
8. The Sydney Bushwalker. January, 1970.
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 descry on that side. Far westw4rd, over beyond the Wild Dog Mountains and in Negalong, smoke was rising and maldng the distant hills - last minute burning off before the 1st October, I assume.
The causeway section, and a further climb of about 500 feet brought 'no by about 8.15 to the first true top of the Range (map ref. 347042). From that point it became a succession of ups and downs along the saw-toothed western rim. Pat's party reported the same. The scrub is moderate, the wild flowers at the end of September were very fine, the westerly outlook impressive, with the humps of the Gangerangs west and south. The going was rather tedious, however, and slow - so slow.
Somewhere about 11.0 a.m. I came to a place whEre the cliff appeared to break down. I examined it carefully, as this was the proposed route off the range and came to the conclusion that it would “go” unless any lower line of cliff, invisible from the top, was in the way. Just beyond I took an early lunch, conserving my carried flask of water, as there had not been any obvious supply on the tops so far.
The pack was loft 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.
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:-
9 The Sydney Bushwalker. January, 1970
(a) the dawn on' Mount Cooken
(b) sunrise on Cox's River.
© the car at Medlow .Gap about 9,30 a.m.
(a) 3009 at Blackheath-(Zig Zag railway tour)
(e) 3203 at Menangle (Rotolactor tour)
(i-) 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.
All in all,tou could count it.a.successful day too.
BETTY HEY700D 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
Massachusetts U.S.A.
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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
12: 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
13. 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.
3.
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15. 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.
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16. 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
17. 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.
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