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193408 [2014/08/29 14:21] – [THE WOLGAN VALLEY AND COLO RIVER] emmanuelle_c | 193408 [2014/09/11 10:52] (current) – emmanuelle_c | ||
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- | ====== EDITORIAL ====== | + | ===== Editorial |
Our last issue was published just after King's Birthday, and most people have not had a long week-end since then, but a few " | Our last issue was published just after King's Birthday, and most people have not had a long week-end since then, but a few " | ||
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But it has one disadvantage it can be usurped by one's tent-mate, and when he weighs as much as '" | But it has one disadvantage it can be usurped by one's tent-mate, and when he weighs as much as '" | ||
- | ====== BARRINGTON TOPS ====== | + | |
+ | ===== Barrington Tops ===== | ||
__G.M. Taylor.__ | __G.M. Taylor.__ | ||
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At last we arrived back in Paterson again, and with our packs bulging with oranges, we stepped into a Sydney bound train, and so, back to the "big smoke" with our minds dwelling happily on the thoughts of a holiday most enjoyably spent. | At last we arrived back in Paterson again, and with our packs bulging with oranges, we stepped into a Sydney bound train, and so, back to the "big smoke" with our minds dwelling happily on the thoughts of a holiday most enjoyably spent. | ||
- | ====== THE WOLGAN VALLEY AND COLO RIVER ====== | + | |
+ | ===== The Wolgan Valley and Colo River ===== | ||
__(From Dunc's a Diary)__ | __(From Dunc's a Diary)__ | ||
Party: | Party: | ||
- | Rene Browne, Iris Rockstro, Ray Bean, " | + | Rene Browne, Iris Rockstro, Ray Bean, " |
Melville and myself. | Melville and myself. | ||
Line 75: | Line 77: | ||
It was raining heavily with lots of thunder and lightning when we climbed to the street level at Lithgow. There were crowds of people about and we caused quite a stir as we climbed aboard our chariot in the main street. The chariot, by the way, was a " | It was raining heavily with lots of thunder and lightning when we climbed to the street level at Lithgow. There were crowds of people about and we caused quite a stir as we climbed aboard our chariot in the main street. The chariot, by the way, was a " | ||
- | I think it was the roughest road I have erer travelled, it is 25ir miles to Names, from Lithgaw | + | I think it was the roughest road I have ever travelled, it is 25 1/2 miles to Newnes, from Lithgow |
- | very good view of the whole Valley below us, with Donkey Mountain sitting up like an | + | |
- | island in the middle. We loaded up again and started | + | |
- | road with a very steep grade and only just wide enough for the lorry. | + | |
- | and shift a tree which had been blown down across the road; there were pieces off | + | |
- | trees everywhere, and water rushing in all directions. Ray and Wal were leaning out the back with the torch, carrying on a lot of tomfoolery about being in a boat, and every now and then we would go into a pothole and we would all slide over on one side with the packs on top of us. Mr. Young said he thought he had better go as quickly as he could in spite of the roughness of the track, in order to reach the west arm of the Wolgan before the flood waters got dawn, or he would not be able to cross. The track we were driving along was like a creek all the way. | + | |
- | At 9.30 p.m. we reached the Wolgan, Mr. Young and the boys got out and inspected the river and it was decided to give it a go. We drove into the middle, the | + | At 9.30 p.m. we reached the Wolgan, Mr. Young and the boys got out and inspected the river and it was decided to give it a go. We drove into the middle, the water came up over the running board and the engine conked out. By this time the rain was coming |
- | water came up over the running board and the engine conked out. By this time the rain was coming | + | and got his sleeping bag wet, Ray and Wal were on the outside in the other tent, they also got wet, but yours truly was also on the outside and didn't get wet; it rained very heavily all night. |
- | river steadily creeping up. The boys and Mr. Young tried all sorts of tricks to | + | |
- | start the engine again, they held a ground sheet over the radiator and wiped parts | + | |
- | of the engine dry, lost a Spanner | + | |
- | round for about an hour with the engine, then tried to hand crank. it,. then they tried to push behind' | + | |
- | their best wishes and a box of matches, and waded through the river up over my knees; the water was then coming down pretty strongly. I found a big gum tree an the side of the road and collected some dead branches off it, then Ray arrived with | + | |
- | his torch and watched me make a fire in the rain with wet Wood, a piece of damp brown paper and one match. After that it was fairly easy, except that I nearly got smoked to death holding my raincoat over the fire till it got strong enough to keep | + | |
- | itself dry, but we soon had a pretty good fire going. When I took the tea down to | + | |
- | the river, the water had risen until it was coming into the 'bottom of the lorry, so I stood on the bank and blew them up for sitting waiting to be washed away, till they all got out and waded across to me. By this time the flOod was running so | + | |
- | strongly they could hardly stand up against it. While they were getting across, | + | |
- | Ninian came up with no and put the tent Up under my gum tree. Ray wanted to put his up an the opposite side of the river, but they eventually prevailed on him to come across to our side. EC-i the time we had had a cup of tea and were ready for bed it was 12.30. Mr. Young, Ray, Val and Ben slept in one tent, and Roxy, Rene, Ninian and I slept in the other. Ninian rolled over against the side of the tent | + | |
- | and got his sleeping bag wet, Ray and Iffsa were on the outside in the other tent, they also got wet, but yours truly was also on the outside and didn't get wet; it rained very heavily all night. | + | |
- | __Sunday, 7th. January.__ | + | __Sunday, 7th. January.__ Ninian, Ray and Wal up at 4.45 a.m., drying their sleeping |
- | jaags, I got up and-Ead breakfast cooking at 6.30, fried tomatoes and chops, porridge | + | |
- | and coffee with bread and jam. Mr. Young had breakfast with us. When we inspe3- ted the lorry there was driftwood piled over the bonnet, and sand and rubbish all up over the running board. While we were finishing our baeakfast | + | |
- | We left camp at 9.15 a.m. and walked | + | We left camp at 9.15 a.m. and walked |
- | In places along the track the trees met overhead, and the ground by the side of the road was blue with violets and bluebells. We followed the Wolgan all the way along the floor of the Valley, and all round were sheer rock cliffs rising about 2000 feet; Ninian pointed out the old Newnes railway line on'the cliffs in places. We passed a house about half a mile from Newnes and a little girl waved to us, and about fourteen dogs, more or less, barked at us. | + | In places along the track the trees met overhead, and the ground by the side of the road was blue with violets and bluebells. We followed the Wolgan all the way along the floor of the Valley, and all round were sheer rock cliffs rising about 2000 feet; Ninian pointed out the old Newnes railway line on the cliffs in places. We passed a house about half a mile from Newnes and a little girl waved to us, and about fourteen dogs, more or less, barked at us. |
