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194612

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THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER. A monthly Bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, c/ Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown Street, Sydney. No. 144 DECEMBER, 1946. Price 6d. .1 ,r ./- CHRISTMAS ISSUE. IJJ c714.A, CONTENTS. “End. of the Mountain Quest!' “Bona Dean Christmas Party , Social Secretary “Escape” ….,.”Skip” Sidelights oft Walkers …, Nonsense Evolution of a Residence - Illustration 4Garrawarra Working Bee“ 4 ,..,….”Trouper“ “Steamed Pudding Specialist ….”Gourmet” “The Rear View” ……. Ted Constable “The Tuross from Bodalla” “Prolix” “First Descent of Clear,H11/”…..o.Flashback It's Gpodmans . “Christmas is a Loathsome Thing”..,Ray Kirkby “A Review of 'Australian Wild Life' ”..Alex Colley What has IQ, dy Got Now? r'n t ` \: to Page 2, 3. 4. 5. 6. DD.\ 11. —, 15. 17. ,/ END OF THE MOUNT litTEST - by Bona Deal. To all in life's ;I:_ay sprin{A-time Is joy tnat Time will furl - The girl who holds the mirror, The youth who holds the girl. The joy of youth and beauty, The zest of health and strength, And academic honours - They all must ass at lenth And you? You'choSe-the mountains, I The ,qusnlands and 'the comp,'. The joy of:tomer i,ng s ummits ,knd long _long days atramp.. I You grandly tpouht your pastime .Was 'better than the reat. 'Twos -Only better ,really If 'drospe d at Times. Jlehest.' 'Tis true. a, trifle early Time turns the page for you, But this means longer, lifetime Of higher climbs to do. And heirAhts of mind and spirit Are fairer far to climb Than any earth-formed mountain You trod in life's sweet 'prime. So close the alpine journal And dry the furtive tear, The future is not empty, Nor is it dull and drear. And old familiar thountains Will gain an added glow, When inner sight lends beauty To light their gleaming snow. 3. CHR1STY,=',S : Ls th3 2roverbiE1 “little bird” whis,pered to you about our XMAS C3balet Party on the 17til Doc..,'mb3r and wilat u good ti you're going to h3ve….for of course you'll be there. We are going to celebrate in the lovely Reception Room overlooking the park on the 3ra floor of CUSA House in Eliz-9bath St. with lots of windows for cool breezes and we le:No the dress to your on discretion. You will be solved a luscious supper of poultry and ham and accompanying good thipga and e 3-piece band will play your fvoutite numbers fromr8 ls clock. There will be lots of novpltias all for 7/6 but bJfore you groan here's a surprise- YOU OnT LAY-BY your entertainment. Suircly-/- a week isn't Eoing to deter you from such an evening of entertainment but -the number of guests is limited so contact your Soci:1 Secretary and book a ,table. Pelh-Dds you have a friend or two who might join as. The tables tAco i,ht people by the way. \e,, would like all money to be psi:di by the 6th December to facilitate arranoments and you will get your ticket in the form of receipt. So book early and avoid dis;ppointmont. Let us 12-)vo yoUr full co-operation and so make the night an outstanding success. KID STAKES: The S.B.W. Mlternity Derby runs on apace. You may now congratulate the proud parents: To Dot and Ira Butler, a daughter. To Alan and Audrey Whitfield; ditto. One proud mother stood before The Exhibit in the Health Week exaibition, and virs heard to remark to her companion: “The Bushwalkers! Oh,' Bob's in this. He's a guide. He taks the lead.” Wise Child: “Let's play S. B. W. Dumb Child: “What's tht?” Wise Child: “Follow the Leader.” ESCAPE As slowly gathers lig ht of rising day To show this traveller o'er the ancient way, Its rifqhtful owners deep instincts obey And life begins again. The traveller to his burden turns-once more, Yet feels he not the load upon him, for Departed is the labour, worry, war - And he is not of men. The timeless orb keeps to its timeless road, And timeless time makes heavier his load; But still he feels it not. (Time is his goad, For timeless is he too.) Not then of men, but yet of men is he? With pompous vainness strives he thus to be. This prodip_31 from nature tries to free Himaelf from self, and you And as he wanders on, outwards unheeding, Inwards calm and reverence lie breeding, Growing, overwhelming man Ad leading E'en 'gainst his will. Then brightness softly leaves this traveller's skies; Life slowly stops as light upon life dies, On nature's floor the weary wanderer lies - Man is of men still. 5. Sideli.'Ihts on VValkers– “Ah, love, could thou and I with fate conspire To prasp this sorry s6heme of things entire…” Omar Khayyam 'sums up the President. at E General_lEeeting. . “Every herb., from flower to fruit,' And every plant, from leaf to root”… need I mention Clem?. “Befits', boots, boots, boots”,..The Prospective goes up Solitary. “Frailty, thy:ni-ame is -VqomanI”….did someone murmur, “Two men, to every girl. And when Shakespeare wrote, ”.a long-tongued, babbling was he thinking of the official Reorter? CAN YOU IMAGINE: Dorman going li0A-Weight? Phil gall in love? — LeydPn and Cosgrove in agreement? Members on a Te st Walk? Norma Barden in the led? 