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The Sydney Bushwalker.

A monthly Bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, C/- Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown St., Sydney.

No. 166. September, 1948. Price 6d.

EditorAlex Colley, 55 Kirribilli Avenue, Milson's Pt.
Production and Business ManagerBrian Harvey
Production AsstPeter Price
Sales and SubsBetty Hurley
Typed byJean Harvey & Shirley King

Contents

Page
Editorial - The Planting of Trees 1
At Our August Meeting 2
Social Notes For September, 1948 2
CoolongEdna Stretton 3
Special Anniversary Issue 4
The Bank Holiday ScandalJim Brown 5
“Lost Hiker”Diana Marmion 8
Snakes and Ladders 14
Photographic Section 16

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Page
Siedleekyls Advt.11

Editorial - The Planting Of Trees.

In his letter to the “Herald” on August 25th., Alan Wyborn sets out clearly some of the elements of tree propogation of which many walkers seem quite ignorant. He points out that “In many areas… tree planting is unnecessary as natural regeneration is able to provide more trees, always allowing that heavy losses do not occur by storm, fire, pests, or bad management.” The shibboleth which so readily comes to the tongues of many walkers - the planting of two trees for every one cut down - is not only futile, but diverts attention from the main problem. Even in those areas where is no forest growth and therefore no natural regeneration the planting of trees, though a big task, is relatively minor in the process of sylviculture. Unless the ground has been prepared and protection afforded from animals, and unless the trees are cared for and protected from fire they have little chance of growing. Even if the impossible precept of planting (and growing) two trees for every one cut down were carried out, future generations would become very hungry as the steadily increasing trees encroached on agricultural land.

Another point brought forward by Alan Wyborn is that “As regards the conservation of rare species of indigenous trees, like the cedar, it would seem that their only haven is in national parks and primitive reserves”. Tree owners, like most other people, prefer money to scenery, and will sell their trees for cash. Protests against removal of timber from private land are not likely to achieve anything. The ideal to strive for is reservation in primitive reserves and subsequent protection from fire.


At Our August Meeting.

The President was in the Chair and there were about 50 members present.

Two new members, Bill Gillam and Bill Hancock, were welcomed.

After some discussion it was decided to hold next year's Photographic Exhibition on a Friday night at some other location to be arranged (preferably a well-lit gallery) and that the Club Room be closed on that night. The motion was opposed by Mr. Hardie who said that the Photographic Section was having things too much its own way and was already costing the Club £6 a year. Mr. Cotter, replying to these observations, said that no doubt Mr. Hardie's exhibits would be seen to best advantage in the dim light of Ingersoll Hall.

When the Narrow Necks discussion was reached it was resolved that Mr. Hardie should contact Mr. Compagnoni directly.

It was resolved that letters of thanks be sent to Paddy Pallin, obtained wire for the fencing at Era, and to Mr. Doug. Davidson, who provided transport for tools, trees and equipment.

It was decided that Phil Hall's private subscription list for the “Save the Children” Fund be kept open till the 21st Birthday Party in the hope, it seems, that the stingy would give out on that night.

There were no nominations for the offices of Vice-President, Federation Delegate, or substitute Federation Delegate, which therefore remain vacant.

The meeting, which was one of the dullest on record, closed at 9.5 p.m.


Social Notes For September 1948.

Those people who saw some of Marcel Siedler's work on a recent programme, will be pleased to know that we will again have the opportunity to see more of his films on 11th September. Snow revellers will be looking forward to his film on Kosciusko, which is excellent.

We thought you'd like a free night on 24th September to prepare for that super Eight Hour Weekend trip, and we think you need a rest from social events, for October is going to be a very busy month. See you at the 21st Birthday Party?


