SBW Magazine & History Project

JANUARY 2001

(Image of Sydney Bushwalker logo)

THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is a monthly bulletin of matters of interest to members of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1565.

To advertise in this magazine, please contact the Business Manager.

The Sydney Bush Walkers Incorporated was founded in 1927. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening at 8 pm at Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli (near Milsons Point Railway Station). Visitors and prospective members are welcome any Wednesday.

General Enquiries phone: 0500 500 729 SBW WEBSITE www.sbw.org.au

The Sydney Bushwalker magazine is printed on recycled paper

Issue No. 794

This is the first SBW magazine of the 21st century and the new millennium.

One wonders whether people will still be bushwalking at the start of the 22nd century and even if there will be bush as we now know it, and whether our club will still be in existence.

Many people take time out to make New Year resolutions about future activities in the forthcoming year. The club committee elections will take place in March and perhaps now is the time to resolve to help shape the club's future and to help lead it into this new millennium and towards its 75th year.

Have a happy and healthy 2001 and enjoy your walking. Ed

X The Editor, The Sydney Bushwalker, 19th December, 2000

I would like to acknowledge the helpful information I have been getting from The Sydney Bushwalker in the past year or so, as well as enjoying a thoroughly good read. We did some marvellous wild scrambles about the bush with you through the '80s. 'Gardens of Stone' by Charlie Montross in the October issue brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes.

As some of the SBW members know, Mike Reynolds and I retired down the South Coast in 1994, and the first thing we did was join the Batemans Bay Bushwalkers. Three years ago I proposed that the club, then 10 years old, have a quarterly magazine along the lines of The Sydney Bushwalker. Someone else was persuaded to take it on, then at the last AGM, something came home to roost and I was elected Publicity Officer including Editor.

Our magazine was called The Bushtalker, which is all too appropriate a name for a major activity on our bushwalks. So, what to put in it? Much the same as in The Sydney Bushwalker, there are articles about walks in New Zealand and Fiji and Nepal, about pack walks in the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania, and accounts of special day walks.

Some of our activities are very different, mainly the camps and camping safaris. This year, for example, Mike and I led a bush camp at Mt Coolamon in the northern Kosciuszko National Park in February, with wonderful wading walks in the gorges; three of our 80 year olds really showed up the group! We also led a camping safari around western Victoria's national parks during October, doing numerous day walks. So there is plenty to write about for our magazine.

Our members have greatly appreciated the articles which I have copied from The Sydney Bushwalker, with due acknowledgement and thanks. These have been on Insect Bites and their Treatment, Ticks (prevalent here as we even have kangaroos in our backyard), and Leeches, and the use of a whistle or a woman to attract attention on a walk when lost. I hope the SBW Editor will allow use of more general articles in recent and future issues of your magazine.

We would be delighted to return the favour, if we know anything you don't. As a matter of interest, Jim Taylor is a member of our club and is an EPIRB expert responsible for establishing the AMSA Rescue Co-ordination Centres in Canberra and all over the world.

With SBW for inspiration Mike, our BBBW President, set up our first map reading and bush navigation course, and articles on Confederation Insurance have led to our club seriously considering using their policy.

Mike and I are also bringing serious local conservation issues to the attention of our members through our Newsletter and quarterly General Meetings. Most of our local bushwalking areas are wilderness and are vulnerable State Forests.

Thank you once again for a great magazine.

Ainslie Morris

reported by Barry Wallace

The meeting began at around 2008, with the president in the chair and some 16 or so members present. There were apologies for Fran Holland, Roger Treagus, Kay Chan, Tony Manes and Gretel Woodward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted as correct. There were no matters arising.

Correspondence indicated that we received letters from; Frank Rigby advising of progress in track forming at Coolana, Ray Hookway about the possible publication in the magazine of contact information for office bearers, Joan Rigby pointing out the continuing accumulation of items in the hut at Coolana, and Ray Hookway regarding submissions on club practices. We also wrote to George Mawer regarding his suggestion for the collection of statistical information on club activities, and to Eddie Giacomel in response to his submissions on the club committee.

Wilf reported to the meeting on recent committee activities.

The treasurer's report was next. We began the month with a balance of $14,517, received an income that I failed to catch, spent $2,339 and closed with a balance of $13,216. The transfer of some of this surplus to an account with a higher rate of interest will now take place next month.

Conservation report saw mention that Alex Colley has received an Australia Day Council award as a senior National Achiever. We have written to the federal minister for conservation, Senator Hill regarding the declaration of world heritage listing for the Blue Mountains area. We also wrote to the NSW premier, Bob Carr on the same matter.

The walks reports began with a number of late received walks reports for the preceding month but this particular moving finger has writ, and moved on. November 8th saw Maureen Carter leading a party of 8 in fine conditions for her midweek walk from Waterfall to Heathcote. There is a strong body of opinion that Ian Wolfe's extended ski touring trip from 9 to 13 November did not go.

Stage 3 of the Great River Walk went over the weekend of 10, 11, 12 November, with Roger Treagus at the helm, and parties of 10 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. The weather threatened most of the weekend and finally rained on Sunday. Epic walks seemed to be all the rage that weekend with Jim Percy leading a party of 11 on stage 3 of his Blue Mountains Crossing. Barbara Bruce's Sunday cycle trip around Warragamba area went very well with a party of 10. Geoff McIntosh reported a party of 13 on his Waterfall to Otford walk on the Sunday and Greg Bray had a party of 9 on his Bundeena to Otford walk in overcast, warm and humid conditions the same day.

