NOVEMBER in AM 12. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17, 18, 19. 20. 20. 2000 Issue No. 792 October General Meeting peported by Barry Wallace Committee Jottings Vale Tom Moppett Growth and renewal talk arranged by Eddy Giacamel New 1:25 000 Map list Nov-Dec-Jan Social Preg. Sydney Trailwalker 2000 by Richard Darke A Strange Encounter by Andrew Vilder 2 The Wolllemi Pine Book Review by Alex Colley SBW Election Nominations Nomination Form insert Cowan to Westleigh reported by Mark Patterson Bushfire Protection for Bushwalkers by Sue Davies The Phantom Hiker by Paul McDonald Otford-Bundeena by Tony Crichton Wilderness Protection Pian from Alex Colley Wilderness area map Heavy Metal Garbage by Keith Maxwell (BWR) Coolana Music Weekend reported by Bill Holland NPWLS Park Charges ADVERTISERS Aipsport front ci Eastwood Camping Centre Willis's Walkabouts Paddy Pallin back ci The Sydney Bushwalker magazine 1: printed on recycled paper [Page 2 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 THE OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING reported by Barry Wallace There were some 16 or so members present at around 2005 when the president called the meeting to order. Apologies were tendered from Gretel Woodward and Patrick James. The minutes of two meetings, the September and August general meeting, were read and accepted as correct. Correspondence in saw a letter from one of our members requesting information on an aspect of membership, from Frank Rigby proposing additional tracks at Coolana, and from the clubs Public Officer pointing out a conflict between the constitution and recent decisions by the committee regarding entry requirements for new members. We sent a letter to the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation regarding the Aboriginal land rights claim on an area adjacent to Coolana. The committee has agreed to Franks proposal, subject to his liaising with the Coolana maintenance committee. The letter regarding the land rights claim was crafted by Patrick James from information provided by our Hon Solicitor whose involvement was restricted by a scheduled departure overseas. Changes to entry requirements for new members will be put on hold. We also received a letter from NPWS regarding restrictions on camping in the Royal and Heathcote NP that will apply from the beginning of November. Details will probably appear elsewhere in the magazine. The treasurers report indicated that we began the period with $13,239, received income of $1,207, spent $275 and closed with a balance of $14,172 in round numbers. The walks reports began with Maureen Carter leading the midweek walk on Wednesday 13" September. There were 7 participants on a day variously described as super and a glorious spring day. The weekend of 15, 16, 17 September saw Oliver Crawford with a party of 6 on his Gardens of Stone walk in good weather. They didnt quite make it to the cars on Sunday evening but reported the night as balmy with a bright moon that made sleeping less than easy. Henry Roda led 9 walkers on his Saturday visit to the four heads in the Blue Mountains National Park. The weather was good, the walk went very well and there were views over the Grose Valley. Ian Hill had 12 plus an indeterminate number of blow-ins on his Sunday walk from Stanwell Park to Otford, which went to program. Stephen Ellis revised the route of his Sunday walk out from Carlons Farm for the party of two. The midweek walk, scheduled by Ian Rannard, did not go, due to problems with trains and to a lack of starters. The weekend of 23, 24 September saw Wilf Hilder out with a party of 4 among the wildflowers in the Wollemi National Park. Phil Cohen had the 11 walkers on his Saturday walk in Ku-ring-Gai Chase wading through fields of blossom. Whether hay fever was the reason for two of the starters abandoning the walk mid way is not clear. There was no report for Ralph Penglis' Sunday walk in the cosmopolitan Eastern Suburbs but Michael Bickleys walk in the Marramarra National Park went OK with a party of eight the same day. The October long weekend saw Peter Miller cancel his Kanangra Walls to Carlon's walk and Jan Rannard also cancelled his Tarlo River National Park trip. Maurice Smiths Ettrema Wilderness walk suffered the same fate. Ken Cheng led his Sunday walk, on a warm day, from Hawkesbury River station to Berowra with a party of 11, less three dropouts along the way. Rumour has it that Jim Calloways trip from Engadine to Heathcote had a party of 4 but no other details were available. ' Wilf reported a pleasant day for the party of 6 on his midweek walk Re- circumnavigating Port Jackson on Thursday 5" Qctober. Ever fascinated by urban artifacts they managed to locate a feature named Bolivia Bridge but did not approach it closely for some reason. The weekend of 6, 7, 8 October was the start of Roger Treagus Great River walk The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 Page 3 along the Wollondilly and Hawkesbury. There were 3 plus 5 plus 2 people on the walk which seemed to encounter a series of delays, mostly associated with food or refreshments of various sorts. Henry Roda led 12 starters on his car camping weekend in the Wollemi. Conditions were warm with numerous orchids. The walk went well apart from a touch of confusion after lunch on the Saturday. There was no report for Peter Kayes Saturday walk in Brisbane Waters National Park but Tony Crichton reported 9 and pleasant conditions for his test walk in Megalong Valley on the Sunday. Bill Capon led a party of 5 in hot rather scratchy conditions on his Wentworth Falls to Kedumba Pass Sunday walk. Thus ended the walks reports for the month. There was no Confederation report for the meeting and the conservation report was somewhat out of sequence. There was no general business, so after the announcements the meeting closed at 2141. ADVANCE WALK NOTICE JULY 2001 Expressions of Interest are invited For a Willis Walkabouits trip to the NT's Litchfield Park and the Gregory River, July 15-28. 