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199308 [2016/10/10 16:03] tyreless199308 [2016/10/10 16:08] (current) tyreless
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 |Winter Moon|Morag Ryder| 2| |Winter Moon|Morag Ryder| 2|
 |Hazelbrook - Day Walk 16 May|Jo van Sommers| 2| |Hazelbrook - Day Walk 16 May|Jo van Sommers| 2|
-|The Official Verson of How Judy O'Connor Broke Her Ankle|Judy O'Connor| 4|+|The Official Version of How Judy O'Connor Broke Her Ankle|Judy O'Connor| 4|
 |From the Clubroom|Maurice Smith| 6| |From the Clubroom|Maurice Smith| 6|
 |A Short Note on "K to K in a Day"|Patrick James| 9| |A Short Note on "K to K in a Day"|Patrick James| 9|
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 Winter Moon. Winter Moon.
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 Slowly her fingers probe\\ Slowly her fingers probe\\
 Deep into the midnight gully\\ Deep into the midnight gully\\
-The wind there uurmurs and sighs\\+The wind there murmurs and sighs\\
 In an ecstasy of delight In an ecstasy of delight
  
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 At a pleasant spot where Lawson Creek meets Bedford Creek a billy was boiled for lunch. What a difference it makes! I can't get the same feeling for anything that comes out of a thermos. Is SBW the last Club that observes this grand tradition, I wonder? I have been walking mid-week with other groups and they don't do it... no time, they say, too much trouble, not enough patience when the wood is damp, or, self-righteously, appealing to the ideology of minimal impact (which, carried to its extreme, would mean staying home). At a pleasant spot where Lawson Creek meets Bedford Creek a billy was boiled for lunch. What a difference it makes! I can't get the same feeling for anything that comes out of a thermos. Is SBW the last Club that observes this grand tradition, I wonder? I have been walking mid-week with other groups and they don't do it... no time, they say, too much trouble, not enough patience when the wood is damp, or, self-righteously, appealing to the ideology of minimal impact (which, carried to its extreme, would mean staying home).
  
-After lunch, there is a lovely section of rainforest along Bedford Creek, where the water is certainly clean enough to swim in but no-one felt tempted. We turned up Terrace Falls Creek and followed the old path which crosses and re-crosses it, past pretty unnamed falls and deep pools to the rock terraces of the main falls. There is a picture of Terrace Falls, taken many decades ago and luridly handcoloured, on a poster luring visitors to the Mountains which now hangs in the old pub at Blackheath. I had intended to drop back down to Bedford Creek with its 'Lake' and come up the Lands Department track through the rainforest, but I had in mind that the Blue Mountain's trains were still being replaced by buses and it was important to be back at Hazelrook by 4 pm, so we took the soft option and continued up the steep track to Victor Falls and out on to the firetrail. People took off like horses on the home stretch; the cows coming in to be milked; the sheep following their tails but not their leader, who dropped to the rear and made sure everyone got there in daylight.+After lunch, there is a lovely section of rainforest along Bedford Creek, where the water is certainly clean enough to swim in but no-one felt tempted. We turned up Terrace Falls Creek and followed the old path which crosses and re-crosses it, past pretty unnamed falls and deep pools to the rock terraces of the main falls. There is a picture of Terrace Falls, taken many decades ago and luridly handcoloured, on a poster luring visitors to the Mountains which now hangs in the old pub at Blackheath. I had intended to drop back down to Bedford Creek with its 'Lake' and come up the Lands Department track through the rainforest, but I had in mind that the Blue Mountain's trains were still being replaced by buses and it was important to be back at Hazelbrook by 4 pm, so we took the soft option and continued up the steep track to Victor Falls and out on to the firetrail. People took off like horses on the home stretch; the cows coming in to be milked; the sheep following their tails but not their leader, who dropped to the rear and made sure everyone got there in daylight.
  
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 It's just that nature has the very sensible habit of blurring unpleasant memories when all our bodily efforts are required to physically heal some part or parts of our body. Mine, at present, is busily applying itself to two broken bones in my ankle so not only does it feel uneasy to go through the details of how my accident happened, it is also mentally strenuous. Anyway that's my excuse for patches of incoherency. It's just that nature has the very sensible habit of blurring unpleasant memories when all our bodily efforts are required to physically heal some part or parts of our body. Mine, at present, is busily applying itself to two broken bones in my ankle so not only does it feel uneasy to go through the details of how my accident happened, it is also mentally strenuous. Anyway that's my excuse for patches of incoherency.
  
