197312
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- | I SAW A STRANGE LAND. | + | =====I Saw A Strange Land.===== |
by Marion Lloyd. | by Marion Lloyd. | ||
- | I first saw those conglomeration of dames clearly, rising up out of | + | |
- | the vast flat land and surrounding sandhills from the summit of that mammoth boulder, Ayres Rock. | + | I first saw those conglomeration of domes clearly, rising up out of the vast flat land and surrounding sandhills from the summit of that mammoth boulder, Ayres Rock. |
- | I was now sitting having breakfast and gazing at the western Olgas. For the first time in days the sky was blue and the day warm. A thick white cloud in the form of a waterfall was wisping its way over the apex of Mt. Olga and gently cascading down the other side into the Wind Gorge. All through the' | + | |
- | The Olgas were known by the aborigines in this area as Katajuta (kata | + | I was now sitting having breakfast and gazing at the western Olgas. For the first time in days the sky was blue and the day warm. A thick white cloud in the form of a waterfall was wisping its way over the apex of Mt. Olga and gently cascading down the other side into the Wind Gorge. All through the day, particularly at sunrise and sunset, the Olgas presented many moods and changing colour. |
- | head, juta many). The highest tor is Mt. Olga (Ngunarra) which is 3507 ft? | + | |
- | above sea level and 1790 ft. above the ground. The group covers 13-i square | + | The Olgas were known by the aborigines in this area as Katajuta (kata = head, juta = many). The highest tor is Mt. Olga (Ngunarra) which is 3507 ft. above sea level and 1790 ft. above the ground. The group covers 13 1/2 square miles. It was first sighted by Giles on 22nd October and named by him after "Olga, a Grand Duchess of Russia who married the King of Greece and who was therefore Queen of Greece and not of Spain as incorrectly appears in some publications" |
- | publications" | + | |
- | Gosse was the first white man to reach both places. He reached | + | Gosse was the first white man to reach both places. He reached |
- | Rock on 19th July 1873. , He climbed it and named it after Sir Henry Ayres, Governor of South Australia. He also sighted and named Mt. Connor 18th July9 1873. Gosse attempted to climb Mt. Olga "up which I scrambled 900 ft. and | + | |
- | , . | + | Geologically, |
- | -- . | + | |
- | Page 4 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | These weird and wonderful formations I was gazing at must surely be regarded as one of the great natural wonders of the world, there couldn' |
- | could have reached the top', but I was not so sure about being able to get dawn again" | + | |
- | Geologically, | + | As I sat there I pondered not only on this strange mountain' |
- | hills composed of conglomerate which was formed by the erosion of mountains raised during the Cambrian earth movements. The bedding is almost flat and | + | |
- | there are two sets of vertical joint. planes at right angles, in which individual joints are very widely spaced. These joints have acted as zones of weakness to erosional processes, so that deep narrow valleys have formed along them. This has left the prominent small hills separated by steep narrow valleys characteristic of the Olgas. The range is, like Ayres Rock, a residual rock mass left standing above the surrounding sand plain." | + | At 10 a.m. we commenced. It was an easy start but as one gets about quarter way up it becomes dramatically steep and exposed. It took time to plot out the route as we went up and to carefully examine every foothold. It is better to use indentations rather than projections because the rocks and pebbles are liable to break away from the cement-pebble-like surface. Almost to the top it was finger and toe climbing. Occasionally we followed rock cairns but they would disappear when most needed. |
- | These waird and wonderful formations I was gazing at must surely be regarded as one of the great natural wonders of the world, there couldn' | + | |
- | As I sat there I pondered not only on this strange mountain' | + | John who is also a rock-climber and knew the tricks of climbing found it a bit of a cinch, but to an inexperienced non-rockclimber |
- | and beauty but how I was going to climb it, it seemed insurmountable. From our camping spot and indeed at the base of this very large monolith with its impressive acutely sloping exposed sides I wondered how it could be cliMbed | + | |
- | At 10 a m. we commenced. It was an easy start but as one gets about | + | The view is well worth the effort. Below, forty or more huge copper-stained cupolas of Katajuta projected above the plain like stupas. To the east in the immediate foreground were the eastern Olgas. We spotted the two bumps we had climbed the day before. Twenty miles away was Ayres Rock and 70 miles to far east the flat topped Mt. Connor. The western and eastern Olgas enclose a somewhat horseshoe shaped valley scattered with baby humps and bumps. At the extreme north end of the western Olgas is the mysterious Valley of the Winds, to the far north is Lake Amadeus and to the south are the Musgrave, Mann and Petermann Ranges. |
- | quarter way up it becomes dramatically steep and exposed. It took time | + | |
- | to plot out the route as we went LID and to carefully examine every foothold. It is better to use indentations rather than projections because the rocks and pebbles are liable to break away from the cement-pebble-like surface. | + | Separating Mt. Olga from its neighbouring northern dame is the Walpa or Wind Gorge. "The aborigines believed that the wind, which is almost always blowing in the gorge, is the breath of Wanambi |
- | Almost to the top it was finger and toe climbing. Occasionally we followed | + | |
- | rock cairns but they would disappear when most needed. | + | This place is just so fantastic in its silence, strangeness and immensity. Mountford aptly described this feeling - "It reminded me of a primordial world. I felt I had stepped backwards into some earlier |
- | John who is also a rock-climber and knew the tricks of climbing found | + | |
- | it a bit of a cinch, but to an inexperienced non-rockcliMber | + | The most important part of the summit was the cairn. I nearly went beserk when I couldn' |
- | was hair-raising and was accentuated by the feeling of exposure. Many a time I had to bawl out to John to save me. Sometimes when the going | + | |