'Olaude cooking? Jenny struck dumb?. Christa,in a pnib? Or Roley with a mo? DID YOU KNOW. ….0+11….110.10111111 adisallimiaIP That a member got a sglinter, and the post feEtored? That a skeleton at Era,,,rumoured to be that of a Pros:Jective who ate stam..ed pudding cooked'by a member, was sold to University forstwo pounds? ,Look after your bones – they represent hard cash. That Clem Hallstrom VII/v a LJho ithordscont wazat2h? And him tee-total, too? That a Prospective recently booked the Leader's breakfast? Imagine that!, . That a walk last monthwas patronised exclusively by womaz? hokad thio be -callada hens' convention? -…, ' ' i,e7 e/ 1:',., ,…– I. ..1:o'-',.,-. t., i I, –,,,,1-4 I” Fr? /..,./,,,.: J I.. - ,o, k ., , ' '2, , ..– , rtA? 1 .n…..if ,, –……….,,…, ' 41f ti>1 —'- - 115= ': J., , 4 , r,,,-.3 r ' Z.. r',:::-… … r …. 0. ,.., r kt I- 1, i “It, '..1: , , 6 1,14.. 7e. ..” ,,, i…14,9i, . ; ':. , - S, \ \ \ ,$).\ .\ 77 ' ..–..—…._… ,— li ,.. . /L . li

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1 , q_AW1 4 ) f ':11r iirl:t r)4(114 r i..”ntet . . _ 7 Garrawarrs Working Baez by “Trouper.” Everyone was there, of course. Me, I come trundling down the hill, late on Sunday morning, delayed by h:?ving t'Lken the wrong tr?ck. Th) others went ovbr the oliff 'and down by some rode -ttochnent, but not me. At bbttom of said rope wa's s pile of floor-bo?rds,to be gar:tpd through muck and mud to the scene of construction. No, not me – I went the Long'. vv round. Down by the bottom of the trick, I saw en apprirition: lurching,. pair of shorts, stumbling pair of legs, a billowing blouse, cnd a banginf and. _clattering emanating from two huge planks of timber. Yes, the floortords. To my improper and entirely involuntary shriek 'of laughter, the 9pdarition turned – a face, with long ITr fPlling over it. Gosh l o womvn. Unknown to me, so must be a prospective. Ten yards further – two more girls bouncing a..liong under floorboards, No, no – the fl,00r-boards were doing the bouncing. More Prospectives4 There then smote upon my ears a sound of hammering, nd in my telepathic brain rang curses. Hm! – men. More Prospects? Then did I see a mole form upon an upper member of what-they called “the '1101Df,” belting into a hunk of iron like a veritable demented hen burrowing fox wotms. Bob EaStoe kill a Member at lastI Imagine the scene – Pros,dectiVes wielding tool 8 with all the zeal of eager youth; and here and there n Member, smoking; A tall, slim being greeted mo with,-“Hiya, Kid.” NaturllY, from the familiarity of the greeting, I must know the being. Yet the only clues I had were shape, for all semblance of face WPS blotted out by splashes from the tne-inch brush of creosote he/she liwis wielding. “Hiya, Frankenstein”, I. called b.?ck quite innocently. Intrigued, I enquired of the nearest bystander (a Member naturally – all the Prospectives were working), - but he also was nonplussed, and subjected me to a lengthy soliloquy: “Arthur– up there, the one smoking; John Connor - over there;'- Jess - that one; Doug - eating; Alex - talking to Dorothy; add do on….There's only Hilmrl left. Ohl why, of course; it's Hilm5,.” I retracted the Frankenstein. Just what-heppened next is quite obscure, until tilat moment when 1 found myself sitting back, sucking a peinful thumb, and myself for mishitting, only to hoar apologies in my ear. Now, I ask you - a bloke doesn't mind missing the nail nnd hitting his thumb, really; but when 1 bloke misses the nail and clonks someone else's cioponthlge, is thr,t cricket? There next appeared, from the North End, a pale-skinned, dyed-inthe wool, obviously lounge-type Shack-ite (I'll mention no name - he wouldn't print it anyway) who forthwith departed Up The Hill (leaving ht o hammer behind., mark you) for more floor boards. A half-hour and he re-appaved - nor 210.0r1ng…. ,game lengthy tale he told of a long, 8 hot, fruitless climb when all the boards were down. Now, why didn'-t I think of that one? All this time, there had been great cursing and gnashing of chattering teeth upon the roof. Wondering why anyone should gnash his teeth upon the roof, I looked up. Here was an amazing thing: they were ripping the sheets of iron off, not laying them on: Enquiry found the angWer! Peter Pride it was, who introduced some real Scientific Planning into the job, For a solid hour, he harangued the elements and us upon the necessity for a wellthoughtout Plan in such a thing as a roof. But is it scientific to nail the iron so that the water pours into the hut, in lieu of off it? Dot Vincent lent a real home touch, in more ways than one. A sponge cake, no less, out neatly into slices, one for everyone, except mn I always was lucky. It caused-me some curiosity as to how she was able to maintain such charm as she always does in