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The Sydney Bushwalker.

A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, 5 Hamilton Street, Sydney.

No. 102. June, 1943. Price 4d.

EditorClare Kinsella
Assist.Grace Jolly
ManagerAlex Colley
ProductionYvonne Rolfe
AssistantAlice Wyborn
SubscriptionsMarie Kinsella

Contents.

Page
Kosciusko - and Traveller's TalesG. Edgecombe 2
Youth Hostels and National FitnessC. Kinsella 5
Some Folk They Would a-Walking GoC.K. 8
Letters from Lads and Lasses 8
Rowley and the EggsLes Harpur 9
Easter at Carlon's C.C.S.No.1 Casualty11
Reading Matter for the Troops 12
Venus and Jupiter“Canopus”12
Missing and PersonalR. Kirkby12
Truth is Stranger Than FictionA. Colley13
Our Own Meeting 15
Federation Notes 15
Gossip 16
Social Notice 17

Advertisements.

Page
Hamilton Night Club12
Goodman's17
What Paddy Says18

' DAY OF THE KINGFISHER Paul L. Grano, Lookl.Lookl See; the kingfisher comes– There where the white log s:.-)lits the pool, 0 the blue flash of him lie the thunder cloudl See, there he goes - over he rock-fall. Now where the banksias on the creek's elbow Lean scarlet to scarlet– 0 how he flashes! Look, look - ahl he is gone. Yet for his coming the laurel more vibrant, Bolder the bronze of young leaf on the fig, And softer the gloom-thought green of carel - How all things now are lovelier since he camel f!) 2. KOSCIUSKO – A'ZD TRAVELLER'S TALES. By G. Edgecombe-. At the end of our first week, Dorothy, Sheila and myself felt Itwas the correct thing to pay a Sunday afternoon call at the Chalet - needless to say, driven also by such ult:rior motives a. desire to look at the inside-thereof. We decided the buildine; was slightly less offensive to the eyes at close quarters than it had been at a distance. This perhaps due to the lower courses being built in arches of grey granite, into which' were set blocks of dazzlini;ly white crystalline quartz. We circumnavigated the place trying all the doors, and causing terrific hubbub among the dogs who were tied up (well. apart, to prevent fighting) all over the hillside. One shaggy white darling whined most pathetically the moment we stopped petting him, so we concluded no one was hothe. Seeing a shirt lying on the ground, Dorothy the kind-hearted, having a mind to the ravages of grasshopPers, was replacing it on a fence, when a deep, slow voice from above us called, “If you'll come to the side door I'll let you in.” The owner of the voice turned out to be Mr.Harnett, District Surveyor - tall, rose-checked, grey-bearded, With lively blue eyds and that delicious lilting drawl that belongs to mountal,n. people. We thought for a moment that he might accuse us of trying to makfe. off with the 'aforementioned Shirts, but no he was very ineroted in oui t'rip, (we having just come back. up,Hannell's Spur from the Geeht),' and invited US in to afternoon tea. couldnit spoil our reputation for fiver refusin2; food; and wandered in to the huge kitchen, where we imbibed te,2, (with real milk) and completely demolished, crumbs and all, a large portion of -,.)1Umduff, much to the delight of Mr.Harnett, who was acting as coo k.for his party, and whose efforts had been ens red at hitherto, While the kettle was boiling we managed to sneak off and have a look,at the glowing colours and fine handiwork of the rugs and curtains, returning-full of admiration for the,parson res-)onsible - our friend, Hannah Lemberg. Them, as we still dallied, Mr.Harnett exanded into story-telling mood. He told us how, dotted over the high, cold =lands between here and Canberra, he would, every now and then, come upon th r emains of old, extensive, well-built homes; that it was his thdory that the very earliest settlers from the old country liked the snow and bli=ards'and Each like; but that later gegerations, especially with the coming of stage-coaches, had no liking for these rigours, and abandoned them for the sunny valleys. Somehow, the talk wan dered to music in Nature; and of the tale we heard, these remain most vivid to me, ac he told them,– “Once, when I was a little feller, I was sent out in the early morning to round u–) the horses. It was,ver,”clar olld still, and growing along the hillside were hundreds of young gums, very tall and straight, and evenly_ spaced, going 'way 117 before they branched out. Well, as I came uP the rise in the growing light, a slight breeze lifted, three times, and three times I heard a low, long-drawn note - the deep note of an organ - which could only have been caused by the wind blowing through the 3ume7, as if on pipes.