Bill Holland's midweek walk from St Ives to Wahroonga that week was scrubbed due to rain.

The following weekend, 18, 19 November continued the weather trend, with wet conditions. Maurice Smith cancelled his weekend trip in Morton National Park due to flooding. Bill Holland cancelled his Meryla Pass weekend walk due to flooding. Arthur Anderson and a band of 12 started out from Carlon's Farm on his Saturday Megalong Valley trip but continuing rain and a profusion of leeches caused the trip to be abandoned. Chris Dowling reported drizzle; rain and flooded creeks and tracks for the party of 7 on his Saturday walk from Springwood to Glenbrook. Conditions were better for Roger Treagus and the party of 10 on his Sunday trip out from Bobbin Head. The weather threatened but it did not rain. Margaret Sheens abandoned her cycle trip from Sydney to Wollongong and Nigel Weaver cancelled his walking trip out from Narrow Neck.

The midweek walk from Springwood to Glenbrook, led by Ian Rannard, had a party of 3 with conditions reported as very wet, with leeches.

Wilf Hilder deferred his trip in Wollemi National Park scheduled over the weekend of 24, 25, 26 November. A party of 12 braved and mostly survived the Saturday white-water rafting trip with Carol Lubbers, and Zol Bodlay's gourmet walk in The Royal that day had 8 starters reporting magnificent pools and several swims. Ken Cheng led a party of 12 on his Saturday trip in Brisbane Waters National Park in warm and partly cloudy conditions. Tony Crichton's Sunday trip out off the Mount Hay road attracted a party of 8 and Ron Watters led a party of 12 on his Macquarie Pass walk that day in fine but humid conditions.

Kenn Clacher cancelled his canyon trips over the weekend of 1, 2, 3 December but Eddy Giacomel's Saturday walk from Circular Quay went, with the party of 7 led by Don Brooks. Errol Sheedy's Sunday walk from Engadine to Heathcote had 13 starters and Nigel Weaver led a party of 9 on his Wollongambe canyon trip.

Bill Holland cancelled his midweek walk in Lane Cove National Park.

The following weekend, 8, 9, 10 December started with Bill Holland declaring his combined barbecue/walk to be a pool party, with the party showing little enthusiasm for walking. Wilf Hilder's two-day walk in Wollemi National Park attracted 11 starters on what was described as a solid walk in hot conditions. Robin Plumb cancelled her Saturday walk from Manly to Barrenjoey Lighthouse but Jim Percy led a party of 12 on day four of his Blue Mountains crossing trip in very humid conditions. There was no report for Zol Bodlay's gourmet walk in Bouddi National Park on the Saturday or for Greg Bray's Colo walk on the Sunday. John McDonald's walk in Munmorah SRA went, but no details were available to the meeting. Although that may not be typical it was the end of the walks reports for the month.

The Confederation report mentioned that visitors books at several locations are approaching replacement dates and that an abseiling operations manual is to be produced.

There was no response when General Business was called, so after the announcements the meeting closed at 2128.

by Dick Whittington

Mainland Australia is not blessed with an abundance of well formed mountains, by well formed I mean a mountain that rises above its surrounding terrain by many hundreds of metres and looks, at least from a distance as if it needs to be climbed rather than walked up. Such a mountain is Mt Barney in the Mt Barney National Park, just across the NSW/Queensland border.

It was Easter in the late 1970s when I was invited to join two others to climb Mt Barney. The plan was to drive from Sydney on Good Friday, ascend to the east summit via Logan's Ridge on Saturday, climb the west summit and descend on Sunday and return to Sydney on Monday. I wondered if so much travelling could be justified by the ascent of just one mountain. On first sighting Barney, with its summit rising to 1356m, and buttressed by an interesting system of ridges, my doubts were dispelled.

As stated we were to ascend via Logan's Ridge. This is a very steep ridge leading all the way to the east summit, with rocky exposed sections in its upper regions. Our group of three comprised the leader Tom and myself. Tom I knew to be a former rock climber of some ability but the leader was noted as a cautious man, a man who could be relied on to ensure that his party would not be placed in danger under any circumstances.

It was a fine day, and as we climbed above the big timber we were rewarded with excellent views of nearby Mt Lindesay with its summit completely guarded by high and vertical cliffs. It was now that the going became more difficult. Tom was well ahead relishing what to him was a fine scramble. I followed enjoying the challenge presented by the steep rock sections with their good holds and mild exposure. It was after negotiating such a steep pinch that it occurred to me that the leader might baulk at this. What was to be done, it would be a terrible shame to abort the climb at this stage. Wishing that I had had the foresight to include a length of 9mm rope, I perversely entertained the idea of moving further ahead so that I could pretend to be out of earshot. I had however underestimated our leader for he soon emerged without complaint.

Eventually we achieved the east summit, from here one can observe the conical form of the west summit with its supporting ridges, with the view to the south east dominated by Mt Lindesay. It was now necessary to descend to the hut in the saddle between the two summits. The vegetation around the summit region is stunted and very dense with an abundance of grass trees, there was no track and we were obliged to force our way down with little knowledge of where or upon what we placed our feet. It causes me some dismay to reflect that we were probably instrumental in promoting a track which must after the passage of years, be now in place.

Saturday night was spent in the hut in the company of a group of Brisbanites who had spent three days ascending the long and difficult northern ridge. Sunday morning found us on the west summit after battling once again with the dense vegetation of the summit region, going up was even more difficult of course.

