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 It was so long ago. Surely the fathers of these oldest here\\
 Were children when I lived. I built a house\\
-And made a fence and ploughed a field. To-day\
+And made a fence and ploughed a field. To-day\\
 A name is all of me that lingers here;\\
 And still the proud trees stare into the creek,\\
@@ Line 167: / Line 167: @@
 ----
+=====More Gossip.=====
-,.,0
+The Social Committee put on a vary nice dance for us on Friday the 13th June in the Club room. Members were asked to come dressed in the sleeping wear they affected when camping out. Fortunately, it was a cold night and winter sleeping wear was predominant, so the Social Committee's flag is still flying. No doubt many of us would rather not be seen outside a sleeping bag in the assortment of clothes that we feel is very necessary to our comfort, but others with no respect for anyones illusions felt differently and these strong minded folk came along and gave an enlightening demonstration of how to keep warm.
-MORE GOSSIP
-The Social Committee -put on a vary nice dance for us on Friday the 13th June in the Club room; Memb ers were asked to come dressed in the sleeping wear they affected when cacdDinz out Fortunately, ,it was a cold niL;ht and winter cloe7)ing uear was prednmin'ant, so tho Social Committee's flag is still flying.
-No doubt many of us would rather not be seen outside a sleeping bag in the
-assortment of clothes that we feel is very necessary to our:comfort, but others with no r;.sl.)act for anyones illusions felt differently and. these strong minded folk came along and have an enlighteninL; demonstration of low to keep warm.
-An exceedingly well turrnod log was cl ir.,layed to great advantage by Grace Edgocombe who chose a Pair of Gents Natty under2ants Rag Alder's ri-out was more decorative than warming (other than to the eye). One of Hilma's nightgowns didn't dissuioe 1111.11 in the least, but -)erh,1 s Hilma was just showing us that she marric d an angel.
-Walt.Disney must h;;.vo seen Ray ::irby camping out some time, and based
-his famous Mickey Louse on th;_. rrnectuole thus dis-Dlayed. He (Ray) still loked cold in siDite of his long woollen stpcl ings and two quite inadequate safety tins, and seemed to ne.:d. a little more packing. Berlei's might have'a better idea for you Ray, than Safety ins, something with a little more 'given. in it,
-We felt quit6.Concern:d for the girl who constricted her nether limbs with a cardigan. May she never devolo--) somnambulistic tendencies, at least we hope we may be th,re when she does.
-Arthur Gilroy, timing,it very nicely made, a late entrance very effectively, in a white niP_lt shirt, Luckily ----- was not there otherwise, who knows, one
-and another beautiful 'would-be frionaship spoilt.
-We hope th,....committe was' Plear,,d with the large attendance. The orchestra waL, most generous and -olayed everything exce-ot the one thing that seemed to us to be most a:foropriate for the occas..,n, or perhas they had never heard of it,
-"I wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep", AnTay, now most of us know. Makes you
-think, don't it.
-Someone mentioned to us th, oth,,r nijlt that quite a few male members are sporting growths on th,ir 1.11) -r lips. We inv,stigated and it was so, some of course are more prolific than others. Is it a secret sign?
-It is rumoured of one of newer brir?.,s that she has th, domesticity cr ze so badly that her husband 'has to drag her into the club on Friday nights. She then sits in corners, dreaming no doubt of nutmeg and disturs.
-Betty Pryde droed in to tell us that she is not in Adelaide as we said. We are rather unfortunate with Betty, we always station her in the wrong places. It is her move now, we hay,e. done our best for her.
-Another junior Bushwalkor to s to the'lOng list. Mrs. Mitchell; to us, Muriel Hall, has a daughter.
-.
- LETTERS FROM THE LADS AND LASSES.
-. -
-LAters were received this uonth from the following members on the Services Committee's list:-
-P. Huntley. Tucker George Archer (P.O.W. Germany)
-J. W. Edwards Rory Lofts
-Bruce Simpson Jack Parkinson
-Peter Merle W. Spedding
-Bill Burke Les Douglas
-Betty Isaacs. Rita Stanford.
