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199804 [2016/05/20 08:39] – [Nude Bushwalking: where to keep your Swiss Army knife.] kennettj199804 [2016/05/24 14:16] (current) – [From the Dungala Club] kennettj
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 |11|From the Dungala Club| |11|From the Dungala Club|
 |13|Christmas-New Year week in the Snowy Mountains by David Trinder| |13|Christmas-New Year week in the Snowy Mountains by David Trinder|
-|  |Footnotes by Patrick James.+|  |Footnotes by Patrick James|
  
   
- 
 Advertisers Advertisers
  
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 Members Representative Louise Verdon joined the Club in 1991 and is a keen cross country skier with a bent for walking in the wilds of Tasmania. This year is the first opportunity Louise has had to work on the Committee after being overseas last year. Members Representative Louise Verdon joined the Club in 1991 and is a keen cross country skier with a bent for walking in the wilds of Tasmania. This year is the first opportunity Louise has had to work on the Committee after being overseas last year.
 +
  
 ====== Club Coolana ====== ====== Club Coolana ======
   
- 
 At the AGM it was uncertain if Joan Rigby wished to remain on the Coolana Maintenance Committee, and elections in absentia without notice are not the done thing.  Now it is known that Joan does wish to remain on the Coolana Maintenance Sub-Committee and the Committee is delighted with this news.  At the April Committee meeting Joan was appointed to the Coolana Maintenance Sub-Committee and at the same time our appreciation was recorded of her hard work, leadership and management of the maintenance program which has transformed Coolana.  Thank you Joan. At the AGM it was uncertain if Joan Rigby wished to remain on the Coolana Maintenance Committee, and elections in absentia without notice are not the done thing.  Now it is known that Joan does wish to remain on the Coolana Maintenance Sub-Committee and the Committee is delighted with this news.  At the April Committee meeting Joan was appointed to the Coolana Maintenance Sub-Committee and at the same time our appreciation was recorded of her hard work, leadership and management of the maintenance program which has transformed Coolana.  Thank you Joan.
  
-Helpers at Coolana Although much has been achieved at Coolana, we still need helpers at our maintenance weekends.  The work does not have to be hard, we have a variety of   +Helpers at Coolana. Although much has been achieved at Coolana, we still need helpers at our maintenance weekends.  The work does not have to be hard, we have a variety of helpful occupations. Contact Joan Rigby (02) 6247 2035.
- +
-helpful occupations. Contact Joan Rigby (02) 6247 2035. +
  
 Gardening tools are still needed at Coolana and we would be happy with your cast offs: rakes, spades, shovels, clippers, secateurs, wheel barrows, lawn mowers, whipper-snippers, D6, D8 or D10 dozer.   Gardening tools are still needed at Coolana and we would be happy with your cast offs: rakes, spades, shovels, clippers, secateurs, wheel barrows, lawn mowers, whipper-snippers, D6, D8 or D10 dozer.  
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 Rubbish Removal.  Please take home the glass and plastic bottles and glossy paper magazines you bring to Coolana.  If you wish to leave small items for future use then label them and store them in the hut rafters. Rubbish Removal.  Please take home the glass and plastic bottles and glossy paper magazines you bring to Coolana.  If you wish to leave small items for future use then label them and store them in the hut rafters.
  
-Barbeque. The barbeque needs to be redesigned and rebuilt. A design with movable and removable fire bars and grid is favoured.  Contact either Joan Rigby or Patrick James in the first instance, in the second instance the committee needs to give its blessing.+Barbeque. The barbeque needs to be redesigned and rebuilt. A design with movable and removable fire bars and grid is favoured.  Contact either Joan Rigby or Patrick James in the first instance, in the second instance the committee needs to give its blessing.
  
 ====== Away with the Birds ====== ====== Away with the Birds ======
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 Type 2 is to move about on the prowl, pointing your binoculars at everything that moves.  This is where the birdwatcher goes to the birds.  You do need the ability to move about quietly and also not trip over as you walk about with the binoculars glued to your eyes and your feet being placed by instinct.  Two variations on Type 2 are apparent.  One where the watcher goes off into the wilds equipped with a field guide to birds (i.e a book not a ranger), and returns after one or two hours.  The second is where the watcher having spotted a bird returns to a central point where the field guide is located.  Thus in and out of camp like a fiddler's elbow. Type 2 is to move about on the prowl, pointing your binoculars at everything that moves.  This is where the birdwatcher goes to the birds.  You do need the ability to move about quietly and also not trip over as you walk about with the binoculars glued to your eyes and your feet being placed by instinct.  Two variations on Type 2 are apparent.  One where the watcher goes off into the wilds equipped with a field guide to birds (i.e a book not a ranger), and returns after one or two hours.  The second is where the watcher having spotted a bird returns to a central point where the field guide is located.  Thus in and out of camp like a fiddler's elbow.
  
