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+=====Does this Concern You?=====
+by C. Kinsella.
+"I appreciate the effort on behalf of Era. I do feel that the more youth hostels that are started the better. The more I see and come in contact with city youths, the more I think that for their own salvation we should try our hardest to foster in them a love for the bush and the great out of doors. To me, it seems their minds stink, so let's get them young and endeavour to instil in them an appreciation of things clean and decent."
+The above is an extract from a letter written by Peter Page from Nth. Queensland which was given to me for inclusion in The Bushwalker. After reading it I could not help recalling the many opinions aired ar recent Monthly Meetings, when the question of Youth Hostels and National Fitness Camps came under discussion.
+The impression I gathered at these meetings was that, in regard to the Hostels, while heartily disliking the people who would be likely to use them, the Bushwalker Federation, for its own sake, would be well advised to join the vanguard of the Hostel Movement, or it might find these buildings placed in areas of which it disapproved. (Vide Marlay).
+As far as National Fitness camps were concerned, the concensus of opinion again was that, they might be put anywhere as long as they did not spoil our primitive areas or interfere with well-beloved walking country or camping spots. When Jibbon Head was discussed as a possible N.F. camp site, while members considered the place unsuitable for this purpose, they washed their hands of it and were quite willing to see it selected because it was not an area of interest to walkers.
+One could not help fieling the smug, Pharasaical attitude. "Thank God I am not as that poor creature "The Hiker" nor of those lesser breed who would sleep within the four walls of a hostel rather than under the wide sky.
+All things are relative and a walk from hostel to hostel may be as great an adventure for those who know no other way as a first week-end trip for the man who carried his tent in his rucksack. There is only one way for the salvation of "The Hiker" and that is to teach him not to be one.
+On the same day as getting Peter's extract, I read an article entitled "An Experiment in School Camping" by A. Lenehen. I feel that here is an answer to Peter's plea; an indication that while Youth Hostels will cater for the young man and woman of to-day, the N.F. Camps are a training place for the man and woman of to-morrow, a training place for the adolescent so that he or she will learn to love and respect "the beauty of an unmarred bush" and thus come closer to the Bushwalkers' ideals. More than this, it shows that there are people who not only see the necessity for doing something for the youth of Australia but are themselves prepared to see that it is done.
+The writer tells of the planning of these N.F. Camps as "a part of the child's education complementary to school education just as camp life may be complementary to home life and life in the bush complementary to life in the city." He writes of the condition under which so many children spend their school lives, the small playgrounds, inadequate equipment, large classes and the limited school hours that make it impossible to overcome a poor home environment. "Even if school conditions were uniformly good, there would be aspects of education that can be adequately provided only by camp life. In camp we have a cross section of the community. Boys of all types and classes meet and live together. Those to whom the greatest good can be done, either socially or physically are included. For the whole period of the camp strong forces are automatically brought to bear upon character. Each child must learn to live in co-operation with others."
+"John, from one of the worst city areas, was the most detested boy in the school. He spent his days baiting teachers and boys (successfully too). His sadistic tendencies seemed, to me, the worst of his many faults. At camp, in 1941, the field work gripped him. During the following year he carried out individual work in botany end zoology, but showed interest in nothing else. As the 1942 camp approached his behaviour changed. He made innumerable personal preparations, and in camp lived fully and supported his leader to such purpose that he was a major factor in the group winning the competition. Despite his past the Camper's Badge, highest award for any one camp was granted him. To-day he has his second-class bar to this badge. From being a potential danger to society he has now settled to a normal school life and is an elected school prefect."
+The writer goes on to tell of the hard work done in the establishing of the camps, the trials and disappointments of the people who were determined to make them a success. He shows the way in which the days are spent.
+"The Bushcraft group is seen preparing for a walk. With the compass they orientate the map of the district, prepare their packs and go swinging along the track. They will select their camp site erect the little bushwalker' tents, learn how to make various fire places and fires and so on. They will learn also how to break camp and they will be led to realise some of the beauty of the unmarred bush."
+At the end of the camp badges and awards are given. "The importance of this is stressed by a special ceremony. After 'Lights Out' the lads meet. In complete silence they file through the bush to a glade where an advance party has prepared a fire. Here they sit, an old camper beside a new, in a complete circle, and in the quiet of the night, look into theheart of the fire... The "Dedication" is repeated: "Here, to-night, with these, my friends about me, with nature's magic in my heart, with the light from the crackling fire an my face, I dedicate myself to the ideals of National Fithess. Here I take that first, fine step towards real service. Around me all is clean and pure. So shall I strive to make myself clean and strong, and, in the coming years, use the strength my God has given me towards the uplifting of our Australian race.
