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 S & R Contact List (see next page). For any additional information, please contact Hans Stichter on 688 3050 (home) or 410 9410 (business). (Also next first aid course is on May 21/22. Ed.)
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+----
 === Belvedere Taxis Blackheath. ===
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+===== A Nattai National Park. =====
+by Alex Colley.
-A NATTAI NATIONAL PARK
-by AIex'ColleY
 The proposed Nattai National Park covers 75,000 ha. It covers most of the catchment of the Nattai River from the old Mittagong loop line in the east to the Wombeyan Caved Road in the south and extends westward to Lake Burragorang, Yerranderie and the Blue Mountains National Park. It has for long been enjoyed by bushwalkers, particularly the SBW. Myles Dunphy walked down the Couridjah corridor to the Nattai in 1916. He made five more trips to the river between 1928 and 1931, and was so impressed with the magnificent bluegums of the Couridjah Corridor that he approached the Forestry Commission with a view to their preservation. The Commission's response was to locate a sawmill there, and so was lost the last substantial stand of mature timber in the vicinity of Sydney.
 Jack Debert farmed on land at the head of what is now Lake Burragorang during depression days (he walked from there to a reunion on the Nepean). Max Gentle was the first to traverse the Wanganderry Range. Features such as Starlights Track, Macarthur's Flat, Bonnum Pic, Mount Jellore and Yerranderie are the bushwalkers' equivalent of sacred sites.
 In 1932 Myles Dunphy published in the Blue Mountains Gazette his plan for a Blue Mountains National Park. It consisted of a northern, central and southern division. Separated from the southern division by a corridor some 10 to 15 miles wide was another proposed park which consisted of the Nattai catchment and was described as the "Proposed Nattai National Park". The area west of the Wanganderry Range was excluded probably because it consisted largely of Forest reserves and grazing land. The National Parks Association renewed the proposal in 1974 but without result.
-Last year the Total Environment Centre and the Colong Foundation agreed that the time was propitious to make a comprehensive submission for a Nattai Park, one of the few remaining extensive natural areas not reserved. Each organisation contributed $2,000 and Keith Muir B. Nat. Res. (HOn.) was commissioned to write the submission. The NPA was approached for a contribution towards the cost of maps, and although the Sydney Branch was unable to contribute the Berrima Branch donated $300. This, together with donations from the Campbelltown Branch and from the SBW, has paid for a series of maps drawn by Bill Brennan B. Arch. Henry Gold donated the photographs, two of which are reproduced in this magazine.
-The scenery of the area is not quite so impressive as the central and southern BLue Mountains, but it is both attractive and appealing. In the Nattai catchment the entire rock sequence of the Sydney Basin is represented, giving rise to the typical sandstone cliff escarpments. Further. west the basement slates and granites ive rise to a less rugged terrain. There are numerous 1, igneous intrusions. The soils formed from these varied rock formations support a wide variety of flora and fauna. By reason of the protection afforded by the Water Board, the area between the Nattai and the Kowmung may well be the best wild life refuge in the State.
+Last year the Total Environment Centre and the Colong Foundation agreed that the time was propitious to make a comprehensive submission for a Nattai Park, one of the few remaining extensive natural areas not reserved. Each organisation contributed $2,000 and Keith Muir B. Nat. Res. (Hon.) was commissioned to write the submission. The NPA was approached for a contribution towards the cost of maps, and although the Sydney Branch was unable to contribute the Berrima Branch donated $300. This, together with donations from the Campbelltown Branch and from the SBW, has paid for a series of maps drawn by Bill Brennan B. Arch. Henry Gold donated the photographs, two of which are reproduced in this magazine.
-Like most Crown lands outside national parks the area has suffered considerable abuse. This includes sewerage discharge from MIttagong, overstocking and burning by graziers with consequent erosion, the annual burning of fire breaks, and penetration, mostly illegal, by off- road vehicles. Threats include quarrying, a rifle range, the Mittagong by-pass and development of Yerranderie as a tourist resort. Coal mining has usually proved uneconomic. That these abuses and threats should continue in an important Warragamba catchment and a prime recreational area is a reflection on the effectivemess of land use planning. BUt they are preventable and with prevention recovery is likely. Even the bluegums of the Couridjah Corridor may regenerate in time.
