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198308 [2016/03/24 11:14] – [July] kclacher | 198308 [2016/03/24 11:34] – [The Sydney Bushwalker] kclacher | ||
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|**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | |**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | ||
|**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | |**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | ||
- | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray | | + | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray| |
|**Typist**| Kath Brown| | |**Typist**| Kath Brown| | ||
|**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | |**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | ||
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| The Franklin River Verdict |by Jim Brown | 2| | | The Franklin River Verdict |by Jim Brown | 2| | ||
| Social Notes for September | | 2| | | Social Notes for September | | 2| | ||
- | | Arthur and Us - Part 1 | Bill Gamble | 3| | + | | Arthur and Us - Part I | Bill Gamble | 3| |
| For the Love of the-South-West | Peter Harris | 6| | | For the Love of the-South-West | Peter Harris | 6| | ||
| Notes of the June & July General Meetings | Barry Wallace | 6| | | Notes of the June & July General Meetings | Barry Wallace | 6| | ||
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===== The Franklin River Verdict ===== | ===== The Franklin River Verdict ===== | ||
- | by Jim Brown | + | (13th July, 1983) by Jim Brown |
| The Wise Men sat in judgement and they found | | | The Wise Men sat in judgement and they found | | ||
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Arthur' | Arthur' | ||
- | "The park is a rugged and mountainous area of about 100,000 hectares situated in the centre of the South Island (about 150 km west of Christchurch). It is a land of jagged skylines, tall snowy peaks and snowgrass-clad ridges, deep gorges, steep, bush-covered hillsides, sheer cliffs of angular black rock, high waterfalls, wide shingle riverbeds and rushing torrents. The park is traversed by large rivers - on the east the Waimakariri and Poulter and their tributaries, | + | "The park is a rugged and mountainous area of about 100,000 hectares situated in the centre of the South Island (about 150 km west of Christchurch). It is a land of jagged skylines, tall snowy peaks and snowgrass-clad ridges, deep gorges, steep, bush-covered hillsides, sheer cliffs of angular black rock, high.waterfalls, wide shingle riverbeds and rushing torrents. The park is traversed by large rivers - on the east the Waimakariri and Poulter and their tributaries, |
"... the area of mountain ridges above bushline approximately equals the forested area. From valley floors at about 700m on the east the peaks rise to 1800m or more, but the western valley floors lie at only about 300m or slightly more. From any of the high peaks there are views over ridge upon ridge of broken rock, with snowfields lying beneath them and deep-cut valleys below. Ten named peaks over 2100m in height and twenty-one over 1800m lie within the park. | "... the area of mountain ridges above bushline approximately equals the forested area. From valley floors at about 700m on the east the peaks rise to 1800m or more, but the western valley floors lie at only about 300m or slightly more. From any of the high peaks there are views over ridge upon ridge of broken rock, with snowfields lying beneath them and deep-cut valleys below. Ten named peaks over 2100m in height and twenty-one over 1800m lie within the park. | ||
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Instead of going straight into the walk as programmed, our introduction to the park, as a party, was two days spent above Arthurs Pass itself, firstly on the east side in the Temple Basin and in the upper Mingha Valley, and then an the west side on the slopes of Mt. Rolleston, 2271m. The leader had spent two days in the park on the previous weekend and proposed this change as a way of widening the scope of the walking to be done by the party. It proved to be an excellent beginning, in brilliantly fine weather immediately after snowfalls. The change was also partly due to recent alterations in the timetable for trains to and from the park, which had made impractical the use of public transport if full use was to be made of the days allotted for walking. The use of the leader' | Instead of going straight into the walk as programmed, our introduction to the park, as a party, was two days spent above Arthurs Pass itself, firstly on the east side in the Temple Basin and in the upper Mingha Valley, and then an the west side on the slopes of Mt. Rolleston, 2271m. The leader had spent two days in the park on the previous weekend and proposed this change as a way of widening the scope of the walking to be done by the party. It proved to be an excellent beginning, in brilliantly fine weather immediately after snowfalls. The change was also partly due to recent alterations in the timetable for trains to and from the park, which had made impractical the use of public transport if full use was to be made of the days allotted for walking. The use of the leader' | ||
