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The Conservation aecretary read (with annotations) a report of the Club's sub-committee on bush fire control. Having written in the first case to sundry political, agricultural and industrial figures and bodies and received many encouraging replies, the report stated, an interview with an officer of the State Bush Fires Committee had been arranged. The sub-committee had discussed the matter again and now submitted the following recommendations: | The Conservation aecretary read (with annotations) a report of the Club's sub-committee on bush fire control. Having written in the first case to sundry political, agricultural and industrial figures and bodies and received many encouraging replies, the report stated, an interview with an officer of the State Bush Fires Committee had been arranged. The sub-committee had discussed the matter again and now submitted the following recommendations: | ||
- | | + | (1) That the club write to the Premier, with copies to Mr. Kingsmill and the Bush Fire Committee, making the following suggestions: |
- | | + | (a) Many Councils have not exercised their powers under the Act, so fully-trained District Fire Officers, under the control of the Bush Fire Committee, paid by the State Government, should be appointed to: |
| | ||
- | | + | i. Stimulate local authority into action. |
- | | + | ii. Help to police the Act. |
- | | + | iii. Help Councils, Fire Captains, etc. in recruiting and training of volunteers, caring fcr equipment, co-ordination of Brigades in the District, |
- | | + | iv. Keep in touch with new developments. |
- | | + | v. Develop bush fire education in the district. |
- | | + | vi. Issue permits for.burning off, burning breaks, etc. |
Districts would need to be small enough for the District Fire Officers to know their districts thoroughly. | Districts would need to be small enough for the District Fire Officers to know their districts thoroughly. | ||
- | | + | (b) That arrangements be made for fire fighting and spotting forces to stand by on " |
- | | + | (c) That full arrangements be made for the Army ard R.A.A.F. to play a __full__ part in fire spotting (at present a very weak link) and fighting and standing by on " |
- | | + | (d) That the Army and R.A.A.F. be used, not only in the protection of private property, State Forests and Crown Lands, but that they be specially charged to protect Parks and Reserves, as these have practically no manpower, equipment or funds available for fire prevention. |
- | | + | (e) When considering the cost of fire control, the damage caused by fires (at least £6 1/2 million in 1951/52) be kept in mind. |
- | | + | (2) That the Club write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition urging the training, equipping and use of the Army and R.A.A.F. for fire fighting as a special national service. |
- | | + | (3) That the Sub-Committee remain in being to follow up matters already decided and to make further recommendations as it sees fit. |
The Report was adopted, and thrown open for discussion. There was only one subject of comment, for Len Scotland wanted the incorporation of a request for rangers to be issued with a really impressive warrant - something with a big crown an it, he suggested. Gil Webb thought the addition of such a tag may detract from the reasoned and reasonable recommendations of the sub-committee. Bill Henley said rangers should have a suitable badge or authority - he'd been a ranger for years without any badge save a notification of appointment. Kevin Ardill said yes, a large authority, plus a nagnifying glass so that the shortsighted could read it, and at this stage Allen Strom threw a spanner by pointing out that cards of authority were issued by various departments: | The Report was adopted, and thrown open for discussion. There was only one subject of comment, for Len Scotland wanted the incorporation of a request for rangers to be issued with a really impressive warrant - something with a big crown an it, he suggested. Gil Webb thought the addition of such a tag may detract from the reasoned and reasonable recommendations of the sub-committee. Bill Henley said rangers should have a suitable badge or authority - he'd been a ranger for years without any badge save a notification of appointment. Kevin Ardill said yes, a large authority, plus a nagnifying glass so that the shortsighted could read it, and at this stage Allen Strom threw a spanner by pointing out that cards of authority were issued by various departments: | ||
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- | DID THE DUCKS EAT YOUR RICE? | + | =====Did The Ducks Eat Your Rice?===== |
- | 1=1MMMLO..........M.0.1 | + | |
- | There has been quite a song and dance lately about the failure of the rice crop - which failure has been attributed to the depredations of ducks. Talking with Allen Strom the other night we heard a rather different story, along these lines | + | There has been quite a song and dance lately about the failure of the rice crop - which failure has been attributed to the depredations of ducks. Talking with Allen Strom the other night we heard a rather different story, along these lines: |