“ And again - “Throe of us were going to oyolore an underground river in the 3. Womboyan Ce ves. It was too deep to wade, and much too cold to swim; so we made a raft fixed to oil drums. Thi- would hold no more than one of us; so we tossed up, and I went. I had all my surveyor's gear, as well as matches and candles in a waterproof bag. I paddled along and found there was a strong current. Every now and then I cut a piece of candle aed fixed it to a rock; the lights flickered as I looked back into the darkneesi, at one place,, the river plunged into an abyss. I got so interested that I'had. not fixed a candle for a long time, when I saw an enormous broken stalactite hangingevor the water and disappearing overhead into the blexknoss of the roof. As went past, T thought it would be fun to take a good swinging blow at it with my hammer._ Well! A terrific note rang out, wont echoing through the caves, and I found myself strugling in inky blackness deep in icy water; the raft gone, but my bag still with me. I couldn't see a sign of the big stalactite, but the current washed me up to a whole forest of little raggedy fellers - I felt my way round them ever so carefully, and c me to the raft. That was all right, but not such an easy job getting on to it; because as soon as I tried it, it overturned. So I manoeuvred it along till ut last I came to the big stalactite; managed to grab hold of the end, tested it, and found it was firm, took a good grip, and working round with my feet got the raft under me, then with freezing fingers took candle and matches out - and the first one lit! I fixed it on a rock and drew a deep breath. Got bc..ck finally after being away for four hours. But talk of music - when I heard that Sound of the hammer ring out, it certainly seemed to me the trumpet of doom' Somehow, all our trip seemed to me to be linked with or translated into music, for the next day I went off on my own to explore Lake Albina and Mount Townsend - a clear, sparkling day, and I walked up the semi-circular valley of the Snowy ,egainst a strong wind. The gem like clarity of tawny rocks, set in a mosiac of silver, turquoise and greenish-gold, the dancing, icy little river edged with deep mintbush - were all part of a symphony of Sibelius, whose far-off trumpets same in my ears with a wild and thrilling voice. As I want up' tussocky, frosty hillsides straight into the wind-swept blue sky, the music lifted until it became the hih, passionless notes of a violin played ever more softly, until at last it drifted into silence, mingled with the thyme-scented air, and odour, opalescent colour and dream-music were blended into one. A sudden drop, over the rim of the world, and I was in a most perfect U-shaped valley - flanked with tumbled round sheep-like masses of grey granite, floored with the gently rip ling lake, and ending quite abruptly in blue space - veil beyond veil of misty ridges falling towards the Geehi. Tucked in this sheltered little valley of Lake Albina, I was at onde cut off from the wind, in the absence of trees, I could not oven hear it. With no sound but the ruffld lake splashing on the pebbles. As I lay at the edge on springy, brownish-green moss, studded with scarlet berries and set with tiny white flowers, two eagles came swinging with long slow rhythm. through the crags. Hare at last, I thought, I feel at home on this sad e,Irth. My mind drifted off lazily, and I resolved to look up something that had boon nu7zling me, surely someone had described these lovely mosses better than I ever could. Sure enough, it was Ruskin - and though he spoke of the Alps, every word of it applies here:- , They will not conceal the form of the 'rock, but will gather over it in little brown bosses, like small cushions of velvet made of mixed threads of dark ruby silk and gold, rounded 9.1N.,r more subdued films of white and grey, with lightly crised and cu'rld edges-like ho r-frost on fallen leaves, and minute clusters of u7rieht orilnge 'Stalks with pointed caps, and fibres of 4ap green, and alid faint Purple pe.6acng into black, all woven together,and following with unimaEinable finone8c of gentle growth the undulation of 'the stone they cherish, until it is cha-ged with colour so that it can receive no more;and instead of looking rugged, or cold, or stern, as anything that a rock is held to be at heart, it seem d co be clothed with a soft dark leopard skin,embroidered with arabesque of purple and silver”. it takes little effort of imagination to visualise the glacier, 600 feet thick,whic:_a carved out this U-shaped trough? 