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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. | 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. | by Jim Brown. | ||
- | Well, it was like this, you see. There weren' | + | |
- | 9Please | + | Well, it was like this, you see. There weren' |
- | 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' | + | |
- | 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' |
- | 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 |
- | 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 | + | 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 |
- | 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' | + | 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' |
- | About this stage, remorse overtook me. No one could fairly deem | + | |
- | Page THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER November, | + | 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' | + | |
- | 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 |
- | Either (a) it doesn' | + | |
- | (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 |
- | .._..._ 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 |
- | gong at some length and eventually brought order to the 30 or so members | + | |
- | The Minutes were read and received. The only matter arising was a | + | The Federation Report indicated that S. & R. section have commented |
- | 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, |
- | 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 | + | 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 |
- | 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 |
- | with tales of monetary splendour. It seems that we began the month with | + | |
- | 01684.85, spent $190.07, acquired | + | Ian Debert' |
- | ' The Federation Report indicated that S. & R. section have commented | + | |
- | 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 |
- | couple of non-reports. First there was Alan Pike's modified Three Peaks trip of 11,12,13 September | + | |
- | Three Peaks trip - - no report. | + | 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, | + | |
- | whom were prospectives, | + | 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' |
- | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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' |
- | loy 1430 Sunday (one wanders | + | |
- | Tony Marshall had 4 people | + | |
- | Ian Debert' | + | |
- | The October long weekend, 2,3,415,0ctober saw Bill Capon lead 5 people | + | |
- | with some violence, between 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' | + | |
- | . 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 theMt.Hay to Bluegum and return sprint' | + | |
- | Page 9 THE SYDNEY BUSHtILKER November, | + | |
- | 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 | + | |
- | Announcements-were routine except for Marcia Shappert' | + | |
The President then closed the meeting at 2054. | The President then closed the meeting at 2054. | ||
- | * *.* * * * * * * | + | |
- | HISTORIC WOODFORD-LINDEN WITH NANCYE ALDERSON. | + | =====Historic Woodford-Linden, with Nancye Alderson.===== |
- | by Mal addle. | + | |
+ | by Wal Liddle. | ||
Fifteen bushwalkers alighted from the train at Woodford, in the Blue Mountains, at 11.10 am Saturday morning. | Fifteen bushwalkers alighted from the train at Woodford, in the Blue Mountains, at 11.10 am Saturday morning. | ||
- | Nancye then took us to the 'OLD WOODFORD ACADENY', | ||
- | convict buildings on the Great Western Highway. The main building consists. of two single storey joined: sections at the front (complete with worn flagstone verandahs) and two other structures at the rear. The rear buildings which run at right angles to the front structure consist of a two storey section on one side of an open courtyard and a single storey section on the other side. | ||
- | We were then.introduced to Miss MacNamee, a spry lady of 85 years who told us about the Academy. | ||
- | The first section of the premises was built in 1920, the second in 1845, and the third in 1867, and has been used as an Inn, a post of the Military,. | ||
- | a 'Gold Rush' office, and a Scholastic academy. Apparently it was a favourite staging post for the coaches going to Bathurst and the gold fields. | ||
- | The party then inspected the rear courtyard where the original well and pump complete with handle were still in position. Miss MacNamee said that the single storey building opposite the well had been the stables and outbuildings associated With the horses Whilst the two storey building on the other side had been used as a dwelling and by the scholastic academy. | ||