- | (1) So far as the Wakool area was concerned it would have been a poor crop anyhow, mostly because of drought. | + | |
- | (2) When the young rice was growing in the flooded irrigation bays the poverty of the crop resulted in large areas of open water being left. | + | - So far as the Wakool area was concerned it would have been a poor crop anyhow, mostly because of drought. |
- | (3) Various wild fowl landed on this open water - particularly | + | |
- | the so-called "black duck (actually a variety of goose) | + | - Various wild fowl landed on this open water - particularly the so-called "black duck" |
- | which can land only on open water. Where the rice was | + | |
- | growing thickly, the black duck could not land. The lure | + | |
- | of open water brought many birds to the rice growing area. | + | |
- | (4) In landing and taking off the birds did cause some damage to the crop. | + | All of which goes to show that, if you want to organise an open season against some particular creature, it isn't difficult to transform it into a pest. And you can't expect the gunman to distinguish |
- | (5) Some rice was eaten by the birds but it is virtually certain that the crop was a failure even before they appeared. | + | |
- | All of which goes to show that, if you want to organise an open season against some particular creature, it isn't difficult to transform it into a pest. And you can't expect the gunman to dispinguish | + | ---- |
- | The outer wrapping of newspaper around our luncheon sandwiches the other day proved to be a rSunday | + | |
- | 5R1DPN | + | The outer wrapping of newspaper around our luncheon sandwiches the other day proved to be a " |
- | acTo3ER.19624 | + | |
- | \\\ t1/1 lb( //// | + | ---- |
- | G vv,?<\ | + | |
- | t s | + | =====.... And All Points South.===== |
- | /7 ! I I | + | |
- | 4 | + | Ha! Ha! Ha! They all thought they were going to walk down the Nattai River, but I fooled them! Of course, I couldn' |
- | I | + | |
- | f | + | Amazingly, there were 12 in the party when the 5.10 hurtled out of Central so abruptly as to shed a pack from the rack. Reading from the engine in a northerly direction, we were Frank Rigby and prospective Brian Anderson: Neil Schafer (quote |
- | , 21 | + | |
- | \ LE POE \ LicY | + | |
- | \Pi ST 01- ---71/EZ (.7 (:)/\i\ | + | |
- | / | + | |
- | ......01..-wp..=wk........mormamm..... | + | |
- | 1 | + | |
- | 1,7rOP PRE SS | + | |
- | Q 0 | + | |
- | OUGHWRLgERS | + | |
- | TO (OW (ADERgROUNE)) | + | |
- | .....rv, | + | |
- | 12. | + | |
- | .... AND ALL POINTS SOUTH. | + | |
- | Hal Ha!-Hal They all thought they were going to walk down the Nattai River, but I fooled them! Of course, I couldn' | + | |
- | Amazingly, there were 12 in the party; | + | |
- | out of Central so abruptly as to shed a pack from the rack. Reading from the engine in a northerly direction, we wore Frank Rigby and prospective Brian Anderson: Neil Schafer (quote. full of strange oaths and bearded like a Blue Mountains explorer' | + | |
It was nice going to Picton when some five hundred people boarded the tin hare (rail motor) for the loop line. In all the confusion some poor belated soul was battling to enter the front door and a character with a rifle told him patronisingly, | It was nice going to Picton when some five hundred people boarded the tin hare (rail motor) for the loop line. In all the confusion some poor belated soul was battling to enter the front door and a character with a rifle told him patronisingly, | ||
- | The tin hare made heavy weather up the grade, shedding its human freight at various stops and leaving not more than a couple mortally | + | |
- | crushed on the floor. To my dismay the stars were bright in the crispnight | + | The tin hare made heavy weather up the grade, shedding its human freight at various stops and leaving not more than a couple mortally crushed on the floor. To my dismay the stars were bright in the crisp night when we piled out at Colo Vale. It looked as though we should actually have to walk down the Nattai, but cleverly disguising my chagrin I led the party along a darksome country road, halting after about a mile and a half to point out our water supply for the night: we would camp on the slopes beyond (we crossed |
- | actually have to walk down the Nattai, but cleverly disguising my chagrin I led- the party along a darksome country road, halting after about a mile and a half to point out our water supply for the night: we would camp on the slopes beyond (we crossed | + | |
- | The camp site was a little trouncer. Scrubby, with sand and stone, which was either too soft for tent pegs or rejected them altogether, it was the perfect " | + | The camp site was a little trouncer. Scrubby, with sand and stone, which was either too soft for tent pegs or rejected them altogether, it was the perfect " |