1,ft its moraine at the end to dam 1,1-2 and form the lake and cut deep groves in the granite cliffs and platforms at the sides. Now the lake is cutting through the tumbled mass of rock at the cud, as a vigorous stream,which then fells suddenly and dizzyingly down a long, steep v_dley far below. The glacier which formed it was only part of an ice-cap which once encased the Kosciusko plateau. This came down from the 70001 level to about 50001 above the sea. Later it broke up into a number of small Alpine glaceers which 1,ft behind them Lakes Cootapatamba and Albino., the Club LrIkel Blue Llke Hedleyls Tarn, The let of these glaciers -erobably disa-ePeared only about 10,000 to 15,000 ye,ers ago. Most of'the rocks of the Iocciuski 1-Aeau. e g. the R-.resheed and Kosciusko as w,11 as Townsend and Twynam are Lcranitic;grey and crystallinelwith a characteristic banded arrangemenb of light and dark. It is these which :roduce the porridgy-surfaced hummocks and smooth bare slopes. Intersepersed with these are slaty rocks with a goldenlcilky lustre,called phyTTites – between Mt.Ttynam and Lake Albina there is Quite a large area of them. I mention those particularly because it al)peared at one stage they might help settle a controversy. Mr.Harnett told us that Strzelechitin his diary, had retarded the presence of “slate” in his trip up from the Murray valley, Now Townsend and Kosciusko are both on gneissic granite; but if a cluantity of slate were to be found on one of the western slopes of Townsend and not on Kosciusko it would constitute some slight evidence in favour of the former, So I encircled Townsend wit signal lack of success, arid reported the sad story to MriHarnett on my return He vote as follows:- “Etlownsend's claim to be the Kosciusko of Strzelecki has faded to a shadow, no slates And last week Yx.Barrie showed me a map pur-eorting to be a true copy of that which Strzelecki prenared arid sent in with his report to the IT.S. Government - this map shows his Kosciusko as being right on the Main Range which he apparantly located for some miles to north and south of the pe..k; past Tate and past the South Rails Head. It is not possible to think that he could have mint-ken Townsend and “The Abbott” for the Main Range and Great Divide”. And co the m-tter rests. I for one am secretly relieved to think that the right poak bears Kosciusko's name, I finished my day of lonely wanderings down the shadowy glen of the snowy to the Pound's Creek hut chanting ha-):)ily (and tunelessly) these words, which are said to be a translation of an old God's song - and he must surely have lived in just such a and been just such a hopeful egoist as myself:- a 5. I am the ovorlord of the hills and the high places, And it is the ch'.nging breath of the mountains that I seize and make into words. IT7 bed is as above- th'eclouds as my labouring minister, the earth' on lift'me u-2, And my thouchts are as. 'farabove :the stars as my eager heart ca-i cD._cry tham j!.,%, …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. 7. 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.” So Mario and Leslie and George and Joe All went with Rollicking Rowley. “A dozen egos someone must bring, “I will”, 0-.id Rowley. “My eggs are always fit for a king, I'm not at all fussy about anything But those”, said Rollicking Rowley. When breakfast time cJ,.me round next day, “I'll cook”, a.-A_d Rowley. “I'll do my eggs in a c:2..cial way”. s_ng as he workd so ha”. y andgqy, “Heigh-ho”, sang Rollicking Rowley'. Ho broke an egg into the pan. “Tana bell!” said Rowley. He stood his ground but the others ran, There never was rz.,o astound d a man. “This stilaks”! gasd Rollicking Rowley. He cracked another, than a third. “Blank Blank”, said Rowley. Th_ fourth contained a littl- bird, And the fifth and the sixth. “Why this is absurd, BBlaak Llan, cried Rollicking Rowley. But when he came to the very last, Speechless was Rowley. He turnd and ran from th, scorching blast, But the eggs, the: 11-.)1pad and followed him fast. “Help! Hol-A” begged Rollicking Rowley, LETTE1S FRCE TH.] LADS A:'D LASSES. Letters were received this month from the following:- Tom Moppett Lee Douglas Bill :?Court Lob Yiinks Los Douglas. A strange coincidence promote me to write you - last night - whilst surrounded by a host of admiring mosquitoes - the weather being a little hot and the hour too early to retire bAqind my protective net - I searched the archives of the Ward Room for some literature - 'imagine my surDrise to find a cc,Dy. of “The Sydney Dushwalker” - admittedly twas an old one - 1938 - and may have been the ,,property of the peace time tenant of our t k't ir) .) , - , -) - , 10, pr2sont abode - yet nevertheless it was interostin to read of the doings of ' (Yia-Q i1J-Lec-k no b.rox_ta afeethe “Canyo_r_seatioll Club” cen entirely. 