NOVEMBER 2007 Vittoria Rd West Ryde NSW 2114 Tel 9858 9844
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THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is the monthly bulletin of matters of interest to members of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point NSW 1565.
Editor: Pam Campbell Production Manager: Frances Holland Printers: Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch,
Tom Wenman Don Brooks Fran Holland xinions expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the authors and cessarily reflect the policies or views of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc.
1 material in this magazine is copyright. . Requests for reproduction shot ected to The Editor. editor@sbw.org.au
November 2007 About Our Club
The Sydney Bush Walkers was formed in 1927 for the purpose of bringing bushwalkers together; enabling them to appreciate the great outdoors; establishing a regard for conservation and promoting social activities. The Clubs main activity is bushwalking but includes other activities such as cycling, canoeing and social events
Our Walks Program (published quarterly) features day walks on most Saturdays and Sundays, some mid week walks and overnight weekend walks. Extended walks are organised in areas such as The Snowy Mountains, the Warrumbungles as well as interstate i.e. Victorian alps
Our meetings start at 8pm and are held on Wednesday evenings (see Social Program) at Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli (near Milsons Point Railway Station).
Visitors and prospective members are welcome www.sbw.org.au
Office Bearers
Members are welcome to contact the following officers on club matters:
David Trinder dt28@tpg.com.au
Wilf Hilder gretel34@bigpond.net.au Greta James gjam6037@bigpond.net.au Tony Holgate tholgate@optusnet.com.au Kathy Gero social@sbw.org.au Treasurer: Margaret Carey
9957 2137 (h) margaret_carey@bigpond.com Members Secretary: Fran Holland
9484 6636 (h) fernband@bigpond.com New Members Secretary: Jodie Dixon
9943 3388 (h) newmembers@sbw.org.au Conservation Secretary: Bill Holland
9484 6636 (h) billholland@bigpond.com Magazine Editor: Pam Campbell
9570 2885 (h) pamela.campbell@bigpond.com Committee Members:
Ron Watters
9419 2507 (h)
wattersr@bigpond.net.au
Patrick James
9567 9998 (h)
pjames28@bigpond.net.au
Delegates to Confederation:
Jim Callaway
9520 7081 (h)
(no email address)
Wilf Hilder
9587 8912 (h)
gretel34@bigpond.net.au
President: 9542 1465 (h)
Vice President: 9587 8912 (h)
Secretary: 9953 8384 (h)
Walks Secretary: 9943 3388
Social Secretary: 9130 7263 (h)
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THE BUSHWALKER MAGAZINE The Official Publication of the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW is packed with information and interesting articles. You can download or read it on the internet at:
The Confederation runs training courses for members, provides a free wilderness search and rescue organisation, and helps run bush navigation competitions.
2 November 2007
PRESIDENTS REPORT
David Trinder
We are now in our 81st year since we have enjoyed the 80“ Anniversary milestone together. The Big Day O at Manly Dam was attended by nearly 200 people, the largest gathering of members | have ever seen. The day involved a walk around the dam lake, a delicious lunch that was free for members and the inevitable catching up of old friends. There were many compliments on the organisation and they can be deflected to Patrick James and his team, the 80” Anniversary Sub- committee. There were children, babies, current walkers, some who could no longer walk, some non-member friends and some that had come from far away to be there.
A week later at Coolana was the 80“ reunion and the official opened of the composting toilet. There were thirty or forty people there, some stayed for more than the weekend.
The third event was a re-run of the first walk the Club organised in 1927; it was called the Presidents Walk. It went from Helensburgh station east to the coast. The original walk went from Helensburgh Station to Garawarra and Burning Palms. The original return journey was never recorded, it could have returned to Lilyvale station which is no longer there or Helensburgh or Otford. After many cancellations caused by the threat of rain the walk went with ten people and not a drop of rain. We found tracks that were probably the original route. That southern part of the Royal National Park is more colourful and more like a rainforest than other parts. The vegetation was still wet from recent rain, the greens were greener and the palms and Angophoras were stunning.
The events were a good social bonding for the Club and typical of the strong social group that makes the Club so good. We look forward to many more anniversaries for our Club. David Trinder
NATURAL HISTORY WAL 2 February, 2008
Walk in Garigal National Park & visit the St lves Blue Gum High Forest (Rosedale Road)
The St Ives Blue Gum High Forest is an endangered ecological community which is the last remnant of its kind in the world. !t has survived under remarkable odds. Members from the South Turramurra Environment Protection group (STEP) will lead the tour and talk about the unique features of the forest and the campaigns under way to preserve what is left.
The walk starts at St Ives (Cnr Douglas Ave and Acron Rd) and includes the Cascade Track, Middle Harbour Track and Bungaroo Track back to St ives
to visit the St Ives Blue Gum High Forest. There will be a car shuffle between the start and end of
the walk.
On the walk, STEP members will give an update on the local history which will include where Governor Phillip camped in 1788 and a flora and fauna commentary.
There will be a limit of 15 people
More information will be available in the Summer Walks Program
Bring: BINOCULARS, LUNCH AND WATER
To find out detaiis and book for the walk contact:
Nancy Pallin (STEP) 9416 7334 (h) Pam Campbell (SBW) 9570 2885 (h) or 0431 873 599 (m)
A WALK AROUND THE HARBOUR ON A SUMMERS EVENING
The day will be certainly be warm but the evening sea breeze will cool the harbour side park and provide a pleasant setting for our meal after walking from Milsons Point Station.
This walk starts at 6 pm and will finish about 7:30 pm.
Tuesday 18” December- Harbour Walk (evening)
Meet at Milsons Point (6pm) for an easy walk past Lunar park and around the bay for dinner (BYO)on the grass at Waverton Park. Watch the boats go by and the harbour lights. Grade: (Easy) Leader: Bill Holland (h) 9484 6636 (m) 0418 210 290 Email: billholland@bigpond.com
November 2007 3
THE LARGE UNAMED
KANGAROO VALLEY CREEK by Maurice Smith
It is odd how one walk in an area can lead to another walk in the same general area. So it was with this walk. Its genesis was from a walk several months ago with Ron Watters and the article that | wrote for the magazine. In checking the map for the watk details on that previous walk the idea for this one resulted. Once again my copy of the Burrier map was hauled out for this day.
This time Ron and his crew drove out along the road towards Tallowa Dam in the Kangaroo Valley to GR 582483, from there it was a quick plunge into the bush heading out along a narrow finger- like ridge heading south and from there along the ridge tops visiting seyeral small knobs at GR 575463, 573458 and 574451. The most noticeable feature on the way was the horrible scratchy dense scrub only relieved by infrequent small clear patches of open forest.
We negotiated the cliff lines above the Shoalhaven River by descending down the creek that starts at 574444. |It was surprisingly easy going, arriving at Shoalhaven river at 580437 in time for lunch on the riverbank with the river gently gurgling at our toes. With our bellies full of fuel for the afternoon we started up the large unamed creek starting besides our lunch spot. For quite a long time on the creek we barely gained any height at all. There were quite a few deep pools on the creek. The creek was not complete until ] had scared the obligatory snakes, the first that | had seen for this season.