2001. Both areas are interesting and (comparatively) little visited, Litchfield with wonderful creeks and gorges, and Gregory with, among other attractions, purple crowned. finches which are probably unique to this area. Although graded "exploratory", the walks should not be too difficult as we shall only be carrying 7-day packs. Generous discounts apply to early bookings. Please contact Jacqui Calandra at: jamajo@acon.co.au or phone (02 ) 9476 6538 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO ADDRESS AND/OR PHONE NUMBERS The club membership list is maintained by the membership secretary Barry Wallace. To ensure that the list is as accurate as possible and that you do not miss out on the magazine, the waiks program and other club documents, Barry requests that you send advice of any alterations or corrections of your address and/or phone number directly to him. Letters can be sent to Barry at our mail box: PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1565 COMMITTEE JOTTINGS The main business of the last committee meeting was approval of the walks and the social programmes before printing and issuing them. Caroi and Andrew have again each produced good programs which take account of the hot weather experienced at this time of the year. Club Insurance cover and the cost of ambulance/helicopter recovery was discussed and further clarification on these matters will be sought. f would welcome hearing from members with personal experience of air or land ambulance rescue or retrieval. Ed State Opposition's Peta Seaton's controversial draft discussion paper. Liberating The Environment " was also discussed. Members are invited to attend the regular committee meetings as observers or to submit ideas to improve the club for discussion. ooog NEW CLUB MEMBERS Two new members were accepted by the committee at its meeting in November. Bob Smythe 65 Bruce Rd Glenbrook 2773 Stephen Adams, Brookvale bus depot Brookvale 2100 Both are very experienced walkers and we hope to see them soon leading club walks. AMBULANCE/HELICOPTER INSURANCE COVER FOR CLUB MEMBERS Members are advised that they should ensure that their personal medical insurance policy has adequate cover for the use of ambulances and rescue helicopters. The current club policy has a maximum Medical cover of $2,000 and, when charged, ambulance hire can be between $300-$600 and helicopter rescue about $7000. Our insurance policy is being investigated to clarify the true coverage position but meanwhile it is recommended that your personal coverage be checked. co |Page 4 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 VALE THOMAS WHITE - MOPPETT 1912-2000 As reported in the October magazine Tom Moppett an early member of the SBW died in early September. Tom, an enthusiastic skier, was introduced to the Sydney Bush Walkers by his future wife Jean Trimble, whom he met at The Chalet in 1933. He joined the club in February 1935. Throughout the 1930s, Jean and Tom.did many epic ski tours and bushwalking trips together and with parties of friends. Together with Jean and Oliver Moriarty, another early member, they did an epic 16 day winter crossing from Kiandra to Kosciusko, most of which was in severe blizzards. Jean was the first. woman to do the crossing Both Tom and Jean were very active in SBW affairs Tom acting as treasurer in 1938 and secretary between 1939 and September 1940 when Jean took over the job. After the war Tom was president of SBW from 1947 till 1952 and was conservation secretary in 1957. Jean and Tom were married in October 1940 and in 1941 Tom joined the RAAF, training in Australia and Canada before moving to the UK in 1942 for training in bomber aircraft with the RAF. During WWII Tom's Lancaster crew flew 61 bombing missions over enemy territory. Discharged in 1946 Tom was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and bar for "his exceptional navigational skills, courage and devotion to duty which contributed to the many successes achieved by his crew against some of the enemy's major targets." While stationed in Canada and the UK Tom walked in both countries and went rock climbing on Mt Snowdon. A list of Tom's conservation activities would fill a page but despite this busy schedule Tom started two | importing businesses, British Merchandising (china & glassware) and United Radio Distributors (audio equipment). He managed and operated these businesses until his retirement in the early 70s. Jean and Tom had two daughters, Nancy (married to Robert Pailin) born in January 1947 and Kate in March 1950. They endowed both girls with a broad life education which included: bushwalking, skiing, camping, map reading, an interest in people and places and a love of nature. Tom's keen interest in conserving Australia's natural heritage led him to become a long time treasurer and later president of the National Parks Association. Tom was made an honorary member of the NPA in 1967. He was a foundation member of the Australian Conservation Foundation and served on the Fauna Protection Panel for 9 years from 1958 becoming its Deputy Chairman . He successfully fought to conserve alpine - and coastal areas and to limit sand mining and undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the production of Tom Lewis's National Park Act. Tom and Jean's family's conservation activities even extended to the production and sale, from home, of Christmas cards. Proceeds from which possibly contributed to the saving of parts of Bendethra Jean and Tom explored Australia all of their lives and after Tom retired in the early 70s they extended their travel internationally, visiting: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Nepal, India, USA, Canada, Japan and Europe In 1976 Jean and Tom moved into the house they had built on a bushland block at Medlow Bath in the-Blue Mountains. They lived there until 1997 when they moved to Endeavour assisted living apartments at Springwood. Tom had a personality that everyone who met him found attractive which would have assisted in the many conservation negotiations in which he was involved, The sympathy of all those who knew Tom and Jean is extended to Jean and to her extended family. KK HH - TheSydney Bushwalker Noyember 2000 _ Page5S | GROWTH, RENEWAL, AND RE-ENERGIZING A MATURE ORGANIZATION An information/discussion evening with Elyssebeth Leigh has been arranged by Eddy Giacomel. 