the bush, only to be informed by a feminine coworker that last night's Storm would have ripped the bottom out of any woman's face unless she spent it un4er an iron roof. Hml. Why can't I add a shack to my sexappeal? The day wore on, and my energy *ore down (evading work at a Working Bee is more strenuous than any Test Walk), so in the shade of some trePs far removed from the activities, I sought slumber. But the hammering wouldn't cease, so that.I had perforce to return to tha scene of ops. And lo: the throng had dwindled to four, with Members outnumbering the Prospective, 3 to 1:1: John Wren, however, held his own, being a self-constituted machine saw, pneumatic rivettln., and power hammer in one. At last, when the sun had sunk behind the hill, and birds had gone to rest, the busy quartet stood back with a sigh – the roof was up, and the floor was down. Their work was done – until the Working Bee for the walls to go on'. “Question not, but live and labour ” Yes, there's work to be done there, yet: - –.1, 1.- “… Subscribers please note that Magazine subserlptions will become due on let February next and should be paid befor e that datEcto make sure you receive your copy. Subscription rates for 12 months are: Copies held in Club till called for — 6/. Copies posted 7/6. Pay auloGoriptiona to Jean Harvey now. The Bush Walker Annual is on sale for 1/6d. Post one to your friends for Christmas. 9. Steamed Pudding Specialist. by”Gourmet“ I walk through hills and valleys green, Eat meals I curse with more than verb; But nothing can on earth compare With Era Puading, cooked by Herb. He wanders round the northern vale With battered billy, fork and spoon: An egg from here, some fruit from there – A mixture that would make-one swoon. He mixes custard with the egg – A mixture thin and smooth as silk – The aged fifty-fifty mode: One egg to one gallon of milk. This pudding was not meant to eat (It should be fed unto the toads) For after entering your turn, It gathers force and then explodes. Recuperating from the meal, Each ache and ;ain must have a rub, I cry aloud above my groans, “Just how did he get in the club??” .11dOld~SIOINI11!PM.IMEN/MINIIIMO. Question Time in the House. by “Skip” Oh Sandfly, what doeth on me sit As whacketh I with missing hit At itching spot where last you bit, Are you he or she or it? As steady flow from lips I stem The answer comes to inc - it's them! Kiddies' Christmas Treat. Men wanted! – to Se0 that the kids don't drown. Women wanted! – to see that the kids son't starve. Remember that Rene Browne neeas your aid on Sun Dec. 22nd. Girls to prepare the meals, and men to 4114y games and supervise swimming. k1:17:4,?.. - \ 1- 4 7X ' ) ,…–44”). li…. ,,, , .. -…. 11.1. /If '–,t,.. -,::,'“ii\i, \I ),./1 (0.1 ( , ,11\\., ,, I. \ ,,,,,…,…R tr,..-:,- -;) .4iilit .,,,,,,,-7.–;\\,;)-1,,o .,…. ….- .,… …., ;,….-_,.::: 7:::…,.,j.,,:sL2…,671\1.1,-…,) …..::
'4 r. -..,..11,74-..,,,g2i….–,&:.,..-cio, :. Ni, :72.. iz…… :…p……-… …. 1…4 ., ..'ef:I:i!:,.1;”., 1….,,c-.W. , ,.,. /;;:,…,…,N.' ' '… l ' ';n4.- 4: -r pip,,,,…,t5-=1.-._,..p,.,,,,,,, 2:,,,,…, - , :-..,….. ..,.. _:…44 ,. / … - & . ' 1 ….. ; .!..i II '-i. 1,-, - - i 10 i 0, 64 .“_”( _o s-r p t4. t- E: vrc- KE,44.c.-hEp Ti44. ; nk, - IS MOST CHARACTER I $T1G L OF BUSIMALKERS \ \ 4111C-4:0 T4-1117 NEW PROSPECrIVE WI-rH THE oripERsLuNQ RuCKsACK A PP FROM UCKSACK THERES NOT muC-14 OF TI wEiqJ41–L1FTER TYPF SE1,1 r1Koti BEHIND -4111.1“ THIS CAK DoVESLE-1305ME: EFFECT 15 AcHENED E 17)-1)14P Gila., WEARS )+ER RUCKSACK )41QH REAR VIEW OF Any8opy Golt44 OVER CARLOW.- H. EA Oki WINPY 111 AFTER SEEir44 WALKERS ItI THE R14114 OUT51PERS ARE INCI-INEVP TO Minx THAT TNE/R LE4S go Akirwsr OP To THEIR NECKS AND - OF COURSE INE ALL KNOW THE qua woo BENDS ovjR TRE CArtT1). RE I. 11. THE TUROSS FROM BODALLA By Prolix. Bodalla, the source of some of our best cheese is 216 miles. from Sydney on the South Coast, rather pretty, quiet and its people typi-, cal of the kindly folk who form our generous country people. One Sunday evening in June, 1944, found Prolixia (newly acquired and myself endeavouring to obtain a prepared meal in Bodalla after, a long days travel by rail, and road from Nowra - long yet in very interesting scenery and winding through fine forests, grand spotted gums being particularly impressive as we averaged about 50 m p.h. between stops. Darkness had about completely replaced the day as we snooped along the dimly lit street to find food waiting for us in a small store-cum-cafe.. These folk provided a real feed straight from the kitchen - eggs, toast, bacon etc. etc. with inevitable cup(s) of tea. Very unbushwalker-like we slept in Bodalla Hotel in order to arise in' time for a possible lift per truck. Enquiries of our host the previous :evening. had resulted in an early approach to the milk truck driver, (during his breakfast), who could take us part of the way. After making:his aoquaintance and receiving consent to travel we returnod -to collect some bread, meat and other essentials and dumped thewbeeide his large VS truck. A much smaller trUok of older vintage. then, drew up and conversation with its owner changed our plans as he would be only too happy to take us right into NerrIgundah-; Thus, in typical style we were soon on our way in clear frosty ,Morning. Our first real glimpse of the Tuross River came Shortly after our departure, at the-.crossing:below Eurobodalla and prior to ascending the range. The Tuross is typical of most coastal rivers, fairly wide, 1?Prdered by casuarinas an d.wide strips of gleaming sand wh14h. also beds the river making it shallow and Wider than would be the case without this evidence Of man's destructiveness. 7