-OPTICAL AIDS. +OPTICAL AIDS
  
 No Virginia not an eye disease but devices to help one to see.  The most common are binoculars, but monoculars and telescopes are also possible.  Monoculars can be described as half  an binocular or a telescope with a built-in focusing.  The binoculars used on the walk (or watch) are tabled below.  They varied widely in quality and price.  The optics ranged from 7x to 10x magnification and from 22 to 40 mm diameter.  For bird watching with a binocular magnification greater than about 8x it is difficult to hold the instrument steady.  Larger diameter lenses means that more light enters the instrument and one can see in poor light.  A diameter of 30 to 40 mm is fine; greater than this the instrument becomes too bulky and too heavy.  The last two columns give the field of view; that is the width of what you see at a 1000 metres and 1000 yards.  Column 3 gives the angle of view. No Virginia not an eye disease but devices to help one to see.  The most common are binoculars, but monoculars and telescopes are also possible.  Monoculars can be described as half  an binocular or a telescope with a built-in focusing.  The binoculars used on the walk (or watch) are tabled below.  They varied widely in quality and price.  The optics ranged from 7x to 10x magnification and from 22 to 40 mm diameter.  For bird watching with a binocular magnification greater than about 8x it is difficult to hold the instrument steady.  Larger diameter lenses means that more light enters the instrument and one can see in poor light.  A diameter of 30 to 40 mm is fine; greater than this the instrument becomes too bulky and too heavy.  The last two columns give the field of view; that is the width of what you see at a 1000 metres and 1000 yards.  Column 3 gives the angle of view.
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 Minolta 10 x 25 6.5 113 339 Minolta 10 x 25 6.5 113 339
  
-FIELD GUIDES & BOOKS.   +FIELD GUIDES & BOOKS 
  
 These are essential. Field Guides are listed below together with their current retail prices.  However not any field guide will do.  They must be up to date. The bird list is constantly under review and each year some of the bird names change so a keen birdwatcher is almost obliged to update to the latest field guide.  Birds are also given reference numbers which also updated and changed.  For example a sparrow one year might be number 1007, and after review its number changes to 2784.  Not really much help.  Of course the birds don't know what numbers they've given and just continue to fly about their own business. The cynical reader might think that these changes were a marketing ploy to maintain sales of field guides, but I would never say that.   These are essential. Field Guides are listed below together with their current retail prices.  However not any field guide will do.  They must be up to date. The bird list is constantly under review and each year some of the bird names change so a keen birdwatcher is almost obliged to update to the latest field guide.  Birds are also given reference numbers which also updated and changed.  For example a sparrow one year might be number 1007, and after review its number changes to 2784.  Not really much help.  Of course the birds don't know what numbers they've given and just continue to fly about their own business. The cynical reader might think that these changes were a marketing ploy to maintain sales of field guides, but I would never say that.  
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 Between the nine of us we managed to see, spot or sight 44 different birds.  Now that pretty good for nine people who collectively could be called rank amateurs.  Of course there were one or two or three who really knew what they were doing.  And one or two or three who really didn't. Between the nine of us we managed to see, spot or sight 44 different birds.  Now that pretty good for nine people who collectively could be called rank amateurs.  Of course there were one or two or three who really knew what they were doing.  And one or two or three who really didn't.
  
- Australian Wood Duck+Australian Wood Duck\\ 
 +Pacific Black Duck\\ 
 +Little Pied Cormorant\\ 
 +Large Black Cormorant\\ 
 +Whitefaced Heron\\ 
 +Purple Swamphen\\ 
 +Eurasian Coot\\ 
 +Brown Quail\\ 
 +Wonga Pigeon\\ 
 +Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo\\ 
 +Rainbow Lorikeet\\ 
 +Australian King Parrot\\ 
 +Crimson Rosella\\ 
 +Laughing Kookaburra\\ 
 +Superb Lyrebird\\ 
 +White-throated Treecreeper\\ 
 +Superb Fairy-wren\\ 
 +Superb Blue Wren\\ 
 +Varigated (Fairy) wren\\ 
 +White-browed Scrubwren\\ 
 +Brown Gerygone (Warbler)\\ 
 +Brown Thornbill\\ 
 +Lwein's Honeyeater\\ 
 +New Holland Honeyeater\\ 
 +Jacky Winter\\ 
 +Eastern Yellow Robin\\ 
 +Red-capped Robin\\ 
 +Golden Whistler\\ 
 +Rufous Whistler\\ 
 +Grey Shrike-thrush\\ 
 +Satin Flycatcher\\ 
 +Magpie Lark\\ 
 +Rufous Fantail\\ 
 +Grey Fantail\\ 
 +Willie Wagtail\\ 
 +Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike\\ 
 +Australian Magpie\\ 
 +Pied Currawong\\ 
 +Australian Raven\\ 
 +Satin Bowerbird\\ 
 +Red-browed Finch (Firetail)\\ 
 +Silvereye\\ 
 +Bassian Thrush\\ 
 +Common Blackbird\\
  
