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+=====Alpine Hut, 1943.=====
+By The Asst. Censor.
+In peace time if one were to examing a Ski-ing brochure, he would see illustrated a bright young thing in nifty clothes, skillfully manoeuvring in front of a snow covered hotel bathed in sunshine. And lured by descriptions of fun and frolic in the snow, he would probably set off in Uncle Harbert's moth-eaten ski-suit and a brand new set of ankle-length underwear for the special 10 day tour. He would return with a lot of over exposed snapshots, a preliminary Ski-ing Certificate and a lot of exaggerated stories of his skill at steam turns.
+War time offers a different picture. With all organised ski-ing resorts closed down, the enthusiast is forced to spend his holidays at a hut.
+This year a number of parties went to the Alpine Hut in the Brassy Mountins, one of them at least having some unpleasant experiences.
+This party left Sydney about the end of July, and proceeded by train to Cooma, Bus to Berridale, and thence to Snowy Plains by means of an automotive bird cage, reputed to be charabanc.
+They arrived at Snowy Plains about midday and after lunching, freight was divided amonst the male membrs of the party, and they set off for the hut. The freight ws that part of the food which had not been previously stored in the hut and consisted mainly of meat for the fortnight.
+The first part of the journey, between Mathali's Hut and the Brassy gap was made in beautiful sunshine, but immediately on passing through the Gap they encountered a blizzard which made it very difficult to continue. However, all hands arrived at Kidman's Hut before dark and rested prior to the last section of the journey. The run from Kidman's to the Hut was made in darkness, with the blizzard increasing in intensity but all members made the journey without mishap with the exception of one who became separated from the rest owing to the limited visibility and arrived some hours overdue. He had found his way in by following Dead Horse Creek up the valley. On a couple of occasions during the trek he felt inclined to ask the horse to move over, but managed to carry on mainly as a result of his training as a bush walker. A few days in bed in the hut restored his health.
+They found the hut plentifully supplied with food including powdered milk and egg, butter, dried vegetable, and a small quantity of fresh vegetables which had kept amazingly well since the previous autumn. The butter was in large cans was greatly improved by melting and adding water, which it took into composition while setting. It still tasted a bit like little Willie's home-made butterscotch.
+The water service had frozen and burst sometime earlier in the season, and previous parties had been too indolent to repair it - they had preferred to carry water in buckets from the creek. When the leader of the party said that on the second day in, the party would be divided into two, one to go to Snowy Plains for some merchandise and the other to repair the pipe, most of the party suddenly discovered a previously inhibited plumbing ability. A blowlamp was found and digging through the snow to the pipe which had been laid on the surface of the ground, the pipe was thawed out and the splits repaired with sticking plaster.
+The weather during their stay was mostly unpleasant, the wind and snow for about ten days of the fortnight making it almost impossible to get out of doors. Only one day was fine enough to make a run on the main range, and the entire party with the exception of the day's cooks went to the summit of Gungartin.
+Cooking was the bug-bear of the trip. With the exception of the girls, no one had had much experience in cooking and providing for 12 hungry skiers took some organisation. It became the convention to nail anything inedible to the wall of the kitchen. When they left, a steak, a biscuit, a damper and a jam tart had taken their place amongst the cartoons and "Instructions to Skiers". The only days they ate well was when it became the girls' turn to cook. These were feast days both socially and gastronomically.
+Nights were spent boasting of one's exiploits both indoor and out, playing cards and boasting of one's exploits etc. The time passed quickly and everyone had a reasonably happy time, despite being confined to the hut for long periods.
+By a stroke of good fortune the weather cleared the day they left; providing good visibility for the journey out, and all came home determined to go again next year.
+----
+=====News From The Forces.=====
+Word has been received that Gordon Smith is a prisoner-of-war in Malaya! This is the best piece of news that we have heard for a long time, confounding the rumours and dispelling our apprehensions as to his fate through all the long months since the fall of Singapore. We all hope that it will not be long before Gordon is back among us, leading the "Tigers" and taking his old place as one of our finest walkers and finest members.
+Following close on the appearance of Gordon's name in the Prisoner-of-War List comes the news that Tom Moppett has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
+===Citation.===
+"Flying-Officer Moppett has taken part in many successful bombing raids on enemy territory, including a number aginst targets in the Ruhr area".