1 weanons of two of the Queen land meebes - known as Mal i7e Doug. L lot of water has run under many bridges since that issue first saw the light - and I know from information gurnered from different sources - that many of the names mentioned therein would have greatly divergent addresses at the present time and that the “Old Club” is well represented in different parts of the world. It was unfortunate that in my brief visit to Sydney - I couldn't manage to make the Club rooms - for at the time you were meeting I was creating a nuisance of myself at various Naval Depots - endeavouring to obtain gear and clothing sufficient to make my life comfortable in this oet of the way place - and by the time I had achieved that object, I've no doubt that you were all comfortably tucked away in your little beds, I did, however, have the pleasure of meeting Paddy - whom I found doing business at the “old stand' - also Val who I believe is again taking interest in Committees etc.-don't let him put too much over you - after all he's prac- tically a “Banana-lander” now. From what I've seen of the country surrounding Moresby th:re's 'a goodly. numIer of tall hills that show much promise as good walking country - whilst the distant vistas of blue mountain ranges are decidedly tantalising - but from all I hear of mosquitoes, rain and other pests - quite apart from the heat - it will be good country to stay out of - however, Wal will be pleased to know that viewed from the butt-end of a fishing rod - certain parts of the coast become quite interesting - nay even profitable - especially is this so when an uninteresting diet of M V(tinJed meat and vegetables) becomes unbearable. Convey my regards to those members with whom in the piping days of peace - I shared the joys of t-ho open-road-and the -shug_camp firjs - and my hopes that when this fracas is over - all the members of the “Old Club” may share in its useful and ex-)anding activities. Bob Binks.(H.M.A.S. “Napier”) It is months. now since I last wrote, but all the time I have been receiving mag sines and photographs at regular intervals, The photographs are esnecially apprecie ted as they bring back memories of old haunts and walks that were done in what now seems the far distant past. Since leaving home there have been no o;2-,)ortunitios for walking although ten days leave at an -eort some weeks back gave us the chance to see some- thing of th-e country which, with its wide open spaces and rolling hills resembles our o. in in ms,ey places. Tom Mo7pott. The S..W. does do some walking over here. Last month I had nine days leave, and spent it wandering about the Lake District in shorts etc. again and in spite of lots of rain, cloud and mist, I had a great time. Due to War and I:inter it we s solo walking with hardly a soul about, for which I was very grateful. aetegraphy wasn't so good because of the lick of sun, but I have sent Joan a packet of photos juLt t, prove I was there. As can be seen from one of myself, I'm well equipped for walking andehave even made use of the hat which I believe gave rise to the name “Curtin's Cowboys”. I have joined the Youth Hostel Assn., in case it miht be of use, and although I haven't stayed at a hostel yet, I night next month during a cycle tour of the Cotswolds, 4 This is an “on with the corres-eondence” night so all the best to all Bushwalkers and specially to the B.S,C. 1 DZI.STr]R AT =LON'S C:,SaLLTY CLEARING STATION BY No.1 Caeualty, Well, I've never reached the su,lelit of a mountain first, and I've never been first out of bed in the morning, but I was the first admission to Carlon's C.C.S. at Easter, It was quite simple, just one of those smooth round stones with an inviting -expreseion, and presto, you've got add feet. This hapPenad about two miles up Little River,. so 1 was forced (literally) to creep under the weight of my completely em:?ty p:ch to the junction of the Cox and Galong Creek. Have you ever wished that your companions would only leave you s.1 that you could die quietly at your own pace? They. never do, We pitc hed carro at last at the bottom of Galong. I spent the ni3ht dreaming that T was crawling heroically up the creek on my hands and knees,' but when morning came cowardice asserted itself, and I developed an ihtense ambition to ride up Tin Pot track