- | Anyway, three of the party members arrived in Christchurch late on Wednesday afternoon, 16 March, on a cold, wet day (maximum 7< | + | Anyway, three of the party members arrived in Christchurch late on Wednesday afternoon, 16 March, on a cold, wet day (maximum 7< |
- | After eight days and differing radio and press reports, Bernard O' | + | All the way from Christchurch the Southern Alps were a line of white against blue sky, looming larger all the time. The storm of the previous day had dumped an impressive covering of snow. However, over the foothills |
+ | at Porters Pass. we found that the warmth | ||
- | He packed some supplies which consisted of bread and butter, onions, sugar and tea, and mounted his horse ready for the journey to Mount Bethongabel. Here he sent the mare home and proceeded by f6ot through the trackless jungle. On the morning of the second day O'Reilly was an the top of Mount Throakban looking out over the three remaining mountain ranges. Eight miles away on the third range, Lamington Plateau, he sighted a burnt out tree which confirmed his theory. Eight hours later he found the survivors who were in very poor condition, one of whom had a broken leg. With help from all over the district a rescue party was organised which cut a stretcher path through the forest. Bunstead | + | About 4:00 pm we walked away from the parking area on Arthur's Pass, at the start of the steeply rising Temple Basin Track, glad to leave behind |
- | After returning to camp from the wreck we were able to see the stretcher track, approximately 4 feet wide, which is maintained free from undergrowth to this day. | + | |
- | Our party arrived at Tyalgum Valley Lookout at 9:30 where the hailstones on the track were thick underfoot. The track from here on became indistinct and we had to fan out many times to find one of the tree blazes. Wherever | + | In the gathering chill of the early evening the pot belly stove in the centre |
+ | to shelter many day-use skiers. Piped water and flush toilets seemed luxuries, but were really necessities | ||
- | We passed | + | Away on a day walk, we traipsed through the debris and scattered ski-tow equipment on what is essentially a downhill ski area, to the upper part of the Temple Basin; and, after a brief inspection of the other park shelter, we scrambled up the steep scree alongside the last ski-tow |
- | At one stage we became disoriented | + | Our route back was to follow the rocky watercourse of the side stream which brought us out on a ridge spur about 500m above. For the next hour or so we walked |
- | Some time after lunch the track became defined again and at 2:30 pm we arrived at a signpost which pointed | + | Early on Saturday morning we went back to the car to move it down the highway about 500m and start another day walk, this time up on to Rome Ridge leading |
- | At 5 pm the party emerged from the bush onto Forest Road. Here we were met by Peter Maxwell, a Forestry Commission Ranger. He drew the leaders aside and engaged them in earnest conversation. Pat later told us the story. Bill had assumed that we would get lost because | + | After lunch, it was a pleasant half-hour walk out alongside |
- | That night we camped in cold, overcast conditions in a clearing at the Border Lookout. | + | (Map reference: Arthur' |
- | The next morning we rejoined the mini-bus and were driven to the Tweed Valley Lookout, 940 metres above sea level. Here a notice proclaims: "We now saw the breakers again, their situation may always be found by the peaked mountain which bears SW by W from them and on their account I have named it Mt. Warning - Lt. Cook RN - 16 May 1770." | + | ===== Advertisement ===== |
+ | ==== For Sale ==== | ||
- | We arrived at Kyogie at 1:45 and sat down to a counter lunch, a welcome change from our bush repasts At 5 pm we escorted Joyce to the railway station and climbed aboard the bus for our journey back to Brisbane. | + | __One only__ " |
- | ===== Bush Walkers and the Big Bang ===== | + | __Two only__ " |
- | by Jim Brown | + | |
- | Of course;- bush walkers would never use explosives or fire-arms, would they? Never? | + | Phone Bronwyn Stow - 81 1257 (H) 789 9242 (B) after 4 pm. |
- | This thinking was inspired by the quotation from Phil Butt in the " | + | ===== For the Love of the South-West ===== |
+ | by Peter Harris | ||
- | But even in my time with the Club there have been walkers who were fascinated by the Big Bang. For some years there used to be a regular camp at Euroka Clearing in the Lower Blue Mountains (before there was a road there) on the weekend nearest to the 24th May (which used to be Empire Day - Cracker Night - in the days when there were still some vestiges of a British Empire, my children). All comers brought their catherine wheels and Roman candles, port lights and rockets, and made the Blue Labyrinth resound on the Saturday evening. | + | I am not alone with my thoughts. I used to be, but all of the unanswered questions have been answered. There is another voice inside me which calls for freedom, and weeps for my love of the South-West won. |