+"An exceptional navigator, his skill, courage and devotion to duty have proved him to be an outstanding member of a gallant crew. On one occasion his excellent directions resulted in the rescue of a crew of an aircraft forced down to sea."
+"This officer has fine spirit which has inspired confidence in the crew and contributed in a large measure to the success achieved".
+As soon as Jean passed the news on the following cable was sent from the Club -
+"Cheers and congratulations. Keep up the good work and we shall see you at the next re-union. Sydney Bushwalkers".
+----
+====Letters Were Received From The Following:-====
+Brian Harvey, Jack Debert, Betty Isaacs, Harry Thomas, Lee Williams, David Lintern, Jack Marshall.
+===Harry Thomas writes from Tennant Creek:-===
+Thanks ever so much for your very chatty letter, which I received today. I also send my thanks for the two "Cox" River photos which you enclose.
+Yes: I also prefer to walk "'midst streams end hills" but unfortunately this part of Australia doesn't run to those refinements. Of course the hills are present but the streams are few and far between. I mean to make up for lost time when I come down on leave, at least a week on the Kanangra Walls - Katoomba. Walk down the Kowmung River, the cool Cox and through Breakfast Creek and the Megalong - and another week renewing my friendship with the Blue Gum Forest. I'll buy a couple of Kodachrome rolls and will I take photos??
+Doubtless by the time that you have read to this line, you have found the two photos which I have enclosed. No! that isn't one of the Cox River Willows, it's one of the Northern Territory's mulgas which grow in thousands in this part of Australia, and the other one isn't a view of the entrance to the Coal Mine at Katoomba, but it is the entrance to a worked out gold mine, which are very frequently to be found, also in this of Australia.
+I'm afraid I have had to curtail my walking now. The weather is gradually making the mercury soar and an army water bottle does not contain so very much you know, and as the surfece waters are, as I have said, so very few and far between, well!
+===Lee Williams in New Guinea says:-===
+Here is a belated letter to you to thank the Committee for its frequent practical thoughts in the shape of magazines, papers, the selection from the S.B.W. photographic exhibition and sweets. The view from Splendour Rock was appreciated, bringing back memories of happier days and good company.
+I will tell you of my journeyings over the last months. In March I arrived back in Sydney for a well earned 14 days of leave and a promise of more to come - during that time I enjoyed a fey days down at Blue Gum and several more at Werong. Unfortunately I was smitten with another attack of malaria soon after end spent some two months in hospital and Con. Camp in Q'land, and then as the gods have directed came back to New Guinea with a trip to Jenolan and thereabouts still on preper in my pocket. Life has not been too bad up to the present. Some days ago excitement was had in the preparation and execution of a race meeting complete with horses, mules and "bookies", judges, stewards and even a broadcast system. The mules provided plenty of amusement by their contrariness ad everyone agreed that the race meeting was a huge success, even considering the fact that all of us had to walk home.
+I have not met any of the bushwalking fraternity during my second excursion here, as yet, but no doubt I shall sooner or later.
+And that completes my brief resume of "do'ins" to date and with a final "Thank you!" I say au revoir.
+----
-. --  ... p.
-DY THTE ASST. C,74,SLR.
-In pe,;ce time if one were %:.K.c milai a Ski-ing brochure, he would see illustrAed r n, bright Tung thing in nifty clot-s, skillfully manoeuvring in front ,f a snow
-covered hotel bathed in sunshine. A.nd lured by descriptins of fun ,aid
-frolic in tho snow, he would probTlbly set off in 171.1c1 Harbertla moth-e.7.ton ski-
-suit and br nd n w set of kle-lenr:;th und_rwe-r f-)r the ppeci-11 10 dJi y tour. a
-Ha would return with a lot of Av r exposed sn-.Dshots, Ski-ing Cert-
-ific:to and 2_ lot of ,.:.xagr ted rtories of his skill t stalm turns.
-Jr..-4 time offers ,--, different picture. dith all org.-nised ski-ins resorts closed down, the enthusi Et is forciA to spend his hrIlid,ys -tt a hut.
-This yc,,r a number of wenc. to the _lpine Hut in the Brassy Mountins,
-one of thom t least havig som, unple sant ex riences.
