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-ThE FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING
+=====The February General Meeting.=====
-MARCH 1993
-by Barry Wallace-
+by Barry Wallace
--
-_:about 2018 there Were some 16 or so memberspresent SO..the.President. edtli e',gong and went, fOr it,:as they say, with apolOgies,::,minutes an dT. 0,10 ,stuff:. The meeting finally grew..tO.numlier around 26 souls in
+At about 2018 there Were some 16 or so members present so the President gonged the gong and went for it, as they say, with apologies, minutes and all that stuff. The meeting finally grew to number around 26 souls in all but it was from this small beginning let it not be forgot. There was an apology from Margaret Niven and no new members to welcome.
-was from this-smaleginhing let it not be forgot.- There was,"an from Margaret: Niveh,and. no new members to welcome.
-ThejlinuteSWt'h4?PrevioUs:Meeting we0:readand OCeivedth..no,
+The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received with no matters arising. The Treasurer's Report indicated that we acquired income of $519 for the month. This report was received.
-matters arising. The treasurer's Report indicated' that we acquired incaMe of $519 for'the month. this report was received,
-Correspondence brought a letter from solicitors acting for our insurance company advising us that the matter concerning a damages claim by Frances Drew has been stood over for mention in the same court on 15th March. It
+Correspondence brought a letter from solicitors acting for our insurance company advising us that the matter concerning a damages claim by Frances Drew has been stood over for mention in the same court on 15th March. It has still not been determined whether the action will be taken to the district court with an increased claim but in either case it is expected that the hearing will be set for June or July this year.
-has still not been determined whether the action will be taken to the district court with an increased claim but in either case it is expected that the hearing will be set for June or July this year.
-The Walks Report began at the weekend of 16,17 January with Ian Debert/ Bill Holland reporting 6/11 starters on the canoe trip/walk ill' the vicinity of Lake Yarrunga. The weather. was fine and warm, which was O.K. by the canoeists, and Bill, who sotehow or other attempted to maintain the virtues of a 3-hour slog through hot scrub as away of getting to the campsite.
+The Walks Report began at the weekend of 16,17 January with Ian Debert/ Bill Holland reporting 6/11 starters on the canoe trip/walk in the vicinity of Lake Yarrunga. The weather was fine and warm, which was O.K. by the canoeists, and Bill, who somehow or other attempted to maintain the virtues of a 3-hour slog through hot scrub as a way of getting to the campsite. All the other walkers didn't seem to be so sure. Geoff McIntosh's trip in the Mount Wilson area went, with a party of 8 in rather hot conditions. Zol Bodlay's Saturday coastal walk was cancelled. Oliver Crawford reported 12 on his Sunday Wollongambe trip, returning to the cars early so as not to miss the heat of the day. Jim Callaway had a party of "7 to 6 to 8 to 4" on his Bundeena to Otford trip enjoying the hot conditions with lots of swimming along the way.
-All the other walkers didn't' seem to be so sure. Geoff McIntosh's trip in the Mount Wilson area went, with a party of 8 in rather hot conditions.
-Zol Bodlay's Saturday coastal walk was cancelled. Oliver Crawford reported 12 on his Sunday Wollongambe trip, returning to the cars early so as not to
+The Australia Day weekend saw Brian Holden and a cast of 18, including Bill Holland and his walk to Yalwal Creek, participating in a gloriously unstructured relaxation weekend on the Shoalhaven River, walking, floating, sunning, swimming, side-tripping and generally enjoying what sounds to have been a great weekend for that sort of thing. Two people arrived at half time and everyone seems to have left at different times as suited them best. Zol Bodlay and an undisclosed number of wise men or fools went to Blackheath for his Saturday Blackheath to Blackheath via Centennial Glen walk, took a long hard look at the teeming rain and came home again. Whether this be seen as cowardice, wisdom or "been there, done that" will depend on one's perspective. Alan Mewett, the timekeeper of note, led a party of 17 through fine weather with sunny intervals on his Hawkesbury River trip on the Sunday.
-miss the heat of the day. Jim Callaway had a party of "7to 6 to 8 to 4" on his Bundeena to Otford trip enjoying the hot conditions with lots of swimming along the way.
-. . The Australia Day weekend saw Brian Holden and a cast of 18, including Bill'Holland and his walk to YalWal Creek, participating in a gloriously unstructured relaxation weekend on the Shoalhaven'River, walking, floating, sunning, swimming, side-tripping and generally enjoying what Sounds to have been a great weekend for that sort of thing. Two people arrived at half
+At time of report Ian Wolfe and party were still out there, somewhere, on his 12-day Tasmanian walk. Watch this space.