From the saddle it is usual to descend via the oddly named Peasant's Ridge Track; this is a well-graded, easy walk down. Our leader decided however, that it would be more interesting to descend via the rain forest gully to the south of the ridge and if the going became tough, we would then traverse across to the track. We descended for about an hour before it became clear that we should take this option.

We were now obliged to battle with the thickest scrub, I had until then, ever encountered. The shortest way to intercept the track would be to go straight up but the steepness combined with the impenetrability of the scrub forced us into a sidle. After battling for what seemed like hours we eventually intercepted the track at an acute angle. I suspect that we had been travelling almost parallel to it for a long time. After this experience we were happy to remain on the track for the remainder of the descent.

The drive back was long and tedious and I wondered if it had all been worthwhile. The next day however there was no doubt in my mind, I would recommend Mt Barney to anyone.

I don't know who Barney was but it is not a good name for a mountain, surely there must be an indigenous name. A name change could only add to the appeal of this wonderful mountain.

1. Ken Fraser of the Brisbane Bushwalkers informed me that Mt Barney does have an Aboriginal name, in fact each of the three peaks has such a name. The main peak is Bogar Bogar. The east peak is Dooayrdin and the west peak is Yahndaddan. Barney is the third highest mountain in Qld, and was first climbed by a European in August 1828. Captain Patrick Logan, the founder of Brisbane who was commandant of the Moreton Bay penal colony. Logan, who was known by the convicts as 'The Tyrant', was killed by an Aborigine in October 1830 whilst on an exploration trip.

2. Logan, who originally thought Barney was Mt Warning (so named by Cook in 1770), made two attempts before climbing it. He originally called Mt Barney Mt Lindesay, after a fellow army officer, but it was renamed Barney when official maps were made in 1840, in honour of George Barney the Surveyor General of NSW. The name Mt Lindesay was given to the then Mt Hooker. (Barney a member of a prominent pioneer family, designed and built Victoria Barracks, Fort Denison and Circular Quay and cut the Argyle Cut.)

3. Peasant's Ridge, mentioned in Dick's article was allegedly contemptuously named by rock climbers who preferred the more exposed routes.

Detailed Information of the Mt Barney area and of the various routes up the mountain can be obtained from the Qld Confederation Website. www.qldwalking.org.au Ed

The Logan river was named the Darling river by Logan in honour of the then Governor Darling who renamed it the Logan. Ref.

• A Pioneer family of Queensland by Keith Jobst N929.20994/B261.12/1 (State Library)
• Patrick Logan by Jo Jensen. N919.412/3. (State Library)
• The Australian Encyclopedia (On State Library shelves (909.0037?) Check Index vols for various entries on Logan and Barney.

Note There is a theory that Logan was killed by escaped convicts who may have been with the natives, as the body was partially buried. The name of the mountain may be interpreted in one of 3 ways, depending on the legend

• Baga Baga
• Bogar Bogar (most common)
• Bogah Bogah

The east and west peaks also have separate names

• East Dooayrdin Pronounced Doo ayr din
• West Yahndaddan Pronounced Yahn dad dan

\* Nom de Plume.

Born to SBW members Karen and Richard Brading on December 27th, a third daughter “Jasmine Rachelle”.

Congratulations Karen and Richard.

by Jan Pieters

Is this a first for the Sydney Bushwalkers? One very lucky possum

During Ian Wolfe's canyon trip last weekend, we discovered a young ringtail possum stuck in the middle of Mid-Winter Canyon. How it got there - who knows - it was definitely not going to get out by itself.

The possum was cold and wet and looked at us as if to say 'Please get me out of here!' Edith Baker picked it up. The possum immediately snuggled up Edith's chest and climbed to the back of her neck and on to her pack and was carried out.

We made a makeshift pouch from a polar fleece jacket. Sleeping for the rest of the day, it slowly dried out and warmed up. By the evening, it was perky again (although it refused to eat our food) - in the morning the possum was gone. It felt good - a highlight of a memorable trip.

PS. If you haven't been on a walk yet with Ian Wolfe - then put your name down quickly. As guy knows his bushwalking stuff and has proven that you don't have to be skinny to squeeze through narrow canyons.

• Bicycling by Brian Holden
• A Damp Walk by Chris Dowling
• A Walk to Wallabadah. by Pat Harrison
• The Saga of Two Nomads by Jan Debert

• Walking in the Sierra Nevadas by Ian Wolfe
• Walking in Cazorla National Park by Ian Wolfe
• Walking in Barossa Gorge by Ian Wolfe

THE FIRST CLUB WALKS PROGRAM FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM IS CURRENTLY BEING FINALISED BY OUR WALKS SEC. CAROL LUBBERS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR WALK ON THIS HISTORIC DOCUMENT IT MAY NOT BE TOO LATE FAX OR EMAIL DETAILS TO CAROL ON: FAX: 4758 8791 EMAIL: lubbers@bigpond.com

by Jim Somerville. AM

Jim, a colleague of Alex Colley's and a staunch conservationist set out to join the SBW years ago but was diverted to our fellow club the CMW. Jim's article which was originally published in 'Out of the Blue' details a lengthy walk in a popular area prior to the commencement of the Snowy scheme and shows newer members how things were done then. The article is long but it is too well written to cull. Ed

Kosciusko in October? Many were the dire prophecies - “Too early, too much snow, you'll never get across the top”. Then early in September, while we were still hesitating, a late blizzard deposited an exceptionally heavy fall “up on top” and we decided to have a week's skiing at the Chalet before descending to the Indi and making our way down to Corryong in Victoria. The problem of climbing the summit and dropping down off the snow on the “Western facing” was solved by someone's jocular reference to snow-shoes.