-RORY LOFTS.(u-, Queensland way). Dear S.BeWs. I was very pleased to receive the May issue of the S.B.. today. Its good to get a breath of the old fellowship of the bush which seems to come with each issue. Although my whereabouts are all shrouded in mystery, I can talk of some things without fear of the razor blade. I find this one of the most interesting places I have been in from a walker's point of view at least. I spnd three or four deys a week wandering round the hills or through the bush and what bush - beautiful big trees, not the kinds we are used to round Sydney, in fact one seldom seas a eucalypt and never in the heavy country, there everything is dark green handing with vines, hundreds of beautiful elkhorns and staghorns and bird nest ferns, The birds are also interesting, many of our old friends and many new ones, One of the old ones is the whip bird but here he finishes off his call rather differently, We have a chap who knows a' fair bit about birds in our section and I often go out with him and have a very pleasant time. Bernard O'Reilly and he are great cobbers and take to the bush on most Sunday afternoons. Our local brook is just the last thing in canoing rivers. I'm just hanging on till the end of this show, then a,canoe and about a fortnight's holiday. One could have a wonderful time. There are a few rapids here and there that are a bit fast but there is always a way round. The scenery would be very varied too,' from the little I have seen of it, and the camping spots are everywhere, to say nothing of the:fact that the train will take you right to the river in several places so ynu can get out at any of half a dozen :laces according to the time one has to spend. .
-I introduced our shas to the sround sheet method of crossing streams one day, but only one chap as gano to risk it, the others preferred to cross the river where they thought they could wade, the result was the three of them got washed off their feet wetting tell their gear including rifle, glasses and compass and the rest got wet to the waist while the other chap and I crosses easily and had dry equipment when we (sot. there.. So much for doubting Thomas, we bush- walkers can teach the army lots.
-sped a lot of my time teaching ma7)Ding and thought the article by "Klister" very good, I will be able to use it in my lectures. I wish I could just let myself go and describe this country as it really is but unfortunately that can't be done and whatever one want s to say one soon finds the word STOP in big etters.
-LES DOUGhf1S, Port Moresby. I was more than pleased to get your letter - pleased
-alse eo eee such a healthy list of war-like spikits from the club and know that
-to it; they':ee all still whole and hearty - if in some cases suffering in
-duleAne,o v:ILo., It would be marvellous to meet some of the gang - so if they know they're headed his way-well, Tim easily found and fair17 well known in this Naval Dee)oie and we'll do a snot of "punishine - or as our Yankee allies have it "shooting the breeze".
-My work ire here is very interesting - although naturally I can't tell you
-p
-meell about it - exce-)t that it keeps aue in the open all day mostly toseing on L,ee ruffled - but often beautiful - surface of Moresby Bay - hence I'm greedually achieving a dark mahogany tan about the face, arms and knees - Wal will be disappointed to know that as yet I've nnt tried out the fishing as my gear hasn't arrived - but I will - and then I'll be able to spin some "dits" about the ones
-that got away. I've Llchioved one tri-e into the hills - Roura Falls on the Lologi River naturally we had only a few hours to do the trip - so bagged a truck -
-four of us - and shoved big cane arm chairs in the back and away - we created much comment and 1,ughter from the tough A.I.F. whom we passed en route but the comfort we achieved made u-.9 for the thoys'; we sto:Dped and th road isn't so good that you could overlook the more than occasional holes and bumps, The falls were worth any troeble to get there emd the river was running stron,ly so the volume of water that pitched over a 350 feet drop was tremendous, the air was full of spray and you used sign language to convey your thoughts owing to the noise - we had a climb of about a mile from the truck - so thst when we returned we were more than ready to sample the hospitality of the A.C.F. who have a hut on th2 road - quite a good Sunday afternoon's effort (This, by the way is our only time of relaxation) and we returned home two hours late - I must see them again, as tharefs lots of things I would like to do - such as climb to the other side of th& river - take photos etc. etc. but one can't squeeze all these into one afternoon - and I'm
-NOT coming back after the war..
