AUGUST 2001 Amongst the vast array of day packs that decorate the shelves of outdoor shops, it's difficult to pick something with the right features, what with 101 different types of nylon, all sorts
of different canvases, airflow systems, expanding pockets and neon colours.
So it's nice to know that if your the type of person that wants simple robust functionality that reflects years of local bushwalking experience with solid locally made material then the BLUE MOUNTAINS TRIASSIC could be your best companion for many yeats to come.
by David Noble Australian 120z canvas It's good to see a pack made in the Blue Mountains for 4& Made in Katoomba the old traditional way use in the Blue Mountains. The Triassic faatures two ; ' shoulder strap sizes so that the pack can be property hip & 40 litre cap acity . . leaded, sitting down comfortably in the lumbar region of 4 Proper hip loading with 2 shoulder strap sizes the back. This is sometimes difficult especially if you are a for walking comfort
taller person. The harness system also includes a thick
waist belt and chest strap enabling a tight fit which is A Wide throat for easy loading and unloading
great when climbing over rocks. & Buckle up front pocket with internal divider The volume is large enough to allow a 50m rope and 4 Top lid pocket wetsuit to easily fit in and the top is made larger so that & Extendable lid for overlo ading your stuff slides in and out with ease. The pack has a . ; farge front pocket for those essential items such as a 4 Padded hip beit with 38mm buckle torch ane atop ene he the a map and camera. the & Hip belt retainer for city use (conveniently holds Pack is large enough to be used as a end pac . when no ropes etc. are needed. This can keep the bulk the hip belt back and out of the way down and stop you from packing too much on these 4 Padded back (removable) agg bushwalks. trom durab which & Thumb loops on shoulder straps for more 6 Triassic is made durable 120z canvas whi . can withstand the abuse given to it in canyons and when comfortable walking . walking through scrub. Ali the seams are double stitched 4 \nternai compression strap for holding down and sealed to prevent failure. It is also very water proof, your canyon rope
on a recent trip down Hole In The Wall canyon, no
water entered the main compartment despite a number 4 Side compression straps for minimising volume
of lengthy swims. & Storm throat to keep out the rain The pack is bush green in colour making the walker & Hard wearing Cordura base almost invisible in the bush. This is handy for sneaking up A Price $159.00
on wildlife with a camera or just blending in te the wilderness as you walk along. Good for those who like to keep the visual impact minimal too. ONLY AVAILABLE AT A quality Blue Mountains pack for our tough conditions, the Triassic carries a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials.
Overall an excellent pack for either short or tall with the
ne Ll
2 shoulder strap options. And great for canyons or short nd
weekend trips, ew
NB; David Noble is a keen canyoner and
bushwalker. He is also the discoverer of the rare Wolfen! Pine (WOLLEMIA NOBILIS) found in 1994. 1045 VICTORIA RD, WEST RYDE Ph 9858 5844
THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is a monthly bulletin of matters of interest te members of The Sydney Bush Waikers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1585. To advertise in this magazine, please contact the Business Manager.
Editor: Bill Holland Telephone: 9484 6636 Email: billholi@hotkey.net.au
Fax: 99805476 (phone 9484 6636 first)
Business Manager. Gretel Woodward
Telephone: 9587 8912
Production Manager: Frances Holland
Printers: Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch, Tom Wenman, Don Brooks
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.
General Enquiries: phone 0500 500 729 SBW WEBSITE _www.sbw.org.au
COMMITTEE President: ; Wilf Hilder Vice-President: Peter Dalton Public Officer: Fran Holland Treasurer: Carole Beales Secretary: Judy O'Connor Walks Secretary: Carol Lubbers
Social Secretary Gemma Gagne Membership Secretary: Barry Wallace New Members Secretary: Kay Chan . Conservation Secretary: David Trinder Magazine Editor: Bili Holland Committee Members: Chris Dowling, Pam Morrison
Delegates to Confederation:
Jim Callaway Tom Wenman
Wilf Hilder Geoff Bradley
AUGUST 2001
Issue No. 801
INDEX: Editor's Note 2. President's Report
3,4. The July General Meeting - Barry Wallace Walks and Activity Planning Night
Letters to The Editor 7. Remembering Frank Leyden
Errol Sheedy 10. Marie Byles - A Short History
Ann McLeod 11. Global Warming David Trinder
12-14, The Great River Walk - The Story So Far
Roger Treagus 15. From Prospective to President Kay Chan 16. Hill Climbing Patrick James
17 A Page for New Members
18. Social Activities
The Spring Walks programme is included with this issue.
ADVERTISERS: ACF Environment Shop 11 Alpsport Front cover Eastwood Camping 9 Paddy Pallin Back cover Wilderness Transit 7 Willis's Walkabouts 5
The Sydney Bushwalker magazine is printed on recycled paper.
The Sydney Bushwatker. First Edition July 1931 Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. [Page 2 The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001 . |
bo ee et, Editor's Note:
This month the magazine includes memories of three of our earlier walkers; Marie Byles Margery Rodd, and Frank Leyden. It is worth remembering that the rich history of the Sydney Bush Walkers owe much to the members who were active in the Club so many years ago.
But, a club such as ours must continue to evolve and adopt new ideas. And so, as in recent issues, this issue has articles promoting change - changes to new member entry procedures and a new approach to preparing the walks programme. Other articles include a great story by Roger Treagus about his Great River Walk with more to come in future issues.
Keep those Letters to the Editor coming in. This month we have two, one adding to the GPS article of last month and the other talikng about bushwalking injuries.
Pam Morrison has undertaken the massive task of analysing and summarising the completed survey forms sent out with the July magazine. So far over 230 forms have been returned (40%) and more are expected. Hopefully, Pam will report on the outcome in our next issue.
Magazine Deadlines
Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the editor by the end of the first week of each month.
The deadline for last-minute urgent items is usually the second Monday of each month as the magazine is printed on the following Thursday.
All articles submitted will be considered for publication. Articles from new contributors particularly welcome
. Please send your submission in by mail (preferably typed), on floppy disc, by email billholl@hotkey.net.au or by fax 9980 5476
rf yer
2 =
President's Report:
Its great to see the SBW Survey Forms continuing to roll in. If you haven't sent your Survey Form yet - hurry for the deadline is here and now. To all those who have sent in your forms, many thanks for your efforts to help our club.
Volunteers keep our club running for everyones benefit. At the moment we need a coordinator for the SBW party at the Con- federations Bush Dance on the night of Friday 21st September 2001. At the Bush Dance all the dances are taught and called, so you dont need to be a bush dancer to coordinate the SBW party. We also need volunteers to answer the SBW_ phone inquiries which at present are handled by about 6 people who have been doing it for over 18 months. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Our new Web site Sub-Committee have withdrawn their offer to redesign our web site. I believe that we have lost a great opportunity to upgrade our web site and I wish to thank the sub-committee for the effort they put into the project to date.
