SBW Magazine & History Project

APRIL 2002 Print Post Approved PP 235723/01270

toc

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 you're 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 years to come.

Review by David Noble

It's good to see a pack made in the Blue Mountains for use in the Blue Mountains. The “Triassic” features two shoulder strap sizes so that the pack can be properly hip loaded, sitting down comfortably in the lumbar region of the back. This is sometimes difficult especially if you are a taller person. The harness system also includes a thick waist belt and chest strap enabling a tight fit which is great when climbing over rocks.

The volume is large enough to allow a 50m rope and wetsuit to easily fit in and the top is made larger so that your stuff slides in and out with ease. The pack has a large front pocket for those essential items such as a torch, and a top pocket for the map and camera. The pack is large enough to be used as a weekend pack when no ropes etc. are needed. This can keep the bulk down and stop you from packing too much on those short bushwalks.

The “Triassic” is made from durable 12oz canvas which can withstand the abuse given to it in canyons and when walking through scrub. All the seams are double stitched and sealed to prevent failure. It is also very water proof; on a recent trip down “Hole In The Wall” canyon, no water entered the main compartment despite a number of lengthy swims.

The pack is bush green in colour making the walker almost invisible in the bush. This is handy for sneaking up on wildlife with a camera or just blending in to the wilderness as you walk along. Good for those who like to keep the visual impact minimal too.

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 2 shoulder strap options. And great for canyons or short weekend trips.

NB: David Noble is a keen canyoner and bushwalker. He is also the discoverer of the rare Wollemi Pine (WOLLEMIA NOBILIS) found in 1994.

ONLY AVAILABLE AT

Alpsport

1045 VICTORIA RD, WEST RYDE Ph 9858 5844

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

The resolutions passed at the March AGM required changes to be made to the Club's Constitution. These changes have been printed in an enclosure to this magazine and should be inserted in your copy of the Constitution - pending a reprint at a later date.

Photographs for the anniversary CD-ROM are needed now in order to have a smooth workflow.

Post prints to SBW75, PO Box 431, Milsons Point, 1565; they will be returned to you after being scanned.

Photos in digital format can be emailed to photos@sbw.org.au. or copied onto a disk and posted to the above address.

The photos need to be fully identified, who, when, where, why, etc. The people in the photos, you and/or your friends, should be recognisable, not the rear views of packs supported by legs, or faces hiding in deep shade.

• Wed 1st Committee Meeting
• New Members
• Wed 8th General Meeting
• Wed 15th South America (Peru)
• Wed 22nd South America (Video)
• Wed 29th Club Insurance Cover

The Sydney Bushwalker: First Edition July 1931 Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc.

This year we celebrate our 75th anniversary.

The Club's main activity is bushwalking, but it has grown to include other activities such as ski touring, canyoning, abseiling, li-loing, cycling and social events.

Our 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

The Annual General Meeting on March 13th determined that the SBW Annual Subscriptions for 2002 would be:

• Single Membership = $40-00
• Household membership = $66-00
• Non Active Membership = $15-00
• Non Active + Magazine = $28-00
• Magazine only = $15-00

Payment can be made by mail or at the Club on Wednesday nights. The form in last month's magazine should be returned with your cheque to the Treasurer at our PO Box number.

Prompt payment will help reduce the Treasurer's work load and ensure that you are covered by club insurance and that you receive the magazine and walks programs.

Please also note any changes to your address or phone number on the form to permit Pam Morrison (our new Membership Secretary) to update club records.

\* Not applicable to Prospective Members

My first month as President has been most interesting and I am learning about the many different facets of our club.

Firstly, I joined the team at Coolana for the annual reunion where a number of previous presidents were in attendance to oversee my investiture as president for the forthcoming year. It was great fun and thanks to all who made it a successful gathering.

Our new Committee has had its first meeting and I am grateful that the hand over from the old Committee has been very smooth.

The Review Sub-Committee is looking at producing a handbook which will be a helpful guide for leaders and members generally. Much work is still to be done but when completed it will be a handy tool for those who want to use it.

There continues to be a great diversity of members needs which was evident from the survey conducted last year. A variety of different types of walks was mentioned to cater for members changing circumstances. In a discussion today on a walk somebody mentioned the possibility of having short but fast walks which might take up half a day. An example would be to cover say 12 ks on a Saturday morning finishing at lunchtime. Another club is already doing that. Volunteers to lead such walks would be welcome.

One of our members Deirdre Kidd is on the sick list but I have been told that 'phone enquiries and visitors are welcome.

See you on the track Rosemary MacDougal

Great weather and a good crowd of about fifty+ people enjoyed the Annual Reunion at Coolana on the weekend 16th, 17th March. The tents were up, an early happy hour or two before the bonfire was lit and the festivities began.

Patrick, as usual, had organized the entertainment, many participated and the evening finished for some well after midnight although the majority was off to bed after the supper - provided by Spiro.

The next day was quieter, damper making in the morning, some leaving early and others having a leisurely break. A great weekend!

Members are invited to assist with the collating of the May magazine and the Winter Walks Programme at the Holland's home at Westleigh on Thursday 16th May. Contact Fran Holland beforehand for details on 9484 6636.

This month the magazine includes three pages of articles and photos under the heading “Out of the Past” a theme consistent with the celebration of our seventy-fifth anniversary year. I welcome your contributions on this theme in coming months.

The Walks Pages have been expanded as walk reports come in. My hope is that leaders will submit short reports of walks in the preceding month, promotional articles about walks in the coming months and longer reports of interesting walks in past months.

Our Club is encouraging participation in walks, particularly weekend or extended walks which have been a feature of SBW over the years. However, participation in walks should start when members join the club. Many may not be familiar with the style or location of our walks. Short walk reports may inform them and promotion of coming walks may encourage them.

We ask new members to start with easy day/weekend walks and progress to more difficult walks – yet when I look at our current Autumn Walks Programme I find very few walks graded as easy. Of the 54 walks over three months (excluding mid-week walks) there are only 4 day walks graded as easy (none in the month of May) and 4 graded as easy/medium. There are no weekend walks in this programme suitable for inexperienced newcomers.