- | The windy downpour continued as Wyn and Edna withdrew, then Gladys, then Bill Cosgrove, Kath and Myself in that order, followed by the Harvey menage. The younger males were of sterner stuff and elected to stay on for a time. I earnestly entreated them to consider the certain flooded state of the Nattai, and urged them not to proceed to the river. Why, they might elude inc and actually do the walk as Drogrammed! | + | |
- | 13. | + | The windy downpour continued as Wyn and Edna withdrew, then Gladys, then Bill Cosgrove, Kath and Myself in that order, followed by the Harvey menage. The younger males were of sterner stuff and elected to stay on for a time. I earnestly entreated them to consider the certain flooded state of the Nattai, and urged them not to proceed to the river. Why, they might elude me and actually do the walk as programmed! |
- | Back on the platform we found a welter of wet tents and groundsheets, | + | |
- | billies of tea. Apparently we drained their supply of water as | + | Back on the platform we found a welter of wet tents and groundsheets, |
- | rapidly as it heated. By the time the rearguard of four men oozed into the station and joined the tea queue we had elicited that one of our | + | |
- | benefactors had no front teeth (probably through gnashing them at his own tea-less state)0 | + | I was in my element. The tour proper had started, and as we swung into our new environment, |
- | was in my element. The tour proper had started, and as we swung into our new environment, | + | |
- | Railway By-Laws exhibited, to discover there was no regulation | + | At this a breakaway element declared itself for Mittagong (this group embraced those with sodden sleeping gear mostly). Although Mittagong station was not included in my itinerary, I had not the heart to say them nay. The rest of us resolved to play at Captain Stayput until the 4.23 motor, when we would go up to Couridjah if the weather had improved. This, ostensibly with the idea of carrying out a curtailed walk, but actually, of course, to add another station to the day's bag. |
- | concerning lighting of fires on railway stations. We discussed future movements. There was a rail motor south to Mittagong about 1 p.m., | + | |
- | another north bound at 4.23. Whichever way, you still joined the main line train due in Central at 7.5 p.m. That is, if we were going to Sydney. I was urged to make an official statement, as leader, then checked and told to appoint a spokesman. At this moment | + | As the Mittagong contingent joined the railmotor and bestowed pitying smiles |
- | At this a breakaway element declared itself for Mittagong (this group embraced those with sodden sleeping gear mostly). Although Mittagong station, was not included in my itinerary, I had not the heart to say them nay. The rest of us resolved to play at Captain Stayput until the 4.23 motor, when we would go up to Couridjah if the weather had improved. This, ostensibly with the idea of carrying out a curtailed walk, but actually,of course, to add another station to the day's bag. | + | |
- | As the Mittagong contingent joined the railmotor and bestowed pitying smiles | + | The sky was growing clearer and the westerly wind colder as we returned to the platform: the crew of the rail motor greeted us joyously, regaling us with the adventures of the breakaways who had got on to hot soup at Mittagong. This was supposed to make us envious, but we only pitied them for having to return home after seeing only Colo Vale and Mittagong stations. Of course, Mittagong is really so civilised that almost any tourist can "bag" |
- | The sky was growing clearer and the westerly wind colder as we returned to the platform: the crew of the rail motor greeted us joyously, regaling us with the adventures of the breakaways who had | + | |
- | got on to hot soup at Mittagong. This was supposed to make us envious, but we only pitied them for having to return home after seeing only Colo Vale and Mittagong stations. Of course, Mittagong is really so civilised that almost any tourist can "bag it. | + | |
Couridjah saw us under almost clear sky, and the party swung packs on to shoulders and said "Which way?" They actually believed they were going to walk. I smartly disabused their minds, and pointed to the excellence of the wattle grove beside the station gate. Why, we had only just arrived, and you can't really get to know a station in a couple of minutes. | Couridjah saw us under almost clear sky, and the party swung packs on to shoulders and said "Which way?" They actually believed they were going to walk. I smartly disabused their minds, and pointed to the excellence of the wattle grove beside the station gate. Why, we had only just arrived, and you can't really get to know a station in a couple of minutes. | ||
- | 14. | + | |
