A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, c/- Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown Street, Sydney. Box No. 4476, G.P.O. Sydney. 'Phone: JW 1462.

AT OUR SEPTEMBER (HALF-YEARLY) MEETING Mdm.M.Y.4101MIN At the commencement of the Meeting the President, Jack Gentle, paid tribute to Bill Henley, whose death was announced in the last issue of the magazine. Jack said that Bill had been a great worker for the Club, having been the chief builder of camp fires and organiser of sporting events for many a year. Several members had attended his funeral. He also extended the Club's sympathy to Jim Hooper, whose mother had died two days before. The meeting stood in silence as a mark of our sympathy in both bereavements. In correspondence was a letter from the Australian Wild Flower Ekhibition thanking us for our donation. Our letter had come too late for our name to be included in the list of supnorting organisations, or for our injunctions about the picking of wildflowers to be stressed. But we were offered an 8“ x 3” rooster in the exhibit, bearing the Club's name and an exhortation to refrain from nicking wild flowers. Tom Mopnett undertook to see to the wording of the notice. Ron Knightley suggested that we could make our points adequately if we mistook inches for feet in the letter. We were advised by the Fauna Protection Panel that Tom Monnett had been appointed as a member. The Club has been trying to get a bushwalker member on the panel for several years, and the President extended our congratulations to Tom. 2. Jean Harvey reported that the Federation Ball had been a great success. Brian added that there had been only sixteen S.B.W. members present - our Club had the smallest party of any. It was, he said, a disgraceful exhibition. Ron Knightley expressed concern at the S.BX. members putting on a “disgraceful exhibition”, but was assured by David Ingram that the members had behaved “very decorously” - it was not the behaviour but the size of the party which should make us hang our heads. Next, the recommended investment of Club funds in Gas Debentures was discussed. A few queries were raised. Roy Bruggie wanted to know could oui. investment be turned into hard cash, and others inquired about interest rates. These queries were answered by the President from the circulated report of the Finance Committee. Frank:Ashdown was opposed. He thought that we were a bush- walking club - not a financial institution - that we shouldn't dabble in “stocks and shares”, and that, if we needed more money, we should put the annual sub. un. The motion was carried. The President then broached the subject of the people who sit on ton of tables at the back of the hall during social evenings, and, without fail, knock one over. He said that there were plenty of seats provided, and members shoulri abide by the resolution they had passed on 9th Nay, 1956 - “That members should sit on proper seats or leave the hall entirely.” It was uncomplimentary to speakers, if not dpmnright rude, to make these noises while they were speaking. In order to proviie satisfactory seating the Committee had decided to call for Room Stewards, who would arrange the chairs, and put the tables at the back before our functions and replace them afterwards. Bill Rodgers, Brian Harvey and Frank Ashdown volunteered as Room Stewards for the next month. In general business 17 was appropriated in quick time for the purchase of materials for a new map cabinet. Nor was there heard a disconsolate word. The new cabinet will be smaller and allow the maps to be filed vertically. Brian Harrey then moved that portable radios be banned on official walks. He said they were objectionable to many members and opposed to one of the club objects - to promote social activity amongst members. He was supported by Jack Wren, Who said we went out into the bush to get away from noise and relax. Ron Knightley said that the S.B.W. were a most responsible and considerate community and he was against passing a mandatory directive of this kind. The transistor wireless was port of the modern age and the younger generation had different ideas. Jim Brown didn't like wirelesses in the bush. Once he got going on a walk he did his best to avoid newspapers, books, wirelesses, or anything else that might keep him up to date with what was going on. Roy Bruggie said he didn't like wirelesses in the bush, but that we would create a bad impression on prospectives if we told them not to play their sets. Many rowdy types, looked at askance when they, first went out, later made some of the best members. Don Matthews thought we should put music into bushwalking. The greatest of composers was a walker, but not a member of a Club. The music could be fitted to the country - e g. a Narrow Neck jig for the traverse of Narrow Neck. The motion was then put and lost. Frank Ashdown then lodged a complaint that motions passed at meetings were subsequently ignored - e g. the 1956 motion on proper sitting in the Clubroom. Jac: Gentle said that the Committee did its best to adhere to previous decisions, and Tom NOppett pointed out that it was up to the meeting to draw the President's attention to any divergence from past decisions. 3. The Secretary said that it had not been possible to prepare the by-laws for ratification by this meeting, but they would be put before the Annual Meeting.

A motion of thanks to the Song Book Committee and those who did the typing and duplicating of the new song book was passed with acclamation. It was a big job - 72 pages - layout and binding were Pleasing and reproduction of professional standard, if not better. In seconding the motion Brian Harvey said that Grace Wagg, who typed it, and Jess Martin, duplicator operator, deserved special mention as they had done a great job.

