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--- 198111 [2016/03/29 13:18] – tyreless
+++ 198111 [2016/03/29 15:29] – tyreless
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 Will the Club member who suggested showing a film an Cross-country Ski-ing please contact the Social Secretary - 95,2689.
+=====The Skink That Came To Dinner.=====
-THE SKINK THAT CAME TO DINNER.
 by Jim Brown.
-Well, it was like this, you see. There weren't any notices saying
-Please don't feed the lizards". And this skink was there. And I was having dinner....well, lunch.
+Well, it was like this, you see. There weren't any notices saying "Please don't feed the lizards". And this skink was there. And I was having dinner....well, lunch.
-Now I know that in some Wild Life Parks and Zoos they do try to discourage you from feeding the creatures. They say it not only fills them with food that has all the wrong vitamins, but it also un-mans them for finding their own natural tucker. That might be right, too, especially with the big flesh-eating animals. Look at the lions, for instance. After the Romans fed them all those Christians about 1800 years ago, I'll wager all tie lions in Rome would have turned up their noses at their normal diet of Zulu's Or Bantus. And I suppose it wouldn't do to feed the Mountain Lions or	-- Cougars of North America an exotic grub - why they may get a taste for
-Republicans instead of Democrats. I note that a Republican in the U.S.A.is
+Now I know that in some Wild Life Parks and Zoos they do try to discourage you from feeding the creatures. They say it not only fills them with food that has all the wrong vitamins, but it also un-mans them for finding their own natural tucker. That might be right, too, especially with the big flesh-eating animals. Look at the lions, for instance. After the Romans fed them all those Christians about 1800 years ago, I'll wager all the lions in Rome would have turned up their noses at their normal diet of Zulu's Or Bantus. And I suppose it wouldn't do to feed the Mountain Lions or Cougars of North America on exotic grub - why they may get a taste for Republicans instead of Democrats. I note that a Republican in the U.S.A. is a member of the ESTABLISHMENT - not a REVOLUTIONARY as he is here.
-a member of the ESTABLISHMENT - not a REVOLUTIONARY as he is here.
-But all this really has nothing to do with the skink that came to dinner or lunch) with me, and I only hope the friendly little chap won't perish miserably because he can't continue to get shortbread biscuits down in Uloola
+But all this really has nothing to do with the skink that came to dinner (or lunch) with me, and I only hope the friendly little chap won't perish miserably because he can't continue to get shortbread biscuits down in Uloola Brook.
-Brook.
-, It was a sultry day late in October, and about mid-day some bruised- looking clouds began to well up in the western sky. Not wishing to be Swamped over lunch, I took myself off to a commodious overhang only a few
+It was a sultry day late in October, and about mid-day some bruised-looking clouds began to well up in the western sky. Not wishing to be swamped over lunch, I took myself off to a commodious overhang only a few minutes walk up Uloola Brook from the junction with Kangaroo Creek, and got a fire going. Almost immediately this skink emerged from a pile of broken rocks and fixed me with his beady lizard eyes. He was about 25 to 30 cm in length, and half of that was the tapering tail, and he was the usual coppery, shiny colour. Or was it a she-skink? Now I think about it, it was rather bulgy amidships. Are skinks viviparous? I'm not sure.
-minutes walk up Uloola Brook from the junction with Kangaroo Creek, and got
-a fire going. Almost immediately this skink emerged from a pile of broken rocks and fixed me with his beady lizard eyes. He was about 25 to 30 am in length, and half of that was the tapering tail, and he was the usual coppery,
+As I swamped down my first mug of tea, I had a sudden recollection of another lizard on another occasion mopping up some fallen breadcrumbs. By this time he (or she) had advanced to within a metre of me and was looking reproachfully at me. Presently I could stand its stare no longer, so fished out a shortbread biscuit and crumbled a corner of it on to the floor of the overhang about mid-way between us. It darted forward and picked up three or four of the larger crumbs - those about the size of a match-head.
-shiny colour. Or was it a she-skink? Now I think about it, it was rather bulgy amidships. Are skinks viviparous? I'm not sure.
-As I swamped down my first mug of tea, I had a sudden recollection of -
+Now a bright idea - take a slide of my biscuit-eating skink in action. I readied the camera, focussing on a smooth slab of rock about 40 cm distant, guessed at the correct exposure aperature and timing, and began to break up, another brece of shortbread.
-another lizard on another occasion mopping up some fallen breadcrumbs-. By
-this time he (or she) had advanced to within a metre of me and was looking reproachfully at me. Presently I could stand its stare no longer, so fished out -a shortbread biscuit and crumbled a corner of it on to the floor of the. overhang about mid-way between us. It darted forward and picked up three' or four of the larger crumbs - those about the size of a match-head.