- | was particularly terrifying my bleatings came out as a squeak. He told | + | We were the 57th group to have climbed Mt. Olga and about the third party this year. About an average of 12 parties climb it every year, but judging by the book the numbers are increasing. The female tally was well represented. Unfortunately we couldn' |
- | me to stop dithering and do something, because I couldn' | + | |
- | at your own risk, we are not responsible for sending out rescue parties", | + | The most interesting aspect about the book were the comments after the almost emotional and religious descriptions of being there and seeing the view, was the question of how to get down again. There were many elaborate suggestions. |
- | Page 5 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Pecember.0 | + | |
- | next obstacle. Nearing the tbp, the dome flattensa | + | So finally contented I lay down to take in this wonderful feeling of being on top of the world in such a strange land. And very soon I drifted back into the dreamtime........ (To be continued). |
- | and small bushes make their appearance. From here it is easy walking to the top. | + | |
- | The view is well worth the effort. Below, forty or more huge copper- stained cupolas of Katajuta projected above the plain like stupas. To the east in the immediate foreground were the eastern Olgas. We spotted the two bumps we had climbed the day before. Twenty miles away was Ayres Rock and 70 miles to far east the flat topped Mt. Connor. The western and eastern Olgas enclose a somewhat horseshoe shaped valley scattered with baby humps and bumps. At the extreme north end of the western Olgas is the mysterious Valley of the Winds, to the far north is Lake Amadeus and to the south are the Musgrave, Mann and Petermann Ranges, | + | ---- |
- | Separating Mt. Olga frcm its neighbouring northern dame is the Walpa or Wind Gorge. "The aborigines believed that the wind, which is almost always blowing in the gorge, is the breath of WanaMbi | + | |
- | his breath, now a wind of hurricane force, pours out of the mouth of the | + | =====Rock-Hopping For Health.===== |
- | gorge." | + | |
- | This place is just so fantastic in its silence, strangeness and immensity. Mountford aptly described this feeling - "It reminded me of a primordial world. I felt I had stepped backwards into some earlier | + | |
- | when wide-winged pterodactyls soared among the summits and giant dinosaurs | + | |
- | luMbered | + | |
- | Rock and the Olgas.) | + | |
- | The most important part of the summit was the cairn. I nearly went beserk when I couldn' | + | |
- | book in a rusted_ | + | |
- | We were the 57th group to have climbed Mt. Olga and about the third party this year. About an average of 12 parties climb it every year, but judging by the book the numbers are increasing. The female tally was well represented. Unfortunately we couldn' | + | |
- | The most interesting aspect about the. book were the comments after the almost emotional and religious descriptions of being there and seeing the view, was the question of how to get down again. There were many elaborate suggestions. | + | |
- | So finally contented I lay cloth to take in this wonderful feeling of being on top of the world in such a strange land. And very soon I drifted | + | |
- | back into the dreamtime........ (To be continued). | + | |
- | * * * * * | + | |
- | Page 6 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | ROCK-HOPPING FOR HEALTH. | + | |
by Jim Brown. | by Jim Brown. | ||
- | Under a story title "Man not made for. level paths - lecturer", | + | |
- | "Many people had bad backs because man was not made for walking on | + | Under a story title "Man not made for level paths - lecturer", |
- | pavements, a visiting Swiss chiropractor, | + | |
- | "Early man had walked over rough, uneven ground and. modern man had, | + | "Many people had bad backs because man was not made for walking on pavements, a visiting Swiss chiropractor, |
- | in many cases adapted poorly to walking on symmetrical surfaces, Dr.Illi said.. | + | |
- | "' | + | "Early man had walked over rough, uneven ground and modern man had, in many cases adapted poorly to walking on symmetrical surfaces, Dr.Illi said. |
- | Two or three vertebrae may become blocked - may cease to move - and that means another four or five have to do the job. Rheumatist, neuritis and neuralgia come from these spinal deviations' | + | |
- | T"Dr. Illi said about 80 per cent of people lost the movement of the sacroiliac joint through sitting in cars and general sedentary living." | + | "' |
- | Very, interesting. It seems to indicate that bushwaikers, by some process | + | |
- | not only favour uneven surfaces, but speak disparagingly of the paved ways | + | "Dr. Illi said about 80 per cent of people lost the movement of the sacroiliac joint through sitting in cars and general sedentary living." |
- | (" | + | |
- | Look at the ammunition it affords us. When a member of a party complains bitterly of the roughness or steepness of the going, we need no longer feel abashed and apologetic. The leader (or a deputy, if the leader is too exhausted) can say loftily, "But think of the good it's doing to your | + | __Very__ |
- | sacroiliac: This is worth a couple of hundred dollars of chiropractic treatment - possibly more if the doctors have their way!" | + | |
- | I can see it being beneficial to my own state of mind. Whereas, by the time I had crawled up from Konangaroo to the Moorilla tops a couple of months ago, the only phase going round and round in my mind was, " | + | Look at the ammunition it affords us. When a member of a party complains bitterly of the roughness or steepness of the going, we need no longer feel abashed and apologetic. The leader (or a deputy, if the leader is too exhausted) can say loftily, "But think of the good it's doing to your sacroiliac! This is worth a couple of hundred dollars of chiropractic treatment - possibly more if the doctors have their way!" |
- | non-stop hill, bloody non-stop hill," I should now be able to say, "Take | + | |
- | that, vertebrae! Can't you feel it doing you good?" And even if the answer is " | + | I can see it being beneficial to my own state of mind. Whereas, by the time I had crawled up from Konangaroo to the Moorilla tops a couple of months ago, the only phase going round and round in my mind was, " |