As we leventually started to gain height we encountered several small waterfalls, with lovely pools at their base. A quick stop for a photo or two was all we had time for, certainly no swimming today. We left the creek at 587470 and after a steep climb up the ridge then we walked back out to the road and a short walk back to the cars. From there several of us headed to the Mittagong RSL for the usual roast dinner. ,
The large unnamed creek creek is certainly worth a return visit but the route to the river is not one that deserves further exploration. Thanks to Ron Watters (leader), Margaret Rozea, Annett Schmiedel and Peter Dalton (visitor from Shoalhaven Bushwalking Club) |
BOOK REVIEW……by Caro Ryan
The Last of the Coxs River Men - Ben Esgate (1914-2003) by Jim Smith
[Published by Den Fenella Press, 65 Fletcher St, Wentworth Fall, 2782]
in 1990 | began to refer to Ben as The Last of the
'Coxs River Men. The first of the Coxs River
people were, of course, the Gundungurra. [page 90]
The title of this book goes some of the way to acknowledging the relationship and depth of connection that Ben Esgate (1914-2003), a former member of SBW, held for his beloved Coxs River.
It was an understanding of the Gundungurra region that led to an uncanny ability to read its seasons, its life cycles and its stories.
SBW member, Jim Smith, has written and compiled 130 pages of history, stories, autobiographical reminiscences, documents and photographs that | recommend to anyone who has wondered around the shores of the Coxs and the Kowmung.
The book is going to appeal to enthusiasts of Blue Mountains bushwalking and in particular those who knew Ben and were privileged enough to spend time in the bush with him.
For fans of fishing and other aspects of Blue Mountains ecology, you can learn everything youve ever wanted to know about the Trout in the Coxs and Bens significant role in them being there, along with examples of the fathomless bush knowledge that Ben passed onto his walking companions throughout the years and also his time as a TAFE instructor.
His extensive and respectful understanding of the traditional owners of the land, shines through in Jims thoughtful memories of walking with Ben along the Gundungurra Highway, which was the route between the Burragorang and Megalong Valleys and Bens knowledge of other aboriginal routes into the Megalong Valley. For this reason alone, | also recommend this book to those interested in the many passes of Narrowneck.
4 November 2007 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Editor
the Organising Committee of the Big Day-O at Manly Dam from a participants perspective. The picnic spot, with plenty of trees and big rocks, served us well. The food supplied by the caterers was of excellent variety - | wish | had the same choice of salads every day!
It was a true reunion and | had a lot of pleasure meeting up with many SBW friends, several of whom | had not seen for some years. | also met people such as yourself for the first time. The day just flew; 1m glad | took a few photos!
Sincerely Barbara Bruce
From the Committee Room
A report of proceedings at the Committee meeting on 7“ Nov 2007
lt was a cold, damp and rather miserable evening; made even more so by the dispirited group of Committee Members locked out of Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre.
Where was the Caretaker?
When, by time the doors were opened (after 34 hour) we had lost three of our members but the rest surged inside to continue the meeting in a more formal manner.
= The minutes of the October meeting were confirmed.
= The Coolana book had been referred back to the
-author with suggestions but no response to date.
Correspondence was limited to a letter sent to
Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre confirming rental
arrangements and a letter sent by David Trinder
re the proposed Coolana book.
President David Trinder reported that Henry Roda had passed away. Henry had been a member of SBW for many years.
He also advised that Eddy Giacomel has written a report on the management of the club. This will be presented to the committee for discussion at a future meeting.
Secretary Greta James will write to the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre about the mix up with gaining access to the building this evening and request that they confirm the reservation for next month and garden area for the clubs Christmas party on 19th December.
The Treasurers Report was received and the following accounts passed for payment: 80% Anniversary $2,187; Magazine postage $434; sociat expenses $130; Coolana toilet $120; 80th Anniversary $289; magazine printing $1,040
= The Summer Walks Programme was discussed and accepted. It was resolved that lan Thorpes
walk last Sunday be made a Qualifying walk.
The Summer Social Program was also discussed and accepted.
New Members Secretary Jodie Dixon reported on relations between prospective members and walks leaders.
Editor Pam Campbell drew attention of the meeting to the deadline for the next magazine. Also, Tony Holgate and Pam Campbell will put together a proposal for a _ photograph competition to be considered by the Committee. Patrick James reported that although some finishing work of a minor nature remains to be done the toilet was Official Opened and commissioned in a simple and moving ceremony on Saturday, 27 October 2007 by the President and a vast crowd of SBW members and friends. After being declared open, most of the crowd accepted the invitation to enter the toilet en mass for hands-on demonstration and on-the-job training in the use of the toilet. The use of three (3) rolls of toilet paper within 24 hours has been taken as a sign of the immediate acceptance of the facility, the ease of usage and the thoroughness of the on-the-job training.
A vote of thanks was proposed to the 80th Anniversary Sub-Committee for organising the very successful celebrations. Passed by acclamation
Treasurers Report at October 2007
Month To Date Members Subscriptions 397 18,606 Prospective Fees 1,170 6,256 Investment - Conservation 52 504 Investment - Coolana 129 1,242 Investment - General 84 804 Magazine Advertising - 920 Donations - Coolana - 55 Other 170 543 Grant - Coolana - 8,000 Total Receipts $2,002 $36,930 Magazine Printing 282 3,903 Magazine Postage - 3,568 Coolana Rates - 1,215 Coolana Maintenance 319 Coolana Equipment 499 Coolana Toilet - Coolana 120 1,775 Rent- Club Rooms - 3,575 Donations - Conservation - 250 Insurance - Public Liability - 2,477 Insurance - Accident - 3,281 Affiliation - Confederation - 2,255 Postage. Phone & Internet - 1,030 Administration 149 1,986 80 th Anniversary 2,396 2,596 Total Payments $2,947 $28,729 Cash Surplus /(Deficit) - $945 $8,201
November 2007 5 TRACKS & ACCESS REPORT - October 2007
GRAND COUNTRY - (SYDNEY CATCHMENT AUTHORITIES SCHEDULE 2 LAND)
The Sydney Morning Herald published an article Forbidden Valley yields Bridge to Past on the Inner Catchment Area ( Schedule 2) which concerned the old Wollondilly Bridge on the Yerranderie - Camden Road and an official visit by the SCA and some Aboriginal visitors who used the valley before it was flooded.
Some Recidivist Club members insist that there is a Portaloo near the site of the old Wollondilly Hotel for the SCA _ inspection parties. | could think of many places where the SCA could put Portaloos in their (Eleven) Grand Country beside the stored waters of Lake Burragorang.
This article detailed why the Burragorang Valley is off limits - the SCA buffer zone protects the quality of the water entering the storages.
The SCA stated that the benefits are (1) Safe, clean water, (2) Protection of plants and animals (surely this includes weeds, wild pigs etc.), (3) Preservation of Aboriginal heritage ( its well preserved under water of course), (4) Preservation of | European exploration settlement and development - with the destruction of the historic homesteads, huts etc. within the Schedule 2 Catchment area and below the top water level, the removal of all trees - native and exotic - below the top water level - in short a scorched earth policy, let alone the failure to maintain a number of old roads such as the road down MacMahons Mountain or old bridle tracks, the SCAs status as a preservationist or conservator is on a par with the weil known timber getter of the Culoul Sawmill on the Putty Road who claimed to be a conservationist because he cut the' trees down before they fell on our native animals (and plants?) and hurt them.
Isnt it strange that the letters of well informed bushwalkers (and recidivists?) to a well known newspaper in Sydney criticising the Sydney Catchment Authority and its safe clean water never get published.
Frankly because of the blue green algae bloom at the Warragamba Dam Wall the water is now being sourced from 15 (or was it 50 metres?) below the surface so any claim to the safe clean water is a joke. Bottled water anyone?
ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT TRACK.
The late Russ Evans (Shoalhaven Bushwalking Club) was a tireless advocate of a walking track along the Illawarra Escarpment from the track network at Stanwell Park to Nowra.
Dealing with various Governmental authorities, councils and the NPWS let alone private landowners all with a stake in the lilawarra Escarpment was a difficult matter. The only section of the track to be built so far was the section from the old Bullock track pass through the cliff line above Stanwell Park to the Repeater Station road at Madden New Trig station on the escarpment above Scarborough. Regrettably this track was never maintained. Another section of the Illawarra Escarpment track which was completed many decades ago was the track network at Bulli Pass Scenic Reserves.
Russ and his wife Dawn designed and walked the proposed TWO RIVERS TRACK from the Shoalhaven River (near Burrier) to Yadboro on the Clyde River a distance of 101 km. This track was subsequently marked and cleared by the Shoalhaven City Councils special project workers, despite the opposition of the NPWS. Given Russs outstanding contribution to bushwalking | believe that the yet - to - be - constructed Illawarra Escarpment Track should be named after him and a as yet un- named lookout on the Escarpment be named after him for all his community service achievements in the region.
stage of my Illawarra Escarpment walk which didnt finish at Burrier as it was supposed to - due to a flooded Shoalhaven River. This walk was designed to reccy the best route along the Illawarra Escarpment and join the Russ Evans Two River Track in the Burrier area.
Wilf Hilder
13
Wu” NY:
6 November 2007 THE FRAME-UP
(version authorized by Dot Butler)
The first recorded performance of this gem was at the Reunion in 1992. It was produced again by I Finch in 2004, with Ros Kerrigan as narrator and Denise Shaw as Sonia, and remains a crowd pleaser.
have not been able to ascertain its origin.
This is the tale of Sonia Snell
To whom an accident befell
An accident which well may seem Embarrassing in the extreme.
it happened, as it does to many. That Sonia had to spend a penny. And entered in with modest grace The properly appointed place Provided at the railway staion, Wherein she sat in contemplation.
But it so happened unacquainted
That the seat was newly painted.
So Sonia found to her surprise
An inability to rise
So then she raised a mournful shout
Please someone, come and get me out
Her cries drew crowds that stood and sniggered And all they said was Itt be jiggered
The porter and the railway staff Were most polite and did not laugh, But seizing her by head and feet
A carpenter arrived at last, And finding Sonia still stuck fast
Said Look, | know just what to do And calmly sawed the seat right through.
Sonia now arose to find
They tried to pull her off the seat.
No matter how she screamed and yelled She found she was securely held.
A wocden halo on behind;
She screamed and yelled, she stamped her feet The ambulance came down the street
They seized the wooden-haloed sheet
And took her to emergency.
They carried her by feet and head And laid her face down on a bed. The doctors came in grand parade To render expertise and aid.
The surgeon said Upon my word, Could anything be more absurd. Then to the students on the floor Have any of you, | implore
Seen anything like this before?
Up piped a student unashamed, Yes, frequently, but never framed!
An Oasis in the Arctic Desert
([ Arctic Summer 2008 | PO 80 north
www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au
A thermal oasis in the polar desert, a river that never freezes, this is the Lake Hazen area, 1500 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle on Canada's Ellesmere Island.
During the brief arctic summer there is no darkness to mark the passage of time. The scale of the land is both immense and intimate at the same time.
Intricate patterns of rock, frost-cracked ground, willows and wildflowers at your feet extend out from where you stand into endless vistas in the clear dry air. The animals lack fear of people and may approach closely, curious about your presence.
We are offering a special trip to Ellesmere Island in July 2008. An expedition like this will be a great success with advance planning ask for the trip notes.
Willis's Walkabouts 12 Carrington St Millner NT 0810 Email: walkabout@ais.net.au
November 2007 HOLA FROM AREQUIPA
Susi Prescott
(Email received: 11 October, 2007) Hola amigos y amigas!
Its me! At last!
bit of a rollercoaster. | always knew this would be the hardest adventure, given its somewhat open- ended, in a new language, and full of unknowns, and, yes, it has taken a while to settle down.
Now | have been here almost 6 weeks, and the fog of non-comprehension seems at last to be lifting. This language is captivating, romantic, and utterly infuriating. Whoever said French would be an advantage was a big fat liar!{! The words have little in common and as for the pronunciation… . even if | do manage to get the verb conjugation right, if | am not careful my French accent will ensure that nobody understands me at all.
Take the word for dog, perro; it bears no relation to French chien, and is dangerously close to the word pello (hair), so it is possible to talk about taking the hair for a walk instead of the dog (and yes, | have done it).
ve had to unlearn all the beautiful sounds of French and replace them with the utterly foreign (but equally delicious) sounds of Spanish.
Nonetheless, | forged ahead, dictionary in hand, to look foria deparemento, however after coming perilously close disaster with guarantees, contracts, internet access and cable TV, | realised that | was blissfully happy in the little hotel where
the beautiful Plaza de Armas, | have access to a kitchen, two cable TVs, a dear little comfy room, and endless stream of lovely travellers to meet, | dont have to do any cleaning or even make my bed, and breakfast is included. So I am staying put.
{ve also joined the Club Internacional, a sort of cross. between gym and family club. There | swim in the (chilly) outdoor pool with snow-covered Chinchani in view, or in the indoor piscina temperada (early in the morning), go to the gym (something | have never done before in my life!) where | have discovered the joys (?) of the walking machine which | can adjust to a steep hill up which
But the best of all are the Latin dancing classes | go to three mornings a week. Its sort of like a mixture between dance and aerobics : a room full of Peruvian mes having the time of our lives salsa - ing and samba - ing to wild music while the gorgeous young male instructor wiggles and struts
his stuff. Its an absolute scream - literally - and at
various points we allt let out yelps and trills in true Latino style. Being the only gringo in the classes,
quite a few friends in halting Spanish - they are all so sweet and encouraging.
The job at the Cultural teaching English is going very well, my colleagues are all charming and lots of fun and their English is awesome. Teaching your native tongue has its pitfalls though - for example how do you explain why Please stop calling me and Please stop to call me have almost opposite meanings??
The students are really lovely kids - Ive got classes of fifteen year olds, twenty somethings, and kids of 10.
Im also spending two mornings a week in a little school in a shanty town on the outskirts of Arequipa teaching voluntarily . The place is like a moonscape - there is no water (Arequipa is in the middle of a desert), and these shanty towns spring up as the Indians come in from the Andes to try to find a better life. Quite a contrast from the cultural, but the kids are gorgeous, and | love teaching them all.
Arequipa is a beautiful city, and | have been enjoying discovering it bit by bit. But Ill leave that for the next e mail.
Lots and lots of love to you all, Susi
(Email received: 3 November, 2007) Hola Amigos y Amigas, :
First, some excellent news from mes Soeurs in Rwanda - the water tank has been successfully installed and water is now available!!! So thank you all so much for your generous contributions and support for the cause - they are eternally grateful to each and every one of you !!!!
Time rolls on and | have been here in Arequipa 2 months - 60 days to be exact as | discovered at the Imigracion this morning . . . . it seems that the official at Lima Airport where | entered Peru failed to notice my 90 day business visa and gave me the standard 60 days for tourists. | also didnt check - it was 4 am and | had been travelling for 3 days - so we all got a surprise when lwent for my Work Visa interview and discovered |d been in the country illegally since yesterday!