+The scenery of the area is not quite so impressive as the central and southern Blue Mountains, but it is both attractive and appealing. In the Nattai catchment the entire rock sequence of the Sydney Basin is represented, giving rise to the typical sandstone cliff escarpments. Further west the basement slates and granites give rise to a less rugged terrain. There are numerous igneous intrusions. The soils formed from these varied rock formations support a wide variety of flora and fauna. By reason of the protection afforded by the Water Board, the area between the Nattai and the Kowmung may well be the best wild life refuge in the State.
+Like most Crown lands outside national parks the area has suffered considerable abuse. This includes sewerage discharge from Mittagong, overstocking and burning by graziers with consequent erosion, the annual burning of fire breaks, and penetration, mostly illegal, by off-road vehicles. Threats include quarrying, a rifle range, the Mittagong by-pass and development of Yerranderie as a tourist resort. Coal mining has usually proved uneconomic. That these abuses and threats should continue in an important Warragamba catchment and a prime recreational area is a reflection on the effectivemess of land use planning. But they are preventable and with prevention recovery is likely. Even the bluegums of the Couridjah Corridor may regenerate in time.
 By reason of its accessibility to the population of the central coast, its natural endowment and catchment significance, the Nattai area is ideally suited to become park land. Its economic potential has been thoroughly tested since early in the last century and found wanting. It would be an appropriate addition to the "green belt" of parklands north, west and south of Sydney.
-A proposed wilderness area of 25,000 ha covering much of the Nattai catchment will be submitted for report by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (as provided by section 7.2 of the Wilderness Act). It is to be hoped that it will be one of the wilderness areas declared in
-.
+A proposed wilderness area of 25,000 ha covering much of the Nattai catchment will be submitted for report by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (as provided by section 7.2 of the Wilderness Act). It is to be hoped that it will be one of the wilderness areas declared in 1988.
-Upper reaches of the Nattai River Valley
-Overlooking Wan ganderry Tableland west to Mount Colong Photographs by Henry Gold
+[ Photo: Upper reaches of the Nattai River Valley ]
- Z z * *
-CD D3 a E
+[ Photo: Overlooking Wanganderry Tableland west to Mount Colong ]
-  CD 7' a
-CD o 3 g
+Photographs by Henry Gold.
-.e CD CD, o
- CD c -0 g,
+[ Map: Park Proposal: Then Nattai National Park Proposal. The Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. December 1987. ]
-  -0 n x-
- CP I-  -o n
+----
-C. x- A- 5-
- CD
+===== "Gloucester Tops Are Tops." =====
-CD
-z
+by Brian Hart.
-751
-a a a
-z
-rn
--o
-m
-March, 198B The Sydney Bushwalker Page 13
-"GLOUCESTER TOPS ARE TOPS"
-by Brian Hart
 Nev, our driver, seemed a little doubtful about the wisdom of our trip to the Gloucester Tops. He had lived in Gloucester for many years and made it clear he intended to notify the police rescue squad if we failed to turn up on time at the end of the trip. As well as being the Gloucester car hire man, Nev was also the area's part-time funeral director, so he would apparently be able to cater for all our needs if the occasion arose.
 Fazeley Read, Rik King and I were setting out on a trip to the Barrington National Park west of Newcastle. We planned to go up the Kerripit River, around the Gloucester Tops area and back down the Gloucester River. We had travelled by train from Sydney to Gloucester, and had arranged for Nev to take us by road to a bridge-crossing on the Kerripit River and pick us up four days later on the Gloucester River.
-The idea was to go somewhere reasonably cool and close to Sydney during the Christmas hot weather period. Instead of the usual Barrington Tops approach from the southern or western sides, we decided to come in from Gloucester, to the east; this would allow us to maximise cool rain forest and river travel on the wayto the higher tops country.
-The temperature was in the mid-30s when we left Sydney. I blame Fazeley for the abrupt
+The idea was to go somewhere reasonably cool and close to Sydney during the Christmas hot weather period. Instead of the usual Barrington Tops approach from the southern or western sides, we decided to come in from Gloucester, to the east; this would allow us to maximise cool rain forest and river travel on the way to the higher tops country.
