Jim Brown

This took a little more time than the short-lived May Meeting - but only a little longer. Minutes were understandably quite brief and in “matters arising” we heard Heather White had reported on the Kangaroo Valley land purchase negotiations with the Society of Friends were proceeding, but it appeared that prices had been agreed upon with $3860 as the S.B.W share.

The President then called hopefully for nominations for several vacant offices, and although a Lady Committee member was not to be had, Jack Perry undertook magazine sales and circulation activities; and Marion Lloyd volunteered as one delegate to the Nature Conservation Council. There was a suggestion of Helen Grey as the added S & R Contact being sought.

Movement of personnel occupied some of the Correspondence with Dawn & Brian Anderson transferring to non-active and Pat and Ian Wood going active. Mention was made of a Nature Conservation exhibition to be held in July/August and moves were initiated to obtain some SBS custodians (this Project later came to naught). The Treasurdr reported a. month of favourable results with current funds rising by about VO tea cloeing figure of $57.82 there are many outstanding subscriptions.

Although three programmed walks folded up for lack of starters, there was reasonable walking activity in May, beginning with a party of 9 on Bill Gillam's trip to Splendour Rock. and Cox's River, and 29 on Jim Calloway's day walk in National Park. On the second weekend Bob Younger, with a party of 10, carried out a mid-day Saturday start to Blue Gum and Grand Canyon, and 13 folk went down Middle Harbour Creek on a day walk with Gladys Roberts - some of the party had a dry lunch as the creek smelt “high”. The Instructional Walk from Mt. Caley to the Grose and back via Coal Mine Creek was led by Don Finch, the party of 21 including 17 prospective members. On the same weekend Marion Lloyd had 8 people on an energetic trip over the Queahgong-Guonogang massif, and back via Kanangaroo and Yellow Dog.

Coming to the fourth weekend of the month, Barry Pacey was leader of 16 who made the circuit Kanangra-Cloudmaker-Kowmung River and back via Gingra Range, and on the Sunday 21 were out on Jack Gentles Otford-Burning Palms-Helensburgh day jaunt, On the final week-end Joan Rigby and party of six were out on Wollemi Creek and the Colo River, and David Ingram's day test walk topped the attendance score with 32 (Waterfall-Woronora Trig-Heathcote).

Federation Report was temporarily deferred to see if a delegate with a detailed report would turn up but finally Alan Round gave a brief verbp,i roper-b9 Mentioning S & R had received two alerts - one from a party who sought to canoe down the Caper-bee/Cole Rivers on :Anzac week:-end and finally got out a week later. It is also, thought that the usual annual S & R demonstration maybe allowed to lapse this year but the New Zealand Alpine Club has offered to give :k demonstration of rescue operations in snow country Federation had issued a warning on leaving empty rlastAc -a-t.,3 around campng places after ten cows on a farm iro-certy dierl from eatiniT lags left by an Army group on exercises.

The President announced that some Committee members wondered if Club rules should be framed to cover the possible suspension of members in view of the abolition of an old resolution relating to such action. Your reporter suggested that the expunged rule merely covered the question of payment of subscription by a suspended member and the Constitution already gave Committee scope for any punitive action it may deem desirable save that the extreme penalty of expulsion oara-LA a right of appeal,

With a reference to celebration of our senior.J-4;izen -“ (Taros) 90th birthday late in June? the Meeting came to its close at 9.00 p.m,

E. (Ted) Caines Phillips of the Rivox Canoe Club passed away last month after a brief illness. Members of long standing particularly those who served on Committee will recall the sketch maps of various districts prepared by him and forwarded for our information, He was the author of several books on walks in the Sydney area and South Coast now unfortunately out of print). His extensive knowledge of the country within 100 miles of Sydney was always available to the members of Club who sought it

BE A DEVIL AND LEAD A MLK1 UTWIALYS.4,

Marion Lloyd

At Mittagong we scrambled out of the first carriage down a ladder then a short jump to the ground, stumbled along the track and up onto the platform. We collected our bikes from a bewildered station assistant then stoked up at the cafe before proceeding to ride the 18 miles to Malcolm's Farm. The last bit was very hilly, muddy and bumpy, certainly not ideal conditions at 1.30 in the morning. However, Fitz's horn prevented stragglers from drifting off. We reached Malcolm's Farm about 2 a.m,

Next morning we proceeded down Burnt Flat Creek, which was badly eroded from recent rains making it treacherous in parts and slow going, often lifting our bikes across the creeks and numerous obstacles. Lyn Drummond had a spectacular bust up on her bike but escaped with multiple bruising.