- Pacific Black Duck +UNCONFIRMED SIGHTINGS
- +
- Little Pied Cormorant +
- +
- Large Black Cormorant +
- +
-5 Whitefaced Heron +
- +
- Purple Swamphen +
- +
- Eurasian Coot +
- +
- Brown Quail +
- +
- Wonga Pigeon +
- +
-10 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo +
- +
- Rainbow Lorikeet +
- +
- Australian King Parrot +
- +
- Crimson Rosella +
- +
- Laughing Kookaburra +
- +
-15 Superb Lyrebird +
- +
- White-throated Treecreeper +
- +
- Superb Fairy-wren +
- +
- Superb Blue Wren +
- +
- Varigated (Fairy) wren +
- +
-20 White-browed Scrubwren +
- +
- Brown Gerygone (Warbler) +
- +
- Brown Thornbill +
- +
- Lwein's Honeyeater +
- +
- New Holland Honeyeater +
- +
-25 Jacky Winter +
- +
- Eastern Yellow Robin +
- +
- Red-capped Robin +
- +
- Golden Whistler +
- +
- Rufous Whistler +
- +
-30 Grey Shrike-thrush +
- +
- Satin Flycatcher +
- +
- Magpie Lark +
- +
- Rufous Fantail +
- +
- Grey Fantail +
- +
-35 Willie Wagtail +
- +
- Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike +
- +
- Australian Magpie +
- +
- Pied Currawong +
- +
- Australian Raven +
- +
-40 Satin Bowerbird +
- +
- Red-browed Finch (Firetail) +
- +
- Silvereye +
- +
- Bassian Thrush +
- +
-44 Common Blackbird +
- +
-UNCONFIRMED SIGHTINGS. +
  
 As you know bird watching can become extremely exciting and in the heat of the moment wrong (incorrect) sightings can be reported; hence the need for one or two or three clear, level-headed individuals to be present.  Fortunately that's what we had.  Notwithstanding all the level heads it is instructive to list the unconfirmed sightings.. As you know bird watching can become extremely exciting and in the heat of the moment wrong (incorrect) sightings can be reported; hence the need for one or two or three clear, level-headed individuals to be present.  Fortunately that's what we had.  Notwithstanding all the level heads it is instructive to list the unconfirmed sightings..
  
- Albatross +Albatross\\ 
- +snow petrel\\ 
- snow petrel +brolga\\ 
- +cassowary\\ 
- brolga +moa
- +
- cassowary +
- +
- moa+
  
 No explanation for an albatross in Coolana has been put forward.  The bird sighted was probably a common albino sparrow, or even a juvenile albatross from the extensive colony just south of Nowra. No explanation for an albatross in Coolana has been put forward.  The bird sighted was probably a common albino sparrow, or even a juvenile albatross from the extensive colony just south of Nowra.
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 The group of nine: Lorraine Bloomfield, Bill Holland, Fran Holland, Patrick James, Jim Percy, Mary Perry, Merrilyn Sach, Maurice Smith, Jo van Sommers. Saturday was fine and warm, Sunday was fine, overcast and cool.  The group of nine: Lorraine Bloomfield, Bill Holland, Fran Holland, Patrick James, Jim Percy, Mary Perry, Merrilyn Sach, Maurice Smith, Jo van Sommers. Saturday was fine and warm, Sunday was fine, overcast and cool.
  