This is not a criticism of our Walks Secretary, Carol, who can only place walks that are offered by our leaders. Instead, it is a message to our experienced members/leaders not to forget that all of us were new to bushwalking at first and gained experience by going on easy walks. If we are to hold our newer members and encourage them to gain the skill and enthusiasm to participate in weekend walking we must offer them the training by having a balanced walking programme.

Bill Holland

Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the editor by the end of the first week of each month. Letters stating your viewpoint on matters of interest are most welcome.

Please send your submission in by mail (preferably typed), on floppy disc, by fax or by email addressed to The Editor.

• Telephone: 9484 6636
• Email: billholl@hotkey.net.au
• Fax: 9980 5476 (phone 9484 6636 first)

The meeting began at around 20:09 with some 48 or so members present. Apologies were tendered for Alex Colley, Anthea Michaelis, Don Matthews, Ian Debert, Hynes and Geoff and Grace Wagg.

The minutes of the previous Annual General meeting were read and accepted as a true and correct record. There were no matters arising from these minutes.

No items of correspondence were presented for consideration by the meeting.

The annual reports were taken as read, and received.

Financial statements and the accounts for the year past were taken as read, and received.

Two procedural motions were then passed to facilitate the election of office bearers concurrent with the business of the meeting, and to define the system for counting of votes. Two scrutineers were chosen and the elections proceeded. The results were published in last month's magazine.

The rate for annual subscriptions for the coming year was determined based on a recommendation from the incoming treasurer.

A vote of thanks to the Hon. Auditor and the Hon. Solicitor was moved and passed unanimously.

Each of the four constitutional changes proposed was considered and passed by the meeting.

From there it was a simple matter of passing by acclamation a vote of thanks to the outgoing office holders and the meeting closed at 22:08. Barry Wallace

Would you like to see what is held in the Club's archives spanning 75 years?

Do you have any photos (labeled) of people or special occasions or documents that could become part of the archives? Are you interested in gaining a glimpse of SBW history?

If so, you are invited to the

CLUB ARCHIVES WEEKEND

11th & 12th MAY

Come to our house in Westleigh for the weekend (accommodation available) or just for one of the days or for a few hours. You can assist with organizing, sorting, filing or just browsing.

We need your help - so mark your calendar and give us a phone call so we can get the coffee mugs ready. Fran and Bill Holland 9484 6636

All leaders are advised to check on park closures as advice on park closures may be found at the NPWS website: www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/firenews_closures or by Phoning 9542 0648.

The following is an extract from NPWS Fire, flood and park closure update as at 6th April 2002.

• Bargo SRA, Burragorang SRA, Nattai SRA, Garawarra SRA, Part SRA are all closed.
• Heathcote National Park National Park is closed.
• Nattai Royal National Park: All fire-affected areas of the park remain closed. However all main roads and picnic areas are open as are walking tracks in areas not affected by fire.
• Thirlmere Lakes National Park is closed.
• Blue Mountains National Park: the following areas are closed: All burnt areas in Blue Labyrinth area; Andersons Fire Trail; Kings Tableland Road to McMahons Lookout; Ingar, Murphys Glen areas; National Pass walking track; Wentworth Pass walking track is closed from just past the junction of the Rocket Point Track.
• Wollemi National Park is open with the following exceptions:
  • All burnt ground remains closed north of Railmotor Ridge, east of Mt Cameron to the Putty Rd and north to the Wolgan River, Wollemi Creek and Kings Waterhole.
  • Tigersnake Canyon is closed.

To encourage our walks leaders to get their St John's First Aid Certificate, the Committee has offered to subsidise current Walks Leaders for half the cost of gaining an accredited Senior First Aid Certificate up to $50 and if combined with an accredited Remote Area First Aid, up to $80. This will be for a trial six-month period.

I am planning a field trip to Chile to gather information for an update of my travel publication “TC Chile and Easter Island”. This trip will take place either in October 2002 or February 2003 and last 8 weeks to three months; it would be possible to lead a group of Sydney Bushwalkers on part of this trip.

Traveling in Chile is dictated by season. If we leave in October the group will visit first the northern part of Chile from the Peruvian border south to La Serena, and then the lakes district from Pucón to Valdivia.

Alternatively, if the trip commences in February 2003 we shall start in Region Magallanes and continue back to Santiago via Region Aysen, Region Los Lagos; some northern regions will be included.

Proposed Itinerary - October 2002

Sydney - Buenos Aires - Santiago (3½ days) - Vallenar (1½ days) - Calama/San Pedro (8 days) - Iquique (4 days) - Arica (6 days) - Antofagasta (2 days) - Copiapó (2½ days) - La Serena (3½ days) - Temuco/Lakes district (8 days) - Valdivia (4 days) - Santiago 3 days - Buenos Aires - Sydney (1 day)

Preliminary cost estimate: A$4000

Inquiries: Gerry Leitner, Phone: 9608 1169 email: travelcom@optusnet.com.au

Here is a recipe from Roger Treagus for Bush Beef Bourguignon for 2 servings on overnight walks.

Ingredients: 300 grams chuck steak; 1 onion; 1 tbsp flour, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp thyme; 1/2 tsp marjoram; a couple of beef stock cubes; 300ml of burgundy or cheap plonk, a few small mushrooms. Wrap steak up in newspaper to dry it so it will keep. Ingredients are lightweight except for meat and wine. Total weight may be 750-850g. Best to have on 1st night out.

Instructions: Cut meat into 1-inch cubes and marinate with the wine in a bag before the walk. Your walk strides will help the marinade work. At camp, sauté the mushrooms and onions and add water and make up the stock. Slow cook the meat at the edge of the fire slowly adding stock to keep the simmer going. The secret is in keeping the cooking process slow so best started during happy hour. When tender enough add mushrooms and onions to fully cook in with the meat on fast cook in middle of fire for 10 minutes. Serve with leftover plonk as an accompaniment. You'll fly the next day.