Before leaving the creek it was quite obvious that not all were going to make it to Katoomba. Five decided to take the track back to Picton. From here the track became much better but still very hilly and bumpy. However, we turned off fire trail too early to follow a sheep path down a gradual then very steep hill to the Toliondi7ly. To our horror and dismay the river was in full flood.

Bushwalkers can be very pig-headed at times and we were quite determined to reach Katoomba at all costs. However, it became quite clear that all the combined know-how could not produce a floating object, Here I have noted some examples -

1. A long log was propelled across by 3 intrepid swimmers. Half way across the current was too strong, log abandoned, swimmers returned.
2. Two long logs with two bikes on top tied together with boot lace; but forgot to check whether logs floated. Ten feet-out these went to the bottom.
3. Optimistically, two bikes were thrown on some logs that had previously floated one. 15 feet out our ferry submerged rapidly with great displacement of water.
4. A log was fitted cross bar and handle bars of H.M.B. Wade. Wade rode through the water like a torpedo only to disappear gracefully out of view. Apologies to the tadpoles were given for this intrusion.

One hour later discussions and lunch over, we grudgingly surrendered to the Wollondilly. So it was back to Picton for us too. First we had to push our bikes up a fantastically steep rocky hill. We got over the top and Graham optimistically suggested taking the right fire trail (now about 2.45 p.m) to Yerranderie, reckoning we could get there by 8 p.m. After much umming and ahring, boss Russo decided it was too late and that we should catch the others up, So the race was on again and as usual we spent most of our time trudging up the hills, and jackhammering down them. Every bone felt dislocated and my muscles like quivering blubber. Not long afterwards we caught up with the others so it was a good excuse for afternoon tea.

By and by we found we were riding along the shores of a very big pond, the sunset on it was beautiful giving it a tinge of pink may be that is why it is marked in pink on the map. We picked our camp site well out of sight of the highway. Here we saw lots of ducks and swans and a lot of kangaroos (about 6) hopping around.

Next day we found the track very busy with bulldozers and workmen as quite a few sections of the road had collapsed due to recent rains with splits up to 12 feet deep. For a few hours we followed the shores of this pond. All was beautiful and quiet except the occasional hum of machinery and it was a glorious day, Eventually this track joined the tarred road down to the Nattai. We had a good spin down a steep long hill to the Nattai but to our dismay the bridge had been washed away so we had to make a detour of about a mile up river before we found a place to cross. Here we had lunch, then worked away down the river. Before the bridge we had to make another detour up and over very steep scrub as we didn't particularly want the bridge fixers to know we were around. Back on the tarred road again we commended the very gradual climb of several miles from the Nattai. The country was beautiful with water all along the road, but it was more than once we were practically skittled by that cursed species called Sunday Afternoon Tourists.

About 3.30 p.m. a man in a land-rover coming towards us pulled Dot and myself up. The dreaded ranger. He bawled at us “Ya going up…didn't ya see that notice”. We looked back and about twenty feet down the road was a notice with half the paint weathered away and slightly hidden by bush “NO CAMPING; NO FIRES, CAMPERS PROHIBITED, FINE $l00,” “Oh dear, terribly sorry we didn't see it on the way down” says I. After he roared off I said to Dot “Phew, twenty feet this side of the law. That was close. Just as well he didn't see us near his pond.”

Apparently the ranger got the same answer every time he pulled up a group. By the time he got to Lynn who was last in line, he had given up asking or he had lost his voice.

After this calamity and when we were all together again, we had a little bit of something whilst giving our, various versions. Eventually we got on to the tarred road to Picton. Not far out of Picton is this fantastically steep long tight winding hill: The only time I applied the brake was when a stupid idiot came around the corner on the wrong side. Fuming that I had to slow down, I went around the next corner so fast I nearly went over the safety fence. Later we all agreed it was the best downhill spin of the trip.

We reached Picton about 5 p.m., quenched our thirst at the pub while we ate fish and chips. However, one chap was going to ride back to Sydney. He left his pack on the pub verandah .' Some of us thought he had gone up to the cafe with some of the others. About an hour later he came to the cafe wanting to know if any of us had his pack because it wasn't at the pub. He had ridden about ten miles before he realised he wasn't carrying his pack. This meant he had no money and had lost a new pack and other new equipment. We had to pass his sock around to get enough for his fare home.