Personal Accident insurance which is included in our membership fees provides basic cover only. Details will be provided in a future SBW magazine. This year's Personal Accident Insurance from 1st July, 2001 does not cover visitors. The insurance company has issued a new disclaimer form for all walks leaders to apply to visitors on Club Walks. All members, visitors and the general public are covered by a Public Liability insurance which is also included in our membership fees. The NSW Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs has recommended that you take out additional Ambulance Cover insurance to cover the additional costs of a helicopter rescue.
Wilf Hilder
Perhaps they need a GPS? it appears that some leaders are having difficulty in locating the “100 Man Cave”. The map shows the cave incorrectly. Don Finch has offered the following advice here is a useful grid reference“ 100 MEN Cave, Tiwilla 8930-111-S KANANGRA 404398
Change of Phone Number - Barry Wallace
Barry is our membership Secretary and he advises that from Ist June his contact phone number is 9450 0550
Letters advising change to membership list details may sent to the Club address marked to his attention.
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
Page 3 |
The July General Meeting
The meeting began at around 2015 when the president called the 20 or so members present to order. There was one apology, for Jim Calloway. Welcoming of new members was deferred to later in the meeting.
The minutes of the previous general meeting were read and accepted as a true and correct record. Matters arising saw a report from Gemma Gagne who had attended Coolana with Joan Rigby when a representative of Shoalhaven City Council carried .out an inspection for noxious weeds. The main purpose of the visit was to assess the property and on that score Coolana, as a bush block is not of concern in the general scheme of things. There are still some nasties for us to deal with, but not the sort of conditions that would ring alarms for the council. We can expect to receive a clean bill of health, together with some information on the control and eradication of the problem weeds found. .
Correspondence included a response from Shoalhaven City Council to our request that Coolana be considered for rating purposes as farmland. It does not qualify as such under the rules. We also received an acknowledgment from the Land and Property information, office to our letter regarding the waluation of Coolana. There was a letter from Eddie Giacomel indicating the clubs web site is now hosted on a new srver. Confederation have sent minutes of their most recent-meeting. We also received a letter from them regarding affiliation and
_insurance fees for the year. Peter Dalton has provided a report on the recent leadership training meeting. One of the proposed innovations is to hold a quarterly walks planning evening. South Sydney Council wrote to us requesting assistance in obtaining a guide for a bushwalk on their seniors program for September. It emerged from the body of the meeting that one of our members had already been approached individually and has agreed to assist.
In the absence of the treasurer the meeting did not receive a formal report. The weekend
Barry Wallace
of 16, 17 June was first cab off the rank for the walks reports, with Roger Treagus Great River walk Stage 5 attracting 8 Starters and good weather. Richard Darke led the party of 10 on his Saturday walk out from Mount Hay in good weather with cold conditions. The belief that Ron Watters probably ied his-Sunday test walk out from Anvil Rock didnt develop much beyond that, with one of those transient clouds of amnesia shrouding whatever other information may have been given to the walks secretary on the matter. Greg Brays Sunday walk out to Mount Solitary went, with Gail Crichton as leader, but further details were not to hand.
Bill Holland led a party of 5 on his midweek walk in Boudi National Park on the Tuesday. Weather conditions were satisfactory and Bill felt that his newish GPS receiver enhanced the experience. What did not enhance the experience however, was the discovery of a broken window on his parked car when they completed the trip.
There was a second mid week walk that week, with Wilf leading a party of 4 on stage 15 of the recircumnavigation of Port Jackson. It was described as a good day with some scrub.
Maureen Carters walk in the rock formations of the Buddawangs over the weekend of 23, 24 June went to program with a full complement, whatever that might mean. Bill Hollands overnight walk in Morton National Park the same weekend went, with Maurice Smith as_ substitute leader and a party of 3. Conditions were described as rough and scrubby. Zol Bodlay had 14 on his Saturday version of the Orange Grove walk in Marra Marra National Park. The trip went to program on a good day. Bob Smythes Sunday walk into Erskine Creek attracted a party of 13 in fine, cold weather.
No report was available for Kenn Clachers Kosciuszko Ski Touring trip over the weekend of 29, 30 June, 1 July and Wilf deferred his Wollemi National Park walk scheduled for that weekend to another time. [Page 4 The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
== =
Going with the flow so to speak, there was no report for Morag Ryders Saturday walk from Leura to Katoomba. Gail Crichtons Saturday test walk out from Carlons Farm went, in excellent weather, with a party of 15. John Polesons Sunday trip out from Heathcote went despite problems with rail busses. No head count was available.
Wilfs Great River walk stages E and F went over the weekend of 6, 7, 8 July with parties of 9 and 7 on the Saturday and Sunday respectively. There was no report
for Maureen Carters Saturday trip in the Royal from Loftus to Bundeena. Scheduled.
for the same day, Arthur Andersens test walk up and down Narrowneck attracted a party of 36 but no other details were available. Patrick James had 11 starters and mild weather for his Sunday walk on a watery theme out from Mount Victoria. All of which brought the walks reports for the month to a.close. .
The conservation secretary reminded the meeting of the sobering detail that of the forested area found when the white man came to New South Wales only 10% remains. An article on this theme will appear
in _the- magazine. Confederation report.
reminded everyone that visitors are not covered
under the latest insurance cover. Confederation will conduct a survey of member clubs reactions to the Confederation magazine. A meeting was held recently regarding Carlons Farm area. A resident caretaker is proposed with a possible field studies centre. A landslide near the falls area has closed the Govetts Leap track.
The committee reviewing club operations has proposed changes in the handling of applicants for the club. One information meeting will be held each month on the committee meeting night. New applicants will be introduced to one another, and slides of walking areas and information on the club will be presented. Training will be available on other nights during the month.
New members Anthea and John Michaelis, Mark Patterson, Fiona Sonntag and John Williams were called for welcome into membership with Mark and Fiona unable to be present.
There was no general business, but. so far 177 of the survey forms have been returned.
Announcements brought the sad news of the death of two of our senior members, Alan Wyborn and Marjorie Rodd.
The meeting closed at around 2117.
“Premier With A View To The Future”
(Media Release 29 June )
Bob Carr is on track to becoming the Premier that will be remembered for saving the wilderness of NSW. Today, the Fremier announced a five million dollar package to secure wilderness for future generations. The money boost for the Dunphy Wilderness Fund will help protect many threatened forest areas, particularly on the North Coast of NSW.