COOLONG. By Edna Stretton. We waited! Dunc stirred the simmering stew. Her cooking was always delectable but today not one of the three walkers sitting around the ,camp fire felt tempted. Five hours had passed since we had farewelled Reggie who, with food tied in a bundle, had set out, Eick Whittington fashion, for Yerranderie. The first hour had passed quickly. We had tried to be cheerful) tallcing over the events of the earlier part of the trip - the Endrick, Shoalhaven, Bungonia, Joadja, Wollon7 dilly. Joan tried to make us see the humour in the washout causod by a cloud burst on our first day out But the voices became gradually softer. We stared at the fire. Nobody had even bothered'to ask Diane the recipe of her latest dish, and that was the usual thing when we saw her in her favourite position, banding over the fire. 'Joys of the trip and good things to at wore only secondary considerations now, for at that very moment Mary was alone in the darkness, thinking goodness knows what thoughts, alone, cold and miserable, in the innermost recesses of that mountain - alone in Mt. oolong! We waited! 'Reggie was n good walker - one of the best. Eight miles frona-hore to Yorrandorie 1 Eight miles back! Three miles an hour: He should be back any moment now. Would he return alone? He mustn It! Surely he could find a local man who know something about the caves: We listened!. We stood: We prayed! One, two, yes, three forms rounded the boric on the creek. Few words were spoken. There were no introductions.' Nobody seemed to care. The two strangers .knew the caves well. Yes, Reggie had contacted the right mon. Ac accompanied one, aiming to *search from the foot of the mountain while Ebris wont with tho -other, to bogin their search from higher ground. We .waitedl That morning wo had made camp on Lanniganls Creek. We were all excited, Aftor tents were hurriedly pitched, we scampered off to explore the caves. The old tree stump, with yards of string attached, at the entrance bore evidence of , many such excursions. This should have been sufficient warning for us to 4-ake precautions. But we ignored it and saw no danger in or adventure. Besides, Mary had been in the caves before; and didn't we have matches, a candle and two. torches? Surely string was not necessary: It was indoed thrilling! The cave was large and soft underfoot and or did not have to be a student of geology to admire the delioate formation of the limestone-thrown into relief by the steady flare of the candle. This was better than Jenolan: We were our own guides: . We supplied our own lighting! We clasped hands and walked further into the mountain. By the time we reached King's Cross, a grand column in the centre of the cave, marking the branching of tho main tunnel, we thought it time to turn back. The maze of fresh tunnels bewildered us. Dare we go into one of them? Remember, we had no, string: But what was that Mary was saying? Penelope's Bower? We just had to see it Oh, yes, we must' see Pond- lope's Bower: 'Twas not very far - just a short distance along the passage on the right. We followed our guide, but Penelope Is Bower that day was never more 4. elusive. We should return! The candle had burnt to a small stump, the matches were almost spent, an d our torch was useless. Hang Penelope Bower! We must go backi We halted, extinguished the candle and held a consultation in the &alt. Bats flew ower our heads indignant that their home should be invaded. But Penelope's Bower won. It was ever so close now, and just to prove it, Mary squp.ezed through a small aperture arid called to us to follow. We refused arid begged her to return. But she insisted-. Her. sprigs could be hoard scraping on the roof. of the passage in. which , we were standing. We shouted. No answer. We sat down and waited, for half an hour before turning back to find our own way out. Reggio loft us huddled together while he, ta]–Ling the only means of illumination, ondoavoured to find the passage out. We wait,o,d for what seemed hours, then suddenly the silence was shattered by a whoop of joy and we hoard Reggie scampering back towards us, yelling that ho had fu-id the opening. That had happened seven hours ago.. Reggio had been to Yerrandorio and back since than and-now that help had come, our anxiety was loss great:. Wo wnitod! We li St On0 d We St 0 0 d I We prayed! One, two, throe, four, yes, five people camo into view. Mary had boon found l She was out We hugged hot, sat her down before the firo while Dune piled her plate with food. We asked her a few questions and learnt of her oxperionees only through her voluntary convorsation. Did she think she would be found? Yes, Mary had realised what Reggio won ld do. What had she done in there? Too afraid to novo sho had sat in the one spot and used the remainder of the candle and matches' when the intense cold became unboarr 8.blo . She had oven tried. to light a fire by rubbing,. aboriginal fashion, hor straw hat over her hobnails. But this was not successful. She sang, exhausting her entire repertoire and thdn settled down to wait, wait, wait. . Then help camel She was all right now. . The two strangers had returned to Yorranderie, gon.orously rewarded. We lay around the fire gazing up at the bright: stars, concentrating on the following day's walk so as to oblito.rato the fears of what might have happened had Reggio not contacted .those two mon . Only Mary 's quiet sobbing, broke the stillness of the night.

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY- ISSTJE. Next month (October) there will be a:special:Anniversary issue of the Magazine. Old m3mbers are invited to contribute-,articles on walks or Club happenings. There is restriction on length, nor does it matter if the walk or incident described has now faded out-of Club. memory. as long as it is an interesting yarn it will interest the…newer mer.bers and be much appreciated by the old members. If You think there, is:-a possibility of your..artielo being duplicated, i.e. of someone .el se picking on, the same topic, it;may.bo. as Well to get in touch with the Editor .(addross., t..see Page.:1)., would be-appreciated if any such articles wore sent in by the .;raiddle. of September, So. as to give the. typist a chance to –start work,. but thoy7. will be accepted up to :the, on.d of September. Arthur Gilroy advises that ho vri 1.* I be loading a photographic. ramble Bimlow to Wentworth Falls on 10-11-12th ,teptembor. . The train is the on Friday night.