Much to-ing and fro-ing to rectify the situation, working around the relevant bureaucrats siesta
time, and hopefully now Im legal again and ready to go in for the second round. . .. | may have my visa by the time Im ready to leave Peru next year??!! Dont laugh - my young Canadian friends told me their Australian work visas arrived after theyd been working in Sydney 7 months and were about to go home!
8 November 2007 All part of the experience | suppose.
Its known as the white city because of the volcanic sillar stone used to construct it colonial buildings. At its centre, just 100 metres from my hotel, lies the Plaza de Armas, sculpted gardens with a fountain surrounded on 3 sides by graceful colonnades and on the fourth by the massive cathedral with its two bell towers. Always full of people, by day, families with children chasing the pigeons, hawkers selling everything from batteries to shoelaces, hopefuls gathered in a particular corner looking for work, tourists enjoying the sunshine, and by night, the scene illuminated against a black sky, groups of youngsters, there to see and be seen, the occasional bride and groom posing for the camera, and small children selling sweets.
These children come from the shanty towns which continue to spring up around Arequipa, like Las Olivas where | teach voluntarily twice a week. | described it in my last e mail a moon scape and now can confirm that much of the area to the north west of the city fits this description.
In the parched dust of the desert, stone walls appear clinging to the sides of arid mountains, usually near an electricity line to a mine or a factory. Within weeks, huts of stone or brick will be built, one or two filled by enterprising owners with provisions to become little shops. Earth movers materialise to flatten the dust into roads, and within months, another town has been built, and all without a drop of water. This precious lifefline is tansported in by truck to be stored in tanks.
With determination and luck some of these settlements start a little school, just like Esquela Elohim where | work, the children can attend in the morning than catch the bus into town to work selling at night. This life is perceived as preferable to the sparse existence they left behind in the high Andes.
The young girls and boys | teach are very keen to learn on the whole, outgoing and smart. Most at risk are the girls - pregnancy following rape (usually by a family member) is common once they reach puberty; and then the street awaits them and their babies. Im involved with a drop in centre for youngsters which tries to break this cycle, and we spend some evenings in the Plaza with puzzles and a skipping rope to encourage the street kids to play and let them know about the existence of the centre. That is, as long as their mothers (usually nearby) allow them to stop working for a few minutes to join in and play.
What a contrast is my paid work at the Centre Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (the Cultural). Classes are run in a beautiful old colonial building
in the city centre, the courses are fully computerised - a very slick operation. The students are delightful and highly motivated to learn, although the classes have an important social side and much flirtation goes on between the adolescent males and females!!
Arequipa being in the middle of a desert, water supply is of course vital. The Rio Chile rushes through town, and several ojos or natural springs, have their source just outside the centre. These are the old settlements of Arequipa which had its beginnings in agriculture. Its hard to believe that these springs and streams of crystal clear water feed irrigation to fields of onions, lucerne, maize and potatoes - while just beyond lies the desert.
Ive really appreciated what an oasis entails, having visited the ojo del milagro (eye of the miracle), a natural spring source half an hour from the city centre, where people frolic in baths at the base of an arid mountain, and a sparkling creek runs through terraces of crops which sudenly give way to dust. At nearby El Molindo de Sabandia, an ancient water mill powered by a gushing waterfall, an oasis of green lawns is surrounded by stony hills; and, strangest of all, Jura, half an hour north west of Arequipa by taxi, where | sat in the lobby of a nearly-deserted hotel looking out on green gardens with flowers and trees huddled beneath enormous mountains of granite. The town boasts hot springs and in the bath house | splashed in hot sulphuric bubbling water. The day | was there being a public holiday, some day trippers came from Arequipa, but normally its tike a ghost town, a fertile pinpoint in a sea of desert.
Finally, a word about the religious ceremonies in Arequipa. October has been the month of El Signor de los Milagros (God of the Miracles) which culminated in an evening procession through the city of those giving thanks. The flickering of the candles, each one representing a miracle, the pounding of the mighty cathedral bells, the incense, the effigy of Jesus being carried in relays plus the accompanying fireworks were mesmerising indeed!
Latine aerobics continues to be a highlight of my week, and the salsa beat which rings out from everywhere is likely to set me off humming and hopping! The Spanish language stills exasperates me - the verb tenses are an ongoing nightmare. Although poco a poco something seems to be sinking in | seem to be able to make myself understood in basic situations, as soon as | have to use a verb (i.e. in every sentence!!??) | panic and stare, dumbfounded.
after day. Itll be interesting to see just how much rain falls in December-January-February, supposedly the rainy season.
November 2007 ; 9 Ive booked to go walking in Patagonia over Christmas - providing | can get down there i.e. Argentinia Aerolineas doesnt cancel any flights! After my 3 day voyage to get over here Im holding my breath and crossing my fingers!
news from home - Ive applied for my postal vote! The wild weather in Qld and S.A. sound surprising for this time of year!?
Hopefully Ill be able to send some photos of the water tanks soon, hotmail permitting.
Lots of love to you all, Susi
FIRE, FLOOD & PARK CLOSURES
Blue Mountains National Park
Due to bush fire damage, in the interests of public safety and the sensitivity of regenerating areas, Grose Valley and surrounding bushland, and all walking tracks into the Valley remain closed. Closed areas include:
9 Blue Gum Forest and Acacia Flat
8 Grose Valley canyons (except Grand, Claustral, Butterbox and Fortress canyons only are open)
all walking tracks into the Grose Valley Rodriguez Pass
At Blackheath, the clifftop tracks Pulpit Rock, Govetts Leap and Evans Lookout
SY Mt Banks area
OO@
Most. Lookouts, and the Grand Canyon (Evans Lookout to Neates Glen) and Lockley Pylon walking tracks are open but the tracks that continue into the Valley are closed.
For further information about walks in the area, contact the NPWS Heritage Centre, Blackheath, phone 02 4787 8877 (open seven days 9.00 am to 4.30 pm).
NOTICE - CAMP FIRES AND STOVES
All members are advised to check the restrictions on lighting fires in intended camping areas. Be aware that high to extreme bush fire danger currently applies throughout much of NSW. This means that fires in the open are restricted and may only be used under certain conditions eg a camp fire for cooking purposes.
However, most national parks, reserves and forest areas around Sydney have local fire bans which mean no fires of any nature are permitted.
TOTAL FIRE BANS may be declared on days of extreme fire danger and fires in the open including cooking and camp fires, are totally prohibited for the period of the ban.
Lighting any fire in the open on a day of Total Fire Ban may lead to a fine of $5,500 and 12 months imprisonment. This applies to any naked flame including camp fires and camping stoves.
ADVICE TO LEADERS
All leaders are advised to check on park closures before leading parties in national parks. Failure to keep to park regulations could place the insurance cover for their walk at risk and lead to personal liability. The latest advice can be found on the following websites:
www.npws.nsw.gov.aui (click on the Fires, Floods and Park Closures link)
Also contact the Rural Fire Service for updates on hazard reduction burns and fires in the NSW area. The website is:
www. bushfire.nsw.gov.au
or call NSW RFS on 1800 679 737
LOOKING FOR BUSHWALKING GEAR?
Then check out the following web sites: Clothing and gear is a personal choice but if you are looking for backpacks designed especially for women then | recommend the The North Face brand and Osprey. You can check out the Osprey brand at Paddy Pallin and The North Face have their own store in Pitt Street, Sydney.
www.rei.com REI is the abbreviation for Recreation Equipment Incorporated. The store is located in the USA and they sell everything (packs, tents, ski equipment, clothing and boots). The prices are low, however you are required to pay import duty. You can buy over the internet as other SBW members have done.
http://www.usoutdoorstore.com This website sells Osprey brand backpacks as well as other outdoor clothing and equipment.
www.paddypallin.com.au This store in Kent St Sydney sells Macpac and Berghaus brand packs as well as other equipment and clothing.
