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+=====Ben Ricketts Revisited.=====
-BIT,fliEiTS
-.....
+- Kath McKay.
-Five years since I had been there, and whnt e'Inges time hr-16 brought!
-Our party of seven arrived late on a Friday night, but Peter was up to welcome us, though. Ray had gone to bed. We drove thr,-)ugh the gatemny to the cabins 'cross the road from the Pages' own house, and rubbed our eyes at the dazzling sight. -2-)th cabins had been freshly painted white and were brilliantly lit by electricity. Mere was a refrigerator, two electric jugs, running water: all mod. cons.
+Five years since I had been there, and what changes time has brought!
-The bigger aabin had five bunks and as there were only four women we had plenty of room; indeed: Jess Martin had a little room all to herself. The three men of the
-party bunked in the smaller cabin, but foregathered with us for meals, and we all srt
+Our party of seven arrived late on a Friday night, but Peter was up to welcome us, though Ray had gone to bed. We drove through the gateway to the cabins across the road from the Pages' own house, and rubbed our eyes at the dazzling sight. Both cabins had been freshly painted white and were brilliantly lit by electricity. There was a refrigerator, two electric jugs, running water: all mod. cons.
-dawn for a cuppa before turning in. There was a slight hitch because someone had
-forgotten to press down the button on the electric jug and the poor thing could not boil, but the matter was soon adjusted.
+The bigger cabin had five bunks and as there were only four women we had plenty of room; indeed, Jess Martin had a little room all to herself. The three men of the party bunked in the smaller cabin, but foregathered with us for meals, and we all sat down for a cuppa before turning in. There was a slight hitch because someone had forgotten to press down the button on the electric jug and the poor thing could not boil, but the matter was soon adjusted.
-There was also an alarm in the midst of supper, caused by swallows roosting on
-the verandah. Being self-respecting birds, they had been in bed some hours and natura,13y resented the sudden illuminntion. They flew about in distress, so we turned
+There was also an alarm in the midst of supper, caused by swallows roosting on the verandah. Being self-respecting birds, they had been in bed some hours and naturally resented the sudden illumination. They flew about in distress, so we turned off the verandah light. One swallow promptly darted through a two-inch aperture at the top of the window and swooped wildly about the room. "Each man cover his tea!" was the command, and by a masterstroke of strategy the verandah light was switched on again, the roomlight extinguished, and the swallow flew outside to the brightness. The window was hastily shut, the curtains drawn and all was peace.
-off the verandah light- One swallow promptly darted through a two-inch aperture
-at the top of the window and swooped wildly about the room. "Etch man cover his tea:" was the command, and by a masterstroke of strntegy the verandah light was switched on again, the roomlight extinguished, and the swallow flew outside to the brightness. The window was hastily shut, the curtains drawn and all was peace.
+After a pleasantly warm night, how luxurious it was to lie abed while John White, bounding with energy, brought us a cup of tea and started the primuses!
-After a pleasantly warm night, how luxurious it was to lie abed while John White, bounding with energy, brought us a cup of tea and stnrted the primuses!
-There was an early contretemps with the refrigerator, which was not:fries.7ing.
+There was an early contretemps with the refrigerator, which was not fridging. How could it? It was plugged in to a plaque that had two power points, and the vacant one had been switched on. However, the meat survived and no harm was done.
-How could it? It was plugged in to a plaque that had two power. points, and the vacant one had been switched on. However, the meat sarvived ftzl no 'i-r->irrn was done.
-The men of the party were most willing Lnd helpful With b-uschnl:1 chores. True, there were a few setbacks such as bringing down rod and all once or twice when curtains were drawn; and Then swishing the wash-up water on the award a few pieces
+The men of the party were most willing and helpful with household chores. True, there were a few setbacks such as bringing down rod and all once or twice when curtains were drawn; and when swishing the wash-up water on the sward a few pieces of cutlery and the grey mouse (steel wool) lay star-scattered on the grass; but these were mere details.
-of cutlery and the grey mouse (steel wool) lay star-scattered on the grass; but these were mere details.
-Saturday was a trifle hazy but fine. Mellifluous tinklings filled the air as the goats walked in procession dawn the road and the paddy calves near the house wore bells that went pleasantly tonk-tonk. Ray as usual had several cats, and a black cattle dog named Trigger had adopted the Pages and showed no inclination whatever to go to his OMTL holm on a nearby farm.
+Saturday was a trifle hazy but fine. Mellifluous tinklings filled the air as the goats walked in procession down the road and the paddy calves near the house wore bells that went pleasantly tonk-tonk. Ray as usual had several cats, and a black cattle dog named Trigger had adopted the Pages and showed no inclination whatever to go to his own home on a nearby farm.
-The trees had grown amazingly in Alex Colley's orchard and round the Duncan's cottage. Ray's garden near the entrance gate was a tangle of growth and bloom, and on the gate itself was a at legend: "Ben 'Ricketts" with "NI-. Peter Pace" in smaller lettering underneath. We couldn't help feeling that there should be Some mention of Mrs. Peter Page. Taro's work, we learned. He was responsible too for other labels - "Ladies" in flowing script; "Men'' in firm upright characters.
-.
+The trees had grown amazingly in Alex Colley's orchard and round the Duncan's cottage. Ray's garden near the entrance gate was a tangle of growth and bloom, and on the gate itself was neat legend: "Ben Ricketts" with "Mr. Peter Pace" in smaller lettering underneath. We couldn't help feeling that there should be some mention of Mrs. Peter Page. Taro's work, we learned. He was responsible too for other labels - "Ladies" in flowing script; "Men" in firm upright characters.