- | On one occasion | + | Mine is a burning life-force borne in peaceful lofty crags, and in the silent heathlands with their carpets |
- | In addition to those who were satisfied with commercial fireworks, there were others who liked louder noises. At a camp in 1952 (I think the Club's 25th Anniversary) someone let off an explosive device, occasioning what might be called | + | I hear my name being beckoned |
- | Being at the time the S.B.W. representative on the Blue Gum Trust, I undertook | + | Talk to me no more about joyful experiences of the South-West. Praise instead |
- | The Blue Gum affair wasn't quite as simple as it sounds. A drill was needed to burrow into the hardened, saturated wood of the partially submerged logs and a chain block was used to shift some Of the more massive lumps of timber. It was reckoned at the time that Colin Putt, who carried the chain block, had a load of nearly 100 lbs -(about 44 kg) on the way down to the forest. I think it was Peter Stitt who carried the petrol-engined drill, and he must have had 75 lbs (33 Kg) on his back. Several times over the weekend the cry arose "To the hills!" | + | Lift your voices. Can you hear the call of the wild? Can you feel its burning caress |
- | At one stage on the Sunday morning | + | There are times when I am alone that I can communicate with nature itself, when I sit upon a rock and see the place of which I've dreamed, and know without |
- | Honour - or the urge to make a **big bang** - must have been satisfied at Blue Gum. Although we had almost 50 people there for a subsequent working bee in 1955 to consolidate the work on the "silt pack", there were no more loud noises. Our mantle passed to one of the Speliological Societies which was reported in 1955 to be using explosives to form a passage between two natural caves at Bungonia. Being reformed characters, we could afford to chuckle at Geoff Wagg's explanation in one of the Chronic Operas (to the tune of "For he's gone and married Yum Yum" - from The Mikado):- | + | ===== Notes of the June and July General Meetings ===== |
+ | by Barry Wallace | ||
- | | "Oh, we're going to make a big hole, big hole, | | ||
- | | With Gelly and Poader, to make the noise louder | | ||
- | | We'll very soon get to our goal.... | | ||
- | |||
- | | We've explored every cave that is known, is known, | | ||
- | | With din everlasting and drilling and blasting | | ||
- | | We're making a few of our own..... | | ||
- | |||
- | As Hamlet says with his last breath "The rest is silence" | ||
- | |||
- | ===== Continuing Education Programme, University of Sydney ===== | ||
- | |||
- | Over the next few months several courses of lectures, discussions and outings are to be held by the University of Sydney in its Continuing Education Programme. Anyone over the age of 18 may enroll for these courses. Some of these courses may be of interest to people engaged in outdoor activities such as Bush Walking. Further information may be obtained by writing to the University or by phoning 692-2907. | ||
- | |||
- | | **__Birds__** | - 9 meetings $35.00. Tuesdays at 7 pm, commencing 6th September. Classification and distribution of birds, their habitats and breeding behaviour. | | ||
- | | **__Bird-Watching Week-End__** | - Oberon: | ||
- | | **__Seashore Ecology__** | - 6 meetings $45.00. Tuesdays at 6 pm, commencing 1st November. Study of animals and plant of NS.W. Seashore - life history, environments, | ||
- | | **__Hill End - The Study of a Goldfield__** | - October. Participants make food, accommodation. Study Cost $40.00. Week-end Saturday/ | ||
- | | **__Anthropology - Aboriginal Art__** | - 9 meetings, $30.00. Thursdays 10.30 am from September 8th. Survey of aboriginal rock carvings, painting | ||
- | |||
- | __Congratulations__ to Margaret and Bob Hodgson on the birth of their first child, a daughter, | ||
- | |||
- | ===== Federation of Bushwalkers Ball 1983 ===== | ||
- | |||
- | Let's put our dancing shoes on and get together for the Bushwalkers Ball (it's country dancing, really). | ||
- | |||
- | | Date: | Friday, 23rd September 1983 | | ||
- | | Venue: | Lane Cove Town Hall, Longueville Road, entrance in Phoenix Street. Council car park at rear and in Little Street. | | ||
- | | Time: | 8 pm | | ||
- | | Cost: $7.00 single - B.Y.O. + Plate | | ||
- | | Dress: | Casual or semi-formal (whatever you fancy!) | | ||
- | | Tickets: | Barbara Bruce - phone bookings 925-2520 (Bus.) or 546-6570 (H). | ||
- | | | Denise Shaw - phone 922-6093 (H) | | ||
- | |||
- | The tickets will also be on sale in the clubroom. | ||
- | |||
- | We would like S.B.W. to be represented by a large, lively, funloving group this year. You don't need a partner - just come along and join our table. There' | ||