- | A barred window was observed in the bottom storey of the two storey. section. Miss itacNamee indicated that it had been a storeroom but could have been used 'for the storage of gold. | ||
- | We then went ' | ||
- | Page 10 THE SYDBTY BUSHWALKER November, | ||
- | The party then entered the lounge room which appeared to be in its original condition, i.e. the timber ceiling was painted in a dark mid-green colour and the peeling wallpaper was the original 1876 material. Miss Macnamee pointed out an elaborate moulded cedar bookcase which she said had belonged ,t9 | ||
- | 'one of the inhabitants, | ||
- | , The timber floor in this room was rather shaky. Miss Macnamee indicated that for years her father (the Principal of the Woodford Academy) and herself had done the repairs for all the building, but that because of her advanced,: age she had not been able to keep up with the necessary repairs. She.intimated that the National Trust had taken over this responsibility. | ||
- | We then inspected the front verandah where some of the timber posts, the ' | ||
- | . In the course of the inspection we met Jan Perress (the nurse looking | + | Nancye then took us to the 'Old Woodford Academy', |
- | : From the Academy, the party proceeded to the other side of the Railway, line, along the Historic Bathurst Road, some of which is still a dirt outface. One could actually visualize ' | + | |
- | We followed the old Bathurst Road, past two beautiful convict built 'houses complete with pitched roofs, old fashioned stone chimneys, verandahs complete with iron filagree | + | We were then introduced to Miss MacNamee, a spry lady of 85 years who told us about the Academy. |
- | Prom here the party crossed the Great Western Highway and entered a much Used Rest Area, with a significant historical background. The rest area, a clearing off the road, was just below the two convict built homes already described. A sign stated:- | + | |
- | 20 MIlE H01107T | + | The first section of the premises was built in 1920, the second in 1845, and the third in 1867, and has been used as an Inn, a post of the Military, a 'Gold Rush' office, and a Scholastic academy. Apparently it was a favourite staging post for the coaches going to Bathurst and the gold fields. |
- | Convict Camp for repair of Bathurst Road. | + | |
- | Captain Bull in Charge of 50 soldiers and 80 convicts | + | The party then inspected the rear courtyard where the original well and pump complete with handle were still in position. Miss MacNamee said that the single storey building opposite the well had been the stables and outbuildings associated with the horses whilst the two storey building on the other side had been used as a dwelling and by the scholastic academy. A barred window was observed in the bottom storey of the two storey. section. Miss MacNamee indicated that it had been a storeroom but could have been used for the storage of gold. |
- | here November, 1842 - lived in stone house (above clearing) | + | |
+ | We then went inside the front single storey building via the hall. The hall was painted in an 'old world' cream colour, complete with a curved and embellished arch at the midway point. The hall was hung with photos and paintings of an age long since passed, i.e. knights in armour with their lady loves and mementoes of the 1914-1918 war. The windows at the rear of the hall consist of the original blue and red side lights, complete with glass etched designs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The party then entered the lounge room which appeared to be in its original condition, i.e. the timber ceiling was painted in a dark mid-green colour and the peeling wallpaper was the original 1876 material. Miss Macnamee pointed out an elaborate moulded cedar bookcase which she said had belonged to one of the inhabitants, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The timber floor in this room was rather shaky. Miss Macnamee indicated that for years her father (the Principal of the Woodford Academy) and herself had done the repairs for all the building, but that because of her advanced age she had not been able to keep up with the necessary repairs. She intimated that the National Trust had taken over this responsibility. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We then inspected the front verandah where some of the timber posts, the ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the course of the inspection we met Jan Perress (the nurse looking | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the Academy, the party proceeded to the other side of the Railway line, along the Historic Bathurst Road, some of which is still a dirt surface. One could actually visualize ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | We followed the old Bathurst Road, past two beautiful convict built houses complete with pitched roofs, old fashioned stone chimneys, verandahs complete with iron filagree | ||