-This p rty left Sydney _b,ut the end of July, and proceeded by train to Coom , Bus to BerridJae, nd th-ince to Snowy Pl'insipy means of an automotive bird c roput d to be ,.,. ch,:.rubanc.
-They arrived at Snowy Plai ls -.bout midday anciaft3r lunching, freight was divid,3d ,,mont the m le :zlembrs of the ,Dirty,and they set off for the hut. The freight ws th t 1)rt of the f2 d which h d not been previously stored in the hut
-consisted m:dnly of me't f r the fortnight.
-The first p Tt of the journey, between -Dthalils Hut and the r-:.ssy c-p w-s
-made in beautiful sunshine, but immedi tely on passing through the C411D they en-
-countcred a blizz:rd which made it vry difficult to continue. Howav:r, all hands
-arrived at Kidmans Hut befc.,re d rh and r,_sted -orior to the last section of the
-j urney. The run from Kidm nls to the Hut wi m de in d-rknesF, with the blizzard
-increasing in intensity but 11 1.1:mbJrc m do the j-,urney without Mish.:Ip with the - exception of one who became E'en tad from the rest owing to tho limited visibility and arrived some hours ov:rdua. He had found his way in by following Dc-td. Horse Creek up the valley. On cou-Dle of occions during the trok he felt inclLied to
-'ask the horse to move ov,r, but m-ned to c rry on mainly s a result of his tri_nins 7,F a bush A d yE in bed in the hut rest,-,red his health,
-They found the hut plaully sup.,lied with food including powdered milk and egg, butter, dried vegetble, ad sm:11 quantity of fresh veget-bles which had kept amazingly well since the revious autumn. The butter was in 1 rge cans was grotly improved by mrltil's and adding water, which it took into composition while setting. It still t stool a bit like little 'rfillelc home-made butterscotch. 0
-The w-t:r s.;rvice h d frozen nd burst sometime earlier in the cc son, and
-previous p rties 1.o. d been too indmlent to repAr it-they h d -7referrod to carry
-water in buckets from the cruek. :hen the 3_) dar f the ?vrty said th-t on the second d y in, the p rty wmuicl be divided into two, one to go to Snoy Plains for some m,rchandis: and the other to r,-)Ar the pi-)e, most of the pa"ty suddenly discovered a previously inhibited plumbing ability. A blowlamp was found and digging through the snow to the pi--)e which h d boon laid on the ,:urf co of the ground, the pi'oe w e thawed out ad the splits rep:-.irad with sticking plEt r.
-The we-th-,r durin-, their st y w s mostly unpleasant, the wind -nd snow for about tan days of the fortnight ni kiiag it al.).t impossible to get out of d-ors. Only one (9.,,y w s fine enou:h to m ke run on the r c.in range, and the entire p-rty
-with the exce-otien of th.', d yIs cooks went to the summit of Gung rtin.
-cooking was the r of the iith the exception of the girls, no one 1-1:_d had much '.,x,-.),rience in cocking nd providing for 12 hungry ski,rs took some
-orc i.,nis,,.tion. It became. the convention to nail anything, inedibl: to the wall of thc: kitchen... When they left, a s,,,,zko a biscuit, a daMper and a jam t,-Irt had tklcon -1-12ei'r place ,,monst the c rtdons and 'T)-S=UCTIGNS TO SHIAS". The only Ydr.;,thc -Ce well wc s when it becme the girls' turn to cook e Th-,se were feast
--rdvs brithsociFaly and g stronomicallyi
-,
-rights were spent boasting of ones exiploits both indoor and out, 1)1 :2-ing cards J.nd bo sting of ones e=loits ,cbc. The time passed quickly , nd everyone had a reasonably happy time, desmite being confined to the hut for long -. riods.
--
-Ey a*stroke of good fortune the weather cleared the day they left; providing good visibility for the j.-,urney out, and all came home determined to, go Lgain next year,
-FRC.: THf, F=S.
-Word has been received that 'Gordon Smith is a prisoner-of-war in Mal,,.ya! This is the best piece of news th,:.t we h-ve heard for a long time, confounding the rumours ad dispellin our y rehensions as to his fate through all the long months since the fall of Singapore. We -al hope that it will not be long before
-Gordon is back among us, le2.,fing the "Tig-ers" and taking his old place as one of
-our finest vr skers and finest mmbers.