- | |||
- | ==== Walks Note ==== | ||
- | Gordon Lee, following a recent walk in the Budawangs area, reports that Sluice Box Falls on Kilpatrick Creek are not shown on the new Endrick 1:25000 map in the correct location. | ||
- | |||
- | ===== Notice ===== | ||
- | ==== Half-Yearly General Meeting ==== | ||
- | |||
- | __The Sydney Bush Walkers__ | ||
- | (Founded 1927) | ||
- | G.P.O. Box 4476 | ||
- | Sydney N.S.W. 2001 | ||
- | |||
- | **Notice is hereby given** that the half-yearly General Meeting of the Sydney Bush Walkers will be held on Wednesday, 7th September, 1983, at the Cahill Community Centre, 34 Falcon Street, Crow's Nest, commencing at 8:00 pm. | ||
- | |||
- | Agenda | ||
- | |||
- | - Apologies | ||
- | - Welcome to new members | ||
- | - Minutes of the General Meeting held on Wednesday, 10th August, 1983 | ||
- | - Correspondence | ||
- | - Reports: | ||
- | - Determination of the site for the 1984.Annual Reunion | ||
- | - Election of a convenor for the 1984 Annual Reunion | ||
- | - General Business | ||
- | - Announcements | ||
- | |||
- | Barbara Bruce | ||
- | Honorary Secretary. | ||
- | |||
- | No notices of Amendments to the Constitution have been received. | ||
- | 15th August, 1983 | ||
==== June ==== | ==== June ==== | ||
There were about 30 members present by 2018, so the President, in the chair, gonged the gong (this time with a wooden spoon, you will all be relieved. to know) and called the meeting to order. | There were about 30 members present by 2018, so the President, in the chair, gonged the gong (this time with a wooden spoon, you will all be relieved. to know) and called the meeting to order. | ||
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It seems our membership is becoming mobile for there was a spate of change of address notices. Apart from these there was a letter from the Wildlife Preservation Society advising of a three week bus tour to South Australia and environs planned for later this year; and a copy of a letter which Ray Hookway has sent to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation supporting the provision of facilities for cross-country skiing in the areas around Kosciusko National Park. The only business arising was deferred to General Business. | It seems our membership is becoming mobile for there was a spate of change of address notices. Apart from these there was a letter from the Wildlife Preservation Society advising of a three week bus tour to South Australia and environs planned for later this year; and a copy of a letter which Ray Hookway has sent to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation supporting the provision of facilities for cross-country skiing in the areas around Kosciusko National Park. The only business arising was deferred to General Business. | ||
- | The Treasurer' | + | The Treasurer' |
We began with Tony Marshall' | We began with Tony Marshall' | ||
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The following weekend, 20,21,22 saw Barry Wallace and a team of 10 dedicated experimenters conducting rainwear tests in the drizzle and swirling mists of Bonnum Pic. Steve and Wendy Hodgman had 11 people on their Goulburn River National Park trip that same weekend. The remark that the trip "has potential as a summer walk" is to be taken at face value only. Of the day walks, Roy Braithwaite reported 7 starters on a very wet and cold coastal walk which was slightly re-arranged to go from Bundeena to Audley rather than Otford. Sandy Johnston had 10 people on his Hawkesbury River walk, reported as " | The following weekend, 20,21,22 saw Barry Wallace and a team of 10 dedicated experimenters conducting rainwear tests in the drizzle and swirling mists of Bonnum Pic. Steve and Wendy Hodgman had 11 people on their Goulburn River National Park trip that same weekend. The remark that the trip "has potential as a summer walk" is to be taken at face value only. Of the day walks, Roy Braithwaite reported 7 starters on a very wet and cold coastal walk which was slightly re-arranged to go from Bundeena to Audley rather than Otford. Sandy Johnston had 10 people on his Hawkesbury River walk, reported as " | ||
- | The weekend of 27,28,29 May saw various parties struggling with the aftermath of the wet weather. Don Finch and his party of 6 found the Capertee in flood, so they walked over to the Wolgan and back. Bob Hodgson (just call me Dad!) had an interesting but different experience coping with excess waters on his Krungle-without-Bungle walk. The report of Peter Christian' | + | The weekend of 27,28,29 May saw various parties struggling with the aftermath of the wet weather. Don Finch and his party of 6 found the Capertee in flood, so they walked over to the Wolgan and back. Bob Hodgson (just call me Dad!) had an interesting but different experience coping with excess waters on his Krungle-without-Bungle walk. The report of Peter Christian' |
Bill Capon' | Bill Capon' | ||
