Amongst the vast array of day packs that decorate the shelves of outdoor shops, it's difficult to pick something with the right features, what with 101 different types of nylon, all sorts
of different canvases, airflow systems, expanding pockets and neon colours.
So it's nice to know that if your the type of person that wants simple robust functionality that reflects years of local bushwalking experience with solid locally made material then the BLUE MOUNTAINS TRIASSIC could be your best companion for many years to come.
Australian 120z canvas Made in Katoomba the old traditional way
by David Noble It's good to see a pack made in the Blue Mountains for use in the Blue Mountains. The Triassic features two 40 litre capacity shoulder strap sizes so that the pack can be properly hip . . . . loaded, sitting down comfortably in the lumbar region of Proper hip loading with 2 shoulder strap sizes
the back. This is sometimes difficult especially if you are a for walking comfort
taller person. The harness system also includes a thick ' in
waist belt and chest strap enabling a tight fit which is Wide throat for easy loading and unloadi g
great when climbing over rocks. Buckle up front pocket with internal divider Top lid pocket
The volume is large enough to allow a 50m rope and wetsuit to easily fit in and the top is made larger so that Extendable lid for overloading Padded hip belt with 38mm buckle
your stuff slides in and out with ease. The pack has a large front pocket for those essential tems such as a
Hip belt retainer for city use (conveniently holds the hip belt back and out of the way
rb Pb
Pe > PP
torch, and a top pocket for the map and camera. The pack is large enough to be used as a weekend pack when no ropes etc. are needed. This can keep the bulk
down and stop you from packing too much on those 4& Padded back (removable)
weekend bushwalks. & Thumb loops on shoulder straps for more The Triassic is made from durable 120z canvas which :
can withstand the abuse given to it in canyons and when comfortable walking .
walking through scrub. All the seams are double stitched 4 Internal compression strap for holding down
and sealed to prevent failure. It is also very water proof, your canyon rope on a recent trip down Hole In The Wall canyon, no
water entered the main compartment despite a number 4& Side compression straps for minimising volume of lengthy swims. & Storm throat to keep out the rain
The pack is bush green in colour making the walker & Hard wearing Cordura base
almost invisible in the bush. This is handy for sneaking up & Price $159.00
on wildlife with a camera or just blending in to the wilderness as you walk along. Good for those whe like to keep the visual impact minimal too. ONLY AVAILABLE AT A quality Blue Mountains pack for our tough conditions, the Triassic carries a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials.
Overall an excellent pack for either short or tall with the
eeenaenaeamenill 2 shoulder strap options. And great for canyons or short _ weekend trips. NB: David Noble fs a keen canyoner and
bushwalker. He {s also the discoverer of the rare 1045 VICTORIA RD, WEST RYDE Ph 9858 5844
Wollem/ Pine (WOLLEMIA NOBILIS) found in 1994.
THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is a monthly bulletin of matters of interest to members of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1565. To .advertise in this magazine, please contact the Business Manager.
Editor: Bill Holland Telephone: 9484 6636 Email: billholl@hotkey.net.au
Fax. 99805476 (phone 9484 6636 first)
Business Manager: Gretel Woodward
Telephone: 9587 8912
Production Manager: Frances Holland
Printers: Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch, Tom Wenman, Don Brooks
THE SYDNEY BUSH WALKERS INCORPORATED was founded in 1927. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening at 8 pm at Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli (near Milsons Point Railway Station). Visitors and prospective members are welcome any Wednesday.
General Enquiries: phone 0500 500 729 SBW WEBSITE _www.sbw.org.au
COMMITTEE President: Wilf Hilder Vice-President: ; Peter Dalton Public Officer: Fran Holland Treasurer: Carole Beales Secretary: Judy O'Connor Waiks Secretary: Carol Lubbers Social Secretary Gemma Gagne
Membership Secretary: Barry Wallace New Members Secretary: Kay Chan Conservation Secretary: David Trinder Magazine Editor: Bill Holland Committee Member: Pam Morrison Maurice Smith Delegates to Confederation: Jim Callaway Tom Wenman Wilf Hilder, Geoff Bradley
JANUARY 2002
Issue No. 806 INDEX: 2. Editor's Note 2. President's Report 3. Fire Alert 4. Letters to the Editor 4. Yengo Wilderness Keith Muir 5. December General Meeting my Barry Wallace 6. Tasmania The Overland Track Stephen Adams 7. Allan Wyborn 8. Ecological Pioneers Alex Colley 10,11. Proposed Changes To Membership Procedure Patrick James 11 Land care for Coolana ? Don Finch 12,13. Walking On The Far Side Keith Muir
14,15. The Walks Pages
16. Reminiscences Of An Early Prospective Reg Alder
17. New Members Page 18 Social Notes
ADVERTISERS: Alpsport Front cover Eastwood Camping 9 Paddy Pailin Back cover Wildemess Transit 7 Willis's Walkabouts 5
The Sydney Bushwalker magazine is printed on recycled paper.
The Sydney Bushwalker: First Edition July 1931 Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. iz The Sydney Bushwalker January 2002 Page2 | Editor's Note: President's Report: . It has not been a good start to the New Year. Bushfires: | The tragic bushfires that have swept
Over two weeks of hot dry weather, widespread fires, property loss and burnt-out bush. It seems appropriate, therefore, that this issue of the magazine contains some timely information on the bushfires. On page 3 we have advice from one of our senior members, Ben Esgate as well as an update on park closures.
Last months letter from Andrew Vilder, Suggesting abandoning our Prospectives induction system, has provoked two replies. Coincidentally, our Club Review Sub- committee has recommended changes and formulated motions to be placed before the Annual General Meeting in March see page 10.
Brian Holdens suggestion that the Club produce a colour brochure - see Letters , page 4 also has been overtaken by events. Late last year the Club Review Sub Committee produced a draft of a colour brochure aimed at promoting the Club. The Management Committee has accepted the concept and design of this brochure.
Your response to the invitation to provide bushwalking recipes has been underwhelming. I have been forced to include a recipe previously published. Its a good recipe and well worth noting, but where are your modern lightweight food formulations? Where are the gourmet bushwalking foods that I have so often watched others eat? Come on, our new members are looking for ideas. Send in your Bushwalking Recipe of the Month
The walks reports are starting to come in and are very welcome. As well as reports of recent trips I would welcome reports of coming walks. Walks leaders should use this part of the magazine to promote walks in interesting areas. Bill Holland
Contact The Editor: Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the editor by the end of the first week of each month. Please send your submission in by mail (preferably typed), on floppy disc, email billholl@hotkey.net.au or by fax on 9980 5476.
+ae Fire Warning Lighting any fire in the open may lead to a fine of $5,000 and six months imprisonment. This applies to any naked flame including camp fires and camping stoves
through so many of our favourite walking areas, especially around the Greater Sydney Area during the holiday season, have caused much damage to property but, fortunately, no loss of life.
As it is only eight years since the last series of disastrous bushfires in NSW, | believe that in the circumstances nothing less than a full judicial enquiry into this states bushfire suppression and management practices is called for.