-time and everyone seems to have left at different times as suited them best. Zol Bodlay and an undisclosed number of wise men or fools went to Blackheath for his Saturday Blackheath to Blackheath via Centennial Glen walk, took a long hard look at the teeming rain and came home again. Whether this be seen as cowardice, wisdom or "been there, done that" will depend on one's perspective. Alan Mewett, the timekeeper of note; led a party of 17 through fine weather with sunny intervals on his Hawkesbury River trip on the Sunday.
-. At tiem of report' Ian Wolfe'and,party were still out there, somewhere,
+January 30,31 saw Belinda McKenzie and a Party of 3 enjoying a pleasant time on a day-and-a-half stroll through the Royal National Park from Bundeena to Otford. Bill Holland's party of 19, rampaging through the wilds of farthest Eloura bushland, piked early and went back to the barbecue to join the others. Maurie Bloom's bike trip along the south coast was rendered more pleasant by the onshore breeze which provided much needed cooling airflow. The continuing Canyon Odyssey of Peter Christian had 7 in the Twilight Canyon of the program.
-on his 12'-day Tasmanian walk. Watch this space.
-. January 30,31 saw Belinda McKenzie and a Party of 3 enjoying a pleasant time on a day-and--a-half stroll through the Royal National Park from Bundeena to Otford. Bill Holland's party of 19, rampaging through the wilds of
+Oliver Crawford's walk in the Budawangs over the weekend of 5,6,7 February saw the rains come with drizzle and fog, so the party shrank from 12 to 10 and the remainder camped under Mount Donjon to keep their powder dry and enjoyed the views next day. Zol Bodlay led a party of 4 on his Saturday trip to Murra Murra N.P. Things were better here than in the Budawangs, with fine but overcast conditions. Of the Sunday walks Eddie Giacomel had the 17 people on his trip to the Colo River back at the cars by 1900 and George Mawer led his party of 17 through an enjoyable day from Waterfall to Heathcote. Somewhere in there Kenn Clacher led a party of 3 through the milling hordes in Claustral Canyon and backed up to repeat the experience with a party of 5 in Bell Creek on the Sunday. Here endeth the Walks Report.
-farthest Eloura bushland, piked' early and went back to the barbecue to join the others. Maurie Bloom's bike trip along the south coast was rendered.
-more pleasand by the onshore breeze which provided much needed cooling airflow. The *continuing Canyon Odyssey of Peter Christian had7 in the Twilight Canyon of the program.
+Our $130 is still out there, not doing well and about to disappear into one of those agglomerated funds so beloved of politicians and bureaucrats, or so the Conservation Report revealed. It was all cloaked in double-speak about "costs of establishing separate fund", "separate accounting overheads" and so on, but it all means that the State Government's Conservation Fund, established with press releases and fanfare is to be buried quietly. Weep not, gentle reader, for we are advised that our $130 will be put to purchasing copies of an uplifting book about transforming industrial wasteland into parkland. The moral presumably being that it's OK to make industrial wastelands in the first place. Alex has written to the National Parks & Wildlife Service on the matter of planning for the Nattai National Park, and will write to the RTA urging them to re-vegetate the scarred verges of the Mittagong bypass.
-_OliverCraWford'S walk in the.Budawangs_over the weekend of 5,6,7 Febzhay
-r
+Detailed Confederation Notes are somewhere in the magazine so we will not attempt to cover those matters here.
-saw the rains come With drizzle and fog, so the party shrank from 12 to 10
-and the-remainder'camped under Mount Donjon to %keep their powder dry and
+There was no General Busines so after announcements the meeting closed at 2118.
-, , _
-MARCH 1998 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER PAGE 15
+----
-enjoyed the views next day. Zol Bodlay led a party of 4 on his Saturday
-trip to Murra Murra N.P. Things were better here than in. the Budawangs, with fine but overcast conditions. Of the Sunday walks Eddie Giacomel had the 17 people on his trip to the Colo River, back at the; cars by 1900
+=====Kimberley Expeditions.=====
-and George Mawer led his party of 17 through an enjoyable day from Waterfall to Heathcote. Somewhere in there Kenn Clacher led a party of 3 through the milling hordes in Claistral Canyon and backed up to repeat the experience with a party of 5 in Bell Creek on the Sunday. Here endeth the Walks Report.