LikeWis6,400d-markS indicate that at times much water flows depositing it6:load?ofilfand and debris high above normal river level, a'rdatUre now unfortunately common to all rivers. However in the case of the Tuross the natural state of the river is met much closer to the coast than usual, this making the, trip much more pleasant. Nerrigundah is the remnants of a once very prosperous gold mining town deep in a valley over the ranges from Bodalla, but now only boasting. a general store, shed and some few houses. The main objector interest is a fine statue of a policeman who was shot by bushranger my years ago., juad complete with carved story 12. .7111151111..111. of the incident. One could scarcely imagine such tribute being paid to-day. The old truck made heavy but profitable work of the long climb to the top and then down the steep winding dqscent into Nerrigundah whore, with a, promiseto meet us the f011owing Friday on the road for the return trip to Bodalla, we farewelled our kind friend and,. his compAniOn6. We breakfasted by the clear, fast running Gulph Creek remarking on our good fortune in having covered 13 miles since daybreak yet with almost all day in front of us, and soaking the warmth of the sun, now well up, to remove our cold and stiffness. From an old timer we learned that the creak had been thoroughly dredged well up into the hills but that much gold was still to be had. In fact right under our feet was a fortune in alluvial gold, but a dredge and anybody else could not get it as it was part of the roadway and council property. Many tales of the district could - and would - have been told by this old soul, but we had to press on, having duly admired his little bottle of pannings which is apparently Shown to all callers, complete with its history. The side road from Nerrigundah wound gradually down past Cadgee on the slopes bordering the Tuross, passing a few farms and finally petering out beyond a field of corn which seemed to have ripened solely for the benefit of some hundreds of cockatoos and galahs. For the remainder of that day the scenery was much the same, the river narrowing with hills and ridges closing in. The second day found the river winding around the feet of ridges and with more numerous crossings by which we cut many corners. Late in the afternoon the remains of an old stamper battery and gold-mine wore found on a bend in the river, Utopia on the Map, but very little evidence is left, it having apparently suffered by weather, fire and the removal of parts. The old mine was some distance away so was not visited. We noted an old longabandoao-A roadmay fx om the workings winding up the side of the ridge, It was late afternoon and we decided to try it with a view to cutting off some of the bends of the river. optimistically we kept to it till the Tuross seemed a long way dawn below, and in a panic we turned down towards it via a small creek bed with darkness rapidly approaching. Otir. reward Was a very awkward camp at the mouth of this tiny credit, som0.5 feet above the river and with no alte-rnati:ve but to make the lest of a cold, damp, sloping, confined: ollew. This ecursion had lirOfit nd ue nothing so we kept to the river. The following day, fine weather still prevailing and, as the reader :will have already guessed, we , not breaking any records, found the river: more interesting asit paeawd through tall fimber, comparatively decip outtlngs in the bills, shady oftellaVIAAEL, mimIlee 4111.111111 sparkling pools and the 'ever' recurring pebbly 'crossings. Shortly the, first real sign of civilization-was noted in the form of a 14.911 made dirt road' following the river - and not on the map. In “the Tictureaque .aurrOundingd, it was & welcome change to follow, !.th giving. frequent glimPdeb of the delightful river bends shaded with tall trees and splashed with 'clean sandy. banks. As our-road cut a wide bend in the river and rose to 'negotiate the ridge we were rewarded With our, fist. glimpse of the Mountain Ranges east of Cooma, a_ near deep. green peak picturesquely placed in the 'scene a distant interest (and one which predominated the landscape for ' the following 2 days) through the winding gorge below and the sparkle. of the Tuross :threading its way in the lower foreground.