+Reaching over slowly I started to sprinkle the crumbs when the lizard, now completely hooked on shortbread, whipped in and latched on to my index finger. It decided this wasn't edible and turned to the crumbs, greedily swallowing another three or four fragments. There was ample time to point the already cocked camera and shoot.
-Now a bright idea - take a slide of my biscuit-eating skink in action.
-I readied the camera, focussing on a smooth slab of rock about 40 cm distant, guessed at the correct exposure aperature and timing, and began to break up, another brece of shortbread.
+About this stage, remorse overtook me. No one could fairly deem shortbread as the natural tucker for a bush lizard. Was I doing it an injury? It was still hovering only a metre or so distant and looked even bulgier in the middle. I became aware that a swarm of small, sticky flies were clustered on a fresh, open scratch on my shin, slapped at them and sent three of them, either dead or mortally wounded to the ground. Now there! I thought - that's proper skink food.
-Reaching over slowly I started to sprinkle the crumbs when the lizard, now completely hooked on shortbread, whipped in and latched on to my index
-finger. It decided this wasn't edible and turned to the crumbs, greedily swallowing another three or four fragments. There was ample time to point the already cocked camera and shoot.
+I picked up a couple of the disabled, but still fluttering flies and tossed them towards my lizard. One landed only a finger's breadth beyond its nose and kept on wriggling. The skink ignored them. With mounting concern, I despatched another fly, but the lizard was not to be tempted. Either (a) it doesn't like flies, or (b) it was too full of shortbread, or (c) I had spoiled its taste for its natural food.
-About this stage, remorse overtook me. No one could fairly deem
-Page	THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER	November, 1981.
+I hope it is not (c).
-shortbread as the natural tucker for a bush lizard. Was -I doing it an injury? It was still hovering only a metre. or so distant and looked even bulgier in
-the middle. I became aware that a swarm of small, sticky flies were clustered on a fresh, open scratch on my shin, slapped at them and sent three of them,
+=====The October General Meeting.=====
-either dead or mortally wounded to the ground. Now there: I thought - that's proper skink food.
-I picked up a couple of the disabled, but still fluttering flies and
+by Barry Wallace.
-tossed them towards my lizard. One landed only a finger's breadth beyond
-its nose and kept on wriggling. The skink ignored them. With mounting concern, I despatched another fly, but the lizard was not to be tempted.
+It was around 2016 when the President, in the chair, belaboured the gong at some length and eventually brought order to the 30 or so members present, and got the meeting under way. There were no apologies so we went to new members. Of the three called only Geoff McInnes was present. Geoff Dowsett and David Cudworth must wait for another day.
-Either (a) it doesn't like flies, or (b) it was too full of shortbread, or
-(c) I had spoiled its taste for its natural food. '	I hope it is not (c).
+The Minutes were read and received. The only matter arising was a reply from Federation that they do require police permission before engaging in a search for members of affiliated clubs.
-* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
-THE OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING.
+Correspondence brought letters from Jeff Rigby advising change of address, from the A.C.F. expressing concern about the future of the Great Barrier Reef, from Andy Turner providing notes on his survey of recreational usage of National Parks, from the Walking Club of Victoria asking that they receive copies of our club magazine, advice that Jim Callaway has been appointed to the Heathcote National Park Advisory Committee and outgoing letters to the three new members. There were no significant matters arising.
-.._..._	by Barry Wallace.
-It was around 2016 when the President, in the chair, belaboured the
+Then it was on to the reports! First came the Treasurer to regale us with tales of monetary splendour. It seems that we began the month with $1684.85, spent $190.07, acquired $49.00 and ended up with $1543.78.	The Coolana Account had a closing balance of $405.50.
-gong at some length and eventually brought order to the 30 or so members prevent, and got the meeting under way. ' There were no apologies so we went to new members. Of the three called only Geoff McInnes was present. Geoff bousett and David Cudworth must wait for another day.
-The Minutes were read and received. The only matter arising was a
+The Federation Report indicated that S. & R. section have commented on the recent incident at Margaret Falls involving a fatality, that the E.C. of N.S.W. have withdrawn the Birds Rock Colliery E.I.S. for further review (ii should be available again next year) and Federation have received a letter of complaint from a farmer in the A.C.T. alleging that "bushwalkers" have offended against him in a number of ways. Federation will contact him for funther information.
-reply from Federation that they do require police permission before engaging
-in a search for members of affiliated clubs.