-Our $130 is still out there, not doing well and about to disappear into one of those agglomerated funds so beloved of politicians and bureaucrats, or so the Conservation Report revealed. It was all cloaked in double-speak about "costs of establishing separate fund", "separate accounting overheads" and so on, but it all means that the State Government's Conservation Fund, established with press releases and fanfare
+For a limited time, Willis's Walkabouts is offering special discounts on some of our 1993 Kimberley Expeditions. All trips are planned to use air transport to and/or from Kununurra to minimise the amount of time you have to spend cramped up in a vehicle.
-is to be buried quietly. Weep not, gentle reader, for we are adirised that our $130 will be put to purchasing copies of an uplifting bookabout transforming industrial wasteland into parkland. The moral presumably being that it's OK to make industrial wastelands in the first place. Alex has written to the National Parks & Wildlife Service on the matter ofpianning for the Nattai National Park, and will write to the RTA urging them to re-vegetate the scarred verges of the Mittagong bypass.
-Detailed-Confederation Notes are somewhere in the magazine so we will not attempt to ,cover those matters here.
+===Drysdale River National Park: May 30 - June 20, June 20 - July 4===
-There was no General Busines so after announcements the meeting closed at 2118
-*-X-**1-3H. E*******
+Drysdale River is the largest and least accessible of the Kimberley parks. It contains a variety of landscapes, a wealth of aboriginal art and numerous beautiful pools, perfect for swimming and fishing. The first expedition willbe a leisurely exploration of the northern part of the park, using a food drop so that we won't need to carry more than a week's food at a time. The second is planned as a through walk from the southern end through the central section.
-For a limited:time, Willis's Walkabouts is offering special discounts on some of our 1993 Kimberley Expeditions. All trips are 'planned to use air transport to and/or from Kununurra to minimise the amount of time you have to spend cramped up in a vehicle.
-Drysdale River National Park: May 30 - June 20, June 20 - July 4
+===Mitchell Plateau: May 9-30, August 22 - September 4===
-Drysdale River is the largest and least accessible of the Kimberley parks. It contains a variety of landscapes, a wealth of aboriginal art and numerous beautiful pools, perfect for swimming and fishing. The first expedition willbe a leisurely exploration of the northern part of the park, using a food drop so' that we won't need to carry more than a week's food at a time. The second is planned as a through walk from the southern end through the central section,
-Mitchell Plateau: May 9-30, August 22 - September 4
 Located in the north central part of the Kimberley, the Mitchell Plateau is blessed with a milder climate than much of the region. It's wealth of different habitats gives it a larger variety of native flora and fauna than most of the Kimberley. Both trips include two weeks concentrating on the area close to the Mitchell River. The May trip includes our first exploration of the Lawley River. Both include numerous aboriginal art sites and plenty of time for swimming. The area continues to be threatened by mining so see it while you can.
 For details of these trips and others (please ask for the trip notes and specify where you saw this ad to be eligible for the discount) contact:
-WILLIS'S WALKABOUTS
-Carrington Street
-Millner NT 0810
-Phone (089) 85 2134
-Fax: (089) 85 2355
-is WAL
-. 44s
-PAGE 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER. MARCH 1993
-BALDUR BYLES AND KOSCIUSKO NATIONAL PARK
-by Reg Alder (Originally :published in.Nationil Parks Assn
-ACT-Bulletin DeceMber 1992;)
-. -During the summer cl'1931-32 BaIdur ByTrd, a forester with the Commonwealth 'Forestry Bureau and a- brother of the early environmental. activist Marie-Byles, carried out a six month period tetonnaissance of the mountainous part of the Murray River. His report formed the, basis formoreeffective control of the fragile environment of the alpine areas on the New South Wales side of the Murray which eventually led' to the formation. of Kosciusko National Park. The park was later consolidated
-and extended. because the Snowy ..Scheme needed strict control of erosion..
-In the 1930s all the mountain country Was held under Some form of grazing lease which did not permit the destruction of trees or the lighting of fires in the summer months.' In practice, lessees. lit fires as often as they thought fit, talking about lightning, glass bottles and spontaneous combustion as a reason whilst having the knowledge- of who lit it If the fire happened to burn oneof their own paddocks they had no proof, their only hope being that during the next summer they May be abl6s to get even. with the man who lit the fire. These fires. destroyed thousands'of'acres each year
-Fires, in destroying the alpine woody scrub and alpine ash, initiated erosion in the 'high' country and gullying in the freehold properties below 700 metres. The velocity of the degradationTrOcess was increasing in geometrical proportion to the extent that in Areas where alpine ash had completely disappeared, landslides were occurring. Gutters and 'gullies were forming on the grass slopes of the Kosciusko tops and in the lower altitudes soil had been completely washed' away from under fence posts. Ninety-nine per cent of the fires occurring were lit to clear away the collection of rank unpalatable grasses or to remove scrub from the stock
-routes.