- | We arrived in Newnes at ll'olclock, where most of the inhabitants had already heard that we had been stuck in the river by the flood. Newnes is a very beautiful place as far as scenery is concerned, but since the works closed down two years ago, most of the buildings have gone to ruin. ' | + | We arrived in Newnes at 11 o'clock, where most of the inhabitants had already heard that we had been stuck in the river by the flood. Newnes is a very beautiful place as far as scenery is concerned, but since the works closed down two years ago, most of the buildings have gone to ruin. We went to the hotel which is a large house with a wide verandah with a dirt floor. I believe the only customer the hotel has in Newnes |
- | Rene, Roxy and I sat on the doorstep, and. drank lemonade out of glass mugs while the boys had beer. The publican, who I am 'told. is a Scotchman, though he sounds like a son of Erin to me, came out and tried to persuade us not to go on with the trip, he said it was impossible. He asked us if we had a gun, we told him we would rather carry its weight in sure food; he said it wasn't food he was thinking about, it was protection; Ninian told him we could kill all the snakes we met without a gun, and he said: "There are other things than snakes, you never know what you might meet in a place like that. You should have a gun and had better try and borrow one." An old man also chimed in and added his word of warning; he Informed | + | Rene, Roxy and I sat on the doorstep, and drank lemonade out of glass mugs while the boys had beer. The publican, who I am told is a Scotchman, though he sounds like a son of Erin to me, came out and tried to persuade us not to go on with the trip, he said it was impossible. He asked us if we had a gun, we told him we would rather carry its weight in sure food; he said it wasn't food he was thinking about, it was protection; Ninian told him we could kill all the snakes we met without a gun, and he said: "There are other things than snakes, you never know what you might meet in a place like that. You should have a gun and had better try and borrow one." An old man also chimed in and added his word of warning; he informed |
- | We eventually got away from them and made our way across the river over a very shaky bridge to the railway station, which is falling to pieces and the trucks rusting | + | We eventually got away from them and made our way across the river over a very shaky bridge to the railway station, which is falling to pieces and the trucks rusting |
- | some photos while we waited for Ninian. Among other things the postmaster told him, was, we would not be able to cross the bridge to Mr.Wilson' | + | |
- | The house Mr. Wilson | + | The house Mr. Wilson |
- | At two o' | + | At two o' |
- | remarks for about a quarter of an hour. When we got back to the track Roxy and | + | |
Ray had left, leaving the Scout' | Ray had left, leaving the Scout' | ||
- | Arrived back at Shale Gully at 6 p.m. hot and tired after a six mile walk, picked up our packs and made our way across to the oil works, and about a mile damn the Wolgan past a big land slide to a dry gully by the side Of the road, where we pitched our tents at 6.30 p.m., after an argument about camp-sites, Ray and Wal picked one, I another and Rene the third. Rene's won. Hoys and I made beds of | + | Arrived back at Shale Gully at 6 p.m. hot and tired after a six mile walk, picked up our packs and made our way across to the oil works, and about a mile down the Wolgan past a big land slide to a dry gully by the side of the road, where we pitched our tents at 6.30 p.m., after an argument about camp-sites, Ray and Wal picked one, I another and Rene the third. Rene's won. Boys and I made beds of bracken while Rene cooked tea, curried mutton and rice, stewed apricots and custard, bread and jam. We used the road for a table and sat round the camp fire till 11.30 p.m., Rene and Ben talked and sang, the rest of us slept. |
- | bracken while Rene cooked tea, curried mutton and rice, stewed apricots and custard, | + | |
- | bread ad jam. We used the road for a table and sat round the camp fire till 11.30 p.m., Rene and Ben talked and sang, the rest of us slept. | + | |
- | __Monday, 8th. January.__ | + | __Monday, 8th. January.__ Up at 6.45 a.m., breakfast, eggs and bacon, porridge and coffee. |
- | about this later). Had a bath in the Wolgan which was running too fast to go right | + | about this later). Had a bath in the Wolgan which was running too fast to go right in. Left camp at 10.20 a.m., walked about 5 miles to the end of the road, passed two bee farms, lovely grassy valley with pink Pretty Betsy, blue violets and bluebells |
- | in. Left camp at 10.20 a.m., walked about 5 miles to the end of the road, passed) | + | |
- | two bee farms, lovely grassy valley with pink Pretty Betsy, blue violets and blue- | + | |
- | bells everywhere, also tons of grass seeds, great big gum trees and beautiful views of the cliffs on both sides. Track left the Wolgan and wound in between grassy foothills, ground lovely and soft with fallen leaves. Had lunch at Rocky Creek on | + | |
- | an island at 1.30, very beautiful place, the creek split up and was running very | + | |
- | strong and fast each side of the island, locusts nearly deafened us. Roxy and I had a Min" | + | |
- | bread and jam and tea. Roxy and I got wet crossing after lunch. Fairly good track for about two or three miles, through lovely smooth little hills covered with fine green grass and gum leaves and patches of blue violets in all the shady places.. Saw a mob of brumbies who snorted and went for their lives when they saw us. Caine to some rough going, Ray stayed down by the river and the rest of US followed. Ninian up the side of the hill, very rough and prickly. At last I got tired of scrambling up over rocks, so went down the hill and met Ray waiting for us. Ninian kept on by himself up on the ridge and caught us up later on. Arrived pretty tired at Annie Rowan Creek at 6 o' | + | |
- | We camped | + | We camped |
(To be continued in our next.) | (To be continued in our next.) | ||
- | ====== MY FIRST TEST WALK ====== | + | ===== My First Test Walk ===== |
__by Bill Reilly.__ | __by Bill Reilly.__ | ||
- | (with the "RuShalong | + | __(with the "Rushalong |
- | After the usual procedure that takes place to have one's name put on the Board, it was it fitting sequel that the test walk should have as its leader Mrs. Jean Austen, by whom I WAS nominated for membership to the Club. | + | |
- | Having an excitable nature, my week of preparation was rather an ordeal, because time wouldmot travel as fast as I wanted it, food had no attraction for me and in my dreams I could see myself carrying a huge pack, must have weighed about 100 Dos., and walking miles and miles, with a leader always saying, "Come along, don't lag behind," | + | |