-Ilpy and Paddy Pallin were at their Shack and they and Ray accompanied our party on a picnic to Carrington Falls. We visited the Barren Grounds and saw the aOmirable shelter shed and the hut in process of completion. We went to the electricity transformer lookdown and gazed at the magnificent panorama of hills and galleys and coast up to Wollongong, with the electric towers striding away into the distance, cutting a wide swathe in the bush.
-On to Carrington Falls, and prowled out looking at the rue hint -water there and in a natural swimming pool hidden away in the trees. After lunch (yes: it was Paddy who saw that the fire was put out) we drove to the Belmore Falls, seeing them firt from the west and then from a lookout a mile or so away on the east. They are most spectacular, falling in a double leap down a deep Forge with the sheer cliffs and bush-clad Slopes forming a huge amphitheatre. Mere is somethin,7 fascinating about falling water, and we lingered long.
+May and Paddy Pallin were at their shack and they and Ray accompanied our party on a picnic to Carrington Falls. We visited the Barren Grounds and saw the admirable shelter shed and the hut in process of completion. We went to the electricity transformer lookdown and gazed at the magnificent panorama of hills and valleys and coast up to Wollongong, with the electric towers striding away into the distance, cutting a wide swathe in the bush.
-One of the cars needed some petrol, so we all drove to Robertson, mrapped in itz, Saturday afternoon calm. From there we came damn to Jamberoo in the late sunlight, with the lush countryside around us and the sea before.
-We were in'time to see Ray's evening ritual of Milking the goats and to admire Ben's successor, Paddy the Next Best Thing: smaller, but nevertheless a handsome beast.
+On to Carrington Falls, and prowled out looking at the rushing water there and in a natural swimming pool hidden away in the trees. After lunch (yes: it was Paddy who saw that the fire was put out) we drove to the Belmore Falls, seeing them first from the west and then from a lookout a mile or so away on the east. They are most spectacular, falling in a double leap down a deep gorge with the sheer cliffs and bush-clad slopes forming a huge amphitheatre. There is something fascinating about falling water, and we lingered long.
-At night, armed with cups (to save washing up supper things, as Ray said) a couple staying at the biggest cabin and all of us assembled at the ages', and Paddy Pallin showed his Slides of Tasmania and some local Shots of the redoubtable Ben.
-On Sunday the rain held off well, although clouds walked the mountains. The rest of our party, with Paddy and Trigger, -went off to view the Gerringong Falls, but as this involved a walk of three miles I stayed at home and had a good gossip with Ray and Nay. The others told me that there was no railing at Gerringong Falls, and Trigger was much upset When Eric Ldcock sat and dangled his legs over the abyss. He barked in agitation and refused to be comforted till Eric retreated to a safe distance.
+One of the cars needed some petrol, so we all drove to Robertson, wrapped in its Saturday afternoon calm. From there we came damn to Jamberoo in the late sunlight, with the lush countryside around us and the sea before.
-The wanderers returned at lunch time and we ate and packed up leisurely. ReFrAfully we faremelled the Pages, said goodbye to the unchangingtrees and mountains, to the sense of space and freedom, and shrank back to the narrow world of suburbia.
-The homeward journey of Vince Aitken?'s BlueGum - Granrf. C117.7on trip on May 27-28 was given a new twist by Vince .nd A lex: ThE,akston who went thrnurh the Canyon Creek, that is, along the bottomless hole Tla look down on from tli.,:'safety of the track. This route isn't used very often and if you want to know why, ask The Pioneers.
+We were in time to see Ray's evening ritual of milking the goats and to admire Ben's successor, Paddy the Next Best Thing: smaller, but nevertheless a handsome beast.
-Ron Kennealy must have found the Blackheath cold unbearable - stopped too long for a warmer, and missed the train. Rum shows
-Overheard in the "Satellite"
+At night, armed with cups (to save washing up supper things, as Ray said) a couple staying at the biggest cabin and all of us assembled at the Pages', and Paddy Pallin showed his slides of Tasmania and some local shots of the redoubtable Ben.
-on a cattle track     .    well, I haVen't often been given a wrong steer
+On Sunday the rain held off well, although clouds walked the mountains. The rest of our party, with Paddy and Trigger, went off to view the Gerringong Falls, but as this involved a walk of three miles I stayed at home and had a good gossip with Ray and May. The others told me that there was no railing at Gerringong Falls, and Trigger was much upset when Eric Adcock sat and dangled his legs over the abyss. He barked in agitation and refused to be comforted till Eric retreated to a safe distance.
+The wanderers returned at lunch time and we ate and packed up leisurely. Regrefully we farewelled the Pages, said goodbye to the unchanging trees and mountains, to the sense of space and freedom, and shrank back to the narrow world of suburbia.
+----
+The homeward journey of Vince Aitken's BlueGum - Grand Canyon trip on May 27-28 was given a new twist by Vince and Alex Theakston who went __through__ the Canyon Creek, that is, along the bottomless hole you look down on from the safety of the track. This route isn't used very often and if you want to know why, ask The Pioneers.
+----
+Ron Kennealy must have found the Blackheath cold unbearable - stopped too long for a warmer, and missed the train. Rum show!
+----
+Overheard in the "Satellite" ....well, I haven't often been given a wrong steer on a cattle track ....
+----
 RflEFdTTA.
 The Fauna Protection Panel's list of Rare Fauna has recently been enlarged, and the following statement has been issued by the Panel to assist in conservation.