- Michaele Fildes I've just returned from a month at Mount Buller, Australia's only Alpine village at present. Buller is the happy hunting ground of Melbourne skiers, who are only four hour's drive from this winter paradise. The village boasts two chalets, a canteen, cafe, Espresso bar, about 63 club huts and the Victorian Ski. Club lodge “Ivor Whittaker”. The “huts” certainly don't live up to this arnela.: tion - in fact most of them have all mod, cons. such as electricity, gas cooking, . running water (H & C), etc. They're confortable, friendly places, es pecially at weekends, when it's said the whole of Buller lights up and can be seen for miles around. Personally, I've never bothered to go off the mountain on a Saturday night to find out. The chalet -where I stayed, “Kooroora”, is run by two Hungarian brothers, Ernest and Aurel Forras, and is staffed by Hungarians and Australians. “Hboroora” is an aboriginal -word meaning “the place of happy gatherings”, and the chalet certainly lives up to its name. It has “atmosphere”, -which is definitely enhanced by the glorious reproduction of a skier in action -which is let into the chimney piece over the fireplace. Incidentally, the firerlace is the point of congregation for the Buller firewatchers (the sunny day brand of skiers scorned by those who like it the hard way). The food at Rooroora is superb, cooked by “Momma” Forras, and Fay, the Forras sister. Names on Buller are quite interesting - there are place names well-known to skiers - like “Tirol”, “Kandahar” and “Arlberg” - and unusual ones e g. “Caribou”, given to this hut mainly because the female of the species also ha% horns. “Moose”, itEne and “Chamois” (with the fearsome run called “Chamois Chute” in front of its door) are some others, while “Mawson” and “Hima” recall British intrepidity in the snow. One of the most famous ski runs in Australia is Buller 's Bourke Street which is the nursery Slope, and boasts a ski tow run by the Ski Club of Victoria. There is the story of the middle aged gentleman crashing down Bourke Street, rising, gazing around him at the snow covered mountains and at skiers whizzing in all directions, and saying “Wonderful: No trams:” Personally, the words “See you on Bourke Street” conjure up a vision of this nursery slope rather than Melbourne's rather congested street. There's been a campaign by N.S.W. skiers to have a run named Pitt Street, but this has been stoutly resisted - Buller for Victorians is the theme there not that interstate skiers don't go there. In the month I was there there were about two dozen New South Welshmen, several Queenslanders, many South Australians, and even three from Western Australia. Life in the huts is great fun. Most huts have dormitory rooms, with bunks equipped with innerspring matresses. You use a sleeping bag, and can keep it up there in your locker for the whole season. Each Friday “crazy weekend skiers” leave Melbourne headed for Buller, arriving at their huts any time between 8.00 p m. and 2.00 a m. Saturday morning. First in the hut lights the fires, starts the generator and runs the water down from the soak. Then, off into the sleeping bag and slumber. Saturday morning - up and out for a glorious day's ski-ing, except that the girls are ordered off the snow at 12.15 to cook lunch for the hut - definitely a man's world on Buller. After lunch, more ski-ing, and if the girls are persuasive enough, maybe dinner at one of the chalets -.axtra good an a Saturday night. After dinner, the mountain gives of the first glow, and the “visiting” starts - into your gumboots and off to another hut, and another, and so on, till one ef two things happens - either you find yourself taking everyone else home because you are the only one who can focus a torch - or else everyone else is taking you home. Well, Sunday morning nobody seems quite as enthusiastic abott it as the day before, but still nearly everyone is out on the slopes before lunch. Then after lunch you do your bit in the hut, cleaning up and nacking, then a final run and off to Melbourne. If the weather's fine, the migration may be delayed till around six o'clock. Oh, ski-ing's great: As well as ski-ing (trying to master “Wedeln”) I also took: un toboganning. It's great fun, especially in the dark, and you don't have to concentrate nearly as much as When skiing. I discovered that on wet snow if I used stocks it saved a lot of labour and dismounting, and that on icy snow it was super. One morning someone complained of loud noises during the night, and I had to admit that I had been careering dawn Bourke Street, after “visiting” the Bull Run Canteen, over the “Pimple” (incidentally, we formed a “Pimple Jumpers' Club” dedicated to negotiating the Pimple on skis sans falling) and then on down the track, yelling “Yoicks” at the top of my voice at about ten thirty. You should have seen the eight pairs of eyes staring me under the table. Honestly, they thought I was crazy. There was lots of fun on skis too. Have you aver skied at night on icy snow - well, if you want to sleep afterwards, don't. I did it several times, btt I don't think I'll do it again. In the most slalom poles, trees, tow huts, etc. seem to leap out at you, and it's rather nerve-wracking, especially if you're by yourself. But in the last meek I was there I was working in the Bull Run Canteen, and sleeping at Kooroora, and with the half mile walk downhill in front of me every night, and five minutes to dinner, I just had to ski. Working there was a navel experience, coping with a fuel stove, temperamental Victorian briquettes, blowtorches, primuses, etc. The worst thing was that the soak was dry and the water pipes frozen, and we had to melt snow for water, which, as you know is a heart breaking business as the ratio of snow to water in volume is about 8 or so to 1. This week also tested my cooking prowess - chocolate cake, “Gulash” soup, spaghetti, etc. There were also continental open sandwiches (fortunately anything goes on these so long as they look attractive nnd colourful). Anyway, everything sold, and -within two days my chocolate cake was famous over the mountain and all “spare”??? time was spent slaving over the fuel stove cooking chocolate cake, surrounded by starving skiers with tongues lolling out. Buller is the haunt of the practical joker (my skis were beautifully waxed with Oestbye Klister, which when rubbed off with kerosene still meant that I went straight on Bourke Street“ - straight up, I mean) and also the snow bunny. These dear little creatures are inoffensive enough. They are the bods who wear high- heeled shoes or grey flannel suits in the huts and chalets, wear their socks outside their ski pants, and bring suitcases near snow. This latter is a grave error, on Buller anyway, where you are often faced with the prospect of carrying PHOTOGRAPHY ! ? You press the button, we'll do the rest t Finegrain IftveloPing Sparkling Prints Perfect Enlargements Your Rollfilms or Le ca. films deserve the best SERVICE LEICA PHOTO SERVICE 31 Macquarie Place SYDNEY N.S.W. skis, stocks and a suitcase up several miles of deep snow. Anyway, no matter what is said, the dear little snow bunny is doubtless strong enough to survive the derision poured on it by skiers. Nell, that's our mountain - glorious scenery, crazy weekend skiers (doubling bushwalkers), snow bunnies, and a few normal people. Skiing in these surroundings cannot be anything but the most exhilerating sport on earth with the sun, wind, snow and the remarkable cleanness of the air all helping to give a memorable holiday. P.S. Got so worked up I didn't give the FACTS. Buller is 5,932 feet high and from the summit you can look down on the Howqua and Delatite Valleys, down to Eildon backwaters, across to the High Plains and Feathertop, Hotham, ClWer, etc. MIMENII SUNDAY WALKERS NOTE The train time for Thelma Phillips' walk on Sunday, 12th October, has been altered due to a change in the bus timetable at Berowra, and will now leave Central for Berovra via the Bridge at 8.30 a m. YOUR WALICING GUIDE 6. Waal:No. 104 Kanangra-Thunder Buttress-Kanangra Ck-Cox River-White Dog-Katoomba. A medium test walk from the Kanangra area. Ridge walking with a nice walk along the Cox River. Cost 54/9. 