8pm TUESDAY 28 November at the clubrooms Elyssebeth is a lecturer at UTS in adult learning with a particular interest in organizational behaviour and business management theory. She is on the boards of two international bodies facing similar challenges as SBW. She is interested in sharing her present knowledge about effective renewal strategies and options for volunteer organizations. She is also interested in working with volunteer and social bodies in developing their ideas and potential in a rapidly changing world. Elyssebeth has been a casual walker all of her life and was a member of a bushwalking club some years ago. She will be joining us for dinner at the Thai restaurant next to the clubrooms prior to the function from about 6:30pm. All SBW members and prospective members ar invited to attend. Bookings are not required. If you require further information please call me on 9144 5095 or send an email to giacomel@tpgi.com.au. Eddy Giacomel Please note that this is not an official club function and that it is to be held on Tuesday 28" and not on a normal meeting night. Ed =, GARDENING TOOLS NEEDED FOR Foie COOLANA Patrick James: extends his thanks to those SBW members who responded to his request for the donation of pressure lamps for use at Coolana functions. Patrick is now seeking donations of gardening tools particularly picks and mattocks. If you can help give Patrick a ring on 9904 1515. NEW SERIES 3. _1-25:000 MAPS As advised in the October magazine the Land & Property Information unit (L.P.1) of the NSW Government (formerly the L.I.C which incorporated the former CMA) are currently issuing Series 3. 1:25 000 maps. Below is a list of the maps already available. Other maps in other scales are also being updated but the 1:25 000 (listed below) is the most popular series used by walkers. The new maps use the GDA94 Datum which for practical purposes is identical with the WGS34 Datum used by the USA and which is in most GPS receivers. The new maps also have the old AGD66 Datum lines printed in grey. As yet, the L.P.I has soade no provision for listing new maps on its Website - WWW. ipi.nsw.gov.au which also contains other'interesting information ISSUE DATE MAPNAME MAP NUMBER 8-Dec-99 BANDA BANDA 9335-18 8-Dec-99 KOKOMERICAN 9334-4N 8-Dec-99 YARRAS 9835-28 8-Dec-99 KEMPS PINNACLE 9335-IN 8-Dec-99 SEAVIEW 9335-3N 2-Feb-00 RALFS PEAKE 9335-38 2-Feb-00 KANGAROO FLAT 9335-48 2-Feb-00 BIRDWOOD 9335-2N 2-Feb-00 COMBOYNE 9334-1N 2-Feb-00 GREEN GULLY 9335-4N 2-Feb-00 BOBIN 9334-18 18-Apr-00 PORT MACQUARIE -9435-2S 18-Apr-00 LAURIETON 9434-18 18-Apr-00 KERRIKI 9334-48 18-Apr-00 LORNE 9434-48 18-Apr-00 GRANTS HEAD 9434-N 7-Jun-00 KATOOMBA 8930-18 7-Jun-00 WAUCHOPE 9435-38 28-Jun-00 KEMPSEY 9435-1N 28-Jun-00 JAMISON 8930-2N 28-Jun-00 JENOLAN 8930-3N 28-Jun-00 TINEBANK 9435-48 28-Jun-00 BALLENGARRA 9435-3N 28-Jun-00 KUNDABUNG 9435-18 1-Aug-00 SHERWOOD 9435-4N 1-Aug-00 BYABARRA 9434-4N 1-Aug-00 TELEGRAPH POINT 9435-2N 1-Sep-00 DURRAS 8926-18 1 -Sep-00 MOUNT WILSON 8930-IN 1-Sep-00 HAMPTON 8930-AS LSep-00 AVON RIVER 9029-38 1-Sep-00 CAMDEN _ 9029-4N 1-Sep-00 BROKEN BAY 9130-IN 1-Sep-00 MONA VALE 9130-18 1-Sep-00 KOROGOROPOINT 9535-4N 1-Sep-00 SPRINGWOOD 9030-48 1-Sep-00 BARGO 9029-3N i-Sep-00 APPIN 9029-18 1-Sep-00 OTTFORD 9129-48 1-Sep-00 BULLI 9029-2N 12-Oct-00 BONDI 9130-28 12-Oct-00 WILBERFORCE 9030-IN 12-Oct-00 WARRAGAMBA 9030-38 ? YANKEES GAP 2 ? PICTON 2 ? PUEN BUEN ? [Page 6 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 | SBW NOV- DEC - JAN SOCIAL PROGRAM Refer to the walks programs for full details_*** NOVEMBER 8pm Trekking Tours in China and SE Asia Talks/slides by Andrew Russell of Peregrine Adventures 8pm Norfolk & other . islands Talk/slides by Melanie Gorfinkel & Trish Clark from Pacific Unlimited Wed 224 Wed 29" DECEMBER Special. Sat 2 Barbeque at Jacqui Calandra's home 3 Nursery St Hornsby. From 6pm. *** BYO everything. Club will provide some extra drinks. RSVP 9476 6533 Wed 6" 6.30pm Committee meeting. Observers welcome Special. Fri 8" Pool party and BBQ from . 6pm Holland's home, 216C Quarter Session Rd Westleigh. 9484 6636 BYO everything. *** Wed 13" 8pm General Meeting Wed 20 8pm _ Christmas party at club. Bring a plate of food. Drinks provided Wed 27" CLUB CLOSED JANUARY CLUB CLOSED 6pm Picnic Balmoral Beach Southern end. BYO. contact Bill Holland 9484 6636 *** Rocks Pub Crawl *** 6.30 at Club rooms or 7pm at Lord Nelson hotel Millers Point 6.30pm Committee meeting followed by 8pm General meeting Wed 3" Wed 10" Wed 17" SYDNEY TRAILWALKER 2060 For those with masochistic tendencies by Richard Darke Surely there must have been an easier way to lose 4 kilos? Thats all 1 managed to shed in 2 months of training for and completing the second annual 100-km-within-48-hour Sydney Trailwalker, which took place from 26-28 May. OK, so how many readers have even heard of Trailwalker? I bet not many, because it is still getting established in Sydney, though I have no doubt it will become one of the premier endurance sports events here as the years go by. (Talking of endurance, I spent over an hour writing the first draft of this, but omitted to save the document, so here I am a few days later starting all over again!) Anyway, so whats the big deal with Trailwalker? Well, it all started twenty years ago in Hong Kong, when one of The Queens Gurkha regiments based there ran a 100km endurance training exercise involving teams of 4, all of whom had to complete a gruelling course in the mountains of the New Territories. This quickly evolved into a fund raising exercise to raise money in support