on ahorse. I hadn't ridden a horse since I Was in short Pants, but I hadn't crawled since I was in rompers, so the advance party flew along Galong and in no time, salvation, in the shape of Bertie Carlon and the stalwart steeds Taffy and Minty arrived. I was hoisted with every care. ,;_nd absolutely no ceremony onto Taffy's back and away we went. Oh boy! Can Bertie lead a horse? It wasbetter than a sedan chair. Arriving at the C.C.S. I was greeted with an imposing array of hotwater bottles, crutches, and soft downy beds. My notoriety was short lived however for after this the casualties came thick and fast. Taffy was pressed into service again next morning to bring Emily Livingstone, of the Rucks',.ak Club, up from the Cox, where she Was hobbling painfully along, having “gone :in the knees”. No sooner was -1.To.2 Casualty bedded down that night, than the next victim was announced by a huge bull's eye lantern piercing the gloom, followed by ambulance, police, bushwalkers and sundries. These latter had come out in the ambulance complete with guns for a night's shooting, The redoubtable Jack Kirby had been comandeerod and the whele crowd piled in for tea and a couple of bmttles of supper brought by the sundries, ' Having decided that Bertie and Jack would be the best ones for the rescue trip down Black Dog, the bushwelkers and sundries, police and ambulance went to bed, We we-re so excited by the 2resence of all these men that we scarcely slot, but it wasn't till sunrise that No.3 Casualty showed his wen little face round the dining room door. He really did look sick and only sto-eped off for tea before being cleared for hospital treatment with a dislocated knee-cap and lacerations. After the de-earture of this casualty with the bushwalkerst the anbulance, the police and the sundries; the old C.C.S. seemed a bit quiet and we had to fall back on “Wiff” Knight's sciatica and Mrs. Knight's cold, for diversion. Other entertainment were hopping up hill and making friends with “LIdy” who was to carry me to arby's in the afternoon. Emily and I were djzcharged with due ceremony at 2 p m. and set off somewhat reluctantly on our homevIrd trek. The care and-attention we received would tempt anyone to chronic incapacity and we would advise all prospective casualties to arrange to be damaoed within reasonable distance of Carlon's. 12. REDING LALtCan FOR THE -TROOPS …….. No doubt those of y?1,1 who travel by train or ferry have noticed that Bookstalls on stations and wharfs are sdly lacking in “Ipenguins”,”Pelicans and similar publications which 11-..ve iar&'ved- such a boon for all classes of readers since their a-pleearancd a few years ago'. Booksholps also, show em-2ty shelves. This dee_rth of ree ding matter is being felt by the Serviceo Committee who are finding it extremely difficult to got sufficient reading matter for the mon in dist:mt parts. In a recent letter, one of our club member wrote I received some more l'enguins for which I thank you very much. I can assur:, you these books are read by very many once they begin to circulate 1173 here. A BOOK IS PRESfRV2,D LIKE LIFE ITS7,12.9 So go again over your shelves and through your cuDbo7.rds. Bring in your =lay of The Bulletin, Wireless Weekly, any l'enguins or Digests you mlcht still hav”If you have any old numbers of the Sydney Buchwalker, would you hand them in, for The Services Committee has found that bushYalkers from other clubs veTy much a-x?recizate these co-eies, VENUS ZOD JUPIT.CR by “C.ANOPUS”. This month Venue will be in its brightest phase. Juipiter also is still -bright, :though it gradually appears a little fainter as the earth trvels away from it. The two will be in close proximity, and i:ith the now moon in their vicinity will form a very beautiful group in the Eastern sky at the beginning of the months THE IIAMILTC,N NIGHT CLUB June 18th. We ,invite you to attend the o-epening of the Ham4ton Night Club (Prolprietary Limited), ,All the newspa-)or threats of the least months come true c nd -,— dancing until eTeven. Sly grog (in the form of fi-esh milk) must n6tloo brought except by those patron's having duodenal ulcers *hich must 'be ins-)uct:d by ,t1 si2eciLL1 committee for that pur–)oce. , , You are ex1Decte1 to a.)