As a result of these fires we must expect severe restrictions on bushwalking in burnt out national parks and reserves and the consequent re- programming of some of our walks by our dedicated leaders who deserve our support. Welfare: It is nice to report that fellow club members Alex Colley and John Poleson are making good progress and greatly appreciate the support you have given them. I apologise for any inconvenience caused by my report in December in providing information on the location of our sick friends; by time you read it they had moved. Annual General Meeting: Our AGM is less than two months down the track and we need to fill a number of vacancies on our Management Committee as well as various Sub-Committees to keep the Club running smoothly. Your support would be appreciated.
Coolana: It-is obviously a hot summer and there is more to come so why not spend a relaxing weekend at Coolana? Sorry about the fire bans but there is plenty of swimming and the wild life is great wallabies, wombats, lyrebirds I mean. Congratulations to the Coolana Committee for keeping our property in such great condition.
Wilf Hilder
Annual General Meeting:
The Clubs AGM will be held on the 13“ March 2002. The formal Notice Of Meeting, annual reports and Financial Statements will be mailed to all members on or about the 15” February.
Our Clubs Constitution requires that all business to be transacted at the AGM shall be specified in the notice convening the meeting.
Therefore, if you have any matter to be raised, or motion to be placed before the AGM would you please advise the Club Secretary, Judy OConnor, in writing in time for item to be included in the printed Notice of Meeting.
The clubrooms will be closed on Wednesday 23“ January when we will gather at the Kiribilli RSL Club for dinner from 8 pm. January 2002 Page 3 |
i . The Sydney Bushwalker
FIRE ALERT !
Many of our national parks were closed during the time of extreme fire danger over the Christmas/New Year period and will remain closed pending an assessment of fire damage. This will affect the current Walks Programme. Many walks: listed may be cancelled, deferred or relocated. .
Please check with the Leader well in advance of the scheduled walk as the restrictions relating to th Giitrent period will change and further restrictions niay be imposed. The NPWS website www-npws.nsw.gov.au offers up-to-date information. However, before visiting a park, please check on local conditions by contacting the local park office or calling the National Parks Centre on 1300 36 1967. '
As at 6 January all parks in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area, Blue Mountains, Dlawarra and Central Coast are closed. There are some exemptions for picnic areas accessible by road.
Fires are affecting many parks including Wollemi, lower Blue Mountains, Dharug, Shoalhaven, Ettrema/Yalwal area and Berowra Valley Regional Park Also the Great North
The following areas are included in the list of fire affected areas and are currently closed. Specifically;
Sydney Harbour NP (open)
Kur ing Gai NP, Garrigal, Lane Cove and
Marra Marra NP (all closed)
Botany Bay NP (Kumell section closed)
Bouddi NP (coastal picnic and camping areas
open)
Royal NP (closed until further notice)
Barren Grounds, Bungonia, Budderoo
Macquarie Pass, Morton NP s (all closed) Other areas closed include Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay (managed-by Australian Parks and Wildlife. Service), Tallowa Dam (managed by Sydney Water) and the Shoalhaven River downstream from Bendeela Camping area boundary (managed by Sydney Water).
Note: Murramarang NP is still open (includes Pretty Beach, Depot Beach, Pebbly Beach)
The Clubs property at Coolana remains unaffected by fire at this stage. All members are asked to use great care and to comply with all fire restrictions.
Walk remaitis closed due to'storm damage. : oooo0oogood
BUSHFIRES! This article has previously appeared in Club magazines in 1989 and 1991.
PANIC is the biggest killer. When faced with a fast moving bushfire, people forget every bit of good advice they have ever been given.
If a fire approaches when you ar out on a bushwalk:~
FIND RAINFOREST - this has thick green foliage (lilli-pilli, coach wood) and is a safe retreat, So are clumps of lawyer vine and fall trees without undergrowth (like Blue Gum.). Green casuarinas (she-oaks) also burn poorly.
AVOID - low, thick scrub in forested or open areas. Dry swamps are full of rushes, which burn fiercely, . Avoid wearing synthetic materials, as flying cinders will melt them into your skin. Wool or cotton is best.
Because HEAT RISES, fires race UP hill, but burn slowly DOWN hill. Head into a gully. A rocky stream, even if dry, is good. Smoke also riss, avoid being asphyxiated by lying down, where the air will be fresher and contain more oxygen. If the fire is: going to pass fairly close use a large boulder to shield you from heat radiation.
Always carry maiches. Ifthe situation is really desperate you can light a fire and walk behind the flames. A. bushfire cannot burn ground already burnt.
Remember that even the biggest fire passes. Once it HAS passed, walk carefully over burnt ground. Try
The above are extracts from a talk given in the Clubroonis by Ben Esgate in 1989. Ben Esgate is an authority on the subject having lived in the Blue Mountains for many years. In addition to being a bushman and a bushwalker of vast experience, he was a Bush fire Brigade Captain for a considerable time.
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The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 ~ Paged |
J Letter To The Editor What seems to be missing from the years on- going discussion re the clubs viability is proper market research - and then selling a product the market is receptive to. We need a colour brochure printed off in thousands. The magazine can be cut down to a bimonthly to pay for them. In addition to our traditional activities, the brochure should be able to appeal to those who want heritage walks, family picnics and group overseas travel. Forget about pulling in young singles. They do not belong to a club generation as we did when we were their age. It has nothing to do with bushwalking going out of favour. The outdoors stores are at times crowded with young people. We are in desperate need of cold systematic researchers rather than people throwing theories about. Brian Holden.
& Letter To The Editor I was interested to read the letter from Andrew Vilder (December 2001) about the SBW prospective system. With the experience of more than 20 years of organising the NPA Walks Program, I am completely convinced about the merits of the open and equalitarian system that Andrew supports. This would mean an end to the requirement that propectives complete a full pack walk before they join the club as a full member. The measure of any successful walks program - is simple – a large number of diverse activities. The key to obtaining such a program is the contribution of walks by people from across the spectrum of bushwalking interests. Some leaders may have little interest in full pack walking but the activities that they provide are of interest and value to all in the club, including full pack walkers. So each element of the program supports all others, producing a better walks program and making everyone better off. An improved walks program itself produces an upward spiral as more people want to join and contribute to it.
Willingness to participate in the administration of a club is also not restricted to full pack walkers. People who will help in this regard are like gold. These days, clubs simply can not afford to tum away committed people, just because they are not full pack walkers.
The SBW prospective system loses many people who would eventually have been an asset to the club. Whilst this was not a problem in the past, it is a policy that does not provide a secure basis for the future.
Richard Thompson
& Yengo Wilderness Identified
The report on the 134,000 ha NPWS identified Yengo Wildemess is currently on public exhibition for comment. This classic sclerophyll forest wilderness is drained by the Macdonald River and tributaries that have dissected the sandstone plateau forming a landscape of interlocking ridges rising to Mt. Yengo, a prominent basalt cap standing above the surrounding terrain.
The 105,000 ha NPWS _ recommended wilderness while extensive, has two major defects - the proposal is in three pieces separated by 4WD tracks and its central feature, Mt. Yengo, was omitted. The excluded area is identified wilderness and contains further 4WD tracks that encircle the recently NPWS acquired Big Yango property that could be adapted for commercial use. The pressure for development of this World Heritage listed area will no doubt increase and wilderness reservation will provide effective development control.
The brochure announcing the Yengo Wilderness Assessment advises that the proposed wilderness area does not include significant 4WD and horse riding routes. In other words the wilderness was pruned to avoid conflict with 4WD and horserider groups (and these interests will oppose the wilderness).