- | Federation Report concerned a proliferation of helipads | + | Federation Report concerned a proliferation of Helipads |
General Business brought a motion that we write to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation urging that he support the provision of facilities for cross-country skiers in areas adjacent to Kosciusko National Park. After an extensive but rather confused debate the motion was carried. | General Business brought a motion that we write to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation urging that he support the provision of facilities for cross-country skiers in areas adjacent to Kosciusko National Park. After an extensive but rather confused debate the motion was carried. | ||
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==== July ==== | ==== July ==== | ||
- | The meeting began at around 2013 hours with 20 or so members present | + | The meeting began at around 2013 hours with 20 or so members present |
The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received, with the only business arising being a follow-up on the proposal to levy member clubs of the South West Tasmania Coalition. It seems Federation plans to offer support for the Coalition as well. | The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received, with the only business arising being a follow-up on the proposal to levy member clubs of the South West Tasmania Coalition. It seems Federation plans to offer support for the Coalition as well. | ||
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The Treasurer' | The Treasurer' | ||
- | David Rostron began the Walks Report with his Axehead | + | David Rostron began the Walks Report with his Axe Head Range high camps extravaganza. They began with 11 starters on a snow-swept Kanangra Walls and picked up an extra bod along the way. That same weekend 10,11,12,13 June saw Ian Debert and 8 others on a base camp at Yerranderie. They reported a very snowy Friday night, but were able to climb Yerranderie Peak and Chiddys Obelisk over the weekend to retain their license. Bill Burke had 16 people on his Sofala to Hill End walk. They reported beautiful, but cold, weather. There were no day walks programmed for that weekend. |
- | The following weekend 17,18,19 June saw Gordon Lee with 20 people on his Ski Touring Instructional, | + | The following weekend 17,18,19 June saw Gordon Lee with 20 people on his Ski Touring Instructional, |
Over the weekend of 24,25,26th June Tony Marshall led his party of 7 through Jenolan Canyon - - twice, just to make sure. George Walton' | Over the weekend of 24,25,26th June Tony Marshall led his party of 7 through Jenolan Canyon - - twice, just to make sure. George Walton' | ||
Line 232: | Line 167: | ||
Ainslie Morris' | Ainslie Morris' | ||
- | The following weekend, 8,9,10 July Bill Capon had 3 starters on a somewhat | + | The following weekend, 8,9,10 July Bill Capon had 3 starters on a Somewhat |
Federation Report brought news that the Barrier Ranges Bushwalkers have been accepted as members of Federation, that there are conservation concern over stock routes in the Kosciusko National Park, and that information is sought regarding the establishment of a Nattai National Park. There will be S. & R. exercises on 22,23 October 1983, 24,25 March 1984 and 23,24 June 1984. | Federation Report brought news that the Barrier Ranges Bushwalkers have been accepted as members of Federation, that there are conservation concern over stock routes in the Kosciusko National Park, and that information is sought regarding the establishment of a Nattai National Park. There will be S. & R. exercises on 22,23 October 1983, 24,25 March 1984 and 23,24 June 1984. | ||
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Three passengers survived the crash - Westray, Bunstead and Proud. Westray, a young New Zealander, decided to go for help only to fall over a cliff and die in the bush. The other two survivors lived on the berries from the walking stick palm and water collected from Xmas Creek. | Three passengers survived the crash - Westray, Bunstead and Proud. Westray, a young New Zealander, decided to go for help only to fall over a cliff and die in the bush. The other two survivors lived on the berries from the walking stick palm and water collected from Xmas Creek. | ||
- | The papers of the day and the aviation authorities had given up the Stinson as lost. People had sighted | + | The papers of the day and the aviation authorities had given up the Stinson as lost. People had sighted |
+ | |||
+ | After eight days and differing radio and press reports, Bernard O' | ||
+ | |||
+ | He packed some supplies which consisted of bread and butter, onions, sugar and tea, and mounted his horse ready for the journey to Mount Bethongabel. Here he sent the mare home and proceeded by f6ot through the trackless jungle. On the morning of the second day O' | ||