- | Meeting Mrs.' Jean Austen on the Caves Express on the Friday morning, we began our trip in a driving rain, and as we commenced to rise in the mountains, it Was very apparent that the rain was still very wet, and falling as fast as ever. | + | |
- | We arrived at KatooMba in a fine drizzle of rain and the town surrounded in | + | |
- | mist, so, locating Mrs. Austen' | + | |
- | Owing to the inclement weather, the original trip of going down Nellie' | + | |
- | changing into our " | + | |
- | shorts, shoes, capes etc., and if you have not been through KatooMba dressed for walking before, you cannot judge the type of people that laugh at you, but most of the laughs came from hilarious little flappers getting off the train at KatoOmba, | + | |
- | to spend a nice quiet week end at one of KatooMba' | + | |
- | Finally we made our way back to our cave and turned in for the night; but about midnight we were awakened by a torch light, and it proved to be two men mi women, looking for a shelter, but as there wasn't sufficient room in our small cave we couldn' | + | |
- | After breakfast we again proceeded to KatooMba to await a wire from Ernie Austen as to whether the trip Was on. Much to my excitement we got "Trip on as arranged", | + | |
- | up towards the Station we perceived " | + | |
- | saw, they still would be insufficient. . | + | |
- | Upon cleaning up we started on our, way to make camp at Diamond Falls in preparation for the rest of the crowd at night. Bidding good-bye to the "Duke of Clear Hill", we slowliambled over the Causeway, to drink in deep the beauties that everywhere abounded. Arriving at Diamond Falls at about 4 p.m., we pitched camp on a dry spot on the Southern hills. | + | |
- | Several parties now began to pass on their way to various parts of Narrow Neck | + | |
- | and Clear Hill, and the first part of the official party to arrive was Rene Browne, Dune, Barney, etc., then Ian Malcolm and many others, until we numbered in all about 22. When tea had been completed, preparations were put in hand for a camp fire, when dawn came the rain, and it Was the same shower that was raining until 1 or. 2 a.m. on Monday morning; so we had some rain on the mountains. | + | |
- | Sunday morning ws awakened to a heavy driving rain and mist, and after breakfast we walked out to Corral Swamp, where Ethel Hansard was laid up with a sprained ankle. | + | |
- | Continuing on we walked out to 2nd. Narrow Neck, where we passed "The Duke of Clear | + | |
- | Hill" on his way,hame, and he reckoned that we should all be in Callan Park, but Jean Austen told him something rather warm, and we continue& | + | |
- | rest of the day. The party had gradually diminished, until only Jean and Ernie Austen, Gwen Laurie, Betty Bell, Don Gordon, | + | |
- | At tea time on Sunday we made the best of a slight pause in the storm to have our tea, and it. was here that Jean Austen suggested that we should all give a silent hope for fine weather, | + | |
- | hope, he would have a permanent record of scmething someone nearly did, but not quite. Anyhow, we put it down' to that hope that on Monday morning we were greeted with fine | + | |
- | weather. Up at 6 o' | + | |
- | Golden Stairs by 8.20 a.m., not knowing what we had to do when we commenced, the pace | + | |
- | was Fairly smart getting down into the valley, and it was getting dawn here that I began to realise why experienced bush walkers get such 'a thrill out of these mountain | + | |
- | walks, and become more enthusiastic after each visit to these fascinating parts, and | + | |
- | the enduring beauty of the shaded tracks and by-ways and the magnificence of the neverlasting hills" | + | |
- | hills" - not until you have followed in the path of the " | + | |
- | completed Mount Solitary in one day, with lunch at Kedumba Pass, can you realise the exactness of the phrase. These everlasting hills and glens, with their thick undergrowth, | + | |
- | the walkers of this country. On our dashing kway we passed innumerable brooks an falls, as clear as crystal, from which we sipped the water of life, and which allowed us to get up to within speaking distance of the " | + | After the usual procedure |
- | Passing the track to Ruined Castle about 10 o' | + | |
- | Pushing on along the top of Mount Solitary, we found that the top was longer than was anticipated. The Austens had now told, us that we. were going to complete the trip through to Wentworth Falls, as we had: | + | |
- | Finally we found our way along the top of the spur going down, and I must say that to me this was the hardest part af the journey, as in parts we slipped and tripped and fell over rocks, and eventually arrived at the bottom properly fatigued, and ready for a good lunch, and what a lunch, the tea had more flavour than any tea I' have tasted :before, the honey seemed " | + | |
- | The weather had taken quite a change and a storm was brewing, with heavy thunder and lightning. We found our, way up until it commenced to rain, so to cool of our bodies, we walked for quite a while without our capes around us. Arriving at the to we were naturally tempted to look back on our achievement &nil even then it seemed a dream, as on the journey we hadn't had time to think of what 'We were doing, but just walked to that continued dirge of " | + | |
- | When all nicely seated, Ernie Austen | + | |
- | Looking back now upon -oUr- adventure, I feel ,extremely sorry we had to rush it so, because we had no time to absorb the beauties, that presented themselves, and the rush photographs which I took I feel quite ashamed of, but still it had to be done. It had been set dawn for two days and .accomplished in one, and I can safely say that it was the leaders who made it look zo easy, and to emulate them, we have done something that is quite unique, | + | |
- | ====== GOOD COMPANIONS ====== | + | Having an excitable nature, my week of preparation was rather an ordeal, because time would not travel as fast as I wanted it, food had no attraction for me and in my dreams I could see myself carrying a huge pack, must have weighed about 100 lbs., and walking miles and miles, with a leader always saying, "Come along, don't lag behind" |
+ | |||
+ | Meeting Mrs. Jean Austen on the Caves Express on the Friday morning, we began our trip in a driving rain, and as we commenced to rise in the mountains, it was very apparent that the rain was still very wet, and falling as fast as ever. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We arrived at Katoomba in a fine drizzle of rain and the town surrounded in mist, so, locating Mrs. Austen' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Owing to the inclement weather, the original trip of going down Nellie' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally we made our way back to our cave and turned in for the night; but about midnight we were awakened by a torch light, and it proved to be two men and women, looking for a shelter, but as there wasn't sufficient room in our small cave we couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | After breakfast we again proceeded to Katoomba to await a wire from Ernie Austen as to whether the trip was on. Much to my excitement we got "Trip on as arranged", | ||
+ | |||