Make a submission The Yengo wilderness should be adequately
* protected. Please make a wilderness submission
emphasising the following points:
= Your support for the wilderness, including its central feature Mt. Yengo and surrounding high ridges, with closure of associated 4WD roads within the area;
Inclusion of the Old Settlers Road and Yango Track within the national park and a unified wildemess, with access agreements established for the area landholders;
” Reduction of the threat to life and property posed by wildfire by the voluntary acquisition of private property within wilderness, especially in high risk areas;
Immediate termination of permissive occupancies grazing licences that are historically associated with dangerous bushfires used as a form of scrub clearing.
Make your submission by February 28 to:
Director-General
Yengo Wilderness Submission
C/- NPWS Central Coast Hunter Range Region
P O Box 1447 GOSFORD NSW 2250
Keith Muir Colong Foundation for Wilderness The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page5 |
The December 2001 General Meeting.
The time stood at about 2010 while the 18 or so members sat or lounged as the president called all to order and asked for apologies. Gretel Woodward and Judy OConnor were unable to be present, Carol Lubbers had called in sick, and Tom Wenman had gone home sick. In the absence of the secretary Bill Holland volunteered to keep the minutes.
The minutes of the previous general meeting were read and accepted as a true and correct record, Matters arising saw mention that George Mawer has agreed to continue in the position of walks recorder.
No correspondence was available to the meeting.
Confederation report indicated that there have recently been two claims on the accident insurance policy. Members are again urged to independently obtain their own Ambulance cover.
The Coolana committee has written to the Valuer-Generals department requesting a rview of the property titles in order to pursue a claim for overcharged rates.
Conservation report provided some details of an article on global warming that appeared in last months magazine.
No treasurers report was available to the meeting but two items of expenditure were mentioned. A payment of $732.82 to Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre for rental was approved, and we were advised that the committee has resolved to donate $100.00 to the Kangaroo Valley Bush Fire brigade.
With no Walks Secretary there werent any walks reports to present to the meeting.
General business brought the foreshadowing by Don Finch of a motion to be presented for debate at the February General Meeting. The motion will propose that the club register as a Landcare group with Coolana as the nominated property. Further information is available from Don on the benefits of such a move.
The General Meeting closed at around 2102 and was followed by discussion of proposed changes to the clubs management structure.
Barry Wallace
REMINDER!
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 13“ March 2002 at 8pm.
The President and other Office Bearers will be elected for the coming year.
Come along and register your vote.
Africa
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Mountains and coast
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trails in the world. We cant do them all, but we will do some of the best. if the full trip is too long, you can do parts.
Ask for our trip notes.
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* Walkabouts
The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 6 |
This walk was in danger of becoming a crowd as in addition to me and my Welsh mate Tony we also had-a third starter. However, he dropped out 12 hours before he was due to fly out so it was just me and Tony again.
Our flight was delayed 1 hour due to a blocked fuel valve on the aircraft; we waited patiently while aman hit it with a spanner.
We landed at Melbourne and missed our connection to Devonport, Qantas issued us a voucher for a meal and we feasted at Burger King before being packed onto a flight to Launceston.. From there we were conveyed to Devonport by hire car; 9 hours from Sydney to Devonport but we did'nt care 'cos we were on holiday and were'nt in any great rusb.
A pleasant night was spent at Molly Malones Irish pub and backpackers where I threw numerous pints of Guinness and Newcastle brown ale down my neck and needed only to stumble upstairs to get the head down. The next day our bus conveyed us efficiently to Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. There were numerous other walkers starting the Overland track in varying states of preparedness. All of them piled onto shuttle buses for the last 5kms to the start of the Overland track. We walked, reluctant to part with $9 and eager to start walking.
Upon arrival at Cradle Mountain we went .
straight into the assault, carrying our 30 kilo tucksacks to the summit because we did not trust anyone not to nick anything and we wanted to prove we were hard and show off to all the tourists. Cradle mountain is a_ challenging boulder scramble with 30 kilos, we made the summit, briefly considered camping on top, but descended and camped at a tarn below Cradle Mountain in high spirits. The next day we took on Bam Bluff minus rucksacks, we werent as hard as we thought we were. Bam Bluff tucked: under the -belt, funch was taken at Waterfall Valley hut with a bunch of Germans (1 did not mention the war!
We swept onwards, passing Windermere hut by because it was full of Germans and camped at a spot several kms on, as there were no major peaks to climb until the next day. We awoke to snow and packed up in a snowstorm, fingers frozen and hightailed it to New Pelion hut to claim it before the Germans arrived to occupy it. We arrived first, closely followed by a Swiss, then Germans, a Yank, another German and, amiracle, a couple of Aussies. They were guiding the Germans and the Yank. It seems some
Tasmania - The Overland Track 7-
19% November
people pay other people to take them walking in the mountains, how bizarre.
The coal stove was fired up and soon numerous items of hosiery were hanging up merrily steaming away. We got talking to our hutmates, I finished off the last of my whisky and we had a very merry night. A new hut has been built at Pelion Plains opened on 8th December. It can comfortably accommodate 60 walkers, fully insulated but no heating. Parks and Wildlife Service have deemed this unnecessary. New Pelion hut is to be demolished, Old Pelion hut is to be retained for historical reasons
The next day saw us scaling the jewel in the crown (because its the highest) Mt.Ossa,in the snow, preceded by Mt. Pelion East, Nail biting stuff in the snow and ice. We bedded down at Du Cane hut that night and were undisturbed by the masses as they all stayed at Kia-ora Hut cos its posher.
Now it was time for the grand finale, a foray into The Labyrinth and a high base camp below the summit of Mt.Geryon, from where we did the summits of Mt. Geryon and Mt. Massif. We saw wedge tailed eagles aplenty. We had perfect sunny weather for these three days perched atop the roof of Tassie and we saw not another soul.
Reluctantly, we descended to Pine Valley and did The Acropolis our last peak. In the distance, civilization was beckoning. We could see Cynthia Bay from The Acropolis, our time was running out. Camp was made by a waterfall in Pine Valley and next morning we ran from the enchanting spell of this magical place to return to the brutal world of the concrete jungle. Our last night was spent at Echo Point hut and we arrived at Cynthia Bay feeling like heroes, albeit smelly, dirty ones. Straight into the restaurant, double egg and chips, 4 slices bread and butter, overland vegieburger and chips, washed down with several bottles of cider maybe civilization ain't so bad after all.
Stephen Adams The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 7 }
Allan Wyborn
Allan Wyborm, long devoted member of the Sydney Bushwalkers Club and _ passionate environmentalist died peacefully in his home beside his beloved wife Alice on 30th June 2001, aged 84.
Allan along with his sweetheart Alice, joined the SBW in 1936. He had a strong upbringing in the ways of the bush through the Scouting Movement and the Rover Ramblers, and the practice continued for his active period as a SBW leader through to 1945 when Ross, his first child was bor. In those early years he undertook many explorations, both as private trips and as club walks with. Alice as companion.
He was particularly drawn to the more distant places of NSW in search: of new walking areas, partly because his work in the NSW Railways gave him free rail passes. There were exploration tnps to Kosi, the Brindabellas, the Border and Liverpool Ranges, Nandewars and Warrumbungles. On one of his walks in the Bungles in 1943 he suggested to the landowner, Alf Pincham, that he should donate the mountains to the National Parks. The rest is history.