+"The badges are presented and the lads sit again. There are moments here of emotion, for there is great beauty in the scene. Giant gums tower above small boys and a fire. A staff member recites the "Camper's Poem". There are yarns of other camp fires told by boys who have seen many. There are songs softly sung."
+"Follow-up work co-tinues between camps. Advanced courses have been prepared and week-end bush walks taken. So leaders are trained. There are some very definite results. During last camp the average increase in weight was 2 1/4 lb. Moreover there are gains that can never be assessed. The personality of many lads has developed during the weeks; there is the truant lad who has been given new values; the keener health of all must have far-reaching results."
+There are many obstacles to overcome before all boys and girls in their teens will be able to participate in such a camp. But so essential is the experience in the life of each child that the vision must have ultimate reality."
+----
+Twenty years ago I knew a man called Jiggins, who had the Health Habit. He used to take a cold plunge every morning. He said it opened his pores. After it he took a hot sponge. He said it closed the pores. He got so that he could open and shut his pores at will.
+----
+Just one word about fresh air and exercise. Don't bother with either of them. Get the room full of good air then shut the windows and keep it. It will keep for years. Anyway, don't keep using your lungs all the time. Let them rest. As for exercise, if you have to take it, take it and put up with it. But as long as you have the price of a hack and can hire other people to play baseball for you and run races and do gymnastics when you sit in the shade and smoke and watch them - great heavens, what more do you want?
+Stephen Leacock "How to Live to be 200".
+----
-...y
-DOES tflI8'CCiiI Y01.1/..?
-'
-by Kinsella.
-, :
-"T eff,ort on behalf of"Eia,, I do feel that the ,meaw
-youth 'Qbste.,16tb relstarta:ti:i,e:setter. The' more I see nc c oie
-with city youths; the aore,I ttunk tiab hr own salvation Wc2 shoula 7
-try our harcils'ISIo'foster:in'the tqz5i':',t2207,12ush..'and the gTeat out of
-doors. To me, it oeems their mindsr scin, so lrba et th!6m young and -r endeavour to inAT1.in 'them an,:a.-Aped?..atton of,!-t;lin&-cle5:n''and decent,."-
--
-The above is an extract from a letter viiii-Ete,n by Peter Page from Nth.
-, ,
-Queensland q1401.-i'was given to!me;or. inclusion in The Bushwalker. _Aftexr reading it I couid' not,heap reca4iiq'the'many-opinions aired a-Cll.-0cent Monthly Meetings, when the,QUeE;n4A of Youth Hostels a-o d National Fitness,
-).
-Camps came under,4iscussion.
-The impreEi,d1I gathered at _these meetings was that, in regard to the Hoctels, while he,am'tily disliing the 'people who would-be likely-to use them, the Dush*iaker Federation, foY.'it6 own sake, Would be iiilladvised to
- the vanguard Of thaffilostel :,iovement, or it miglit. find these buildings 1,-)1o ced in areas of which it disapproVed. (Vide Marlay).
- .
-As far a8.-tIona1 Fitness camps, were concerned, the-coAc'enbUs of opinion again waS; theygb..t be put anywhere as long as'they did not spoil our 7.)rim5.2iivd areas-or inte'rfelle with well-beloved walking country. or camping E7DOtS. Whn Jibbgn 1-1a,:_d, was discussed as a rossible N.F.camp-site, while mamiws, contidered the lace unsuitable for this purpose, they wash ,--2d' their hands of ac and were quite willin, to see it selected because it wp f,3 1)-1
-not an area of interest to walkers-.
--
-, .
-One could not help fieling thc s1iug, Pharasaical attitude. 'Thank God
-I am not as that roor creature The Tliker".nor of those lesser bred who
-would sleep within the four walls Of a hostel rather than under the vque. sky.
-All things are relative and a walk from hostel to hostel may be as greht an adventure for those who know no other way as a first week-end trip for the man who carried his tent in his rucksack. There is only one way for the salvation of "The Hiker" 110, that is to teach him not to be one.
-On the same day as getting Peter's extract, I read an article entitled "An Experiment in School Camping" by A. Lenehen, I feel that here is an answer to -faterls plea; an indication that while Youth Hostels will cater for the young man and woman of to-day, the N.F. Camps are a training place for
-o the man and woman of to-morrow, a training place for the adolescent so that he
-S.