- | Do you remember the old gag about the absent-minded professor walking | + | |
- | with one foot in the gutter? I forget now what the punch line was, but | + | Do you remember the old gag about the absent-minded professor walking with one foot in the gutter? I forget now what the punch line was, but in light of this latest theory he could retort with dignity, " |
- | in light of this latest theory he could retort with dignity, " | + | |
- | my sacroiliac joint." | + | Of course walking clubs have never really indulged in promiscuous advertising for new members. And perhaps that's as well. The attractions we have to offer are not for the many. Let them get their vertebrae all seized up sitting |
- | 'round under. Mount Cole:" | + | |
- | Of course walking clubs have never really indulged in promiscuous advertising for new members. And perhaps that's as well. The attractions we have to offer are not for the many. Let them get their vertebrae all | + | Of course, then will come along another medical expert who will claim, with just as much assurance as Dr. Illi, that carrying a pack for hours at a time, day in and day out, is very damaging to the vertebrae, and especially, the sacroiliac! |
- | Page 7 THE SYDNEY BUSHUALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | P. | + | ---- |
- | all seized,:up,sMt. in-cars or watching television. However if over we did lian-6' | + | |
- | Old disused picture theatres or bowling alleys could be converted:to | + | =====Federation Notes, October & November, 1973.===== |
- | exercie | + | |
- | Of course, then will came aleng another medical expert who will claim, | + | by Rosary Edmunds. |
- | with just as much assurance as Dr. Illi, that carrying a pack forliOuis, | + | |
- | especially, the sacroiliac! | + | The Water Board is clamping down on everyone in regard to access |
- | xxxxixxxxxme* | + | |
- | OCTOBER & | + | In connection with access to the Northern Section of the Budawangs, it seems that there is a public right of entry except when the area is in use, and as no satisfactory response has been received from the Army, Federation has decided |
- | . by Rosary Edmunds-, | + | |
- | The Water Board is clamping down on everyone in regard to aCcess,to. Med, | + | On the subject of controlled |
- | 1- | + | |
- | In connection with access to the Northern Section of the Budawangs, | + | The Conservation |
- | it seems that there is a public right of entry except when the area is in use, and as no satisfactory response has been received from the Army,- Federation has deckded | + | |
- | On the subject of' | + | The Federation Ball held in September |
- | raised by the N.P.A. in September, the general view of clubs is that they | + | |
- | need more information about the effects of controlled burning on a long term basis before they could support or oppose the practice. | + | Four new 1/25,000 maps have been published. They are Mt. Pomaney, Breakfast Creek, Widden and Talooby, and are dyeline maps from the N.S.W. Lands Department. Also a 2" map of the Katoomba rain forest. All contain inaccuracies, |
- | ing netbles,'etc. is inhibited. | + | |
- | The Conservation | + | The date for the 1974 Federation Re-union has been set for 30/31st March. |
- | --National Park.- | + | |
- | The Federation Ball held in SepteMber | + | The National Parks & Wildlife Service has informed Federation that it has banned airdrops |
- | Page 8 TBE SYDNEY BUSHWALEIR Dece#er9 1973. | + | |
- | *MOM. | + | ---- |
- | BUSHMAN RUCKSACKS | + | |
- | Have sewn-in curved bottom | + | =====Paddy Made.===== |
- | BUNYIP RUCKSACK | + | |
- | This ' | + | Lightweight bushwalking and camping gear. |
- | SENIOR RUCKSACK | + | |
- | A single pocket, shaped rucksack. Suitable for overnight camping. Weight 1%lbs | + | __Bunyip Rucksack.__ |
- | Lightweight bushwalking and camp gear | + | |
- | TRAMPER FRAME RUCKSACK | + | __Senior Rucksack.__ |
- | Young people and ladies will find this pack a good one. It will carry sufficient camping equipment and food for 3 or 4 days or more. Has 3 pockets, capacity about 30 lbs. Weight zilbs. | + | |
- | PIONEER RUCKSACK | + | __Bushman Rucksack.__ Have sewn-in curved bottom |
- | is an extra large bag with four external | + | |
- | MOUNTAINEER DE LUXE Can carry 70Ibs or more. Tough lightweight | + | __Pioneer Rucksack__ |
- | base. 20" x 17" x proofed nylon extension throat with double draw cord for positive closure. Flap has full sized zip pocket of waterproof nylon. Outside pocket. Bag is easily detached from the frame to form a 3' sleeping bag cover for cold, wet conditions. | + | |
- | Weight | + | __Mountaineer De Luxe.__ |
- | MOUNTAINEER | + | |
- | Same features as de luxe model except for P.V.C. bottom reinforcing. Weight 5%lbs | + | Can carry 70 lbs or more. Tough lightweight |
- | KIANDRA MODEL | + | |
- | Hooded bag. Extra well filled. Very compact. Approx 3%lbs. | + | __Mountaineer.__ |
- | HOTHAM MODEL | + | |
- | Super warm. Box quilted. Added leg room. Approx 4%lbs. | + | Same features as de luxe model except for P.V.C. bottom reinforcing. Weight 5 1/4 lbs. |
- | CARRYING BAGS | + | |
+ | __Tramper Frame Rucksack.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Young people and ladies will find this pack a good one. It will carry sufficient camping equipment and food for 3 or 4 days or more. Has 3 pockets, capacity about 30 lbs. Weight 4 lbs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Kiandra Model.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hooded bag. Extra well filled. Very compact. Approx 3 3/4 lbs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Hotham Model.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Super warm box quilted. Added leg room. Approx 4 1/2 lbs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Carrying Bags.__ | ||
P.V.C. or nylon. | P.V.C. or nylon. | ||
- | - | ||
- | Compasses dry, oil filled or wrist types. | ||
- | Maps. Lange rangeBushwalking books. | ||
- | Freeze dried and dehydrated foods. | ||
- | Stoves and lamps. | ||
- | Aluminium cook ware. Ground sheets. | ||
- | -401011011 | ||
- | Everything fop the bushwalker. | ||
- | ' | + | __' |
- | One two or three men. From 21A to at /13S | + | |
- | WALL TENTS | + | One, two or three man. From 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 lbs. |