+ | After returning to camp from the wreck we were able to see the stretcher track, approximately 4 feet wide, which is maintained free from undergrowth to this day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our party arrived at Tyalgum Valley Lookout at 9:30 where the hailstones on the track were thick underfoot. The track from here on became indistinct and we had to fan out many times to find one of the tree blazes. Wherever a break in the rain forest canopy occurred, the undergrowth was thick and tangled because of the life-accelerating effects of the sunlight. The undergrowth was wet and we had to stop at intervals to extricate ourselves from the lawyer vines that got caught in our clothing and flesh. This proved to be very painful at times, Allegedly lawyer vines were given this name by the early settlers because once they got their hooks into you you would never get them out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We passed a number of antarctic beeches, a huge gnarled tree with buttressed arched roots that meet the trunk metres above the ground. These trees are thought to be thousands of years old and are a relic from a colder epoch. They usually occur at higher altitudes and are found in Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand, South America and the New Guinea Highlands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At one stage we became disoriented and found ourselves heading in the opposite direction to our compass course. The group had just passed through a cleft in two large rocks which Pat recognised from our earlier wanderings. The mistake was confirmed, by reference to the area map. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some time after lunch the track became defined again and at 2:30 pm we arrived at a signpost which pointed to O' | ||
+ | |||
+ | At 5 pm the party emerged from the bush onto Forest Road. Here we were met by Peter Maxwell, a Forestry Commission Ranger. He drew the leaders aside and engaged them in earnest conversation. Pat later told us the story. Bill had assumed that we would get lost because of "poor leadership, inadequate maps and equipment" | ||
+ | |||
+ | That night we camped in cold, overcast conditions in a clearing at the Border Lookout. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next morning we rejoined the mini-bus and were driven to the Tweed Valley Lookout, 940 metres above sea level. Here a notice proclaims: "We now saw the breakers again, their situation may always be found by the peaked mountain which bears SW by W from them and on their account I have named it Mt. Warning - Lt. Cook RN - 16 May 1770." | ||
+ | |||
+ | We arrived at Kyogie at 1:45 and sat down to a counter lunch, a welcome change from our bush repasts At 5 pm we escorted Joyce to the railway station and climbed aboard the bus for our journey back to Brisbane. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Bush Walkers and the Big Bang ===== | ||
+ | by Jim Brown | ||
+ | |||
+ | Of course;- bush walkers would never use explosives or fire-arms, would they? Never? | ||
+ | |||
+ | This thinking was inspired by the quotation from Phil Butt in the " | ||
+ | sometimes took to.the bush during the 1930s Depression years. In spite of the reputed permissiveness of more recent years, no one seems to think such a precaution necessary now. Maybe we really are better behaved after all. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But even in my time with the Club there have been walkers who were fascinated by the Big Bang. For some years there used to be a regular camp at Euroka Clearing in the Lower Blue Mountains (before there was a road there) on the weekend nearest to the 24th May (which used to be Empire Day - Cracker Night - in the days when there were still some vestiges of a British Empire,' | ||
+ | |||
+ | On one occasion a lighted firework, thrown with small regard ,for the environment, | ||
+ | |||
+ | In addition to those who were satisfied with commercial fireworks, there were others who liked louder noises. At a camp in 1952 (I think the Club's 25th Anniversary) some one let off an explosive device, occasioning.what might, be called in modern legal parlance_" | ||
+ | not to do it again, the perpetrators displayed a suitably meek attitude, but countered with a proposal to blow up fallen trees which were causing serious | ||
+ | |||
+ | Being at the time the S.B.W. representative on the Blue Gum Trust, I undertook to put the proposal to the Trust. Admittedly, I did so with fingers crossed and uttering a small prayer. However, the idea was readily adopted, and on the weekend of 25/26 April, 1953, the dynamiters went into action. Actually, it was gelignite which was used and, because it is apparently sensitive stuff, it was claimed that some of the party cuddled up to it in their sleeping bags at the top of the Perry' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Blue Gum affair wasn't quite as simple as it sounds. A drill was needed to burrow into' | ||
+ | |||