The Public Library provided detailed drawings and one of the party made them of duralumin frame and cord facing. So when laden with these, together with heavy packs and sundry suitcases, our party of six boarded the Kosciusko Express on Friday 19th October 1945, there was some cause for the wide-eyed stares of our fellow passengers. After a sleepless night came the chill dawn and the strange treeless plains of the Monaro near Cooma. At breakfast the waitress just couldn't understand how anyone could go to Kosci and not return through Cooma!

The interminable delays of the ramshackle bus-cum-mail car in the 50 mile run to the Hotel were endured with a good grace for we could see the snow spread like a white sheet, cool and inviting, on the ranges ahead. At the Hotel we dined in style and changed to a blitz-buggy for the trip to Smiggin Holes where a big drift completely blocked the road.

Here our gear was loaded onto a tractor and we walked the six miles to the Chalet, arriving in time for tea.

The sheltered slopes of Charlotte Pass were well covered with old snow and although it was melting rapidly it served us well. For four delightful days we gave ourselves unreservedly to the joys of skiing.

Every morning found us out on the home slopes trying hard to master the intricacies of the stem turn, the snow-plough and the christie; each afternoon, carrying our skis and stocks, we trudged over grass and snow to one of the neighbouring 1,000-foot peaks and endeavoured to extract the most out of our run down. The senses became aware of new sensations - the repelling yet pleasant smell of ski-wax, the gentle “ssshing” sound of the snow as it yielded to the weighted “boards”, the dazzling whiteness of sun on snow, too strong for the eye to endure.

The highlights were the superior accommodation (a six-bed dormitory with a hot and cold shower), the excellent food and the luxurious lounges, all mark you, for a mere £3.30 per week. The explanation was simple; officially summer commences promptly on 12th September each year and as there is then, theoretically, no snow, the tariff drops accordingly. We came to the conclusion that with 15 guests and an equal number on the staff, they must be either running at a loss or else living off the fat of the midwinter guests.

With the coming of the day when we thought ourselves experienced enough to tackle a trip to Carruthers Peak (7630 feet) on the Main Range, came also the rain. Torrential rain; three miserable days of it and a roaring gale for good measure. We watched with ill-concealed impatience and growing despair for any lifting of those persistent clouds which hung low over the surrounding peaks. On the third day, unable to stand the inaction any longer, some of us fought our way against raging wind and stinging rain down to the Snowy River. Great blocks of ice were being carried downstream by the flooded torrent and a crossing to the Foreman Hut, standing spectre-like in the mist, was quite out of the question. The whole hillside literally oozed water and the side creeks were running so strongly that large blue crevices appeared on the covering ice which was being undermined. Most impressive of all were the giant worms - up to 10 inches long and a half-inch thick - that lay in thousands on the mountainside. Sliding down the icy slopes to the Chalet after two hours out, soaked to the skin and numb with cold, we realised the necessity for the injunction “When caught in bad weather, keep moving”, for to lie down in the snow and rest seems to one's dulled resistance, such a pleasant and easy way out. On the third night, confounding all the prophets, it began to snow. All the next day, while it was still falling, we stayed outside and drank to the full this new experience but our joy was tempered with despondency for we wondered now whether we would ever get away on our trip, which was to have commenced two days before. However, on the Monday the sun shone again and, feeling a little sorry that we had sent back our snow-shoe cord with the rest of the surplus gear, we shouldered our packs and set out for the Summit and Dead Horse Gap Hut. The high country looked superb, completely covered as it was with new snow, but the going was heavy for even at best each foot sank six inches or more. Feeling like Scott's last expedition (Oates' “I am going outside, I may be some time” was a by-word), we took half-mile turns in the lead - the rest of the line thankfully using his foot-holes. In this manner we reached Seaman Hut (four miles in three hours) and after a quiet lunch plodded on to Cootapatamba Saddle where we cheerfully dropped our packs by a snow pole for the direct climb to the summit.

If you haven't enjoyed the pleasure of walking where an apparently solid surface gives way and deposits you with a jarring thud on your hands and one knee then you can have no idea of the fun of the last few hundred feet of the climb. Still, we made it (admittedly 105 years after Strzelecki but probably with just the same zest) and enjoyed a grand panorama of snow covered ranges. A few minutes of camera work and chocolate distribution and someone remarked, “Don't look now but I think we're being followed”. A cloud raced down upon us, so sliding back to the saddle we retrieved our packs. Sago snow was showered upon us as we passed down the valley beside iced over Lake Cootapatamba (“where the eagle drinks”), and ascended the Ram's Head Range, which here forms the Main Divide. Our instructions were to cross the range diagonally between North Ram's Head and Ram's Head but once on top we saw so many huge rocky outcrops which could have been one or other of these that we worked by compass and just kept plodding. All tracks were obscured by the heavy snow but fortunately, being above the tree-line and well up, we could see down towards Thredbo Gap where lay Dead Horse Hut and safety.

It was late in the afternoon before we descended into the gnarled snow gums and finally off the accursed snow onto good solid earth at 5,100 feet. Never were hut and hot meal more welcome for we had been walking on soft snow for eight hours; some of the time in fierce sunshine, some in sleet and some in snow and always with the thought that if the fog came down we would have to retrace our steps.