-The simple facts are amazingly, well, simple. You've all heard people say how easy it is to break a bone - some slip on nothing, others screech to a halt playing squash, tennis or netball and hear a crack while others trip over the cat. In my case, if you could take the fiatest, easiest, on track, part of a walk, place a large amount of wooden branches and logs over it, then picture someone walking along, making a split second error of judgement as to whether to step on or over a branch then you have the basic scenario.+The simple facts are amazingly, well, simple. You've all heard people say how easy it is to break a bone - some slip on nothing, others screech to a halt playing squash, tennis or netball and hear a crack while others trip over the cat. In my case, if you could take the flattest, easiest, on track, part of a walk, place a large amount of wooden branches and logs over it, then picture someone walking along, making a split second error of judgement as to whether to step on or over a branch then you have the basic scenario.
  
 It was Saturday morning on Bill Holland's Nattai NP weekend test walk (July 10,11) and the thirteen of us in the party had just come down Starlights Track. We were making our way along the upper reaches of the Nattai river when we came to a very heavily wooded section. It had been raining very heavily during the week and the undergrowth and wood was extremely wet. Despite the fact that I have been actively bushwalking for ten years and heaven knows how many branches and logs I've negotiated over all that time without any mishap whatsoever, it appears destiny had me marked for a fall. My right foot hit a slippery log and I fell to the left. I felt the weight of my weekend pack pull me down so that I slipped down and sharply to the left at the same time. The log I was on intersected with another which my foot hit resulting in a very sharp impact which in a split second broke two bones (tibia and fibula) at the ankle. The most chilling part (and this is where the painful memory bit is hitting me as I write) was the sound of the the loudest crack you've ever heard in your entire life. Without a shadow of a doubt, and never having heard the sound before, I knew it was the sound of my own precious bones breaking; (When George Mawer, who also broke his ankle about a year ago, rang to commiserate, I felt the chill come through the line as he recollected the same sound of his break). It was Saturday morning on Bill Holland's Nattai NP weekend test walk (July 10,11) and the thirteen of us in the party had just come down Starlights Track. We were making our way along the upper reaches of the Nattai river when we came to a very heavily wooded section. It had been raining very heavily during the week and the undergrowth and wood was extremely wet. Despite the fact that I have been actively bushwalking for ten years and heaven knows how many branches and logs I've negotiated over all that time without any mishap whatsoever, it appears destiny had me marked for a fall. My right foot hit a slippery log and I fell to the left. I felt the weight of my weekend pack pull me down so that I slipped down and sharply to the left at the same time. The log I was on intersected with another which my foot hit resulting in a very sharp impact which in a split second broke two bones (tibia and fibula) at the ankle. The most chilling part (and this is where the painful memory bit is hitting me as I write) was the sound of the the loudest crack you've ever heard in your entire life. Without a shadow of a doubt, and never having heard the sound before, I knew it was the sound of my own precious bones breaking; (When George Mawer, who also broke his ankle about a year ago, rang to commiserate, I felt the chill come through the line as he recollected the same sound of his break).
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 From then on the story is really that of the rescue operation and of those who played such a valiant and professional part. There were thirteen on the trip (see below) and each one proved their worth as an experienced and knowledgeable walker both individually and collectively. I am quite sincerely indebted to them all. From then on the story is really that of the rescue operation and of those who played such a valiant and professional part. There were thirteen on the trip (see below) and each one proved their worth as an experienced and knowledgeable walker both individually and collectively. I am quite sincerely indebted to them all.
  
-Thh, accident happened about 11.30am and after half an hour's rest and a very tentative trial hop on the foot, it was clear I was immobile. We had about two kilometres of fairly thick bush on a considerable side slope with some crossing creeks to retrace to get to a clearing where a very unused 4-wheel drive track would provide an alternate way out.+The accident happened about 11.30am and after half an hour's rest and a very tentative trial hop on the foot, it was clear I was immobile. We had about two kilometres of fairly thick bush on a considerable side slope with some crossing creeks to retrace to get to a clearing where a very unused 4-wheel drive track would provide an alternate way out.
  