- | Two, three or four man. From 3% to-4.1.-Sit-Ts | + | |
- | 69 LIVERPOOL, ST., SYDNEY 26-2686, 61-7215 | + | __Wall Tents.__ |
- | Page9 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Decomfoor9 1973. | + | |
- | second prize went to Mr. T. S. Haleston (2484). The raffle raised about $600 to go tow rd. the purchase of new equipment for Search & Rescue. The Petersham Town Hall is being booked for the next year's ball to be held on Friday, September 20th. | + | Two, three or four man. From 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 lbs. |
- | Four new 1/259000 maps have been published. They are Mt. Pomaney, | + | |
- | Breakfast Creek9.Widden and Talooby, and are ayeline maps from the N.S.L | + | Compasses dry, oil filled or wrist types. Maps. Lange range. Bushwalking books. Freeze dried and dehydrated foods. Stoves and lamps. Aluminium cook ware. Ground sheets. Everything fop the bushwalker. |
- | . Lands apartment. Also a 2" map of the Katoomba rain forest. Al]. contain | + | |
- | inaccuracies, and should be treated with caution. | + | Paddy Pallin. |
- | The date for the 1974 Fodaration Re-union has been set for 30/31st March. | + | |
- | The National Parks & Wildlife Service has informed Federation that it has banned airdrops in certain areas in Tasmania - notably the Western and Eastern Arthurs, and the Et. Anne area. | + | 69 Liverpool St., Sydney. 26-2686, 61-7215. |
- | ****Xx********# | + | |
- | O0 IMES OUT WEST - SET!TEEBER OCTOBER | + | ---- |
- | 6 by Dot Butler. | + | |
- | This was a three-week trip, organised by a recently retired officer | + | =====2,000 Miles Out West - September/October, 1973.===== |
- | of the WeStern | + | |
- | declared Sanctuaries along the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Darling to check on | + | by Dot Butler. |
- | bird life, especially water birds. It would. be nice to say we walked the whole two thousand. miles but honesty impels me to admit that we used a car to cover the great outback distances. We spent at least every second day NOT on Wheels, so it was a bushwalk to that extent. As I had never been | + | |
- | further west in N.S.W. than the WarruMbungles | + | This was a three-week trip, organised by a recently retired officer of the Western |
- | On Wednesday, 5th September, I loft home at 6 a m., picked up my passeng6r | + | |
- | Mid afternoon found us at Marsden, on Lake Cowell, and I had had. my | + | On Wednesday, 5th September, I left home at 6 a.m., picked up my passenger |
- | first view of Belar and the beautiful drooping wattle called Acacia Pondula | + | |
- | (also called. Drooping Myall or Doree) growi ng on the grey clay country on | + | Mid afternoon found us at Marsden, on Lake Cowell, and I had had my first view of Belar and the beautiful drooping wattle called Acacia Pondula (also called Drooping Myall or Boree) growing |
- | the way to the lake. Lots of aquatic birds were nesting on the lake. The | + | |
- | main part of Lake Cowell is a rather small circular basin about 10' - 15' deep, filled | + | The thought of mosquitoes drove us from the lake to seek higher ground and we continued on to camp for the night on red ground amongst the lovely Callitris pines in the Boxall State Forest. |
- | Pagel() | + | |
- | THE SYDNEY BUSHWALICER | + | Next day we climbed through incredibly golden wattles to the top of the stony range to the west for a magnificent view. Everything green as far as the eye could see. |
- | December, 1973. | + | |
- | opposite side of the lake exposing,water-couch grass, which is good feed for cattle, and later on for sheep. | + | Early Friday morning we packed up our tent fly and gear and departed towards Condobolin where we were to spend the night with Joe Carey, one of the old settlers. We were now into the Mallee |
- | The thought of mosquitoes drove us from the lake to seek higher ground and ire continued on to camp for the night on red ground amongst the lovely Callitris pines in the Boxall State Forest. | + | |
- | Next_ day we climbed through incredibly golden wattles to the. top of the stony range to the west for a magnificent view. Everything green as far as the eye could see. | + | Now the ground is ploughed for the first time - a shallow ploughing, |
- | Early Friday morning we packed up our tent fly and gear and departed towards Condobolin where we were to spend the night with Joe Carey, one of the old settlers. We were now into the Malice | + | |
- | like. The Mallee is shallow-rooted. It is pulled up by rolling over it | + | The method of bringing the Mallee |
- | with strong chains which pull it up. It is then left to dry, then burnt. Then follows " | + | |
- | Now the ground is ploughed for the first time - a shallow ploughing, | + | We stopped off for petrol at Wyalong, an old gold mining town. A member of a survey party, while digging |
- | season - all done on last year's rain. Besides getting rid of the stumps the shallow ploughing consolidates the bottom, making a waterproof seedbed 8" deep. The Malice | + | |
- | is planted. Suckers will come up through the wheat. The grain is harvested | + | Now on the way to Burcher |
- | the first year and the suckers are burnt with the stubble; this second | + | |
- | burning completes the clearing. Finis to the Malice - and the hundreds of thousands of honey-eaters | + | We reached |
- | The method of bringing the Malice | + | |
- | was making his own charcoal and tho fire danger was tremendous. Eventually the Forestry Dept. took over the monopoly of charcoal-making and the threat to crops from sparks was removed. | + | Eventually we prised ourselves away. North of Condobolin, on the way to Melrose, we passed Trig Station Peak on the east side of the road. This is approximately the centre of N.S.W. On a granite range N.W. of Melrose is a deep aboriginal well cut into the living rock and covered with a stone to prevent evaporation and contamination. Down this the local stockmen and boundary riders used to lower their quart pots on their whips or bridles to get water. |
- | We stopped off for petrol at Wyalong, an old gold mining town. A member of a survey party, while aigging | + | |
- | Page 11 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | On the river near Kiakatoo Weir were two historic marked aboriginal trees (mentioned by the explorer Oxley in his Diary of his Explorations). These trees marked |