Next morning we became acutely aware of the burning power of sunlight reflected from the snow. Setting off after a late breakfast, our faces and legs well protected, we began the 3200-foot descent to the Indi (or Upper Murray) but soon found to our dismay that there was apparently as much uphill as down. At Leatherbarrel Creek at 4 p.m. we realised the impossibility of making Tom Groggin before dark so stayed there overnight, protected from the threatening rain by a gunyah made of ground sheets.

Quite apart from the fact that we were rather exhausted it was quite a good idea for next morning we left early and saw the full beauty of Tom Groggin in the morning light.

Those who have been in the Dogs will have some idea of the pleasure we had in dropping off the gaunt dry ridges onto a grassy flat, about two miles long by a mile wide, ringed by mountains rising spur on spur to the snowy tops 5000 feet above. A veritable Shangri-La; this incredibly green flat, with tree-lined rivers flowing through, on which roamed herds of cattle together with three horses and some sheep.

Crossing the swiftly flowing Indi on the swaying suspension bridge, roughly constructed of fencing wire, we entered Victoria and approached the four huts and large barn. Several dozen fowls and two cats greeted us for they were the only inhabitants. We had been in touch with the Nankervis family of Corryong who own the huts and they had taken in a quantity of food for the party. Here was a fully equipped out-station, 30 miles by track from the nearest settlement, yet not a door or cabinet was locked. A note addressed “To the hikers” invited us to use whatever we wanted from the well stocked kitchen shelves. An afternoon of eating, exploring and rabbiting followed by a sleep in a rough bedroom and we reluctantly pushed on next morning. Our fourth day was to Geehi, a similar flat though on a much smaller scale, on the Swampy Plain River.

It was a pleasant, if rather monotonous, 16 mile walk crossing from one watershed to another through a beautiful eucalypt forest. We took half-hour turns at leading and carrying the heavy movie camera. The lanoline and sticking plaster were greatly in demand for the unaccustomed walking was having its effect. To our surprise we came upon a lone dingo trapper staying in the hut at Geehi. A typical “old timer”, he regaled us with many amusing stories of mythical bush animals. At Geehi there is another suspension bridge-even more precarious than the one at Tom Groggin, for a slat broke with the weight of one of our party.

The distance on the last day to Khancoban and civilisation was 14 miles but although the height there is about the same as Geehi (1300 feet), we had far too much climbing. Firstly, as the horse track involved two river crossings impossible for us, we had to sidle at about 200 feet and then descend almost to Fisherman Hut before crossing a 500-foot spur. Then came the freezing wading of Bogong Creek and the 900 feet ascent of Geehi Walls which effectively keeps wheeled vehicles out of the upper valley. Following a gradual descent in poor country to Black Creek there was the last 300 feet pull and we were back on the Indi again. The verdant fields of Khancoban stretching as far as the eye could see almost took our breath away. While we viewed the promised land we had talked about so much, the camera-man cursed his lack of film.

A mile up the road at the Post Office our walking trip was officially over and having covered 60 miles in five days in difficult country we were not sorry to see the ordered taxi that took us 25 miles through exceedingly fertile country to Corryong, Victoria. Here we stayed the night with friends and caught the Murray Valley Highway Bus next morning to Albury - a glorious run down the Murray, much of it beside Hume Reservoir. Leaving Albury that afternoon on the Express (the title is a flagrant over-statement), we arrived in Sydney early on Sunday 4th November, physically tired out but with that inner joy which springs from the successful accomplishment of a satisfying trip.

Advertisement: Willis's Walkabouts If you visit the Top End only once in your life…

May is when the nights turn cool and the last rains finish. … make it May! Water is everywhere. The waterfalls for which the Top End is famous look like they do in the tourist brochures. In a few months they will have begun to disappear. Many 4WD tracks remain closed so you can enjoy places like Jim Jim Falls without the day tourists who arrive in June. Places which become too dry to visit later in the year are still accessible. Our May trips are all designed to run at a leisurely pace to allow you to enjoy the best that Nature has to offer at this time of year. Willis's Walkabouts 12 Carrington St Millner NT 0810 Email walkabout@ais.net.au www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au Phone (08) 8985 2134 Fax (08) 8985 2355

The club membership list is maintained by the membership secretary Barry Wallace and the 2001 list will be printed in February. To ensure that the list is as accurate as possible and that you do not miss out on the magazine, the walks program and other club documents, Barry requests that you send advice of any alterations or corrections of your address and/or phone number directly to him ASAP. Letters can be sent to Barry at our mail box.

Please note that if you are not currently financial your name will be removed from the 2001 list.

Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the editor by the second Monday of each month. The deadline for last-minute urgent items is the second Wednesday of each month as the magazine is usually printed on the following Thursday. Copy can be sent to me by email at rraymond@ozemail.com.au or on a 3½“ PC floppy or as plain copy using any common word processing program. Ed.

Advertisement: The Travel Lady

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as of 20/12/00

More information from the NSW LPI (Land and Property Information Unit) to add to the Series 3. 1-25 000 map list printed in the November and December Sydney Bushwalker magazines.

A total of 94 modified maps, including several in the 1-100 000 series, have been released.

To be placed on the email mailing list for notification of future releases email Angela.Bateman@ditm.nsw.gov.au with the subject title 'add to new topo list'.