+ | Upon cleaning up we started on our way to make camp at Diamond Falls in preparation for the rest of the crowd at night. Bidding good-bye to the "Duke of Clear Hill", we slowly ambled over the Causeway, to drink in deep the beauties that everywhere abounded. Arriving at Diamond Falls at about 4 p.m., we pitched camp on a dry spot on the Southern hills. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Several parties now began to pass on their way to various parts of Narrow Neck and Clear Hill, and the first part of the official party to arrive was Rene Browne, Dunc, Barney, etc., then Ian Malcolm and many others, until we numbered in all about 22. When tea had been completed, preparations were put in hand for a camp fire, when down came the rain, and it was the same shower that was raining until 1 or. 2 a.m. on Monday morning; so we had some rain on the mountains. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunday morning we awakened to a heavy driving rain and mist, and after breakfast we walked out to Corral Swamp, where Ethel Hansard was laid up with a sprained ankle. Continuing on we walked out to 2nd. Narrow Neck, where we passed "The Duke of Clear Hill" on his way home, and he reckoned that we should all be in Callan Park, but Jean Austen told him something rather warm, and we continued on our way. We eventually returned to camp without seeing a thing except mist, and stayed there the | ||
+ | rest of the day. The party had gradually diminished, until only Jean and Ernie Austen, Gwen Laurie, Betty Bell, Don Gordon, Rene Smith and myself remained. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At tea time on Sunday we made the best of a slight pause in the storm to have our tea, and it was here that Jean Austen suggested that we should all give a silent hope for fine weather, and if one could only put into a photograph Ernie Austen' | ||
+ | the walkers of this country. On our dashing way we passed innumerable brooks and falls, as clear as crystal, from which we sipped the water of life, and which allowed us to get up to within speaking distance of the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Passing the track to Ruined Castle about 10 o' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pushing on along the top of Mount Solitary, we found that the top was longer than was anticipated. The Austens had now told us that we were going to complete the trip through to Wentworth Falls, as we had been good children, and not lagged behind on the first part of the journey, and that now we would actually have to move fast, because we were not going to have lunch till we reached the Katoomba Creek, at the base of Kedumba Pass, at 2 o' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally we found our way along the top of the spur going down, and I must say that to me this was the hardest part of the journey, as in parts we slipped and tripped and fell over rocks, and eventually arrived at the bottom properly fatigued, and ready for a good lunch, and what a lunch, the tea had more flavour than any tea I have tasted before, the honey seemed " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The weather had taken quite a change and a storm was brewing, with heavy thunder and lightning. We found our way up until it commenced to rain, so to cool off our bodies, we walked for quite a while without our capes around us. Arriving at the top we were naturally tempted to look back on our achievement and even then it seemed a dream, as on the journey we hadn't had time to think of what we were doing, but just walked to that continued dirge of " | ||
+ | |||
+ | When all nicely seated, Ernie Austen produced a packet of cigarettes he had just bought at Wentworth Falls, and to his displeasure the packet contained only one cigarette, how generous of them to leave one cigarette there! Still, after we had cleaned ourselves up we awaited Penrith, where a nice billy of hot tea put a finish to a most marvellous week-end. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking back now upon our adventure, I feel extremely sorry we had to rush it so, because we had no time to absorb the beauties that presented themselves, and the rush photographs which I took I feel quite ashamed of, but still it had to be done. It had been set down for two days and accomplished in one, and I can safely say that it was the leaders who made it look so easy, and to emulate them, we have done something that is quite unique as a test walk, and which I believe has never been done before in the one day, in the direction we went, as a Club walk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Good Companions | ||
+ | |||
+ | A Bushwalker, perhaps better than any other person, knows the worth of Good Companions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In town not much is required of us to be labelled a Good Fellow. In the Clubroom it is easy to be pleasant and sociable, but in the bush the veneer of conventional good manners comes off with our travelling clothes and true worth is soon discovered. We once heard it said of a Bushwalker "A good fellow... the sort of chap to have with you when things go wrong," | ||
- | A Bushwalker, perhaps better than any other person-, knows the worth of Good Companions. | ||
- | In town not much-is' | ||
- | conventional good manners comes off with our travelling clothes and true worth is soon discovered. We once heard it said of a Bushwalker "A good fellow --- the sort of chap to have with you when things go wrong," | ||
It is when things go wrong that the test comes. Will he lose his temper? Will he lose his head? | It is when things go wrong that the test comes. Will he lose his temper? Will he lose his head? | ||
+ | |||
It is much the same with camping gear. On an easy trip in fine weather any old gear will do, but let it rain and see what happens, or carry 45 lbs. in your pack and scramble through needle bush and lawyer vines from dawn till dark and let the westerlies blow from snow capped mountains. Then you will see if your cape and your tent, your rucksack and your sleeping bag are good companions. | It is much the same with camping gear. On an easy trip in fine weather any old gear will do, but let it rain and see what happens, or carry 45 lbs. in your pack and scramble through needle bush and lawyer vines from dawn till dark and let the westerlies blow from snow capped mountains. Then you will see if your cape and your tent, your rucksack and your sleeping bag are good companions. | ||
- | If camping partners do not come' | ||
- | In designing and making gear, Paddy' | ||
- | ====== "THE BURRAGORANc" | + | If camping partners do not come up to scratch, we avoid them next trip, but alas: our pockets do not allow a too frequent change of camping gear. |
+ | |||
+ | In designing and making gear, Paddy' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== "The Burragorang" ===== | ||
- | Ina the Burragorang' | + | Oh! the Burragorang' |
+ | Midst mountains of a purple strand,\\ | ||
+ | Away out west where the Wongas nest\\ | ||
And a gentle calm rests o'er the land. | And a gentle calm rests o'er the land. | ||
- | - _ | + | |
- | The men have tilled for a hundred years | + | The men have tilled for a hundred years\\ |