-)ectr in y,ur “bush nihtie s” - just the things you' wear to keep out the - so no excuse will be acce-rbed for -evoning frocks and tails. P.S. We should like to draw our patrons' attention to the fact that - it is Winter, not Summer. MISSING LETD PERSONAL 0 Tem2ora 1 0 Mores 4 Lovely aluminium butter container who strayed from me on the Easter Wollondilly trip please Itturn. You were my one and only and had “E.R.I\:.” quitetarly on sticking ')laster )n your bottom. I shall be in the Club every Friday night wearing a dejected and rels-Acious 4 look md,a s?rig of Gompholobium Ray Kirkly. TRUTH D7D SnANGER THAN FICTION or THE STORY OF THE INJURED HIKER. Alex. Colley, On Easter Friday one of a party of five hikers fell on to a sherp and cut his leg. He was rescued by Bert Cerlon and Jack Kirby, Bert, by the way, had quite a busy week-end bringing in the wounded fr6m the CxNalley, One can readily incersine the scene in the newsTai)er offices when the story came in. The News Editor handing the story to one of his off-siders - “Here's' a report of a hiker hurt in the mountains - write it u-e, will you. Oh, and don't forget the bits about the rough country, the experienced bushman hacking their, way through dense bush with axes, and the goat track with a drop of hundreds of feet on one side” - '1!'eah, I know.” By adding these well-worn formulae to a few facts and jome fiction, the city papers filled about two columns in all. Here is the story as told by the ”-.7icknickers“ (nrror), Vic Bolton and Russell Wilkins', who came on to the party. on Sunday evening and took word to the Katoomba police, Vic and Russell were coming through Black Dog Canyon about half past four on Sunday afternoon when they met two boys aged about 17. They were equieTed with a full-sized axe and a camera. One was clad in dripping wet shorts, He explained that he had thrown the axe at a turtle which was swimming in 7 feet of water. Naturally the axe went to the bottom and he had to go th,:re after it, They had been canned with three others at the junction of Black Dog Creek and the Cox since Friday night. When asked why they had remained in the one spot so long they explained casually that one of their mates had hurt his leg, The axe-thrower and his associate then went on their way and Vic and Russell walked on down the river. On the way they ;heard. several shots and a bullet whined past. Later they found that one of the amusements Of these light-hearted lads was to throw 303 bullets into the fire. ./.,t Black Dog Creak they ceme tr)on three tents (hired from Paddy).- one 6' x 81 ”:2' tent, ).nd two 51 x '31 walled tents (for five!), s they came closer they found three boys of about 17 lying down in their sleceeing bags 'enjoying a smoke and a game of cards. The game was for the sake of coin rather than mental uplift, They lay in the midst of a great mess. Nearby was a ground-sheet covered with flour, jam, driing and dirt, Scattered around were cartons of flour, many tins, a large coil of 1-1- inch rope, thr e enamel bowls and numerous billies, not to mention the inevitable frying pans (three large ones including a twelve inchor) and several pounds of driieedng. they had to eat was some tinned meat and a few sandwiches“ - Sun). The subject of -the injured leg ccele u:. It oetpeared that, on Friday, it had taken them from 12 no n till five o'clock to get from Clear Hill to the ridge overlooking the Cox. By that time it was getting dark, and they were thirsty, so they raced straiht over the edge towards the Cox, Their packs were all around the GO lb. mark, with the result that they lost control' and started to slide. Lee Coy was unlucky as he happened to land heavily on a sharp piece of granite which cut to the bone just above the knee. The leg started to swell, so they made camp on the rier and stayed there. C; 14* Vic and Russell gave them some bandages, plaster, and Condy's cryr-Itals and asked- them when and hour they were going back. They sq id they were going to start off the next day, go to Yoody'S and then un KedUmba. Vic and offered to get help at Hatoomba, to which the boys agreed. When Vic and Russell renorted the accident at 3.30 next afternoon (Monday), the police reacted' in no uncertain terms. It was some minutes before the air cleared sufficiently for Vic and Russell to ex-f4ain that the injured one was not one of their party, and was, moreover, one of that inferior order known as hikers. Had they been old members they might have gone on to say that the oliCe had never been called upon to rescue a Club member. They could have gone on to instance some of the searches in which the Bush Walkers have sent out large parties to assist the nolice. As it was they explained where, the snot was an marked it on a ma,2, but as the police didn't know the country they asked Vic. and Russell to coirte back with them, The. rescue party, Consisting of a constable, a