- | Two noble fires burned near Couridjah station that night. The | + | Two noble fires burned near Couridjah station that night. The sky was growing brighter, and the fresh, strong wind was veering about, carrying showers of sparks. After chatter around the fires, most of the party elected to trust their tents again but since it seemed likely we should really have to walk in the morning, Kath and I determined to make the most of the station, and we slept on the floor. Nice resilient floor boards at Couridjah. |
- | sky was growing brighter, and the fresh, strong wind was veering about, carrying showers of sparks. After chatter around the fires, most of the party elected to trust their tents again but since it seemed likely we should really have to walk in the morning, Kath and I determined to make the most of the station, and we slept on the floor. Nice resilient floor boards at Couridjah. | + | |
- | About midright the rain resumed - gentle misty stuff, growing more concentrated until at dawn it was blowing a ragged gale with scourging showers. We vaguely wondered how the tent crows were fnring | + | About midright the rain resumed - gentle misty stuff, growing more concentrated until at dawn it was blowing a ragged gale with scourging showers. We vaguely wondered how the tent crews were faring |
- | I worked out the next stage of the trip and went on tour of inspection at 7 a.m. The tentces | + | |
- | Bill a-id Gladys joined us in no station building for breakfast, while Frank and Neil actually started a fire, and brewed a tea billy for us. At 9 a.m. we were away, to walk a whole two miles, sighting | + | I worked out the next stage of the trip and went on tour of inspection at 7 a.m. The tentees |
- | You really mustn' | + | |
- | probably be on the Western Line with special reference to such unattended platforms as Hartley Vale, Bullaburra, Warrimoo and Blaxland. Don't miss it! Book now! | + | Bill and Gladys joined us in the station building for breakfast, while Frank and Neil actually started a fire, and brewed a tea billy for us. At 9 a.m. we were away, to walk a whole two miles, sighting |
- | THE WRONG SE(?) | + | |
- | . Were they on the wrong side? Bob Chapman and team, returning from Anzac Week-end at Colong Caves, were floodbound on the west bank of the Wollondilly until the Monday. | + | You really mustn' |
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====The Wrong side (?)==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Were they on the wrong side? Bob Chapman and team, returning from Anzac Week-end at Colong Caves, were floodbound on the west bank of the Wollondilly until the Monday. | ||
These lucky people actually eked out their trip to gain two days of brilliant sunshine, while other parties all over the landscape retreated in dismay after a couple of dreary days of rain and gales. | These lucky people actually eked out their trip to gain two days of brilliant sunshine, while other parties all over the landscape retreated in dismay after a couple of dreary days of rain and gales. | ||
+ | |||
In such cases who shall say which is the right side of the River? | In such cases who shall say which is the right side of the River? | ||
- | 15. | + | |
- | SUMMARY OF THE PROBABLE CAUSES o BUSH FIRES FORT= YEAR 1951/52. | + | ---- |
- | (Data from the Annual Report of the N.S. Bushfires Committee for | + | |
- | the period ending 30/4/52 - reported by Alex Colley.) | + | ====Summary of the Probable Causes of Bush Fires for the Year 1951/52.==== |
- | PHOTOGRAPHY ! I ! | + | |
- | You press the button, we'll do the rest ! | + | (Data from the Annual Report of the N.S.W. Bushfires Committee for the period ending 30/4/52 - reported by Alex Colley.) |
- | Your | + | |
- | Rollfilms | + | |Carelessness: |
- | LEICA | + | | |Burning Off| 563| |
- | PHOTO | + | | |Camp Fires| 207| |
- | SERVICE | + | | |Domestic| 35| |
- | 31 Macquarie Place | + | | |Other| 117| |
- | SYDDEY N.S.W. | + | |Trains| | 82| |
- | Finegrain | + | |Tractors| | 65| |
- | Developing | + | |Motor Vehicle Exhausts| | 14| |
- | Sparkling | + | |Lightning| | 302| |
- | Prints | + | |Broken |
- | Perfect | + | |Poison Baits| | 13| |
- | Enlargements | + | |Spontaneous Ignition| | 5| |
- | or | + | |Other Causes| | 216| |
- | Leica films | + | |Unknown| | |
- | deserve the | + | |TOTAL| | 2334| |
- | best SERVICE | + | |
- | Matches | + | ---- |
- | Camp Fires | + | |
- | Domestic | + | |
- | Other 117 | + | |
- | Trains | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Tractors | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Motor Vehicle Exhausts | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Lightning | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Broken | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Poison Baits .. 000 13 | + | |
- | Spontaneous Ignition | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Other Causes | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Unknown | + | |
- | . 111 | + | |
- | 2334. | + | |
- | 173 565 207 | + | |
- | Carelessness: | + | |
- | 16. | + | |
" | " | ||
By " | By " |
195207.txt · Last modified: 2016/06/14 13:01 by tyreless