-change in the weather when we arrived in Gloucester. She had bought a large shady hat for the expected heat - naturally, this induced an instant weather change and we spent the next few days in overcast, sometimes stormy conditions, with cold, windy rain towards the end of the trip.
+The temperature was in the mid-30s when we left Sydney. I blame Fazeley for the abrupt change in the weather when we arrived in Gloucester. She had bought a large shady hat for the expected heat - naturally, this induced an instant weather change and we spent the next few days in overcast, sometimes stormy conditions, with cold, windy rain towards the end of the trip.
 The Kerripit, from where we began walking, to the tributary creek at which we left it, rose about 3000 feet. To those who know the Barrington Tops, this is roughly equivalent to the height gained in going from Lagoon Pinch to the top of Carey's Peak; but instead of a road, one walks about 13 kilometres up a boulder-packed river bed with a fair run of water and some cascades and waterfalls.
-We had noted a couple of points where the map contours in the river bed looked a little too close for comfort, denoting possible waterfalls; I accordingly brought 20 metres of light rope whose existence I thought it wiser not to mention to Fazeley until the trip was under way. As it turned out, the river was the easy part of the trip. It was steep in sections, but there were no problems until the last couple of kilometres, when we struck falls 15 metres
-high and cascades up to 60 metres long and perhaps 20 metres high. These, however, could be
+We had noted a couple of points where the map contours in the river bed looked a little too close for comfort, denoting possible waterfalls; I accordingly brought 20 metres of light rope whose existence I thought it wiser not to mention to Fazeley until the trip was under way. As it turned out, the river was the easy part of the trip. It was steep in sections, but there were no problems until the last couple of kilometres, when we struck falls 15 metres high and cascades up to 60 metres long and perhaps 20 metres high. These, however, could be clambered around with little difficulty.
-clambered around with little difficulty.
 We took it fairly easily and had an interesting trip up the river, passing through some attractive and reasonably open semi-rain forest country and then coming into antarctic beech and sphagnum moss on the Gloucester Tops. We camped in eucalypt country on the second night out, experiencing a terrific thunder and lightning storm. It was so violent we thought it could last for only a few minutes, but the fireworks continued for two hours. By morning, all was calm again, but the rain had set in and continued through the day.
 At this stage, we hit the Gloucester Tops walking trail. We could have trudged along 14 kilometres of trail and road to the Gloucester River falls, but this would have been a bit bovine, so we elected to orient ourselves along six kilometres of mountain ridge top instead, rejoining another fire trail briefly before dropping down a 2000 ft ridge to the Gloucester River.
-The ridge top turned out to be a lacerating experience. The first section was the hardest - low, thick vine scrub, tree ferns, fallen logs, with occasional raspberry vine and spear grass thrown in; Ric said it seemed more like a steeple chase than a bush walk. The six k lometres, including some reasonable stretches of open country, took us six hours to trave se. Rain fell constantly. The elevation was 1150 to 1300 metres and Rik estimated the I- mperature at below 10 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill factor in the open parts. It we all a bit much for the middle of summer.
-Page 14 The Sydney Bushwalker March, 1988
+The ridge top turned out to be a lacerating experience. The first section was the hardest - low, thick vine scrub, tree ferns, fallen logs, with occasional raspberry vine and spear grass thrown in; Ric said it seemed more like a steeple chase than a bush walk. The six kilometres, including some reasonable stretches of open country, took us six hours to traverse. Rain fell constantly. The elevation was 1150 to 1300 metres and Rik estimated the temperature at below 10 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill factor in the open parts. It we all a bit much for the middle of summer.
-On the way down the last long, steep ridge, I became careless and we found ourselves in an unexpected position, with a creek forming up in a wrong location. As it was gatting late - 5.30 pm - I decided to abandon map reading finesse and strike directly north and across any intervening obstacles to the Gloucester River, a course of action recommended only with stoic walking companions. The unsophisticated ploy worked and we soon found ourselves looking down on the Gloucester, still quite a fair distance below. 'We could hear the rumble of the river and it seemed to contain long stretches of white. As it was still raining, Rik thought this could be low-lying cloud - but the river looked to me to be in flood. Not wishing to disturb the ambience of the occasion, I said nothing.