+The Walks Reports began, as is becoming traditional nowadays, with a couple of non-reports. First there was Alan Pike's modified Three Peaks trip of 11,12,13 September - no report, but it did go, then Gordon Lee's Three Peaks trip - no report. Jim Percy reported 10 starters, two of whom were prospectives, on his Kanangra Walls to optional Cloudmaker walk having perfect weather that same weekend. Of the two Sunday walks, Jim Brown had 12 members, 6 prospectives, 3 visitors and lots of wildflowers on his Glenbrook area walk. (It is unclear whether the programmed Wild Flowers walk is at variance with the actual walk or not.) Peter Dyce, on the other hand, reported nothing wild about his Bundeena to Otford trip despite the attendance of 21 people.
-Correspondence brought letters from Jeff Rigby advising change of address, from the A.C.F. expressing concern about the future of the Great Barrier Reef, from Andy Turner providing notes on his survey of recreational usage of National Parks, from the Walking Club of Victoria asking that they receive
-Copies of our club magazine, advice that Jim Callaway has been appointed to
+We seem to have had our fair share of wet weekends lately, and the 18,19,20 September was one of them. We had Bill Capon sharing the rain in the Budawangs with 6 starters and Sheila Binns with her 4 members and two prospectives catching the 1500 train after her Waterfall to Audley wade. David Ingram reported only light rain up to lunch time for the 23 members and two prospectives who turned out for his Point Clare to Wondabyne walk, and Jim Vatiliotis' Kanangra walk that weekend did not go!?
-the Heathcote National Park Advisory Committee and outgoing letters to the three new members. There were no significant matters arising.
-- Then it was on to the reports: Fir6t came the Treasurer to regale us
+The weekend of 25,26,27 saw Don Finch leading 5 starters on his Colo River trip which was described as "two half day walks" and back at the cars by 1430 Sunday (one wonders what happened to the ++ marking on the programme). Tony Marshall had 4 people on his Kanangra, Kowmung walk, reporting wind and sleet on the final leg across Kanangra tops to the cars on Sunday afternoon.
-with tales of monetary splendour. It seems that we began the month with
-.85, spent $190.07, acquired 349.00 and ended up with $1543.78.	The., Ooolana Account had a closing balance of $405.50.
+Ian Debert's Springwood to Blaxland day trip attracted 15 starters and the other day walk, Peter Christian's Bundeena to Bundeena via Jibbon Head fishing trip had 6 members, 4 visitors and 4 prospectives but no reported fish.
-'	The Federation Report indicated that S. & R. section have commented cin the recent incident at Margaret Falls involving a fatality, that the E.C. of N.S.W. have withdrawn the Birds Rock Colliery E.I.S. for further review (ii should be available again next year) and Federation have received a letter-of complaint from a farmer in the A.C.T. alleging that "bushwalkers" have offended against him in a number of ways. Federation will contact him for funther. information.
-The Walks Reports began, as is becoming traditional nowadays, with a,
+The October long weekend, 2,3,4,5,0ctober saw Bill Capon lead 5 people on his Ettrema Creek walk and Spiro Hajinakitas leading a slightly shaken crew of 2 prospectives, 2 visitors and 14 members across to Butchers Creek. It seems that at about 0200 Saturday morning a significant portion of a nearby large tree gave way to the prevailing winds and crashed noisily, and with some violence, between Spiro's car and Jeff Rigby's tent. Spiro reported no problems getting everyone up later that morning to leave the camp site.
-couple of non-reports. First there was Alan Pike's modified Three Peaks trip of 11,12,13 September - - no report, but it did go, then Gordon Lee's
-Three Peaks trip - - no report. :.;Jim Percy reported 10 starters, two of
+Things were somewhat quieter for Guy Vinden on his Jenolan River trip that same weekend. He reported 4 members, one visitor, profuse birdlife, and not much water in the Jenolan. There were no day walks programmed for that weekend.
-Page 8	THE SYDNEY BUSH7ALKEIR	November, 1981.
-whom were prospectives, on his Kanangra Walls to optional Claudmaker walk having perfect weather that same weekend. Of the two Sunday walks, Jim Brown had 12 members, 6 prospectives, 3 visitors'and lots of wildflowers on his Glenbrook area walk. (It is unclear whether the programmed Wild Flowers walk is at variance with the actual walk or not.) Peter Dyce, on the other
+The following weekend, 9,10,11 October we had Ian Debert with two prospectives and 11 members, fresh (?) from the Federation Ball treading their fragile and somnambulant way backwards along his Galong Creek, Cox River, Breakfast Creek, Carlon's Farm walk. (No, Virginia, they didn't really walk backwards, they just reversed the trip. There is something about pink granite, waterfalls and hangovers that isn't quite right.)
-hand, reported nothing wild about his Bundeena to Otford trip despite the attendance of 21 people.