- | studded with gold. It was not long before the exciting news got around and. started the gold rush. | + | |
- | Now on the way to BuTcher | + | At length we arrived at Lake Cargellico. There were great flocks of water birds there, floating above their reflections - waterhens, ducks, swans and cygnets. |
- | which looks like a kind of cane. This is low rainfall country - 11" or 12". Through the cleared. Mallee, gradually merging into box, oak, wilga, yarran and berrigan (also called rosewood or boonery). We had lunch beside a great BiMble | + | |
- | the difference in shape and number of these tiny leaves. | + | The shores of these inland lakes are generally too marshy for camping so we headed for higher country and made camp in the Brewer State Forest, another lovely Callitris pine forest. Next day I climbed the higher peak of the double-humped hill for a very good view. There was a rough shelter wall of rocks erected near the summit around a huge kurrajong tree. A mighty camp spot. You find kurrajongs all through the Mallee country. The leaseholders are forbidden to cut them down as they are good fodder trees in drought time. In assessing the value of the leases, $5 is added to the value for every kurrajong on it. |
- | We reached | + | |
- | the township and we saw all the houses built by his son Conrad who was killed with four other aviators in a plane crash at an Air Pageant a couple of years ago. Conddbolin | + | As I climbed the red rocky hillside I saw a fox with a white tip to its tail digging out ground spiders. A large percentage of their food is spiders as can be ascertained by opening their stomachs after they have been shot. The fox also eats a large cockroach-type beetle 4" long by 2" wide which comes out after the rain in the pine country. Foxes eat the contents of the stomachs of other killed foxes and as many as three foxes have been taken in succession with the one poison bait. Now that the rabbit is becoming scarce the foxes are playing up with the local birds. We saw a lot of different fauna that day. There were frilled lizards (or Jew lizards) and shingle backs, a species of the coastal blue-tongued lizard, kangaroos, and lots of birds I had never seen before - the gentle little peaceful doves, and the Pine hoppers or Bally Joes (their call is "Bally Joe! Bally Joe!"), while the Grey-crowned Babbler' |
- | Eventually we prised ourselves away. Nor-41 | + | |
- | On the river near Kiakatoo Weir were two historic marked aboriginal trees (mentioned by the explorer Oxley in his Diary of his Explorations). These trees marked | + | One of the most spectacular artificial lakes obtained from Lachlan water is Lake Brewster. Here we stayed for some time observing the myriads of water birds - swans and cygnets, grey herons, black herons, cormorants, |
- | At length we arrived at Lake Cargellico. There were great flocks | + | |
- | of water birds there, floating above their reflections - waterhens ducks, swans and cygnets. | + | We could have stayed days at Lake Brewster, certainly one of the finest lakes in the West. But we had to move on if we were to see all we had on our schedule. We crossed the Lachlan at Willandra Bridge |
- | Paze12.. TBE SYDNEY BUSINALEER Pece# | + | |
- | **-X-X-****XX*-X.XXXXXXXX | + | The garage man at Mt. Hope told us where to search for quondongs on the road out. The quondong has an edible fruit with one beautifully marked seed which was very much sought after by the early settlers for decorative purposes. During the last war the seeds were used in Army recreational rooms as counters in card games. When every able-bodied male was either |
- | MOUNTAIN***************xxx** | + | |
- | ************XXX***** | + | Well, despite long and arduous searching, we didn't manage to find a single quondong tree amongst the mallee. We moved on, to camp just off the road about 5 miles out of Goolgowi. Cattle in a paddock nearby came to the fence to stare at us in the dark with their luminous eyes. |
- | EQUIPMENT | + | |
- | XXXX*************XXX | + | Next day we headed for Hay across the Hay Plains covered with rank herbage after the rains and millions of yellow and white daisies making a coloured sea to the horizon. Two miles out of Hay, adjacent to the Hay Irrigation Channel, is the property of Shirley Bevan and her mother. We camped on their property on the banks of the ' |
- | IF YOU ARE | + | |
- | BUYING OR HIRING HIRING OR BUYING | + | At Hay we got an entry permit to visit two Faunal Protection Areas, |
- | BUYING OR HIRING HIRING OR BUYING | + | |
- | GEAR FOR | + | We had now traversed the whole of the Lachlan from Forbes to Oxley. Next day we followed down the Murrumbidgee |
- | WALKING 09000.11 CAMPUTG 0.'090 CLIMB= 00,400 CANOEING WALKING | + | |
- | THINK OF | + | We reached Hay at dusk. Shirley was out, but we camped in her hay shed in the orchard. All the fruit trees were in blossom and there were lots of ripe walnuts under the trees. |
- | MOUNTAIN EQUIPEMNT | + | |
- | .... . | + | Friday 14th. Show Day at Hay. Left for Booligal ("Hay, Hell and Booligal" |
- | 17 Alexander Street, Crow's Nest 2065. (On the corner of Falcon Street) Telephone 439-3454. | + | |
- | for | + | Heading now for Ivanhoe across the plain. We camped at Yallock, en route to Cobar, bumping over the borrow pits by the side of the road to get in and find a campspot under trees. There was a small soak and pond nearby and we stayed there two days. Mr. D. said people get lost in the Mallee as it is completely featureless, |
- | FAIRYDOWN SLEEPING BAGS | + | |
- | HIGH LOAD PACKS (Weight 3 lb.10 oz.) | + | Next day across the plains bright with purple peas and daisies, with emus strutting over the landscape, to Cobar for petrol. It was getting late and we didn't fancy camping at Cobar so we carried on for another 80 miles to camp at Louth in a beaut reserve on the Darling. This day was the only day we had any complaint about traffic. There was lots of dust on the unsurfaced roads and lots of traffic (meaning about 6 cars). Everything is relative. |
- | AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED | + | |
- | * * * * * * * * | + | We stayed at this beaut camp for several days. The Darling was running at about 2 miles an hour between its steep mud or clay banks, discoloured from floods on the Namoi, Bogan and Gwyder. Up river one day and down river the next gave us a good sampling of what the Darling has to offer. There were many birds nesting and calling |