Dtining the forties and fifties Allan was the Honorary Secretary of the Forestry Advisory Council, and, for a time, acting Honorary Organiser. In this capacity he supported the conservation of forestry areas in Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand, as well as NSW, and explored these areas in person, including an early trip to Hinchinbrook Island.
By now there were 3 children to contend with, but that did not deter Allan and Alice. After arranging care of the children with his sister Eileen, they set off in 1954 on a 5-month trip around, and into the centre, of Australia in their trusty Vanguard. The great adventure included many side walking trips in areas now famous as tourist destinations and places of wilderness experience.
The fifties and sixties were the child-raising decades, and Allan carefully nurtured his children into a love and understanding of the natural world and in particular the Australian bush. Ultimately for a short time in the late sixties seven Wyborns were members of SBW including spouses. With the departure of the children to their own adventures across the world, Allan and Alice embarked on renewed exploration, and this time the world was their oyster. There werent many countries able to escape an invasion by Allan, complete with VW campervan, sense of humour, and ability to chat up unsuspecting locals and tum them into
1916-2001
lifelong friends. Trips often revolved around Vancouver, Canada, where son Ross had settled after the 1969 Australian Andean Expedition. These trips continued through the eighties, with bome base overlooking the Blue Mountains National Park at Mt Wilson: Allan lovingly built the house at Mt Wilson to Alices specifications including the English garden nurtured by rich basalt soil and high rainfall. However the cold Mt Wilson climate eventually took control, and a new house began to take shape at Malua Bay on the south coast in 1995. A new garden had to be fashioned in much less fertile conditions than Mt Wilson, but this garden still looks a picture today.
Allans life was full of go. One of his final achievements was to initiate and help organize a Wyborn clan world reunion in Saskatchewan in 2000 attended by over 100 relations from across the world. At the end there were still many plans in train, not the last of which was to capture some of his 50,000 or more photos onto a computer archive. Alas this project and many others were cut short, a saddening state of affairs. But in the end isnt that the best way to go, still full of vitality and quest for the future.
onooo0ogcogo
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The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 8 |
cone BOOK REVIEW
Ecological Pioneers
A Social History of Australian Ecological Thought and Action
Reviewed by Alex Colley
The purpose of this book is clearly stated in the words we believe that all of us need sources of inspiration from the past and as we head towards our uncertain future, and perhaps the greatest uncertainty is how long the world will support a belief in endless growth.
The word ecology was first used in 1866 and did not achieve common use for a century, but the idea of ecology was achieved in the beliefs of nature lovers.. Although the early settlers found the Australian landscape weird, melancholy or fearsome, their perceptions were changed by artists and wmters. Among the earliest. were von Geurard and Buvelot. Later came Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin who freed landscape art from deference towards English culture. By the 1950s artists such as Drysdale, Nolan and Boyd attracted international attention. Among the early writers were Adam Lindsay Gordon, Marcus Clark and the Bulletin writers. Later on came Dark, Wright, White and Plumwood.
It was not however until the second half of last century that nature conservation became a mainstream political issue, though there had been limited campaigns before then. The Wild Life Preservation Society was founded in 1909 and Collins and Lahey successfully campaigned for Lamington National Park, created in 1915. But I believe that it was the bushwalkers, in particular the Mountain Trails Club and its successor the Sydney Bush Walkers, which brought nature conservation into the limelight .
It was Myles Dunphy who set the course for future campaigns, assisted by Alan Rigby, Marie Byles, and Dot Butler. The work of these pioneers is described in the book, and that of many others. Conservation moved from limited campaigns and generalisations. to state wide specific objectives. It is unlikely that many of these objectives could have been achieved without the formation of the National Parks Association in 1957 and the Colong Foundation, founded by Milo Dunphy, in 1968.
The Colong Committee is credited with showing that a direct appeal for public support could win the day on. conservation issues, which proved to be a turning poitit Tor the conservation movement nationally. Though I would like to have seen Geoff Mosley and Nugget Coombs,
who wrote The Return of Scarcity, included in the pioneers, limiting of the length of the text was essential.
The book conveys an aura of respectability to ecological campaigners, once described as radical extremists, ratbags or worse. It is a valuable history and reference book, and in the years to come, when scarcity retums, more species become extinct, salinity spreads and global warming increases, it will be an invaluable record of conservation pioneering.
Ecological Pioneers by Martin Mulligan and Stuart Hill was published by Cambridge University Press. 338 pages, rrp $39.95 Martin Mulligan lectures in the School of Social Ecology and Lifelong Learning at the University of Western Sydney and Stuart Hill holds the Foundation Chair of Social Ecology at the University.
Never Buy a Map Again!
At last! It seems that the Victorian Government has announced that 1:25,000 topographical maps will be available for download from the www.nre.vic.gov.au website free of charge. * Some map sections are available for Tasmania. Other states are expected to follow suit although no other announcements have been made. The NZ Govt has similar arrangements in place.
Provided you have a PC, intemet access and a decent printer you will soon (we hope) be able to download the map for next weeks walk and save spending $8-00 per map. If you have a GPS you can pre-plot your course and waypoints.
[The above information was posted in messages on the Oziusers-L Yahoo Groups website. I have not been able to verify that the maps will be free of charge although the message poster assures readers he has verbal confirmation from the Vic Gov Dept… Ed]
First Aid Certificates for Leaders:
To encourage our walks leaders to get. their St Johns First Aid Certificate, the Committee has offered to subsidise current Walks Leaders for half the cost of gaining an accredited Senior First Aid Certificate up to $50 and if combined with an accredited Remote Area First Aid, up to $80. This will be for a trial six-month period.
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3 Trelawney Street Eastwood. eastwood Phone : 02 9858 3833. camping
All packs personally fitted
centre by our experienced Staff.
The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 10
. .Proposed Changes To Membership Procedure
Of all the matters raised in the Club survey, only one issue was of fundamental! importance to the continued viability of SBW, and that issue was prospective membership. At one stage we were all prospective members, now we describe ourselves as being new members, old members, active members, inactive members, tiger walkers, kitten walkers, worn-out members, day walkers, weekend walkers, slow walkers, fast walkers, ex-walkers, etc, etc, etc.
The Review Sub-Committee, all experienced rocket scientists, quickly realised that SBW would whither and die if there was not a steady stream of new members (ex-prospective members) coming into the Club to take-up the obligations, duties, challenges, fun and companionship of SBW membership; our new members today will be the Club elders of the future.
With this simple concept the Review Sub- Committee started to look at the process of turning a prospective member into a member. We looked at the rules formulated in 1927 to see if they needed to be updated, and they did. If we could streamline the process, and we could. If we could simplify the paperwork, and we could. If it would be difficult to carry out these changes, and it was not. If it would be worthwhile to make the changes, and we firmly believe so.
For 74 years prospective members have trod a well worn, deeply rutted track to membership. So deeply rutted that they could not see over the sides, and we could not see the people on the track.| We knew some prospective members got fed up with the process and opted out as soon as they could. So many things have changed since the prospective membership rules were formulated; the Harbour Bridge has been built, topo maps of anywhere are available everywhere, the black two piece telephone is now a mobile with internet access. And some things have remained the same, magnetic north is still different from true north and bushwalking is still loads of fun. It is definitely time to update the procedure.