- | The deep rich loam, which always cheers | + | The deep rich loam, which always cheers\\ |
- | The hearts of such as eschew the touch | + | The hearts of such as eschew the touch\\ |
- | Of a city's life with its trials and cares. There are sunlit fields and flawing streams, | + | Of a city's life with its trials and cares. |
- | And flowers and birds; and it always seems That here in the end my way I' | + | |
+ | There are sunlit fields and flawing streams,\\ | ||
+ | And flowers and birds; and it always seems\\ | ||
+ | That here in the end my way I' | ||
Again to the Valley - my valley of dreams. | Again to the Valley - my valley of dreams. | ||
- | And I'd rest there awhile near the river-flow wide | + | |
- | And list to the Voice for which I have sighed, | + | And I'd rest there awhile near the river-flow wide\\ |
- | The voice of the Breese, and the Birds in the Trees, | + | And list to the Voice for which I have sighed,\\ |
+ | The voice of the Breeze, and the Birds in the Trees,\\ | ||
The lilt from the Bush - the call to her side. | The lilt from the Bush - the call to her side. | ||
- | " | ||
- | ====== THE LOG OF THE "JOY" | + | __" |
- | __by H. Chardon.__ | + | |
- | Continued from | + | |
- | Feb. Issue (No.17). | + | ===== The Log of the "Joy" ===== |
- | Boxing Day - Cloudy. Up at five and away at six, for breakfast must be caught. We headed downstream and turned into the Shoalhaven at seven. Five rapids followed, the last of which we were able to shoot. Just prior to this I had a shot at a fox from the boat. He was hit but the shot were too light to do much more than make him yelp. We landed to follow him up and saw three more, but they were well out of range and loping away fast. I shot a rabbit and we returned to | + | Continued from Feb. Issue (No.17) |
- | the canoe. | + | |
- | After passing our fifth rapid we had three nice fish)so we stopped on a sandy beach near Apple Tree Flat for breakfast, the time being 9.30 a.m. Eleven thirty saw us again an our way, passing through river flats, the motntains | + | |
- | We have not yet shaved so are sights to behold. But as we are approaching civilisation we will have to part with our natural fly veils. So here goes: Shaving completed we held a council-of-mar and decided that a camp here would be in the best interests of the meat supply. We bagged a rabbit each before tea, mine had hydatids so we had to use him for eel bait. Tea consiste& | + | Boxing Day - Cloudy. Up at five and away at six, for breakfast must be caught. We headed downstream and turned into the Shoalhaven at seven. Five rapids followed, the last of which we were able to shoot. Just prior to this I had a shot at a fox from the boat. He was hit but the shot were too light to do much more than make him yelp. We landed to follow him up and saw three more, but they were well out of range and loping away fast. I shot a rabbit and we returned to the canoe. |
+ | |||
+ | After passing our fifth rapid we had three nice fish so we stopped on a sandy beach near Apple Tree Flat for breakfast, the time being 9.30 a.m. Eleven thirty saw us again on our way, passing through river flats, the mountains | ||
+ | |||
+ | We have not yet shaved so are sights to behold. But as we are approaching civilisation we will have to part with our natural fly veils. So here goes: Shaving completed we held a council-of-war and decided that a camp here would be in the best interests of the meat supply. We bagged a rabbit each before tea, mine had hydatids so we had to use him for eel bait. Tea consisted | ||
Tuesday - After writing the diary last night we caught an eel. This gave us an excuse for cancelling our proposed early start as we now had our fish for breakfast. | Tuesday - After writing the diary last night we caught an eel. This gave us an excuse for cancelling our proposed early start as we now had our fish for breakfast. | ||
+ | |||
The morning dawned clear and still, a few fleecy clouds in the sky and the sun with a sting in it. We loaded up after breakfast and embarked at 9.50 a.m., determined to stop at the first deep pool for a bath and a swim. This we did at 10 a.m., and played round taking photos till nearly midday. | The morning dawned clear and still, a few fleecy clouds in the sky and the sun with a sting in it. We loaded up after breakfast and embarked at 9.50 a.m., determined to stop at the first deep pool for a bath and a swim. This we did at 10 a.m., and played round taking photos till nearly midday. | ||
- | Five rapids followed before lunch, the first four were shallow and had to be waded. The fifth was shallow at the start but narrowed and deepened, flawing close to the right hand bank. We were able to shoot it after wading over the start, taking care to avoid decapitating ourselves an the overhanging branches- of the caqivarinas. Whilst wading through the sixth rapid we were hailed by Mr. Thompson of Burriar who was out fishing. He had the billy boiling so we joined him at lunch and found him a very entertaining friend. | ||
- | 2.30 found us .on our way again, rapids followed in quick succession and the pools were fairly short. We were only able to shoot 2 rapids, the first just after lunch and the second just before we made camp (4 p.m.) at Yal Wal Creek. Both these rapids were long and narrow and gave us a good run, the waves at times being level with our gunwales. | ||
- | Yal Wal Creek is a pretty little spot and the site of our camp, in flood, ilmuld be an island, the creek having two mouths. The creek itself flaws through an arch of interlocking troea and is quite dark for some distance up. Tea consisted of rabbit stew, followed by apricots and sago and proved; very good eating. Tom has just built up the fire to get coals for damper and then early to bed for to-morrow we want to get beyond Burriar and it will be a hard day. | ||
- | Mr. Thompson passed 116 again on his way home, just as we were finishing tea, Wednesday . Up early, breakfast was soon an accomplished fact. Washing Up was | ||
- | postponed till we had a further look at yal Mal Creek. It is indeed beautiful. We went up through two mirror-like pools with perfect reflections. Several large perch were seen but could nibt be hooked. | + | Five rapids followed before |
- | Back to camp and away at 9.40 a.m. We were lucky in our first rapid, which was long, narrow and deep. Several more rapids | + | |
- | Mrs. Fletcher was Miss Rumsey | + | |
- | profuse and the river flats became larger in extent, indicating that the river was somewhere near sea level. We were ravenous after our long morning, so stopped | + | |
- | We wandered up to the " | + | |
- | Mx. Thompsonts house stands on the upstream side of the town and is rather a fine building. We visited them on the way back and had a long yarn. Their property was one of the first grants made in the Shoalhaven Valley, and has been in the family since 1816. Two brothers are now living there with their families. Whilst talking they told us of Ettaeama Creek which runs into Yal Wal Creek and suggested that we come dawn again and they would take us to their property there for some shooting and fishing. On leaving they gave us bread and more apricots. We were very grateful for the bread as we used the last of our flour last night. | + | |