THE BANK HOLIDAY SCANDAL 5. By Jim Brown Come to thini,; of it 1r.- suppose its a racket. if you're of tho leisured . group to whom Bank Holiday -is in fact a 'holiday: from which it follows that if you -got. Bank Holiday you Ire a .rackotoor end that may explain all the 7E111:TS, -snares and delusions that'Ataccompaniod my. Bank Holiday trip this yOar,' There. was of 3oi..lrao, 1).:.%hind it see Glossary). With the guile which charactoriseo the spoc:,r)s, .she- approached me quite some time befoie and with honeyed words induced me to .participate in a Bank Holiday jaunt from Boll to Loura via Mt .King Goorge, Pages' Pass and Lockley s Pylon. Now all these checking points Wore now ground, so I rojoicod exceedingly. Therein lies one 'facet of the racket. The PWF, .having the support of one reasonably solid citizen, 'proceeds to propagandize and shamelessly omploys the simple, honest fellow to coax others to join. At all events during the ensuing weeks I approached quite a number of possible. comors but they., being themselves rocipients ,of Bank Holiday and so well versed in all the ramps, graciously withdrew, so that it ultimately foil to the PWF to rt-Illy.the ranks. This was done with the gently ruthless efficiency of the brood so that by the Friday evening we appeared to number nine. Since another equally PWF had organised an opposition trip down the Nattai and lured away some of our potentials, it was quite a creditable piece of organising. All done by kindness and a PWF. It had boon arranged that I should out ahead on Saturday morning end establish camp at the top o'f Page 1 s Pass, also try to find the Pass, which was reported to be somewhat elusive. So I went west by No.93 the 8.40 a.m. Lithgow train to you, 6.1i,tted. at Bell and bashed out the sixmilos along the road. On the way three vehicles passed two small cars heavily loaded and a mad Don. R. The cars offE.-,,red no lift: the cyclist cut down from a cruising 70 to a sluggish 2+5 or so and bawlod out about a pillion ride. I screamed thanks, I wasn't going far, and prayed to be forgiven my small white lie. For the information of those who follow, I should note the following. Road not as shown now military highway, cleaves through hills instead of around contours, often follows the original Bolls Line of Road, shown as dotted line on military map. , At present., head of PaSs marked by a kind of caravan affair on right hand side of road. Fair camping ground near tho caravan provided wind not strong. Water point aboit 50 foot down gully to east caravan: top of Pass is now almost a road about 50 r.rds west caravan. Reaching the point about 2.30, 1 reconnoitred the Pass immediately: it's so easy that I had followed it to the, point where it emerges from a cleft at the foot of the cliffs in less than 'twenty minutes, and was back by the caravan by 3.15. This allowed oodles oftime to establish camp, but I wasted much of it on the opposite side of the main road, where there's water and almost an embarrassing amount of firewood, but the ground alternates botwoen naked, knobbly clay and patches of quagmire. On finding the tiny spring near the caravan there was no doubt about the best place to bung up the tent. Three cooking fires had just been kindled when the racketeers arrived unexpoc..,-todly; the sound of a heavy duty engine brought me running to the road, but the tourist car was past. Fortunately PTIF have bright, keen oyes as a rule, and my sheet of newspaper impaled at the 'roadside fetched them up short. We were eight, including three PWF (Misses Hardy, the original of the species, Mowbray and Barden). I was dismayed that Dot Butler hadn't been able to make it - the weak women would be able to remain unashamedly weak. For the rest - Eric Rowon, Ira Butler, Gil Webb and guest Bob Dearden. - As a party we were incredibly good at getting established (i found later not so hot at getting moving). I led a bucket brigade to the spring before light faded, tents blossomed around the caravan, and in wonderful timo tea was ready. One minor racket noted - our food list said peas - the pot produced cauliflower. But with roas at 1/9d. per lb. I fool some slight remorse at even mentioning this. The evening was incredibly mildand still for 5,000 on an exposed spur on the last day of July. We had a comfortable sing-song about the-firo, no dew or frost settled, we slept warmly. With recollections of a 5.50 reveille and breakfast by moonlight and a westerly gale the previous, Bank Holiday week-end (supervised by First Light Bransdon) it seemed almost luxury to de-tent at 7.0, and Norma Barden emerged much later gloating “I can get up an hour after Kath and still be to ady to move off at the same time”. I wondered if Miss Barden's iceberg colleague-was perhaps responsible for her relative efficiency: of a winter's morning I'm immobilised for the first half hour, stare morosely into the fire and break up littl'e twigs, beginning to vaguely resemble a normal human being after being fed. This does not measurably assist my food party. Leaving packs we' paid our respects to Mt. King George, finding beautiful camping spots just below the crest of the mountain where no one is likely to want to caMp-anyway, returned to the caravan and made the descent of Page's Pass to lunch on the Grose, Page's is quite a good Pass: two landslides are fairly easily outflanked, and if the trail should be mislaid in one of its less defined spots, the ridge it follows below the cliff face is easily negotiable. Someone has made an experimental coal mining shaft a short distance below the walls, close to the first of the slides. Lunch contained one small discernible racket. The food list said ham: instead we had corned beef and sausage. I could almost forgive this in the beauty of the afternoon walk down the Grose, with superb tawny cliffs to make one marvel that there could be any way down at all, and the sun putting a blue glitter on the gum loaf, and tinting the casuarinas a anoky olive-brown. It was remarkable, however, how Blue Gum Forest continued to turn on a “prosperity” act: according to the leader it was invariably just around the corner. Not so remarkable was the manner in which