105 Tahmoor-Bargo R-Nepean R-Maldon. A good trip into new country with a lot of river walking. Cost 18/5. 106 Cowan Ckr-Bobbin Head-Berowra. Some rock hopping and creek walking, then good track to Berowra. A test walk in the popular Kuringai Chase. Train leaves central at 8.30 a m. Cost 9/6. 1C7 Devil's Hole-Galong & Breakfast Cks-Glen Raphael Head-Katoomba. A medium test walk in some of the prettiest creeks in the Blue Mountains. A combined walk with the Blue Mountains Bush Walkers. Cost 22/6. 108 Robertson-Carrington Falls-Gerringong Falls-Barren Grounds-Woodhill. A scenic walk in the south coast area. Flat walking along the tops including Carrington and Gerringong Falls. Cost 37/5. 109 Waterfall-Mt Mestmacott-Myuna Ck-Heathcote Ck-Heathcote. Some track walking, scrubby in parts. Area is noted for wildflowers. Cost 8/4. o' 110 Katoomba-B1ac17. Jerrys -Cox R.White Dog-Katoomba. A test walk along the delightful Cox River. Easy walking along river banks with a cliMb out White Dog. Cost 22/6. 111 S & R DEMONSTRATION WEEKEND will be on the Colo River - ideal camping and swimming spot. Demonstration will include floating packs across' river, cliff rescue, respiration (artificial), rope stretcher work etc. See Jim Hooper for further details. 112 Cowan-Gurlyah Bay-Cowan. Intimate coastal views in the Berm/re, area. Ridge walking with some scrub. Cost 10/2. 113 Hampton-Marsden Swamp-Tinker's Hill-Marsden Rock-Blackheath Ck,alackheath. A medium walk into new country with kodachromatic views. Track and creek walking. Cost 34/-. 114 Admiral's Swimming Weekend. A typical Admiral trip. For further details see the Admiral. 115 Church Pt -Lovetts Bay-Salvation Ck-Commodore Heights -Eura Trig-The Basin. Track walking in the Broken Bay district. Good tracks with extensive views oT the Broken Bay. 116 INSTRUCTION AND WALK - Police Boys Camp at Kurrajong. A weekend similar to that at the Barnado Boys' Home at Picton. For further details see Jim Hooper. 117 Campbelltown-OtHares Ck-Campbelltomn. Swimming weekend at one of the best swimming holes close to Sydney. Cost 10/10. 118 Rock Climbing Watson's Bay area. A combined trip with the New Zealand Alpine Club. For those interested see Dot Butler for further information. COLO WALK 14,-15-16 November - Alex Colley See leader ten days before. Distance - 18 miles. Climbing - over 4,000. Rock hopping - 5 miles. Rock scrambling - 2 miles. Train - 6 p m. electric to Wahroonga. Assemble at Wahroonga. Transport from there by Land Rover and Putt- mobile. No waiting for anybody. This walk is only suitable for those who are reasonably fit, used to rock hopping and carrying light packs. It will take an hour or so to get down the last steep slope to the Colo and about the same out. There is no rock climbing but it is very steep and rough. The river must be crossed 3 times so reasonable swimming ability is necessary in case it is up. This is one of the most spectacular parts of the Colo canyon and the first official walk there. 7. BILL HENLEY The passing of our old Club-mate, in his 78th year, leaves a gap in the ranks of the “old-hands” whose lines are still holding very strong in spite of the march of the years. Bill joined the Club soon after its inception in 1927 and became one of its most constant supporters. He was a great man for the out-of-doors and few weekends or annual holidays passed during that 30 years that he did not spend them in the bush. Many prospective and new members, in the early days of the Club, were grateful to Bill for the help and encouragement he gave them, and found him a source of interesting and amusing stories of the “old members”. Always a keen athlete, before coming to Australia forty odd years ago, he represented Ireland at the 1908 Olympic Games - naturally in the walking events: For many years he was an Official of the Amateur Athletic Association' and trained several prominent and successful athletes; He also trained those Club members interested in track-walking to win races. Owing to a last minute hitch, he was disappointed not to go as an Official to the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956. His tireless enthusiasm led to his organising for many years the Club Swimming and Sports Carnivals, and he always followed the fortunes of the local sporting bodies and athletic meetings. The Henley Cup, which is competed for annually at our Swimming Carnival, was presented to the Club by Bill to stimulate interest in'the events, and it will continue to be a memorial to him in the years to come. Perhaps Bill will be best remembered by his building of the community camp-fire at our Annual Reunions, where his skill with the axe in reducing fallen trees to sizeable logs, helped to build many a cheerful glow and may we give P thought to him in the future when each year the fire is 1<indled and the leaping flames usher in another blaze “like Bill Henley used to make”. 22LMALLMRETURNS-1THOCTOBER It was during autumn and winter that Elsa, Bobby and I visited America and at Washington, Where we were stationed, more snow fell than for the previous fifty years. In fact, everyWhere we went there seemed to be oodles of snow. It was very cold most of the time, and bitterly cold for the rest -'at one time 50 degrees below freezing. Even when the sun came out it was cold. Although we were stationed in Washington for the six months stay, we did manage to sneak off for a day here and a couple of days there. In this way the slides show quite a few places including New 'Fork, Boston, Ottawa, Williamsburg and Jamestown as well as Washington and besides these we napped in On seven of the famous American National Parks:- The Grand Canyon, Bryce Zion, Death Valley, Shanandoah, Rocky Mountain and Muir Woods. Some of these places look very different with snow about them. On Wednesday, 15th October, the selection will include:- Nei 'York, Washington, Boston, Jamestown, San Francisco, Shanandoah, Grand Canyon, The Rockies, and Muir Woods. 8. THE COLO - Alex Colley At the top of the South Eastern Tourist map there is a large, almost blank space some sixty miles square. Military maps, and a geological survey map done in 1906, give a lot of detail which could have been used for filling in the white spaces, but, as the Tourist Bureau probably considers this the last place anyon6 would want to go, being almost roadless, and lacking in hotels, petrol supplies, accommodation houses, and everything else that tourists want, it has done nothing to bring its information up to date. The Capertee, which flows from the middle western edge of the square towards the bottom right hand corner, and the Colo, which it becomes below the Mbllemi Creek Junction, are shown fairly accurately, but there are only half a dozen tributaries, and most of them end rather hopelessly in a dotted line or tail off into nothingness, having followed a suspiciously -straight course in those snowy upper reaches. From the South, however, there enter two largo abreams,with numerous, although furry, tributaries (the fur probably denotes steep gullies, rather than the bemusement of the cartographer). The larder 'stream is even named “Main Creele. All this may impress the tourists unless they happen to look at a military map, when they will find that “Main Creek!' has dived clean under a long, 2,500 ft. high ridge in the vicinity of a prominence named “Mount Mistake”. Progress has flowed round this area of nearly 4,000 square miles, leaving much of it almost in its original state. It is, for the most part, still only in the first and second stages of “development”, the first stage being the regular firing of “scrub” and the second the removal of all straight trees. It is still possible to walk several miles without seeing a bottle or tin, and to look over some fifty miles or so of country without seeing a sigh of habitation. Most of it is not very high or very spectacular. It is something like a larger and higher Blue Labyrinth. Ridges, in general, are fairly easily negotiable, provided one has a military map, time and patience. As the ridges are fairly uniform in height, views may be restricted, but fertile volcanic necks and intrusions, covered in tall timber and long grass, lend variety. On top of the sandstone nlateau are voloanic mounds rising to three or four thousand feet, such as Mounts Ilarriba, Uraterer, Monundilla and Cameron, from which the views are extensive. Towards the West, in the higher country, there is harder rock, and her occur the biggest cliffs in the Blue Mountains. In the upper reaches, round Newnes and Glen Davis, the cliff faces are on the top of the plateau, as around Katoomba, but in the middle river regions the ridges drop away steeply to form a narrow “V” shaped gully getting . steeper towards the bottom. In places the last thousand feet is vertical. On a recent trip along a section of the Colo below Dhooli we were blocked by a cliff which went down to the water level in the middle of a long pool. It was perhaps half a mile back to a crossing, so I started to kook for a way round. About fifty feet up I found a ledge, followed it along for some fifty yards, then turnedlinto a little gully. There was a cutting in the side of the gully, and my suspicions were confirmed - it was a track I had several times used as far as Nbllongambe Basin and traces of which I believed I had found (-ri.-the mountain side further up. Any thought of discovery was dispelled by the occurrence of broken glass a little further on, but it did set me wondering about who made the track and how far up it went. My curiosity aroused, I sought information in the Mitchell library, *here I tried to find out, firstly, who was the explorer of the Colo. I found that Benjamin Franklin lead a three weeks trip which crossed the river and, surprisingly enough, came to a place called “Putty”. (How was it called that in 1818, and how 10. monanditta . , ; 7 0 s 20 tale of Mites did he know it?) From there Ile tried to go west, but was stopped by high rocks, steep gullies and lack of water. There was an even earlier trip by an unknown leader which reached “a meeting place of nine hills named Watt's Lake” - possibly Howe's Waterhole Creek. Referring to an article by Max Gentle in the October 1948 magazine I found that local legend on the Hawkesbury flats - some ofothe first settled country in the State - tells of a stranger entering the locality in the early days, his legs and arms bleeding and his Skin torn tn shreds by vines and jagged rocks. He had walked down the Colo. Max also Quotes a “Sydney Morning Herald” article in 1878 (I looked it up and it appeared to be,a leader )a which took the Railway Commissioner to task for building the line to Clarence. The article expressed the opinion that “the zig-zags, the huge elimb, the wonderful gradients, and the snake-like curves have been the admiration of the unlearned, but they have been the wonder of the skilled engineer.” whereas the line to Clarence climbed 3,000 feet in 30 miles, a practical route had been ' 10. found “just where one would be looked for, following up a valley; and rising 3,000 feet in 100 miles”. This was up the C1olo, which, it is a pretty safe bet, was never viewed by the Editor of the S.M. Na: said that a railway route was surveyed, and a pack horse track constructed, in 1885. If this was so the Railway aommissioner might have had something to say about it. In his 1859 report I rea4 of the Grose survey. This had -been carried out from both the Hartley and Richmond ends. “The two parties”, the 'report stated, “are now within about 8 miles of meeting, tut progress is unavoidably slow where almost every inch of the track has to be out and formed out of rock.” it no mention of the Colo could I find in the reports up to 1887. I did, however, find an article written by Geo. O. Johnson in the “Hawkestury Herald” of 1916, which offered a' clue. Des.. oribing the early surveys, he maids “In the mid-eighties Mr. Townshend appeared on the scene. He was an officer of the Public Works Department and had ideas. He got twelve months leave and set about surveying the country along the 0010 valley to Rylistone. He accomplished this task having no help from the Goverment, =I sent in a report which was published in the press. He showed it to me:” Of this, more later. The fire S.B.W. trip down the Colo was undertaken by Gordon Smith and Max Gentle. It has been described in the magazines of December 1931 and October 1948. They started from Caperbee on 5th February, 1931, with 40 lb. packs after a sleepless night in the train, and, on the first clay, covered 27 miles along the road (no nonsense about oars in those days). Around where Glen Davis now stands they met a Mr. Masters, who told them how to get to Mount Uraterer and “with a cheery good-bye” assured them that they would get lost. They didn't, but they were impressed with the country, which was “puzzling in its make-up and hideous in its aspect”. Describing the -view from Ilraterer, Max wrote: “I was gazing upon a segment of the most expansive cyclorama of my life, and like a dream I realised I was on the crest of tTratorer and Gordon Smith was beside me. In the foreground there was seen a maw of wooded gullies and cliffs and crags. It was a scene of great wildness rather than beauty; it would make a master bushman shudder. Practically nothing could be seen of the olo, Caperteo and Running Stream Ganyons, -these being perpendicular slits in the earthis crusts Beyond the nearer mountain Vastness could be soon the dim outlines of mountain ranges extending, maybe, up to 100 miles in every direction.” Returning to the Capertee, they continued down river until “three miles above the Wolgan River Junction the track died out and we plunged into the roughest river walking I had up to this time experienced. The stoop aided banks were strewn with boulders and overgrown with blackberry, lawyer vines, lantana and nettles. It came so suddenly that it took the stomach out of me, and after doing miles in 4 hours I suggested giving it up. However, my more determined mate knew only one word !forward' ” Between the Wolgan and tho Wollomni, about 6 river miles, the going was just as bad. Max describes how “scrambling over boulders and bashing our way through lawyer vines and other creepers, alternated with short stretches of sandbank, treacherous quicksand, blackberry and wild raspberry.” But there was a silver lining. It was”, writes Max, “good for all round muscular development.” This stretch of river was then called the Jolt:). In the Mellong military map, however, it is shown as the Capertee as far as the Wollemi junction. Max describes the Wollemi gorge as “hemmed in by towering precipices” and he doubted “if its profound depths (were) ever disturbed by mankind”. I felt much the same about the Gapertee when I emerged from these “profound depths” last Queen's Birthday weekend. By this time they had been disturbed by mankind 11. at least twice, as We had followed footsteps down the river. I waled a