-ffiLL__22,URKq. TJ:e queenslend way. I won't enlarge on the heartbreak that leaving the
-i:air eft-Sr of Sydney occasioned. Sufficient to say that there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. That is, until the train started to move. The cobber is a bit 2.1e myself; hasn't a care in the world and being travel minded after three years of wandering the prospect of ipe :ring over the next hill caused our spirits to soar. The first day paseed ri;ht o:?edily, all gorging on the plentiful su-rly of food that had been showered u_,on us. My only regret was that as best part of the trip was done by night I was unable to view the North Coast. Managed to snotch a brief but illuminating half day in that "busy little frontier toan". We all Woke
-up the following morning ecer to renew our acquaintanceship but also we had to
-place our glad rags at the bottom of the pack and move on to greener fields. quite
-a pretty little place; much nicer than Sydney I thought, but perhaps I was influence by the proximity of the surrounding bushlands Twenty minutes, by tram, from the heart of the city to a cool shady, clear run-ling stream is, to my mind, ideal, apart from the general aype-rance of cleanliness and the congenial surroundings,
-the people impressed rn as much more friendly than those down south. Apparently
-it is quite the acce-)ted thing to have a yarn with a fellow tram traveller. I had
-quite a pleasant chat with the lass sitiing alongside me. Thought perhaps that I was lucky but the others all had a similar ex-oerience. Imagine the look if one triad to start a conversation in a Sydney tram, especially if the person concerned was a pretty little mi of I missed out on a spot more leave, byt my usual luck held when we reached the station; three of us managed to reserve a first class sleeping compartment to ourselves, for the next three nights we absolutely wallowed an luzury. The miles Eli:reed by over bridges, through culverts,by swamp and foreet an 'lain the train rattled on. Cattle browsed contentedly on the :elain;an 000eicee:]. h-rd diifting along under the care of a sleepy looking drover,folloved by ii oeeany clezy packhorse. Ibis,brolgalcranes and innumerable smaller birds t1l.70c0 thd LI-lac:me lento a -eanorama of beauty. Lonely farmhouses, fire bleckened pced(eol, eeeh isolated trees standing as lovely sentinels; the Australia one reads and dreeme about, Further north and the trceeics began to take hold, The dark
-rip. -1rig green of the cane fields, grey 3.reen ,einea-eple plantations, bananas, paw * paws and isolated pc tches of dank, ominous, seemingly impenetrable rain forests....
-THY NOT CUT DOWN TES?
-By Arbores Australis,
-Of course bushwalkers never do cut down trees for the obvious reason that they would be ostracised from bushwalking society if they did. But why this strong feeling in the bush-walking world against little boys with t:omahalikrks who slash the young saplings and rejoice at the glorious crash if they can bring a bigger tree down with their small hands? 'hy our horror because a letter in the paper tells us that a timber mill is going into a forest at :'dount Wilsen?
-If we have ever thoueht about it the first reason that has flashed,through our minds as to why we should not cut trees, is just that the trees are lovely and we don't want to see bhe beauty taken away from our land. And that_alome would be ample reason for not cutting tee, Too often in this materialistic. age we forget that beauty is an enr5, in itself, and in some cases far more important than material wealth, I once read of a poor peasant in China who had a beautiful maple tree growing neer his cottage, The maple -erovides:a'Wood very suitable for making wooden bowl (I think it is). A 'merchant toffervd. him
-a high price for the tree, but he refused it, preferring beauty tb-mOiley.. Perhaps the world misnt be a happier -place today if more t)eople ha&preferrerd-
-beauty to the mad scramble for material wealth, which, whatever it,brin(1*,?
-does not bring hapPiness.
--
-.
-In the same class as the preSeTvion of beauty is the -pTe'serVation of, the unique fauna and flora of our land, a fauna and flora foilnd-npwhere: the world, and whichrapidly disappears once the forest protection is removed.
-. Why preserve the fauna and flora? eBecause like beauty it is_one of -those spiritual values without which mankind would probably perish.
-. However, Iyneed not enter into a. Phil6sophic1 discussion withebushwalkers- who are alreadre-tlian'convinCed, .. .
-. . :. - e.....:
-_ , - e _
-. ..., ... . . . .
-When we. cut trees along river banks and on steep hill-slopeseyp-remove the
-tangle of little roots ancl the undergrowth (which will grow onlye.Unglir trees) that hold the soil in position and also hold the rain like a sponi, This means that when the rains come they wash the soil away causing bad soil erosion; and the water itself also runs off rapidly for it is no longer held back by the sponge of the tiny roots. In country cleared on the steep slopes and along river
-' banks, you will find that the streams and rivers tend to ba higher during heavy rains and lower in dry periods than in country that has not been cleared. And the object of the recently instituted Soil Erosion Board is to prevent tree-cutting in such places. 11,-.vetyou ever stopped to consider why Middle Harbour is so much
-less muddy than L.ne Cove; The answer is that the headwaters of Middle Harbour are still bush clad. The headwaters of Lane Cove are very largely cultivated and
-therefore cleared:. That muddiness is a sign of soil erosion, and of rapidly drying up streamlets. Have you noticed how a dependable streamlet of ten years. ago (like that of North Era) has ceased to run except after rain, Think b,7,ck,and
-remember that bush fires have swept through the catchment area very often or.