of Gurkha charities, and was soon opened up to civilian teams raising money for Oxfam. Trailwalker has since spread to the UK, and aiso to Australia, where it is now established in Adelaide as well as Sydney, with participant teams securing pledges to raise money for Community Aid Abroad (Oxfam Australia). So it was that the four of us who made up team Infidelity (me & three very fit females, none of them SBW members) found ourselves lining up for the start at Hunters Hill High School at 10.00 am on a sunny day in late May, for a stroll up the Great North Walk to Brooklyn. - Plus some add-ons, to ensure we suffered over a full 100km. Team Infidelity, with $10,000 in pledges behind us, was targeting a time of 30 hours, the whole idea being to finish the event as a full team, with no drop-outs. Oh, and I should mention that the Gurkha team was targetingl4 % hours! The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 Page 7 | Our team training had started 2 months previously, with walks in The Royal, Heathcote, and Blue Mountains National Parks as well as along sections of the Great North Walk itself. It had its rewards, such as dawn starts & spectacular sunrises, night walking training, and planning with our invaluable support team of 4. Highlights along the way included seeing kingfishers on Co wan Creek, a fox, a kangaroo (or something big that bounced) in the dusk, and a number of snakes. (I never knew that an annoyed biack snake, seen from closer than a metre, could put on such a good display of flattening its neck like a cobra when in the strike position)! A Six Foot Track or a K to K would have been good training strolls for our Big Walk. Anyway, back to the start, and 140 teams took off after Pat Farmer had fired the gun. The Gurkhas were soon out of sight as they tore off. Within 1 km the first drop out occurred someone broke a leg. Checkpoint 2 at Thormleigh, km25, saw our team an amazing 2 hours ahead of plan. By km 33 we were beginning to pay the price. I for example had severe cramp in my calf muscle, but fortunately Checkpoint 3 at Cherrybrook saw podiatry students from UWS on duty, which sorted out various team muscle and blister problems. By 6.00 pm, we reached km 40 at Rosemead, near Hornsby. Here I made the mistake of pigging out to excess on some excellent pasta prepared by our support team, and so spent the next few hours feeling very nauseous. The trouble was, the further I walked, the more I needed food. But the more I thought of food, the sicker I felt not a good cycle to get into. Galston Gorge came & went by 9.00 pm the bastards made us go under the bridge (for safety) instead of walking over the road, which because the creek crossing was flooded meant we then had to walk in wet boots for the rest of the way. By 11.00 pm we had passed half way at Crosslands, freezing cold, being wet with dew & sweat in falling temperatures. By now I found that the good thing about blisters is that they take your mind off cramp. The good thing about feeling sick, is that it takes See Kakadu and the Kimberley at their lush, green, magnificent best. Come enjoy the wild rivers, gentle creeks, thundering waterfalls, carpets of flowers, spectacular storms, cosy rock shelters and the warm rains that make bushwalking in the tropical summer such a delight. We offer everything from fully accommodated trips fo major pack-carrying expeditions. Free brochure. Williss Walkabouts 12 Carrington St Millner NT 0810 |Page 8 The Sydney Bushwaiker. November 2000 _| your mind off blisters. But the track up to Mt Ku-ring-Gai in the dark (and by now it was raining) was slippery and hard to find lots of rocks, roots & stumps to stumble over, and step too. Not good for morale. By now my lack of food had reduced me to almost complete collapse, so it was a huge relief to stagger into Checkpoint 6 at km 62 at Mt Ku-ring-Gai Public School. By this time of course, the Gurkhas were across the finish line & tucked up in bed, while the second and third teams, Team Rogaine (a scratch team) and The Girls Team were almost home phenomenal performances all. But for us, 12 hours behind, some hot soup, a change into warm dry clothes, and a rest worked their magic, and we positively strode on down to Cowan Creek at Apple Tree Bay bathed in the light of a rising moon (the rain soon stopped) very beautiful. But that track along the shore of Cowan Creek to Waratah Bay and up to Berowra is a bugger in the dark after so many kms. All up and down, watch out, root/hole/tree stump/drop on right; step up 50cm here, down 40 cm there for what seems for ever. So Checkpoint 7 at Berowra was wonderful in the dawn light. The walk down to Berowra Waters is normally pretty easy, but the cumulative toll on muscles and feet meant that I at least was totally knackered, so breakfast served by our loyal (and still awake) support group at CP 8 by the ferry was fantastic - while we contemplated the last, and toughest 21 km of the walk. Those 3 climbs from Berowra Waters to Cowan, while making a lovely Sunday walk well known to SBW members, are very intimidating after already walking 80km in 23 hours. So that is when I was ready to go on: strike. But the thought of letting down team, sponsors, and myself hung over me. And the boost of a rest and breakfast, plus a cocktail of the remaining drugs in my first aid kit (namely 2 panadeine forte, one brufen, and a sudafed capsule), combined with a 100 calorie shot of Gu, all- conspired to con me into continuing. So instead of floundering, we ended going up those climbs like mountain goats! By CP 9 at Cowan, with a mere 13 km ahead of us, we knew we could all finish, and we fairly galloped down to Jerusalem Bay, and even up that stiff climb on the other side, leading to the fire trail and the run in to Brooklyn. And run in we did, because 400 metres from the end, we heard the thud of boots behind us. Another team with the audacity to try and overtake us. That was enough to spur us into a flat out dash for the line, and we