little way up the Japertee. Very. soon the banks closed in 'till the river flowed at the bottom of a narrow, rockgirt “Vs, heavily covered with dark, pricklylooking undergrowth. There was little soil on the enclosing mountain sides they mostly comprised tiers of purplishblack rock. A more sinister and forbidding gorge I have never seen. Below the Wollomi they came upon wr4.1d ducks in drovesii, while the river uteemed with perch and (=rasa. On the first day below the junction they did eight miles, but the next day they were reduced to four miles. f'The going was frightfully rough and consisted of hauling one another over boulders and through roa. crevasses li It took them three days to reach the Wollongambe. Gordon and Max completed their trip from japertee to Kurrajotg in 11* days. Though they were two of the strongest walkers in the flub, or anywhere else, they were pretty dono in by the time they finished. In a footnote to Max's 1932 article Myles Dunphy writes: 'The Smith Gentle (.Iolo trip holds the distinction of being the fastest known traverse of the Jobe, notwithstanding that two days were occupied in the Gosport a Mountain (Urat or or) side trip, also the smallest party. Two previous successful attempts aro known, and ono, at least, partly so. Apparently the going is so discoura gingly difficult that only the able bodied and most sanguine could ever hope to win through and the penalty for failure in this aloof canyon could well be the most extremesn The next and, I believe, the only other trip down the Job o by S.B.W. members was done in 19342 and the experiences of this party proved that Myles hardly exaggerated. The party got through, but only just and, on several occasions, members of it narrowly escaped injury. For a description of this trip I am indebted to Win Duncombe (Dunk), who lent me her neatly typed diary, parts of which were published in the magazine. There were seven in the party., It was led by Hinian Melville, founder of- tho =ioast -and Mountain Walkers. The rest of the party, besides Dunk, comprised 'gonna holville, Ban Fuller, and S.B.W. members Reno Browne, Iris Roxtro (Roxy) 2 and Ray Bean. The first item recorded is the cost– fares 18/5, food 17/7, total 36/.. those were the days! Reno Browne had a Al lb. pack, Rosy 32, Dunk 43, Ninian Melville and Ray Bean 51. They loft Sydney at 2.28 p m. on Saturday, 6th Janu arys 1934. On arrival at Lithgow at 6.30 p m. they climbed into a lorry of n anci ont origin” in the midst of a thunderstorm, causing “quite a stir” amongst the locals (as all walkers did then). The driver estimated that it would take four hours to cover the 25 miles to &roles but, in fact, they didn't make it, becoming stuck six miles from their destination in the flooded Wolgan River. Next day they walked the six miles to Newnes, where the whole population was on the dole. The local publican did his best to talk them out of the trip, saying that they should have a gun because you never know what you might meet ina. place like that. Another local resident warned them that they couldn't get past the Japortee junction. Nevertheless they writ on a side trip that afternoon to the top of the divide between the Japertee and the Wolgan. The next morning (Monday) they found that nearly all of their 3 lbs. of bacon was flyblown and a number of eggs broken. This, and a later disintegration of some 2-1- dozen eggs carried in a cardboard box by Ray Bean, added greatly to their hardships later in the trip. 12. )3' They had pletsant walid ng at the start along'a track:Which “would in r between grassy foothills over ground lovely and soft with fallen leaves”. There were big trees and striking cliff views on either side. During the afternoon it got rougher, lout they arrived at Annie Rowan clearing -,ita beautiful big grassy flat on the bank of the creek, all covered -with fine green grass and shaded with kurrajongs, quandongs, black wattles in flower and lovely big gum trees with big mountains and tremendous rock cliffs all around” - about '6 o'clock, not too tired to enjoy a sing-song after tea. During the next morning a tiger snake rushed down a bank a Ninian Melville, and aticks became the order of the day. They had lunch at Permanent Water Greek. That afternoon they fought their way through blackberries, lawyer vitas and stinging nettle a down to t he Ga,pert ee. The best camp site they could find was “up the tailus, on a steep slope, about fifty very rough prickly feet above the river”. - The next two days -they spent negotiating about fiVe of the six map miles -to the Wollemi (which they expected to reach in one day). The river was' in flood, and had been up another ton or twenty foot, leaving mud where it had fallen. During their struggle over landslides and cliffs - if there were any banks they were under water - they came across an old survey traverse much overgrown with scrub”. This proves that the track probably went right through to the Wolgan or Gapertee valley, since it is unlikely it went so nearly to the open country and then stopped. On the second day from the junction (Thursday) they had to climb some 500 feet on crumbling rock to got round cliffs, while a lot of the time the undergrowth was Over their heads. That night they camped on a rock lodge five foot wide where they had a good night's rest, despite the fact that they couldn't put up the tents and their legs were “hanging in space”. Being convinced that the Wollemi was round the next bond they declared Friday a day of rest. That day they caught two eels and a 2 lb. perch. Recennaisa nco later in the day failed to locate the Wollemi, so next morning they climbed out and across what they thought was a bend in the river. After walking across the tops for some two miles they started down - a difficult undertaking even with the aid of a military map, and a pure gamble without. After two and a quarter hours of scrambling and ledge crawling they made it, but not before Dunk had stopped a rock on her head, leaving, in her own words, “a horrible bloody moss all over ma and the landscape”. A little further on Rene was nearly knocked off a cliff when Ray Bean inadvertently lowered a pack on her from above. How they would have fared had there been a serious accident here doesn't bear contemplating. Next day the blackberries and raspberries were over their heads and. the boys, in front, bashed their way through with a thick stick. The girls, while waiting behind, ate large juicy raspberries, which would have been pleasant enough had not the bull and jumper ants, agitated by the bashers out front, attacked thorn. There was also a lluxuria nt growth of einging nettle s“, but wret e Dunk, “we had so many ants, lawyer vines, blackberries and raspberries to contend with that the more fact of stinging nettles brushing round us up to our nooks didn't worry us”. For some reason they started that morning to look for the Wollongambe, though, judging from their walking times, and previous rate of progress, they were fourteen miles above it. That night, Dunk records, her head felt pretty sore. She had given it another good crack on a rock the night before and bashed it again on trees during the day. Whereas most girls would have been only too thankful to lie down as soon as they hit camp, Dunk baited her line with a bit of the fish from the Japortee and landed a “walloping big 001” 21-6” long and weighing about 6 lbs. . HE-gni-Fop SHOP:ondVEGETA,RIAN CAFE. - SUMMER., WALKITiG,. AND-CAN:el-NG: Calls. for 'appropriate FOOD': -Visit our Shop and see our wi-de range of . . DRIED AND TWED FRUUS, Faun JUICES TASTY CONFECTIONS, NUTS, Gr..,ACE FRUITS., BREAkFAST..FOODS Supplies now on hand RYKING, av-n-,T, AND WHEATFLAKE BISCUITS ideal in place of bulky bread:: 13.