Purchasing threatened forests over the coming year will build a living legacy to those pioneers of wildemess conservation, in particular Myles Dunphy and the first generation of bushwalking conservationists, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. The Dunphy Wilderness Fund has ben able to secure wilderness at a hundred dollars a hectare. So I anticipate that 50,000 hectares will be protected under this initiative but it will also fill gaps and secure many otherwise badly fragmented park areas. Many park areas are vulnerable to the problems caused by enclaves of private lands. The initiative will reserve many of these areas and prevent grazing by cattle and unauthorised fires that often escape from private enclaves within our national parks up and down the coast.
“Also announced today was the protection of 40,000 hectares in the Kedumba and Kowmung River valleys that will be reserved as national park in the heart of the Kanangra-Boyd wilderness. These additions will more than halve the enclaves in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area. The southern part of the World Heritage area will no longer look like a Swiss cheese!
The eight million dollars to buy land in the west of NSW and the initiation of genuine forestry restructuring for the western woodlands in the central west are also fantastic iitiatives. The Carr Government is to be congratulated for its new nature conservation initiatives. These visionary actions will open opportunities for protection of threatened natural areas over the next two years, said Mr Muir.
Keith Muir is Executive Officer for the Colong Foundation for Wilderness
The Sydney Rushwalker August 2001
Page 5 |
WALKS AND ACTIVITY PLANNING NIGHT Wednesday, 26 September 2001 Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre
Following the very successful leadership evening on. 26 June, we have now implemented one of the recommendations of the night and invite leaders, potential leaders, members and prospective members to participate in a walks and activities planning _ night for the 2001 Summer Programme.
Walks Secretary, Carol Lubbers, will have the draft programme available and those wishing to lead a walk/activity will have the advantage of selecting dates to suit their diary and co-ordinate with other walks.
We also hope that potential leaders will take the opportunity over a cup of coffee to use the proposed new buddy system to organise to co-lead a waik with an existing leader or another potential leader or member. A number of our present leaders gained their first leadership experience by teaming up with another potential leader and supporting one another for their first couple of walks. Like all things, the first step is always the
hardest but with help its certainly much easier.
Each of these quarterly meetings will include a 30 minute discussion session on a particular theme with exploratory walks being the theme for 26 September.
We hope that during general discussion topics along the lines of but not limited to the following will be discussed:
e Why dont we go to a certain area?
e Why do we have so many hard walks or
easy walks?
e Why are there not more test walks?
e What can I do to help?
e We look forward to seeing you on the
26”. Don Brooks Convenor
Carol Lubbers Walks Secretary
-|Change to Programmed Walk:
Tom Wenman advises that his Sunday walk schedules for August 28th has been moved to 2nd September
The Red Centre 2222s We go to places that no other tour operator will visit because no other tour ~ , operator will take you walking OF Ft CK. eter nvometon
you need a 4WD to get to where we walk.
The ranges contain many permanent and near permanent waterholes. We know where they are.
We still have space available on our spring trips, gaing to great places you might never find if you went on your own.
We offer relatively easy trips where you never carry more than a day-pack and others where you carry all your food and equipment off into a wilderness you'll never forget.
You'll enjoy warm to hot days and pleasantly cool nights in a wet year like 2001, the waterholes are at their best and there will be great places to swim.
Too expensive? Bring your own 4WD and save big
Check out our website
www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au ) or ask for our brochure
and trip notes.
ats 12 Carrington St Miliner NT 0810 Email: watkabout@ais.n net. au (08) 89852134 oo
-Fax: (08) 8985 2355 [Page 6 The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
MX Further Notes on the Use of GPS
I enjoyed reading the article by Bill Holland on his use of GPS. [ also like playing with a GPS - the idea that you can locate your position to within 10 meters anywhere on earth using signals from satellites is quite amazing!!
A couple of things came to mind whilst reading the article. Firstly, I have a Garmin Etrex GPS and these are becoming very popular with bushwalkers. A really nice feature of the Etrex is that you can actually replace the software in the unit using a file obtained from the Garmin Web site www.garmin.com. The most recent Etrex software (v2.10 released in October 2000) includes a very much improved display of satellite locations and the signal strengths. This version is really worth having and is very easy to install.
Secondly, Bill mentioned his use of the Oziexplorer software. I use another software package called Gartrip available from Web site www.gartrip.de and able to used with both Garmin and Magellan receivers. It is worth taking a look at — although it is probably very similar in function to Oziexplorer.
Richard Thompson
Talking About Bushwalking Injuries
In my capacity as Honorary Solicitor for The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW I was contacted by another club for some advice. It seems that this club has received a claim from an injured walker who wishes to seek compensation beyond the out of pocket expenses already paid by the insurers.
Whilst this is most unfortunate, it is a fact of life.and has to be handled by those involved with the assistance of the solicitor appointed by the insurer. After all, in our democratic society the injured walker is entitled to pursue his or her rights even if unsuccessfully - isn't that so?
Upon reporting. batk to Confederation's President ( Wilf Hilder) I was told that there is apparently a view around (not shared by him) that these things should not be
. Letters To The Editor
discussed publicly for fear of there being a
~ rush of claims *
I was astounded to hear this. Surely we should support other clubs and more importantly learn from their experiences.
In a lot of things we do in life we are exposed to being sued. We invite people into our homes, we drive motor cars and own pets.
Some of us even give advice. We have a duty to behave responsibly in these matters.
If we injure someone when driving a car then we may be sued and our insurer represents us. The court will determine if we have failed in our duty of care owed to other users of the road be they pedestrians, passengers in our own car or the occupants of the other vehicle.
We talk about the incident to gain support, sympathy or just to get it off our chest. Why on earth would we not want to talk about a bushwalking injury? Perhaps someone can enlighten me!
Rosemary MacDougal
* Reports of injuries sustained during SBW walks are always fully discussed at General Meetings and in articles published in the magazine. The only instance of a member seeking recompense (unsuccessfully) from the Club
for injury sustained on a walk occurred 10
years ago. The matter was fully discussed by members at the time and referred to in several magazine reports. The outcome of the court action was the subject of an article in November 1992 magazine …..Ed
Fifty Years of Walking - Frank Rigby
Frank celebrated 50 years as an active member of SBW on 15th August this year. Frank was made an Honorary Active Member in 1997. . The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
Page 7 ii
Remembering Frank Leyden
In the May 1999 edition of “The Sydney Bushwalker” the passing of Frank Leyden was recorded, and Reg Alder later told us more about him.
One of the bonuses of being a SBW Prospective in 1971 was the opportunity of listening, on the track, to the conversation of Frank Leyden. With Frank in front those behind were assured of a variety of topics in which he would invariably be the most knowledgeable and brilliant, When I asked someone I was told that he was an electrical engineer, and that he had designed and installed the listening posts used in high schools for language studies.
Not long after this Frank announced that he was moving to England to continue his studies in Scientology, and invited us to look him up should we happen to be there, Thus, a few years later, while I was staying in London I phoned Frank who invited me to do a walk with The Ashdown Ramblers, the local club he had joined. That walk, south of London, included the Ashdown Forest through which King Henry VIII was said to have had his favourite ride.