+On the way down the last long, steep ridge, I became careless and we found ourselves in an unexpected position, with a creek forming up in a wrong location. As it was gatting late - 5.30 pm - I decided to abandon map reading finesse and strike directly north and across any intervening obstacles to the Gloucester River, a course of action recommended only with stoic walking companions. The unsophisticated ploy worked and we soon found ourselves looking down on the Gloucester, still quite a fair distance below. We could hear the rumble of the river and it seemed to contain long stretches of white. As it was still raining, Rik thought this could be low-lying cloud - but the river looked to me to be in flood. Not wishing to disturb the ambience of the occasion, I said nothing.
 Forcing our way down the ridge proved hard work - lots of vines, raspberry and undergrowth, and it was 7.40 pm by the time we arrived at the top of a line of semi-cliff fringing the river. There was no time to spend on further reconnaissance, so we used our rope line to lower packs and scramble down.
 By the time we reached the river, it was 8.15 pm and we could see the Gloucester was carrying a lot of water - not exactly in flood, but not far off it. We would normally have camped then and there, but reasoned that, as it had been raining for 24 hours or more, the river could be impassable next day.
 So we made the crossing; fortunately, there was still a lot of late light and we were able to choose a spot where the water was only waist deep or less. Rik's experience stood us in good stead and we were miraculously across in a matter of minutes.
-By now it was 8.30 pm. With driver Nev's warning about the police rescue squad in mind, we had been pushing steadily on for 12 hours - no lunch stop, but occasional 10-minute food and rest breaks. I thought the party would be happpy to call a halt at the river, but to
-my surprise Rik and Fazeley were more than ready to go on. Fazeley, with her adrenalin level boosted by the river crossing, declared she could walk for hours. The imperturbable Rik felt it would be desirable to march on until we reached a good camp site.
+By now it was 8.30 pm. With driver Nev's warning about the police rescue squad in mind, we had been pushing steadily on for 12 hours - no lunch stop, but occasional 10-minute food and rest breaks. I thought the party would be happpy to call a halt at the river, but to my surprise Rik and Fazeley were more than ready to go on. Fazeley, with her adrenalin level boosted by the river crossing, declared she could walk for hours. The imperturbable Rik felt it would be desirable to march on until we reached a good camp site.
 So off we went through the darkening scrub, coming out on the Gloucester River tourist track about 9 pm. Rain was still pouring down and it took an hour or so to get the tents up and a decent blaze going. After a late meal, we climbed into our sleeping bags about 11.30 pm; we felt we had had our money's worth from that particular day's walking.
 To the start of the tourist track, we had not been bothered by leeches. But they were waiting for us at the track; as we prepared to make a fire in the rain, Rik put his torch, apparently bearing a leech, into his mouth, and later found the leech embedded in the roof of his mouth back towards the throat. It resisted all efforts to remove it by hand until Fazeley finally dislodged it with a pair of tweezers. The leeches continued to be a nuisance even after we went to bed. I got up in the morning, removed a few from the outside of my sleeping bag, blew my nose and was startled to expel a blood-laden leech from my right nostril. Literally dozens attached themselves to our persons as we walked out the last six or so kilometres.
-But for most people, leeches are only a minor psychological inconvenience, and in any
-case I had other discomforts to think about. Slogging through the vine scrub the previous day had produced a rather painful set of chafes on my inner thighs. To minimize the discomfort, I had adopted a bowlegged gait which reminded Fazeley, sympathetic bit amused, of the Tin Man in the "Wizard of Oz" film. To further avoid rubbing of the affected parts, I had also dispensed with lower body garb and was marching along wearing only a long jumper whose front
+But for most people, leeches are only a minor psychological inconvenience, and in any case I had other discomforts to think about. Slogging through the vine scrub the previous day had produced a rather painful set of chafes on my inner thighs. To minimize the discomfort, I had adopted a bowlegged gait which reminded Fazeley, sympathetic but amused, of the Tin Man in the "Wizard of Oz" film. To further avoid rubbing of the affected parts, I had also dispensed with lower body garb and was marching along wearing only a long jumper whose front and back sections were held together under the groin by a large safety pin, a la Dorothy Butler.