13 HUNTER ST SYDNEY. 8W 172 Just after this Roxy caught another, weighing 5 lbs. Being Sunday they decided to be real good and singe few hymnsn, but instead fell into a 'deep: sleep straight. after tea.. Next night, after another rough day, they camped On rocky terrain well above the river, near a creek they thought was the Wollongabbe. It was, fact, most likely an unnamed creek about eleven map miles above the Wollonga mbe-.. More rough going and another rough camp site on., Tuebday. Wedriesday t hey 'camped on their first good site since leaving lInnie Rowants clearing. They believed they were at Tootle' )reek, but Were probably at Tambo :ireek 2 five miles above the Wollongambe. It was not until Thursday ,afterhoon, While following the old survey track, here some _250 feet above the ri kfer, abOut 18 inches wide and sloping towards the cliffs,. that they came to Ina tremendous hole with cliffs rising, about a. thousand feet. straight out of the Water, which mat. have been .bhe longsought WolIOngambe Basin. By this time food was running low -..6 they were out of teat and fit:Air, and down to the remaining dried vbgetables'-and dried fruits. 'RoXyts pdiihod' sandshoes gave out and :she, wont. on in- a borrowed. pair throb sizes too large. Tharp seamed to be several schools- of thought as. to where they' were. Some thought, Upper . was just round.: the bend, of her s. that the'y had sixteen miles to go. .. But they passed what they believed to be, and probably Wa's p T o Ot 1 Greek; and after a difficult river crossing camped 'azain i.en; sand and reeks. ' ilTea consisted of dried vegetable soup, plain, with ttha-.and 'sadcharirid:tabltitthi Bon and I'dug worms and I ca ught.,one only eel. The boys -were all knocked up and as I was jilet about dead boat too I didn't fish for long. Ray had a couple of bad falls in the afternoon, and his shoes were worn completely through and parted company with tho soles, he was jUst about all in, besides which they wore all hungry. We slept on the sand and were too tired to feel how hard it was, 14. we also had to wrap ourselves round tho rocks as thero was not onough clear spaco for us to lay ono. Noxt morning they broakfastod on ool and potatoes. Ray Bean and Ben llor loft early for a dash to Upper Job o to return with food should the rest not got through. Another difficult crossing, also nettles and lawyors, but the track was becoming plainar and the hills drawing away from the river. Lunch consisted of toa and brandy and a piece of chocolate. At 2 p m. they sighted a cow and had but one thought - could it be caught and milked - Ham catch it and I'll milk it :21 said Dunk. Then they camo to nanothor Tootle Crook“. Soon aft or they came upon a man who worked for lir. Armstrong, but flas ho didn't Boom likoly to give us anything to oat we bid him good day and wont on till we saw two paaks out side a houso on the road, and found Ray and Bon within. Thoso doughty foragers had already enjoyed tomatoes, broad and tuttors poach dumplings, tea and oranges at irmstrongs. they passed on to it. Mailos place end woro stoadily oating their way through there when we caught up to thorn.” However, Mr. Males daughtor had tea, hot yoaat broad and butter and jam waiting for the roarguard and they put away two or throo loaves before looming by motor truck for the last train from Kurrajong. Back in Sydney, Reno, Ray and Roxy made straight for the than S.M. supper Geo, the -Morttoroy, and wont right on eating. They caught a train homo at 10 p m., and, writes Dunk, “thus ended a real tough trip and I'm glad I woublr. As far as I can ostimato, this epic: trip covered soma 65 map miles. The river from the Wolgan-Caportoo junction to Upper Oolo (a distanco of 23 milos diroct) can be moasurod accurately and tho length is 36 silos. This took thorn ton days (not including their rout day). Tho average was therefore about 311- miles a day, and, as far as I can judge from the times recorded, thoiir avorago speed was about two-thirds of a mile an hour over this part of the trip. Thar host at Upper Oolo gave some intoroating, if tantalising, information. Ho had, ho told thorn, boon one of the survoy party who went through the 0010 in 1887. The railway to Mudgoo was opened in 1884, so it is unlikoly to have boon a railway a urvoy. Why on earth than, was it surveyod? Perhaps it was Mr. Townshend, plodding doggedly ono trying to prove his way was the best. Since tho thirties, time, or more accurately, man, has wroght 'big changes to the river. When the Glen Davis oil works wore ostablishod the river was used, as rivers usually are, for the disposal of waste. It became darks molly and undrinkable. Moanwhila over-clearing and ovor-stooking in the upper Wollord. and Oaportoo valleys and ovor a century of turning (the first recorded trip towards Putty was turned back by bush fires) wore tplring their. toll. There was a lot of mud in the river by the thirties, and by the end of the forties the rate of orosion, which accoloratos rapidly as ground cover diminishos, was stoppod up rapidly by the suceossion of wet seasons. I first noticed the change in 1950 when I lookod down on the flooded Wollongembo Basin. When last I had boon there, about 1940, ka nukas and other tree a and shrubs grow right to the water' a edge. Now the river flowod in the middle of a broad strip of bare rocks and mud, the vogotation– swept olear by the floods, or porhaps, smothe rod in oil waste. Three years later, during a trip up Putty Crook, farmers described how the recant floods had carried away their river flats, something that had not boon known before. 111rther downs on Wirriba )rook, timber getters had cut down every straight tree along the crook and the banks had carried away, leaving the stumps on a high spidery cone of bare roots. 