Our party consisted of thirty people of varying ages. Some carried umbrellas, others had walking sticks. This was in the winter, and near the end of the walk, while we still had some hundreds of metres of scrub (heather ?) to negotiate, darkness fell, to the consternation of some. As it turned out the only people carrying torches were the two SBW's. Frank led the way out to the road while I lit up the rear.
Another walk took the Club to Eastbourne on the south coast, and at the ocean cliffs at Beechy Head. Here we stood on the World War II concrete foundations where radar towers had given early warning of the approach of the Luftwaffe. At this historic site Frank was very informative about the vital role played by the towers in the war.
Another time he drove me to Canterbury to see the cathedral which was clearly a masterpiece of masonry; but for me the highlight of the day was our visit to the underground Roman ruins about five metres below street level. Steps led down to a
Errol Sheedy
room with a mosaic pavement and tiled decorations around the walls, This room had once been at street level but accumulations of building materials and the debris of centuries had covered it and the original street.
Frank said that one good thing about the bombing devastation of Canterbury had been the opportunity it provided for the archaeologists who were eagerly anticipating the finds that they would make in the time between the cessation of the bombing and the commencement of rebuilding.
One night Frank came to my cousin's flat for dinner. He brought his projector and slides, and showed us some charming scenes of the English countryside. He said that he showed these to his English friends before switching to a series from NSW: Kanangra Walls, Folly Point, Hollands Gorge west from Pigeon House, the Warrumbungles, and so on - invariably drawing gasps of admiration.
Afier this UK trip the only contact with Frank was by Christmas cards. My regret is that I did not have the opportunity to get to know him better.
ooda
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Tel: 0246 832 344 Mob: 0428 832 344 www.wildernesstransit.com.au
|Page 8 The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
the age of 94, Marjorie Rodd was among the last survivors of those who joined SBW in the late 1920s. Although her membership was relatively brief, from 1928 to about 1935, the then Marjorie Hill was one of the most active walkers and in 1931 was first Editor of The Bushwalker (shortly after changed to The Sydney Bushwalker).
Marjorie was a primary-school teacher in 1928 but in that same year began attending evening lectures at Sydney University; leading to a B.A. in 1932 and a career as a_ high-school Mathematics and - English teacher. In 1933 she began a relationship with Norman Rodd who had joined SBW three years earlier, leading to marriage in 1936.
In her earlier SBW years and despite her studies, Marjorie was off on walks almost every weekend and school vacation. She soon acquired a reputation for her fearlessness, endurance and bush skills. In January 1930 she was one of six young women who accompanied Myles Dunphy and one younger man on an 11-day walk along the Kowmung. The recent book “Myles and Milo” extracts from Myless diary his rather prim disapproval of the women's continuous and noisy high spirits. However, he was impressed when they made an impetuous side-excursion to Kanangra Tops and effortlessly managed the long, steep. climb and return descent in the one day. It is possible that Marjorie incurred his specific disapproval, as she was the only member of the group not to have a geographical feature named for her! Be that as it may, she and friend Brenda White rejoined him and three other male members at the end of that year on a 16-day walk of 110 miles through the southern Snowy Mountains. From Beloka, near Dalgety, they dropped into the Snowy and downstream for 20 miles. Before the intended ascent to Cobberas they were caught by floods on the Snowys west bank
between the Jacobs and Pinch Rivers and had |
to wait for the latter to subside. Heading north via The Pilot they followed the main
Margery Rodd Until her death on 26th May this year at~
Norman Rodd
range all the way to Mt Kosciusko, thence to Charlottes Pass and Thredbo. Myles believed that Marjorie and Brenda were the first women to carry packs into the Middle Snowy and traverse the Main Divide from Cobberas to Rams Head. At the end of 1931 Marjorie and Brenda did another Snowy Mountains walk, from Yarrangobilly Caves to Kosciusko and Thredbo via Jagungal, with a different party of three men and one other woman, Win Ashton.
Earlier walks were less well documented (there being no club magazine), but in 1935 the then old-timer Walter Roots when asked for reminiscences of the clubs_ early days, recalled ”… a ten days trip with Marj Hill and Phil Chamberlain, over Clear Hill, the elusive Black Dog, Kowmung, Roots Route, Kanangra and thereabouts, the Boyd and Colong Caves. A wonderful trip with good companions. Was there ever a better bushman than Marj?“
From about 1932 to 1935 Marjorie and Norman walked mainly with an informal group of SBW members nicknamed the bargers, the others being Jean Trimble (later Moppet), Brenda White, Richard Croker, Eric Moroney, Win Ashton and Bill Purnell. During this period there had developed tensions in the club over the issues of co- tenting and nude bathing, the bargers being among those who demanded that these be tolerated, even encouraged. | By late 1935 Marjorie and Norman had drifted away from club activities though keeping in touch with old SBW friends for many years. After raising 3 children they retired in 1974 to a large property at Mount Tomah and became good friends with neighbours John and Heather White, prominent SBW-members of the 50s and 60s and both past-presidents. In 1997 Norman happened to learn of the SBW 70th Anniversary reunion. He phoned the Editor, Patrick James and explained that his wife, then 90, was formerly Marjorie Hill. Patrick exclamed “Not the Marjorie Hill!” apparently surprised to discover she was still living. In October 1997 Marjorie was granted
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* Marie Byles
Marie's mother was a supporter of the suffragettes in England. She always encouraged Marie to gain a qualification and to be financially independent. This was the basis of Marie's feminist beliefs and she was of great support to other women in law, encouraging them to take up the law, providing some with the scarce opportunity to do their articles, employing them as locums and partners, and briefing the first women barristers.
Marie set up a practice in Eastwood in 1930, and struggled through the Depression building up a clientele. After opening a second office in Kent St, Sydney. her practice flourished to the point where eventually she was employing 13 para-legals, secretaries, accountants, bookkeepers etc, all women. She wrote on matrimonial law and guardianship issues in the newspapers in the''30's to help educate women about this inequitable Situation and recommended that women keep their own name upon marriage.
She encouraged her female staff to return to work after having their children and allowed them to work part-time on a schedule arranged to suit their needs. She always gave great responsibility to her staff who could do the work with such efficiency that Marie was able to spend months, even a year at one time, away overseas pursing her other interests.
Marie became a passionate bushwalker and conservationist having joined the embryonic Sydney Bushwalkers Club in 1929, but the romance of mountain climbing had captivated her. Having saved up enough money from her first job with an emancipated male solicitor, she traveled by cargo boat to Britain, Scandinavia and Canada to climb mountains and traverse glaciers. She learnt as much as possible about the skills involved, which she practiced often on her return, being one of the earliest women climbers to scale Mt. Cook in New Zealand.