10 . November 2007
All part of the experience | suppose.
Its known as the white city because of the volcanic sillar stone used to construct it colonial buildings. At its centre, just 100 metres from my hotel, lies the Plaza de Armas, sculpted gardens with a fountain surrounded on 3 sides by graceful colonnades and on the fourth by the massive cathedral with its two bell towers. Always full of people, by day, families with children chasing the pigeons, hawkers selling everything from batteries to shoelaces, hopefuls gathered in a particular corner looking for work, tourists enjoying the sunshine, and by night, the scene illuminated against a black sky, groups of youngsters, there to see and be seen, the occasional bride and groom posing for the camera, and small children selling sweets.
These children come from the shanty towns which continue to spring up around Arequipa, like Las Olivas where | teach voluntarily twice a week. | described it in my last e mail a moon scape and now can confirm that much of the area to the north west of the city fits this description.
In the parched dust of the desert, stone walls appear clinging to the sides of arid mountains, usually near an electricity line to a mine or a factory. Within weeks, huts of stone or brick will be built, one or two filled by enterprising owners with provisions to become little shops. Earth movers materialise to flatten the dust into roads, and within months, another town has been built, and all without a drop of water. This precious lifefline is tansported in by truck to be stored in tanks.
With determination and luck some of these settlements start a little school, just like Esquela Elohim where | work, the children can attend in the morning than catch the bus into town to work selling at night. This life is perceived as preferable to the sparse existence they left behind in the high Andes.
The young girls and boys | teach are very keen to learn on the whole, outgoing and smart. Most at risk are the girls - pregnancy following rape (usually by a family member) is common once they reach puberty; and then the street awaits them and their babies. |m involved with a drop in centre for youngsters which tries to break this cycle, and we spend some evenings in the Plaza with puzzles and a skipping rope to encourage the Street kids to play and let them know about the existence of the centre. That is, as long as their mothers (usually nearby) allow them to stop working for a few minutes to join in and play.
What a contrast ts my paid work at the Centre Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (the Cultural). Classes are run in a beautiful old colonial building
in the city centre, the courses are fully computerised - a very slick operation. The students are delightful and highly motivated to learn, although the classes have an important social side and much flirtation goes on between the adolescent males and females!!
Arequipa being in the middle of a desert, water supply is of course vital. The Rio Chile rushes through town, and several ojos or natural springs, have their source just outside the centre. These are the old settlements of Arequipa which had its beginnings in agriculture. Its hard to believe that these springs and streams of crystal clear water feed irrigation to fields of onions, lucerne, maize and potatoes - while just beyond lies the desert.
I've really appreciated what an oasis entails, having visited the ojo del milagro (eye of the miracle), a natural spring source half an hour from the city centre, where people frolic in baths at the base of an arid mountain, and a sparkling creek runs through terraces of crops which sudenly give way to dust. At nearby El Molindo de Sabandia, an ancient water mill powered by a gushing waterfall, an oasis of green lawns is surrounded by stony hills; and, strangest of all, Jura, half an hour north west of Arequipa by taxi, where | sat in the lobby of a nearly-deserted hotel looking out on green gardens with flowers and trees huddled beneath enormous mountains of granite. The town boasts hot springs and in the bath house | splashed in hot sulphuric bubbling water. The day | was there being a public holiday, some day trippers came from Arequipa, but normally its like a ghost town, a fertile pinpoint in a sea of desert.
Finally, a word about the religious ceremonies in Arequipa. October has been the month of El Signor de los Milagros (God of the Miracles) which culminated in an evening procession through the city of those giving thanks. The flickering of the candles, each one representing a miracle, the pounding of the mighty cathedral bells, the incense, the effigy of Jesus being carried in relays plus the accompanying fireworks were mesmerising indeed!
Latine aerobics continues to be a highlight of my week, and the salsa beat which rings out from everywhere is likely to set me off humming and hopping! The Spanish language stills exasperates me - the verb tenses are an ongoing nightmare. Although poco a poco something seems to be sinking in | seem to be able to make myself understood in basic situations, as soon as |] have to use a verb (i.e. in every sentence!!??) | panic and stare, dumbfounded.
after day. Itll be interesting to see just how much rainfalls ~sin December-January-February, supposedly the rainy season.
November 2007 9 Ive booked to go walking in Patagonia over Christmas - providing | can get down there i.e. Argentinia Aerolineas doesnt cancel any flights! After my 3 day voyage to get over here Im holding my breath and crossing my fingers!
news from home - |ve applied for my postal vote! The wild weather in Qld and S.A. sound surprising for this time of year!?
Hopefully !\l be able to send some photos of the water tanks soon, hotmail permitting.
Lots of love to you all, Susi
FIRE, FLOOD & PARK CLOSURES
Blue Mountains National Park
Due to bush fire damage, in the interests of public safety and the sensitivity of regenerating areas, Grose Valley and surrounding bushland, and all walking tracks into the Valley remain closed. Closed areas include:
OQ Blue Gum Forest and Acacia Flat
S Grose Valley canyons (except Grand, Claustral, Butterbox and Fortress canyons only are open)
all walking tracks into the Grose Valley Rodriguez Pass
At Blackheath, the clifftop tracks Pulpit Rock, Govetts Leap and Evans Lookout
) Mt Banks area
OOO
Most Lookouts, and the Grand Canyon (Evans Lookout to Neates Glen) and Lockley Pylon walking tracks are open but the tracks that continue into the Valley are closed.
For further information about walks in the area, contact the NPWS Heritage Centre, Blackheath, phone 02 4787 8877 (open seven days 9.00 am to 4.30 pm).
NOTICE - CAMP FIRES AND STOVES
All members are advised to check the restrictions on lighting fires in intended camping areas. Be aware that high to extreme bush fire danger currently applies throughout much of NSW. This means that fires in the open are restricted and may only be used under certain conditions eg a camp fire for cooking purposes.
However, most national parks, reserves and forest areas around Sydney have local fire bans which mean no fires of any nature are permitted.
TOTAL FIRE BANS may be declared on days of extreme fire danger and fires in the open including cooking and camp fires, are totally prohibited for the period of the ban.
Lighting any fire in the open on a day of Total Fire Ban may lead to a fine of $5,500 and 12 months imprisonment. This applies to any naked flame including camp fires and camping stoves.
ADVICE TO LEADERS
All leaders are advised to check on park closures before leading parties in national parks. Failure to keep to park regulations could place the insurance cover for their walk at risk and lead to personal liability. The latest advice can be found on the following websites:
www.npws.nsw.gov.au (click on the Fires, Floods and Park Closures link)
Also contact the Rural Fire Service for updates on hazard reduction burns and fires in the NSW area. The website is:
or call NSW RFS on 1800 679 737
LOOKING FOR BUSHWALKING GEAR?