Monday 26 March - Friday 30th March 2001

DAY WALKS, TENNIS, MINI GOLF, SWIMMING ETC

Once again we have booked cabins at Currawong Beach. Enjoy the facilities, the activities and, of course, every night a happy hour or two. Cost will be in the vicinity of $360 for 4 nights (5 days) or book in just for a day or two. Enjoy the day walks on the West Head Peninsula. Food groups may be organised as this has been so successful on previous occasions.

Reserve your place by sending me a deposit of $20 ASAP Bill Holland 9484 6636

Kangaroo Valley Canoe trip 17th/18th February

Please note that Ian Debert will not be available for the programmed Kangaroo Valley Canoe trip from Tallowa Dam. The canoe trip will still proceed to join Bill Holland and his walk-in party at the five star campsite on the Kangaroo River but will be under the leadership of Pamela Irving 9977 4403. Canoe hire may be arranged with pick-up at the dam.

Advertisement: Eastwood Camping Centre / Wilderness Equipment (Image of backpack and boots)

This is the new backpack from WE. The NEW RIVER. As you would expect, it is unmistakably Wilderness Equipment. Every detail has had to earn its keep in a development process spanning 20 years. If the picture could be turned around you'd be looking at the most comfortable and durable harness system there is. Which, of course, is a good reason not to make more than one or two subtle changes.

So what is really new? Look down the list of special features. We've brought into play unique ideas we've been carrying around for some time. They solve outstanding problems, ones you will quickly recognise from your own mountain and wilderness travels.

Come and see the NEW RIVER and get an expert fitting at:

Eastwood Camping Centre 3 Trelawney Street Eastwood Telephone: 9858 3833

NEW RIVER An expedition-capacity pack available in the full range of WE sizes and harness configurations.

Features:

• Detachable top cover teams with the hip-harness waist-strap to carry it as a comfortable twin-compartment bum-bag.
• Main canvas bag extends to a dry-bag type roll top with two compression straps over. You can swim and raft with this pack, or use it in bivies.
• Leave the top cover and base behind for absolute lightweight.
• Separate zip access into the expanding interior space of the top cover.
• Readily accessible flat pocket for laminated maps (comes with a thin PE cutting-board insert)
• Canvas back-pocket modules available.
• Nothing but canvas fabric in the seams of the bag. No webbing, no touch-tape, no leakage pathways and simply zero stress points.
• Quick-release or standard side compression straps, all removable. Position the buckles where you wish.
• We've gone back to a simple touch-tape strap closure on the hip-harness. Unbreakable, durable and absolutely zero creep.
• Subtle shoulder harness suspension. Soaks up the phase difference between hip and shoulder dynamics, tunable to the pack weight.
• Close fitting, removable base reinforcing attaching front and back. Leakage pathways in the main-bag seams eliminated; easy repair.

by Elyssebeth Leigh

Elyssebeth was invited by Eddy Giacomel to Kirribilli on Nov. 28th to address interested club members and to conduct what turned out to be a very interesting discussion on the above subject. Ed I proposed three themes for the conversation. Each of these was chosen for its relevance to SBW and for the wider context in which such voluntary community associations find themselves at some point in their development. The three themes were:

1. Team role preferences (based on the work of UK researcher Meredith Belbin).
   According to this view of the world any project group, committee or team has a number of 'functions' requiring attention if their goal is to be achieved.
   These functions concern the way the group will work together and are respectively
     1. "Direction Setting (identified as having two modes of 'driving' and 'coordinating'),
     2. "Creativity" and "Linking" (again with two modes)
       1. Creative thinking and playful experimentation and
       2. Building and maintaining links with external bodies and individuals)
     3. "Supporting" and "Maintaining" (concerning internal group stability and providing the detail of work to be done etc.) and finally:
     4. "Checking" and "Achieving" (concerning quality assurance and making things happen. Human beings have preferences for different combinations of these functions in any group we join. Moreover we have personal characteristics that can be shown to be related to our preferences, and it is these sometimes very different characteristics that lead to conflict and tension in groups which share a strong overall commitment to a goal.

   This "Direction Setting" preference may be manifested as a brusque manner and inattention to detail and a "Creative" preference may be manifested as carelessness with time and direction but lots of attention to alternatives and variety! Given other pressures these two preferences may cause their possessors to fall into conflict based on personal issues and inadvertently divert attention from the shared goal. Thus our 'best intentions' can actually cause failure or at least strain and turmoil - just when it is least beneficial.

   Conversely understanding and combining different characteristics and preferences - or making allowance for absences of particular preferences - can ensure success in the face of great diversity.

2. The second issue raised was the particularly Australian characteristic of 'volunteerism'.
   Research conducted for the Australian Quality Council some years back showed that we have a particular preference as a nation for being 'volunteers' at work. That is we regard 'quality' as something that has engaged our emotions and makes us 'feel good'. The Olympics certainly illustrated this well! If we are not managed with this in mind we can quickly slide into 'wingeing', or feeling and acting like 'prisoners' or 'conscripts'. The obvious dangers of such a slide in a voluntary organization like SBW are always likely to be of concern.

3. Finally the value of having and making prominent a 'shared vision' about the purpose and intention of any organization was discussed.
   With SBW a vision was shown to exist - and yet it seems to be in need of wider promulgation and discussion.

Together these three issues have clear implications for helping SBW continue its successful perambulations towards its 100th year. The longevity of SBW is also of interest - there are few organizations of its age and vitality in Australia.