Her first book 'By Cargo Boat and Mountain' was writien after returning. In 1938 she led an international mountaineering expedition into south China through Burma and Indochina. She had a lifelong commitment to conservation, having convinced the newly amalgamated Federation of Bushwalking Clubs to support a proposal to have the area across the water from her family's beach house on Palm Beach reserved and declared a State Park in 1932 (now known as Bouddi National Park). During the 1930's, Marie was the Secretary of the Federation of
A Short History By Ann Mclead
Bushwalking Clubs and Honorary Solicitor for the Federation and the Sydney Bushwalkers Club.
She remained active in the bushwalking fratemity, passing on information about environmental considerations through her role as editor and contributor in The Sydney Bushwalker' monthly magazine. She was influential in the early efforts to have the Kosciouszko area reserved (1952). Her brother Baldur was a Forester who, as a conservationist, was a renegade in the Forestry Commission. He loved the Kosciouszko region and wrote an influential report on the area that led to him being appointed a foundation member of the Trust of Kosciousko State Park.
Marie then became interested in . spiritual matters and developed a deep devotion to the principles which Mahatma Gandhi espoused. She lived in an unpainted, low maintenance fibro house on 5 acres at the edge of Pennant Hills Reserve which she later donated to the National Trust. She always slept outside on the verandah and ate her meals there too, close to nature. She practiced yoga regularly.
Marie became an intemationally respected authority on the teachings of Buddha and spent years studying the translations of the Buddhist texts before travelling to India to research a book about the Buddha's life and teachings. This book, “Footsteps of Gautama Buddha”, became very popular and stayed in print for 30 years.
She then visited Burma in the mid-'50's, to leam a meditation technique handed down from the Buddha which had died out in India, but had remained in it's
pure form in Burma. She remained there for months leaming the technique -through intensive silent retreats and developed a love and respect for the Burmese people which shines through in the book she wrote about her experiences: “Journey Into Burmese Silence”. This is a mere outline of an extraordinary life. She wrote more books on Gandhi, Buddha, and on the Alexander Technique for postural integration.
In 1974, the Women Lawyers Association honoured her 50th anniversary of practice with a visit from the then committee which included Justice Elizabeth Evatt, Justice Mary Gaudron, and a number of other very eminent practitioners.
_ Marie died at home, as she had wished, refusing to
have any medical interventions or take any painkillers. She was a woman of the highest principles which she lived devoutly. nooo ~ The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
Page 11 |
Global Warming in Australia
Over the past two hundred years industrialisation has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. The increase in this and other gases causes heat to be trapped at the Earths surface and a subsequent increase in temperatures. We know how hot a green house can get and we know that a car with the sun shining through closed windows can become hot enough to kill a child.
There has been debates over the effect of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, and increased global temperatures, but a consensus of the worlds foremost climate scientists tells us that to avoid a catastrophe we must decrease greenhouse emissions by at least 60 to 70 percent. Our government flatly rejects a 5% cut. At the recent conference in Bonn 186 countries agreed to the Kyoto protocol, these included 38 industrialised countries that agreed to binding targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union will immediately force all of its member countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 8% below 1990 levels by 2010. Australia is allowed an 8% increase on 1990 levels by 2010. The protocol is expected to come into force early next year.
At the conference Australia along with Canada, two of the worlds worst per capita polluters held out for generous concessions on carbon sinks. Forests hold carbon in the timber in trees, The concessions mean that Australia can meet its targets in the short term without reducing fossil fuel emissions. Australia already had a good deal from the Kyoto protocol. It is one of only three countries,. the others being Iceland and Norway (who are low polluters), that were allowed to increase its emissions. Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto target by hardly doing anything about its emissions, especially if it gets Queensland under contro! over land clearing. After Bonn Australia can claim unlimited credits for carbon saved by changing cropping and grazing systems, and can sell carbon credits on the international commodities markets.
David Trinder
Environmentally the Bonn conference was a dismal failure but Clare Miller in the Sydney Morning Herald believes that psychologicaily it sends a strong message to governments and business that could form the foundation for building a carbon light global economy. Embracing energy efficiency should be an opportunity for economic growth. The most successful economies of the 21” century will be those that can produce more value with fewer resources, energy efficiency and renewable energy will be what drives them. Tougher targets in the future will be a certainty. Despite the alarmist protestation of the fossil fuel sector we need to develop more energy efficient opportunities in the residential, transport and commercial sectors. Environmental technologies and services are already a trillion dollar a year industry worldwide. Australia has an educated workforce and the resources to participate and if it does not act now it will miss the boat.
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Hational Environment Conference Senternkeuar 7-9 203
Register your Interest in this Conference by phoning Environment Conference 9279 2466 Postcards available in the Clubroom [Page 12 =
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
The Great River Walk The Story So Far
When I was 15 a school friend suggested that we do a 4 day bike ride describing a giant loop through Katoomba, Jenolan Caves, Taralga, Wombeyan Caves, Mittagong, Wollongong and back to Sydney. Our trusty Speedwell bikes with their Sturmey-Archer 3 speed hub gears (the latest thing), 2 tubes of condensed milk, the occasional shop and determination got us through despite the giant hills and constant punctures. We rode through strange and wild country. After leaving Wombeyan Caves an unexpectedly grand and beautiful river valley opened up ahead of us. It was the Wollondilly. It was crossed at Goodmans Ford (It was a ford back then). Looking up stream the river seemed to twist and turn through fantastic gorge country. I was intrigued by its remote and mystical quality and resolved that one day I would explore the river and get to know it.
From historical records it seemed that there was no account of any white man ever walking down the entire river from source to mouth as a single project although many such unrecorded walks must have happened. Three years ago I came across an article in the Herald reporting that the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust ( now unfortunately abolished) wanted to establish a permanent walk from source to mouth on the Wollondilly-Nepean-Hawkesbury. I contacted them; we compared notes and formed an informal partnership. They were talking about concepts. I was talking about a real bushwalk. And so the Great River Walk (GRW) project as a real bushwalk was born. It was an opportunity of doing something unusual and noteworthy, in fact a one off. For the Trust it was a catalyst for giving much needed momentum to their permanent walk concept. Alas the Trust is no longer but the work is now being~carried on by the Great River Walk Committee.
The orginal route planning was to use the available public access, country roads and fire trails. But these were often away from the river through less interesting country where the river might only occasionally be glimpsed in the distance. It was obvious why
Roger Treagus
the Wollondilly never appeared in walks programs; there was virtually no extensive public access until the Nattai National park, 200km downstream from the source.