-ipally covered by the alpinevoody, scrub type had been compeltely cleared li'Y'fire. All the species forming this cover are extremely fire sensitive and once burnt out do not coppice and their powers of seed production are light. Where grass formerly grew it may thrive after a fire, however where the soil is too shallow the organic layer dries up and blows away to be followed by the loose sandy soil, leaving bare granite rocks and stones.
-In only one place did Byles see a snow gum stand to the almost natural state, but even then this had been badly burnt around the butts. Although snow gums coppice abundantly after burning, successive'burnings kill them
-altogether. In the more-accessible country no signs of original stands
-were left. Where an original snow gum stand is killed by fire, fairly dense undergrowth comes in which, with 7. urther burnings causes the scrub to disappear and a final stage of snow grass to be reached.
-All of this clearing caused serious drying-up of the swamps'in the plateau country; whereas 30 years previously a swamp in the parish of ,Jagungal could not be crossed by horse, now in an average summer a bullock 'dray could be driven across it. A change in climatic cycle Wasdiscounted
-as a reason for the drying-up as this was not shwn from the rainfall records of the surrounding country.
-When fire destroys an alpine ash stand a good crop of -seedlings comes
-bp in its place. However if fires occur at intervals of five to ten years, the new crop does not reach se-producing age as mature trees need to reach'
--
-a height of near 20 metres at an age of 20 to 30 years before producing seed.
-At the time of the reporCapproximately two-thirds of the area orig-
-.
-MARCH 1993 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER PAGE 17
-Baldur Byles travelled on a Saddle horse supported by one pack horse
-and because of the strenuous nature of the work and somewhat poor natural feed, frequent changes of horses were necessary. There were few tracks
-and the locals had little knowledge of areas-which were not of direct interest to them for grazing. In many instances he had to walk from the tops to a valley bottom which frequently involved 12 hours of arduous walking and
-climbing without, the assistance of local guides.
-Whereas today we are used to payed motor roads and fire trails, 60 years ago Kosciusko could have been defined, apart from the grazing, as an almost
-true wilderness area.. The report lists access points: motor vehicles could
-only reach Possum Point on the Tooma River, Khancoban, Wollondiby near. Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Snowy PLain on the Gungahlin and Kiandra. Access was gained by bullock teams to Wheelers selection-and Round Mountain on a track described as very bad; 'grey Mare and Mawsons Hut by bullock team; and from Adaminaby, Pretty Plain and Geehi by pack horse. Groggin was reached by- bridle track from geehi. From Groggin'a bridle track led,up to Dead Horse Gap from where a poorly defined track led to the Pilot and on to Omeo.
-A recent track led from Geehi up to the main range at losciusko and a metre and half track from Groggin to Limestone Creek was impassable because of fallen logs and washouts; From Jindabyne a motor road led to Thredbo River and from there a bridle track led to Dead Horse Gap and on to Kosciusko. The remaining desriptions,only cover bridIe-F._ track routes and from -them it can be seen how much of' the alpine area has been opened-up with:the aid of bulldozers and graders since World War Two.
-It is well to reflect upon how much more of the Kosciusko plateau would have been degraded if Baldur Byles had not drawn attention to the serious erosion occurring in 1931-32. In 1931 Myles' Dunphy did-a grand walking tour of 200 km from Beloka to the Snowy and on. to Mount Kosciusko and Thredbo. It would be probably no coincidence that Myles with his association with. Marie Byles, both of the Sydney Bush Walkers, talked about the degradation of Kosciusko and formed his idea for a national park.
+Willis's Walkabouts
-Baldur, besides being a forester, also had a deep regard for the envir-
-onment and because of his official position would use Marie as his public voice. Myles worked on his proposal for a Snowy-Indi National Park or Primitive Area and displayed his scheme at a public exhibition in Sydney'in.
+Carrington Street, Millner NT 0810. Phone (089) 85 2134. Fax: (089) 85 2355.
-. The war intervened and in 1943 he was requested by the Lands Depart-
-ment of NSW to develop further his National Parks and Primitive Areas Council scheme for a national park. Kosciusko National Park was declared in 1944.