just beat them off! Was it worth it? Well, we had the satisfaction of beating our target time, finishing in 28 hours and 50 minutes non- stop. We ended up 39" out of 140 teams, but because many of those teams ahead of us had drop-outs, we were 21 of the complete teams to finish intact. We were euphoric as we tried to down champagne and oysters, chips and beer in celebration! Would I do it again, after surviving a previous Hong Kong and now a Sydney Trailwalker? Im not sure. What I do know is that SBW, being Sydneys premier bushwalking group, should definitely enter a team next year. Its a great challenge, and in a good cause. Id certainly be prepared to advise an SBW team next year, whether or not I do it myself again. So who of you is up for the challenge? For details, lock up the website: www.caa.org.au/trailwalker, or give me a call. This is much more than an individual walk the challenge is to finish as a team (most dont) and to raise money for Community Aid Abroad, who hope to grow Trailwalker into its prime fund raiser in Australia. I should also mention the excellent work undertaken by selfless volunteers in marking the course, especially the difficult-to-follow overnight sections. No thanks then, to the purist? who put so much effort into removing every marker along Cowan Creek. This track may be obvious by day, but in the dark it is hard to pick out where the trail continues after creek crossings. The Army, SES, St Johns Ambulance, podiatrists and physiotherapists also put in a lot of much appreciated voluntary effort. The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 Page 9 | Infidelity team members were Richard Darke and non-SBW types Lesley Clarke, Breeda Kelly and Miriam Mott. The support team was comprised of SBW member Winnie Wu, Stuart Murray, Andrew Mortlock and David Solomon. doco A STRANGE ENCOUNTER A short fiction by Andrew Vilder On an overnight walk out of Carlon's, we were close to the place known as Davy's Camp, a sandy sweep on the right-hand side of the Cox's River. It was a stunning clear afternoon in late April, when the Easter rains had finished and the first breath of winter was sensed rather than perceived. We moved slowly through the young casuarinas along the smooth boulders of the riverbank in the cool shadow of Bluedog until we rounded a bend to find ourselves in a golden late sunlight. The faint breeze which we had felt earlier became stronger and began to swirl through the tree needles and carried on it downstream was . . . smoke. Not a lot, just what might. come from a campfire. We glanced at each other in dismay - It seemed that we would be sharing this stretch of wilderness with others. "It's probably the Scouts, knowing our luck," ventured Sarah. "No, I1 think it's just one bloke - look!" said Geoff, pointing through a gap in the scrub to a smail clearing some hundred yards ahead. And there he was, sitting easily against a fallen log gazing across the river. He had a small fire going amongst the stones, with what looked like a generous black billy suspended from a tripod of crossed poles. Nearby was a tent. We were talking soitly, and his back was tumed, so he probably wasn't aware of us yet. "Well, let's keep going," suggested Keith, our leader, I'm sure he doesn't bite." He still hadn't moved when we were quite close to him. He was wearing a weatherbeaten bushman's hat, and a khaki coloured long-sleeved cotton shirt with many pockets. This was in contrast to his legs, which were bare below faded grey shorts. Without boots or socks, he seemed oblivious to the cold, and to us. I think we all jumped when suddenly, he spoke, "Nice day for it, he intoned cheerfully. Only then did he turn around. He had a lined suntanned face, a shaggy brown beard, and startlingly blue eyes. He was smiling. "Certainly is," agreed our Geoff, dropping his pack, "after all that rain. Have you been camped here long?" "Got here an hour before you," came the reply, "and staying just tonight." "We are, too. We're hoping to find a decent campsite on this river soon." "Why don't you rest up for a bit here first, and have a cup of tea with me? Billy's just boiled." he said. This was an unexpected gesture of bush hospitality, and it would be rude indeed to decline his offer. Besides, a hot cuppa just now would be heavenly "Thanks, we'd love to. Keith spoke for all four of us, Genial as always, he immediately began introducing our little group. "And my name's Toby," finished the camper. As we made ourselves comfortable amongst the rocks and rummaged for our plastic cups, we took in the vision of our host and his surroundings. His tent was a little canvas A-frame, complete with hemp guy-ropes..A couple of stout fallen branches served for the poles, and I caught glimpse of a faded bedroll inside. His pack was vintage too, a canvas three- pocket model. Everything about his gear, although obviously in good order, was strangely old-fashioned, the sort of stuff one inherits from their grandfather as curios but never actually uses. Then there was Toby himself. He had one of those faces that made it almost impossible to place his age, even within a decade. I could see a few flecks of grey in his beard, but my guess was he couldn't have been over forty. He moved with an unhurried economy that suggested complete ease with himself and his surroundings, as he expertly retrieved the billy from its hook then swung it several [Page 10 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 _ time above his head to settle the leaves. I think we'd all heard about making tea that way. . Toby poured into our waiting cups, and into his own battered ename! mug. No sugar or milk were proffered, so like Toby, we took ours neat black, It was scalding hot, I sipped it slowly, and found it exquisite ~ smoky, strong and piquant. For several minutes we all savoured the brew in silence, it was that good. "Lovely tea. Do you usually walk alone, Toby?" enquired Sarah at length "Sure. Nothing lonely about the bush, you know. Cities are where people go to be lonely." "You're from Sydney, then?" asked Keith, after we'd considered this wisdom. Born in Grenfell, grew up in Sydney. Never went back to either place after the war." We exchanged curious looks. The war? Which one? Toby didn't look old enough to have been at Vietnam, let alone Korea. Ah, perhaps he means the Gulf war .. . some Aussies went there, didn't they? But I didn't think they actually saw any action. It was at this point I noticed that Toby's legs were badly scarred at the back, especially the calves. The wounds were healed over, but looked fairly recent. 