The train we were to catch was full. The guard wouldn't have us in his van - against regulations - and the old ladies and civics wouldn't let us contaminate them, so we had to stand, sit or lie.

SKI TIPSg Angulation, the dropping of your downhill shoulder, is the way to give edging control and stability to your skis. In the' traverse the lateral plane of the hips is parallel more or less to the slope. If your lower shoulder is brought back at the same time so that the line through your shoulder is parallel to the line joining your ski tips you are in a perfect, stable safe position. Always warm up well before the day's skiing. Knee bends, body bends with your chin touching your knees, calithenics in general all help. So will .a lot of bushwalking. 'Then skiing from a lift check your bindings before running down. INDULGE YOURSELF Mn) LEAD TWO. UALKSI.

The Ups and Downs of OF BTOKEY -oaK RANGE. Dorothy Noble.

It was obvious from the outset that this was going to be a Pat Harrison Special, Thursday night (it was Anzac weele;end) saw the glow of eight torch beams bobbing their waY down the track at Kanalwa. A few lights terminated at a snug little cave above the trade while the remainder continued on to that ohilly'cavern further down. Next morning the leader , truu to style was up ancl away bounding energetically acroSs the Tops Thile the rust of the party was still engaged in the usual semi-conscios potterinFS. around before .breakfast. 7ith the leader but of the way the party heaved a sigh of relief and settled down to a loieureiy meal. Fortunately we caught the loader up in time for us to admire the view togethez. before tv.rnin8 away from the vo icy to head towards tho Gingra Range, Ro,.;s Hughes stTo(90 aheac], :Intent on locating his ridge (it actually is named after , relative of his) hotly pursued. by Alan Round who was intent on proving someh.ghly original theory about his muscloe The rest of us proceeded in a more dignified manner and turned down Euezhos Ridge to arrive at the Kowmung River by late morni.ng To our surprise the other two wore not there. 7o waited, thinking that they may have landed a little up or do,vnstream. Mile we waited, two cattleman on horses arrivel surrounded by a surging mass of yelping dogs and leading a couple of cows. The few words that passed betwden the men and ourselves convinced Pat that they were highly suspicious oharacters especially when one of them refused to take Pat's beets across the river with them. Consequenily, with-our imaginations fiTed, we entertained ourselves by inventing elaborate series .to explain their actions. But thes6,were hae-dly more exaggerated than the ones we begain suggesting to ex.pl'ain the eentInuint abe sence of Ross and Alan. Pat had planned on at least reaching Butcher Creek or even green Wattle Creek by nightfall so that we could do Broken Rock?: Range the next day. We doubted however, whether Ross or Alan 11,16. an appropriate map with them zo we considered going down the Xowmung as far as Gingra- Creek and making a fixed camp, especially as Marion Ellis intended to anyway. Thon rre could do a day trip out ” to Broken Rock. Admittedly this meant.dLing 25 miles in ore da,y, 8. The Sydney Bushwalker. July, l969 but, as our leader was careful to pint out, we could do it if we got up early enough, namely 5.30 a.m. Since such an idea was too' horrible to contemplate, we put it from our minds ana decided in the meantime we'd cross the river and have lunch. Barry nearly froze,doing gallant St. Christophors across the swiftly flowing waters, and others got their clothes wet mid stream. But a warm fire, a warm sun ana a two hour lunch later and we had all revived. Our thoughts turned once again to the missing two boas. Maybe they's missed the turnoff and gone all the way down the Gingra, or gone down the wrong ridge or pherhaps they's gone on ahead and were aiming for Butcher 'u Creek. Eventually our resourceful leadar.deidea we'd camp down the river anal() the day trip out to Broken . Rock. He had cunningly omitted to tell us that this variation would turn the trip into a good fifty So in blissful ignorance we sauntered down the Kowmung, stopping periodically to try and decipher the various footprints whenever they trailed across a particularly muddy section of track. 7011, they weren't there to greet us at Gingra Creek, so we set up camp and cooked cinner while we considered new theories and picked others apart. 7e 'd nearly finished eating when they appeared, looking rather the worse for wear. Liter a lengthy interval when they made a semblance of recovery, they began their explanations which unfortunately came in disjointed clumps that took most of the weekend to sort out. It appeared that Round's Rantings and Hughes Blues had lead them astray on an incredibly ridiculous wildgoose chase up and down various parts of the Gingra Trail (apparently they stopped and waited for us when they were only five minutes ahead and by some miracle we managed to pass them). They even managed to find a new way off the Gingra, a route that landed them in a creek which they refused to describe to us in English. They weren't quite sure what part of the river they had landed on, because unlike our leader who always has at least six Lands Department maps in each pocket, Ross had no map at all and they's walked off the only one that Alan had. However, after a bite to eat they even managed to do some thinking and after deciding where they were, they haaded downstream. They found our lunch spot, and after being hopelessly confused. by the myriads of footprints in umpteen different dirctions, they eventually sorted things out and galloped down the Kowmung in the dark until they found us. 9 The Sydney Dushwalkor, July1969. Our news of a 7 o'clock start next morning did. not Seem to cheer them up g:reatly. The night was clear before the arrival of an early morning mist which settled around us and dampened the air. 7e breakfasted to the sounds of the gently lowing cattle across the river as our cattle duffers and their dogs moved them about the yards.. By half past seven we were .ready to leave,having spent some time . organising three packs between seven people. 