+----
-* * *-* * * *
-CONGRATULATIONS!
+=====Baldur Byles And Kosciusko National Park.=====
-Alex Colley's daughter, Fran, who now lives in Adelaide, has given birth to twins, a boy Alexander Robert and a girl Louisa June. A busy time ahead for Mum and'Dad!
-PAGE 18 THE SYDNEY 3USHWALIKER MARCH 1993
+by Reg Alder
-EXPERIENCED' WALKER
-' by Bill Gamble
+(Originally published in National Parks Assn ACT Bulletin December 1992.)
-The question, allegedly vexed, with which Confederation is grappling,
-namely about what cohstitutes an "experienced walker" for media purposes, reported by Barry Wallace in the December meeting notes (January 1993
+During the summer of 1931-32 Baldur Byles, a forester with the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau and a brother of the early environmental activist Marie Byles, carried out a six month period reconnaissance of the mountainous part of the Murray River. His report formed the basis for more effective control of the fragile environment of the alpine areas on the New South Wales side of the Murray which eventually led to the formation of Kosciusko National Park. The park was later consolidated and extended because the Snowy Scheme needed strict control of erosion.
-issue, page 16), may not be -without interest, as many members of this Club would claim to be experienced bush walkers of some kind.
-Barry's report reminded me that a beaut little booklet (48 pages put out
+In the 1930s all the mountain country was held under some form of grazing lease which did not permit the destruction of trees or the lighting of fires in the summer months. In practice, lessees lit fires as often as they thought fit, talking about lightning, glass bottles and spontaneous combustion as a reason whilst having the knowledge of who lit it. If the fire happened to burn one of their own paddocks they had no proof, their only hope being that during the next summer they may be able to get even with the man who lit the fire. These fires destroyed thousands of acres each year.
-by the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand in 1978, 6th edition, entitled "Safety in 'the Mountains") which I carry on extended walks as a memory jog, contains all sorts of practical' advice, hints and reminders, including a definition of EXPERIENCE.
-The portion of the booklet on leadership, which states that many accidents GC= because the leader is presumed to be more experienced than he or she
+Fires, in destroying the alpine woody scrub and alpine ash, initiated erosion in the high country and gullying in the freehold properties below 700 metres. The velocity of the degradation process was increasing in geometrical proportion to the extent that in areas where alpine ash had completely disappeared, landslides were occurring. Gutters and gullies were forming on the grass slopes of the Kosciusko tops and in the lower altitudes soil had been completely washed away from under fence posts. Ninety-nine per cent of the fires occurring were lit to clear away the collection of rank unpalatable grasses or to remove scrub from the stock routes.
-is, definesrexperience thus:-
-KNOWLEDGE SKILLS -I- EXTENSIVE PRACTICE = EXPERIENCE.
+At the time of the report approximately two-thirds of the area originally covered by the alpine woody scrub type had been compeltely cleared by fire. All the species forming this cover are extremely fire sensitive and once burnt out do not coppice and their powers of seed production are light. Where grass formerly grew it may thrive after a fire, however where the soil is too shallow the organic layer dries up and blows away to be followed by the loose sandy soil, leaving bare granite rocks and stones.
-Extensive practice is the most important..
-Instruction courses provide knowledge and skills only, adding that a
+In only one place did Byles see a snow gum stand to the almost natural state, but even then this had been badly burnt around the butts. Although snow gums coppice abundantly after burning, successive burnings kill them altogether. In the more accessible country no signs of original stands were left. Where an original snow gum stand is killed by fire, fairly dense undergrowth comes in which, with further burnings causes the scrub to disappear and a final stage of snow grass to be reached.
-recognised leader needs not only experience but ALSO a positive disposition and physical fitness.
-I do not know if any of this is going to resolve the Confederation's
+All of this clearing caused serious drying-up of the swamps in the plateau country; whereas 30 years previously a swamp in the parish of Jagungal could not be crossed by horse, now in an average summer a bullock dray could be driven across it. A change in climatic cycle was discounted as a reason for the drying-up as this was not shown from the rainfall records of the surrounding country.
-dilemma, though it may be of interest to those Club members who lead walks or aspire to do so.
--The booklet weighs about 25 grams and is probably still(available in a
+When fire destroys an alpine ash stand a good crop of seedlings comes up in its place. However if fires occur at intervals of five to ten years, the new crop does not reach seed-producing age as mature trees need to reach a height of near 20 metres at an age of 20 to 30 years before producing seed.