The Ttiross. begins in the plateau on the ranges, flows through the ratUntaine and. here is still quite wide, swift 'flowing and crystaI'olear-,this ,latter..a very neticable feature. It 'was evening and'As. the banks were grassy below under the Casuarinas we decided, to campthe choiGest camp spot of the trip yith the merry sound Of water passingtver pebbles, At this spot the river fOrnled.,an “S”- bend with the ridge behind us and 0. creamy curve of sand at the, opposite. bank. Here were surroundings from:which we had to tear ourselves away the following morning. . Clear .and bright the second! last day ,dawned. Fed' tnd washed we reluctantly made for the Toad above.. was not long f 'before the landscape changed completely as we rounded a bend and beheld through a: ,thin curtain of, trees undulating grass-covered country, obviOudly. a large. pioperty. All hills , and ridges were left tree covered, presenting a_deep green :soft -woolly appearance aa-were many of the slopes. Passing through. a gateway the road tontinued, winding ' over the' gradsy slopes' and to a fart house,' to which this roadpftvided Vehieular access -. I think also for strategic::purposecd,-.as - it. was in excellent repair throughout. It was our goodfortitne to be hailed by a utility truck driver who took -.us the remaining few hundred yards to the house, which proved to be the station manager' s home. The station, Bpllowrie, 20,000 acres of marvel- -! lous country. is _surely in the finest setting to be ,found, surrounded by high.:hills 'and mountains, part of -Which are within the boundary,' the green slopes stretching. along-the Throes and side creeks, between wooded hills and extending over the ridges beyond eyesight. The station homestead ad-ilarnewhere to the North about 6 miles away. - , SuPely few men are rewarded with such fine surroundings as those here, and the innumerable Hereford cattle raised thereon. 'I wish I was a Hereford “cattle”. . . Permission to camp by the river was readily given, and like- ' W…ise to 'spend the afternoon climbing the nearby mountain one of those 0,4. the, prope3:..ty.. Th..e,lpng.. climb; - 'beret :part. of 1,000 feet - ws r47.-..v rOir'ded by a w lQrful ano ama o the stat ion ” pattern below. To the South and 'Easterly 'the Tuross and country beyond, whilst to the West, South and North the Mountain ranges were outlined against the afternoon sky. Some peaks are near the 5,000 ft. mark and to the North West Bald Mountain stood out boldly. Below and to the West the Tuross River disappeared in a desep gorge and was lost in the Mountains.. Lining the river and dotted about, the gums had a lovely rounded shape more like Engl.. trees than Australian. This rare spot will live long in our memories. Next morning we left. very early in order to make our truck of th first day and hence Nerrigundah, 15,miles' away, by 4 p m., not relishing the extra 13 miles to Bodalla in one day. The morning at BellowriP was cold, crisp and beautiful. Mists rising from the lowlandd against the sun, grass beaded with dew drops and ourselves emitting minature mists at every breath. Just before leaving we enjoyed a fine sight and sound - of milling young cattle being rounded' up'by 'clogs and man on-horseback in the early morningaun ana mist. All participants 'seemed equally fresh and full of le8.1.thy'vigour. All this and yet to-morrow we Were to be speedias back to Sydney. With the sound of activity behind we were about to leave the, station When a movement caught our eye. -r suppose such things are necessary, but the sight of a golden fbx in ,a trap was just too muCh fOrlue and the joy which was oursWas' immediately forgotten as We went to its assistance, a wild*creature'struggling against- steel jaws. The unfortunate animal had. apparently been there for some time, its front leg snapped clean near the “elbow” and held by the tough skin, by which it had circled the trap in its frenzy to escape. A groundsheetufficed to hold andhide him while I out through the skin.. To open “the trap was almost impogaible and in' any case unwise as. fokbOtbeth are very zharp, and the ,trapped portion of leg quite. useless - Released and uncovered the fox seemed non-plussed, then limped qUickly some 10 yards, stopped, looked back at us as thoUgh in thanks and quickly disappeared. , The road by which we arrived was followed to Belimbla Creek and'over a flood bridge. Up and up following the ridge to the top -of thPhwooded range the road led us, till at last, the crest reached', we were able to look back on the scene of the previous6ay, ourAnotntain easily visible against the main ranges behind. For some miles thA road gave us changing glimpses of this cone as the afternoon sun moved down from its zenith. Occasionally to the East the distant coast and ocean stretched for miles to either hand with the huge double hump of Mount Dromedary, 2,700 ft. dominating and hiding part of the coast line. In the centre distance we could see Montague Island and its white light- house bathed in sunshine. The :trees up here are grand specimens, especially those pass91 towards and on the descent to Nerrigundah, the golden light and 1.,)n: shadows from the lowering sun 'adding their beauty. Suddenly we came upon our truck while still on the mountain top, and seeing no-one about decided to keep on and enjoy what remained of the day. A mile or two farther we were picked up and safely installed in the rear of the old “chev” under groundsheets and sacks to keep out the cold which grew more bitter as the pace increased and evening approached. Soon we dropped down into Nerrigundah - which is well nigh ringed with mountains - and thence, after farewelling some of the - crew, back to Bodalla at dusk to thank our good friend for his kindness 'His occupation' was distilling essential eucalypt oils back in the hills wherd we saw his truck. On a rise in and overlooking Bodalla, under huge trees and on an old laafcOvered road which showed ag a gap through the trees we camped the, night and arose early to be sure of catching the. mail coach' which leaves about 8 a m. True to form the locals had learned of our venture as several 'enquired of'our'trip “up the river”. - owing the larder to be bare at home we invadeA t1 e. local butcher for a round,or-beef,. redeiving a choice and large sp-epimen. Coupcins were returned -with a flourish and suggestion thatwe,ni, t need them later. Oh, for a country life:: The coach duly arrived leaving us no time to examine the village and so to Sydney, meeting rain at Wollongong. Luck had been ours as the weather held, out perfectly to the last day, though wet in Sydney most of the weekl,to the surprise of the Roptimists”._. FIRST DESCENT OF CLEAR By Frank Duncan. 