police cadet, two. ambulance mon and a friend who was an experienced bushman aged about 16, and Vic and Russell, set off in the ambulance at 6.30 :?.m. On the way they picked un Jack Kirby. They got outof the ambulance at the top of Carlon's hill. Tto went in front. with police'-searchlights, and than cargo the ambulance man' with his gun. Plenty of rabbits, dazzled by the glare, sat up at close range, but the ambulance man couldn't shoot very straight. Carlbn's Vic' Russell ,,.md Bert Carlon caught -three horses with which Jack Kirby and Bert set off for the Cox at 10.30 p m,. Shortly afterwards the police and the ambulance man set out for some more shooting. Once more their aim was uncertain. Bert Carlon and Jack Kirby reached th_ Cox in the early hours of Tuesday morning. -They placed the injured one on a horse, making a rope sling for the bad leg. The other 'four, who remained in their sleeping bags, resumed th:ir. interrunted slumber, Bert and Jack Kirby arrived :back with the injured Les Coy at 6.30 in the morning. There was a little more :rabbit-shooting; ht still no kill; than at. 9 o'clock the police, the ambulance man, the . experiinced bushman, Vic, Rusell, and Les Coy set off for Katoomba, where they arrived at 10.30 a m. Leslie Coy's wound was found to be only superficial and he was allowed to-return to Sydnoy by car \fith his /parents. .a sweet-young romantic named Tuggie Went out for a- ride in a buggy. She cooed “lass me my net But he wioed off the sweat And F _id “Not while the - so muggy”. 15. AT OUR OWN 1,1.11=G * It we_s r,solved that, if .,nother hostel is to be placed in National Park the Club would not te..-)?)ose its being placed at the foot of Nioka ridge. At a previous m,eting the erection of hostels in the park was oosed and this op:2osition was not mo,l ified. Marie Byles asked the meeting to consider whether South Era was a suitable site for a hostel, in view of the fact that a track would be necessary in order to bring down the building materials.. The annual rental value of Byrnes' Estate was n100 and the owners would consider leasing the area to the Federation. The possibility of the Federation leasin the area was discussed. Bill Hall said that we should take the oP:lortunity, even if it meant loss, and that it was better to concentrate on this piece of land which was n3ar to the city as parts further out were, less likely to be taken from us. He was supported by Roy Edser and others. Jean Monett drew attention to the danger of commercial interests taking it, over. Laurie Rayner' thought that the rental values would be low during the war and rent difficult to collect, A suggestion by the Youth Hostels' Planning Committee for makin6 fars in the Megalong Valley and a house on Hat Hill Road available as hostels, was a2proved. Grace.Edgecombe ead John !oble were elected room stewar6S. FEDERATION NOTES . M. 4 eA cheque for n90 was received from the Public Trustee, being payment of.. the 'legacy loft by Arnold Rae. The 1I.S.W. Govt.Railways advise that the 12.55 p m, train will stop at Lilyvale, as requested by the Federation. It will not be possible to obtain art paper-for the Bushwalker Annual,so sketches will have to be substituted for photographs. The editor (Dorothy Lawry) will be glad to receive contributions, including cover designs, as it is intended to publish this year, or as soon as the pa-per position allows. A letter4s being written to the Youth Hostels' Planning Committee opposing any suggestion to erect a hostel in the heavily timbered country in National Park. It was decided to adopt the names “2rimitive”, “Protected”, and. “Improved” for roadless reserves. A report was received that a shale mine is being operated in Megalong Valley and that it is rumoured that plans are afoot to install a railway to take the shale up onto Narrow Neck, and to build a retort somewhere out beyond Diamond Falls. Mr. Harry Whaite of the Conservation Bureau is making enquiries. It was decided to write to the Youth Hostels Planning Committee recommending Government resumption for national fitness purposes (including Bush- walking) of the whole of the Era lands. The C.M.W. have withdrawn their opposition to the report of the ePecial-sub-committee on Tracks and Blazes, and the matter will be reviewed at the next meeting. 