It's a busy time for me in my new role as the Club's Treasurer. The annual subscriptions are arriving in the post office box. Remember now, if you haven't paid your subscription it is now due for payment. If you don't pay you will lose your membership rights. So come on, dismantle the razor wire guarding your cheque book. Write your subs cheque today and mail it together with the payment advice to:

The Treasurer - Sydney Bush Walkers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point NSW 1565

I'll be happy to receive and bank your subscription cheque payment. Despite the subscription renewal notice asking members not to send currency through the mail a few brave members have done so. So far as I know all such money has arrived safely. But if it goes astray in the mail system don't go mad at me, for your own protection I ask that please pay by cheque. Maurice Smith

The Coolana Committee recent activities were mostly aimed at preparing the camping area ready for the reunion which was a great success, see separate reunion report elsewhere in this magazine for details. Joan has been continuing with an ongoing weed poisoning program. While Bill, Barry, Gemma, Patrick and others have been weeding mowing and maintaining Coolana. By the reunion weekend Coolana looked a picture.

Some members seem to be a bit confused as to the intent and impact of the decision to form a Landcare group at Coolana. For a start, this is not a complete change in the way that Coolana is managed. It is an adjunct and an extra resource. - a tool that can be used when required.

As for the impact, that will depend on the number of people who get involved in any particular project. It is SBW members, with the Coolana Committee, who will make a plan to work on a particular project, given that the number of volunteers are usually very small, the projects may be modest.

The Coolana Committee welcomes your involvement. The Club is fortunate to have such a wonderful property at its disposal but it is a property requiring care and maintenance as well as providing opportunities for recreation and rest. Don Finch

The Gorges of the Gibb River Road

No other regularly scheduled Gibb River Road tour takes you away from the roads and shows you wonderful gorges which will remain forever unknown to non-walkers.

Highlights include the entire Lennard Gorge, Diamond Gorge, Sir John Gorge and the upper Wadalali Gorge.

Want something easier? Our Light-Pack Explorer lets you explore one of the most remote wilderness areas in the Kimberley, without carrying more than a daypack.

Want something more challenging? We offer a variety of two and three week expeditions.

Ask for our brochure or visit our website and pick the trip which suits you.


Willis's Walkabouts

12 Carrington St Millner NT 0810 Email: walkabout@ais.net.au

Phone: (08) 8985 2134 Fax: (08) 8985 2355.

The following letter explains the origin of the Search And Rescue Group of The Confederation Of Bushwalking Clubs. More recently, the S & R Group has been renamed Wilderness Search and Rescue…. Ed

Letter To The Editor

There were a couple of points omitted from the tribute to the bush walking life of Jean Moppett in December 2001's Sydney Bushwalker.

In August 1936 Jean Trimble, her future husband Tom, and Oliver Moriarty made an epic 16 day winter crossing from Kiandra to Kosciusko. They were snowbound for three days in Mawson's hut by the same blizzards that were to take the life of Cleve Cole on Mt Bogong.

The following October four young men became overdue on the popular walk from Blackheath to Richmond. A party of about thirty bushwalkers, led by Paddy Pallin and Gordon Smith, divided into smaller groups of 4 -5 and entered the Grose Valley. They located the lost party's tracks and were within several kilometres of finding them when a separate police party made contact.

Following the search Paddy sent a letter to the Federation [now Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs] requesting that the whole question of a search and rescue body be referred to a committee. The Federation found the concept of a Search & Rescue Section acceptable and preliminary organisation of the Section was completed by February 1937. Assisting Paddy as secretary was Jean Trimble, the only female on the committee, who had also been involved in the Grose search.

Search & Rescue Section conducted a number of practice weekends till late 1939 when the number of male walkers dropped due to commitments. It is unknown how long Jean remained the secretary.

Whilst attendance during the Second World War on clubs' walking programs would have been down it would appear that there still was a need, even if only perceived, for the retention of a Search & Rescue Section. A motion to appoint a new convenor and secretary in 1942 did not appear to have been fully answered. There were several calls in 1944 for Search & Rescue to be re-organised. By November 1944 Jean Moppett reported that Search & Rescue had not made any further progress in numbers. (There had been nine alerts with one search going out between 1943-45).

Clio

We turn Seventy-five on 21st October 2002. A significant birthday that deserves to be celebrated with gusto. To help with your planning reserve the whole of October for SBW activities. The actual dates are:

• Reunion at Coolana. 19th/20th October. This will extend to the Monday as well to celebrate the actual birthday. The Coolana details are still on the drawing board and will be revealed in due course.
• The Dinner Booked for Friday 25th October. The options for the dinner will be announced at the May general meeting giving one and all the opportunity to express their view.
• 75th Anniversary Tee-shirts. These will be available in a couple of months. These will be Australian made crew neck Tee-shirts; any colour you like as long as it's navy or white with a neat logo over/on the left breast. The Tee-shirts can be worn walking, at home, at work, or anywhere that smart casual is the mode.
• Anniversary Walks. A database has been prepared of the 829 SBW walks held between 1927 and 1937. These walks will be edited into a walks list of some 300 to 400 walks which members can consult in the Club rooms in order to celebrate bushwalking by bushwalking. More of this next month.

Each month a new aspect of the celebrations will be announced so watch this space.

Ron Knightly\*

As you walk out or homeward along the Narrowneck Peninsula near Katoomba, you may notice a sign proclaiming that you are passing the top of 'The Golden Stairs'. And, if you have ever walked up or down them, you are certain to wonder, “How in heaven's name did they ever earn such a euphemistic label?”. Unless you are already in the know, that is. Now, for those who are not, read on.

In the latter 1800s there were established in the Jamison Valley two townlets. One, for the coal miners, somewhat below the present day Scenic Railway, the other near the Ruined Castle, for the kerosene shale miners. They were linked by a level track for horse drawn trams. This track will be familiar to you if you have “done” Solitary.