The Review Sub-Committee has formulated five straightforward and simple changes to simplify the Prospective Membership procedure. These changes will form part of the AGM Notice of Meeting because four of them require minor Constitution changes. The changes will simplify the process, the SBW badge will still have to be earned, the test walks will have to be walked, navigation and first aid studied and understood. The Review Sub-Committee
worked long and hard to understand the problem and to find the solution.
The Changes The first proposed change is procedural and
does not require a change to the Constitution. It tefers to the current requirement for Prospective Members to come before the Management Committee. It is proposed to drop this anachronous procedure. Prospective Members will still be invited to be welcomed to the Club at a general meeting.
The other four proposed changes are changes to the Constitution (requiring notice as Special Resolutions) and will be placed before the next Annual General Meeting (13“ March 2002). They all refer to changes to Membership Qualifications, viz:-
1. Changes to period within which a prospective member may gain full membership.
Clause 5d currently states:
A person shall not be eligible for membership other than prospective membership of the association unless that person: Clause 5(d) il. Holds prospective membership of the association for a period of not less than three months and pays such subscription as the committee shall determine, and within a period of six months after entering upon prospective membership fulfils the qualifications set out in (ili) (iv) (v) and (vi) of this rule. It is proposed to replace and within a period of six months with and within a period determined by the Annual General Meeting This change will enable the AGM to change the period to other than six months without further change to the Constitution. Clause 33 (i) requires notice of such changes to be given prior to the AGM. . 2. Change description of Test Walks to Qualifying Walks Clause 5 (d) iii currently states: satisfactorily accomplishes two test walks, each one day in duration, and one test walk of at least two days in duration involving such distance, time and terrain as approved by the committee. Such test walks shall include where possible practical map reading and bushcraft instruction. The committee shall be at liberty to accept test walks of two days or more in duration in lieu of the walks of one day in duration referred to above.
ba January 2002 Page 11
. | The Sydney Bushwalker
It is proposed to replace the word test with qualifying. Although both words have almost the same meaning, qualifying leading to membership is considered more positive, whereas a test has the negative idea of excluding.
3. Delete requirement for an applicant for membership to be nominated by a member. Clause 5 (d) v (2) currently states the nomination of a member of at least six months standing who shall have known the applicant for three months and who shall report to the committee on the applicant's sociability, stamina and respect for the association's welfare.
It is proposed to delete this sub-clause
completely because it no longer is complied
with, besides being a form of discrimination based on an applicant's sociability.
4. Change the endorsement requirement from six members to three leaders. Clause 5 (d) v (3) currently states the endorsement of six other members of at least six months standing . It is proposed to replace the words six other members of at least”six months standing to three other members of at least six months standing who shall have been the leader of, or members on the three qualifying walks undertaken. Patrick James
Landcare For Coolana ?
At the February General Meeting a motion to register Sydney Bushwalkers as a Landcare group with Coolana as the Landcare area is to be considered. * - Why? As a Landcare group assistance is available from the Department of Land and Water Conservation. DLWC helps with development of long or short-term management plans. Access to funding for
SS]
particular approved Landcare projects from a number of organizations is also available.
The number of people that actually do the work at Coolana is really very small, registering, as a Landcare group is not likely to change that. However with some professional heip in planning and developing a long term approach it may be possible to ensure that the efforts of the - few are not wasted for the want of continuity.
Landcare groups are independent and autonomous. It is the group that decides what it wants to work on; DLWC helps after the decision is made to achieve-results. The Coolana maintenance committee and other Coolana workers will be the core of the Landcare group. They will decide what they want to attempt.
By registering Sydney Bushwalkers as the Landcare group it is SBW that decides what it wants to do. Although this is exclusive of our neighbours and others it is almost certainly the best option. ;
By nominating Coolana as the Landcare area it is intended that the focus is on rehabilitating Coolana and that the limited workforce is not expected to be involved in projects that are not on Coolana. This applies now as much as in the- future.
There are several websites with information on Landcare. Department Of Land And Water Conservation at www.dlwe.nsw.gov.au and Landcare NSW at www.landcarensw.org. During the term of the Coolana Special Committee in 1999 a large amount of interesting and pertinent detail about Coolana come to light. This was distilled into the Coolana report dated September 1999 and sent to all members. The position of our boundaries and what we own and do not own are of particular interest. Among the
pertinent detail is the fact that we have been
paying rates on a block of land that we do not own for the last twenty years. This last is being attended to but it bears out the fact that if people do not have the correct information or access to it then errors will occur. By joining Landcare I hope that the information on what people are doing and achieving at Coolana is organised in a way that any interested member now or in the future can pick up the threads and contribute to a positive outcome. Don Finch
* Don has now advised that he will place an amended motion to the February General Meeting. The amended motion would then read “That the Coolana Maintenance Committee consider if the Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. register with the Department of Land & Water Conservation as a Landcare Group with Coolana as the nominated Landcare area. [Ed] [a _
– - The Sydney Bushwalker. _ January 2002
Page 12
Walking on the Far Side
The Capertee village is a leisurely three and a half hours travel by train and bus from Central Station. For Malcolm Carr, Andy Cairns, David Bowskill and I, it was the start of a week long bushwalk to look at the damage to public lands adjoining the western side of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Travelling by public transport proved to be an excellent way to start. Everyone was completely organised and relaxed, there were none of the usual hassles associated with car trips.
Airly, our first destination, is the site of a proposed coal mine but little work has commenced despite being approved 10 years - ago. After climbing Airly Turret for the views over the Gardens of Stone, we headed for the old oil shale workings and on the way met Col Ribaux, who owns a nearby gold and diamond mine. He was using a tomahawk to search for vital fossil clues hidden amongst the shale deposits. He loves and conserves his mountain in his own way (which includes considerable 4WD access tracks) but he remains totally opposed to the NPWS and national parks. One has to be careful talking to Col about these issues. Malcolm collected some of the fossils and carried then throughout the trip in his huge pack. | Like ancient oil shale miners we camped snug on the north-east face of Airly, overlooking the Capertee Valley the most scenic valley in all NSW. The view of Tyan Peak - a mini Mount Fuji was wonderful in the purple light of early morning. The group dynamics became apparent early on Tuesday, because of our divergent ideas about what was meant by getting up for an early start. I concluded that leadership at this point was about making as much noise as necessary to wake the sleeping. A campfire and a cup of tea also helped.
Later, at 5pm, after 18 kilometres, the Parish of Coco had lived up to its name, as a saddle near Pantoneys Crown is made for interesting navigation. There are ever so many gullies, and navigation by dead reckoning was just a step away from being benighted. We made camp on Crown Creek after dark after running into a cute swamp wallaby with rounded ears that bounded off in the right direction.
Next day we struggled over Baal Bone Gap and into a fantastic realm of low narrow creek valleys, grassy flats and pagoda lined ridges. Coal mining is damaging this part of the
proposed extension to the Gardens of Stone ~
National Park. A new powerline, dams, pumping stations and pipelines have been cut into the
15” - 22“ September, 2001
landscape, and cliff collapses and water pollution scar and poison it.