-Following close on the amex-nce of Gordon's. name in the Prisoner-of-War Iwist comes the news th....t Tom .,i'opett has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
-. -
-"Flying-Officer Moppett has taken prt in many successful bombing raids on
-enemy territory, including a,ftlumber aginst t7.rgets in the Ruhr area.
-An exceptional navi;. tor, his hkill, courage -nd devotion to duty have Proved him to be an outst ndinc -m. mbor of a g111,-.nt crew. On one occasion his
-excellent directions resulted in the rescue of a crew of an aircraft forced down to sea."
-"This officer 11.,-s fine spirit which haL, inspired confidence in the crew and contributed in a 1 rge me sure to the succeer achieved",
-As soon as Jean passed the ne':.rs on the following cable was sent from the Club -
-"Cheers and congr tul tions. Keep w the good work and we shoal se-. you at the next re-union. Sydneyushw117-ers'.
-LETLERS -TERE RIEC5..J.VD THIS ,C7TH 7 !lai00_,;7.
-Brian Harvey Jack Debert
-Betty Isaacs Harry Thom ,:s
-Lee Williams David Lintrn Jack M.rshall
-HARRY THOMS ' RTTJTIS FRCL TaeTANT CRA.- Thanks ever so much for your
-,0    0   0  0 -.
-very chatty letter, which I received toy. I also send my thanks for the two "Cox" River photos which you enclose.
-Yes: I also prefer to walk "ImidSt streams end hills N but unfortunately this part of :-.Lustrelia doesn't run to those refinements. Of course the hills are prese:it but the streams Ire few and f r between. I ilaean to make up for lost time when I come dawn on le_ve, at le st a week on the Kan,..e sra Halls - K.toomb'. Walk down the Kowelung River, the cool Cox and through Bree kfeFt Creek and the Leg elon, - ,eiother week renewing my friendship with the
-Blue Gum Forest. I'll buy a couple of -Cedechroma rolls and will I take photos??
-Doubtlest3 by the time th t you have rd to this line, you have found the two photos which I have enclosed. No that isn't one of the Cox River Willows, it's one of the Northern Territory's mulg_s which grow in thousnds in this part of Australia, end the other one isn't a view of the entrance, to the Coca Mine at Katoomba, ')ut it is the entrrence to a worked out gold mine, which , re very frequently to be found, also in this of Australia.
-I'm afraid I have h curtail my w lking now. The we ther is
-sr duealy makin, the mercury re and an army water bottle does not contain so very much you know, and e s the eurfece w,ters ere, as I have said, so very f-u and far between, well:
-LE7 jILTJaLiS IN 11., GULJJLL Hare is a bel,,ted letter to you to
-thank the Committee for its frequent practical thoughts in the shape of
-magazines, pa-ors, the s)lection from the photographic exhibition _nd
-sweets. The view from Splendour Rock w a:e,reciated, bringing le,,ck memories of heeplpier days and gooe. comPcee:r.
-I will tell you of my j,urneyings over the Lest months. In March I arrived back. in Sydney for a well e rued 14 dLI2.TS of 7..eeve ,nd a promise of more to come- during that time I enjoyed a fey days down , t Blue Gum and several more at :Terong. Unfortunately I was smitten vrith -anther attack of malaria. soon after end --)ent some two fecnLhs in hospitel Con. Camp in Qlland, and then as the gods h've directed cam: back to ew Guinea with a trio to Jenolan and thereabouts still on preper in my pocket. Life has not been too lorld up to the., Present. Some dys ago excitemat was had in the preparation and execution of a race meeting complete with horses, mules and bookies", judges,''stew,.rds and even a broadcast system. The mules provided plenty of amusement by their contrariness ad evJryonz. agreed th t the race meeting was a huge success, even considering the fact th,t ell of us had to walk home.
-I have not met any of the bushwe lkiag fr-ternity during my second excursion hare, as yet, but no doubt I shc.11 sooner or later.
-And that completes my brief resume of "dolins" to dete end with a final 'iThank youF I say au reVoir.
--
 DID Y U KNCY:T?
 It doen't always pay to be original. Frosty, with h.Jr flair for originality d(loiCor that the ordinary way to descend lIddor, the way you or I would, hand