+ | At one stage on the Sunday morning .a rumour Spread around " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Honour - or the urge to make a **big bang** - must have been satisfied at Blue Gum. Although we had almost 50 people there for a. subsequent working bee in 1955 to consolidate the work on the "silt pack", there were no. more loud noises. Our mantle passed to one of the Speliblogical Societies which was reported in 1955 to be using explosives to form a passage between two natural caves at Bungonia. Being reformed characters, we could afford to chuckle at Geoff Wagg's explanation in one of the Chronic Operas (to the tune of " | ||
+ | |||
+ | | "Oh, we're going to make a big hole, big hole, | | ||
+ | | With Gelly and Poader, to make the noise louder | | ||
+ | | We'll very soon get to our goal.... | | ||
+ | |||
+ | | We've explored every cave that is known, is known, | | ||
+ | | 7th din everlasting and drilling and blasting | | ||
+ | | We're making .a few of our own | | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Hamlet says with his last breath "The rest is silence" | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Continuing Education Programme, University of Sydney ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Over the next few months several courses of lectures, discussions and outings are to be held by the University of Sydney in its Continuing Education Programme. Anyone over the age of 18 may enrol for these courses. Some of these courses may be of interest to people engaged in outdoor activities such as Bush Walking. Further information may be obtained by writing to the University or by phoning 692-2907. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **__Birds__** - 9 meetings $35.00. Tuesdays at 7 pm, commencing 6th September. Classification and distribution of birds, their habitats and breeding behaviour. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **__Bird-Watching Week-End__** - Oberon: | ||
+ | |||
+ | **__Seashore Ecology__** - 6 meetings $45.00. Tuesdays at 6 pm, commencing 1st November. Study of animals and plant of NS.W. Seashore - life hiStorY, environments, | ||
+ | |||
+ | **__Hill End - The Study of a Goldfield__** - October. Participants make food, accommodation. Study Cost $40.00. Week-end Saturday/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | **__Anthropology - Aboriginal Art__** - 9 meetings, $30.00. Thursdays 10.30 am from September 8th. Survey of aboriginal rock carvings, painting | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Congratulations__ to Margaret and Bob Hodgson on the birth of their first child, a daughter, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Federation of Bushwalkers Ball 1983 ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Let's put our dancing shoes on and get together for the Bushwalkers Ball (it's country dancing, really). | ||
+ | |||
+ | | Date: | Friday, 23rd Saptember 1983. | | ||
+ | | Venue: | LANE 'COVE TOWN HALL. | ||
+ | Longueville Road, entrance in Phoenix Street. Council car park at rear and in Little Street. | | ||
+ | | Time: | 8 pm | | ||
+ | | Cost: $7.00 single - B.Y.O. + Plate | | ||
+ | | Dress: | Casual or semi-formal (whatever you fancy!) | | ||
+ | | Tickets: |Barbara Bruce - phone bookings 925-2520 (Bus.) or 546-6570 (H).. | ||
+ | | | Denise Shaw - phone 922-6093.(H). | | ||
+ | |||
+ | The tickets will also be on sale in the clubroom. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We would like S.B.W. to be represented by a large, lively, funloving group this year. You don't need a partner - just come along and join our table. There' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Walks Note ==== | ||
+ | Gordon Lee, following a recent walk in the Budawangs area, reports that Sluice Box Falls on Kilpatrick Creek, are not shown on the new Endrick 1:25000 map in the correct location. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Notice ===== | ||
+ | ====Half-Yearly General Meeting ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | __The Sydney Bush Walkers__ | ||
+ | (Founded 1927) | ||
+ | G.P.O. Box 4476 | ||
+ | Sydney N.S.W. 2001 | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Notice is hereby given** that the half-yearly General Meeting of the Sydney Bush Walkers will be held on Wednesday, 7th September, 1983, at the Cahill Community Centre, 34 Falcon Street, Crow's Nest, commencing at 8:00 pm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Agenda | ||
+ | |||
+ | - Apologies | ||
+ | - Welcome to new members | ||
+ | - Minutes of the General Meeting held on Wednesday, 10th August, 1983 | ||
+ | - Correspondence | ||
+ | - Reports: | ||
+ | - Determination of the site for the 1984.Annual Reunion | ||
+ | - Election of a convenor for the 1984 Annual Reunion | ||
+ | - General Business | ||
+ | - Announcements | ||
+ | |||
+ | Barbara Bruce | ||
+ | Honorary Secretary. | ||
+ | |||
+ | No notices of Amendments to the Constitution have been received. | ||
+ | 15th August, 1983. |
198308.txt · Last modified: 2016/03/25 15:22 by kclacher