+ | |||
+ | Prom here the party crossed the Great Western Highway and entered a much used Rest Area, with a significant historical background. The rest area, a clearing off the road, was just below the two convict built homes already described. A sign stated:- | ||
+ | |||
+ | 20 Mile Hollow | ||
We then sighted another sign pointing to a " | We then sighted another sign pointing to a " | ||
- | 'After lunch the party proceeded to Cayley' | + | |
- | We then visited an old grave just off the road above King's Cave, Linden. Apparently an early traveller died on a journey and was buried at that very spot. King's Cave is a very large cave that sheltered | + | After lunch the party proceeded to Cayley' |
- | Page 11 THE SYDNEY BUMMER November, | + | |
- | hundreds of mounted soldiers in its time, hence the name ' | + | We then visited an old grave just off the road above King's Cave, Linden. Apparently an early traveller died on a journey and was buried at that very spot. King's Cave is a very large cave that sheltered hundreds of mounted soldiers in its time, hence the name ' |
- | Finally we trudged past Martin' | + | |
- | . Sweeps | + | Finally we trudged past Martin' |
- | Nancye then told us :some of the history of the, house - | + | |
- | It was called ' | + | Nancye then told us some of the history of the, house - |
- | bedrooms to house the 'children of the'marriage.'-Eventually the house was | + | |
- | - | + | It was called ' |
- | finished but not on such a and scale.' | + | |
- | NOTE: Further historical details can be obtained from the book | + | __Note__: Further historical details can be obtained from the book ' |
- | ' | + | |
- | Obtainable from J. Maddock, Springwood Historical Society, | + | |
29 Flora Bella Street, Warrimoo. 2775. $4.00 plus 55c postage. | 29 Flora Bella Street, Warrimoo. 2775. $4.00 plus 55c postage. | ||
- | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | ,THE JOY OF ? ? ? ? by Jim Brown. | + | =====The Joy Of ? ? ? ?===== |
- | On the night of the Club's Auction, the first it offered by Charlie Brown was a book. | + | |
+ | by Jim Brown. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the night of the Club's Auction, the first item offered by Charlie Brown was a book. | ||
Kath said to me "What is it?" | Kath said to me "What is it?" | ||
- | Now, I'm a bit like the-ancient golfer in the story, who admftted | + | |
- | - | + | Now, I'm a bit like the ancient golfer in the story, who admitted |
- | And I. would have kept on thinking that, except that next day I saw. a | + | |
- | large advertising hoarding with an illustration of a car and a caption which also appeared to read "The Joy of Sex". Next time I saw it I looked carefully, and fund it was an advertisement for the latest Holden Commodore, and actually read "The Joy of SL/K", which is apparently the code for that model. | + | And I would have kept on thinking that, except that next day I saw a large advertising hoarding with an illustration of a car and a caption which also appeared to read "The Joy of Sex". Next time I saw it I looked carefully, and found it was an advertisement for the latest Holden Commodore, and actually read "The Joy of SL/X", which is apparently the code for that model. |
- | Bearing in mind that Charlie dragooned a member at the auction into | + | |
- | buying a catalogue of" | + | Bearing in mind that Charlie dragooned a member at the auction into buying a catalogue of " |
- | XXXxxxxxxxx | + | |
- | ICAMPING EQUIPMENT Large Tents Stoves | + | |
- | DISTRIBUTORS OF: | + | |
- | Paddymade | + | |
- | BUSHWALKERS | + | |
- | ILightweight Tents Sleeping Bags Rucksacks | + | |
- | Proprietors: | + | |
- | Rowe Street | + | |
- | Ii | + | |
- | JL | + | |
- | Rutledge Street | + | |
- | EASTWOOD CANVAS GOODS & CAMPING SUPPLIES 3 Trvlawney St Eastwood NSW 2122 Phone' 858 2775 | + | |
- | Page 13 TEE SYDNEY BUSEWAIKER November, | + | |
ONE MORE LETTER TO THE EDITOR. | ONE MORE LETTER TO THE EDITOR. | ||
There is Something stirring, something strange afoot occurring with each magazine, for instead of interesting articles concerning walks that we know are happening every weekend, there is always a letter to the Editor | There is Something stirring, something strange afoot occurring with each magazine, for instead of interesting articles concerning walks that we know are happening every weekend, there is always a letter to the Editor |
198111.txt · Last modified: 2016/03/30 10:50 by tyreless