 Two kilometres is only a step away to most bushwalkers but in my case, it was a hop away, or what seemed like about two million hops to be precise. With the help of Barry Wallace and Peter Yardley I did a good impersonation of a wounded soldier hanging on to his mates and hopping away from the action. When it all got too much, or the going was too hard, Peter and Bill Holland took turns (I blush to write this) piggy-backing me, with Barry Wallace and Eddy Giacomel giving my bottom a good push upwards when I and the poor bearer looked like sinking into the earth. Two kilometres is only a step away to most bushwalkers but in my case, it was a hop away, or what seemed like about two million hops to be precise. With the help of Barry Wallace and Peter Yardley I did a good impersonation of a wounded soldier hanging on to his mates and hopping away from the action. When it all got too much, or the going was too hard, Peter and Bill Holland took turns (I blush to write this) piggy-backing me, with Barry Wallace and Eddy Giacomel giving my bottom a good push upwards when I and the poor bearer looked like sinking into the earth.
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 By the time we reached the clearing, Bill and others made the decision that it was too late to get out that day so at about 3pm we put up the tents and I, for one, set my mind to a very long and difficult night. I seem to remember a Happy Hour although you're best to ask others but I do remember some unorthodox trips behind bushes to answer the call of nature (although I'll deny anything undignified) but mostly I'd rather not dwell on the long night of the camp fire. There were the usual songs, jokes and stories and a very nimble dancer who brushed up on his tap dancing in a circle about 10cms wide of my poor unhappy ankle (Barry wouldn't want me to mention his name). Fortunately, Jan Mohandas provided me with a big stick and colourful instructions on what to do with it. By the time we reached the clearing, Bill and others made the decision that it was too late to get out that day so at about 3pm we put up the tents and I, for one, set my mind to a very long and difficult night. I seem to remember a Happy Hour although you're best to ask others but I do remember some unorthodox trips behind bushes to answer the call of nature (although I'll deny anything undignified) but mostly I'd rather not dwell on the long night of the camp fire. There were the usual songs, jokes and stories and a very nimble dancer who brushed up on his tap dancing in a circle about 10cms wide of my poor unhappy ankle (Barry wouldn't want me to mention his name). Fortunately, Jan Mohandas provided me with a big stick and colourful instructions on what to do with it.
  
-Fortunately, I restrained myself because the next morning I was very pleased to have Barry on my side. He and the others very ably made a bush stretcher using four tree poles, with strapping strung between to form a stretcher bed. Two foam rest mattresses were placed on it and all would have been well if Eddy hadn't been chosen to test it out. After a few bounches of his not inconsiderable frame, the poles broke. Undeterred and in good spirits the team simply made a new one. This time Fran Holland delicately tried it out and all was well.+Fortunately, I restrained myself because the next morning I was very pleased to have Barry on my side. He and the others very ably made a bush stretcher using four tree poles, with strapping strung between to form a stretcher bed. Two foam rest mattresses were placed on it and all would have been well if Eddy hadn't been chosen to test it out. After a few bounces of his not inconsiderable frame, the poles broke. Undeterred and in good spirits the team simply made a new one. This time Fran Holland delicately tried it out and all was well.
  
-Six people carried the stretcher up a B-I-G, L-0-N-G UP while the others cleared the bush and warned of rocks, ditches and fallen logs. After a while, the two groups changed places. I lay back with my eyes closed and thought of England, so to speak, as the heavy breathing and grunting of some of the club's best walkers filled the air. Just before we reached the top, a couple of trail bike riders flew past and offered Peter a hair-raising ride back to his car so that he was waiting when we reached the top (three hours). Within a few minutes I was sitting inside ready to go. I couldn't believe how quickly the same deft fingers that had made my rescue stretcher dismantled it to retrieve their string and strapping and left behind four inocuous tree poles which would not even catch the eye, let alone tell the story of the part they'd played in getting me to safety.+Six people carried the stretcher up a B-I-G, L-0-N-G UP while the others cleared the bush and warned of rocks, ditches and fallen logs. After a while, the two groups changed places. I lay back with my eyes closed and thought of England, so to speak, as the heavy breathing and grunting of some of the club's best walkers filled the air. Just before we reached the top, a couple of trail bike riders flew past and offered Peter a hair-raising ride back to his car so that he was waiting when we reached the top (three hours). Within a few minutes I was sitting inside ready to go. I couldn't believe how quickly the same deft fingers that had made my rescue stretcher dismantled it to retrieve their string and strapping and left behind four innocuous tree poles which would not even catch the eye, let alone tell the story of the part they'd played in getting me to safety.
  