Nos.29 and 50 of the Easter-Kowmung trip (vido April Magazine) became Nos.7 and 8 at this stage. Night in Blue Gum with the fires painting the tall pale masts of the forest is ever dreamlike and sublime, and the PWF used it to good advantage (having adequately fed the brute in accordance with food list). Do we go out via Lockley's or do we go out the easy way by Grand Canyon? How did she guess that I am not to be driven but can be coaxed and gentled into doing anything? At all events, the more she talked Lockloy's the more insistent I became in doing Grand Canyon. Like 7'. the old woman, we' swept the dust around in the hope it would get lost, until at length I plumped for Grand Canyon, and made everyone happy. The highlight of Monday morning was Norma Barden's lovely, lovely, HoIeproof hosiery, but of that the least said the better. Ask Eric if you must know more, for I must consider the Editor's space limitation. At least, if Cheated of Lockleyls I contrived to take the party up Govettis Leap Creek on the wrong side most of the way, and my exquisite revenge came at lunch time, when we halted in tho clammy green vale just below the junction of Grand Canyon and Evan's Lookout tracks. Cold! We just couldn't find a tiny finger of sunlight, and the dripping jungle wrapped us in dhivrous airs. The males shaved - a rasping, bloody business - and.we shoved on, chasing the sun as smartly as possible. Nos.7 and 8 were well in the roar, and the afternoon developed into a race between the benison of the sun and the progress of the tail; there wore times when we waited for them but were forced on by frigid shadows before they came within hail. Bo it admitted they had the propriety to join 11.s in the last stagger into Blackheath, where we carried out one of those quito irreconcilable operations which only bushwalkors can manage with dignity. We quaffed a noggin or two in the nicely appointed lounge of the pub opposite the station - then bought fish and Chips wrapped in newspaper, and ate on the railway station. 'No sang the old familiar walking songs in the train, and presently subsided into slumbrous positions. Arrived in Central we paused before going our various way to voice a word of thanks for a wonderful weekend to the OF loader. She, of course, smilingly disclaimed 'any credit with disarming modesty, so that we all became ridiculously profuse in our protestations, and went off fooling most inspired and elevated by our own graciousness. For my part, I was still fooling slightly intoxicated with my nobility as I joined my electric train, until I hoard the wheels chattering “Didn't do Lockley's…. Didn't do Lockley's ….” Oh, well, it was just one more racket. GLOSSARY. PWF - Poor weak female. (Authority - R. Braithwaite.) SNOWY RIVER SCREENING. The Snowy, Wollondilly - BurragoranE Valley and Williams River Kodachrome colour movie films will b. screened at the Shell Theatrotte, Shell House, Carrington Street, near Wynyard, at 8 p.m. on Friday', September 17th ONLY. Subscription tickets of 5/- each obtainable from Gordon Ballard in tho Club Rooms or from Paddy Pallin. Support our advertisers - they support us: And don't forgot to mention this Magazine, “LOST HIKER” . '.,After ..readingoagain thofrni1iarhoad1inos, word pattorns and cliches - which the press Uess for roporting .overdue walkorsi 'we invited Miss 1\1arm1on to lot us havo her- o.'n…story, so that the S.E.1 t 'least would know what happenoc3.. Her-dosoription was as follows It scorns that nearly ovary, time the PrOs…- reports “missing 'hikers”,, and police and volunteer - search partios'prepare to Sally forth. in, the wilds the supposedly'.,missing porty turns. up, perhaps a clay or , so overdue, and expresses groat surprise. at ..bein.g the ebject of an orgs.niadd searth'. So that- 6.13.6tig. 'readers there are Very likely some who., like myself, have exPerienced the ombar a ssmont of that .position . Because the Press strives for sensationalism at all costs, perhaps- YOU like to hoar 'from the horse 's mouth“ about the Cade of-the Missing. 51kor., 7' Three 'of .us from the .Sydney .University Bush- Walkors. decided to Spend-' three days of r Sity -vacation ;walking from Rocky Tops on the .I.Cmangra: R4b.d; down Miry ' Ridge, along the Koulaung,i .up Church Creek, and so to l'errandO4p.o”.:Dn the Friday night, we taxied from Blackhoath to an iron 'hut some, 14 miles alotig the Kanangra Road from Jenolan Caves, where Wo slept that night. Early. Saturday =mini; saw us. taking to the road through the heavy' mou-ntain frost and climbingoto thoo.Tops themselvos, inspooting: the: glorious vi.Sta to tho north, ea,st arid south. Then -we tUrnod due south,, making .for the top of.: Misery Ridge thr,op:gb the scrub, Using map and compass fe struck 'what was apparently the blazed trail. (marked on the map) from the road to MiSerf, so:, after a cheerful smoke-oh, fannod out some hundred yard S apart to pick-up. . blazoe ..Tho scrub was ,thick, and it was all too easy to lose, sight of each ' othor - which Ls lust what happened. At this point, had fo reseen what happen,' I. shoUld either have stood still or turned 'back to 'the' .roa..d. Such a course of action did not occur to me, unfortUnately for the searchers that,were to come, and after cooce-ing into the raging' wind, and inspecting- the scrub from the top of a few hillocks, I tramped on southwards, to the top. of Eisex7,. o.xy..locting all the time that the other two would do the same. There was no sii, of them at the top so down I went. at a ridge - it is aptly named, indeed. Massos of prickly scrub, and precipitous rocky cliffs necessitating a bit of contour crawling. Somewhere at this stage I must have dropped, my map, which had been stuck in my bz.dt.to facilitate the constant roferonces to it. Useless, of course, to look for it. After three hours of sliding end .scrimbling came the sublime fooling we all know of seeing the beautiful Kowmung just below. What, still no Ian and Harold? Actually I struck the Kowmun.g just where Mathesonts Creek joins it; I must have loft Misery Ridge spmewhoro on the way down if I was over on it. It was 5.30,' -and I. expootod the othor two any time. I lit a rob.ring fire on the green bank, left a .noto under .a stone 'tolling them. I _would, wait a Anil or so downstream, and moved.on, leaving a trail. of 'arrows.. 