-and back sections were held together under the groin by a large safety pin, a la Dorothy Butler.
 Thus partly clad, wet, unshaven, bowlegged and with blood still leaking from my right nostril and various lacerations, I emerged from the scrub to be greeted by the astonished stares of campers at neat caravan sites on the upper Gloucester. I thought of saying I was Bill Capon, but modesty forbade.
 Another half kilometre and we made our rendezvous with Nev. And so back to Gloucester, a hot shower, and a luxurious return trip to Sydney on the XPT, sipping expensive railway chardonnay.
-March, 1988 The Sydney BUshwalker Page 15
 All in all, it had been an enlivening walk. We covered a lot (for us) of new ground, arriving back in good spirits with food and time to spare. One day had been a bit prickly, but c'est la vie.
 The trip brought home to me once again the value of walking with relaxed, congenial and reliable companions. We're thinking of having a look at parts of the adjoining Barrington or Moppey Rivers in the next few months; this time, I think I'll take some leather gloves.
-.#31-1***####*#
-LETTER TO THE  EDITOR
+----
+===== Letter To The Editor. =====
 Dear Sir,
 It is with dismay that I find that the Sydney Bushwalker has started to actively campaign in politics. I refer of course to the printed appeal leaflet sent to us via our magazine on behalf of three candidates for the NSW State Legislative Council for the March 19th elections.
 Religion and politics are two controversial subjects which have always been avoided in our various activities.
 Whilst wholeheartedly agreeing that conservation is one of our most foremost aims many other ways of furthering this cause are available as has been demonstrated over 60 years past and 37 years to my knowledge.
 Again the leaflet sent is of doubtful legality and may contravene the NSW Electoral Act as the name and address of the accredited author and of the printer are not shown. In the event of any complaint from opposing candidates our Club could court trouble and possible prosecution for being an instrument in its issue.
 Notwithstanding all of this how do we all know what general political philosophy the three candidates follow?
 A single issue parliamentarian does not enhance stable government as he or she could be completely at sea on such issues as social rights, transport, taxation, education, local government and many other facets.
-The election will be over before this letter could be printed so let's hope the 5B1iJ emerges unscathed.
-Yburs faithfully,
+The election will be over before this letter could be printed so let's hope the SBW emerges unscathed.
-JACK GENTLE.
-THE EDITOR concurs with the above letter. The decision to include the leaflets was
+Yours faithfully,
-raised at the February 1988 general meeting, a motion was put and carried. As Editor I spoke and voted against the motion on the basis that the leaflets were political and had no place
-jr the magazine. As Editor I am responsible for the contents of the magazine which are those titled and numbered pages stapled together between the standard covers, my responsibility does not extend to other sheets included for postal convenience. The current editorial policy was detailed in the editorial in the May 1987 issue of the Sydney Bushwalker; the policy has
+Jack Gentle.
-not changed.
-*****###**#*###*
+----
-LETTER TO THE EDITOR
-Dear Patrick lames,
+The Editor concurs with the above letter. The decision to include the leaflets was raised at the February 1988 general meeting, a motion was put and carried. As Editor I spoke and voted against the motion on the basis that the leaflets were political and had no place in the magazine. As Editor I am responsible for the contents of the magazine which are those titled and numbered pages stapled together between the standard covers, my responsibility does not extend to other sheets included for postal convenience. The current editorial policy was detailed in the editorial in the May 1987 issue of the Sydney Bushwalker; the policy has not changed.
-I enjoyed Margaret Wood's puzzle. However, she should be informed that a Stoi Sign has on.,y two sices. It has eight edges. A purist might contend that it has
-sides and 24 edges. It :ertainly does not have eight sides.
+----
- Kind regards, PAUL SHARP.
-Well done Paul, you're the only one to spot our deliberate error. EDITOR,
+=== Letter To The Editor. ===
-FROM EVERY STATE,
- AUSTRALIAN MADE
+Dear Patrick James,
-IS GREAT!
+I enjoyed Margaret Wood's puzzle. However, she should be informed that a Stop Sign has only two sides. It has eight edges. A purist might contend that it has 10 sides and 24 edges. It certainly does not have eight sides.