-  
  
-ALL THOSE PRIZES. +====== All Those Prizes ======
  
 By Patrick James By Patrick James
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 Suppliers of a full range of bushwalking, adventure and outdoor sports gear.  Eastwood Camping is located at Eastwood and is a regular advertiser in the Sydney Bushwalker. Suppliers of a full range of bushwalking, adventure and outdoor sports gear.  Eastwood Camping is located at Eastwood and is a regular advertiser in the Sydney Bushwalker.
- 
-  
  
 Grand View Hotel.  Grand View Hotel.
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 Located at Jenolan just beyond the Devil's Coach-house Caves House offers accommodation and fine food plus the added feature of the caves and the nearby bush.  Each month Caves House has a different promotion varying from Yuletide in winter to outdoor concerts in summer. Located at Jenolan just beyond the Devil's Coach-house Caves House offers accommodation and fine food plus the added feature of the caves and the nearby bush.  Each month Caves House has a different promotion varying from Yuletide in winter to outdoor concerts in summer.
- 
-  
  
 Mountain Equipment.  Mountain Equipment.
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-Annual General Meeting March  1998 by Barry Wallace +====== Annual General Meeting March  1998 ====== 
 +  
 +by Barry Wallace
  
-There were around 40 members present when the president called the meeting to order at around 2018 and commenced proceedings.  There were apologies for Jim Callaway, Peter Caldwell, Spiro Hajinakitas and several others but they passed too quickly for your scribe’s pen.  We next welcomed new members Lyn Maybury and Stan Barker.  +There were around 40 members present when the president called the meeting to order at around 20.18 and commenced proceedings.  There were apologies for Jim Callaway, Peter Caldwell, Spiro Hajinakitas and several others but they passed too quickly for your scribe’s pen.  We next welcomed new members Lyn Maybury and Stan Barker.  
  
 The minutes of the previous AGM were read and received with no matters arising. The minutes of the previous AGM were read and received with no matters arising.
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 Alan Donnelly’s programmed canyon trips over the weekend of 28 February, 1 March saw 6 starters hanging around down Heart Attack Canyon on the Saturday and 8 down Surefire Canyon on Sunday.  They did not report on the weather but Nigel Weaver spilt the beans by telling us about the cool misty conditions that confronted the 9 who arrived to do his trip down Wollangambe Canyon on the Sunday.  Such were the conditions that two of the starters didn’t.  Frank Sander led 12 on his Chatswood to Pymble trip also on the Sunday.  They simply reported a pleasant day.   Alan Donnelly’s programmed canyon trips over the weekend of 28 February, 1 March saw 6 starters hanging around down Heart Attack Canyon on the Saturday and 8 down Surefire Canyon on Sunday.  They did not report on the weather but Nigel Weaver spilt the beans by telling us about the cool misty conditions that confronted the 9 who arrived to do his trip down Wollangambe Canyon on the Sunday.  Such were the conditions that two of the starters didn’t.  Frank Sander led 12 on his Chatswood to Pymble trip also on the Sunday.  They simply reported a pleasant day.  
  
- The report for Eddy’s Colo River walk over the weekend of 7, 8 March indicated 5 starters and a pleasant weekend.  Don Brooks had 5 on his Saturday walk out from Bowen Mountain which he described as perfect.  Zol Bodlay led 9 on his Sunday walk in the Maroota area that they described as lovely.  Geoff McIntosh’s Waterfall to Otford walk, also on the Sunday, was led by Errol Sheedy, with the ten starters reporting little water in the creeks.  Bill Hope had a party of four on his Colo River day walk on a pleasant day.+The report for Eddy’s Colo River walk over the weekend of 7, 8 March indicated 5 starters and a pleasant weekend.  Don Brooks had 5 on his Saturday walk out from Bowen Mountain which he described as perfect.  Zol Bodlay led 9 on his Sunday walk in the Maroota area that they described as lovely.  Geoff McIntosh’s Waterfall to Otford walk, also on the Sunday, was led by Errol Sheedy, with the ten starters reporting little water in the creeks.  Bill Hope had a party of four on his Colo River day walk on a pleasant day.
  
 Ian Rennard’s midweek walk with 9 starters on the Tuesday concluded the walks reports for the month. Ian Rennard’s midweek walk with 9 starters on the Tuesday concluded the walks reports for the month.
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 Conservation report covered the continuing baiting of foxes and feral dogs at Coolana by NPWS rangers.  All baiting is done at bait stations, usually identifiable by the smoothed area of soft sand or earth around the baiting location.  The NPWS access strategy document appears to have been overtaken by the release of the draft tourism strategy document.  The meeting also received a report of apparent horse riding activity in the Gardens Of Stone National Park area.  The conservation secretary will raise this with NPWS.  The meeting passed a motion to donate $100.00 to assist the coalition opposing the Jabiluka mine development in the Kakadu area. Conservation report covered the continuing baiting of foxes and feral dogs at Coolana by NPWS rangers.  All baiting is done at bait stations, usually identifiable by the smoothed area of soft sand or earth around the baiting location.  The NPWS access strategy document appears to have been overtaken by the release of the draft tourism strategy document.  The meeting also received a report of apparent horse riding activity in the Gardens Of Stone National Park area.  The conservation secretary will raise this with NPWS.  The meeting passed a motion to donate $100.00 to assist the coalition opposing the Jabiluka mine development in the Kakadu area.
  