16. GOSSIP It is with a certain amount of pleasure that we notice that Hilma, our new Secretar7, is creeping round uighty subdued lately. L very pleasing transfiguration we must say, but not likely to last long, SO we must take advantage of it, The cause of this “hang-deg ” look being, that for two weeks running she has “mislaid” the keys of the club room, in fact, on Friday the 14th of May 1943, for the first time in the annals of the Club, members could not get in. Joan would never have allowed such a depressing debacle to occur. On the night mentioned, early arrivals were greeted with'a horrible scene. Hostile Bushwalkers uilled in mutinous groups in the spacious carpeted foyer and overflowed on the grand stairway, while the elevator swiftly and silently and with relentless precision disgorged more and yet mom members, who each according to their lights bore up or broke down on hearing the shattered news. (Meanwhile Hilma, to get away from it all took a taxi and toured the Eastern Suburbs). Soon the more resilient members tried to do something about forcing the doors and they all tried at once, yet the majestic doors of this grand. institution remained closed. Enter the Hero, one Richard Crokor who grasped the situation and stilled the rising panic. Placing his manly length on the floor alongside the doors, he quietly whistled underneath, some slight incantation we think, rose and Lo! the doors swung back. Still badly shaken the Bush- walkers filed in. My word alma! We feel sure that our new Secretary will go far in her career. And how the ex-secretary purred! Debonair Tim Coffey you know is absolutely allergic to a collar and tie and had no reason a2 far as he could see tO abandon his ideas in this respect, when he left for a country town for his holidays. But there he met a lasc and was swayed by the gentler emotions (the ones our Tim scoffs at) and the news seeped throuh to Sydney that he wore a collar and tie for a whole week, for her sweet sake. Do not be alarmed for Timts bachelordom however, for it is true as one Bushwalker said the other day, “Timts romances are short and sweet like a donkey's gallon.” Bobbie Cooper has been transferred back to Sydney. We were pleased' to see her in the club again. ,She brought news of Batty Isaacs who is still in Melbourne and Betty Pryde has been transferred to Adelaide. We are serieusly thinking of aer:)ointing., a 14e1bourne correspondent to watch our 'interests theere. Latest news from there is the marriage of Ira Butler to Dot English. Can anyone tell us why Arthur, Gilroy, after doing a strenuous Easter trip to Splendour Rock, went racing down Pe'rryls late on Sunday evening? We know he is a great collector Of colhured leaves. Was he in-seo rch of the russet maiden-hair that lit up BlUe'gum that :Week-end? 17. 7Rt YOUR S 00 IAL CALLUD_ ,P. FOR JUNE Cr. JULY 18th June: 25th June: Clubroom Party Dancing :& supper.. (se::: special announcement). Annual Photographic Exhibition. Don't forget to look out your Prints and so make this night a SUCQGSGe DO IT -2TOW! 8 p m. 3 p m. 7th July: 7.45 p m. A skating night at the GI_lciarium. Como 4:I:long and if you can't skate yot011 enjoy watching those who think they call. 16th July: Free night. 23rd July: .8 p m. 'Palmer Kent promises an interesting lecture on “The 'Real Facts Behind The Malayan -Campaign.” 30th July: 8 P.R.' Clubroom Dance, FOR ALL YOUR PHOTOGRA.HIC Ri3TUIREMENTS and for t's) EXCELLENT DEVELOPING WORK t and ENLARGING SERVICE GOOD= BROS. 20 Hunter Street, Sydney (0-).Wynyard) Tel. B3438 afCaaCC.COCCCCCO-CC A HOW THINGS. sT:.2TD AT PADDY'S So that me-2,ber:9 will have an iJea how things are as reards the sulT1)1S: of'campin geari hore is a rz,sumel of the st,Ae of Paddy's stock:- SIZEPITG DAGS: No stock on hand. No orders taken.. About 10 feather filled sleeDing bags of assorted longthsavailable (cost '2,2.15.0 for 5'10” length) each Thursday morning at 9 a m. Some time in July there may be some down bags available at f0.9.6 for the standard length (5'10”). Regret no orders can be taken, Look out for special mnouncemant next month, TENTS. No stock but orders taken each month for tents in white, will&sden or lightweight green jaDara, RUCKSACKS & Packs and rucksacks without frames are generally to ho had from stock. Orders taken if no stock. Cane frame rucksacks - none available. Steel frame rucksacks, 1lone in stock. Orders then if you can get frame .c4R01ThrEE.Ts, 6! x 31 Groundsheets and 61 x 41 ca-)e groun.:shoets (5 c) collars or hoods attached) gener:aly avaiLl..ble at the, bej n.Ang of each week. Orders generally if no stock. REPAIRS Repairs of Ll kinds an re-:roofing of groundchots done. No tents c;..,_n be rroofd. ' PADDY PALLIN , . 327 George Street 'Phone B3101. SYDNEY GEAR :'OR WALKERS Z.1 18, z 41.

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