1 must have been staring because Toby's eyes followed mine. "Some damage, eh?" he grunted, "my mates and 1 walked into an ambush. The enemy hit us with a Panzerfaust. I copped this and woke up in field hospital. The other guys are still out there in the desert." Embarrassed, I turned away and muttered an apology. Don't worry about it," Toby reassured us all with a grin. " Myself, I don't worry about anything, these days. So it was Desert Storm. Though what was this talk about a Panzerfaust? I was no expert, but wasn't that a German Word War Two weapon, some kind of grenade launcher? Well, who knows what the Iraqis had in their arsenal, and where they'd got it. Yet something about Toby didn't quite add up. I could see that Geoff also was uneasy with what he had just heard. He seemed to be mulling something over, before he spoke. "Tust out of interest, Toby, because I had a nephew in that war, which unit were you serving with?" Toby rubbed his beard for a moment, then said, "I was with the 16th Brigade in Libya. We gave Mussolini's jokers a proper hiding before we left, too. They shipped me home | after I got shot up, later in 41. Been bushwalking ever since." Geoff drew a deep breath, then slowly rose to his feet, and said, "Well, it's been a pleasure to meet you, Toby. Now time's getting on and we really should be making a move towards our campsite. My old bloke's eyesight's no longer up to pitching tents in the dark." This was Geoff's way. He could have demolished Toby's story there and then, for the guy had just served us a crock. if Toby had been Libya in '41, he'd be eighty in the shade right now. Even the best plastic surgeon in the world wouldn't have been able to turn him into the man we were all staring at now. And wouldn't he have started with those legs? Toby was either a shameless liar, or half nuts. More likely, the latter. Well, it was a free country and Toby could believe what he liked; at any rate we were not about to argue with a man who had just invited us into his own camp for tea. So, wishing him well, we left as quickly as we could without being rude. Maybe it was my imagination, but we were not hurrying just to reach camp before dark. We all seemed to have a strong inclination to put as much distance between Toby and us as was possible in the remaining twilight. I think he'd managed to unsettle all of us. A suitable grassy flat was reached in under half an hour, and by then it was torches out. That evening around the campfire our discussion centred, naturally enough, on Toby... For one thing, we had walked ali through this country for years, and had never even This is the new backpack from WE. The NEW RIVER. As you would expect, it is unmisiakably Wilderness Equipment. Every detail has had fo earn its keep in a development process spanning 20 years. If the picture could be iturned around you'd be looking aft the most comfortable and durable harness system there is. Which, of course, is a good reason not to make more than one or two subile changes. So what is really new? Look x down the list of special features. We've brought into play unique ideas we've been carrying oround for some time. They solve outstanding problems, ones you will quickly recognise from your own mountain and wilderness travels. Come and see the NEW RIVER and get an expert fitting at: Eastwood Camping acres: Centre 3 Trelawney Street Easiwood Telephone: 9858 3833 NEW RIVER An expedition-capacity pack available in the full range of WE sizes and harness configurations. Equipment eastwood camping centre Features: Detachable top cover teams wiih the hip-harness waisi-strap to carry it as a comfortable twin -compariment bum-bag. Main canvas bag extends to a dry-bag type roll top with two compression straps over. You can swim and raft with this pack, or use it in bivies. Leave the top cover arid base behind for absolute lightweight. Separate zip access into the expanding interior space of the top cover. Readily accessible flat pocket for laminated maps (comes with a_ thin PE cutting-board insert) Canvas back-pocket modules available. Nothing but canvas fabric in the seams of the bag. No webbing, no fouchrtape, no leakage pathways and simply zero stress points. Quick-release or standard side compression straps, all re- movable. Position the buckles where you wish. We've gone back to a simple touch-tape strap closure on the hip-harness. Unbreakable, durable and absolutely zero creep. Subtle shoulder harness suspen- sion. Soaks up the phase difference between hip and shoulder dynamics, tunable to the pack weight. Close fitting, removable base reinforcing attaching front and back. Leakage pathways in the main-bag seams eliminated; easy repair. | Page 12 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 heard of him until today. The area was simply. not that remote that he would not have been reported earlier. Where had he turned up from? So was he an outright nut, or just a confused hermit? Perhaps he was just having a joke with us? A prisoner on the run? By midnight, somebody had inevitably suggested: a ghost? We each had a different theory to explain him, but we all agreed on one thing - he'd made us the best cup of tea we'd ever tasted. Dooo 2001 SBW ELECTIONS Provision of a nomination form. Many club members would probably like to take a more active part in our club. We are a walking club and an important way to contribute is to lead