- cattle or man have trampled it down. This means that the undergrowth has never
-properly regrown, and the e2onge of the roots which held the moisture that
- formed your streamlet,has gone. The cutting down of trees has'exactly the same
-effect as bush fires, cutcle and crowds of people.
-But this s aemateriali_sti c,:agei and there are plenty of materialistic reason S also for not cutting down trees.
+An exceedingly well turned leg was displayed to great advantage by Grace Edgecombe who chose a pair of Gents Natty underpants Rag Alder's rig-out was more decorative than warming (other than to the eye). One of Hilma's nightgowns didn't disguise him in the least, but perhaps Hilma was just showing us that she married an angel.
-, 0
-So much for why you should not as a rule cut down tres. Of course there are 0 always exceptions. But prima facie a tree should not be cut, and if a person want to cut it, the onus lies on him to give a good reason why.
+Walt. Disney must have seen Ray Kirkby camping out some time, and based his famous Mickey Mouse on the spectacle thus displayed. He (Ray) still looked cold in spite of his long woollen stockings and two quite inadequate safety pins, and seemed to need a little more packing. Berlei's might have a better idea for you Ray, than safety pins, something with a little more "give" in it.
-Next month we shall diocuss why trees and forests should ba cultivated,
-FED,ERATIu NOTES
+We felt quite concerned for the girl who constricted her nether limbs with a cardigan. May she never develop somnambulistic tendencies, at least we hope we may be there when she does.
-The pro-eosal for reservation of K.7,riong Peninsula, Hawkesbury River, has been
-revived by the Federation and is being looked il_to by the District Surveyor.
+Arthur Gilroy, timing it very nicely made a late entrance very effectively, in a white night shirt, Luckily ----- was not there otherwise, who knows, one look, and another beautiful would-be friendship spoilt.
-The National Fitness Council has dro:Tod the pro,posal for a Fitness Camp at Jibbon Head, :ort Hacking, but is requesting the reservation of the North he of Jervis Bay.
-It was decided that the rental of the Era lands wae too high for the Federation to take the risk of a lease without abandoning its prineipais and becoming landlord to the shack owners.
+We hope the committee was pleased with the large attendance. The orchestra was most generous and played everything except the one thing that seemed to us to be most appropriate for the occassion, or perhaps they had never heard of it, "I wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep". Anyway, now most of us know. Makes you think, don't it.
-The letter to th: DelDt. of Mines about the shale mine 13,41Len Diamond Falls
-brought a reDly with a -elan of about three mining leases betv!seen the Katoomba Golf
+----
-Links and the First Narrow Neck. It was decided to w2ite o the Katoemba Municipal Council, Katoomba Tourist Burea,l, De-?-b. of Mines xnd Committee of Zcenomic Welfare urging that all posoible conbrel be exercised to see that any mining operations on these leases were carried out in a way to cause a minimum of destruction to the beauty of the area.
-The Recreational Areas Committee of the Natienal Fitness Council is making efforts to secure two small areas near Narrabeen as reserves in connection with hiking.
+Someone mentioned to us the other night that quite a few male members are sporting growths on their upper lips. We investigated and it was so, some of course are more prolific than others. Is it a secret sign?
-A building is bein ,rected at Little M:..rley on a permissive occupancy in front of th,2 Hostel. The Youth Hostls Association is asking that no road be allowed
-within 50 yards of the hostel; and no camDing within 80 yards of it. It was decided to write to the National Park Trust and to the Youth Hootels Associ_tion asking
+----
-that the road be closed ri,ht back to the Bundeena Road, and that the suggestion
-about canning be scra-ned, as 30 yards from the hostel would take in the whole
+It is rumoured of one of newer brides that she has the domesticity craze so badly that her husband has to drag her into the club on Friday nights. She then sits in corners, dreaming no doubt of nutmeg and dusters.