1Re-crint9d from Sydney Bushwalker AnnuApr1l, l94. :Tditorial Note: *Clear Hill is taken for granted by present-day bushwallOrst:and few even -stop:to ponder:that it was once a real bughwalking problem.- At the beginning of 1928, the cliffs of Narrow Nck_were an unodnquerea-dhallonge to bushwalkers, with: Wallets . Glrm arid-Dvirs Hole (a well-marked tourist track then) the only F.)ritrto::the,.Megalong, andrthrOlogalong the only passage to the Wild-D6gSand Cox.. - . 19.?84 he tr'ipherein described was ,Ixocutedafter unemooct a11,.att,OmPts )03r.16s Dunphy and others, aided by rope and piton's. P-e;r1Itkpa It is One of the examples of buihwbak1tt-o-G14-adrkeshat:thertret daeJ;)ent should be the furthest and toughest, whilst nearer and perhaps more accessible routes Red Ledge Trail, Mitchell's Creek, Dunphy's Pass and Carlon's Head came after the furthest out Note: In other countries people make first ascents. In Austrrlia, which is a topsyturvy country, We make first descents instead. One of the first long weekend walk S undertaken by my wife and myself after arriving in Sydney was down Nellie'd Glen, through,the Megalong Valley past the Woolshed, and down Black Jerry's Ridge to the Cox River. The chief features through the greater length of this route are the impressive bluffs, ridges and precipices of the Narrow Neck, or Clear Hill, Plateau. I well remember comparing it with the plateaux which figure so often in the tales of Rider Haggard, plateaux which usually have but one way of aoceSs, and this very difficult, and wheroon are found the most weird and wonderful of ancient civilisations. It was in this mood that we fell into conversation with a walker who told us of the approach from Katootba via Narro Neck. When I suggested that it would make a most interesting route out to the Cox from Katoomba, he pooh,–poohed the idea with vigour, and held forth on the ring of in8.00,essible cliffs at the end. He mentioned several unsuooasaful attempts during the past years to find a way off the plateau. Later, in June, 19282 we joined a popular Bush Walker trip to Clear Hill, at the end of this sixmile long plateau. On the way out We mentioned to some of the party our ambition to pioneer a route to the Cox via the end of Clear Hill. And, as we arrived at our camping spot at Glen Raphael early, we set eff for an evening exploration of the possibilities of a descent of the cliffs, fe-iling delightfully light and frosh without our heavy packs. A short time found us at the very end of 01,2Lr Hill, perchod up in the air with cliffs on three sides of us, and a flne clear view, one of the best I have seen in New South Wales, of bushclad ridges in every direction. Tortuous valleys at our feet wound away in the dietancer but most striking of all was the feeling of airy lightneas and detachment, and freedom from the petty cares of every day life. A photo or two were taken, and then the search began. Soon our efforts were rewarded; and we climbed down the gully to the west of the southernmost point of the hill. The descent was in the form of steps or ledges extending in the direction of Mount Mouin. After repeated deviations and retracing of our steps; we came to a sheer cliff within fifty feet of the bushclad foothills below. These last fifty feet were the only serious difficulty of the descent, but even here it was not long before three of us, E. Austen, J. Debert and myself had climbed down a chimneylike crack 17 and solved with a shout of pride the descent of Clear Hill. We returned to camp very pleased with ourselves and made plans for the morrow, when the Austens, J. Debert, Gwen Adams and ourselves made the descent with our packs, and lit a smoke signal from a clearing on the Dog Track, to let our friends, who had stayed on Clear Hill, know of our safe descent. We spent the next night near the junction of Breakfast Creek and the Cox, and so home via Jerry's Ridge, tired, but with a satisfir,d feeling of achievement. –Subsequently a deviation on the latter part of the descent was explored by others, and this saved the climb down the chimney. The charm and grandeur of the unspoilt bush still clings to Clear Hill, but now someone with more ingenuity thah poetry in his nature has fixed a rope-ladder for the convenience of weaklings down the one bit of real climbing on our original route. The Philistines, I fear, will yet put an escalator up Mount Cook and a lift up Kanchenjungat ea.:fo,o-q,v.-ee-=,caz,a&oeeq,eosoqiq,eoeeez-eeeeeeeaaee-oaee YOUR OPTOMETRIST - F. GOODMAN M.I.O. ,C,),.tometrist and Optician - TO Hunter Street i SYDNEY. Tel: B3438 Modern methods of eye examination and Eye Training (41 Careful Spectable'Fitting @ Fixing an appointment will facilitate the reservation of time for giving you proper attention, but should. @ you be unable to ring us beforehand, your visit wIll be welcome at any time you may choose to call.' 00@@@@@0@@@@@@g0g@de@@ @ @ @ 0 0 @@4xtbacese mar04-#0. 