'That:night I. spent a yard from the edge of a moonlit and wonderfully peaceful' river,: curled around a. fire. “The others”, I thought l'must have gone back to the .hit When they missed inc,' but they follow on down this morning“. “So another little note: “Ian and Harold. 'gill move. slowly down tho river, waiting for you to catch me. How are you getting on .without the tea and sugar? You, ought to try dried potato without salt. Plan to reach Church Crook by tonight, if I can recognise it without .a map”. 9. And so a whole day of slow progress along tho banks of the Kowmung. It was fairly rough going, with much rock-hopping and an apparomtly infinite number of crossings. Thoro is no sort of track for the first fow miles oast of Misory Ridge, and thoso nottlos: What a calamity, on ono of the crossings (many of which wore waist-doop for me) when I lost my footing and “drownodu my watch: Thoro wont my moans of estimating progress and of finding north.(NO, no compass. Moro is one fascinating place, which I imagine to be Rudder's Rift, when the rivor concentrates itself into a turbulent stream only a few foot wido and plungos down into a groat funnel of rock with a doopthroatod roar. That is one of tho parts rather difficult to pass. On the lighter side, when I stopped at about midday that day I was getting cold, so docidod to dry out my wet shorts by the fire. They wore hangly limply on a log, when along came one of those mighty blasts of wind which so characterlood the Kowmung that weekend, and my shorts wore in the fire. Had anyone soon no dressed in thom during the next two days (Which thoy didn't) they would haw) had a good laugh at little Orphan Annie in the most tattered, hole-riddled shorts over soon. In between singing all the songs I know to myself, wondering about my two mates, and onthusing over wallabies and rabbits, I would study my marital picture of the map, trying to viSualise how much of the Kowmung I had still to cover. The mental image lot me down badly, for .I campod that night at the antranco of a crook which I took to be either Lannigan's or Church Crook, but which actually was a littlo crook some five miles upstream from Lannigan's. Here I slept in a gale with my groundsheet pulled over no to keep off the occasional fitful showers of rain. Between showers, I was able to get my bearings from the Southern Cross. At the top I believe it snowed that night, and the newspapers were giving Sydney people visions of a woman hiker's body, lightly clad and of course without sleeping bag or anything intho way of equipment, being covered by the falling snow. Had I had any inkling of the headlines of the following dqT, I should certainly have slept less soundly. Morning camo, clear and cold. It was a gamble, but I thought I'd go up the crook. Another little note telling Ian and Harold my plans. It was tho sixth and last of the series of notes scribbled on cigarette packets and paper bags, which together with my many arrows must have amused the search parties which followed two days later. What a dreadful crook I chose to climb: I chased half a dozen cattle up the first few hundred foot, until it became too stoop for them and the dumb creatures lot me pass. For a long time it moant scrambling on all fours, clutching at tufts of grass and bushes - ask the unfortunate search party who followed it upl It was obvious that I had gambled on the wrong crook. At last came the very tap, and the rather frightoning vista of mile upon mile of rolling hills and valleys stretching to the south and east with never a sign of civilisation. Then I recognised Mount Oolong, and decided to make for it though I did not like the look of what lay in between. Rather depressed, I plunged down into the next gorgo - Waterfall Crook - and ate some sultanas at the bottom. Strange how one loses one's appetite when forced to live on uninteresting food like broad, bacon, and sultanas for throe days. At the top of the next ridge, I thought I was having hallucinations, for there was a car track, oven to the tread of a tyre mark some weeks old! The track seemed to be running the east,oxactly what I wanted. I reasoned that it must be the Oburon Stock-route, which I had thought to be much further south. 10. Singing blithely, and thinking “Yerrandoria tonight”, I strode out along the track which kocps to the tops of all the ridgos and supplies somo magnificent views. I must have followed it for about six hours. It Boomed unwise to leave the blazed track and hunt for Oolong saddle or Oolong swamp and so to roach Yorranderie by the rivor track. Had I only loft the Kowmung via , Lannigan Is .Creek I would have boon in Yerranderie that afternoon. As it was, I was dotorminod to roach some form of scivilisation, as I thought If I did not arrivo that night, people night begin to worry! Sovoral hours after dark, the gleam of an iron roof was a welcome eight. 11 charged down the hill, to the music of barking dogs, and found Io my annoyance that the occupants wore -.may for the night. Having lot mysolf in, I rang at thoir tolophono to no avail, the exchange being closed,. So,. too tired ovon to oat, I foil asleep on a bed on the verandah. At dawn, I triod tho 'phone again, and decided to walk on. I dismissed the idea of fol1owin7 the telephone line into Yorrandorio, as it seemed certain that the stock route imuld strike .tho main road- soon. Have, a cup of tea”. Tho throe days,.' lone - poacefulnpss. ondad in a panic of worrvand, dismay. From the moment ,:I reached the main road to Camden, I was besoigod by reporters and photographers. And you knot the rest the oxaggeratod and distorted 4000UntsAhat had news value fora.daY. . . The whole “unfortunato episode was nobody's 'fault, and my only regret's arc: that the pres's caused suchan unnoceSsary pani6 and that I-did…not manage to 'phone Yorranderie in to to stop most of the search Patties setting .off' from Cave's House. Notoriety, it scorns, is easy to aoliiovo. “JACK AND JILL GO UP THE HILL AND FETCH A PAIL OF WATER. Thotreos. at Era. will, at least