-camping area at Little Marley.
-The ex-eenditure of thi Legacy of E90 from Arnold Rae was discussed. Inquiries
+----
-are being made about leasing Block 7 at North North Era and also about land at the
-junction of Long Angle Gully and Fitzgerald Creek.
+Betty Pryde dropped in to tell us that she is not in Adelaide as we said. We are rather unfortunate with Betty, we always station her in the wrong places. It is her move now, we have. done our best for her.
-AT OUROWN LIE .
-Two new members, Rusrell Wilkins and Vic Bolton were welcomed by tie President.
+----
-After some discussion it was resolved that the Club dise7eroved of any restriction
-on camping at Little Marley(see Federation notes). The Presid_nt informed us, with deep regret,that Norm Saill has been killed in action in New Guinea. The proposed shale retort on Neroow Neck was diecussed. Norris Macdonald and Frank Freegurd, wh() w,-ro on leave f-eem the Army, thought that any restriction on the location ef .1111_ht be detrimental to the war effort. Stan
+Another junior Bushwalkor to add to the long list. Mrs. Mitchell, to us, Muriel Hall, has a daughter.
-Martin rointed that shale on could only be ueed for civilian lyar-Doses. Marie Byles thou let he the war was too Often made an excuse for despoiling natural
-features. It was eventually received that the Club disa-eproved of any interference
+----
-with the rock escarpment forming the Narrow Neck Peninsula. Phyl White,owin3 to the illness of her fathertendred her resignation from the Committee. Elsa Isaacs was' eledted in her place.
-SOCIAL :',VETTTS FOP, YOUR CALENDAR
+=====Letters From The Lads And Lasses.=====
-JULY 7th 7.45 p.-11. Skating night at the Glaciarium
-JULY 23rd 0
+Letters were received this month from the following members on the Services Committee's list:-
-o p m.
-Iicture by Palmer Kent: The Real Facts Behind the MaDa:an CaT1naign".
+R. Huntley Tucker; George Archer (P.O.W. Germany); J. W. Edwards; Rory Lofts; Bruce Simpson; Jack Parkinson; Peter Allen; W. Spedding; Bill Burke; Les Douglas; Betty Isaacs; Rita Stanford.
-JULY 30th 3 10.m. Clubroom Dance: Novelties and
-Su2-.)r 11_1.ncincE 8 - 11.
+===Rory Lofts:===
-AUGUST2Oth 0
-O D,ra. "Old Tals" retold again by
+Up Queensland way. Dear S.B.W.s. I was very pleased to receive the May issue of the S.B.W. today. Its good to get a breath of the old fellowship of the bush which seems to come with each issue. Although my whereabouts are all shrouded in mystery, I can talk of some things without fear of the razor blade. I find this one of the most interesting places I have been in from a walker's point of view at least. I spend three or four deys a week wandering round the hills or through the bush and what bush - beautiful big trees, not the kinds we are used to round Sydney, in fact one seldom sees a eucalypt and never in the heavy country, there everything is dark green handing with vines, hundreds of beautiful elkhorns and staghorns and bird nest ferns. The birds are also interesting, many of our old friends and many new ones. One of the old ones is the whip bird but here he finishes off his call rather differently. We have a chap who knows a fair bit about birds in our section and I often go out with him and have a very pleasant time. Bernard O'Reilly and he are great cobbers and take to the bush on most Sunday afternoons. Our local brook is just the last thing in canoing rivers. I'm just hanging on till the end of this show, then a canoe and about a fortnight's holiday. One could have a wonderful time. There are a few rapids here and there that are a bit fast but there is always a way round. The scenery would be very varied too, from the little I have seen of it, and the camping spots are everywhere, to say nothing of the fact that the train will take you right to the river in several places so you can get out at any of half a dozen places according to the time one has to spend.
-Yer::r irs.Aldur icGregor, with an "Z1_1 star"
-AUGUST27th
+I introduced our chaps to the ground sheet method of crossing streams one day, but only one chap was game to risk it, the others preferred to cross the river where they thought they could wade, the result was the three of them got washed off their feet wetting all their gear including rifle, glasses and compass and the rest got wet to the waist while the other chap and I crossed easily and had dry equipment when we got there. So much for doubting Thomas, we bushwalkers can teach the army lots.