Nearby Gardiners Gap (named after Jackie Gardiner) has retained its bushranging romance. Monday nights camp on Long Swamp on the headwaters of the Coxs River was ideal, except for the scars. The modern-day bushrangers, trail bikes and 4WD vehicles, have tom every mine exploration road in this wonderful area into an erosion gully. Nearly every rock face is cracked and only the foolhardy would use the areas
camp caves.
<AGEND
Pee Gardens of Stone National Park hy Wolter and Bive Mountains Navenal Parka
Camp site anue Waliing route
Next day, Tuesday, we headed east to Lambs Creek, another classic grassy valley that offered wonderful walking. A cliff fall has created a rock block up, which had closed off the head of this creek. Scrambling over this and fighting though the scrub led our party directly onto the Temple of Doom, aptly named for its forbidding twin towers. The view from this rock temple is well worth a look and, like most of Newnes Plateau, offers views of the Wolgan, the Gardens of Stone and north Wollemi.
Nearby, the track Wolgan River Falls appears as a scene-of-valiant-struggle where 4WD vehicles have pitted themselves mercilessly against an innocent pagoda landscape. In this
| The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 13 |
ates
playground heavy, giant rubber wheel-spinning monsters have reduced the rough old tracks to 4 moonscape condition. Trees have been ringbarked by winch cables, then pulled over and collected into neatly chainsawed stockpiles alongside the favourite hill climbs. We boiled all the water taken from the Wolgan River to use at camp because of upstream pollution from the ' Springvale mine.
Camping of the Wolgan River was quite damp and not as pleasant as more elevated camps. The – 12 kilometre road bash along Sunnyside Ridge
to Newnes Pine Forest posed no problems at all
and seemed to take no time compared to the off track walking through pagoda country. There was'time to visit Birds Rock Flora Reserve and the lookout there offers the best view of the
Newnes Plateau. Hooray that this site did not
become home to the biggest power station in
NSW as proposed in the late 1970s. The
Bungleboori camp in pine forest, however, had - been totally destroyed by trail bikers in the last
month. The tap-was knocked off the water tank,
the grass torn off picnic ground by the bikies, the bollards and picnic seating burnt, so the area is now a ruin. We had planned to catch up with - Wyn Jones at this point but instead of waiting we had to walk 4 kilometres further on to find water, At this point it was obvious that our small party would be walking east into the Burigleboori Creek, not south to look at sand mines. Ironically; the trail bikes had given us deliverance from another days road bash. Camping at the north-east corner of the pine forest is'very comfortable. A few kilometres down Waratah Ridge, in the headwaters of Bungleboori Creek is found a lost
city of pagodas and it seems incredible that.
Clarence Collieryis mining in this area! They have placed wamuing signs to advise of the danger of cliff falls, but unhelpfully located so that we saw them only as we were leaving the mine area.
Our journey then lead east to Gooches Crater a landscape with the lot - upland swamps, wetlands, rare plants, a slot canyon, extensive pagodas formations, a natural rock bridge and majestic old growth forest. All this could be deprived of life giving water and reduced to rubble by mine subsidence if unrestricted mining is approved under it. Although the nearby Clarence mine expansion proposal is now on hold, it is unclear whether Gooches Crater will be protected.
The 14, Olympic size swimming pools a day of pollution are still discharged to the Wollangambe River, a formerly pristine wild
river in the Wollemi Wilderness that is visited by thousands a year. Our party was inspired to further action to protect these neglected bits of the Gardens of Stone.
After crossing the blackened Wollangambe, it took three hours to reach Bell Station and flag down the best stretch limo in the State the Lithgow to Sydney interurban train: You cant beat trains for a hassle free trip. The Far Side Walk was one of the best trips I have been on in recent years, due to the excellent company and the incredible variety of sandstone scenery. Keith Muir
“Walking On The Web”
For those who like to gaze at the flickering screen, here are some bushwalking-related internet sites that may be of interest:
SBW www.sbw.org.au Our club site mainly providing others with information about SBW
Confederation of Bushwalkinge Clubs
www.bushwalking.org.au Include links to other clubs and information about Confederation activities
NPWS_ www.npws gov.au/news For up to date news on park closures etc
Sydney Bus and Ferry Timetables www. sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au Latest timetables and changes
State Rail: www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au Timetables and nost importantly chsnges due to track maintenance
Willis Walkabouts:
www, bushwalkingholidays.com.au
Walkabout magazine , feature trips and tour list
Blue Mountains Canyon News Members.ozemail.com.au/dnoble/Canyoning_news. Dave Noble updates his site regular) y with the latest Canyoning news.
Also there are several newsgroups with bushwalking and other activities. Here are just a few:
aus. bushwalking
aus. bicycling
qus.conservation
gooon0o0o0n0
1 | The Sydney Bushwalker
January 2002 Page 14 |
THE WALKS PAGES
A Walks Leaders First Time - Quay to Manly.
Its Saturday morning the 8th of December, 2001. I awoke this morning for the first time as a walks leader to a wet and overcast day. Last night there had been torrential rain.
I had committed myself to leading a 26km walk |from Circular Quay to Manly, along with swimming opportunities.
Now in the position of a walks leader, I had to show up at the starting point as scheduled, regardless of the conditions. Eleven walkers had booked for this walk, which comprised of 3 prospectives and 8 members.
To my surprise, there were only 2 withdrawals on the day, only one of which could be attributed to the bad weather. A special mention here for Tania Bird, a prospective. She actually had caught the train on the Blacktown line, despite the weather. Sadly she had to cancel via my mobile phone when she realised she would not reach the starting point in time, due to SRA trackworks. Tania, I hope to walk with you in the future.
Last to arrive at the starting point, was Sophie Watson, a prospective. I did not expect to see her here on the day. Despite her hair being sopping wet, she managed to raise a smile which stayed with our group for the rest of the day.
Of the 9 starters, I knew only 4 from previous walks. So with all the group present, a circle was formed in the drizzle. With a touch of apprehension I commenced introductions, and from this point onwards I felt the responsibility of leadership. As the day evolved however, many of my self-doubts of being a walks leader gradually evaporated. The reason for my feeling more relaxed as I led this walk can be attributed a lot towards the fact that I was with a group of like-minded individuals. We were a diverse mixture of persons that interacted in a fun and positive manner.
Following is a commentary, unedited, composed and written by my group while we drank and ate at the Rocks at the end of the day.
Great group of walkers. The prospectives did really well. Sophie Watson suggested pizzas at the Australian Hotel in the Rocks, and homebrew beer (Bavarian style). Superb leadership. Good food throughout the day. Leamed heaps about the stock market. Good swimming at Balmoral, but only 3 takers. No white pointers sighted. Lots of botanical and architectural interest. Too many I.T workers
(more than half the group). Good capuccinos and plenty of public toilets along the way.
As a first time walks leader I could not have hoped for a better bunch of walkers.
Thank you Ken Smith, Tony Holgate, Edith Baker, John Tsang, Mark Paterson, Eilish ORorke, Roger Browne, Sue Arnott, Sophie Watson.
After this first time experience, I would urge SBW members that have never led a walk before, to give it a go. If we all led a walk just occasionally, our club and walks programme could only benefit. The club holds a walks and activity planning night each quarter, so look at the walks programme and pencil in this night.