- | Page 13 THE SYDNEY BUSHUALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | IN. | + | It was now time to move on to Bourke. I noticed the car was beginning to lose power when changing gear. Limped in to Bourke at 30 m.p.h. and spent all day looking over the town while the garage man renewed the clutch plates ($70). Left in the late afternoon for Nyngan planning to camp in the wilga by the river but the only camping place was occupied by half a dozen sheep and cattle transports and stank so we continued on and camped at Duralambone. |
- | .w www. | + | |
- | The shores of these inland lakes are generally too marshy for camping | + | We are now on the homeward run, and as the return trip is not all that different from the forward trip I won't go into any more detail. Home via Dubbo, Wellington, Gulgong, Mudgee. Last camp up a side road 41 1/2 miles out of Lithgow. Home in the early afternoon. |
- | so we headed for higher country and made camp in the Brewer State Forest, another lovely Callitris pine forest. Next day I climbed the higher peak | + | |
- | of the double-humped hill for a very good view. There was a rough shelter wall of rocks erected near the summit around a huge kurrajong tree. A | + | To someone who has seen most other countries of the world it was really something to see a bit more of her own country, and you can take my word for it that it is one of the best places on the globe. |
- | mighty camp spot. You find kurrajongs all through the Mallee country. The leaseholders are forbidden to cut them down as they are good fodder | + | ---- |
- | trees in drought time. In assessing the value of the leases, $5 is added to the value for every kurrajong on it. | + | |
- | As I climbed the red rocky hillside I saw a fox with a white tip to its tail digging out ground spiders. A large percentage of their food is spiders as can be ascertained by opening their stomachs after they have been shot. The fox also eats a large cockroach-type beetle 4" long by 2" wide which comes out after the rain in the pine country. Foxes eat the contents of the stomachs of other killed foxes and as many as three foxes have been taken in succession with the one poison bait. Now that the rabbit is becoming scarce the foxes are playing up with the local birds. We saw a lot of different fauna that day. There were frilled lizards (or Jew lizards) | + | ====Overseas For Xmas.==== |
- | and shingle backs, a species of the coastal blue-tongued lizard, kangaroos, | + | |
- | and lots of birds I had never seen before - the gentle little peaceful doves, and the Pine hoppers or Bally Joes (their call is "Bally Joe: Bally Joel"), while the Grey-crowned. Babbler' | + | Pauline Brown has gone off to Holland to visit her daughter Leslie and son-in-law |
- | One of the most spectacular artificial lakes obtained from Lachlan water is Lake Brewster. Here we stayed for some time observing the myriads of water birds - swans and cygnets, grey herons, black herons, cormorants, | + | |
- | . We could have stayed days at Lake Brewster, certainly one of the finest lakes in the West. But we had to move on if we were to see all we had on | + | ---- |
- | our schedule. We crossed the Lachlan at Willandra Bridge | + | |
- | and went on to | + | =====Walks Secretary's Notes For January, |
- | this land of long lots of small grey roadside borrow.- | + | |
- | The garage man at Mt. Hope told us where to search for quondongs on | + | |
- | the road out. The quondong has an edible fruit with one beautifully marked seed which was very much sought after by the early settlers for decorative purposes. During the last war the seeds were used in Army recreational rooms as counters in card games. When every able-bodied male was oither | + | |
- | 'Well, despite long and arduous searching, we didn't manage to find | + | |
- | Page 14 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | 1. | + | |
- | a single quondong tree amongst the maIlee. We moved on, to camp just off the road about 5 miles out of Goolgowi. Cattle in a paddock nearby came to the fence to stare at us in the dark with their luminous eyes. | + | |
- | Next day we headed for Hay across the Hay Plains covered with rank herbage after the rains and millions of yellow and white daisies making | + | |
- | a coloured sea to the horizon. Two miles out of Hay, adjacent to the | + | |
- | Hay Irrigation Channel, is the property of Shirley Bevan and her mother. We camped on their property on the banks of the Tidgee | + | |
- | At Hay we got an entry permit to visit two Faunal Protection Areas, | + | |
- | like death adders | + | |
- | We had now traversed the whole of the Lachlan from Forbes to Oxley. Next day we followed down the MurruMbidgee | + | |
- | arch; it resembled- the proscenium of a stage an astonishing theatrical | + | |
- | effect. As an entracte a little sucker pig ran across the road_ followed by an anxious old sow with a white stripe across her shoulder. | + | |
- | We reached Hay at dusk. Shirley was out, but we camped in her hay | + | |
- | shed in the orchard. All the fruit trees were in blossom and there were lots of ripe walnuts under the trees. | + | |
- | 'Friday 14th. Show Day at Hay. Left for Booligal ("Hay, Hell and Booligal" | + | |
- | Page 15 THE SYDNEY BUSHWAIKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | Heading now for Ivanhoe across the plain. We camped at Yallock, en route to Cobar, bumping over the borrow pits by the side of the road to get | + | |
- | in and find a campspot under trees. There was a small soak and pond nearby and we stayed there two days. Mr. D. said people get lost in the Mallee as it is completely featureless, | + | |
- | theory I did a 3 mile walk due north by compass into the thick of the Manse, and then turned and came back 3 miles due south. I was only one chain out | + | |
- | in my reckoning. When I come to think of it now, this was a ruddy risky thing for a person like me to do it's a wonder my bones aren't now mouldering in the Mulga. I had a bath in the roadside soak and had to bolt into the daisies when the only car for days came by. | + | |
- | Next day across the plains bright with purple peas and daisies, with | + | |
- | emus strutting over the landscape, to Cobar for petrol. It was getting | + | |