Over in the Megalong Valley another mining town was established. Linked to their mines by another horse drawn tramway. Anyone who has taken part in a Redledge ~ Mitchell's Pass walk will know its remnants.

As there was already a passable road into the Megalong Valley from Blackheath, a hotel also graced the Megalong community. In later times, its location would become a much used Friday night campsite for bushwalkers.

Now, the existence of this hotel riled the Jamison crowd somewhat. Whereas the Megalong mob could slake their collective thirst at weekends, the Jamison men just got thirstier and thirstier. However, being action-orientated rather than contemplative, they soon set about creating a remedy.

They carved a set of steps up the causeway and, down the Megalong side, established a set of iron ladders known as “Dixon's Ladders” (they were later renamed by the Water Board and unromantically known as “The Water Board Ladders” thereafter.)

Thus, the Jamison miners could, in a matter of two hours after downing their working tools for the weekend, be carousing in the Megalong pub.

Unverified tradition has it that, climbing up the Jamison side; they used to sing a Salvation Army song, “Climbing Up The Golden Stairs To Heaven”. Their “Heaven” was of course, that Megalong Valley pub.

As a post script, I would add that, subsequently, a tram tunnel was punched right through The Causeway, linking the two tramways - - - and, fortuitously, shortening the miners' route to Heaven. There is still at least an airway through that old tunnel (well I can vouch for winter '95), which can be simply verified. About 20 to 30 minutes' walk from the foot of the Stairs towards Katoomba, a little runnel of rusty water crosses the track, confined by two pieces of wood. Some metres to the left two fallen boulders form a squeeze way beyond which is the tunnel entry. If a westerly is blowing, you will feel quite a breeze on your face as you peer into the darkness.

\* Originally printed in an earlier issue of the Sydney Bushwalker. Ron Knightly has since passed away.

The names of the SBW members appearing in the 1929 group photo taken in the Royal National Park were not known at the time of publishing last month's magazine. As always in SBW somebody has the answer and the members have now been identified as:

• Back Row: Rene Brocone, Jack Debert, Cliff Ritson, Reg Hewitt
• Front Row: Marge Hill, Brenda White, Maurie Berry, Anice Duncan, Jean Malcolm

NSW WILDERNESS TRANSIT

Bus and Coach Service

JENOLAN CAVES, KANANGRA Walls,

YERRANDERIE Ghost TOWN

STARLIGHTS TRACK, BUNGONIA CAVES.

Wog Wog, NERRIGA

Departs from Sydney's Campbelltown Railway Station

Via Penrith, Katoomba & Blackheath for

Kanangra Walls Mon & Wed at 11am, Frid at 7am

Returns 4pm Mon, Wed, Frid.

Via Starlights, Mittagong & Marulan for

Wog Wog-Nerriga Tues. & Thurs & Sun at 11am

Returns 4 pm Tues, Thurs, Sun.

Yerranderie Ghost Town first Saturday in each month, returns Sun at 1 pm (any Friday min 6)

Group booking discounts or charter service

Tel 0246 832 344 Mob 0428 832 344

www.wildernesstransit.com.au

Here is a letter explaining the origin of Mount Currockbilly the highest point in the Budawangs - a favourite SBW walking area.

THE MITCHELL LIBRARY

SYDNEY,

26th January, 1950



Mr. J.F. Noble,

46 Mary Street,

BEECROFT

N.S.W.



Dear Sir,



I write in answer to your letter of January 18 asking for the meaning and origin of the place name Currockbilly the highest point in the Budawang Range.



The name is recorded by Surveyor Hoddle in his report of a survey of the Clyde River, 1828 (Field Book 295) but there may be earlier references.



We are unable to give you any definite information about its meaning but it sounds as if it might be a corruption of an aboriginal word in which case the words below from 'The Thoorga language' by R.H. Mathew, Old. Geog. Jour. 4 vol. 17, 1901-2:19. 49, 73 may be of interest

Sunrise - Bug-ga-ran kar-rick-bung-a-leen

Sunset - Bug-ga-ran ee-rik-boo-yal



The Thoorga tribe inhabited the area and it looks as if Bug-ga-ran was their name for Sun. I think Currockbilly could be a variation of the second part of sunrise, kar-rick-bung as it only needs the “bung” to be altered to “billy”. It is the sound of course and not the spelling which matters in aboriginal words. This is, of course, just a personal opinion.



Yours faithfully

(signature unclear)

Deputy Mitchell Librarian

And here is a group of SBW members in The Dance Floor Cave at Kanangra Walls - 1932.

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eastwood camping centre

3 Trelawney Street Eastwood.

Phone: 02 9858 3833.

All packs personally fitted by our experienced Staff.

David Trinder

International headlines were made when the Wollemi Pine was discovered in late 1994 by National Parks and Wildlife Services officers. It is a member of the conifer family Araucariaceae, which is an ancient group of seed bearing plants dating back 300 million years. Conifers reached maximum diversity between 200 and 65 million years ago, when it had world wide distribution. After that time their range and diversity reduced and the family became extinct in the northern hemisphere. That was also the time when dinosaurs became extinct. The remaining parts of the family or genera were important components of the vegetation on the southern super continent of Gondwana but have since slowly declined, giving way to the more successful flowering plants. Botanists believed that this species had been extinct for a long time.

Discovery of the Wollemi Pine was the more remarkable because they are tall and striking trees within 150 kilometres of Sydney, Australia's largest city. As many of us know, the Wollemi has a rugged terrain and coupled with the poor fertility of the soil, discovery and exploitation had not occurred. The sandstone area is criss-crossed with hundreds of canyons, sometimes only a few metres wide and hundreds of metres deep. The ridges and canyon sides are dominated by Eucalypt species but the canyon floors, with a warm temperate and low light atmosphere, are dominated by Coachwood and Sassafras. It is in these places that the Wollemia nobilis occurs.