7e left Marion behind to mind the camp and spend a restful day on the river. After catching up with the leader who had of course left n tic,, we h2a4ed. an a ride . - ''h wildflewe 0 lore iozg we aaLL climbed, out ox he miss and erY-i.Oofc'in,s- and at a clear blue sky as we followed the road. post “Bran Jan” and onto Scott's Main Range Here we turnedight and walked along. the road, keeping our eyes. peeled to avoid the occasional dingo trap. After a mile or so the leader Selected a map from his extensive files, looked at it and charge offinto the scrub, explaining as we-followed that this was where there, ought to be a rid4ze leading into3utchers Greek. Needless to say there was, and after tramping down the bare arid' burnt-out ridge we came to Butcher's Crook which was beautiful with its clear sparkling. water lighting up the trees and rocks, giving them an unusual brilliance in the shadows of the creek Before leaving the creek we boiled the billy for a quick morning tea and filled all available containers with water because we were unlikely to find any more until late afternoon when we would again be on Butchers Creek. 70 started up a likely looking ridge, scattering kangaroos. as we went, and after gaining height gradually for some time we saw the impressive sight of the end of .3rokon Rock Range. towering above us, dry and rocky and supported by… buttresses of crumbly rod earth. As we made our way to the' top, we began to feel less kben about the clear blue sky, but we were thankful not to have to carry all our gear as originally plarned. There was a final rock scramble and leveringup of bodies before -we finally reached the top and started off along the longth,of the range. There was a surprising amount of cover on tor, as it was well treed and even managed to house some lyrebirds. We walked along, waiting .hopefully for a suitable lunch spot to ap,obar before us Eventually Alan did some detouring arid- found a little cave and, to CUT amazement, a creek with water in it. So we all plonked down, our spirits soaring at the thought of water for lunch.. 00 THE VIE OLE HOG 1117,*0 A1ALE A MONTH.' 10. The Sydney Dushwalker. July, 1969,, Many sandwiches and cups of tea later we left the little creek, which was later discovered to ho Fritz's Creek, and contnued on our way. 7eld passed the tz:Ig station and the “Break” which names the range and which makes the; only route off it other than the onds. 7e continued onwards in an unending series of ups and downs, a couple of hundred feet each time. Every bumf, we thought must ho the last one (i.e. the one on the end), but it never seemed to be, as each time we reached the top only to see another drop below us and another rise beyond that. Just as we were beginning to gat worried about the failing light, we came to the last of tho rooky rise anil t=ned off tho range onto a ridge. 7e began picking our Ii9ay carefully down the rest of the way carefully down the stoop crumbly bits, and then thundering dawn the rest of th.0 way in the hope of reaching Butchers Creak before it was completely. dark. This we just managod, and after a good many gulps of lemon and lime we started, au u half ,east five, to make our way up the 2,000 foot of =age onto Scott's Main Range. As we later discovered, we came upon the road somewhere near New Yards. The party collapsed in an oddly re,gular lino on the roadside and after a while began to think of food and scrab-eled in the bottom of the three po,cks for the few rernaAning bits and pieces. Then all was eaten we started plodding the miles along the white, moonlit road, and again made the occasional dicey detour to avoid a dingo trap. 7e waited at the turnoff for beds to catch up, and then it was all downhill to the causeway on the KowiLung whre we walked upstream a short distance to roach the camp, It was ten past nine when arrived, and we were exceedingly tired, so wo were really grateful when we saw that Marion had a firc still going for us, although she had gone to bed, For a long while we sat around it in silence no anorgy. Around 10 o'clock there were some stirrings as some thought of food and others of bed. Then followed some weary wanderings around. the camp as packs and gear were sorted out In our absence Marion ,11o,d, cleaned our billies to such a shine that nobody knew whose was whose, and she's even aired our sleeping bags. Confusion ensued with Laurie using someone else's billies and Doug managing to sleep in two bags at once, neither of them his own, Around midnight everything had been sorted out and everyone eventually reunited with their gear, could at last go to sleep The fine weather stayed on for Sunday, and after some debate we decided to go up : ingra Crook and Croft's Ridge, over Page's Pinnacle to Crofts Ta11 and back along to Kanangria. -Vt