- | More rapids followed. but we were 'able to shoot them all. This brings me to our camp for to-night. We seem to have reached | + | |
- | flat behind our camp and I managed to shoot a rabbit. The weather has been fine although there are signs of a break. A Southerly sprang up whilst we were at Fletcher' | + | |
- | To-morrow we intend going on-to Bamerang and visiting Young' | + | |
- | Paddy Pallin was there on his trip and' | + | |
- | Thursday - rp about the usual time we soon made short work of a breakfast of ham and eggs and were on our way early. The day was coolish and inclined to rain, with a Southerly wind blowing. ' Tide were now a problem, and we had an adverse one to contend with as well as the wind in our faces most of the time, which made the going doubly hard. | + | |
- | Just after leaving Burriar the river definitely opens out, and extensive river flats make their appearance. The river, also, becomes much wider, the banks being lined with Willows. We paddled downstream steadily making close on four miles | + | |
- | per hour, sighting Pulpit Hill and the private punt on the way. The latter was the landinark we had to watch for, with Young' | + | |
- | Eventually | + | |
- | then went back to the trees and made camp. During the afternoon we had a visit from the ladies, and talked until it was time to go and look for something to shoot. We had no luck so returned to camp and prepared tea, after which we cleaned ourselves up and went up to the house where we stayed until it was time to turn in. Friday - We made an early decision to stay where we were for the day as the | + | |
- | Youngs were going to Namrain the car and offered to bring back supplies for us. It was a frightfully hot day and we spent our time loafing in the shade of the trees. About 5 p.m. we crossed the river after bunnies. 'Tom bagged one and two fell to my gun. While we were coming home a thunderstorm broke and gave us quite a wetting. | + | 2.30 found us on our way again, rapids followed |
- | Saturday - The day started off clear and very hot, but as the morning advanced the sky clouded over and the wind developed quite a sting. With the tide nearly at the flood we started off for a visit to Saltwater Creek. This is a very beautiful little stream, but unfortunately some motor campers had used it as a garbage dump. The trip was well worth while however, and filled in the time until the tide was well on the ebb. '3.30 p.m saw us on our way down the now broad stream of the Shoalhaven with about 17 miles to Nowra. Nothing d'note was passed until we rounded Long Pt. in Humbug Reach when we came upon a spearpoint pump about 10 yds. from the water' | + | |
- | Sunday - As soon as the tide commenced to flaw out we started off and after a visit to Cabbage Tree, Creek pushed on to Nowra. On arrival we paddled up Bomaderry Creek and reconnoitered | + | |
- | Eventually 'ma resolved to make the trip to the mouth of the river, a distance of ten miles. This we did as soon as the tide commenced to fall, passing the various islands in this broad, shallow estuary which is in reality the deltatnoith of the Shoalhaven. | + | |
- | The bird life in this part of the river is really remarkable, | + | |
- | Monday - We headed for Nowra and home at 10 a.m., and on the way helped ourselves to some fine fish at the invitation of Mr. Bice who had a meshing net set an the edge of the channel. The trip to Nowra was uneventful and once again we paddled up Bomaderry | + | |
- | Rain commenced falling again just as we were leaving Nowra, | + | |
- | train and smoked our pipes. We had timed our holiday to an hour, andwe were | + | |
- | satisfied. | + | |
- | WIFFIS SECOND GOLD BUNT | + | |
- | Vic Thorsen and I set off for Mudgee an the 14th. July by train leaving Central | + | |
- | house, and polished off the usual steak and eggs. Then we set off at 7 p.m. | + | |
- | north, which puzzled me as our way was south. Soon turned west and about a mile and a half along turned in our right direction -until we struck a branch road, | + | |
- | stopped and talked over which one to take, and decided on the wrong one. Only went a few paces and struck a camp called the "Four Mile Camp", a father and son oamping | + | Yalwal Creek is a pretty little spot and the site of our camp, in flood, it must be an island, the creek having two mouths. The creek itself flows through an arch of interlocking trees and is quite dark for some distance up. Tea consisted of rabbit stew, followed by apricots and sago and proved very good eating. Tom has just built up the fire to get coals for damper and then early to bed for tomorrow we want to get beyond Burrier and it will be a hard day. |
- | Sunday a very hard day on a hard road with nothing to see. We dined at Grattai Creek and pushed | + | |
- | Tuesday we took a 4 mile walk to Mt.Anderson and saw where the Louise Falls sometimes fall over the rocks, but they were very dry. We had dinner and I washedo | + | Mr. Thompson passed us again on his way home, just as we were finishing tea. |
- | Wednesday - raining, so decided to ride in the mail car to Hill End, much the same sort of country as Mudge-Hargraves | + | |
- | "End of the World" was reached - a place all turned over looking for the precious metal. The paddocks are bare s.nd onlyroots ot the grass left. They tell me that the sheep and cattle in the early days used to have their teeth filled with gold. biting into the ground to get at the roots. We spent half an hour in that place while picking up a bit of fresh'food, and dropped 1500 ft. into the Turon in amiles%, like]Badgery' | + | Wednesday - Up early, breakfast was soon an accomplished fact. Washing up was postponed till we had a further look at Yalwal Creek. It is indeed beautiful. We went up through two mirror-like pools with perfect reflections. Several large perch were seen but could not be hooked. |
- | Thursday we 'decided to stock up for 10 dgys and push on. Vic volunteeredi | + | |
- | Friday - pushed on through what was Root Hogg, a thriving township of 13000 souls, with 26 pas, and a public school. When they went they must have taken the town and level ground with them, it must have been all gold, as I could not see where they could have had a township. Struck the Macquarie River after 3 miles. | + | Back to camp and away at 9.40 a.m. We were lucky in our first rapid, which was long, narrow and deep. Several more rapids were passed and we came upon a cornfield and a deserted hut on the left hand bank; this was soon followed by Fletcher' |
- | of walking and the road had disappeared from view, easy going until a good camp site was struck at 3 o' | + | |
- | Saturday - passed 2 tunnels where gold was found, but now occupied | + | Mrs. Fletcher was Miss Rumsey before she married, so of course, knew Marj.Hill. Several more rapids followed till we came to the largest fall we had yet encountered a drop of about 6 ft. in as many yards. The blacks call it Cooloodoo, which we were told means treacherous water. From this point onwards the willows became quite profuse and the river flats became larger in extent, indicating that the river was somewhere near sea level. We were ravenous after our long morning, so stopped at 1.30 near a homestead on the left hand bank. After lunch it did not take long to reach the farthest point penetrated by motorists - Burrier. |