-later edition. The duties of a leader to his or her party en route are alSb -Succinctly put.
-************
+Baldur Byles travelled on a saddle horse supported by one pack horse and because of the strenuous nature of the work and somewhat poor natural feed, frequent changes of horses were necessary. There were few tracks and the locals had little knowledge of areas which were not of direct interest to them for grazing. In many instances he had to walk from the tops to a valley bottom which frequently involved 12 hours of arduous walking and climbing without the assistance of local guides.
-SOCIAL NOTES FOR ,APRIL ' April 7 - Committee Meeting
-General' Meeting
+Whereas today we are used to paved motor roads and fire trails, 60 years ago Kosciusko could have been defined, apart from the grazing, as an almost true wilderness area. The report lists access points: motor vehicles could only reach Possum Point on the Tooma River, Khancoban, Wollondiby near Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Snowy Plain on the Gungahlin and Kiandra. Access was gained by bullock teams to Wheelers selection and Round Mountain on a track described as very bad; Grey Mare and Mawsons Hut by bullock team; and from Adaminaby, Pretty Plain and Geehi by pack horse. Groggin was reached by bridle track from Geehi. From Groggin a bridle track led up to Dead Horse Gap from where a poorly defined track led to the Pilot and on to Omeo.
-"A Visit to Mawson's Hut in Antarctica" by John Noble -
-- "Australian Native Plants" - slides and talk by Jill Dark
+A recent track led from Geehi up to the main range at Kosciusko and a metre and half track from Groggin to Limestone Creek was impassable because of fallen logs and washouts. From Jindabyne a motor road led to Thredbo River and from there a bridle track led to Dead Horse Gap and on to Kosciusko. The remaining desriptions only cover bridle track routes and from them it can be seen how much of the alpine area has been opened-up with the aid of bulldozers and graders since World War Two.
-*********
+It is well to reflect upon how much more of the Kosciusko plateau would have been degraded if Baldur Byles had not drawn attention to the serious erosion occurring in 1931-32. In 1931 Myles Dunphy did a grand walking tour of 200 km from Beloka to the Snowy and on to Mount Kosciusko and Thredbo. It would be probably no coincidence that Myles with his association with Marie Byles, both of the Sydney Bush Walkers, talked about the degradation of Kosciusko and formed his idea for a national park.
+Baldur, besides being a forester, also had a deep regard for the environment and because of his official position would use Marie as his public voice. Myles worked on his proposal for a Snowy-Indi National Park or Primitive Area and displayed his scheme at a public exhibition in Sydney in 1935. The war intervened and in 1943 he was requested by the Lands Department of NSW to develop further his National Parks and Primitive Areas Council scheme for a national park. Kosciusko National Park was declared in 1944.
+----
+====Congratulations!====
+Alex Colley's daughter, Fran, who now lives in Adelaide, has given birth to twins, a boy Alexander Robert and a girl Louisa June. A busy time ahead for Mum and Dad!
+----
+=====Experienced Walker.=====
+by Bill Gamble
+The question, allegedly vexed, with which Confederation is grappling, namely about what cohstitutes an "experienced walker" for media purposes, reported by Barry Wallace in the December meeting notes (January 1993 issue, page 16), may not be without interest, as many members of this Club would claim to be experienced bush walkers of some kind.
+Barry's report reminded me that a beaut little booklet (48 pages put out by the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand in 1978, 6th edition, entitled "Safety in the Mountains") which I carry on extended walks as a memory jog, contains all sorts of practical advice, hints and reminders, including a definition of __Experience__.
+The portion of the booklet on leadership, which states that many accidents occur because the leader is presumed to be more experienced than he or she is, defines experience thus:-
+__Knowledge + Skills + Extensive Practice = Experience.__
+Extensive practice is the most important.
+Instruction courses provide knowledge and skills only, adding that a recognised leader needs not only experience but __also__ a positive disposition and physical fitness.
+I do not know if any of this is going to resolve the Confederation's dilemma, though it may be of interest to those Club members who lead walks or aspire to do so.
+The booklet weighs about 25 grams and is probably still available in a later edition. The duties of a leader to his or her party en route are also succinctly put.
+----
+=====Social Notes For April.=====
+April 7 - Committee Meeting
+April 14 - General Meeting
+April 21 - "A Visit to Mawson's Hut in Antarctica" by John Noble
+April 28 - "Australian Native Plants" - slides and talk by Jill Dark
+----