Finally at 8.30pm I had to say goodbye to my fellow walkers. As I made my way across the Harbour Bridge, I found myself treated to a spectacular fireworks display. The day really finished on a high for me. I even managed to get waved past a police breathalyser unit on the drive home. I guess I had better buy myself a lottery ticket .
Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Nick Bertsos.
BLUE MOUNTAINS N P
LAWSON
3%, 4” Nov 16km
Lawson Ridge, descend by
side ridge to Wentworth
Creek and on to campsite.
Next day down Wentworth
Creek to Jims Creek up this creek to lunch spot, ascend ridge to Lawson Fire trail and return to Lawson.
The walk was approx 50% off track with a steep descent to Wentworth Creek and numerous crossings. Slow going in creek with scratchy and tough sections; some rock scrambling and steep ascent at the end
The walk went more or less as programmed. The small party allowed us to do a more off- track than usual. Although it was just a small party (2 members, | prospective) the cool and sometimes misty weather on the Saturday did not dampen the enthusiasm. Day 2 was fine and sunny and we were able to enjoy the views we had missed on Day 1.
The wild flowers are still wonderful with large patches of Boronia the occasional stately Waratah and extensive sightings of particularly fine Isopogon.
Jim Percy
ah q
January 2002 Page 15 |
Midweek Walk Strickland State Forest
I wanted to walk in a new area (for me), not too adventyrous and suitable for a mid-week walk (i.e. late start and early finish to avoid the peak hours):“ A quick look in the NPA book Bushwalks in the Sydney Region Volume 2 * and Walk No.26 sounded interesting viz: Strickland State Forest contains attractive stands of rainforest interspersed with interesting tree species not native to the area. These trees were planted late last century (1890's) when this forest was the site of Australias first Forestry School
So, it was programmed for December 11 and five of us participated. A good number as it meant we could share one car (although near Narara train station, private transport or taxi is necessary).
The walk was just over9 kms, not too many ups and downs and mostly in shade (it was a warm day). The'trees were magnificent! Giant hoop pines {over 1 metre in diameter) red cedars, turpentines, native tamarind to name just a few.
Photo by Bill Holland
Admiring the trees
A word of warming! The lower track to the waterfall is still under construction. We tried to get to it at the end of the incomplete track and met with great-difficulty scratches, clambering and gave up. Later, using the top track we found the falls were dry.
We voted it a top class walk and I will schedule it again, this time as a Sunday walk. Bill Holland
* Bushwalks in the Sydney Region- Volumes 1] and 2 are available from NPA Sydney Branch. Phone 02 9299 0000
REMINDER: The Autumn Walks Programme deadline was 18” January late walks may stillbe
accepted if you contact Carol Lubbers 4758 8791
Alpine } NP Victoria (26 Dec - 1 Jan) Walk went from Bogong Village - Fainters - Niggerheads - Tawonga Huts - Bogong High Plains -'Mt Cope - Mt Jim - Young's Hut - Cobungra Gap Mt Loch - Mt Hotham (stocked up for New Year's Eve) - Razorback - Feathertop - Dungey's Gap - Pyramid Hill - Mt Beauty. Snowed the day before we started and the day after we finished but we had perfect weather, super campsites, fantastic views and no problems finding water.
6 members - superb walk.
Kenn Clacher
Advarce Notice: Extended Walk in Afghanistan
In May 2002 we will fly into Islamabad and hire a local bus and driver, which will take us up the Khyber Pass and cross the border into Afghanistan at Jalalabad and on to Kabol (local spelling). We will be exploring the mountains around Kabol with three days set aside to concentrate on the Tora Bora cave network.. From these mountains you partake of views over Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Stan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and over the whole of Afghanistan. Costs: are expected to be prohibitive and your chances of coming back in one piece are fair.
For more details - David Trinder 9868 7932
fies:
Photo by Don Matthews: Erroll Sheedys group walking along the Woronora River downstream from Boobera Pool - Easter 2000
Wanted! Short articles promoting a recent walk or a coming walk in an interesting area,
. L i _ -= Fhe Sydney Bushwalker January 2002 - Page 16 | Reminiscences Of An Early Prospective: I note in the November Sydney Bushwalker the deaths of three long-time members, David Stead, Malcolm McGregor and Jean Moppet (Trimble). As they all had a great effect on my assimilation into the Club. in 1938, perhaps I can be excused if I reminisce with a little nostalgia for those early days. During my apprenticeship at Garden Island I spent the latter two years in the drawing office“ The Senior Draughtsman there, as part of his duties, regularly visited Austral Bronze in Mascot to witness the testing of material for the Navy. I had done a couple of long walks, with my home made tent and pack on an Easter over the Kings Tableland to the Upper Burragorang Valley and back and from Kurajong to Mt ' Victoria , via the then primitive Bells Line of Road No doubt David spoke about his recent marathon and Tiger walks to my supervisor and my efforts were retold. David apparently suggested that I should join the SBW. They meet every Friday night at the Royal Lifesaving Club in Hamilton St, send him along. So in October 1938, I presented myself for approval and must have made an early impression. Gordon Smith invited the new gangling youth to join the party planning to do a river bed traverse of the Kowmung River from its source at the junction of the Tuglow and Hollanders Creeks to the Cox and on to Katoomba via the Ruined Castle., I then leamed that many of the group were Tigers and I began to have doubts about my capabilities and trained by walking home from Circular Quay to Marrickville. As it so happened, I coped and. secured an aura from being one of a group to first -walk/swim the whole of the Kowmung. I was readily accepted for membership and completed the classic 82 miler from Katoomba to Picton over a weekend ” I had taken a complete series of photographs of the Kowmung and these became immensely popular with members wanting a viewing. It was then that Jean Trimble (Moppet) came into the picture inviting me (and others) to her home for a meal and viewing. The night started first with a swim at the North Shore Olympic Pool, it was a great start for a then shy lad in being accepted into an active group. I remember then that Jean and Tom had recently completed a first winter traverse of the Kosciusko Range to Kiandra and of a photograph of Jean standing alongside her skis with only them to shelter her from an icy wind. From these Kowmung photos, Malcolm McGregor and I decided to put on a slide show called 'Old Tales Retold with scenes of the Kowmung and a canoe trip down the Shoalhaven , interspersed with photos of club members in various activities, not necessarily related to the photos but as a progression down a fictitious river. We were a bit ahead of our time with a documentary. There were two projectors with slides fading one into the other and a script read over an amplifier by Stan Martin and Grace Jolly. Club members were canvassed for photos to make up a story and some specially taken to add to a story line. One sequence showed as fiction. Tim Coffey at work at AWA with his female staff in situations which today would be classified as sexual harassment. Tim new nothing of the sequence, althcugh he had been a party to putting the rest of the show together. For the show he brought his newly acquired girlfriend and sat her down in the first row. All went well however, for Gloria joined the Club and they were eventually married. As I have lived in Canberra for the past 31 years. I cannot regularly attend Club functions, but I still enjoy reading the magazine and so become abreast of activities. I still bushwalk in Narnadgi National Park with NPA members but on walks no longer of the Tiger variety. Reg Alder Bushwalking Recipe Of The Month Savoury Rice