15. Though the shale oil works have boon closcd since Juno, 1952, the banks arc still barren and lifeless. There are no ducks now, and no evidence of any other animals except dingos and an occasional wallaby. Birds are few. There may bo a fow fish and ools loft, but it is not likely. There is no tast a of oil in the water, though thero is a suspicion of an oily =ell. In still baCkwaters the Bald ha s boon dopositod. to a depth of several foot. As it dries it forms cracks up to six inches wide. Sandbanks have boon formod along the side of the big pools., which are much roducod in size and depth, though the volume, of river flow may provont the Lk)lo going the way of the 1,.1acdonald and becoming a river of sand. The fierce undergrowth of tho thirtios, and much of the rocky banks, are overlaid with sand and mud. The process of natural erosion too, continues as it has over the ages. There are rock-falls, big and small, ovary few chains along the river. Max says that, in the narrowest parts of the gorge, ho could hoar rocks falling at night, though I haven't, as yet. In placos the burning of hugo pilos of driftwood has shattered largo areas of rock. Once the mud has dried and cracked it is easy co walk on, and a good deal o.. tho walking now is on mud or sand instead of loosc rock. Soma blackborriog, lawyers and raspberries have raised their stalks again for a few inches above ground level. The going is theroforo much. easier than it usod to be. But it is still rough enough to be “good for all round muscular dovolopmentn. In the five miles below the Wollend, something over a mile an hour can ho covered by reasonably fit rockloppors, though, 'over most of the river, it would not be wiso to budget on more than a mile an hour. There is no doubt that a strong party, bent on oxortion, could considerably bettor the 'HMOS of the original parties, though I think they would still ho extended to bottor Max and Gordon's time over the samo route. Walkers, particularly the inoxporioncods could easily strike serious trouble, as thoro is a lot of looso rock lying at stoop angles; while it would ho almost impossible to cross the river in a high flood. Should a party ho cut off on the wrong bank they would, in places, havo a lot of difficulty getting out at all. This country is not evorybody' a dish - even tho aboriginal namos t horo- about a - Bunglebouri, Boorai, Angorawa, Dratorcr ate. have a rough warning rumble, suggostivo of its barren, lonely depths. But for those who are not deterred by the symbols 1113.Hn and nlaSu on the walks prograprio, and who are preparod to raise their' vision beyond tho mud flats, it has its appeal. PREVIEW The South West of Tasmania is considered a pretty rugged kind of place at the best of times, but in winter when the dolerite mountain caps are packed with snow and coated with ice and the shelterless button grass plain lashed by rain and sleet, most people would rather stay at home by the fire. In these conditions three of our members spent eleven days and succeeded in pitching their little tent at the high camp on Mount Eliza, and by the favour of magnificent fortune, climbed to the top of Mount Anne, Queen of the South West to receive the reward of their labours in one superb day. But his is not the whole story, it isn't even half. This has still to be tract in a series of articles by Hick Elfick, commencing next month. 16. EJE.ED, TYPES 311111 Mooson Have you over looked at a bunch of rugged up tourists on a mountain railway station in mid wintor? Watched thom form two circles - the out or one of golf sticks, tennis rackets and hugo suitcasos, tho inner one a human circle of shivering bodics, huddled together to conserve their warrrrth by their nearness to one another? Even though thoy are peering out from beneath groat piles of overcoats, scarves and gloves, they all appear half frozen. Queer that they should leave their suburban homes and_ make a trip to some odd out of the way place when thoy know they will be loaving many home comforts behind. It's odd too, the way their heads turn as though on a caul/non pivot - the queer way their oyos goggle threc quarters out of their sockets as a band of walkers tramp onto, the station clad in boot a pack short a and jacket. Their behaviour can probably bost be explained in that crowding togother not only warms thorn, but in a group of friends one usually fools happy duo to the gregarious nature of people. This happiness develops, in some, a fooling of self-importanco and so any odd person outside their group who is at all different is a targot for thoir queer stares. So you sea from thoir point of viow, we could appear rather queer. Bushwalkors (letta face it) do scom to coma in a mixture of odd shapes, sizos and typos. horcovor, we are usually at our lowest ebb et the end of the trip, so maybo it isntt so queer that we got those odd stares. Cur condition could be the result of t ho jolting of ono I a boot s along t ho track on a t ough nbashn being transmittod from the boots up the log to the apino, the jolt on the spine is transmitted, in turn, to the baso of the skull, which, I bellow), after eight or so hours has a numbing afoot on the brain and so produces a typo of minor hypnosis. This bocomos most ovident as a party, jolting up a stoop pinch, oyes half closod 2 breath coming in short gasps, their logs in low gear and their brains in neutral, come to the top. Than a noticeable tremble runs through each in turn as the mind pulls itsolf from its inducod trance back to reality. Tho eyes click open wide, hands grope for a camera, thorc are a fol.,/ sighs of nWhataboautviown - then back into the trance to bash. on again. This hypnosis could produce an insensibility to stares and the fooling of our quoer appearance and odd bohaviour is not so evident. What I'm trying to got at is, with our dirty big packs, dirtior shorts and usuc2.1 unkopt appearano o wo must appear queer t o the odd bystander Itts just as wall if wo can recognise thoso queer stroaks in ourselves and roaliso that the other person has his won onvironmont and porsonality. When we realise this, he will not appear so queer to us. Since we are able to notice this queernoss in others, we should be ablo to correct our own odd behaviour. In doing so, we will find the others not so queer as they wore. Porhaps thoy will think we are not so queer either. Since they are loss queer we may rather liko thorn. I rathor hope they will bogin to like us a little - Queer. “PEDDER TO FEDDER” If you were enthused, interested, (or horrified), to read of Paddy's experiences in S.W. Tasmania published last month, be sure to arrive at the clubroom an 22nd October and see the whole trip immortalised in coloured celluloid. (Slides are genuine Paddymade, of course.) FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORT PROBTRMS CONTACT HATSVVELL'S TAXI & TOURIST SERVICE RING, WRITE, WERE or CALL ANY HOUR - DAY or NIGHT /PHONE: Blackheath w459 or 1N151 BOOKING OFFICE: 4 doors from Gardners Inn Hotel (LOOK FOR THE NEON SIGN) SPEEDY 5 OR 8 PASSENGER CARS AVAILABLE LARGE OR SMALL PARTIES CATERED FOR FARES: KANANGRA WALLS 30/- per head (minimum 5 passengers) PERRY 'S LOOKDOWN 3/… n n n IT n JENOLAN STATE