+Kind regards,
+Paul Sharp.
+Well done Paul, you're the only one to spot our deliberate error. Editor.
+----
+=== Eastwood Camping Centre. ===
+Australian Made is great!
 QLD
- QBB Butter Concentrate
+  * QBB Butter Concentrate
 NT
- Beef Jer
+  * Beef Jerkey
 WA
- Wilderness Equipment Backpacks
-Goretex Clothing Cycle Panniers
+  * Wilderness Equipment Backpacks
+  * Goretex Clothing
+  * Cycle Panniers
 ACT
- National Maps
- Outgear Backpacks Accessories
+* National Maps
- Feathertop Wool Shirts
- Giant Trees Dried meals
-NSW
- Sleeping Bags J & H, Mont, Romans
- Rainwear
-Mont, J & H, Superior
- Day Packs
-High Tops, Summit Gear
- Bonwick Caving Ladders
-Holeproof 1.1 Undies 4 Socks
- Trailblazer Hats
-DS= bags
- Blundatone Boots
 SA
- Rossi B ts
- Fr ers Baby Carriers
+  * Rossi Boots
-Vic
+  * Flinders Baby Carriers
-EASTWOOD
-CAMPING
+VIC
-CENTRE
-Trelawney St (PO Box 131) Eastwood NSW 2122
+  * Outgear Backpacks Accessories
-PHONE US TODAY & SAY "CrtDAY"
+  * Feathertop Wool Shirts
+  * Giant Trees Dried meals
+NSW
+  * Sleeping Bags - J & H, Mont, Romans
+  * Rainwear - Mont, J & H, Superior
+  * Day Packs - High Tops, Summit Gear
+  * Bonwick Caving Ladders
+  * Holeproof Undies 4 Socks
+  * Trailblazer Hats
+  * DB Canyon bags
+TAS
+  * Blundstone Boots
+Trelawney St (PO Box 131) Eastwood NSW 2122.
+Phone us today & say "G'Day".
 -858-3833
-March, 1988 The Sydney Bushwalker Page 17
-"THEIR SPLENDOUR SHALL NEVER FADE"
+----
+===== "Their Splendour Shall Never Fade." =====
 by Brian Harvey
 I first stood on Splendour Rock on March 29th 1939 in the pleasant company of the now late Bill Cosgrove. We had been members of a small private SBW party which had luxuriated for a week at Kanangaroo Clearing, doing the local sights at our ease, no packs. A very young Bert Carlon had accompanied us with a packhorse laden with sugar bags of the bare necessities such as potatoes, pumpkins, cornflakes, Ideal milk, tinned fruit, reduced cream - as recommended for the light-weight camper. Thus nurtured, the party had ascended the Yellow Dog Ridge and skirted round the Wild Dog Peaks, the main body pressing on to Katoomba via Narrow Neck.
-Water was scarce as it had been a very dry summer so Bill and I, intent on visiting Splendour Rock, made off to find a water camp and located excellent pools at the extreme head of Mouin Creek in a wattle grove with unlimited firewood, at a point exactly south-east of
-the main knot of Mount Mouin, which proved to be a good reference for later trips in the area. This deviation had been planned and we carried appropriate walkers' fare for a couple of days, after which we spent three days living in at the Carlon homestead in the continuous glorious weather.
+Water was scarce as it had been a very dry summer so Bill and I, intent on visiting Splendour Rock, made off to find a water camp and located excellent pools at the extreme head of Mouin Creek in a wattle grove with unlimited firewood, at a point exactly south-east of the main knot of Mount Mouin, which proved to be a good reference for later trips in the area. This deviation had been planned and we carried appropriate walkers' fare for a couple of days, after which we spent three days living in at the Carlon homestead in the continuous glorious weather.
 Leaving camp next morning, we made a bee-line up into Black Horse Gap through some atrocious scrub where I'll bet no walker had been before, all walking being confined to the western side. At that period there were no detailed maps of "The Dogs", but by following good instructions we had no problems in locating our objective. Very few had visited the Rock so there were no discernible foot tracks, even on the spine of Mount Dingo.