 As is the way with these things, there are many episodes to go through and my next ordeal was the two hour drive to Royal North Shore hospital where I arrived 30 hours after the accident occurred. Because the ankle was so swollen, doctors could not operate and I had to wait three days before the swelling came down enough for surgery. As is the way with these things, there are many episodes to go through and my next ordeal was the two hour drive to Royal North Shore hospital where I arrived 30 hours after the accident occurred. Because the ankle was so swollen, doctors could not operate and I had to wait three days before the swelling came down enough for surgery.
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 My very warm and sincere thanks to the many members who have so kindly written, rung and visited. I am truly touched and every message and word has helped me enormously. And, of course, my very special thanks to the twelve members on the trip who got me out. The club can be very proud to have members like this: They were: My very warm and sincere thanks to the many members who have so kindly written, rung and visited. I am truly touched and every message and word has helped me enormously. And, of course, my very special thanks to the twelve members on the trip who got me out. The club can be very proud to have members like this: They were:
  
-Bill and Fran Holland, Peter Yardley, Jan Mohandas, Jean Kendall, Eddy Giacomel, Angelika Langley, Barry Wallace, Lynne Jones, Rosemary MacDougal, Peter Kaye and Paul (propective).+Bill and Fran Holland, Peter Yardley, Jan Mohandas, Jean Kendall, Eddy Giacomel, Angelika Langley, Barry Wallace, Lynne Jones, Rosemary MacDougal, Peter Kaye and Paul (prospective).
  
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 The Minutes of the previous general meeting were read and received with no matters arising. The Minutes of the previous general meeting were read and received with no matters arising.
  
-Correspondence was sparse, with a post card from Kathy Gero, presently touring somewhere in South Africa, and a response from Fred Nile to our missive pleading the case for the South East Forest areas, indicating that he and Elaine will give the matter prayerful cosideration when it comes before Parliament. They had thoughtfully included a copy of their latest Parliamentary Report. One can only puzzle over the tag-line to an announcement for a rally to defend the monarchy and Constitution (too late, held 13th July) which touchingly reassured their readers that the meeting was "open to both women and men". The "Homosexual Vilification Kit" advertised for sale at $2.00 a kit is also causing some head scratching, but one could hardly venture one's hard won money on such a thing out of mere curiosity. Mayhap some reader has a used, or preferably just second-hand, one they could lend to put us out of our puzzlement.+Correspondence was sparse, with a post card from Kathy Gero, presently touring somewhere in South Africa, and a response from Fred Nile to our missive pleading the case for the South East Forest areas, indicating that he and Elaine will give the matter prayerful consideration when it comes before Parliament. They had thoughtfully included a copy of their latest Parliamentary Report. One can only puzzle over the tag-line to an announcement for a rally to defend the monarchy and Constitution (too late, held 13th July) which touchingly reassured their readers that the meeting was "open to both women and men". The "Homosexual Vilification Kit" advertised for sale at $2.00 a kit is also causing some head scratching, but one could hardly venture one's hard won money on such a thing out of mere curiosity. Mayhap some reader has a used, or preferably just second-hand, one they could lend to put us out of our puzzlement.
  
 The Treasurer's Report indicated that we earned $1,807, spent $755 and ended the month with a balance of $9,132. The Treasurer's Report indicated that we earned $1,807, spent $755 and ended the month with a balance of $9,132.
  
-The Walks.Report; ah yes - the Walks Report. It all began with the long weekend of June 11,12,13,14 when Alan Doherty and some 9 and a half persons arrived in the beautiful Widden Valley for a relaxing weekend. Saturday was O.K., they spent most of it arriving and setting up camp in the prevailing light drizzle. Sunday was the day of the day walk, I say DAY WALK, to Mount Pomany. Progress along the way was slow for the 8 who ventured forth and when night fell so did many of the party as they struggled on down the cteek by the failing light of the 4 torches that were the sum total available in the party. It was all to no avail, so at around 2300 they resigned themselves to an overnight stay without overnight gear. It still took 2 hours to reach camp the next day. Other than that the walk went to program.+The Walks.Report; ah yes - the Walks Report. It all began with the long weekend of June 11,12,13,14 when Alan Doherty and some 9 and a half persons arrived in the beautiful Widden Valley for a relaxing weekend. Saturday was O.K., they spent most of it arriving and setting up camp in the prevailing light drizzle. Sunday was the day of the day walk, I say DAY WALK, to Mount Pomany. Progress along the way was slow for the 8 who ventured forth and when night fell so did many of the party as they struggled on down the creek by the failing light of the 4 torches that were the sum total available in the party. It was all to no avail, so at around 2300 they resigned themselves to an overnight stay without overnight gear. It still took 2 hours to reach camp the next day. Other than that the walk went to program.
  