Then check out the following web sites: Clothing and gear is a personal choice but if you are looking for backpacks designed especially for women then | recommend the The North Face brand and Osprey. You can check out the Osprey brand at Paddy Pallin and The North Face have their own store in Pitt Street, Sydney.
www.rei.com REI is the abbreviation for Recreation Equipment Incorporated. The store is located in the USA and they sell everything (packs, tents, ski equipment, clothing and boots). The prices are low, however you are required to pay import duty. You can buy over the internet as other SBW members have done.
http://www.usoutdoorstore.com This website sells Osprey brand backpacks as well as other outdoor clothing and equipment.
www.paddypallin.com.au This store in Kent St Sydney sells Macpac and Berghaus brand packs as well as other equipment and clothing.
10 November 2007
Morag Ryder
COOLANA REPORT - NOVEMBER 2007 - Gretel Woodward
Don Finch, Ros Kerrigan, Gemma Gagne and | were at Coolana from the Thursday and everyone elise at different times from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon. There were various jobs to be done before the re-union, spraying weeds, chain sawing, piling up fallen timber, relaying and connecting the water supply etc. We also walked all the tracks to make sure there were no obstacles e.g. fallen trees etc. so the members/visitors could go for a bushwalk if they wished. Don put up new signs on the Circuit walk and Dot Butler lookout as the old ones were unreadable.
Lots of people arrived on the Friday, some to attend an 80“ birthday celebration for George Mawer which was organised and catered for by Gemma Gagne who managed to provide an excellent menu for the invited guests. About 6 oclock the rain started to bucket down which lead to a very close up and personal happy hour in the three sided shed which was great, very friendly, lots of chatter, laughs etc.
On Saturday the property was all sparkly after the rain and a beautiful day to be enjoyed. Our happy hour was very special with Spiro Haginikitas and Fran Holland providing Spinach Pie for all. There was a rumour going around that Spiro was not cooking his special Spinach Pie but it wasnt true as Spiro would not let down his friends (without prior notice) knowing how much they enjoy the treat.
Approximately 40 people (members, visitors and children) attended the re-union on the 27” and 28“ October and all agreed that Coolana has never looked better. Nobody was coerced into doing-any work as it was not necessary so the weekend was a relaxed one, with the members doing a lot of catching up with friends. Having said that | must confess that a few of us just cant help ourselves and did a couple of jobs on Sunday morning.
The rest of the re-union details will be supplied by Patrick, Bill or David who were involved in the speeches, entertainment, Composting toilet etc.
On the 30 October Don Finch received the following email from Scott Hartman who has the contract (paid for by the Sydney Catchment
Authority -SCA) to spray the Eastern Flat 2007/2008.
Scott Hartman from Enviroquest rang today. He apologised for his recent non communication his only excuse was a broken right hand! A light weight cast is to be fitted tomorrow and he hopes to be able to work with that fitted.
He expects that he and his team will start spraying at Coolana on Thursday 1 November and expects to be back and forth over the next month or so. This is to target weeds that are in a growth spurt and hence are more likely to take up the poison. He may leave hose lines run out to the Eastern Flat. This also means that we will need to wait until this programme is completed before applying for any further grants as we may need another year of spraying before doing some serious tree planting on the Eastern Flat. {it may be possible to apply for a grant for a contractor (possibly the CVA) to plant trees if the volunteers are finding it too arduous to continue the tree planting as we have done from 2003 to 2007. | will be retiring from the Coolana committee at the 2008 Annual General meeting and I would like one of the members to join the Coolana committee and take over the paper work required to keep up the momentum and the contacts that we have with the SCA and the SRCMA which has benefited the club so much over the past few years. | can give my replacement all the files and information required to do the job which is all fairly simple now that the ground work has been done. It can also be complicated if you want - as there are a few other aspects which have not been done due to lack of time and knowledge on my part e.g. Carbon Credits, Rabbit Control etc. The SRCMA send us information by email on just about everything involving conservation, bush regeneration etc. in our area. This job should appeal to lots of our members - after all the Trust Deed states that Coolana is for camping as practised by recreational walks and for the preservation of the native flora and fauna. November 2007 11 COOLANA BIRDLIST * 2007 from observations by J In 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007. Channel-billed Cuckoo Southern Boobook Tawny Frogmouth Laughing Kookaburra Sacred Kingfisher Superb Lyrebird White-throated Treecreeper Superb Fairy-wren Variegated Fairy-wren Spotted Pardalote Pilotbird Rockwarbler White-browed Scrubwren Weebill Brown Gerygone White-throated Gerygone Brown Thornbill Striated Thornbill Red Wattlebird Noisy Friarbird Little Friarbird Noisy Miner Lewin's Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater White-eared Honeyeater White-naped Honeyeater New Hoiland Honeyeater November 2007 COOLANA COMPOSTING TOILET OPEN FOR BUSINESS Although some finishing work of a minor nature remains to be done, the Coolana Composting Toilet was officially opened in a simple and moving ceremony on Saturday, 27 October 2007, as part of the SBW 80” Birthday celebrations, by the President before a vast crowd of SBW members and friends. After being declared open, most of the crowd accepted the invitation to enter the toilet en mass for a hands on demonstration and on-the-job training in the use of the toilet. A quantity of wombat poo in a tasteful aluminium r tray, a pair of tongs anda pailofsaw =~ dust allowed participants to make a real (but non-human) deposit in the toilet and then add a scoop of sawdust. Only one of the crowd availed herself of the hand-basin facilities. The aluminium tray and tongs were thoroughly cleaned in the fire afterwards. e Three rolls of toilet paper used within the next 24 hours have been taken as a sign of the immediate acceptance of the facility, the ease of usage and the thoroughness of the on-the-job training. Yes it did take a while for our state-of-the-art Coolana composting crapper to progress from idea to reality. Luckily not as long as the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. It took time for the idea to sink in, for the SBW democratic process to happen, for the small forest of environmental documents to be prepared, for the construction specifications, drawings and plans to be finalised, and it took time (not too long really) for Council and Sydney Catchment Authority to examine and approve/concur with our Development Application; the Authority because Coolana is located within the Special (inner) area of the Kangaroo Valley Catchment Area. The construction phase started with upgrading the track so that the building materials could be delivered to the building site. Similar to building the Panama Canal, but without the yellow fever, we had a problem with the supply of willing labour. The Coolana area is too lightly populated for a Press Gang to be effective so we had to rely on begging, winging, whining, cajoling and pleading emails plus a few personal threats to get enough able bodies on- site. It worked. People came, toiled and the toilet was constructed. By the way, the workers on site when the roof was going on followed the old building tradition of signing their name to the peak of the roof. The toilet was built with this scenario in mind: a wet, winters night at Coolana, a parent is required to take his/her child to the toilet. A veranda to shelter from the rain, to remove raincoats, a toilet room large enough for parent and child, coat-hooks for clothing. A hand basin on the veranda for basic hygiene. A toilet designed for this scenario would meet the needs for all Coolana visitors. The Clivus Multrum Model CM8 composting toilet is rated at 8000 visits per year or 22 visits per day. Our usage of Coolana is perhaps an average of 4 visitors every second weekend, thats 104 per year, even 10 visitors every weekend is only 520 per year. On these numbers the chosen composting toilet is more than adequate. Out toilet is a high tech installation. The only moving parts are the toilet door, lid and paper roll (all manually operated), the exhaust fan (electrically powered), the whirly bird fan (wind powered) and the personal deposits (gravity assisted). The toilet is equipped with two solar powered night lights, one in the toilet room and the other in the vestibule (both manually activated with electronic off switching). The solar cell is mounted on the tool shed roof with the electronics and battery #1 in the shed. An underground cable to the toilet feeds to battery #2 and more electronics located in the toilet sub-floor. Battery #1 also has a power outlet for charging mobile phones. Patrick James November 2007 13 Safe Walking? Tony Holgate Recently, some people have suggested that particular places may not be safe places for the club to run trips. There is no absolute measure of risk or what is safe. It would be foolish to imagine that any walk in the bush can occur without some risk. In fact, there are risks associated with everything we do in life. So | am not going to say any walk is absolutely safe, but | am going to argue that, with the correct approach, we can achieve a manageable level of risk. This is also true of non- bushwalking activities. This article is an attempt to articulate how a leader might assess the level of risk associated with any particular walk and what we can do about it. Before | lead a trip to an area that | have concerns about the risk, | would prefer to have explored at least part of it with someone who had been there before. This, however, is not always possible or practical, particularly with more remote areas. Research can help, reading guides books, articles and asking others who may have visited the area. Studying the maps is always important to understand the route, the terrain, obstacles, possible campsites, expected travel speed, how to get into an area, how to get out, where you can get out if you have a problem (contingency planning is always useful, even in an area you have visited frequently) and transport options. This prepares me for the nature of the terrain and the sorts of problems and risks involved. With this | can estimate if there is lots of creek walking with possible rock hopping, slippery rocks, swimming or high sidles. Or if there is likely to be scrambling. | can also estimate approximately how long we will need to walk for each day. From previous experience, { know that trips involving lots of time in the water can be difficult because of fatigue and the problems of waterproofing gear. From, experience and considering the possible outcomes, ! know the risks to individuals if a party separates in difficult conditions, remote areas or even close to home. There is also the issue of individual capabilities, confidence and attitudes to risk. Nevertheless, it is possible to do things that we have never done before and manage the risks. With any risk we need to consider 2 related issues; the probability and the consequences of it occurring. All. of this culminates in several choices that need to be made about risky trips. How do | plan it? Is it a walk you have done before? Consider the geography. Have you | thought about the risks associated with different weather patterns? It is possible to plan an exploratory walk where the numbers of unknowns are greater. When doing this you need to be realistic in your assessments of the risks and the capabilities of yourself and others. Always underestimate the distances you can cover and overestimate the times taken to. negotiate obstacles such as cliff lines and thick scrub. How do | promote it? It is better to over- emphasise the risks and difficulties than understate them. If individuals come along prepared for a difficult trip, but find it easier, the pleasant surprise will not psyche them out. BUT if they come along expecting something easy and get confronted by difficult, risky, or just plain scary things to do, there is a risk they will give up and that becomes everyones problem. it is NOT an option to get people into the field under false pretences, put them into a difficult situation and then coerce them into doing something they do not want to do. Who goes on a trip? This means we need to consider the selection process of the people we allow to core along on a walk. You notice | said, allow, this is because no one is automatically entitled to participate on a walk, It is up to the leaders discretion. We choose people for a walk that have appropriate skills and/or attitudes. This sometimes includes understanding what levels of risk individuals are comfortable with. When is it appropriate to cancel a trip? We need to make judgements based on our personal experience and that of others about when the risks are too high. Never be afraid to discuss concerns about a walk with other leaders. If you do not know who to talk to, start with the Walks Secretary. What do | need to tell people before the trip? Are there any particular difficulties such as serious scrambling, which some people may be unable to deal with. Do people need to prepare for something, such as waterproofing their pack? A wet sleeping bag may mean hypothermia. It may also mean a poor nights sleep and carrying extra weight resulting in someone being too slow and stumbling more causing extra aggravation within the party thereby increasing the risk to the party as whole. What do | need to tell people on the trip? Ask how people are going. Admit it if you have a problem such as not feeling well, being unsure where you are or you are tired. Warn of any expected or known problems. And always promise 5 star campsites. How much control is appropriate during a trip? This depends on the consequences of loss of control. On many walks very little control is necessary - wait at the track junction, meet at the pool, etc. Sometimes (not often) we need to be more prescriptive. In Morong Deep | do not like the party being separated too much. To put it in context, if someone falls, hits their 14 Novernber 2007 head and ends up in the water, | only have minutes to save their life. So in that context, | want people no more than a couple of hundred metres away from the group. What do I do if there is a problem? Remember action alone is no substitute for considered action. Be proactive, have a contingency plan. And you are the leader, use the group and their skills. Always carry a first aid kit. In remote areas always carry an EPIRB. @ What do | do after a trip? Do you do anything? | always think about how a trip went and was there anything | could have done better. Does all this spoil our outdoor experience? Not necessarily, these things may enhance our experience. There are some things in this world that not everybody can do. And one day [| will not be able to do them either. As a leader, | need to recognise when there are things that may be beyond my control. Tony Holgate Nsw WILDERNESS TRANSIT BUS 10 JENOLAN CAvES. KANANGRA WALLIS. YERRANDERIE GHOST TOWN STARLIGHTS TRACK. BUNGONIA CAVES. Woe Wo. NERRIGA Departs from Sydneys Campbelltown Railway Station J Via Penrith, Katoomba & Blackheath for Kanangra Walls Mon & Wed at 11am. Frid at 7am Returns 4pm Mon, Wed, Frid. Via Starlights, Mittagong & Marulan for Wog Wog-Nerriga Tues.& Thurs & Sun at 11am Returns 4 pm Tues, Thurs, Sun. Yerranderie Ghost Town first Saturday in each month, returns Sun at 1 pm (any Friday min 6) Group booking discounts or charter service Tel 0246 832344 Mob 0428 832 344 www.wildernesstransit.com.au A NOTE FROM THE CLUB ARCHIVIST - Bill Holland In order to minimise risk of loss and limit further deterioration of valuable club records some of our archives were transferred earlier this month to the State Library for safekeeping. The records transferred at this time include: - The Clubs first minute book (1927/8) and from 1959 -1991 (1928 to 1958 already transferred at an earlier date) - Membership book up to 1950 - Club correspondence 1988 -1990 - Magazine correspondence from 1930's - Social notes and song books - Old maps including cloth maps from 1930/40 on. The State Library also holds other Club records, previously transferred and these are available for research and other purposes. ] am holding several albums containing photos from earlier days. However nearly all are not identified as to whom, when and where the photos were taken. Some of these photos will be of interest to preserve in the State Library provided we can make the identification. If you would like to have a look at the old photos (1930 -1980) and perhaps assist in making identification please contact me. Bill Holland (9484 6636) EDITORS MESSAGE ! thoroughly enjoyed the Big Day-O and was able to put a face to a lot of people who | had been liaising with by phone and email. | received photos from people who attended the 80 Birthday Celebrations and the next issue will feature these. Speaking of photos, the next issue will include details regarding a photo competition to be held next year. Judging will take place in the club rooms and there will be prizes for various categories. Stay tuned! | would like to receive articles from members (that means you!!) regarding the following topics so that | can include them in the December issue: = The Big Day-O on the 21 October = The 80“ Birthday Celebrations at Coolana on the 27 and 28” October = The Presidential Walk on the 3 November It is important that these anniversary events are remembered and recorded. | Pam Campbell, Editor | November 2007 15 CONSERVATION REPORT - Bill Holland By the time you read this report the Federal election will be over and only the echo of the hyped- up promises will remain. Of course protection of the environment will have been stated as a priority for the governing party and many millions of dollars promised to be spent. The real questions are; where and when will the spending be directed and will the spending really benefit the environment. And what does the environment mean? Are the benefits short term or long