According to senior research scientist, Ken Hill, Wollemia has an unusual characteristic. Its leaves are broad-based and have no mechanism for being shed when they have passed their useful lifespan. Other trees develop a specialised layer of cells at the leaf base that allows ageing leaves to fall. The Wollemi Pine gets rid of its old leaves by shedding the whole branch. This gives the litter on the forest floor a distinctive nature, and it was that that alerted the discoverer, David Noble, to the presence of the trees.

Older trees develop a branching crown. During their lives additional trunks branch out from the main trunk. The old trees have many trunks of different ages, and the original trunk may have long gone. These additional trunks are a characteristic strategy for surviving environmental pressures such as drought and fire. A section cut from a fallen tree was taken for research and was found that the 40 cm diameter trunk was about 350 years old, but the researcher said that the original tree could have been much older, hundreds or perhaps thousands of years.

Samples from the Wollemi Pine have been compared with fossils of the same species and it was concluded that it is likely that the “new” genus was present over an extensive area of eastern Australia and possibly over a much wider geographical range including India, Antarctica, New Zealand and southern America. It also appears likely that the pine was present over a vast time span from 225 million years ago and just surviving to the present in a few remote places within 150 km of Sydney.

In each of the three populations found there are about 24 individual trees and 200 seedlings. The primary means of propagation is by seed and unfortunately relatively few seeds are produced. The world wide demand for the plant is enormous and there are fears that this popularity may threaten the plants in the wild. The Wollemi pine is now being propagated by a commercial contractor and should be available in 2005. The researchers were surprised that the plant is relatively fast growing. In a glass house they have grown more than half a metre in height per year.

The presence of genetic variation within individuals and populations is crucial for survival and evolution of the species. Early research showed a surprising lack of detectable genetic variation. Now samples from a third and more recently discovered population are included and concentrated research is continuing. Early indications are promising, and suggest that while genetic variation is low some variation does appear to exist.

Plants are being trialed at a number of locations in botanical gardens in Sydney, Mt Annan, Mount Tomah and Taronga Zoo. They seem to prefer acidic soils. The Wollemi is proving to be a good pot and garden plant. Over the years to come further secrets of this fascinating plant will be revealed.

Wollemi National Park Ranger Chris Pavich says that after millions of years of decline, the Wollemi Pine is teetering on the edge of extinction. These unique specimens are in enough trouble without the added menace of becoming a popular tourist attraction. Since there are so few left, every effort must be made to ensure that at the very least the trees continue to reproduce themselves. Special precautions are taken at each scientific visit to reduce risks. Anti-microbial foot baths have been installed, to ensure that exotic root rot pathogens and other plant diseases are not introduced to the site. Bushfire planning is an important tool to reduce risks and quick action is taken to potentially threatening lightning strikes.

It is hoped that these efforts will help the survival in the wild of this exciting discovery. David Trinder

If you have changed your address or phone number recently, please advise.

Members: Pam Morrison

Prospectives: Heike Krausse

The advice should be in writing directed to the Club's postal address. This will ensure that our records show your current address and prevent delay in receiving the magazine each month.

Here are the details of mid-week walks in late April and May

• Tuesday 23rd April Bill Holland's walk is cancelled.
• Thursday 16th May Brisbane Waters NP Medium 14 km Wilf Hilder 9587 8912

The following is an extract from a personal letter to one of our members last year. The writer feels that his experience has lessons for our members and has asked that extracts be published, but wishes to remain anonymous.



“I have always had a great reluctance to go to the doctor for a check up, in fact probably have not had an examination for many years. I was feeling well, walking, playing tennis and swimming and besides had been influenced by an article which stated that a survey of very old people had found that 'most had never been to a doctor'.



When I did finally did go to the doctor (for an unrelated minor service) I had a check up and to my surprise was diagnosed with prostate cancer even though I had felt well and had no symptoms.



… Because the cancer was diagnosed too late my chances are now 50-50. In this regard women are much smarter as they know that an early discovery of breast or cervical cancer can lead to a complete cure.



I am now convinced that a regular medical check up can nip a problem in the bud….even though a car is running well it should get regular maintenance. The same with our bodies. Unfortunately in my case I got wise too late…..



The avoidance of illness is a step towards walking fitness”

All new members are invited to join us at the “Coolana” Wildlife Refuge in the beautiful Kangaroo Valley on Sat, Sun 18th & 19th May.

The weekend offers practical training in navigation, first aid and bushcraft. It provides an ideal introduction to camping and a chance to extend your social contacts within the club.

There is a shelter shed for those who do not have a tent.

Experienced members may also attend to assist with training and join in the social activities around the camp fire on Saturday evening. Maps are provided but please bring a mapping compass.

Activities start on Saturday morning and finishes late afternoon on Sunday. For transport assistance and location advice please phone:

• Bill Holland 9484 6636 (h & w)
• Patrick James 9904 1515 (h & w)

Roger Treagus

So there we are watching a group of genuine snake charmers in the tourist circus known as the Marrakech Market, where all manner of jugglers, snake oil salesmen and magicians ply their art. The tourist throng is tremendous. Marrakech like the perfectly preserved medieval city of Fez draws in the tourist to savour the smells, sights and sounds of an old eastern city in the most Europeanised country in Africa, Morocco.

But I'm thinking, there are snow capped mountains out there beyond the square, beyond this crush of humanity. Let's go bushwalking. The Atlas, an offshoot of the European Alps beckoned. And here we are near the highest part, the High Atlas, a great trekking destination and very accessible even for unprepared overfed tourists like us. Jan, my wife and great traveling companion has only her trusty SBW volleys in her backpack. These are old worn air conditioned (holes on opposing sides) types but extraordinarily comfortable shoes. Good quality volleys always age gracefully. And these are a 1978 model before the cheap imitations from the Philippines hit the market. I feel some compensation that my tried and true Scarpas were fully operational (no holes).

So off we go in a Grand Taxi to the jumping off village of Imlil. A taxi? Yes, the cheapest form of travel short of a donkey and just as comfortable cause the driver doesn't move till he has 6 people crushed into his ancient Mercedes all going the same way. Custom dictates that we enter into furious bargaining before leaving, delaying our departure further. But, hey, this is how things are here, and we came for the culture (and the scenery).