0(zi:,,Tkr;:on-Jo6veePrzaaTaPg4;00,0-0-600.e0.000 Christa Calnan and Norma Barden held their own private annual re-union at Blue Gum. Norma came back with a stiff Jaw - and Christa with a stiff ear: A letter from John Hunter was full of the resounding:names of New Zealand – he, GQC.1710 to A.0 hi a trmmpiikg i;ut b&Aghta whara Z00-01.i” ugko leaves offL CHRISTMAS IS A LOATHSOME THING. by Ray Kirkby, “Sweet Teviot: on thy silver tide The glaring bale-fires blaze no more (Any conn014.07a between the subject and this quotation- is entirely ooinc.L.dental.) This, I believe, is a Xmas Number. Pardon me while I shudder - I hate Xmas. What happens? All the year your mother-in-law has been brow-beating you, has been domineering her daughter instead of s letting you do it, spoiling the baby and leaving as soon as it startg - to play up, getting coupons out of you, cadging your smokes, dr1n1-6 your beer and then on Xmas morning he turns up and has the “hide4 to say “Merry Xmas” to you - right to your face to6- Which id of course an impossibility from the moment she puts in an appearance although she does try not to be openly sarcastic - and partly succeeds - but makes more veiled and subtle sallies instead, Then the next day she restimes her habitual nastiness perhaps even at a minute past twelve midnight if you should have the misfortune to have her with you still, which ism6st unlikely a. presence during the day has so enraged you thatyou eat and drink all sorts of awful combinations whioh are calculated to certainly ,(and I'm splitting the infinitive on purpose) to certainly make you ill early in the evening zo that you have to go to bed or if this little plan doesn't work you invent a pain anyway. So you see this good-will-to=nien stunt is very overdone and think that if a person cannot bear me good will all the year round then I'll risk not having it on Xmas Day and stay indoors all day and not issue forth until Boxing Day so that he cannot do me any hurt, more than usual. And as the reaction sets in on Boxing Day during whict day and the following 363 days and 364 days in a leap year one can hate one's neighbour at leisure I intend to have my reaction now fore the good will sets in for if the whole world were affected by guod will aimu1ti34,141.0usly the effect would be so maddeningly and mano tonoualy sweet and idyllic that one would wonder vlasth er one were in Russia, or, on an ofri01441 walk 4,-0=p:reed-AntAre- ly of prospectives. My motto therefore is, “Have a bite for Xmas - out of your neighbour.” But on looking around for something to bite, I find it is not easy. Everything has its uses - “Sweet are the uses of advsraity.” Strikes give the strikers a holiday and the slums impa3.-1 a feeling of wellbeing to the affluent. In our club the critical faculty _AB even more taxed. Unieba I can think of somo deficiency in ten minutes this article is finished, SeVon . Eight eo* Nine Ah, yes. 77a1s committee Seems to have sol*Te d. the difficulty of the _:_narity'ms43t1_nsm whlph noca to 000ur 011 gen, l-al maGting rs look like the-arch when the builder's have got to the middle 4re. a bit doubtful whether the law of gravity can stand much of it. Or like a ruined Roman aquedudt. They are not sure 4ther'they want to be bipeds or quadrupeds, whether they are going pin their faith to creation or evolution. Of course they are Jimo-et inaudible for as they descend in a shrinking oUrve they mu leak down lest they take a bite out of the permanent Wave in tront or smash their teeth on the chairs* Chairs? What, Chairs'? I am not going to digress on the people who lean on the furniture as they speak. This ha9it is so prevalent that it is doubtfill if it will ever be eradicated. Indeed it might be A kindness to invent a modern, up-to-date “leaner” which oould be passed aroilnd to speakert. One would need a oushioned part to lean against gith hand relate for the tired arms, also a ….. whatts that? You cantt hrqlr? Well; 1111 try both nostrils and see if that le any better ………- A REVIEW OF lAUSTRALIAN WILD LIFE” - JOURNAL OF THE WILD E pR T 0 SO I 0 Alex Colley. This Journal is a most comprehensive review of conservation activities of recent years; and it is gratifying to note that is oget much of its inspiration to members of the Society who are Club members. _The Editor-is our past president; David Stead. 'Dorothy Lawry is. a member of the Council; ecd Doris E. Stead Adsistant Secretary. And HOn. Treasurer;. The first part of the Journal is the report of the Society for the years 1939-1945. The report covers the main conservation projects of recent years* All Club members could learn much of conservation from it and the newer members in particular might be surprised to learn how,much,conservation work has been done by the .Items of particular interest t_o_Bush Walkers are the . sections on Era Lands,. Garawarra, 'Grose River, The Greater Blue llountains National Park, Kosciusko State Park and Warra Reserve. The sections on; Flora and Fauna preservation raise many issues which have not perhaps received the attention they deserve from our move- ., -ment;:but,I was :rather disappointed to find that no mention is made of. the Wild Flower petition organised by Rae Birt. The brief section on National Parks in Victoria quotes a most revealing report by Mr. G. Campbell. He states that “Wilsonts Promontory, for ten years or molie, has been leased to cattle grazlersfor about 300 per annum, burned from top to toe under alleged control and is no longer a “national park” but a national pasturage - and a podrLiooking one at that …. The place lies uin ruinst all for a matter of 300 per annum.” I hope the Kosciusko Trustees ar awarP of thin. The rest of the Journal - 39 pages - s devoted to “The Tragic nights. But has the millenium arrived? Not sir. It may have around the corner but ithas unfortunately' been beaten up, bash garotted. One expects sweet interchange of voices now a soprah now a basso, the violins answering the trumpets, the nightingale a then the jackdaw. One expects. I cannot hope to describe all our types of speakers nor shall I attempt to 'do so. There may, for example have been lots of inaudible speakers at various tires but, of course, I haven't heard ,them. The man ,standing up may have been looking for a friend or he may have been trying to get a cramp' out of his leg far all I know. .There is a type, of person who sits in practically the front. row and directs himself to the President (quite rightly) but,in such a confidential tone that scarcely anyone else can hear. This is wicked waste of time as the President has to repeat the whole think. Such person should at least give credit where credit is due and address the chair something like this. “Mr. President, would you be so kind as to do me a delayed broadcast on your network?”