-O
- -2 -
+I spend a lot of my time teaching mapping and thought the article by "Klister" very good. I will be able to use it in my lectures. I wish I could just let myself go and describe this country as it really is but unfortunately that can't be done and whatever one wants to say one soon finds the word __stop__ in big letters.
-Clubroom ?arty.
+===Les Douglas:===
+Port Moresby. I was more than pleased to get your letter - pleased also to see such a healthy list of war-like spirits from the club and know that to date they're all still whole and hearty - if in some cases suffering in [illegible]. It would be marvellous to meet some of the gang - so if they know they're headed his way - well, I'm easily found and fairly well known in this Naval Depot and we'll do a spot of "punishing" - or as our Yankee allies have it "shooting the breeze".
+My work up here is very interesting - although naturally I can't tell you much about it - except that it keeps me in the open all day - mostly tossing on one ruffled - but often beautiful - surface of Moresby Bay - hence I'm gradually achieving a dark mahogany tan about the face, arms and knees - Wal will be disappointed to know that as yet I've not tried out the fishing as my gear hasn't arrived - but I will - and then I'll be able to spin some "dits" about the ones that got away. I've achieved one trip into the hills - Roura Falls on the Lologi River naturally we had only a few hours to do the trip - so bagged a truck - four of us - and shoved big cane arm chairs in the back and away - we created much comment and laughter from the tough A.I.F. whom we passed en route but the comfort we achieved made up for the "hoys" we stopped and the road isn't so good that you could overlook the more than occasional holes and bumps. The falls were worth any trouble to get there and the river was running strongly so the volume of water that pitched over a 350 feet drop was tremendous, the air was full of spray and you used sign language to convey your thoughts owing to the noise - we had a climb of about a mile from the truck - so that when we returned we were more than ready to sample the hospitality of the A.C.F. who have a hut on the road - quite a good Sunday afternoon's effort (This, by the way is our only time of relaxation) and we returned home two hours late - I must see them again, as there's lots of things I would like to do - such as climb to the other side of the river - take photos etc. etc. but one can't squeeze all these into one afternoon - and I'm __not__ coming back after the war.
+===Bill Burke:===
+Up Queensland way. I won't enlarge on the heartbreak that leaving the fair city of Sydney occasioned. Sufficient to say that there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. That is, until the train started to move. The cobber is a bit like myself; hasn't a care in the world and being travel minded after three years of wandering the prospect of peering over the next hill caused our spirits to soar. The first day paseed right speedily, all gorging on the plentiful supply of food that had been showered upon us. My only regret was that as best part of the trip was done by night I was unable to view the North Coast. Managed to snatch a brief but illuminating half day in that "busy little frontier town". We all woke up the following morning eager to renew our acquaintanceship but also we had to place our glad rags at the bottom of the pack and move on to greener fields. quite a pretty little place; much nicer than Sydney I thought, but perhaps I was influence by the proximity of the surrounding bushlands. Twenty minutes, by tram, from the heart of the city to a cool shady, clear running stream is, to my mind, ideal, apart from the general appearance of cleanliness and the congenial surroundings, the people impressed me as much more friendly than those down south. Apparently it is quite the accepted thing to have a yarn with a fellow tram traveller. I had quite a pleasant chat with the lass sitiing alongside me. Thought perhaps that I was lucky but the others all had a similar experience. Imagine the look if one tried to start a conversation in a Sydney tram, especially if the person concerned was a pretty little miss. I missed out on a spot more leave, but my usual luck held when we reached the station; three of us managed to reserve a first class sleeping compartment to ourselves, for the next three nights we absolutely wallowed in luxury. The miles slipped by over bridges, through culverts, by swamp and forest an plain the train rattled on. Cattle browsed contentedly on the plain; an occassional herd diifting along under the care of a sleepy looking drover, followed by his equally sleepy packhorse. Ibis, brolga, cranes and innumerable smaller birds turned the swamp into a panorama of beauty. Lonely farmhouses, fire blackened paddocks with isolated trees standing as lovely sentinels; the Australia one reads and dreams about. Further north and the tropics began to take hold. The dark rippling green of the cane fields, grey green pineapple plantations, bananas, paw paws and isolated patches of dank, ominous, seemingly impenetrable rain forests....