tigootii3 ,1111,\ ….2:i:oiLesiewxw;sumomailairmoi530.114iO4-s —it1“4419r17e67 , ;6,1- , 70. w,.. ,c:1:eLLourway 'UpGingra. Crook 3 stopping in places to 'Itrarvcd at.th&.smOeth wator-wo= 2c:cks vividly coloured in pinks and - greY;s3 .ST,tasmu.r.plos.1-.,and whites and -beiges, and.carved.into beauiful'crvinggeomotrs, The sha7os.41*,Saregularthat:Ahey MUS 1_L; 121t1OGIAtiea1,; and thc cloar water curves over them like delicatellown_glass arots Ridge rises at thc, junction of Gingrg Creek,and Gabs Crook ani-this as where wo plannedito'haVe lunch before going u7,,, Eut before 6etting thc.ro we managed to have two false alarms'At p. co creel::junctions inuch..to the ire Of,thp.hung”…y Lumber.s h4rass(4 digostive ;juices began voicing a .noisy diSapprc!'vaL; At 11,5.noL t1L2e, those with much food left ate-weq; and th:osQvrha 1:a.dr.12t .c4dn&t, Ler a good hour wo reluctant-Ir. left tho r.;rock gnd.r,;baTto/ slozvly up tile ridge.' Tv hours later vao. wc:1o.,admi2in24' t:ile marvellous .111.07 from Pages:Pinnadle. :Trie were 0)12 to .p6int. out the routa wo“:d'folloWed and saw that the whole lon..f.;th of 3-.i'okon Rock Rango was clearly discernible .and we r6alisea how irpmensoly setic,fying tho trip had .been. mada cur way -at) to Crofts all and along Kilpatrick -gauseWa-as flp_ sun cark low. The inimitable view from Kanangra wag cnhance1 an tho colden afttnoon.light and my.memory of it So viwid:thatt'no subauc,n;.- car tiournoy to Blackheath seemed to last.but a fev conds. N ,ft7=ser,,e%M.' WX12a41.- 16011124:44..11,} Amagtakai6,2,40011MEMSIONtaglaWaftwesvieaal trdilkZIRMIr7ZWPACM.M . - H ONTN '?1 Di'YS m0 (-'0. String 7a1ks Progl'amma(Ttember-November) is not . . exabtly.r6tellin,:, in the abundance that should be Spring. discrepancy by spilling a c=“4Ucop'Uqull of waks pnii:t,-3.2isthe-olub-room or pouring un1J the sap,ri.ses. 'Select d date and book now to avo:id:.diS#pedatmont. If you're Listand.don't know where to go, t-ctic;Phon(i c.4;84-44497 (1-1),; 610-0251 ext .15(B). , - con'mot WaLks Secreta* - she has,just.the walk' for you. ' - - - 9 - 7 ; 0 / - 12 - 4 '44 .<73 - iTHE GATETTAY,TO ADVENTURE. . r ) Threligh Paddy's doors have dome hutdreds of young people looking for a-:ClUb to joinasking for advice on equipment and on places to go, Vbtaining detailed information6bout trips both tough 'and easy. . . , . Paddy Pallin is not Only Australia's original and lead ing lightweight camp -gear specialiWt, Paddy's shop is -the complete equipment centre for ill the requirements al of Bushwalkers, Rock-climbers, C pers, Ski Tourers an Mountaineers. It is - he meeting ace they they can have a yarn, broue over maps, choose the best equipment, find all the little things they require, get a special job done or some goal' repaired, just as generations of walkerlhave done since 1931. Good advice to all new members: GO TO PADDY'S AND GL] PADDYMADE GEAR. TIM\ HAVE THE' EXPERIENCE. A,A 'Paddy Pallin Pty. Limited, I109a Bathurst Street, SYDNEY. 2000