Of the distracting mannerisms of the '1etiie only one. he puts her hands on her hips. You being a mere male hear something like this. “Therefore I think that lighting fires in the open she has got rather nice hips I. remember now on that last walk- when she was in that neat pair. of shortgAlow'mice she looked ..mmmmthmmmmm; I don't think she has any attachments All those in favour say “Aye”. You look. around. Wildlywandwr what it is all about,'SaY “ASI.e” and for all 3i'ou knOW you may be voting for your own expulsion. - During a debate a “murmurer” will suddenly, shoot a remark at someone a tew seats away. This perSon will feel'it inCUMbent on him to reply and everyone withinearshot will soon teinthe-fray. with the circle of.”murmurers”zetting larger.. Only the original, speaker knows the originalremark but eadh Succedsiire'hearer disttorts the. argument until finally, nutherous, small soriMmages'on different subjects are going on in different- parts of-the meeting. Sometimes they dIea natural death but often they linger- one debater having been worsted 'In his argument Calls Tor4roisrout of spite. ' - One type of speaker could be called. the. “parabola” because- this is the shape he finally assumed. He or 'she seems:to' be 'Suffering from curvature of the spine. But it could be a'dozen oranges, a baked rabbit and a halfknitted comforter in the This speaker catches the president's eye when he (the speaker) has his body at about. 45 degrees to the flOor. As he prooeeds the becomes more and more Acute Until finally,- upon sitting down, he 'almost apologises to his Stomach for putting his face into. it: have 'often wondered how they build brick'arches. Do they stick_ the bricks on to one another with less and less underneath hoping ,all the time that they will stay up long enough far something to ' be propped up-under the other side? ,Well, if they do, these 21.. Story of National Park” by David G. Stead, who was an Honorary Member of the This it a harrowing account contrasting pious “confessions of faith” by the Park Trust with actions in direct contradiction. The chronicle of despoliation is full of useful data, but I feel that the emphasis is misplaced in two directions. Firstly I think that the main fault of the Trust is one of omission. The Trust has taken no effective steps to control. fires. If a fraction of the money spent on laevelopment“ and road work had been used to metal an efficient fire control service the park would not today be such a sorry waste of scribbly dead limbs and nfeatherduster” trees. Ome fire does more damage to the flora and fauna than 50 years of “development”. I was flattered to find that Mr. Stead had used a cutting I made from the S.M.H. as his main line of argument, but at the same time I feel convinced that the disappearance of so much of the park's flora and fauna, for which he blames the actions of the Trust, is really due to its lack of action regarding fires. In the second-place I think he fails to appreciate that the park-is there to be enjoyed by the people: and, since it is on the edge of a city of nearly l million pecple it must cater for 'thousands of visitors weekly. Roads are necessary for the majority and cleared picnic grounds and other amenities a necessity. Unless we are to be voices crying, literally, in the. wilderness, we must take account of these facts. It is also a pity that Mr. Stead does not carry the argument to a conclusion as regards what action conservationists should take. Should they ask, for example, that-trustees be appointed to represent them? should they petition for a new Parliamentary Charter? Should they just go on protesting, as they have for the last 50 years? These and other possible lines of action require careful consideration before any effective action can betaken. The matters I have raised, however, are secondary to what I interpret as his main thesis that what the Trust should provide is not sporting facilities, 'or cleared recreation areas, but bushldnd in its natural state. With this I agree wholeheartedly. The Journal is obtainable from the Wild Lire Preservation Society, Scienoe House, Gloucester Street, Sydney, for 1/3 plus postage.,

Peggy Bransdon claims a nearrecord for an official walk, on which she had thirteen members and two prospectiveet No, Not – itts not the numbers that tickles us, but the fact that none of the members got lost. It would seem, too, that one of the Clubts Respectable Bachelors has a most convenient setup, in that he was to cotent with two of the Clubts Loveliest Ladies (this is all from hearsay, and I cantt guarantee verification on every point). H9wevor the competition was too keen – aren't aome Vomon floucca:T (Or maybe men are cads?), - WHAT HAS PADDY GOT NOW? Paddy is pleased to reportthat things are gradually improving. Here's how things stand. Let's get the bad news out of the way first, Steel Frame Rucksacks. Owing to the shipping position, steel tubing which was due to arrive months ago is still on the wharf at Adelaide. Hence no steel frames. Rucksacks Without Frames. All stock patterns available in a good range of colours. Groundsheets and Case Groundsheets. Good stock on hand. Tents. All stock patterns available. Military…Maks. All published lll = 1 mile maps from N.S.W. constantly on hand. A set is available for inspection. Prismatic Compasses (reconditioned). Price 2, leather cases Knife Fork and Spoon Sets. Lighter, brighter and better than ever. English make 67. useful Xmas gift). Housewives. Light and compact. Wools, thread, needles, buttons and thimble. Price 6d. STOP PRESS. (What's cooing?) Aluminium squat typ-a- billies now on sale. 11 pint 4/6. ay pint 5/6. 3 pint 7/3; 4 Pint 8/3- 8“ fry Pans. 4/9. Mouulto and sand fly reDellent. 1/9 per 4 oz. bottle. PADDY PALLIN Ph2n2.11121. Cc3aeftv for Walkers. :X47 ckaorge arDwrzi.

194612.1348882385.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/05/05 16:36 (external edit)

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