The real walk was along the river bank but through private property all the way, through the properties of 40 different landowners in fact. To achieve a proper river walk a long process of contact and negotiation with landowners began in the winter and spring of 2000. Without realising this at the time a new dimension had been added to the walk from this contact, it was the enthusiasm and support of the local landowners, who , so often gave so much more to the walk than just their permission to cross their lands. From the top of the catchment to Goodmans Ford has taken 5 weekends; 180km of private land. The 40 or so landowners include lawyers, artists, EPA and Sydney Catchment Authority Board Members, businessmen and farming families who have farmed their properties since the nineteenth century. They have been enormously generous as country people can be. They have plied us with stories about local bushrangers and the exploits of their ancestors, offered us their heritage gardens as lunch venues, given us afternoon teas on the track and even offered up their home brew to slake the thirst at the end of the day. Many properties such as Gundowringa and Lockyersleigh have been owned by the same family since the beginning: the original land grants of the 1820s. The current owners were very free in talking about their ancestors struggles, of the many tragedies and triumphs that they faced and how they built up their holdings. These are wonderful stories. Their recording, the documenting of the settlement history of the Wollondilly, is very timely now as economic change, dare I say fationalism, is finally forcing these families off the land. And their histories will go with them and quite possibly be lost. We will be the poorer for never knowing what happened in this quiet corner of Australia.
The bush telegraph told the community we were coming. The Trust people thought to stage a little hospitality for the locals at the ore wae =
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
Page 13 |
source for the official send off on Stage | in October, on a quiet little back road on top of the Great Divide near Crookwell. When our little group of walkers arrived to start the walk at 8:30 on that sparkling Saturday morning about 40 locals from 18 properties were waiting for us. Within minutes the Trust people had erected a portable kitchen and cups of tea. danish pastries, scones and even plunger coffee on offer What a great way to start a S70km walk. The Mayor of Crookwell said a few words. Some other notables said their piece. We were waved off and straight-away I got stuck on our first barbed wire fence, the hazards of walking on private land. -
Our send off from Goulburn at the start of Stage 2 was an even bigger affair. State and Federal MPs showed up but thankfully didnt all make speeches, Landcare exhibitions were erected and a sausage sizzle crackled in the background. The Great River Walk Chairperson, the Hon Kevin Rozzole, State MP for Hawkesbury and very committed to the cause walked with us for a few kilometres through Goulburn.
So the bushwalk became something else, a bushwalk with a social edge. We were not
just walking down the river valley; we were walking through its social fabric as well. Camp at Tom Jones back yard in Towrang, lunch in the shadows of Mr Tooths historic homestead at Longreach (after which the Queensland town was named) , home brew beer offered by Mr Gourlay under Gibraltar Rocks, two great camps at the Horvatchs house in Canyonleigh with film shows and extended happy hours, a yarn with Stan Catford, feet bound up with rough cloth covering the hole made when a pitchfork went though his foot a week before, Mr Burley showing us his new track to the river down a spectacular spur saving us half a days extra walk, Mr Casburn offering everyone free accommodation for the start of Stage 6, Mr and Mrs Prell arriving on the track with a full picnic basket of scones and cakes and thermoss of Earl Grey and our memorable stay in the riverside nudist colony on Stage 5. A bushwalk of this character because of the work involved in negotiating passage is not likely to be repeated. But its an experience to be savoured.
As good as the walk was, going down an increasing scenic river valley, cutting deeper and deeper into the plateau this route was | Page 14
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
_
never going to be of much use as a permanent route; too rough, too remote and too much private land. The real permanent way was likely to swing to the east covering country from the Wingecarribbee, Joadja, the Southern Highlands towns and all that country to the east of Lake Burragorang down to the Nepean at Wallacia and beyond. The task cf researching and walking this route was taken up by Wilf Hilder. Thus we have two separate Great River Walk series on the program at the same time, mine down the Wollondilly and then to the west of Warragamba and Wilfs to the east, both ending up eventually in Broken Bay at river mouth but by different routes.
As I write this, Stage 6 will soon be walked, from Goodmans down to Scabby Flat under the shadow of Bonnum Pic; more wombat holes, more mobs of wallaroos, more black swans cruising the quiet deep pools under massive granite cliffs, more platypus (maybe) The river is bigger down here, white rapids, wide deep fast moving water, mountain peaks 600m above the water and the peace. At 90km in a straight line from the Harbour Bridge this is country few people know about and even fewer walk through. But it is a feast for the soul and its what bushwalking is all about.
The next stage will be run on the October long weekend which this year is in September. It will cover the Southern Blue Mountains from the lower Wollondilly to Katoomba, via Yerranderie, Scotts Main Range and the Wild Dogs. It will include most likely an optional tour of Yerranderie and also cater for walkers who want to only walk half of the way by an arrangement of an air link from Camden to Yerranderie International
Any story about this walk series is not complete without mention of the walkers themselves. The same people, SBW members, Trust people, GRW Committee people kept on coming back. By the time Stage 3 got rolling it was like walking with your oldest and closest friends. The shared experiences of the Great River walk has done that. Special medals should be awarded to Wilf Hilder, Steve Adams and Rath Byron
(SBW) and Ruth Williams, Amanda Warmsley and Ron Horvatch (Trust and Great River Walk Committee). They have been there all of the time and have put up with some whimsical story telling by the leader plus some creative underwater route finding without complaint. And new walkers find that the spirit that seems to pervade these walks converts them to oldest and closest friend status in no time. It has been a great experience and its only one third over. Look for more stages in the next walk program. It may seem to be only a bushwalk on paper but its different!
Dood Late Note: The Great River Walk stage 7 originally scheduled to run from the Wombeyan Caves Road to Katoomba from Friday 28th September to Tuesday 2 October has been changed. Stage 7 is now planned from the Wombeyan Caves Road to Yerranderie, a 2 day walk with an extra day in Yerranderie, from Saturday 29th September to Monday Ist October. Special arrangements are being made for transport out of Yerranderie on the Monday Ist October. Roger Treagus
Andrew Vilder wishes to advise members:
After many years wandering in the wilderness of semi-vegetarianism, let me introduce you to the people who tumed me back into a full- blooded camivore: Family Affair Catering. Having sampled their spit-roasted beef, lamb, pork and chicken at several parties, I was impressed enough to join and promote this business and thus launched my seventh new occupation. I am now a chef with this excellent outfit and can offer S'BW members special deals on any function from 20-600 people (with other back-up staff of course). There are over 30 great value menus available or we can create one to suit your needs. Bon Appetite!
“Gumtree Songline Walk and Gumnut Community Campfires”
See Spring Walks Programme
Page 15 |
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
From Prospective Member To President! - 19 September 2001
Yes, its true! The prospective member of today will be our Club President of the future, determining the direction of the club in years to come. So, what kind of club are we and what kind of walker do we attract? Are we a group of happy cappucino walkers? A bunch of very fit, tough walkers keen to explore remote corners of our wilderness bushland? Something in between or even a mix of all these?