So we get to Imlil at 1600m, the jumping off village in the Atlas foothills and we look up. Our Lonely Planet's mud map is pathetic and decent ones don't seem to exist but the local trekking shop has a very nice topo of Everest Base camp. We soon realise there is only one trail anyway. It's the one that goes UP. After an hour of lumbering with a full pack up the dusty stock trails it dawns on me that this caper might involve some yakka. “What's the height of the French Refuge?” I shouted.

Jan cheerily answered back, “3,207 metres.”

“Geez, I'm getting a donkey.” And if luck would have it one sidled past us just then, its owner ready to bargain to take our goods and chattels up the hill.

Jan caught my intentions. “You're not wimping out, are you?” I smiled weakly and “you call yourself a member of Sydney Bushies.”

I let the donkey go as the burden of shame that descended upon me made my pack heavier.

The route is up a spectacular rocky valley with cultivated fields far below. This is the great transition zone between the wet Mediterranean Coast and the dry Sahara inland. In places only a few miles separates one from the other. The donkey trail stays at a constant grade and our stride is seldom broken. Slowly we make progress past the tiny herders' villages of Aroumd and Siti Chamharouch.

I am getting worried about our progress as the sun is sinking in the west while we are still rising. The postage sized map indicates a bend to the left and a leveling off. It doesn't happen. It is half an hour before sunset when we get to the little plateau where the hut is meant to be and isn't. But wait! Isn't that a puff of smoke I see coming from behind that rock in the distance. And yes it is the hut. We make it to the door just on dusk. It is very capably run by the French Alpine Club. 25 francs please for a bunk or 50 if you want the beef bourguignon. At 3,207m and stuffed who am I to refuse either. Jan thinks it's a bit of a rip off when back in Marrakech we could bargain down to well below this sum for a full Targiene, Morocco's luscious national dish of spiced vegetables and lamb. I remind her where we are, in the High Atlas, in a remote valley between two massive snow capped ranges with a very low probability of being within cooee of a KFC. In any case the French know how to cook.

There are lots of freelance trekkers in the hut, most were French and most keen to climb Toubkal in the morning, the highest peak in the Atlas and the highest mountain in Africa north of Kilimanjaro. Our major mistake on day 2 is that it started late. By the time we woke, survived the sanitation arrangements and were ready to jump the entire French contingent were like dots on the ice slope across the valley. “Where's the track, Mac” to which the hut warden pointed a vague French finger upwards but slightly tilted. I take this to be a sign. The Lonely Planet said that the trip is a walk, not a climb. Great. Maybe Jan's volleys are OK after all. So after a hearty breakfast of Lapsang Souchong and out of date muesli bars we set off, across the river and onto the slope leading to the ice following vague headers tracks and scarpa type footprints. No great trekking trail here.

We could still see some moving dots high above us encouraging us to follow up the ice slope to the start of a hanging valley presumably leading to Toubkal 5 km off to the east. Trouble is we have to traverse the ice which steepens as we go. It is then I realise our perilous situation. The ice is hard and smooth. It's a long slide down to a jumble of sharp rocks. We then run out of steps made from the advance party and are on virgin ice where crampons would be the go. But there is nothing virgin about Jan's volleys. With my scarpas I start cutting steps in the ice for her volleys to fit into. And it takes a while to make a decent step as the ice is hard. Sometimes a volley slipped but the other one stayed in its step. A hundred metres of this takes 15 minutes as we link hands as much as possible with my grippy scarpas holding on. The ice slope is getting on to 40 degrees. To compensate I construct masterpieces of step design giving the illusion of safety. But it all takes time. Miraculously Jan's volleys stick to the ice and we reach the hanging valley and safe rock.

The dots in the distance have now gone and the track disappears into a rocky block up, part of a terminal moraine. We spend more precious time wandering through the block up before spotting a small cairn on the other side and some rough steps. Things are looking brighter. The sun is out, the track is now obvious and the effects of the beef bourguignon assists my passage up the valley. An hour later and we are in a cirque at the head of the hanging valley with the mountain top to our left. But every step forward on a loose scree slope also means half a step sliding back. And I am now operating on one breath for every 3 steps. A very strong head wind hits me knocking me over and my prostrate form slides down the hard fought scree slope to the bottom. “You go on. I can't make it,” I gasp. The judgement comes back from somewhere above me on the mountain. “And you call yourself an SBW member.” With that I arise, morally shaken but physically together, dust myself down and proceed to operate on one breath per step. My scarpas still dig into the loose scree often losing traction on the hard round ball bearing pebbles, forcing me to make more steps. In contrast Jan's 4 wheel drive volleys just sail on as if she is walking around Manly.

In this fashion I edge up the slope, the final slope of Toubkal until it levels off at the summit plateau. “I made it, I made it!”

“Of course you did” from Jan, never out of breath and never a foot wrong, the consummate professional volley type bushwalker.

“So how high are we now,” I said.

“4290 metres” Jan casually said “Geez,” I said. “That donkey would never have made it.”

The view is sublime. On the roof of North Africa we could see the start of the Sahara to the south, the Mediterranean lowlands and coast to the north, the spine of the Atlas with dozens of icy peaks running away to the north east and the low Atlas dying away into sand toward Spanish Morocco and Mauritania to the south west. With muesli bar and vegemite sandwich in hand Jan steps up onto the little pile of rocks marking the actual summit, truly the highest volleys in North Africa.

• Track is very good to the hut but variable above it but a guide is not needed if you have a decent map.
• It is only a walking proposition for the summer months when there is little snow cover.
• Toubkal is just a walk which is surprising for the Atlas's highest peak.
• Up to date info from trekking shops in Marrakech and the French Alpine Club website.
• Weather is generally fine during summer with about 1 bad day a week on average.
• I recommend the high altitude beef bourguignon at the hut.

See also Karl Smith's The Atlas Mountains: A Walker's Guide ($15, Cicerone Press) - good track info.