+----
+=====Why Not Cut Down Trees.=====
+By Arbores Australis.
+Of course bushwalkers never do cut down trees for the obvious reason that they would be ostracised from bushwalking society if they did. But why this strong feeling in the bush-walking world against little boys with tomahawks who slash the young saplings and rejoice at the glorious crash if they can bring a bigger tree down with their small hands? Why our horror because a letter in the paper tells us that a timber mill is going into a forest at mount Wilson?
+If we have ever thought about it the first reason that has flashed through our minds as to why we should not cut trees, is just that the trees are lovely and we don't want to see bhe beauty taken away from our land. And that alone would be ample reason for not cutting trees. Too often in this materialistic age we forget that beauty is an end in itself, and in some cases far more important than material wealth. I once read of a poor peasant in China who had a beautiful maple tree growing neer his cottage. The maple provides a wood very suitable for making wooden bowls (I think it is). A merchant offered him a high price for the tree, but he refused it, preferring beauty to money. Perhaps the world might be a happier place today if more people had preferrerd beauty to the mad scramble for material wealth, which, whatever it brings, does not bring happiness.
+In the same class as the preservation of beauty is the preservation of the unique fauna and flora of our land, a fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world, and which rapidly disappears once the forest protection is removed. Why preserve the fauna and flora? Because like beauty it is one of those spiritual values without which mankind would probably perish.
+However, I need not enter into a philosophical discussion with bushwalkers who are already more than convinced.
+But this __is__ a materialistic age, and there are plenty of materialistic reasons also for not cutting down trees.
+When we cut trees along river banks and on steep hill-slopes we remove the tangle of little roots and the undergrowth (which will grow only under trees) that hold the soil in position and also hold the rain like a sponge. This means that when the rains come they wash the soil away causing bad soil erosion; and the water itself also runs off rapidly for it is no longer held back by the sponge of the tiny roots. In country cleared on the steep slopes and along river banks, you will find that the streams and rivers tend to be higher during heavy rains and lower in dry periods than in country that has not been cleared. And the object of the recently instituted Soil Erosion Board is to prevent tree-cutting in such places. Have you ever stopped to consider why Middle Harbour is so much less muddy than Lane Cove. The answer is that the headwaters of Middle Harbour are still bush clad. The headwaters of Lane Cove are very largely cultivated and therefore cleared. That muddiness is a sign of soil erosion, and of rapidly drying up streamlets. Have you noticed how a dependable streamlet of ten years ago (like that of North Era) has ceased to run except after rain. Think back and remember that bush fires have swept through the catchment area very often or cattle or man have trampled it down. This means that the undergrowth has never properly regrown, and the sponge of the roots which held the moisture that formed your streamlet, has gone. The cutting down of trees has exactly the same effect as bush fires, cattle and crowds of people.
+So much for why you should not as a rule cut down tres. Of course there are always exceptions. But prima facie a tree should not be cut, and if a person wants to cut it, the onus lies on him to give a good reason why.
+Next month we shall discuss why trees and forests should be cultivated.
+----
+=====Federation Notes.=====
+The proposal for reservation of Kariong Peninsula, Hawkesbury River, has been revived by the Federation and is being looked into by the District Surveyor.
+The National Fitness Council has dropped the proposal for a Fitness Camp at Jibbon Head, Port Hacking, but is requesting the reservation of the North head of Jervis Bay.
+It was decided that the rental of the Era lands was too high for the Federation to take the risk of a lease without abandoning its principals and becoming landlord to the shack owners.
+The letter to the Dept. of Mines about the shale mine below Diamond Falls brought a reply with a plan of about three mining leases between the Katoomba Golf Links and the First Narrow Neck. It was decided to write to the Katoomba Municipal Council, Katoomba Tourist Bureau, Dept. of Mines and Committee of Economic Welfare urging that all possible control be exercised to see that any mining operations on these leases were carried out in a way to cause a minimum of destruction to the beauty of the area.
+The Recreational Areas Committee of the National Fitness Council is making efforts to secure two small areas near Narrabeen as reserves in connection with hiking.
+A building is being erected at Little Marley on a permissive occupancy in front of the Hostel. The Youth Hostels Association is asking that no road be allowed within 50 yards of the hostel; and no camping within 80 yards of it. It was decided to write to the National Park Trust and to the Youth Hostels Association asking that the road be closed right back to the Bundeena Road, and that the suggestion about camping be scrapped, as 80 yards from the hostel would take in the whole camping area at Little Marley.