-or she will le _rn to love and res.)ect "the beauty of an unmarred bush" and thus come closer to the Bushwarcerst ideals. More than this, it shows that there are people who not only see the necessity for doing something for the youth of Australia but are themselves-Pre-oared to see that it is done,
-The writer tells of the plannin: of these N.F. Camiez as "a part of the child's education complementary to school education just as camp life may be complementary to home life and life in the bush complementary to life in the city." He writes of the condition under which so many children spend their
-school lives, the small pla:grounds, inadequate equipment, large clasces and the limited schoel hours that make it im-possible to overcome a poor home envir-, onment. "Even if school conditions were uniformly good, there would be aspects of education that can be adequately provided only by camp life. In camp we have a cross section of the community. Boys of all types and classes meet and live together. Those to whom the greatest good can be done, either socially or physically are included. For the whole period of the camp strong forces are automatically brought to bear upon character. Each child must learn to live in co-operation with others."
-"John, from one of the Worst city areas, was the most detested boy in the school. He spent his dayS baitinG teachers and boys ,(successfully too). His sadistic tendencies seemed, to me, the worst of his many faults. At camp, in 1941, the field work gripped him. During the following year he carried out individual work in botany end zoology, but showed interest in nothing elSe. As the 1942 oamp aseeeroached his behaviour changed. He. made innumerable personal pree)arations, and in camp lived fully, and supported his leader to such purpose that he was a major factor in the group winning the competition. Despite his past the Camper's Badge,. highest award for any one camp was. granted him. To-day he has his second-clasb bar to this badge. From being a potential danLeer to cociety he has now settled to -a normal ochool life and is an elected school nrefect."
-The writer,goes on'to tell of the hard work done in the establishing
-of the caml)s, the trials'and diseeppointments of the people who were determined to make them a success. He shoes the way in which the days are spent.
-"The Bushcraft group is seen preparing for a walk. With the compass they orientate the map of the district, prepare their packs and go 'swinging along the track. They will select their camp site erect the little bushwalkerel tents, learn how to make various fire places and fires and so on. They will learn also how- ti broak camp and they will be 12d to realise some of the beauty of the unmarred bush."
-At the and of the caelp badges and awards are given. "The importance of this is fetresced by a sPecial ceremony. After 'Lights Out' the lads meet. In comeaete silence they file through the bush to a glade Aerie an advance partyhas Prepared a fire. Hare they sit, an old camper beside a new, in a comlete circle, and in the quiet of the -night,' look into the
-heart of the fire The "Dedication is repeated:" "Here, to-night, with these, my friends about me, with naturals magic in my heart, with the light from the crackling fire an my face, I dedicate myself to the ideals of National Fithess, Hare I take that first, fine stop towards real service.
-.
-Around me all is clean and -Jure. So shall I strive to make myself clean and strong, and, in the coming years, use th strength my God has given me towards the uplifting of our Australian race.
-"The T),-Ldgs L;.ro pre!.e:itc:d and to lads sit again. There are moments hero of e:notio1, for there is groat beauty in the scene. Giant gums tower above sall boy and a fire. A staff member recites the "Camper's Poem". There are yarro of other camp fires told by boys who have seen many. There are songs softly sung."
-'Tollow-up work co-tinues between camps. Advanced courses have been prepared and week-end bush walks taken, So leaders are trained, There are some very 6.(ifinite results. During last camp the average increase in weight was 2* lb, Yoreover there are gains that can never be assessed. The person-
-ality of mn ads has developed during the weeks; there is the truant lad who has been ,;'L.:(,1 new values; the keeneT health of all must have far-reaching results,.0
-There are many obstacles to overcome before all boys and girls in th)ir teens will be able to participate in such a camp, But So escential is the experience in the life of each child that the vision must have ultimate reality."
-Twenty years ago I knew a Laan called Jig3ins, who had the Health Habit, He used to take a cold plunge every morning. He said it o,)ened his
-pores. After it he t,nk a hot sponge. He said it closed the pores. got so that he could open and shut his pores at will.
-Just one word about fresh air and exorcise. Don't bother with
-either of them. Get the room full of good air then shut the windows and
-keep it, It will keep for years. Anyway, don't keep using your lungs
-all the time. Let them rest. As for exercise, if you have to take it,
-take it and put up with it. But as long as yoU have the price of a hack and can hire other people to play baseball for you and run races and do gymnastics when you sit in the shade and smoke and watch them - great heavens, what more do you want?
-Stephen Leacock "How to Live to he 200".
 SOME FuLK THEY WOULD A...ALKING GO. - O.K.
 "Now lot us all a-walking go." "Whoopee:" said Rowley, "Whether the trains be crowded or TO."