-We seem to have had our fair share of wet weekends lately, and the 18,19,20 September.was one of them. We had Bill Capon sharing the rain in the Budawangs with 6 starters and Sheila Bins with her 4 members and two
+Bob Younger had 10 members and two prospectives on his Saturday start 10,11 October walk from Bundeena to Otford and Gordon Lee reported 4 bods at the rockclimbing part of his instructional weekend. Jim Brown led what was described as a "jolly party" of 17 persons through cloud and drizzle to complete his Otford to Waterfall day test walk, and Peter Miller had his 7 starters for the Mt. Hay to Bluegum and return sprint arriving back at the cars at 2100. One must agree that this sort of thing makes a fitting finale to the walks reports, although I doubt Peter thought of it that way at the time.
-prospectives catching the 1500 train after her Waterfall to Audley wade.
-David Ingram reported only light rain up to lunch time for the 23 members and two prospectives who turned out for his Point Clare to Wbndabyne walk,. and Jim Vatiliotis' Kanangra walk that weekend did not got?
+General Business saw the unanimous passage of a proposal that the Club write to Bill Hall, recently retired from the Heathcote National Park Advisory Committee, thanking him for his Period of service on that committee on behalf of the Club. Bill first became a member of this body when it was a State Park Trust back in 1944 and has served continuously since then, with a stint as President from 1970 to 1977. Congratulations and thanks, Bill.
-The weekend of 25,26,27 saw Don Finch leading 5 starters on his Colo
-River trip which was described as "two half day walks" and back at the cars
+Announcements were routine except for Marcia Shappert's call for starters for a trek to Sikkim in Bhutan during May 1982 (7th to 27th to be exact). Any takers?
-loy 1430 Sunday (one wanders what happened to the ++ marking on the programme).
-Tony Marshall had 4 people en his Kanangra,-Kowmung walk, reporting wind and . leet on the final leg across Kanangra tops to the cars on Sunday afternoon,
-Ian Debert's Springwood to Blaxland day, trip attracted 15 starters and: the other day walk, Peter Christian's Bundeena tolundeena via Jibbon gead. fishing trip had 6 members, 4 visitors and 4 prospectives but no reported fish.
-The October long weekend, 2,3,415,0ctober saw Bill Capon lead 5 people an his Ettrema Creek walk and Spiro Hajinakitas leading a slightly shaken crew of 2 prospectives, 2 visitors and 14 members across to Butchers Creek. It seems that at about 0200 Saturday morning a significant portion of a nearby large tree gave way to the prevailing winds and crashed noisily, and
-with some violence, between Spiro's car and Jeff Rigby's tent. -Spiro
-reported no problems getting everyone up later that morning to leave the camp site.
-Things were somewhat quieter for Guy .Vinden on his Jenolan River trip that same weekend. He reported 4 members, one visitor, profuse birdlife, and not much water in the Jenolan. There were no day walks programmed for that weekend.
-The following weekend, 9,10,11 October we had Ian Debert with two prospectives and 11 members, fresh (?) from the Federation Ball treading their fragile and somnambulant way backwards along his Galong Creek, Cox
-Aiver, Breakfast Creek, Carlon's Farm walk. (No, Virginia, they didn't really walk backwards, they just reversed the trip. There is something about pink granite, waterfalls and hangovers that isn't quite right.)
-. Bob Younger had 10 members and two prospectives on his Saturday start 10,11 October walk from Bundeena to Otford and Gordon Lee reported 4 bods at the rockclimbing part of his instructional weekend. Jim Brown.led what was described as a "jolly party" of 17 persons through cloud and drizzle to complete his Otford to Waterfall day test walk, and Peter Miller had his
-starters for theMt.Hay to Bluegum and return sprint' arriving back at the cars at 2100. One must agree that this sort of thing makes -a fitting finale
-Page 9	THE SYDNEY BUSHtILKER	November, 1981.
-to the walks reports, although I doubt Peter thought of it that way at the time.
-General Business saw the unanimous passage of a proposal that the Club write to Bill Hall, recently retired from the Heathcote National Park Advisory ,Committee, thanking him for his Period of service on that comm1tteb,2)n behalf of the Club. Bill first became,a,member of this body when it was a State Park Trust back in 1944 and has served continuously since then, with .a stint as President from 1970 to 1977. Congratulations and thanks, Bill.
-Announcements-were routine except for Marcia Shappert's call for starters for: a trek to Sikim in Bhutan during May 1982 (7th to 27th to be exact). Any takers?
 The President then closed the meeting at 2054.
-* *.* * * * * * *
 HISTORIC WOODFORD-LINDEN WITH NANCYE ALDERSON.
 by Mal addle.