during the summer months, appreciate a drink . now and then. If you are down them, arrango a watering party. and don't forgot thota trees right up- the 'hill thy mood the water most. Remember, when you are enjoying yourself. at' Era, don't lot the' trees be sad for lack of water. THE FEDERATION ANNUAL REUNION will be .beld. at “Morella Karong” (on Myuna Creek, hoar Junction with EOathcoto Crook and about one mile below KingfiShor Creek) on 18th and 19th Soptombor. H All walkers are welcome, whether or net they belong to . a' Club-. It was 9 o 'clock when the road brought no to Big Hill, a very ploasant looking cattle station. I rally the postmistress at Yorranderie, not knowing quito how to ask her whether two bashwalkors had boon onquiring for mp . She quite stunned me by her excitod story about soarch,parieB..,Needloss to say I was horrified, but the roaotion of the kind old farmer, was vYou don't say! @@@ffr”)@(MPR@@@@.@@@M@P@@@@@@@q@@@@@@@@PPMOPPg@r(W.PAP@@@@@@@@ @ ARE YOU REQUIRING TRANSPORT FROM B.LACKHEATH?- ? ? @R ING OR WRITE SIEDLEOKY'S TAXI AND TOURIST SERVICE. @ @ 116 STATION STREET2 BLACKF-TEATH: @ . @ 'PHONE BLACKHEATH 81 OR 146 LOCK FOR TAXI 3210' OR poic AT” SIYOND RADIO - OPP. STATION. @ @-. . @ @@(Fr.P@WVrqq(71_,F),(72@@P@PP@@@@@@@@PO@WAP@@@@@@@.@R@g@@ , S Our spy not-work (the .oyes, oars and nose of tho S.B.W.) has missed none: of the stirring events surrounding Peg Bransdonis mishap. First, from that - siniStor sleuth known by tho coda name “The Pain in,tho Train” we have the following doscription of the Bransdon Bruises '“It happonod on Sun.db.y 2nd August. Nattai River x',Ioar the junction with Wangandorry Crook the place. Peg camo to griof throut stopping into a- wombat's 'hole, and, as V70 thought, spraining her ankle. The victim managea to hobble back to Coatos I farm).6 rriilos from Hill Top, whore motor transport was obtained to the station. The remai:ndor of Bank Holiday was spent in rest. and sunbathing (non-nude). . On the following Tuosdby, mulga wires .buzzod with the news that Miss -Bransdon was-at her offico desk as usual. But —-' 'as the injury:sviellod larger, it became necessary 'to con.Sult a medico', who, with the aid of 'various gadgets,, diagnosed the swolling' as a' fro.cturot the bottom of the tibia, and promptly put tho limb in plaster.” Further developments wore reported by' oUr very secret agent KBXXX, who sent the following coda message “Once upon a time there was a happy and contented walker who also had certain idoas on the culinary art. Verily ho was the king of custard makers and his fame' sproa.d,through the land. From Macdonaldtown toMullig4tawny ho was known as the custard' king. Then it came to pass that -a fair maiden was instructod the arts “by the king and many were the sighs of satisfaction as he lay back and ;watched his raeala proparod for him .in the style to “which he was accustomed. 1 ,1,1t sad to relate an evil spirit took advantage of his absence. 12, from a walk and did strike his partner a foul blow. And there was weeping and gnashing of tooth (no tearing of hair) and the kin' did sally forth on a walk with.tho intention of practicing his lost art. And so I sayoth to you, When next you see th) king do not mention custard for ho bath fallen on evil aays. A firm that cloth manufacture a brew calloth CLAG bath presented him with leva document charging him with infringement of patonts and illegal manufacture of their product.” Confirmation of the serious nature of the accident came from our agent Mberdhaum” who reported “Soon the 0.F. (we may reveal that this stands for “Old 'Fox”) realised that for the first time in years there was no cook in his food party, no one to provido him with such palate-tempting delicacies as dried bananas, raisins, or dates, no one to prepare seven different kinds of vegetables or throe choices in sweets. No slave to put more salt in this, or water in that, cook this a bit longer, 'stir the porridge or beat the milk. After a frugal meal ho have to retire to bed with only a scant covering of bracken. From this the cold might drive him at four in the morning to prepare the oatmeal of his hoart's desire. The outlook in the fox's tent was, in a word, grim. But in quick time (impartial observers say 10 minutes) the horizon was cleared and the sun shone. - A cook (of the fair sex) had been secured.” In reply to our urgent Telegram asking the exact meaning of the word “fair” and, if it meant female requesting full details of the tactics employed, we recei{ied the followinp advice “On your next private walk load yourself up with juicy oranges, sane Oxo cubes and a black of Carb.mello or some such sweetmeat. The leader will probably got lost and run you along the wrong ridge and wrohg ridge are always dry places. Your likely prospect will get very thirsty so whip out the.oranges and carefully hide the pool. The damsel will accept them very gratefully. Such vogetarian food is notori9us1y unsustaining and when the leader has at last found the right creek nothing is more nourishing than a hot cup of beef tea. If she offers to wash up your plane are nearing fulfilment. Of cotrse; you will havof to run for 'the train and when she sinks into a seat it's time to blow in her ear_in real earnest. Produce the chocolate and a cook is caught. After that it is only a matter of keeping her from the foxes, tigers or the siren-liko vegos, who don't cook anyway.” Peggy's log did you say? Oh.yos, we had forgotten. It is doing well and will probably be out of plaster by the time this goes to press. To the amatour sleuth the case. is now proved, but listen to this further report from KBXXX “Arnamite is mild. Comparing him one can only think in terms of atomic energy. One could go further and predict.that mention in your columns will be . only a forerunner of promotion to the pages of a-Sunday journal notorious for reporting suchdoings Someone murmurs “The green-eyed monster”. All that can be said to that allegation is'“tish” and maybe “tosh”. Lot's lay the facts before you and let you be the judge.; 13. The monaco first appoarod on the vary public privato walk on July 4th. Result was, two fairhaired damsolo; after only one walk and no