and/or to participate in walks and other club social activities but by accepting a committee position for one or more years it allows one to contribute more directly and to help shape the club's future To assist interested people to assess the duties of the varidus committee positions a handbook has been compiled and is available for perusal from the New Member Secretary on meeting nights. To assist members to make a nomination, particularly if they will not be able to attend the general meeting next March, a nomination form has been inserted in this magazine. A person can apply for more than one position but can only occupy one so if you do apply for more than one position please number them in the order of your preference. Please return the completed form to: The Secretary The Sydney Bushwalkers Inc Box 431 PO Milson's Point 1565 NSW NZ Alpine Club Journals available. | Don Finch advises that Jack Higgs has a "very nearly complete set of NZ Alpine Ciub journals available free to a good home". Interested people can contact Jack at Phone: 9818 8969 2] BOOK REVIEW THE WOLLEMI PINE by James Woodford Published by Text Publishing reviewed by Alex Colley James Woodford, winner of the Eureka Prize for environmental journalism and the Michael Daley Prize for science journalism, has already familiarised the public with the story of the Wollemi Pine through his articles in the Sydney Morning Herald. The discovery of the tree was remarkable enough, though it had been seen by a party of bushwalkers, but its identification entailed dangerous helicopter assisted attempts to obtain its seeds, and research by leading botanists to establish its identity. It is a Dilwynite a member of the Araucariaceae family, which inclides the Norfolk Island, Hoop, Bunya and Kauri pines and although Dilwynia fossil remains proved that the species had existed for some 89 million years, until 2 million years ago most botanists thought it to be extinct. A few thought it might still be alive. Two genera of Araucariaceae were in existence, but the Wollemi Pine had characteristic not found in either of them. It required a great deal of research, based mainly on the formation of the seed, by leading botanists, to establish that it was another genus, which was named Wollemi nobilis after its location and its discoverer, David Noble. The Wollemi Pine is probably the most remarkable botanical discovery of modern times, but it is only one of the unique features of the Blue Mountains. Scientists writes James Woodford, say that visiting this world of forests, swamps, cliff lines and freezing streams is the nearest thing to seeing this continent when it was a land of dinosaurs rather than of kangaroos and emus. It is also one of the last places in the Sydney region where a visitor can see almost a full suite of the marsupial and monotreme fauna which set the continent apart from the rest of the world. For 70 years Myles Dunphy and his bushwalking friends and The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 Page 13 | successors in the wilderness protection movement campaigned for the preservation of the Blue Mountains. Woodford writes that there was a real chance that the Wollemi would be mauled by roadworks, coalmining, forestry or a dam to generate hydroelectric power. It had taken two centuries for people to come to terms with the reality that the best use for such a place was to do nothing with it whatsoever. In his book Blue Mountains for World Heritage, Geoff Mosley wrote: Keith and Benson list 65 significant species for the Katoomba map sheet. Forty three of these ar either rare or threatened according to the national list published by the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, while the remainder have botanical significance in terms of geographical distribution. Twenty of the 65 are endemic to the Blue Mountains. Only one plant Olearia oligsanthema is believed by Keith and Benson to be extinct. Since the declaration of the Blue Mountains, Kanangra Boyd, Wollemi, Nattai and Gardens of Stone National parks and the declaration of the Kanangra Boyd, Wollemi and Nattai wilderness areas, the Greater Blue Mountains are protected, but there is one further step in securing their protection. This is World Heritage listing, which acknowledges the gicbal value of the Mountains and makes it a Commonwealth, as well as a State responsibility; to protect the area. The IUCN has decided that eucalypts are the most valuable natural resource to justify listing, though Geoff Mosley, an ex member of the IUCNs Committee on National Parks and Protected Areas, wrote that the Mountains contain all the four features required for listing. These are: an outstanding example representing a major stage of the earths evolutionary history; an outstanding example representing significant on going geological processes; containing of superlative natural phenomena and significant cultural habitats. James Woodfords book demonstrates that the Mountains have much wider range of heritage qualities than the eucalypts to justify listing. Environment Australia have sent copies to the World Heritage Committee, which will consider the Commonwealths nomination during its meeting SS Merimbula wilderness National park / State forest Forest region Kilometres boundary ts] 59 100 rig g Eg GLE 2000 [ The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 Page 19 | HEAVY METAL GARBAGE by Keith Maxwell (BWR) The world is now overflowing with cheap mirrors - compact disks (CDs) of all kinds of music from head banger Garbage (it really is a group) to both kinds Country and. Western (to quote the Blues Brothers) or sample computer programs. Now mirrors are good things to signal aircraft and helicopters but need to be aimed to be effective. The problem is of course that aircraft always seem so obvious. They are only obvious because they are moving. When you freeze their motion into a picture all you get is a dirty speck. I have an excellent panoramic slide of Mt Cook taken while