- | late and we didn't fancy camping at Cobar so we carried on for another 80 miles to camp at Louth in a beaut reserve on the Darling. This day was the only day we had any complaint about traffic. There was lots of dust on the unsurfaced roads and lots of traffic (meaning about 6 cars). Everything is relative. | + | |
- | We stayed at this beaut camp for several days. The Darling was running at about 2 miles an hour between its steep mud or clay banks, discoloured from floods on the Namoi, Bogan and Gwyder. Up river one day and down river the next gave us a good sampling of what the Darling has to offer. There were many birds nesting and calling the Willy Wagtail piped up day and night, the Happy Jacks quarrelled in the nesting trees, ducks in flocks flew low to the water keeping out of sight of enemies, and other nameless birds kept up a continual chatter until the cawing of the crows silenced them. | + | |
- | It was now time to move on to Bourke. I noticed the car was beginning | + | |
- | to lose power when changing gear. Limped in to Bourke at 30 m p.h. and spent all day looking over the town while the garage man renewed the clutch plates ($70). Left in the late afternoon for Nyngan planning to camp in the wilga by the river but the only camping place was occupied by half a dozen sheep and cattle transports and stank so we continued on and camped at DuralaMbone. | + | |
- | We are now on the homeward run, and as the return trip is not all that different from the forward trip I won't go into any more detail. Home via Dubbo, Wellington, Gulgong, Mudgee. Last camp up a side road 4li- miles out of Lithgow. Home in the early afternoon. | + | |
- | To someone who has seen most other countries of the world it was really something to see a bit more of her own country, and you. can take my ward for it that it is one of the best places on the globe. | + | |
- | 4H000(*********** | + | |
- | OVERSEAS FOR XMAS. Pauline Brown has gone off to Holland to visit her daughter Leslie and soninlaw | + | |
- | Page 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHNALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | WALKS SECRETARY'S NOTES FOR JMTtJARY9 | + | |
by Wilf Hilder. | by Wilf Hilder. | ||
- | 1974 | + | |
- | Sunday 6th - West Head with Barry Zier., | + | |January, |
- | scenery and plenty of swimming in this popular area. Fires are prohibited so bring a salad and a thermos. | + | |Sunday 6th|West Head with Barry Zieran |
- | 11, 12, 13 - A weekend test walk to the Budawangs. Alastair Battye carries the S.B.W. banner. Good tracks from Wog Wog Station to the Castle. Exceptional views on this scenic walk. Saturday night' | + | |11, 12, 13|A weekend test walk to the Budawangs. Alastair Battye carries the S.B.W. banner. Good tracks from Wog Wog Station to the Castle. Exceptional views on this scenic walk. Saturday night' |
- | Book early for this popular area. | + | |12, 13th|Private transport on ye lower Mountains walk led by El Presidente. Steep path from Pisgah Rock to Monkey Ropes Creek and Erskine River. Some scrambling along south bank of Erskine to Dadder Cave (with visitors book). Plenty of swimming in the pretty pools of the Erskine. This walk is Saturday midday start.| |
- | 12, 13th - Private transport on ye lower Mountains walk led by El Presidente. Steep path from Pisgah Rock to Monkey Ropes Creek and Erskine River. Some scrambling along south bank of Erskine to Dadder Cave (with visitors book). Plenty of swimming in the pretty pools of the Erskine. This walk is Saturday midday start. | + | |Sunday 13|Burning Palms for a relaxing day - Kath Brown leads this ever popular medium walk. Train transport - 8.46 a.m. Country Platform train with Special Excursion Tickets to Lilyvale. Surfing, sunning, swimming and talking on Burning Palms beach. Tracks all the way.| |
- | Sunday 13 - Burning Palms for a relaxing day - Kath Brown leads this ever popular medium walk. Train transport - 8.46 a m. | + | |18, 19, 20|Barry Wallace is your leader for this weekend test walk to Barralier. Spectacular scenery from the plateau on this popular walk. Easy going up Murruin Creek with graded bridle track and longish climb up Bindook Mountain. The famous Tomat Falls drop over a massive cliff and are a most impressive view. Good tracks along the ' |
- | Country Platform train with Special Excursion Tickets to | + | |18, 19, 20|Rod Peters heads north on this medium to hard weekend walk from Newnes. Good tracks downstream from Newnes to Rocky Creek junction. Slow going upstream to Constance Gorge. Much better going thru the Gorge to Mt. Wolgan Station which still has some rolling stock in a siding of the famed Newnes Railway. The railway formation will be followed past the new coal mines to the Newnes Hostelry. Magnificent scenery in Wolgan Canyon with its numerous swimming holes.| |
- | Lilyvale. Surfing, sunning, swimming and talking on Burning Palms beach. Tracks all the way. | + | |19, 20th|A Saturday morning start on this lower Mountains trip led by Hans Beck from Faulconbridge to Lapstone along Glenbrook Creek. The first part of this trip is on the Victory Track to Sassafras |
- | 18, 195 20 - Barry Wallace is your leader for this weekend test walk to Barralier. Spectacular scenery from the plateau on this popular walk. Easy going up Murruin Creek with graded bridle track and longish climb up Bindook Mountain. The famous | + | |Sunday 20th|Carl Bock's going back to Brisbane Water National Park. A pleasant ferry trip to Patonga across "the Rhine of Australia" |
- | Tomat Falls drop over a massive cliff and are a most impressive view. Good tracks along the Tiny back to the vehicles. | + | |Long Weekend |
- | 18, 19, 20 - Rod Peters heads north on this medium to hard weekend walk from Newnes. | + | |Long Weekend |
- | new coal mines to the Newnes Hostelry. Magnificent scenery | + | |Sunday 27th|It's INCREDIBLE! - but true. A walk - a hard test walk - on a holiday |
- | in Wolgan Canyon with its numerous swimming holes. | + | |
- | 19, 20th - A Saturday morning start on this lower Mountains trip led. by Hans Beck from Faulconbridge to Lapstone along Glenbrook Creek. The first part of this trip is on the Victory Track to Sassafras_ | + | ---- |
- | Page 17 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | ' | + | ====Bon Voyage.==== |
- | Sunday 20th - Carl Bock's going back to Brisbane Water National Park. | + | |
