SBW Magazine & History Project

Since arriving in this country I have managed to see a fair amount of the place and, besides visiting London quite a few times have spent a week on a farming property in Yorkshire. I have also spent some little time in and around Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Recently I spent a week in and around Glasgow and was able to make a trip up into the Scottish highlands as far as Loch Lomond. I was fortunate in that the Highlands were under snow during my visit and a good time was had by all.

I am glad to see quite a number of members are becoming interested in snow and several talk (I really mean write but have no doubt they also ta1k a lot) like experts. Good thing. I'm all for it. By the way I thought Bert Whillier's story of his involuntary snow trip to Kanangra a delightful effort. Did you see the article on Kosciusko and thereabouts by someone named Hall in Walkabout? A good article I thought, but I take a dim view of his remark that the pre-war skiers only followed the main tracks. Just the same I wouldn't mind a look at even main tracks - its far too long since I saw them. Since last August or thereabouts walking, cycling and photography have been out for me. Have spent leaves in London looking around and seeing a few shows. However am beginning to look away from the city now and start counting films. Unfortunately will have only three week leave between now and 3rd September. Have two very pleasant weekends off recently. One to Oxford - had a very interesting wander round the colleges and the other was a visit to relatives at Stafford The latter weekend I hitch-hiked the whole week-end costing only 4/2.

Very glad to have your latest airgraph (2/3/44) as continuance of “bits and pieces”. Have I mentioned receiving the souvenir of Annual Federation Reunion. A splendid idea. I see my old cobber Jack Hunter there - “Smiled, giggled and chortled”! The R.R.C. have lost an ardent walker when Nev Bruce passed away suddenly. A decent chap was Nev. It is splendid to know that Bill Cawood is at last home - bet he can't get his rucksack and boots on quickly enough, I'll do the same myself. Too bad some police spotted Vic and Peter at North Era. Good to know that Era will be at last preserved for us and posterity. I read yesterday in our “News Letter” that a reserve around Kosciusko has been set aside forever. Contrary to my expectations this winter has been very mild and short; fall of snow only whilst in Hampstead London. At beginning of March was lucky to get up to Glasgow seeing the lovely Lochs and Ban Lomond country, 1ike to climb there next summer. Visited Ayr and Robert Burns home at Allaway, beside picturesque Edinburgh. “Ops” have been Berlin 15/2/44, Stuttgart on 20/2/44, Augsburg 25/2/44, in March Stuttgart 15th, Frankfurt on 18th and 22nd, Berlin 24th. Will write again soon.

It's about time I replied to your welcome letter of the 2nd inst. which I received on the 4th. I've been kept busy lately, being engaged on printing work, besides having plenty of correspondence to answer - so please excuse this delayed reply. Thanks very much for sending the “Walkabout” which came last Wednesday and which was most interesting especially with the fine photographic blocks. Also received the current Walks programme and the Annual Meting circular which my father re-directed from home. Regarding my brother Max's present address, I regret to inform you that his address is temporarily unknown to me and is undecided, owing to a change of unit. I think that the best thing for me to do, under the circumstances, is to send any literature, kindly sent by the B.S.C. on to Max when I've finished reading it. etc.

May I crave space in the “Letter Column”, of your Journal to refer to three matters of interest appearing in the April issue of The Sydney Bushwalker, which I have just received?

They are:-

I should like to support Mr. David D. Stead's remarks in his letter of 10/3/44 apropos the article “Grey Day at Era” by M. Bacon, and the incorrect spelling of the various wild flowers referred to therein.

This is, as Mr. Stead says, a very important matter, more particularly having regard to the wide circulation of the Club Magazine. Such a Journal often becomes a document of reference and it is in my opinion most essential that any matter appearing in it should be as correct as possible. The same could be said of the Club's Programme of Walks, in which frequently place names are very incorrectly spelt. In this regard, I brought the matter before the Club some years ago and made the suggestion that Mr. Stead now makes, that a small Committee might be appointed to read through “Technical Articles”, as he puts it, but my suggestion was that the Walks Programme should be carefully perused by someone experienced in the correct spelling of Place-names, before the programme went into print. I feel sure that Mr. Stead's well-meaning reminder will be taken in the right spirit by those concerned and will have the desired result, at the same time have the effect of drawing attention to the desirability of having Place-names correctly spelt also.

Hearty congratulations to Ray Bean for his “temerity” in bringing this matter under notice. I concur in all he has to say and as a Foundation Member of the S.B.W., would make an appeal to all, young and old alike, to remember that the Club is after all a Recreation Club and surely it is not to much to expect that sympathetic and courteous consideration should be extended by all to all.

I would refer all interested to a pamphlet available on application to the “Wm. Angliss Food Trades School” Melbourne, Vic., (associated with, I understand, the Technical College) for some very interesting information on this subject and that of a simple home-made Dehydrator.

I am, etc.