appoaranco in the Club, have disappearod from our ken. Think of your aching foot and cast your mind back to the Clubroom Dane on July. 30th. One valkor was incautious oncujn to bring, his girl friond to the do. Rosult on girl friond dazzled by a barrage on flora, fauna. music and goology. Admitting that tho girl's oscort was allowod one dance, dash it all, its hardly cricket. Ego inflatod by his successes the monaco next appeared on 5AlargarotsBransdon's Bank Holiday weekend walk. No insinuations mind you, justotheifacts: Margaret has not boon soon since.' A recant issue of the Campbelltown loot-1 paper with disturbing 'reports of night prowlers and suggestions of forming vigilantes aroused tho intarost of locals. Further investigation revealed that it was merely Pogram's Pilgrims stealing into the township under tho,blossod cloak of nioht. Tho Pilgrims Oxplanation was, the day was so lovely and the company so cc.)ngoniai, that they wore loth to return to the smoky suburbs. o No, the crowd of people juggling largo rocks in the bush near Hoathcoto wote not members of a weight lifting club. Boliovo i.t_or not they.woro members and prospective members of the S.B.W. The blame must be laid at the foot of Max Gentle and if much more interest is aroused it will be necessary to include a woLght lifter's section in tho Club. Any nominations for tho comrattee gratofully received, with the oxcoptian of the Presidency, which is being reserved for Dormio. —- 0 —- 0 —- Five walkers arrived at Hill Top Station end, to while away the couple of hours until train time, proceeded to “Lb ovor” the local storo in soarch of tasty edibles and scarce goods. Noting that the party consistod of 2 ladies and 3 gonts (we use the terms advisedly) the matron in charge, doubtless with vivid memories of her picnicking days, inquired “Who's the goosoborry?” Poor misguided woman! Little does She know that there's no time for “r7posoborrios” orngoosoborrying” on most of our walks! Fashion Note: The one bright Spot in the August meeting was the arrival of Billy Taplin clad in green corded velvet slacks, a yellow “Sloppy Joon, a groon scarf with a motif of osculo.tin:r 'adios, brown Guodo shoos and yellow sox. A wolf Whistle fromtho conservationists on tho front benches? No, no, it couldn't be! ,0…ng o 4…11 When Eric Rowon arrived nt Kilcaro on his Bauddi trip, without steak for the evening meal, oi a torch, and when-tho eight or so members and ton prospoctives showed signs of rebollion,. tho situation was acute. But, being a man of action, he appointed a doputyleader”to cdnduet the party to the night's corp site and, aftor waiting an hour on tho'wharf, tho steak and torch arrived in the pack of Norma Bardon. But for a tdmo it looked as if he would be in the same unfortunate prodicamont as tho O.F. 0 ilim4, 0 .mmal.m…” 14 SNAKES:. AND. LADDERS Lecture by David Stead. uTrot me out a deadly serpent, just 7th deadliest you cann ( ` Banen Pattorson) The case which David Stead brought into the Club on the evening of his lecture was disappointingly .small. Nevertheless it could have contained a venomous reptile of fair dimensions. Our hopeful nnticipations, however, were dashed when David regretfully explained that, though ho had specially caught a black snake for the occasion, it had escaped in the house a week age and hadnIt been soon since. We ware very sorry to hoar this news. So Would David's neighbours be if they knew. The ,dionco was also puzzled as to whore the ladders came in. David soon explained that he referred to the evolutionary ladder. Reptiles and amphibians wore the lowest air breathing vertobrat s in the scale of evolutionary animals. They were a very ancient form of life, having predominated on the earth during the ago of reptiles, variously estimated at eighty to two hundred minim years ago. Like all eth;r vertebrate animal life they had evolved from fishes. There wore still many amphibious animals, ouch as gals-menders, frogs and toads, which maintained their contact with the water. All life required 0.dgen.. Fish obtained thoir Oxygen by taking in large Quantities of water which passed over the filaments of the gillsswhich contained myriads of male blood vessels where the Oxygen entered the bloodstream.' The swim bladder originally used for flotation developed, in the evolutionary process, a network of small blood vessels an its surface and became the simplest form of lung. Thu human embryo passed through all the evolutionary stages from fish to human during its growth. Preceding the bony fishes wore the cartilagonous fishes which include Sharks and rays. A spiny or horny surface on the skin, originally used for protective purposes, ovolvod into the jaw and tooth structure, Which, in some rays appear as a continuation of the roughness of the skin surrounding the mouth. The Australian reptile is very similar to Asiatic types though because of the long period of separation of the Australian continent thoro had been special developments. The rodbellied black snake and tiger snske were very similar to the Indian Cobra. When angry they spread their heads in the same way as a cobra. The death adder is similar in some respects to the viperino typos of snakes of India and Africa. There were four main types of reptiles: snakes; lizards; tortoises and turtles; and crocodiles and alligators. The snakes wore a well defined typo, but it was not easy to identify a number of the species. (For example the harmless carpet and diamond snakes of N.S.W. ware very similar to the Carpot snake of Victoria and S.A. which was very venomous.) Everybody had interesting stories to tell of snt:Ikos, some of which wore quite fantastic, such as that of 'the man who got out of his car and looked over into a valley, the whole floor of which was filled with writhing carpet snakes. The lest snakes wore undoubtedly seen through the bottom of a glass. Lizards were all harmless, nonpoisonous and nonaggrossive. Only exceptions to this were a couple of Amcrical species, including the Gila Monster found in Arizena,Coloralo and Now Mexico. There wore fivo Canines of lizards. The first of those was the legless lizards, found:on the coastal sandstone strip. Legless lizards