- | January | + | On 22nd December a party of five S.B.W. members is departing for four week's holiday in Ceylon and India. Owen Marks is the chief organiser, and knowing Owen's capacity for arranging interesting and inexpensive trips in foreign countries, we'll be keen to hear on their return whether they __did__ |
- | Long Weekend | + | |
- | 25th to 28th the snowgrass meadows of the Alps. Jagungal is the "high point" of this trip, which is also a reccy for ski-touring trips from Eucembene. Super optimists may bring their skis - pessimists will bring running shoes. Glorious alpine scenery and wildflowers, | + | As Frank Taeker |
- | Long Weekend | + | |
- | 25th to 28th hard trip from Newnes to Newnes via the Wolgan and Capertee Rivers. Outstanding canyon scenery and cool mountain pools on this classic trip. Tracks for about half the way with a steep climb over Greens Pass from Glen Davis-to Newnes. Standard - harder than test walk. Early bookings please. | + | Helen and George Gray and Marion Lloyd are the other three members going along. |
- | Sunday 27th - It's INCREDIBLE: - but true. A walk - a hard test walk - | + | |
- | on a holiday | + | ---- |
- | National Park test walk from Bundeena to Otford yes, | + | |
- | Joe Marton (bless his broad shoulders) has come to the rescue, of the programme. Single ticket to Cronulla on the 7.47 a m. train which meets the first ferry to Bundeena. Tracks most of the way with splendid ocean views and a fair amount of hill climbing during the day. Return journey from Otford will be by a late train (about 7.20 p m.). | + | =====Stop Press.===== |
- | **********Xxx* | + | |
- | BON VOYAGE. | + | __Walk |
- | On 22Ad December a party of five S.B.W. members is departing for four week's holiday in Ceylon and India. Owen Marks is the chief organiser, and | + | |
- | knowing Owen's capacity for arranging interesting and inexpensive trips in foreign countries, we'll be keen to hear on their return whether they did manage to live on about 5 cents each per day. | + | Sunday 16th December |
- | As Frank Tacker | + | |
- | Helon and George Gray and Marion Lloyd are the other three members going along. | + | Train transport is 8.46 a.m. train from Country Platform section Central Railway, with special excursion tickets to Otford. Bill's phone number is 57-5145 (H). The walk is 11 kilometres (7 miles) - Medium |
- | Page 18 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1973. | + | |
- | STOP PRESS | + | Good tracks on this walk from Otford Station to Otford Gap with magnificent views down the coast towards Port Kembla. A branch track leaves the main track near the ridge top to descend to Werrong which is a beautiful secluded beach, but there is often a strong rip and so only a dip is recommended. Some nifty footwork is needed rock-hopping around the coast to Figure 8 Pool and Burning Palms (swimming). Scenery is really outstanding along this part of the park. The Bob Liddle Track thru the Palm Jungle is well marked and passes thru a fine stand of coastal rainforest while climbing up to Werrong Point Lookout and then across the moorland to the main track back to Otford Gap and Otford Station. |
- | WALK this Sunda. | + | |
- | Sunday 16th - BILL HALL is leading a walk from OTFORD | + | Wilf Hilder. |
- | Train transport is 8,46 a m. train from Country Platform section | + | |
- | Central Railway, with special excursion tickets to Otford. Bill's phone | + | ---- |
- | number is 57-5145 (H). The walk is 1]. kilometres (7 miles) - MEDIUM | + | |
- | with a total ascent of 305 metres (1990 ft.) Maps required are Port Hacking Tourist (Lands Dept) and one inch to mile (1:63,360). Army map of Port Hacking. | + | =====Social Secretary's Notes.===== |
- | Good tracks on this walk from Otford Station to Otford Gap with magnificent views down the coast towards Port Kembla. A branch track leaves the main track near the ridge top to descend to Werrong which is a beautiful secluded beach, but there is often a strong rip and so only a dip is recommended. Some nifty footwork is needed rock-hopping around the coast to Figure 8 Pool and Burning Palms (swimming). Scenery is really outstanding along this part of the park, The Bob Liddle Track thru the Palm Jungle is d well marked and passes thru a fine stand of coastal rainforest while climbing up to Werrong Point Lookout and then across the moorland to the main track back to Otford Gap and Otford Station. | + | |
- | Wllf Hilder. | + | |
- | *# | + | |
- | SOCTAL SECRETARY'S NOTES. | + | |
by Elaine Brown. | by Elaine Brown. | ||
- | The Christmas Party is on Wednesday, 19th December, at the club rooms. Don't forget to bring a plate of party food, and a glass for drinking._ | + | |
- | The club rooms will be closed on 26th December and 2nd January next, but will be open as usual on 9th January for the first Committee Meeting of the New'Year, followed on the same evening by the first General Meeting. | + | The Christmas Party is on Wednesday, 19th December, at the club rooms. Don't forget to bring a plate of party food, and a glass for drinking. |
- | On 16t1i.January Ian Stevens will give his long awaited slide showing | + | |
- | on Indonesia. This had to be cancelled some months ago owing to Ian being in hospital. | + | The club rooms will be closed on 26th December and 2nd January next, but will be open as usual on 9th January for the first Committee Meeting of the New Year, followed on the same evening by the first General Meeting. |
- | On 23rd. January George Dibley will give a talk and show slides on birds. | + | |
- | After reading the interesting articles by Dorothy and Alan Pike on | + | On 16th January Ian Stevens will give his long awaited slide showing on Indonesia. This had to be cancelled some months ago owing to Ian being in hospital. |
- | their trip overseas I am sure everyone will be keen to see their slides on | + | |
- | 30th January. | + | On 23rd January George Dibley will give a talk and show slides on birds. |
- | *******XX-XX* | + | |
+ | After reading the interesting articles by Dorothy and Alan Pike on their trip overseas I am sure everyone will be keen to see their slides on 30th January. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all our readers! (Editor) | Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all our readers! (Editor) | ||
+ | ---- |
197312.txt · Last modified: 2017/07/19 15:35 by tyreless