 In those days most folk worked on Saturday morning which frustrated walkers from taking part in the very rewarding Friday night starts, whilst only about 3-5% owned cars. There was no Kanangra Road and one had to hoof it for 30 km from the Oberon Road, adding one and a half days to all trips out there, as the tourist cars always deposited walkers in the afternoon. Additionally, there was trepidation about entering little known areas as missing out a workaday Monday, if overdue, often resulted in dismissal.
-Splendour Rock was discovered in 1933 and named by our SBW member Walter J. Hedland Roots, alias "Wally of the Wild Dogs", who was out exploring in the company of Foundation Members Maurie Berry and Alan Rigby, the designer of the front cover of our monthly magazine. WAlly claims - and no one has disputed him - that he was the first European to stand on the Rock and
-is indisputably the oldest living walker to first set foot on it, now enjoying his ripe "eighties"!
+Splendour Rock was discovered in 1933 and named by our SBW member Walter J. Hedland Roots, alias "Wally of the Wild Dogs", who was out exploring in the company of Foundation Members Maurie Berry and Alan Rigby, the designer of the front cover of our monthly magazine. Wally claims - and no one has disputed him - that he was the first European to stand on the Rock and is indisputably the oldest living walker to first set foot on it, now enjoying his ripe "eighties"!
-To those who have never been there, Splendour Rock could be described as a flat-topped orphan rock, the flat top of which is level with the sandstone escarpment of Mount Dingo's south-eastern aspect, being separated by a very narrow gap which necessitates a little hop to gain it. It is about 415 metres in diameter, just about circular.
-It possesses a magnificent commanding view with a panorama of about 2200 with a great abyss at one's feet where the terrain steeply slopes down to the Cox River BOOm below, with Sydney's main water supply, Lake Burragorang, shimmering to the east. Centrally are the distant Kanangra Walls, flanked by the mighty Gangerang Range on their left and the Thurat Plateau to the right, with an array of peaks to the west. And, to cap it all, there is no man-made structure visible to spoil the vision splendid.
+To those who have never been there, Splendour Rock could be described as a flat-topped orphan rock, the flat top of which is level with the sandstone escarpment of Mount Dingo's south-eastern aspect, being separated by a very narrow gap which necessitates a little hop to gain it. It is about 4/5 metres in diameter, just about circular.
-So enthralled was I that four months later, with my brother Perce, again I visited the Rock over the Bank Holiday weekend, camping in bitter conditions on the Friday night at Corral Swamp on Narrow Neck, and then down at "Camp Cosgrove", having had the good fortune to be
-granted leave from working on the Saturday morning. Standing out there, gazing at that peaceful scene, little did I know that one month hence I would, at 4.20 am, receive a priority telegram from the Royal Australian Navy requesting the pelasure of my company which they enjoyed for the next six and'a half years!
+It possesses a magnificent commanding view with a panorama of about 220° with a great abyss at one's feet where the terrain steeply slopes down to the Cox River 800m below, with Sydney's main water supply, Lake Burragorang, shimmering to the east. Centrally are the distant Kanangra Walls, flanked by the mighty Gangerang Range on their left and the Thurat Plateau to the right, with an array of peaks to the west. And, to cap it all, there is no man-made structure visible to spoil the vision splendid.
-In 1947 we were all settling down again and learned that some 172 walkers from the small number of then Federated Clubs had been on Active Service and that an unlucky 13 had failed to
-Page 18 The Sydney Bushwalker March, 1988
+So enthralled was I that four months later, with my brother Perce, again I visited the Rock over the Bank Holiday weekend, camping in bitter conditions on the Friday night at Corral Swamp on Narrow Neck, and then down at "Camp Cosgrove", having had the good fortune to be granted leave from working on the Saturday morning. Standing out there, gazing at that peaceful scene, little did I know that one month hence I would, at 4.20 am, receive a priority telegram from the Royal Australian Navy requesting the pleasure of my company which they enjoyed for the next six and a half years!