Phone:- 26-2685, 26-2686. , _ -“4011111 PADDY PALLIN Lightweight Camp Gear ut Roar, 10BA Bathurst _Street, Sydney PAR.9 * THE SYDNEY BUSHMALKER JuLy,_1.9Ap-, Page la. July 30th (omitted from Social Programme) A patrol officer from New G will give a slide talk on July 30th. It should be a Lea interesting and informative evening with the recent uprising there. We'll be able to ,get some of the background on this. All members who have not paid their membership fees are reminded that they are long overdue. Keep our accountant happy. Active Subs $5.50 Active Students $3.50 Non Active $1.00 Plus mag. sub. $1.50 The Surveyors Craq Don't miss the chance to survey the breathtaking panomara from this vantage point. The miles and miles of burnt black bushes will give enough bruises to gladden the heart of any masochist. And the views make it all worthwhile for ordinary mortals. The trip, a good twenty-five miles should be classes as M-R and will be going

on August 22 23 24. See Mike Short.

… 3 13. The Sydney Bushwalkor. .July, 1969 QJse.

L"r

TIT-WAVE “It was a damn close run thing. The Duke of n said after 77aterldo In many years of watching the training :films of a rather hazardous indtry I have grown in.- different to the “Fire Triangle” and'thejrell-conducted laboratory demonstrations and the rather fright'ening attempts in practico_to remove one side of the triang19. Fuel, oxygen. and the source of ignition. Familiarity with-fire does not breed 'contempt. The wail of a siren or the jangling of a blood rod telephone starts a reflex action which, if I were a religeuse, ,yould start by crossing myself, Not being so inclined, I merely shudder and remember to do up my seat bel.on the way to the ' station. The theory of fire fighting is;, of course, very simple. Removing. one side of the-angle will remote the fire. 7hen the (fuel is Royal National Park it is difficult to remove the fuel -and still have a park, although this is virtually tho present par Sition.- Ir.mically the source of ignition occurred during 'ire Prevention Week, Even if you don't drink:the water you must still breathe the air. None of the “Heralds”, correspondents suggested ,pccluding oxygen from our National Parks. - The problem then comes down to the practice of fire fighting and the future of all our - National Parks-is basically dependent on fire damage and control, The tragedy of the last days of October hts probably caused more .damage 'than all the potential mismanagement, inertia and rubbish clumping combined. All our National Parks are basically botanical in con- cept, Oolong possibly excepted,: The mahagement ultimately must ,be ooncerned with the preservation of the flora assuming that if . we harp a complete cover and a close to natural association of genera there will be faunal population to follow. The Hoathcote - Primiti've Area, now the Heathcote Park, is ample demonstration that this can be brained (the absence of wheeled vehicles ensures that rubbish doesn't extend far beyond the gates). 7here a few ,week6 ago there may have been some clima.A aSsociations left in tbe. park this is now unlikely. We can only look forward to a 'regeneration which will almost certainly be of a lower order2 and. which in fact will take at least ten years to approach a reason- 'abl6 leVel for a park. Many of the larger angophoras reached the 'limit of their survival during the fires. I doubt if they will be replaced.-.. 14. The $yclney Bushwa,lker. July, 1969. Ten years is the approxiniate time it takes for seedling eucalypts and casuarinas and'mallee-rooted stock to grow 15-20 feet; hakeas and banksias need about the same time to mature and hold fruit for the next regeheration Because the overhead story of large trees has bec–Lreduced the content of the cover is increasingly made up of hakes and casuarinas and less of the more delicate heaths a',nd sought after flowers. The Park klust degenerate with each fire.. At ten years there is a dense understory of extremely inflammable material reaching to the fully recoyered crowns of the larger trees. ,This is the stage for an extremely dangerous situation, the understorey brews up the crowns mihnli explode through an immense clqua of burning gas into further crowns. At any time after ten years the first critical drought of winter and s.ering provide, with the undergrowth the real source of ignition. It is no coincidence that the literature cites 13 years as the critical cycle; ton years plus the statistical certainty of one severe drought e.o 7).7a';c riroual year in five. Our own 1984 could coneaivably sea the whole of the south east coast of Australia ablaze again. That is being done? Despite the