I wish the SBW well in its future endeavours - and the lively discussion that followed my remarks is a clear indication of the commitment and enthusiasm of SBW members.

by Fazeley Read

Christmas lunch was bread, cheese and a thermos, under a shady tree in the deserted Cooma Park, on our way to the Snowy Mountains - a quick trip as there was very little traffic on the road. The early evening silence and the crisp mountain air on arrival at Round Mountain car park, were in complete contrast to sweat drenched, Jingle Belled Sydney.

Our plans were modest as there were just two of us - we would keep to fire trails mainly, and go for a relaxed sortie around the Jagungal area, watch the birds, muse upon the past and plot the future. The weather looked benign. In the previous summer walk in this area, George Mawer's trip several years ago, snow and poor visibility dominated. Not so this time, and for the next four days we drank in the superb scenery of that area - views of all those familiar places, Grey Mare Range, Rocky Bogong, Mail Box, Cup and Saucer, the Bulls Peaks, Jacky's Lookout, Spencer's Peak, Gungarten and the snow patched Main Range in the distance, the huts, the rivers, Farm Ridge - almost too much to take in. On the Valentine River, Ray woke to find his footwear, escapees from the tent, solidly frozen - and a few days earlier it was 39 degrees in Sydney! The planned early departure that morning was thwarted, as the blocks of ice in the billies had to be melted before porridge could be cooked. Of course there were the flies. I haven't done a Snowy Mt. trip yet for what I have not ended up swallowing one or two. And just when we were feeling rather pleased with ourselves towards the end of the walk, and saying that we weren't too bad for a couple of people rather ravaged by the passing of the years, we fell into the Tumut. Half way across, a false move, and suddenly I was flat on my back. Ray, in trying to pull me and rucksack up as quickly as possible, ended up doing the same thing but in the opposite direction, and there we were like a couple of beached whales I fancy that we looked like yesterday's chips when we eventually arrived at the car park.

A couple of young blades returned to their car just after us, they having climbed that final hill after walking all day from Cesjacks, also (the temp. was 30 degrees). It was music to the ears, to hear how exhausted they felt. I fancy that their combined age would have been about a third ours. Like the man who repeatedly phoned his stockbroker to be told each time that the stockbroker had jumped out the office block window to his demise - just because he liked hearing them say it, I could not get enough of hearing of those fellows' weariness. The car park logbook told of the departure of Jim Percy and four others, two days earlier, and we felt sure that they were enjoying the Snowy Mountains, in their best summer finery, as we had.

Sat. 23rd September 2000 by Phil Cohen Party: 7 members plus 2 prospectives and 1 visitor invited by me; and me.

They came in cars they came by bus - everyone who said they would.

We all boarded the 9am Basin ferry from Palm Beach wharf, disembarking minutes later at Bennet's Wharf near Soldiers Point. What was meant to be the token SBW 1 km bush bash & scratch materialised as a 6 inch track all the way to Portuguese Beach. Not as epic as parting the waters for Moses but……..

We 'owned' Portuguese Beach - not another person in sight, and the group leapt in for a swim. All had previously experienced warmer water. We scrambled to the top of the southern headland above Portuguese Beach languishing over 'play lunch' on a rockshelf being the roof of an overhang reminiscent of a yawning whale mouth (more on Jonah later). Eventually we forced ourselves to leave the panoramic views of Pittwater to head for 'real lunch' at America Bay.

Along the fire trail to West Head road the fields of wild bush blossoms were like a well-used artist's palette of swirling colours (steady on!). Every time Winnie looked twice at a bush it burst aflame with waratah in perfect bloom - well, at least twice. We fearlessly negotiated a few hundred metres of West Head Rd without anyone being hit by a shiny bull bar on an unblemished 4WD; pondered the mysteries of some fishy Aboriginal rock engravings seemingly a person inside a whale which posed the question “Did Jonah have breasts?” or was there just a coincidence in Gondwanaland.

Lunch at the top of the cliff above America Bay was, in addition to beautiful Hawkesbury views, well…relaxing. Two members realised the walk's level of difficulty had been seriously overstated as 'Easy', and slipped away, with the nod from the leader, for something more challenging, careful not to wake the others. The 'others' were spread-eagled motionless like a hieroglyph of double-jointed lizards on a warm rock. Talking of lizards, there was a definite theme of goannas along the way. Big one up a tree, little one on the trail, and a very cool middle sized one that did a victory lap of our lunch spot, found nothing good to read so poked out its tongue at everyone and disappeared.

The less-than-fearless- leader woke the gang for the Basin Track leg via a bigger Aboriginal rock gallery in time for a swim before the 3:20 ferry. A dip in the Basin with its immense beautiful sudden eucalypt walls made Portuguese Beach seem like a hot bath.

Sun-dried, the remaining 9 of us clambered onto the ferry and boated home while Hackett & Perkins swam. The ferry didn't sink.

Despite overwhelming opposition, it appears that tourist accommodation could be built in the world heritage/wilderness area of south-west Tasmania. Floating accommodation has been proposed near Mount Milner, serviced by helicopters and float planes flying in tourists - up to eight times per day, coming in past Federation Peak and then flying along the south-west coast. Following strong public criticism a major commercial supporter has withdrawn from the project but the Tasmanian government still appears to be pushing forward with a reduced scheme. For more information contact the 'Friends of the Quiet Lands' on 0417 381154 or email stopthechoppers@hotmail.com.

Reprinted from November Melbourne Bushwalkers 'The News'

KAKADU, KIMBERLEY, RED CENTRE, SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

See what makes northern bushwalking so special Presented by Russell Willis of Willis's Walkabouts - established 1986, the most experienced bushwalking tour operator in the Northern Territory.