+ | |||
+ | We wandered up to the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mr. Thompson' | ||
+ | |||
+ | More rapids followed but we were able to shoot them all. This brings me to our camp for tonight. We seem to have reached the tidal limit but are not sure. The river is still fresh but appears to be falling. The river is very pretty, the banks lined with willows and casuarinas. Just after landing we went out on the flat behind our camp and I managed to shoot a rabbit. The weather has been fine although there are signs of a break. A Southerly sprang up whilst we were at Fletcher' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tomorrow we intend going on to Bamerang and visiting Young' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thursday - Up about the usual time we soon made short work of a breakfast of ham and eggs and were on our way early. The day was coolish and inclined to rain, with a Southerly wind blowing. Tide were now a problem, and we had an adverse one to contend with as well as the wind in our faces most of the time, which made the going doubly hard. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just after leaving Burrier the river definitely opens out, and extensive river flats make their appearance. The river, also, becomes much wider, the banks being lined with Willows. We paddled downstream steadily making close on four miles per hour, sighting Pulpit Hill and the private punt on the way. The latter was the landmark we had to watch for, with Young' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Eventually we sighted the buildings, ran the canoe into a backwater near some casuarinas and went up to make ourselves known. They had received Paddy' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Friday - We made an early decision to stay where we were for the day as the Youngs were going to Nowra in the car and offered to bring back supplies for us. It was a frightfully hot day and we spent our time loafing in the shade of the trees. About 5 p.m. we crossed the river after bunnies. Tom bagged one and two fell to my gun. While we were coming home a thunderstorm broke and gave us quite a wetting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Saturday - The day started off clear and very hot, but as the morning advanced the sky clouded over and the wind developed quite a sting. With the tide nearly at the flood we started off for a visit to Saltwater Creek. This is a very beautiful little stream, but unfortunately some motor campers had used it as a garbage dump. The trip was well worth while however, and filled in the time until the tide was well on the ebb. 3.30 p.m saw us on our way down the now broad stream of the Shoalhaven with about 17 miles to Nowra. Nothing of note was passed until we rounded Long Pt. in Humbug Reach when we came upon a spearpoint pump about 10 yds. from the water' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunday - As soon as the tide commenced to flow out we started off and after a visit to Cabbage Tree Creek pushed on to Nowra. On arrival we paddled up Bomaderry Creek and reconnoitered the route to the Station. Lunch was the next item on the programme, after which we held a conference to decide what to do with the remaining day of our holiday. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Eventually we resolved to make the trip to the mouth of the river, a distance of ten miles. This we did as soon as the tide commenced to fall, passing the various islands in this broad, shallow estuary which is in reality the delta mouth of the Shoalhaven. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The bird life in this part of the river is really remarkable, and water birds of all sorts, from great lumbering Pelicans to the snappy little Mother Carey' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Monday - We headed for Nowra and home at 10 a.m., and on the way helped ourselves to some fine fish at the invitation of Mr. Bice who had a meshing net set on the edge of the channel. The trip to Nowra was uneventful and once again we paddled up Bomaderry Creek to the railway line. Here we drew lots for what was left of the provisions, shouldered the canoe and walked the 100 yds. or so to the station, arriving just in time for a train. Unfortunately the boat had to remain till the following train, as the luggage van was not large enough to accommodate it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rain commenced falling again just as we were leaving Nowra, and we had the intense satisfaction of seeing it fall in torrents as we sat in comfort in the train and smoked our pipes. We had timed our holiday to an hour, and we were satisfied. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Wiff's Second Gold Hunt ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vic Thorsen and I set off for Mudgee on the 14th. July by train leaving Central at 9.46 a.m. The scenery looking down the Capertee Valley is something worth looking at. The train travels nearly half way around the valley, climbing all the way to 3000 ft. Arriving at Mudgee at 6 p.m., we visited " | ||
+ | house, and polished off the usual steak and eggs. Then we set off at 7 p.m. north, which puzzled me as our way was south. Soon turned west and about a mile and a half along turned in our right direction until we struck a branch road, stopped and talked over which one to take, and decided on the wrong one. Only went a few paces and struck a camp called the "Four Mile Camp", a father and son camping | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunday | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tuesday we took a 4 mile walk to Mt.Anderson and saw where the Louise Falls sometimes fall over the rocks, but they were very dry. We had dinner and I washed | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wednesday - raining, so decided to ride in the mail car to Hill End, much the same sort of country as Mudgee-Hargraves section, only Green Valley made a pleasant change. Then we came on the historic spot where 30,000 Chows had been camped - Tambaroora. I don't, know if the name is Abo or Chow, but the number of them made it Chinese, and they didn't all grow peanuts, as there were some laundrymen amongst them. They had washed | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thursday | ||
+ | |||