Sorry that we had to cancel the Activity and Walks Planning Night on 27th March but it was too close to the Easter break.

We are pleased to announce that the next Activity and Walks Planning Night will be on Wednesday 26th June. See you there!

Your walk may still be fitted in to the Winter Walks Programme.

It's late, the deadline was last week, but speak nicely to our Walks Secretary (Carol Lubbers) and she may be able to fit your walk in.

Maurice Smith

Once again I have succumbed and been seduced by Ettrema Creek. The weekend on 9th & 10th March 2002 saw a group of eight heading into the very northern end of the creek where it joins Yalwal Creek about 2 kilometres before Yalwal Creek joins the Shoalhaven River.

Readers may be aware that I have had a long standing love affair with Ettrema Creek. This was the first time that I had led a club trip to the northern end of the creek. The creek at this point is reasonably wide, mostly shallow, with the occasional deeper swimming spot, usually on a bend of the creek.

Access is obtained by parking not that far from the Coolandel property which is situated on a big horseshoe shaped bend in the Shoalhaven River. After a few kilometres of fire trail walking we arrived in Yalwal Creek, at a point where it is very wide. Apart from one water filled channel the river bed is paved with dry river stones. Regrettably, four wheel drive vehicles can access the creek and there is a well worn “highway” along the creek bed to the junction of Yalwal and Ettrema Creek.

After this junction the four wheel drive vehicles no longer head further north along Ettrema. That they used to do this is evidenced by an old, now heavily overgrown, track cut through the bush parallel to the creek. These tracks are mostly not shown on the map. Upon arrival at our camp site and doing about an hour's worth of side creek exploring (now added to my wish list for walking, which will almost certainly be an interesting challenge) we resorted to disporting ourselves in the deep swimming pool beside our camp site.

The usual festivities took place around the camp fire, eating, talking and the occasional libation to keep the vampires at bay. In this we succeeded as we were all in good spirits and a body full of blood on Sunday morning.

The challenge for Sunday morning was to look at Pryde's Amphitheatre from the top. As the name suggests, it is amphitheatre shaped and required that we gain several hundred metres in altitude to view it from the top. Although we gained the altitude all that we saw were trees. With more time available we might have succeeded, however, on a future trip we will have another attempt. We did see an interesting rock platform that promises to provide a great viewing platform into the amphitheatre, and in addition, a large overhang that looks worthy of an exploratory checkout.

After leaving the amphitheatre we made our way up on to Colley Plateau (named after our esteemed and loved Alex who was the leader of the first bushwalking party across that way). After finding a ramp that took the group onto the plateau we were fortunate to find some remarkably broad rock platforms which made our travel easier. Shortly after lunch we dropped off the plateau to make our way down Blue Sally Ridge. Much interesting speculation was had by various party members concerning how the ridge came to be so named.

Returning to our vehicles and changing for the trip home the major point of interest then commenced. My vehicle was the last to move away and after travelling about a mere 50 metres we spotted a large dark streak along the centre of the road. Fearing the worst, I stopped my car and my passenger hopped out of the car to see if the streak was in fact oil as it seemed. Quickly, my passenger gave me the bad news, it was indeed oil. Now it was the case of “was it one of our vehicles?”

Sure enough, after travelling several kilometres along the road there was the second last of our vehicles. It had come to a stop, driver and passenger out of the car, looking with dismay at the long dribble of oil behind the car. After some discussion and finding that mobile phones were useless as there was not a signal to be had, my vehicle found itself carrying five persons and four packs back to Nowra.

On arrival in Nowra we contacted NRMA, and after some considerable difficulty with the NRMA call centre (located in Coffs Harbour as we subsequently found out) in trying to convey to them the fact that the vehicle was out in the bush 26 kilometres from Nowra, we managed to get hold of the local NRMA man. He met us and took the driver of the vehicle back to his car (26 kilometres along Grassy Gully Road) where he diagnosed a holed sump. Of course he confirmed our earlier diagnosis.

Then followed an act of charity (not too many details as we don't want to cause grief for the Nowra NRMA man) that resulted in the oil-less vehicle being relocated to a point where a subsequent NRMA recovery truck could take the vehicle back to Nowra. The driver, in the meantime, had motel accommodation arranged for him by the NRMA, and close to midnight after numerous trips along Grassy Gully Road, a hot bowl of chunky soup awaited him courtesy of the Nowra motel manager. Subsequently, the vehicle was transported back to Sydney for repair and our driver returned to Sydney and work on Monday morning in a rented vehicle.

There are two interesting lessons to be had from this episode. They are; firstly the need to travel in convoy in remote areas, and secondly, the need to have the level of NRMA road service cover that provides for accommodation if your vehicle is disabled when more than 100 kilometres from home.

Party members were: Steve Adams, Geoff Bradd, Roger Browne, Judie Followes (visitor), Vic Gosbell, Rosemary MacDougal, Patrick McNaught and Maurice Smith.

Having passed along this section of Ettrema Creek in my Easter epic (see report next month) I'm taking the opportunity to use one of the camp sites we zoomed through. Walkers on this walk are assured of wet feet while walking along Yalwal Creek and Ettrema Creek. For the bold there are also some lovely swimming spots. Are you bold enough to swim in the cool water?

On Sunday morning we will be taking a side trip, leaving our packs behind while we are checking out Blue Yodel Pass (isn't that name evocative, the origin of the name will have to be investigated) and Pagoda Pinnacle. This is part of my continuing exploration of the bottom section of the Ettrema creek area.

At the time of writing I have several places available on this trip, including the places reserved for members wanting to do their weekend qualifying walk.

Zol Bodlay

Darawal's big attraction is its relatively flat, easy walking and plenty of creeks. We had fine sunny weather following a cloudy, rainy week. Most of Darawal was burnt out over Christmas but is regenerating green and spectacularly (no flies - must all be burnt).

The 14km walk was mainly on track and fire trails. Our viewing included magnificent ancient animal and bird drawings at an aboriginal art site in an overhang.