FOREST 20/- II It It tl it. CARLON'S FARM 10/- ” ” 11 It IT NE WT 1, BE PLEASED TO QUOTE SPECIAL PARTIES OR TRIPS ON APPLICATION NEWS FROM THE BLUE From Alan Hardie - R.M.S. “Highland Chieftain!' En route to Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL. SOUTH AlTERICA.. Dear Editor, This letter serves to keep informed any who are interested in my foreign travels. Tomorrow this boat reaches Rio de Janeiro, which is supposed to beat Sydney for being the prettiest harbour in the world. Whether it is or not I 4 shall endeavour to establish with my two cameras. Here too, will mv trek overland commence to Montevideo in Uruguay, Buenos Aires in Argentina 'rd santiego and Valparaiso in Chile. ft The day before yesterday we stopped at Recife, our first tort of call in South America. There I noticed a most mixed nonulation consisting chiefly of Spaniards, Nest Indians and Negros. On the wharf my first view Was of some “darkies” Sleeping between jobs. They reminded me of the negros in the operetta “Showboat”, who alternated between sleeping on a bale of cotton and singing “Ole Man River”. I soon became acquainted with the South American love of rythm. A band of uniformed schoolgirls marched to the ship to the accompaniment of drums and kettledrums. They were led by a “big buck nigger”, the only ma] in the party. He gave the commands and supplied the only music other than the drums on a bugle, which he played with great skill. They were welcoming a teacher on board. 17. 18. On the “Highland Chieftain” I am meeting rural Spanish and Portuguese migrants. They are going to South America to work on farms there, and it is plain to see that they are not used to the ordinary amenities of civilised life. A scotch cabin mate calls them “human cattle”. Before I left Landon in the “Highland Chieftain”, I had to sigh an undertaking not to protest against third class conditions. I now understand the reason why. Yours, Alan Hardie. From Keith Renwick - The last three weeks have been twice as hectic as usual and no one has had a ghost of a chance of getting any correspondence, but I am now encamped in the middle of Copenhagen gathering my scattered wits before I sally forth up north. After I arrived in England in April I went caving in Yorkshire - walking in the Cairngorms, Isle of Skye, Ben Nevis, etc. - more caving, then Snowdon, Wales and Worcestershire, To Belgium - more caves and the fabulous Exposition. You could spend a month non stop there and still not see everything. In the science halls alone I spent eight hours in the atomic section and still didn't see everything. From Belgium - Luxemberg, Rhine, Zurich, Interlarkin (climbing lower peaks with views over the Jungfrau etc.) Two weeks of fantastic, superweather in Switzerland. Then to Montraux, back to Zermat for some high level walking. Camped at 9,500 feet with tent opening framing the Matterhorn - up at 4 a m. for a fabulous sunrise - more super weather. Milan, Venice, Trieste, Postjna (Yugoslavia) -.tourist and other caves three days, north to Villoch (Austria), Gross Glockner, Innsbruck, Germany, Salzburg - ice caves in the Dackstein Mountains and some super fantabulous lee cave exploration with Salzburg Snelio Society in the Eisvesenwelt Caves Pt 6,500 feet, ice axe and cramnons etc. Back to Innesbruck. Two weeks alimbinR in the Austrian Alps with the Austrian Alpine Club - one peak over 10,000 Pnd two over 11,000. Back through Switzerland to Geneva - caving with Swiss bods. A week then in Southern France caving. Padirac, Laseaux, Win Armand, Peche Merle, Les Eyzies and many others. A day in Paris, but couldn't get into the Follies (curses). Then got out of France as fast as I could because it is the most expensive country I have ever been in. Back to the Brussels Exnosition for a few days. Saw over a diamond cutting factory in Holland as well as getting some minerals in exchange for Australian ones I have yet to sunnly. From Holland through Hamburg to Conenhagen, then to Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and north through the lakes to Lapland. Hone to do some walking here, then up to Tromso and south to Mo, Norway, in the Arctic Circle. Here I've been invited to join a four weeks Cambridge University EXpedition on glacial cave work but financially I may only be able to stay two weeks. South then via the fjords and Bergen to Oslo. Boat back to Newcastle, LID to Edinburgh, then dawn the centre of England (Autumn) to Worcester and London to work. By this time I think I may even be glad to. Well, that is a very. brief s,u,..ma5r…….of ime,ancnte=e11:zery auc go- few mo mig

the.,.14 t tit -

Regards, Keith. Now the 31st of October Is a night you will want to stay sober, Yes, this first weekend of November Is the one you ought to remember, And recite (to yourself) the fine slogan “I must do this trip with John Logan”. The train is the 6.26 one And the seats will all go to the quick on0.- From Blackheath it's a car out to Hamoton4_ To the spot that is usually cam-oed on, Then down the creek from Marsden 's Swam-) ,T CRACKED CORN to in It may be just a 'trifle domp. Up Tinker's Hill, if it's there still. On Blackheath Creek you could camp for a Week'''”—–“ If the leader 'd let y' But he wont, I bet y' Any way, next day - To Blackheath. . '

r And remember the slogan “SEE JOHN LOG.AN” MARK I q, ongr atulati on s to Norma Pnd Eric Rowen tAnber. He's going to be called Mark. ;? , k t .40 re )4

on the arrival of sal on th0: 4 , 5r1 ;?,Atso to Georgie and Peter Antoniad es - a baby girl known ,a

ank may_ soon har:ve _a.,.Pc#,Ilqr…,r.S,,p r.,21,:qe-ri: 16. n at;LaBob't.-,AVertiet Iffir-ttSt b t . , 1,1! ' _iq. ?aro remarked, “The next.. generation of Sydney Bush Walkers is air e4y

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e very_ es, es-( ,: PADDY MADE 401:2 41FI' 4.104, 46-'17 (:'jtkk 11, / I THE TIDE; REJEDES Spring is here and Paddy's shop is back to normal again. No longer do skis, stocks, dki boots, mitts, langlauf bends, skins, waxes and so on dominate the scene. Walking gear now takes charge and there's plenty of room to display the many lines that mean so much to walking comfort. After last year's fierce summer, we look forward to a few mild months when walking will be a joy to all. Don't forget to come and inspect the new rubber soled boots1 atagg_gi?LRoca JLIIIPTRS Due to arrive anytime now supplies of Commando soles and heels. Also on the water is a large shipment of Oarabiners and Pitons. PADDY PALLIN 121 cifrariett ittAgfrISYDNEY