+ | Friday - pushed on through what was Root Hogg, a thriving township of 13000 souls, with 26 pubs, and a public school. When they went they must have taken the town and level ground with them, it must have been all gold, as I could not see where they could have had a township. Struck the Macquarie River after 3 miles of walking and the road had disappeared from view, easy going until a good camp site was struck at 3 o' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Saturday - passed 2 tunnels where gold was found, but now occupied | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunday - was spent walking further along. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Monday - it rained, so we slept in. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tuesday passed some wonderful rock formation - rapids and fall which stop the cod from going further up the river, a splendid fishing place with several made rods standing up against a cliff. We overstepped our mark and landed at Killenbutter Station. They could not show us where they were on the map, but told us where the road was, or used to be. They used another road via Fremantle, as they were on the other side of the river. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Wednesday - we tried to find the road and got properly bushed as I don't think there ever was a road. We got the ridge and walked about 5 miles along until we came out on a trig station. Only being two on the map about that part, it had to be the Black Mountain or Mt. York. We could not make it the Black Mountain, and Mt.York seemed too far from where we thought we were. So we decided to make it down to the river again and follow it up to the crossing near Fremantle, thinking we had a good distance to go. Hunger set in at 2.30, could not resist a billy of tea and scones. Splendid going along the river, the miles flew past and the road crossing was reached at 4.30, greatly relieved as I wanted to land Vic at work on Monday. I felt that I had led him astray up the mountain. Up till now we had not troubled anyone for supplies. We barely had enough to see us through. Called in at the first house and purchased a dozen eggs and half a loaf of bread, and we were eyeing two lovely Turkeys. If I had been nearer Bathurst I would have brought one home. We were offered fish and other food but did not want it. Hillside sheep station was just down the paddocks, run by Mr. Prior whom we met on Friday. He gave us a lift 7 miles along the way, and told us we were on Mt.York and we ought to have called in on him and he would have been pleased to put us up for the night. We had a wash and clean up at Rankin' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bathurst was reached at 12 o' | ||
- | The poor chaps who were washing had to have a fire going to warm their hands after every dish they washed. Another great blessing, there would be no women to worry about popping around the corner catching you sunbaking. We were on a wonderful road, soft under foot, dug into the aide of the mountain and built up on the other side sometimes 30 ft. of solid stones, lovely grade, a credit to its makers. Then the road disappeared away from the river, so we left it and stuck to the river. | ||
- | Sunday was spent walking further along. | ||
- | Monday it rained, so we slept in. | ||
- | Tuesday passed some wonderful rock formation - rapids and fall which stop the ood from going further up the river, a sraendid fishing place with several made rods standing up against a cliff. We overstepped our mark and landed at Killen- butter Station. They could not show us where they were on the map, but told us | ||
- | where the road. was, or used to be. They used another road via Fremantle, as they were on the other side of the river. | ||
- | Wednesday we tried to find the road and got properly bushed) as I don't think there ever was a road. We got the ridge and walked about 5 miles along until we came out on a trig station. Only being two on the map about that part, it had to be the Black Mountain or Mt. York. We could not make it the Black Mountain, and Mt:York seemed too far from .where we thought we were. So we decided to make dawn to the river again and follow it up to the crossing near Fremantle, thinking we had a good distance to go. Manger set in at 2.30, could not resist a billy of tea | ||
- | and scones. Splendid going along the river, the miles flaw past and the road | ||
- | crossing was reached at 4.30, greatly relieved as I wanted to land Vic at work on Monday. I felt that I had led him astray up the mountain. Up till now we had not troubled anyone for supplies. We barely had enough to see us through. Called in at the first house and purchased a dozen eggs and half a loaf of bread, and we were eyeing *two lovely Turkeys. If I had been nearer Bathurst I would have brought one home. We were offered fish and other food but did, not want it. Hillside sheep station Was just down the paddocks, run by Mr. Prior whom we met on Friday. He gave us a lift 7 miles along the way, and told us we were on Mt.York and we ought to have called in on him and he would have been pleased to put us up | ||
- | for the night. We had a wash and clean up at Rankin' | ||
- | Bathurst was reached at 12 o' | ||
- | and train at 12 o' | ||
WIFF. | WIFF. | ||
- | BUSHWALKER No.1.: -- I'm so busy I don't know where to turn for help. There is a Specification to be typed, a few Balance Sheets, my. Income Tax Return, an account of my last holiday trip, | ||
- | and what not Where can I get someone capable to do this for me2 I also have a crowd of circulars to be done! | ||
- | Mind you, I want them done in a first class manner! | ||
- | BUSHNALKER No.2.: elmo I know the very person, and sure you will be satisfied with the work she will do for you. Just call on her and have a chat. | ||
- | Miss N. BRENNAN, | ||
- | Room 22, 11th. Floor, Kenbla Building, | ||
- | PHONE: B04528 Margaret at, SYDNEY. | ||
- | ====== SOCIAL NOTES ====== | + | ===== Social Notes ===== |
+ | |||
+ | There have been a great many small dances held in the Club Room lately, as the majority of Members seemed to desire them. These evenings are usually productive of high spirits and general enjoyment among those who take part in them. This being so, the Social Committee have arranged to have at least one such dance each month. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The 5th. Annual Field Sports Day was held in exceptionally fine weather and at a particularly beautiful location. This year we met on the banks of the Nepean River 2 miles or so from Emu Plains Station. There was a large attendance of over 70, and there was a particularly interesting programme arranged for their amusement. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The 2nd. Annual Bushwalkers Ball was held at Hordern Bros. Ball Room on July 11th., and was, like its predecessor, | ||
- | There have been a great many small dances held in the Club Room lately, as the majority of Members seemed to desire them. These evenings are usually productive of high spirits and general enjoyment among those who take part in them. This being so, the Social Committee have arranged to have at least one such dance each month. | + | RENE D. BROWNE, Hon. Social Secretary. |
- | The 5th. Annual Field Sports Day was held in exceptionally fine weather and at a particularly beautiful location. This year we met | + | |
- | an the banks of the Nepean River 2 miles or so from Emu Plains Station. There was a large attendance of over 70, and there was a particularly interesting programme arranged for their amusement. | + | |
- | The and. Annual Bushwalkersi Ball was held at Hordern Bros.' Ball Room on July 11th.,, and was, like its predecessor, | + | |
- | RENE D. BROWYE, | + | |
- | Hon. Social Secretary. | + |
193408.txt · Last modified: 2014/09/11 10:52 by emmanuelle_c