Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 195207 [2016/06/10 10:42] – tyreless
+++ 195207 [2016/06/10 12:56] – tyreless
@@ Line 162: / Line 162: @@
 ----
-DID THE DUCKS EAT YOUR RICE?
+=====Did The Ducks Eat Your Rice?=====
-=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
+  - 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.
-the so-called "black duck (actually a variety of goose)
+   - Various wild fowl landed on this open water - particularly the so-called "black duck" (actually a variety of goose) 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.
-which can land only on open water. Where the rice was
+  - In landing and taking off the birds did cause some damage to the crop.
-growing thickly, the black duck could not land. The lure
+  - Some rice was eaten by the birds but it is virtually certain that the crop was a failure even before they appeared.
-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 between species which are numerous (such as the "black duck") and those in danger of extinction (the red-eyed duck and teal duck, for instance). It all goes to make creature protection a very complex business.
-(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 between species which are numerous (such as the 'black duck") and those in danger of extinction (the red-eyed duck and teal duck, for instance). It all goes to make creature protection a very complex business.
+----
-The outer wrapping of newspaper around our luncheon sandwiches the other day proved to be a rSunday Sun", vintage.28/10/1951. It contained a report that a London accountant was offering for sale the original, genuine hunting horn used by John Peel. Vie seem to recall that walkers have been urged to carry horns (J. Peel type) for summoning aid when lost, and this seems an opportunity for some walker to be a thorough snob. The news item concludes: 'The horn is buckled and battered around the ba.se. Huntsmen say this means Peel must have used it for opening gates.h Provided that the horn can also be used for shutting gates, as set out in the Code of Ethics, we feel the idea may have some merit after all.
-R1DPN
+The outer wrapping of newspaper around our luncheon sandwiches the other day proved to be a "Sunday Sun", vintage 28/10/1951. It contained a report that a London accountant was offering for sale the original, genuine hunting horn used by John Peel. We seem to recall that walkers have been urged to carry horns (J. Peel type) for summoning aid when lost, and this seems an opportunity for some walker to be a thorough snob. The news item concludes: "The horn is buckled and battered around the base. Huntsmen say this means Peel must have used it for opening gates." Provided that the horn can also be used for shutting gates, as set out in the Code of Ethics, we feel the idea may have some merit after all.
-acTo3ER.19624
-\\\ t1/1 lb( ////
+----
-G  vv,?<\
-t s
+=====.... And All Points South.=====
-/7 ! I I
+Ha! Ha! Ha! They all thought they were going to walk down the Nattai River, but I fooled them! Of course, I couldn't give the full facts in the Walks Programme. How do you think Committee would have reacted if they had read "Conducted tour of little-known railway stations, Southern Line, Mileage 4, to WET. 5.10 train to Colo Vale" as the official weekend walk for Anzac?
-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 "full of strange oaths and bearded like a Blue Mountains explorer" (misquote): Gladys Roberts, prospective George Gray, Edna Garrad (with pack descending immediately above), Wyn MacKenzie, Jean and Brian Harvey, Bill Cosgrove, Kath (the missus) and we, the august (neither July nor even September) leader and editorial plurality. The night was fine, and the other eleven poor dopes thought they were going to have a pleasant walk. Ho! Ho! Ho!
-, 21
-\ LE POE \ LicY
-\Pi ST 01- ---71/EZ (.7 (:)/\i\
-/
-......01..-wp..=wk........mormamm.....
-,7rOP PRE SS
-Q 0
-OUGHWRLgERS
-TO (OW (ADERgROUNE))
-.....rv,
-.
-.... 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't give the full facts in the Walks Programme. How do you think Committee would have reacted if they had read "Conducted tour of little-known railway stations, Southern Line, Mileage 4, to WET. 5.10 train to Colo Vale" as the official weekend walk for Anzac?
-Amazingly, there were 12 in the party;vihen 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 wore Frank Rigby and prospective Brian Anderson: Neil Schafer (quote. full of strange oaths and bearded like a Blue Mountains explorer' (misquote): Gladys Roberts, prospective George Gray, Edna Garrad (with pack descending immediately above), Wyn.MacKenzie, Jean and Brian Harvey, Bill Cosgrove, Kath (the missus) and we, the august (neither July nor even September) leader and editorial plurality. The night was fine,,and the other eleven poor dopes thought they were going to have a pleasant walk. Ho! Ho! Ho!
 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, "All right, mate, we're going to squeeze up and let you in". Said the latecomer "You'd better. You won't move till I do". We made way for our driver.
-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 when we piled out at Colo Vale. It looked as though we should
+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 four more creeks after leaving our water point).
-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 faxb more creeks after leaving our water point).
-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 "first-night-out l spot. So, a cup of tea and to bed, while a kind of misty rain drifted down from an apparently cloudless sky. During the night the wind got up, blowing rain-laden clouds out of the south, and When I went the rounds at 6.30 a.m. it was clear that Edna and Wyn at least had "hadh'it. Faintly writhIng bodies were moulded againEt the slceked green japara, and a steady tide washed through their sagging tent. The Harveys and Gladys Roberts were in little better case. I proposed a strategic withdrawal to Colo Vale Station, and rubbed my hands together - the victims probably thoughbI was cold.
+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 "first-night-out" spot. So, a cup of tea and to bed, while a kind of misty rain drifted down from an apparently cloudless sky. During the night the wind got up, blowing rain-laden clouds out of the south, and when I went the rounds at 6.30 a.m. it was clear that Edna and Wyn at least had "had" it. Faintly writhing bodies were moulded against the sleeked green japara, and a steady tide washed through their sagging tent. The Harveys and Gladys Roberts were in little better case. I proposed a strategic withdrawal to Colo Vale Station, and rubbed my hands together - the victims probably thought I was cold.