Thursday March 1st at 7.45pm McMahons Point Community Centre 165 Blues Point Rd. North Sydney

by Patrick James

The request for kerosene pressure lamps for Coolana has been met with a wonderful response. Many thanks to Brian McConaghy, John Noble, Lucy Sullivan and John Young.

The lamps in hand at the moment have or are in the process of being cleaned, maintained and given a burst of TLC. A couple were used at the recent Bush Music extravaganza in November 2000.

Kerosene pressure lamps are ideal for Coolana and other places. There are no batteries to go flat and no heavy gas cylinders to require refilling. The kero fuel can be bought at many places such as Woolies and garages, hardware shops etc. The metho used to preheat the lamps is as readily available and can also be used for first aid. The lamps cast a homely light and provide a companionable, tinnitus-like hiss.

A search of the Internet for kerosene pressure lamps instruction details and spare parts revealed that 212 manufacturers in 20 countries made the lamps. In Australia we were blessed with eight manufacturers supplying Aladdin, Austramax, Companion, Gloria, Instanto, Kayen, Kero-pet and Oxo-gas. Lamps imported to Australia included Coleman and Tilly lamps. The hay days of the lamps in Australia was the period 1900 to 1960. They were popular and/or essential during the power black-outs of the 1950. (I recall a comment from my parents about Bunnerong and “Bung-er-off” power station at Botany.)

Our SBW lamps are an Austramax (with a green top), a fire-engine red Coleman, a Handiworks (with a blue-grey top), two Tilly model X246 and a genuine Brand X (absolutely and completely without brand or identification).

Notwithstanding the wonderful response additional lamps are welcome. As time marches on kero lamps will become more difficult to get hold of and the ones we now have will eventually “burn up”, so a good stock of lamps will provide light and cannibalistic spare parts for many years to come.

* Refer to the Summer walks program for full details ^ JANUARY ^ ^ ^ Wed 24th ^ 8pm K2K/2K Talk & Slides by Phil Newman & Andrew Vilder. ^ ^ Sat 27th ^ 6pm Pool Party & Barbecue @ Alex Colley's Home* BYO Everything ^

Do you have any suggestions for future Social Programs? If so please contact Andrew Vilder on 9331 4530.

A TWO DAY TRAINING COURSE FOR MEMBERS AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS Don't forget Ian Rannard's Bush Navigation course to be run on March 7th and 10th Refer to the 'BACK PAGE' of the club's summer walks program for full details

Introducing a new walk report form

As advised at the December General meeting, the club committee has voted to support the introduction of a new walk report form to facilitate the accumulation of walks statistics and other information for the use of the walks secretary and present and future walk leaders. George Mawer has volunteered to act as a 'Walks Recorder' and this letter from him gives details. All members are requested to give this new initiative their full support. Ed

Dear Walk Leader

Our Club has existed for seventy years and in that time there have been a great number of skilled and popular leaders who have led wonderful walks in many parts of Australia (and in other countries). If you were to go to a lot of trouble you could find a brief description of those walks in old copies of walks programs in our archives and with a lot more effort perhaps you might find a story about some aspects of the walk in a Club magazine dated a month or two after the walk. However much of the important detail of those walks and expeditions was not recorded and is lost forever. This is tragic because many of the early club leaders have already departed for that great National Universal Park in the Sky and all their special knowledge and stories and memories have gone with them. It is regrettable that better records were not kept but as the old adage goes “There's no use in crying over spilt milk” so instead let's look ahead and see if we can't do it better for future SBW Club members.

In this day and age where we have ready access to electronic data recording, storage and retrieval systems it is possible to do, with comparatively little effort, what for past members would have been a very laborious if not impossible task. We have the opportunity to gather a wide range of information about our walks and store that information such that it can be accessed by SBW members in many useful ways.

But we won't get anywhere until we take the first step, and the first step is to start gathering information on the walks we do. The logical tool for gathering the information we need is a written report from the leader.

To make it as easy as possible, and to make sure we get the information that is needed, we need a report form designed specially for the task. The report form should be multi-functional. It should assist the leader when planning a walk. It should also serve as a notice to be left with a responsible person for use in the (unlikely) event that the party is overdue and a search becomes necessary. It should gather information to highlight membership trends and preferences to assist with management-committee decision making. And if leaders are willing to divulge details of their walks, It should enable the compilation of a comprehensive register of SBW walks. For example - “1000 SBW Walks in NSW” - with lots of detail to help a future leader interested in revisiting such walks.

The new walk report might look a bit daunting but this is not the case. If you use it and fill it in as you plan and execute your walk it will assist rather than hinder. The form has been kept as simple as possible and I expect that you will soon get used to it. However if you have any positive suggestions for improving the layout or making it more useful we would be pleased to hear from you. Write to: 'SBW Report' 42 Lincoln Road Georges Hall 2198, or E-mail to sbwreport@telstra.easymail.com.au. Copies of the report form together with an instruction sheet can be obtained from George Mawer.

When planning your next walk we request that you use the form and after the walk return it either by mail or if you have access to E-mail, you can send an E-mail to sbwreport@telstra.easymail.com.au - and request a report form be returned to your E-mail address as an attachment, and from there on do it electronically.

As yet the club is not set up to process the report via our Internet website but it is hoped that this will be available in the future.

Your cooperation is requested to get this system up and running.

Thank you. George Mawer

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