-General business and the announcements followed, and the meeting closed at 2157. +General business and the announcements followed, and the meeting closed at 21.57. 
  
-  
  
-From the Dungala Club.+====== From the Dungala Club ======
  
-First, on behalf of the ex (and present) members of the SBW who are in the Dungala Club, I wish to thank all those concerned in the organising of the many gatherings celebrating the 70TH anniversary of the Sydney Bushwalkers Inc.  My wife and I did not get to Coolana or the Nostalgia Night (sorry Don) but the Dinner and Manly Dam were great.  +First, on behalf of the ex (and present) members of the SBW who are in the Dungala Club, I wish to thank all those concerned in the organising of the many gatherings celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Sydney Bushwalkers Inc.  My wife and I did not get to Coolana or the Nostalgia Night (sorry Don) but the Dinner and Manly Dam were great.  
  
 At this point some of your readers will be asking "What is the Dungala Club".  I am glad they ask for we now come to the second motivation for this letter.   The Dungala Club was started many years back as a social club where ex-SBW members could keep in touch, go on outings which included some minor walking, and keep alive companionship originating in their walking days.    At this point some of your readers will be asking "What is the Dungala Club".  I am glad they ask for we now come to the second motivation for this letter.   The Dungala Club was started many years back as a social club where ex-SBW members could keep in touch, go on outings which included some minor walking, and keep alive companionship originating in their walking days.   
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 As Dungala members retired from the workforce many used their new leisure to fully explore their country and soon found bus camping trips the economical answer.  In so doing they found new kindred souls.  The membership of the Dungalas was then expanded to include these new friends. As Dungala members retired from the workforce many used their new leisure to fully explore their country and soon found bus camping trips the economical answer.  In so doing they found new kindred souls.  The membership of the Dungalas was then expanded to include these new friends.
  
-I give this background as, when the Club was formed there was much opposition from some SBW members who felt Dungalas were poaching from SBW.  "After all", it was said. "there is provision for non-active SBW membership. What's the point of another club? +I give this background as, when the Club was formed there was much opposition from some SBW members who felt Dungalas were poaching from SBW.  "After all", it was said. "there is provision for non-active SBW membership. What's the point of another club?"
  
 The point of the Dungala Club is, while still retaining your links to the walking world, to widen your horizons and increase your social activities now your walking days are over.  Some of our members retain non-active membership in the SBW, others don't, others were never walkers but have that spirit of enquiry and adventure that marks not only walkers but many others.  We have our "walks" program, but the walks are short although full of interest.   The point of the Dungala Club is, while still retaining your links to the walking world, to widen your horizons and increase your social activities now your walking days are over.  Some of our members retain non-active membership in the SBW, others don't, others were never walkers but have that spirit of enquiry and adventure that marks not only walkers but many others.  We have our "walks" program, but the walks are short although full of interest.  
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 Alan Wilson. Alan Wilson.
  
-FOOTNOTES  by Patrick James+ 
 +====== Footnotes ====== 
 + 
 +by Patrick James
  
 My trusty calendar tells me that this month we have ANZAC day, two types of Easter, plus Croatian, Danish and Dutch national days.  Full moon is on Easter Day right on schedule. My trusty calendar tells me that this month we have ANZAC day, two types of Easter, plus Croatian, Danish and Dutch national days.  Full moon is on Easter Day right on schedule.
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 Social Calendar: May 27: from the Australian Museum we have Dr Pat Hutchings' son et lumière of underwater swimming worms and blood sucking leeches.  Everything you need to know about these attractive residents of the great outdoors.  A delightful lantern show of high protein, alternative bush food. Social Calendar: May 27: from the Australian Museum we have Dr Pat Hutchings' son et lumière of underwater swimming worms and blood sucking leeches.  Everything you need to know about these attractive residents of the great outdoors.  A delightful lantern show of high protein, alternative bush food.
 +
  
 ====== Christmas - New Year In The Snowy Mountains ====== ====== Christmas - New Year In The Snowy Mountains ======
199804.1463697586.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/05/20 08:39 by kennettj
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