term? Politicians focus on their own survival in the political arena and they concentrate their attention, and spending, on what they see as the immediate needs of their electorates. Their vision is narrow and short-sighted. They do not see an immediate economic return from spending on parks, reserves and bush preservation especially when the country remains stricken by drought and water is in short supply. However, in this election global warming has become an issue and may yet lead to increased efforts to protect and enhance the remaining forests and bushland environments. Combating global warming requires a lowering of greenhouse gases by consuming less energy and building an environment where CO2 can be naturally absorbed by planting more trees. Combating global warming requires our Federal Government to join and support, not diminish an international effort to ease back carbon emissions. Let us hope that the new Government will see the long-term picture and take the necessary action, both nationally and internationally, to ensure that our children, and grandchildren are not too severely penalised by an extravagant and careless disregard for todays environment. Bill Holland Environment News and Comments Ex Premier Bob Carr's Push To Protect His Bush FORMER premier Bob Carr has returned from the political wilderness to protect his environmental legacy by helping to save forests in the state's southeast from logging. Mr Carr this week went bushwalking with environmental activists from The Wilderness Society (TWS) through the forests of Deua National Park and Dampier State Forest near Moruya on the NSW South Coast. Hugely proud of the 350 national parks gazetted during his 10-year tenure as premier, Mr Carr has agreed to help TWS protect 18,000ha of icon forests he, as premier, closed to logging. Prior to the 2003 NSW election, Mr Carr placed an informal moratorium on logging across 24,000ha of old growth and high conservation-value forests in the southeast. In 2004, he agreed to protect 6000ha of that at Monga, Murramarang and Deua. Now TWS wants the remaining 18,000ha safeguarded, but 13 of the 66 compartments encompassing the forest areas have this year been placed on the logging schedule. TWS NSW campaign manager Tim King, who accompanied Mr Carr on Wednesday's forest walk, said the forests contained trees that were hundreds of years old and home to threatened species. Daily Telegraph 30/10/07 4WD Drivers Deplore Damage Local four-wheel-drive groups have sought to distance themselves from videos posted on YouTube, of vehicles allegedly driving on Appin fire trails. The president of the Appin Bushland Users Group (ABUG), Wayne Gveric, said that as far as he could tell the drivers on YouTube were not members of a known club. If you are a member of a club there is a great onus on you to behave in the correct manner, Mr Gveric said. “Each club is registered with an appropriate association and they must adhere to tread-lightly policies which outline a heap of ground rules like how to behave in the bush. “This isn't just about four- wheel driving, we want to provide facilities for bushwalkers, mountain bike riders and horse riders in the area, he said. Wollondilly Advertiser 23/10/07 Wealthy Nations Must Not Pass The Buck' On Forest Conservation As world-leaders prepare to negotiate a new post- Kyoto agreement on greenhouse gases, the issues of forest preservation and carbon storage are emerging as key points of debate. But, whilst forest-rich developing nations have shown a willingness to consider enhanced forest preservation as a means to offset global carbon emissions, are developed nations taking up their share of the bargain? In the lead up to key negotiations scheduled for this - December in the Indonesian island of Bali, a group of forest-rich nations have agreed to plans to receive payments to protect areas of rain-forest. Indonesia - and South American nations have led the push to secure funding from industrialised nations, and their emerging carbon markets, to protect forest from deforestation and logging. This enhanced preservation will help to offset emissions generated by massive fossil fuel consumption generated by western nations. Online Opinion 14th November 2007 16 November 2007 OUR NEW HONORARY MEMBERS As part of our 80” Anniversary celebrations President David Trinder presented Honorary Active Membership Certificates to eight SBW members at the Manly Dam Picnic. A great crowd heard David explain that the Committee, in selecting these members, had used the following guidelines: 1. Be an active member of SBW, as walker and walk leader, not necessarily in recent times. 2. Have a continuing interest and association with the Club. 3. Have been active in the Management of the Club by being on the Committee on a number of times, either in the same or in different Committee positions. 4. Also participated in the management of the Club in non-Committee positions. 5. Additional to the above have made an extra contribution to the wellbeing of the Club; Many members fulfil 1, 2 and/or 3 above, which should be considered to be fairly normal. Few members fulfil all of the above guidelines; it is these members who the Committee has chosen for Honorary Membership. Three have been SBW members for over fifty years. . Our new honorary members are listed in alphabetical order: Kenn Clacher joined SBW in 1984 (23 years membership). He has been a frequent walks leader (including abseiting and canyoning) extended walks and also led many skiing trips in the years when SBW had ski trips included in its programme. He has also conducted abseiling training for club members. Kenn was Vice President 1989, 1990 and has served as the SBW representative on the Kosciusko Huts Association for 8 years; he has led the Clubs printing team for 19 years (since 1988). Greta James joined in 1984 (23 years membership) and has been an active walks leader for many years leading many day walks and weekend walks. She has held many positions on the Committee including President 1994/5, Social Secretary 1990, Secretary 1986, 2006/7, Treasurer 1996/7/8 and General Committee Member 1985. Tony Marshall: joined the Club in September 1976 (31 years membership). During the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s he was a very active walker and walks leader. Tony has served on the Committee for many years being President 1982/83; Treasurer 1980/1, 1990, 2004/5 (seven years); Committee Member 1984. Additionally he acted as Club Auditor in 1988/89 and has assisted in compiling the Club walks history. Don Matthews: joined in October 1953 (54 years membership) and was Magazine Editor in 1959/60/61 and an active member of the collating team for over ten years. Don has been very active in Coolana reunions organising entertainment around the campfire and a voluminous contributor to the club magazine for a long period. He also maintains an extensive photo collection of SBW members and activities going back many years - an impressive pictorial history that has taken a great amount of expense and personal effort! George Mawer: joined SBW in 1982 (25 years membership) and was a very active leader for many years leading day walks, weekend walks and extended walks. He was Magazine Editor for 1993/94/95/96 (four years) and has beena member of the collating team for over ten years. George played a very active part in membership and training and has conducted leadership training nights. He suggested and created a training manual and the current Leaders Handbook, He posts this handbook to all new leaders. Barrie Murdoch: joined SBW in 1981 (26 years membership). He was a walks leader in the 1980s and active on the Committee being Treasurer 1982/83: Secretary 1984/85; Vice President 1986: President 1987/88. He also served as Honorary Solicitor 1986 to 1997 (11 years). Barrie drafted the revised Club Constitution and actively pursued incorporation. He has been a member of the printing team for 17 years. Geoff and Grace Wagg: have both been members for over fifty years. Geoff joined in 1953 and Grace in 1954. They are proposed as Honorary Members together as much of their contribution has been jointly made. Geoff was an active walker and walks leader for many years and held the following Committee positions: Walks Secretary 1955/56; Magazine Editor 1954 and 1958; Committee member 1954; Federation (now Confederation) Delegate 1959 to 1962; Conservation Secretary 1962/63. Grace was New Members Secretary in 1955/56 and Federation Delegate in 1959. Both Geoff and Grace have played an active part in the magazine collating since about 1982 (25 years) and at times have hosted this activity in their home. Geoff has contributed to Coolana activities and celebrations on many occasions. | his/her intention. * A WORD OF CAUTION ***
lt has been drawn to the attention of the club committee that there may well be legal issues arising from people either joining a walk late, or leaving a walk early and walking out on their own.
Apart from the obvious risks involved in walking alone (accidents and injuries), legal issues may arise given that the walk was an Official SBW event.
The committee resolved that it is the responsibility of any walker joining a programmed walks late or leaving it early to personally advise the leader of that walk of
November 2007 17
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