-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!
-.
+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, sodden sleeping bags and socks. In all the rot there was one bright spot - across the road in a shed four men had a fire going and as we arrived, soverally, we despatched our lubras to obtain
-billies of tea. Apparently we drained their supply of water as
+Back on the platform we found a welter of wet tents and groundsheets, sodden sleeping bags and socks. In all the rot there was one bright spot - across the road in a shed four men had a fire going and as we arrived, severally, we despatched our lubras to obtain billies of tea. Apparently we drained their supply of water as 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).
-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, Neil carefully read aloud from the Railway By-Laws exhibited, to discover there was no regulation 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 great excitement because the sun had been sighted - well, a dim brightness where the sun should be. Then the debate on which way to travel was resumed, until Bill Cosgrove, in his best general meeting manner, pinned us down to "Mittagong or else". He almost told us we were wasting our time.
-was in my element. The tour proper had started, and as we swung into our new environment, Neil carefully read aloud from the
-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 groat excitement because the sun had been sighted - well, a dim brightness whore the sun should be. Then the debate on which way to travel was resumed, until Bill Cosgrove, in his best general meeting manner, pinned us down to "Mittagong or else". He almost told us we were wasting our time.
+As the Mittagong contingent joined the railmotor and bestowed pitying smiles on us, succour came. The local resident who operated as Station Attendant, impressed by the zeal of Cosgrove and Schafer at sweeping out the waiting room, invited us to her home. So the seven who remained sat by an agreeable log fire, swamped down much tea and talked walking - with emphasis on wet weekends, flooded rivers, ice and snow and all sorts of things pleasant in retrospect.
-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 an us, succour came. The local resident who operated as Station Attendant, impressed by the zeal of Cosgrove and Schafer at sweeping out the waiting room, invited us to her home. So the seven who remained sat by an agreeable log fire, swamped down much tea and talked walking - with emphasis on wet weekends, flooded rivers, ice and snow and all sorts of things pleasant in retrospect.
+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.
-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.
-.
-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 and just as I was inspecting the grim scene from the partial shelter of the station awning, George clumped on to the platform. A hint of conjunctivitis, coupled with the repeated dose of storm, had sapped his resolve, and he was giving it away and joining the 6.20 rail motor. Two local residents arrived and discussed the position with us, as we lay in our sleeping bags. The motor came and went, and I said And then there were
+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 and just as I was inspecting the grim scene from the partial shelter of the station awning, George clumped on to the platform. A hint of conjunctivitis, coupled with the repeated dose of storm, had sapped his resolve, and he was giving it away and joining the 6.20 rail motor. Two local residents arrived and discussed the position with us, as we lay in our sleeping bags. The motor came and went, and I said "And then there were six".
-I worked out the next stage of the trip and went on tour of inspection at 7 a.m. The tentces were much better off than on the previour: morning, but they didn't argue when I referred to bush-bashing on Little River and more flood conditions. It was agreed we should extend the trip to embrace Tahmoor station two miles away on the main line.
-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 Barge River in flood, dodging express trains in the cuttings near Tahmoor and reaching that station at 9.55. Time for inspection was limited as we joined the Sydney bound train at 10.05, but with three stations in a little over 24 hours we couldn't really complain. About this time the rain finally stopped.
+I worked out the next stage of the trip and went on tour of inspection at 7 a.m. The tentees were much better off than on the previous morning, but they didn't argue when I referred to bush-bashing on Little River and more flood conditions. It was agreed we should extend the trip to embrace Tahmoor station two miles away on the main line.
-You really mustn't miss our next Tour of Stations. It will
-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 Bargo River in flood, dodging express trains in the cuttings near Tahmoor and reaching that station at 9.55. Time for inspection was limited as we joined the Sydney bound train at 10.05, but with three stations in a little over 24 hours we couldn't really complain. About this time the rain finally stopped.
-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't miss our next Tour of Stations. It will 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!
+----
+====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.
 In such cases who shall say which is the right side of the River?
-.
-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:-|Cigarettes, Matches|173|
-LEICA
+| |Burning Off|  563|
-PHOTO
+| |Camp Fires|  207|
-SERVICE
+| |Domestic|  35|
-Macquarie Place
+| |Other|  117|
-SYDDEY N.S.W.
+|Trains| |  82|
-Finegrain
+|Tractors| |  65|
-Developing
+|Motor Vehicle Exhausts| |  14|
-Sparkling
+|Lightning| |  302|
-Prints
+|Broken glass| |  19|
-Perfect
+|Poison Baits| |  13|
-Enlargements
+|Spontaneous Ignition| |  5|
-or
+|Other Causes| |  216|
-Leica films
+|Unknown| |  520|
-deserve the
+|TOTAL| |  2334|
-best SERVICE
-Matches
+----
-Camp Fires
-Domestic  35
-Other  117
-Trains  82
-Tractors *00 .00  .  65
-Motor Vehicle Exhausts  14
-Lightning    000  302
-Broken nass
-Poison Baits .. 000  13
-Spontaneous Ignition  5
-Other Causes . 000  216
-Unknown 000 0    ... 520
-. 111
-.
-565 207
-Carelessness:- Cigarettes, Burning Off
-.
 "HIKERS LOST IN THE BUSH".
 By "X".