HYPOTHETICAL!! We are agreed: were a band of cheery cappucino walkers! So what are all these tiger walkers and explorers doing amongst our midst, pushing up the pace of the walk and leading us into rugged, rough and un-tracked territory? Could it possibly be the result of something we did, or even didnt do?
The answer is yes! What we are doing or not doing today has an impact on what kind of member we are attracting or not attracting to our club, and the activity and participation
of members determines what kind of club we-
are. To maintain our on-going vitality, we need to know what we are and what we want to be and ensure that we have processes in place that will take us there. If we want to be a tiger walking club, we
need to attract tiger walkers. | Our-
prospective membership process plays a key role in this regard and it is important that this process serves our best interests, whatever we determine that to be.
Our walks program indicates that Sydney Bush Walkers is a club that serves a broad range of interests and styles in walking, as well as other outdoor adventure activities. Similarly, our current* _ prospective membership process attracts members with a broad range of expectations in joining our club. However, their attrition rate tells us that these are often not met.
When our President, Wilf Hilder sought feedback from members on how to re-vitalise our club, many members wrote in with suggestions which are currently being reviewed by a sub-committee. In regard to the prospective membership process, the result has been a number of proposals which include:
e Replacing the existing New Member talks with a New Members Information Night, with displays and slides, heid monthly on the first Wednesday of the month.
e The extension of prospective membership from six months to twelve months, with the retention of the existing qualifying walks and navigation and first aid requirements.
e Replacing the endorsement of full membership by six member signatures with the endorsement of walks leaders, by using a walks report or attendance record.
e Dropping the requirement for prospective members to appear before the committee for consideration before being granted membership.
e Establishing a gear pool to encourage prospective members into overnight walking.
An evening of discussion on these proposals and the prospective membership process in general is planned for the evening of the 19“ of September. We urge all members, including prospective members, to tear themselves away from their armchair and the latest copy of Wild and participate! Your input is needed and is important.
The format proposed will be similar to the evening on leadership, with a number of speakers introducing a topic for discussion. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!
Kay Chan
Prospective Membership Secretary.
Holiday Accommodation Available
South Coast Beach Break at Berrara.
Special discount rates for SBW members and families. Relax with water views in a comfortable cottage that sleeps 8. Telephone Maureen or David Carter 9773 4637.
Is your annual subscriptions now overdue? If you have not paid you may not receive next month's magazine and risk being deleted from our membership list. Please send your payment by mail to the Treasurer ($37 single $61 household membership). The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001_ _. a
Hill Climbing
Bagging, or is it bragging, mountains seems to be a Scottish thing. A party of hardy climbers, strong in the leg and weak in the head, rush round and see how many features they can climb in one day. A very popular is climb event is the four peaks of Ben Nevis, Ben Snowdon, Ben Hall and Ben Hogan. It takes a bit of training to bag these four in one day. There are bagging rules of course, you just cannot go and climb willy nilly. One team did eight bergs in one day. The Scotch Climbing League disallowed the bag on technical grounds; the climbers used a helicopter to get from peak to peak. The Tules dont actually say that you cannot; just not the right spirit.
The foothills of the Himalayas is a good place to start on hill bagging. These hills with their temperate climate are excellent for growing tea and cool holidays (thats cool as in not hot, not as in like wow). I decided that I needed to stretch my legs and thought a bit of a hill climb would be just the thing. They have drag hill climbing at Mount Panorama near Bathurst, New South Wales from time to time. Thats not for me, I dont have the knees for a kilt.
The hill climb I chose was one of the easy ones, as befits a gentleman of my height, width, hat size and colour of hair. Park the vehicle at the base, a long even slog up the ridge line to the top adomed with a signaling tower, then back again. Many people around here have four-wheel drive vehicles, both for status reasons and because theyre a bit tougher in a prang. In this instance I thought a normal 2 wheel vehicle would be OK, and as it turned out, it was.
I parked at the base of the ridge and set off. It was about 8 am, a clear sky, no rain and not too hot. -I was wearing normal Australian bushwalking gear. At these lower altitudes thin air and excess ultraviolet are not a.problem, A long sleeved shirt, a hat and my normal photochromic glasses were ample UV protection. A day pack with lunch, water for the whole day, compass, GPS, jumper and raincoat, first aid kit and some local currency, just in case.
Patrick James
The first bit of the climb is a bit confusing a lot of paths criss-cross in different directions. I used the tried and tested mountaineering tick of just climbing uphill. Soon I was is fairly open country and could see the way ahead clearly. A nice even uphill gradient with occasional flat areas.
On and on, steadily upwards, with the signal tower clearly marking my destination. The generally bare rocky surface was broken by a few small green patches of grass. These verdant oases made a welcome change. One grassy patch tumed out to be an old, disused cemetery, no doubt containing the remains of some hill climbers who did not complete the round journey.
Before lunchtime, I got to the top. After all the effort the top was unexciting. The signal tower was there; a monument to the desire of people to communicate with each other. Some simple graffiti adorned it.
Mission accomplished, now back down the ridge for a hot shower, food and a cup of coffee. Descending the ridge was uneventful. When I looked back at Gore Hill with its steel TV signal tower, marked with ABC and other symbols, I had a satisfying sense of achievement, a real leg-stretching climb up the ridge with views towards the Harbour Perhaps the most satisfying part of the hill climb was that the way back to the car at Kirribilli was all downhill.
oo000
Confederation Bush Dance
Don't Forget! Friday 21st September Petersham Town Hall
No booking necessary - just come along!
For sale - Surplus Bushwalking Gear
South Wind” brand day pack rucksack for sale. About 30 litre capacity. Has chest and waist straps for stability when in use. Top and front pockets (useful for putting in items such as keys, wallet, mobile phone, etc) separate from main compartment. Only used a few times, no signs of use.
Colour is sort of blue/mauve. Price $50
Phone Maurice Smith on (02) 8266 5573 in business hours or (02) 9587 6325 at home.
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
Page 17 |
A PAGE FOR NEW MEMBERS!
Welcome:
Please welcome the following new members: Susan Amott Michael Amott William Cooper Patrick Fensham Lino Giestas Jane Harries
John Keelyside Clive Klugman David Massih Brian McLean Simone Peakin John Rivers
Demetra Tamvekeras Bill Taylor Graham Woodward
Congratulations:
And congratulations to the following who have progressed to full membership: Blanaid Branigan Peter Cochrane Richard Walker
Coolana Training Weekend:
The next Prospectives Training Weekend will be on_October 27th, 28th and what a weekend it will be! Not only training activities but a Bush Music Celebration as well. For this occasion we will be combining the two activities to make a great campfire celebration.