evidence of devastation, something is being done. Sutherland Shire is the .key to the protection of the Royal National Park and to a lesser rextentthe Heatlecote Park. In the past few years the effectiveness of the Bush Fire brigades has increased enormously due to the creation of the office of Fire Control. Officer and the provision of motile radios that at last are r;eliable. The FCO had political troubles at its gestation, an area larger than the Shire being advocated at one time by an interested group. Ray 7atchorn, the FCO2 is a full time Shire employee, a trustee of the Heatheoto Primitive Area and has that rare quality in a boss to inspire loyalty. He has bushwalker's knowledge of the terrain (complimenting bushwalkers), and a realistic grasp of what is possible. His No. 2, usually Communications Officer, is Max Lowe the Ranger for Heathcote Park. Another “leader” but with a shorter temper. They are the only “paid!' officers excluding Park officers. The area'of responsibility extends from' the 7ater Board Road to the 7oronora Dam, Garrawarra, to the 6eorges River at Deadmans Greek, the Kurnell peninsula, Heathcote Park and the northern side of the Heathcote Road. For reasons of physical safety it does not now include the Military Area - live if defective mortars and that - sort of thing. In the normal course of events house fires are dealt with by the appliances of the Metropolitan Fire Board. There is a control room in 7atchorn's house at Heathcete 15. The Sydney Bushwalker. July,1969, and a radio/conference room in the Shire Chaadb.ers and brigades at Illawong, Sndy Point, Menai, Lucas Heights (a of A), Loftus? Heathcote, hainbar, Bundeena, Kurnell and ngadine. A Land Rover tender, Yarrawarrah, is manned by residents of the “asphalt” suburbs not normally considered bush fire risks. A fire occurring in one area is the responsibility; initially, of the brigade in that area, Dependent on the magnitude and prejeated course of the outbreak the Group Office can request .assistance from any or all of the other brigades. This reciprocity is JiLot taken lightly? to Call out a brigade to put'out.a fire extinguished during the call out inertia is, damaging to Morale, there houses are immediately threatened the Fire Board can and does provide “last ditch” protection if reticulated water is available leaving the bushfire brigades to mop up or control fire, where access is more difficult. This is nci denigration of the Fire Board. Being paid ultimately by the. Insurance Cos tha;y mustyfollow the tune the boss plays. The Fire Board can be backed up by appliances from most of the metropolitan area, the degree oi help being balanced against the denudation of the city fire covar It comes, ultimately, and at times with terrifying suddenness, to a concern for lives. The Polide Force can supply men_at short notice for “lac se-pulling”,-ancilIiarics such as affibulanee, the Salvation. Army, the Red Cross and the Cliff Rescue Sqliad appear almost by magic, day or night. T40, Regular Army is ponderous, querulous and exclUdiVe… PreSent equipment of the Brigades is based on 4-wheel drive vehicles, at least 25 years old but well maintained. The “off- highway capacity is necessary to negotiate fire trails and at times the heath and more-open wooded areas,, They carry water tanks of five hundred gallons, two pumps, live hose reels of rubber and an assortment of canvas hose from 1” to 2i-”? Knapsacks, the rake-hoe HaCleod tools5 First Aid.. gear including AirViva Crews take their chance somewhera. Aminimum of five, Deputy. Captain, driver-radio operator, pumpman and two helpers is desirable. The trucks have radio communication with the control centre and with each other and walkie-talkies nozle-to-ppmp and captain-to-driver. Ideally all jobs are interchangeable. Engadine has a converted petrol tanker, not 4-wheel drive, of 1,000 gallons capacity and is frequently used to replenish the other tenders in the field. It can negotiate most of the fire trails. Shortly all brigades will be re-equipped with now 4-wheel drive Bedfor6s, uniformly equipped so the capability of eac4 tender 3s known to all and the effectiveness of the whole system improved, 16. The Syaliey, Bushwalker. July,1969. 