+The expenditure of thi Legacy of £90 from Arnold Rae was discussed. Inquiries are being made about leasing Block 7 at North North Era and also about land at the junction of Long Angle Gully and Fitzgerald Creek.
+----
+=====At Our Own Meeting.=====
+Two new members, Russell Wilkins and Vic Bolton were welcomed by the President. After some discussion it was resolved that the Club disapproved of any restriction on camping at Little Marley (see Federation notes). The President informed us, with deep regret, that Norm Saill has been killed in action in New Guinea. The proposed shale retort on Narrow Neck was discussed. Norrie Macdonald and Frank Freeguard, who were on leave from the Army, thought that any restriction on the location of the proposed retort might be detrimental to the war effort. Stan Martin pointed out that shale oil could only be used for civilian purposes. Marie Byles thought that the war was too often made an excuse for despoiling natural features. It was eventually resolved that the Club disapproved of any interference with the rock escarpment forming the Narrow Neck Peninsula. Phyl White, owing to the illness of her father tendred her resignation from the Committee. Elsa Isaacs was elected in her place.
+----
+=====Social Events For Your Calendar.=====
+|July 7th, 7.45 p.m.|Skating night at the Glaciarium|
+|July 23rd, 8 p.m.|Lecture by Palmer Kent: "The Real Facts Behind the Malayan Campaign".|
+|July 30th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Dance: Novelties and Supper -Dancing 8 - 11.|
+|August 2Oth, 8 p.m.|"Old Tals" retold again by Messrs. Alder & McGregor, with an "all star" cast.|
+|August 27th, 8 p.m.|Clubroom Party.|
+----
-OPTOMETRIST
+=====Sleeping Bags And Steel Frame Rucksacks.=====
-Y 0 U R
-Lf)
+Paddy is pleased to announce that he will have a few down sleeping bags available on July 15th. These bags are filled with nearly pure down, but if you feel a few feathers in them please don't be cross. Things aren't what they used to be. Nevertheless they will back about as small as the old time bags and weigh about the same.
-GOC,D1,i1-22T ; M.
-. AM  ON.
+Price £3/9/6 for 5'10" bag. 2/- for every additional 2".
--.)tometrist and -0-9ticiun
-Hunter Street,
+There will also be a few steel frame rucksacks on the same date. Price £2/19/10.
-C ..._...
-SYDNEY
+__Please Note:__
-Tel. B3438
-C
-C
-iL'-_. Modern nv,thodr3 of eye examination ,-..nd eye training LD
- Careful Spectacle fitting. C-2
-Q :,7D C
-Fixing an aDrointm,r_t will f:xilitate the reservation of time I'
-,---, for giving you -?roper attention, but should you be unable to
-C ring us beforehand, your vif7it will be welcome at any time (2
---) you may choocc to call. C
-C L
-C.
-E 0
-':.6,12-C' MI-.C.LC-CCal a ,. ,:_i:,.: , _( ti -_(..., ', I_ :( C,( _v _1 t=2( :(. _ 7,C,I.ifCC,_.:LCLA_C.Cti_,,_,C_CaCe,:Aa__. C__ Lg
-+.4
-SLEZYIUG BAGS AND STEEL FRAME RUCKSACKS
-Paddy is pleased to announce that he will have a few
-down slee-Ding bags available on July 15th. These bags are filled with nearly pure down, but if you feel a few feathers in them please don't be C.20ES. Things aren't what they used to be. Nevertheless they will -)ack about as small as the old time bags and weigh about the same,
-Price E3/9/6 for 5'10" bag. 2/ for every additional 2". Th-,rs will lso b7. a few ste,J1 frame rucksacks on the setme date. Price a2/19/1o.
-PT,TASE NOTE:
 No previous orders can be taken.
 No phone orders.
-Regret these rules, We try to be democratic and ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.
-PADDY PALLIN
-Camp Gear for Walkers
-'Phone B3101. 327 George Street SYDNEY
-.
-r
+Regret these rules. We try to be democratic and ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.
+Paddy Pallin. Camp Gear for Walkers,
+'Phone B3101. 327 George Street, Sydney.
+----