could ho distinguished from snakes by various xternal differences, the 15. first of which was their “benign expression”.. They had external ears and sensitive hearing, whorbas a snake, though it could hoar, did not readily react to noise. The jaws of a lizard wore fixed and firmly articulated whereas those of a cake wore loose - so that they ceuld open to the point whore the reptile could cat something larger than itself. Lizards chow - their tongues are, soft and fleshy. They are very easy to tame and soon bocomo friendly if fed a little. Most of the small lizards oat insects: - Next there was the gecko - and here David produced a live specimen - black and about 5 inches long, with big eyes and a large fleshy tail. It had cups on its foot so that it could climb upside down. It seldom came out of the shado7s and usually lived in caves. It lives on flies, and, An some tropical parts was responsible for almost eliminating the fly pest. When pursued it could drop its tail and escape while its enemy was busy oating the tail. We wore glad to learn that it could then grow another tail. The skinks, which were the commonest family of lizards, were represented by the land mullet, the blue tongued lizard and other species. David produced specimens of the fire-tailed skink and White's skink, Egornia Whiteii a very pretty little lizard, about eight inches long and beautifully marked– smooth skinned mottled black above and white below. This family produces living young. The young arc almost ,as large as the mother when born. There are usually 4 or 6 born at once and the mother deposits them all in separate places so that, if there is danger, some at least are likely to escape. Almost within seconds of being born they are catching flies, and within 10 minutes react very quickly and energetically to danger. (This must surely be one of the clearest cases of purely instinctive action, since, if they are deposited separately, they cannot learn from the mothcr. Ed.) The dragons are represented by rock lizardsyfrilled lizards and wa:ter dragons and the Horned' Dragon of Central_Australia - the water dragons are distinguished by their brilliant rod bellies and habit of appearing to run across the water. They are harmless, depending on the frightening effect of their raised “frill” to keep away their enemies. The monitors are represented hero by the goanna. In Java and Sumatra a apecios grows to 716” in.longth. Another species, lives entirely on the young of the turtle. The turtle deposits titomothing like 60 eggs in the sand and the monitor returns regularly to catch the young as they make their way to the sea. Anoth'er species is the Bicycle lizard of Northern Queensland.- about two foot long with a nine inch frill. When excited it gets right up on its hind legs and runs. Tho feeding habits of the monitor lizard led to an intercsting.digression on the prodigious regenerative capacity of nature - e.g. the destruction of all but a fow.of the 500,000 eggs of tho fish (either. as eggs or young fish), mutton birds piled two foot high along a four mile beach, bluebottles piled on the beach all along the coast. There were several varieties of turtles - the Sydney turtle inhabiting the mud flats round Sydney and the Murray turtles were two of the local,. types. The Luth or leathery turtle has sometimes been seen off abe coast of N.S.W. The enormous turtle seen by Myles Dunphy of Beecroft Pen' would have been a leathery turtle. 16. There wore two varieties of crocodile in Australia. The Queensland crocodile (Crocodilusjohnstonii), growing to eout 7 feet long and not dangerous, and the Asiatic Crocodile (Crododilus porosus) of Northorn Australia and the tropics which was to be avoided. After this David showed us slidos, first an excellent evolutionary diagram from the American publication 'Natural History ” published by the American Museum of Natural History, which he strongly recommends that the Club Library Should buy, and then photographs of a groat variety of reptiles including the Tuotara lizard of Now Zealand, a python which had swallowed an antelope, the cobra, diagrams of the heads of snakes, Showing teeth and fangs, the 'red racer“ of Mexico which must dash out and back quickly before the desort heat overcomes it, and a rock lizard before and after changing colour. Interesting comments included a description of the hamadryad, al. king cobra ono of the most terrible of living things, which grows to 16 or 18 foot in length and can roar to a height. of seven foot. The death adder rolios on its protective colouring it will not got out of a person's way like other snakes. One typo of snake, an African viper, has rotractiblo fangs two inches long. After this lecture members will look upon the reptiles with a more friendly and understanding eye, remembering porhaps, that.wo too wero once reptiles. Not many pooplo know anything of those interesting creatures and We pore very lucky to have David to tell us about them. PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION The programme for the next month is as follows: September 2,rd. October 28th. November 25th. December. 1949 January 27th. February 24th. Exhibition of work done over last few months. Afterwork on Prints– lecture. Lecture on Stereoscopy and demonstration. NO MEETING. Talk on Enlarging and how to make Enlargers. Talk on Mounting, etc. Most lectures will, if possible, bo by outside exports. If you want to hoar a particular lecture, make enquiries, as datos may have to ho shuffled, , There will be a photographic ramble in early November details on the programme. Ray Kirkby. The U.S. Government investigated the origin of the 87,789 forest fires which wore reported in 1940. Of thoso 18,248 wore traced directly to smokers, while there is no doubt that many of untraced fir r. were of the same origin. Readors will notice that the magazine is produced this month in smaller typo. If the typo proves satisfactory future issues will be of 14 or 16 pages instead of 16 or 18. But the amount of reading matter will be the same.

194809.1491531979.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/04/07 12:26 by tyreless

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