by Judith Rostron 500 g Brown Rice I tin of tomatoes I packet Peas and Carrots Small quantity of PESTO (optional) A clove Garlic 1 Onion (chopped) Y% small Capsicum Parmesan Cheese to sprinkled over (serves 4) Previously published in The Sydney Bushwalker October 1984 fl on The Sydney Bushwalker January 2002 Page 17 | NEW MEMBERS PAGE: The Clubrooms have been closed over the holiday period so this month we cannot extend the usual welcome to new members who otherwise would have joined in the last month. The usual difficulties of Summer walking in heat and the requirement to carry more water have been compounded this year by the extreme fire wedther and extensive buming of the parks in which we often walk. Nevertheless, our imaginative leaders will discover alternative walking areas. Please ensure that you phone the leaders early to determine whether the walk has been changed from that shown in the Summer Walks Programme. - Summer walking also offers special pldsures. Swimming opportunities, lightweight clothing and if weekend walking lightweight or' no sleeping bags required. i *Recommehided walks for new members are shown below. These are walks of easy-to medium grade that are unlikely to have been affected by fires, Also the Summer Training Programme is shown below. The Coolana weekend is highly recommended as it offers the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge whilst enjoying the _ beautiful property. Recommended Walks For New Members: Please refer to the Summer Walks Programme for full details of these walks. Other easy to medium grade walks are shown in the Summer Programme but may be subject to change if fire affected. Day Walks: Sun 27“ Jan: MunmorahSRA A truly delightful easy/medium walk with lots of swimming in a beach cave. 27 Jan: Royal NP Picnic walk for beach lovers from Otford to Werrong Beach and return. Thursday 7” Feb. Ku-ring Gai NP Catch the Palm Beach ferry to Mackerel Beach with easy walking, rock art and water views. 17“ Feb: Royal NP Cliffside walk from Otford to Werrong Beach and return. Coastal views. Weekend Walks: 9” 10“ Feb: WollemiNP = Introduction to overnight camping with base camp at Deep Pass. 23 24” Feb: Blue Mts NP An easy/medium weekend walk to Erskine Creek with lots of swimming and relaxing. Club Training Nights: New members training nights are regularly held on the second Wednesday of each month. The next training night will be Wed 13“ February Packing For A Walk Prospectives Training Week End: Training Weekend at Coolana - October 2001 A Very Special Invitation to you to join us at the Coolana Wiidlife Refuge in the beautiful Kangaroo Valley. All new members are encouraged to attend on Saturday, Sunday: 16”, 17“ February The weekend offers practical training in navigation, first aid and bushcraft. It provides an ideal introduction to camping and a chance to extend your social contacts within the club. Experienced members may also attend to assist with training and join in the social activities around the camp fire on Saturday evening. Maps are provided but please bring a mapping compass. If you need to buy a compass please phone the persons listed below for advice before purchasing. Activities start on Saturday moming and finishes late afternoon on Sunday. For transport assistance and location advice please phone: Bill Holland 9484 6636 (h & w) Patrick James 9904 1515 (h & w) Gear For Hire We have been fortunate enough to receive donations of good bushwalking gear and will shortly be in a position to hire out these items to new members. This_ will, assist those who have difficulty in Obtaining the items necessary for a weekend bushwalk;ie pack, tent, sleeping bag and mat. Details of hiring arrangements will be publicized . In coming magazines. Many thanks to those who-have donated surplus gear. January 2002 Page 18 | | . The Sydney Bushwalker SOCIAL NOTES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Social Programme: Recent Happenings: Our Christmas Party was a huge success with about 120 members tuming up. The weather was perfect so we set up the food tables in the grassed courtyard. Our other major Summer social event, the evening Balmoral Beach Picnic, attracted a very good attendance with over 40 people enjoying mild beach-side weather after the very hot spell. It was most enjoyable! See you there next year. Coming Events: , We are now well into the Summer Programme .. which includes - January: Wed 23” Dinner night at Kirribilli RSL Wed 30“ Native Bees - (8.00 pm) : . Malcolm Batley a “Bee Specialist” ~ from the Australian Museum will give us a talk and slide show about native bees. This will be followed by a walk in Curra Moors with emphasis on Banksia Bees on February 3 Committee Meeting (6.30 pm) Introduction to SBW (8.00 pm) New Prospective members meet the New Members Team over tea and biscuits. Wed 13” General Meeting Prospective Training = Packing for a walk Wed 20“ Members Survey General discussion on the
outcomes of the Membership
Survey and the Report from the
Sub Committee
Members Slides
Members slides and photos of
Christmas, New Year and other
memorable walks
If you have any questions about the current
programme or suggestions for the Autumn
Social Programme please phone me on
9923 1468 Gemma Gagne
Wes 27”
Coolana Maintenance:
Come and join us for light maintenance and bush regeneration work at the beautiful Coolana. Scheduled dates are:
25“ 27” January
7 10“ February
16” 17“ February
Spend one, two or more days with us. Its not all work and on the warm to hot days we spend time just relaxing and swimming. No need to book just comes along.
Have You Changed Your Address ?
If you have changed your address or phone number recently please advise:
Members: Barry Wallace
Prospectives: Kay Chan
The advice should be in writing directed to the Clubs postal address. This will ensure that our records show your current address and prevent delay in receiving the magazine each month .
We want your Surplus Gear !
No longer used but pre-loved and in good condition equipment to be hired out by our Club to new prospective members
We would like to assemble 2 kits of suitable lightweight gear to be made available for hire. It is intended that each kit consist of:
I sleeping bag
1 inner sheet
1 pack
1 foam sleeping mat
1 ground sheet
(microlight would be ideal) If you can help with any of the above items please contact our New Members Secretary (phone 9520 0266) with your offers of suitable equipment
Mark These Dates On Your Calendar: Sat/Sun _16/17” Feb: Coolana Training Weekend for new members, Wed 13 March: Annual General Meeting Election of new President and Office Bearers. Sat/Sun 16“_17” March: Reunion and Family weekend at Coolana. A great time for adults and children
Sydney Bushwalker' Collating Our magazine collating night in February will be a very busy night. We have to collate and mail out the February Magazine, Autumn Walks Program, Membership List and Notice of AGM with Annual Report Collating will be at the Holland's home at Westleigh on Thursday 14th February from 6pm. If you can assist us please contact Fran Holland beforehand for details on 9484 6636.
The Leaders in Adventure since 1930
Ever since Paddy Pallin began making his gear in his back room, Paddy Pallin has led the way in manufacturing and selling a range of quality products for fellow bushwalkers. We understand that walkers need lightweight, functional equipment which will perform in all kinds of conditions, so if you want the best products and the best advice, come
in and see us.
WE SPECIALISE IN: * Footwear for bushwalking * Rucksacks
* Day packs
* Gore-Tex rainwear
* Polartec fleece warmwear * Thermal bodywear
* Outdoor clothing
* Sleeping bags
* Tents
* Stoves and water purifiers
* Cross country skis and boots * Rockclimbing equipment
* Books and maps
Accessories
And if you are just starting out, or perhaps trying something new, we have a range of equipment for hire at competitive prices.
For a free catalogue, drop into your nearest store, or call (02) 9524 1385.
Miranda 527 Kingsway City 507 Kent St Parramatta 2/74 Macquarie St + Katoomba 166B Katoomba St Canberra 11 Lonsdale St. Braddon Jindabyne Kosciusko Rd