-return to our shores, the SBW grieving the loss of the following:-
-REGINALD HEWITT GORDON MANNELL NORMAN SAILL GORDON SMITH
+In 1947 we were all settling down again and learned that some 172 walkers from the small number of then Federated Clubs had been on Active Service and that an unlucky 13 had failed to return to our shores, the SBW grieving the loss of the following:-
-. I felt something tangible should be done in remembrance of them and all fallen walkers and conceived the idea of a suitable bronze plaque to be installed at some prominent and well loved site, and immediately thought of Splendour Rock. I recall moving a resolution at a monthly meeting at our old clubroom at Ingersoll Hall to that effect. with the rider that Federation be acquainted with our intentions, the site being Crown Land and not National Park at that time.
-Federation greeted the idea with enthusiasm and a small committee of four was elected with myself as Convenor. I put the proposition to the committee, which it adopted, that
+  * Reginald Hewitt
- the inscription be "THEIR SPLENDOUR SHALL NEVER FADE". The full text on the plaque reads: "In memory of bdshwalkers who fell in World War II. Their splendour shall never fade." Subscriptions to a fund raised some 27 pounds whilst the cost of the plaque was, I. think, 23 pounds, and this was cast by a firm of brass founders in City Road.
+  * Gordon Mannell
+  * Norman Saill
+  * Gordon Smith
+I felt something tangible should be done in remembrance of them and all fallen walkers and conceived the idea of a suitable bronze plaque to be installed at some prominent and well loved site, and immediately thought of Splendour Rock. I recall moving a resolution at a monthly meeting at our old clubroom at Ingersoll Hall to that effect with the rider that Federation be acquainted with our intentions, the site being Crown Land and not National Park at that time.
+Federation greeted the idea with enthusiasm and a small committee of four was elected with myself as Convenor. I put the proposition to the committee, which it adopted, that the inscription be "Their Splendour Shall Never Fade". The full text on the plaque reads: "In memory of bdshwalkers who fell in World War II. Their splendour shall never fade." Subscriptions to a fund raised some 27 pounds whilst the cost of the plaque was, I think, 23 pounds, and this was cast by a firm of brass founders in City Road.
 It was affixed on site on 22nd February 1948 by a party consisting of Paul Barnes, Ken Compagnoni, Stan Cottier and Len Hall who had a fairly hefty load to carry out there with the necessary cement and rock cutting tools.
-MUth publicity had been given and with the after-effects of war still prominent, some
-walkers assembled at Splendour Rock at dawn of Anzac Day 1948 when the plaque was unveiled by Paddy Pallin, himself an ex-Serviceman having served in the Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF) in England during the 1914/1918 war. An address was delivered by the then Federation President, Paul Driver, and two hymns, accompanied by violin music, were sung. In all, it was a very moving ceremony and which had involved quite an effort to reach such a remote location at that time of day.
+Much publicity had been given and with the after-effects of war still prominent, some 83 walkers assembled at Splendour Rock at dawn of Anzac Day 1948 when the plaque was unveiled by Paddy Pallin, himself an ex-Serviceman having served in the Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF) in England during the 1914/1918 war. An address was delivered by the then Federation President, Paul Driver, and two hymns, accompanied by violin music, were sung. In all, it was a very moving ceremony and which had involved quite an effort to reach such a remote location at that time of day.
 Further commemorative gatherings were held on 26th April 1958 (10 years), 25th April 1965 and 6th May 1973 (25 years) whilst one or two wreaths have been laid on unofficial occasions as Anzac Day is celebrated on the actual date and not the nearest Monday, when a three day weekend would be created.
 And now, 40 years on, Anzac Day conveniently does occur on a Monday when, at my suggestion, Federation has again organised a service to be conducted at dawn on Monday, 25th April, details of which are being ciiculated to all clubs.
 I would ask as many walkers as possible to attend the ceremony. I shall be there in spirit.
-* * * * * * * * * *
- THE FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING by Barry Wallace
+----
+THE FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING by Barry Wallace
 The meeting was called to order at around 2031 after a short film about Blue Gum Forest which gave latecomers an even chance. There were 30 or so members present as we called Richard Brading (present) and Dawn Greentree (no show) for welcome to membership with badge and applause. Apologies were called next, and lo and behold, there were apologies from Stan Madden and Dawn Greentree.
 The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received with the only matter arising being advice that the transfer of ownership of Conlana to the incorporated body is proceeding and has been accepted as exempt 1r-0ms-stamp duty on the transferi