 Morrie Ward's trip to Waka N.P. did not go and Tony Holgate's trip in the Wollemi area was cancelled due to the lack of starters. Kenn Clacher led a party of 19 on his Budawangs trip. The weather was cold and windy, with rain on the Friday night but otherwise all went well. Ralph Penglis had 13 on  his Sydney Harbourside day walk, progressing through a series of snack bars and refreshment stands and consuming the odd capuccino along the way. There was no report of Rudy Dezelin's trip to West Head. Morrie Ward's trip to Waka N.P. did not go and Tony Holgate's trip in the Wollemi area was cancelled due to the lack of starters. Kenn Clacher led a party of 19 on his Budawangs trip. The weather was cold and windy, with rain on the Friday night but otherwise all went well. Ralph Penglis had 13 on  his Sydney Harbourside day walk, progressing through a series of snack bars and refreshment stands and consuming the odd capuccino along the way. There was no report of Rudy Dezelin's trip to West Head.
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 The only detail available for Bill Capon's Mittagong to Katoomba walk over the period 6 to 11th July was that there were 8 people on it. Maybe someone will write it up after they recover. The only detail available for Bill Capon's Mittagong to Katoomba walk over the period 6 to 11th July was that there were 8 people on it. Maybe someone will write it up after they recover.
  
-Ian Wolfe's 3 day wilderness wanderings from 9 to 11th July lasted three days but that's as much as we know. Bill Holland's weekend trip along the Nattai came unstuck when one of the members, Judy O'Connor, damaged an ankle. Fortunately there were enough people in the party of 13 to carry her out on a makeshift stretcher once she had hopped and been piggy-backed back to the downstream end of Macarthurs Flat. The damage has subsequently been assessed as a broken tibia and fibula. Judy is still recovering at last report. She has promimd to write the only authentic version of the event for this magazine, so watch this space.+Ian Wolfe's 3 day wilderness wanderings from 9 to 11th July lasted three days but that's as much as we know. Bill Holland's weekend trip along the Nattai came unstuck when one of the members, Judy O'Connor, damaged an ankle. Fortunately there were enough people in the party of 13 to carry her out on a makeshift stretcher once she had hopped and been piggy-backed back to the downstream end of Macarthurs Flat. The damage has subsequently been assessed as a broken tibia and fibula. Judy is still recovering at last report. She has promised to write the only authentic version of the event for this magazine, so watch this space.
  
-Wilf Hilder reported a total of 6 on his walk from Katoomba to Blackheath with no drama. Morrie Ward had a party of 5 out enjoying the wild raspberry and lawyer vines on his day walk in the Blue Mountains. Hat Hill and Orungutan Pass look like the villians of the piece. Morag Ryder led a party of 13 on her Heathcote to Bundeena walk to end the Walks Report.+Wilf Hilder reported a total of 6 on his walk from Katoomba to Blackheath with no drama. Morrie Ward had a party of 5 out enjoying the wild raspberry and lawyer vines on his day walk in the Blue Mountains. Hat Hill and Orungutan Pass look like the villains of the piece. Morag Ryder led a party of 13 on her Heathcote to Bundeena walk to end the Walks Report.
  
 Conservation Report indicated that heritage listing for the Blue Mountains including the Gardens of Stone area has the support of the Lithgow Council. A draft plan of management is being prepared for the Royal National Park. Conservation Report indicated that heritage listing for the Blue Mountains including the Gardens of Stone area has the support of the Lithgow Council. A draft plan of management is being prepared for the Royal National Park.
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 =====The Seven Ages Of Man And Woman.===== =====The Seven Ages Of Man And Woman.=====
  
-All tha world's a wilderness,\\+All the world's a wilderness,\\
 And all the men and women merely bushwalkers;\\ And all the men and women merely bushwalkers;\\
 They have their starts and their finishes,\\ They have their starts and their finishes,\\
199308.txt · Last modified: 2016/10/10 16:08 by tyreless

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