climbing Copeland Saddle. The great weather produced a clear picture spoilt only by a dirty speck. Ifthe plane is a speck how much smaller must I have been? Helicopters and light aircraft are always used first in fine weather to search for missing persons. They can be quick and cost effective from their ability to travel quickly to the search area and communicate via radio to ground search teams. With trained observers they are often successful but when there is tree cover their success rate is often quite low. Many years ago in a training exercise with Dick Smith, and his first helicopter, bushwalkers standing still in the Coxs River were not seen! In September 1999, in Cedar Creek, under Narrow Neck, the search helicopter was so close the missing bushwalker reported that he could strongly smell its exhaust fumes but still was NOT seen! Prompt identification will lead to early rescue. There are a number of ways to attract attention. You obviously need to be in an open an area as possible and use combinations of contrasting colour, shape & movement. The unusual often draws the eye to it. For example, in a sea of green eucalypts blue (or red) stands out. It is even more compelling when the blue is of a rectangular groundsheet pegged down. Altematively you could furiously wave your blue parka in all directions. Others jumping up and down with you is better again. Just pick an unusual combination of contrasting colour, shape & movement. On hazy days smoky fires are almost invisible and always difficult to maintain for that brief moment when the aircraft suddenly appears. To really catch attention, though, why not send a mirror signal, i.e. a flash of light into the aircraft. You will soon know if your signal was successful, as the aircraft will turn to get a closer look at you. But, how do you aim the mirror flash to hit the moving dirty speck (aircraft)? The hole in the CD makes it easy. Hold the CD (with the reflective side facing out) close to one eye and look at the aircraft through the hole. Now hold an arm out with a finger extended and track the aircraft across the sky. If you now catch the sun to flash onto your finger you must also hit the aircraft! To make high tech work you need to use some low tech. If you do get lost or are overdue how will the aircraft know where to fly unless you have left details of where and with whom you are going with close friends or relatives and told them when to expect you home. The basis of all searches is variations on retracing the last known movements of the missing persons. For your own safety you should be prepared for all possible weather conditions with adequate clothing, food and shelter. Fancy beacons and gadgets are not needed if you go adequately equipped along with first aid skills, good bushwalking skills and let someone know before you go (to quote a Victorian safety handout). So why not recycle one of these pieces of modern heavy metal garbage (CDs) into your rusksack as a solar powered, portable, long life safety beacon. *** MAGAZINE DEADLINES*** The December SBW magazine will be printed a week early and Copy for publishing should be received by me by Dec 6" Copy can be ledged by email to me at rraymond@ozemail.com.au or typed or on a 3Y2" PC floppy using any common word processing program. Ed. Woah Lee 4 ve Rat [Page20 The Sydney Bushwalker November 2000 _ PARK ENTRY PASSES As advised in the October magazine. Commencing on Nov lst 2000 changes are occurring to charges for parking and camping in parks administered by the NP&WLS. The easies solution to future parking problems is to purchase either a one or two year pass which gives entry to: 1Yr, 2.Yr 1. All country parks $40 $70 2. A single country park $20 $35 3. Sydney & beyond except the KNP $60 $105 4, All parksinc. KNP $80 $140 It should be notedthat these charges are for parking in the park. They are not levied on pension concession card holders and on certain other individuals and groups or if you are simply driving through the park CAMPING FEES The previous 30 separate camping fees have been reduced to five categories. Category Aduit Child (16 & over)(Under 5 free) 1. No charge No charge 2. $3 $2 3. $5 $3 4. $7.50 $4 5. $9 $4.50 For more information contact the NPW&WLS on 1300 361 967 or visit their web site: www.npws.nsw.gov.au PACK FOR SALE MACPAC 'RAVINE' PACK The pack is in as-new condition and is less than three years old. Contact: Fazeley Read on 9909 3671 ney The Bush Music Weekend We a at Coolana Si fe November 4th and Sth reported by Bill Holland Rain and storms in Sydney did not deter twenty or so club members from attending our bush/folk music weekend at Coolana. In any case, the skies over Kangaroo Valley were cloudy but only a light shower on Saturday morning eventuated. Six of us were there on Friday and erected tarpaulins over the river flat area just in case, but Saturday evening was shower free. The music was first class. John and son Chris alternating on banjc, guitar, tin whistle and button accordion teamed up with Bob Hodgson on harmonica (several of them!) to keep us entertained throughout the evening. Not only instrumental music - John and Chris provided us with folk songs and amusing ditties. Members added yarns and poems. We started happy hours at 6 pm and nearly ~ all went to bed after midnight. As usual, Coolana looks great. The camping area, large enough to hold a couple of hundred campers was like mown grass with only a few weeds. Some campers had a view of the river, warm enough for swimming. A major attraction was completely unplanned as the crowd gathered around in the evening and next morning to watch a mother wombat ushering her baby outside their home perhaps for the first time. NEXT MONTH Corsica by Brian Hart Dining out in Provence by Tom Wenman Kossie to Corryong 1945 by Jim Somerville Cats by Alex Colley FUTURE ARTICLES Gardens of Stone by Oliver Crawford Ku-ring-gai rambling by Phil Cohen oooo Why dont you write an article for Christmas and make your editor happy?