1 Tactics to -b3 effectivuare infinitely variable but depend on training a thorough knowlOge of the area and co-operation.' Preferably fires are “washed” right out. This implies that time is available for the job, water is unlimited and that the perim- eter has been secured, Fires burning slowly at night can be put right out- We have 1)umpcd, at times, through 3,opo feet of hose for eight hours to put out some outbreaks. The recovery, stowage9 drying and re-rolling of so much hose is exhausting work. If washing a small fi_ris not feasible and conditions are suitable handtools can isolate a firs and “spote'prevented with knapsacks. This is the o1117 justifiEble use of knapsacks, or indeed of any work dono 1.way from tho tender, , Frontal assaults from fire trails need conditions less than explosive and likely to remain so. It is only under these conditions that a “backburn” is allowed and -justified - then only if sufficient men and water are a-ailable to prevent spotting. The burn is lit as the main fire aprroachs allowed to burn towards the front and then extinguished from thOtrail inwards. 7ith the advancing front blunted the edges of the main blaze not directly downwind are attacked. Several years ago the brigades controlled a major fire during a,Fock of intnse bleat with frequent wind changes it was not ricIeaa%'H21.74rocVoini5 f&WAI–r,–534114M IllaPtaforraTalqutirgaSrm pheric heat, It was possible to allow the fire well within a hundred yards of a trailvTlaurn and then wash. That looked like being a disastrous fire was contained betweentrails End the Hacking Riveru How effective aro the volunteer bmtades? Up to conditions: on the possible side of catastror.hic the combination of sufficient training, suitable equipment, mobility and good leadership the 'brigades can control fires in the R.N.? and the Heathcote Park. PossTh: Eimilar situation exists for Kuring-gai Chase and the Blue Mountains National ?ark. I don't know and can't comment.' In the catastrophic conditions of late October no amount of men or equipment could have saved the par4:, Fire crossed the gorge of the Woronora almost from top to tap, a carry of 800 ,rards. A similar carry crossedthe Hacking Rivera There was no chance. Brigades sent north along the Highway to extricate other brigades were stopped by flames; by the time they turned to retreat they were enclosed,. Internal combustion engines need oxygen.to.uerate, as do firefighters, Motors and men ' stop suddenly when thero is no oxygen left for them. It is the limit of human effort.. It was reached.' . Waves reaching a shore. are the result Of storm Centres scattered over the ocean:. When the wave patterns interact: they sometimes 'cancel -each other and then reinforce.' :171.yoften the. fifth wave is an enormous wave enguifing.the rock. fisherman… It is too late to learn to swim when you have counted to four NEV. BIGGER SHOWROOM FOR TALKING GEAR. . “THE CANtE 72:PRE”, A COMPLETE -DISPLAY CENTRE FOR-:rGEOFF BARKER” CANOES KAYAKS AND ACCESSORIES. HIRE YOUR FAIRY DOWN SLEEPING-BAG, ii-riumE PACK OR TENT FROM OUR EQUIPMENT HIRE DEPARTMENT. USE OUR ,Nr.fJ-, FREE.LIB Y.ZtRVICv :tlitthia '10 CLD4BeER:S… . . And , SUst.to make sure we are givAngyoutop, service we 'Open at 8.30 a.m. On-Saturday mornings you can park right In front so make MOUNTAIN,EQUIPMENT your first stop1 165 Pacific Highway, North Sydney. 929-6504. 18. The Sydney Bushwalker. July, 1969 OOLONG - WON OR LOST. 3069. Rolf Janssen. The fight . save Oolong is still on - it must not lag for if we lose this case future cases will be harder to win. Many of our beaches and the Barrier Reef are threatened in the “interest” of the Statb-and nation under the'heading of MATING. Many readers have already shown support to SAVE OOLONG by 1) sendd,ng articles to me referring to the Oolong issue. Please keep 1c,hem rolling in. Send the entire pagd in which the article. occurs.because' a) it saves you cutting it out b) me from losing it if it is small c)gives me the date, place and type of publioation all very important 2) Giving support, if they can at a time when the Oolong Committee wants to pUblicise Government vandalism'. If you want to be asked to help SAVE OOLONG Vni the following details to the Membership Secretary Rolf Janssen: Name Address at home Home Tel. No. Business Address Bus Tie No. Have you access to a car? 7i11 you take passengers How many? The Oolong Committee 1) Has had a meeting with management of A.P.O.M. to reconsider mining in the Oolong Caves area - details in the next issue as they are not ready at present. 2) Is arranging for a “Cave-in” (living in the caves which are to be mined) around 8th August. Your participation is welcomed. See the club notice board for more exciting details or contact the membership Secretary or the Oolong Committee, Next issue - revealing details of Government incompetence on the Oolong scandal. SAVE OOLONG OR LOSE EVERYTHING. REMINDER. FROM THE TREASURER: The majority of members have not yet paid theirannual.stibscription. The Treasurer appeals to all who are guilty in this respect to assist the Club by the payment of their dues.