Mark this date on your calendar:
Easy Walks For New Members
Please see the Spring Walks Programme for details of the following Easy walks in late September.
Sun 2nd Sept: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP 13km Cowan - Jerusalem Bay - Brooklyn. An interesting walk with beautiful views
Sun 23rd Sept: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP 13km Nth Turramurra- Gibberong Track - Bobbin Head - Sphinx Track - Nth Turramurra. Mostly on tracks but some thick bush
Sun 30th Sept: Brisbane Water NP 16km Palm Beach ferry - Ettalong Pearl Beach - Pattonga - Palm beach ferry. This:is an Easy/medium walk with extensive coastal views.
Day Test Walks:
Please see the Spring Walks Programme for details of the following Test walks in late September.
Sat 15th Sept: Blue Mountains NP 15km Victoria Falis Rd - Asgard Head - Valhalla Head etc. Mainly off track with some ups and downs. Fantastic views of Grose Valley Sat 22nd Sept: Blue Mountains NP) 12km
Victoria Falls - Blue Gum Forest - Evans LO All on tracks. Step descent in and steep out. . Sun 23rd Sept: Blue Mountains NP _12km Evan LO - Govetts Creek - Beauchamp Falls etc. Very steep and slippery visiting several waterfalls. Picturesque, expansive views.
Sat 29th Sept: Marramarra NP 20km Marramarra Ridge - Cobah Bay - Cobah Ridge track. Some off track walking.
Sun 30th Sept: Heathcote NP 20km Engadine to Waterfali via Woronora River.
Weekend Test Walks:
Please see the Spring Walks Programme for details of the following weekend Test walks in late September.
22,23rd Sept: Blue Mountains NP 30km Pierces Pass - Blue Gun Forest - DuFaur Buttress etc Party limit. You must be fit and experienced in overnight walking.
28th Sept - Ist Oct: Extended Walk 38km Long weekend in Kanangra NP 38km Kanangra s - Unirover Trail - Kowmung River - Bullhead Ridge. etc
You must be fit and experienced in overnight walking. 90% on tracks but several steep descents and ascents.
28th Sept - Ist Oct: Extended Walk 40km Long weekend in Morton NP 38km Biaydens Pass - Boolijah Creek - Discovery Cave. High ups and downs.
Club Training for New Members:
Our current program of information and training in navigation, bush cooking and packing for weekend trips will held on the second Wednesday of the month, run concurrently with the General Meeting.
Wed 12th Sep: “Food Ideas For Variety On Pack Walks” Practical ideas. on lightweight and nourishing meals for walking weekends. Wed 10th Oct.“Packing For a Trip”
A guide from experiericed members on what to take and how to pack it. A light weight pack can make all the difference between enjoyment and suffering.
Wed 14th Nov: “Basic Bush Navigation”
Also, don't forget:
27th,28th Oct: Coolana Training Weekend. Practical training for prospective members in navigation, first aid and bushcraft
[Page 18 “8
The Sydney Bushwalker August 2001
SOCIAL NOTES
September Social Programme:
This month there are some important new
events - see below - suggested by the current
review of Club activities. All will be held in the Clubrooms at 16 Fitzroy St Kirribilli starting at 8 pm unless otherwise stated.
Wed. 5th Committee Meeting (6.30 pm) Introduction to SBW New Prospective members meet the New Members team over tea and biscuits
Wed. 12th General Meeting Prospective Training
“Food Ideas For Variety On Pack Walks”
Wed. 19th From Prospective To President An evening of discussion on the prospective membership process
Wed. 26th Walks and Activity Planning Your night to help fill in the Summer Programme.
Trip Reports and the Club Database
Something Ive noticed since I began recording trip reports is the small number of trip stories. There was a time when we used to get some great trip stories in the magazine. Sometimes they would be written by the leader but more often a party member wrote the better ones. I think the party member has a different reason (from the leader) for being on the walk and gives a different slant to his/her story. We probably now have more writing talent in the club than ever before so how about it you budding authors?
Why not resolve to take some notes for a story next time youre out on a walk and follow through with an article for the magazine. Send your story to me for inclusion in the clubs records and I'll make sure it gets to the editor. And if you have doubts about your writing talent dont. We can guarantee proof reading that will iron out any wrinkles with your approval of course without changing your style, so heres your opportunity to get into print.
A full page - about 750 words or so teally doesnt take much to fill. Build your story around some feature of the walk that
Gemma Gagne
you liked or something that happened that you found interesting or amusing or whatever, and share it with us. If youre enthusiastic, be prepared and take a small notebook and a ballpoint with you next time. And of course your story will go towards enhancing the leaders trip report and your name as author will be enshrined forever in the clubs records.
And leaders, a good trip story is a great advertisement for your next walk so lets get into the habit of asking for a volunteer from your party to accept the challenge and write a story.
George Mawer
Cycling: Regular cycling activities are scheduled in the Club's Walks programmes. Additionally mid-week rides are organised at short notice. If you are free to cycle during the week please contact George Mawer 9707 1343. Please refer to the Winter and Spring Programmes for full details of the following cycling activities: 25th, 26th August Bike ride near Bathurst Barbecue at the farm. Cycling on good roads to Carcoar and return on Sunday. Sat 22nd September Kuringai Chase NP Bicycle trip from McCarrs Creek to Westhead and return.
Mid Week Walkers: . Campsite reservations have been made for our trip to :.Lamington NP 17 - 22 .. September. Late bookings are possible if you hurry! Also, the limited places available for the tnp to Hitchinbrook in August 20002 are filling rapidly so please advise (with $40 deposit) if you wish to join us. George Mawer is interested in organising extended midweek walking trips ( 3-5 days) in favourite areas such as Budawangs and Kanangra. For more information please phone George on 9707 1343 Bill Holland
The Leaders in Adventure since 1930
Ever since Paddy Pallin began making his gear in his back room, Paddy Pallin has led the way in manufacturing and selling a range of quality products for fellow bushwalkers. We understand that walkers need lightweight, functional equipment which will perform in all kinds of conditions, so if you want the best products and the best advice, come
in and see us.
WE SPECIALISE IN: * Footwear for bushwalking * Rucksacks
* Day packs
* Gore-Tex rainwear
* Polartec fleece warmwear * Thermal bodywear
* Outdoor clothing
* Sleeping bags
* Tents
* Stoves and water purifiers * Cross country skis and boots * Rockclimbing equipment
* Books and maps
* Accessories
And if you are just starting out, or perhaps trying something new, we have a range of
equipment for hire at competitive prices.
For a free catalogue, drop into your nearest store, or call (02) 9524 1385.
Miranda 527 Kingsway * City 507 Kent St Parramatta 2/74 Macquarie St e Katoomba 166B Katoomba St Canberra 11 Lonsdale St. Braddon Jindabyne Kosciusko Rd