Beautiful swims were had by all including a small canyon/grotto pool with filtered sunshine providing light. There was a superb lunch spot with swimming in a large deep sunny pool and under a waterfall.

Overall a beautiful fun, bludge walk.

Zol Bodlay

The walk went smoothly to plan. The day started cloudy but improved to sunny for the rest of the day. Although only 20% on fire trails the other 80% cross-country was easygoing using animal tracks through open woodlands, shady riverine flats, rainforests with crystal clear creeks. We had a few scrambles up and down.

Morning tea was at a magnificent lookout at Mt Blake overlooking the Marra Marra River Valley and later we had a long lunch with swimming in a wonderfully deep pool.

This was a leisurely paced walk visiting three aboriginal cave painting sites including the “Fish Story” (huge catfish drawing) and the unique foot stencils occupation site. We finished at 5:00 pm with most going on to dinner at the Vicar of Wakefield hotel in Dural.

Mark Patteson

On Sunday 3rd March I led six other walkers from Govetts Leap on a day walk. The group consisted of Maurice Smith, Vicki Garamy, Michael Bickley, Elish O'Rourke, Valerie Rice and one prospective member Grace Martinez.

From Govetts we proceeded to Evans Lookout. A number of the party wanted to do the Grand Canyon, however I vetoed this as I thought it would take out too much of our day due to a late start and in hindsight it turned out to be the right decision.

We took the track down to Greaves Creek and then onto Beauchamp Falls for morning tea. Upon arrival at Junction Rock several members felt a swim would be in order. As it was a very warm day and Perrys Lookdown beckoned I suggested we have a snack at this stage and we would have lunch atop Perrys a little later than normal. We all ensured that we were well hydrated for the long climb ahead as it was sure to be very warm. A short side trip to Blue Gum Forest was suggested and the climb began.

Everyone made it up but the heat did affect one or two. After an extended break at the monument we began the 3 km stretch along Hat Hill Road to Pulpit Rock turnoff.

As one member of the group was suffering from dehydration it was decided that Maurice would stay behind and they would walk slowly back towards Blackheath and I would take the rest of the group via Pulpit Rock back to Govetts then return by car to pick them up.

A special thanks to Maurice for his help during the day, his assistance was invaluable.

Bill Holland

This walk on 24th March went very well. We did it backwards! That is we did it in reverse from that shown in the Programme. Around to Little Beach and along the cliff top track towards Mt Bouddi. Great coastal views and an enjoyable swim at Maitland Bay followed by an uphill return to our cars. An easy walk enjoyed by seven members and six prospectives.

Whilst we stay-at-homes in Sydney endured the hardship of wet weather there were brave souls out there enjoying the extended walks. Here are some brief reports with the full story of each to be told in next month's magazine:

Maurice Smith

After a heavy thunderstorm in the Wollongong/Nowra area on Thursday afternoon we started the four day walk in dry but overcast weather, although we were concerned when we encountered a heavy shower of rain while doing the bus shuttle at the start of the walk. However, that shower was localised and did not impact us. Friday evening we had some rain but by Saturday morning the walking conditions were excellent. Thereafter, we had excellent weather for the rest of the trip.

Stephen Adams

With my Easter walk cancelled due to a shortage of starters, I decided to join Jan Pieter's walk in the Kosciusko National Park.

All the arrangements were made and we were to depart on Thursday night. On Wednesday Jan called me, “Steve, I'm sick, can you lead the walk?” I was happy to oblige ~ the walk was on.

It was a wonderful walk with an excellent party. I heard not one whinge the whole four days despite some hard walking in adverse circumstances.

Bill Capon

This walk was from Putty Rd (Grassy Hill Flat) to Natural Bridge. Our party of seven was drenched in the Friday night downpour. Earlier, one member had left his tent behind in packing. We had three litres of Colo water for camp near Savage Trig.

We shinned over log to cross flooded Pinchgut Creek. Saturday Camp on Mt Barrakee - extensive views. Change of plan to avoid Wolgan. Followed traces of old road via Tambo Limb, Mt Cameron to Glow Worm Tunnel Rd. Taxis to Lithgow to join a trainload of Venturer Scouts returning to Sydney.

We have been fortunate enough to receive donations of good bushwalking gear and will shortly be in a position to hire out these items to new members. This will assist those who have difficulty in obtaining the items necessary for a weekend bushwalk i.e. Pack, tent, sleeping bag and mat.



Details of hiring arrangements will be publicised in coming magazines. Many thanks to those who have donated surplus gear.

Bill Holland

On 2nd March I led a walk in this area for the second time. Previously it was dry, this time it was damp after a week of rain - brought out the leeches in great numbers to the alarm of some six members and five prospectives.

The rainforest scenery was superb with magnificent 120+ year old trees remaining from the site of the first Forestry Tree Nursery.

Maureen Carter

On Sunday 7th April 2002 I enjoyed a day out in the sun with 17 followers as we walked around the bush and beaches that are a part of Sydney Harbour National Park. We were at Chowder Bay for the celebrations surrounding the official opening of the new track through the old submarine and mines depot at Clifton Gardens (Chowder Bay) and the adjacent military reserve at Georges Heights.

The entry is close to the submarine wharf at the northern end of Clifton Gardens beach - just follow the marked path past the wharf up a few steps and along the road. There are signs which will guide you to the new path which has plenty of native plants alongside it. The exit of the track is on Middle Head Road just east of Cobbittee Street, from where it's just a short distance to Balmoral Beach. Don Brooks had done a 'reccy' on the track the Sunday before the walk and Don also provided the above description of the new section of track.

The sunny day enticed a few of us into the water at Balmoral at lunch time and in the afternoon at Castle Rock. We were all able to negotiate the rocks from Balmoral to The Spit without much difficulty. It was good to see how well the visitors and prospectives survived this “interesting” section of the walk. I assume that everyone arrived safely at Manly Wharf to catch the ferry back to Circular Quay, but I was unable to do a head count as most of the party abandoned the leader and two followers as we cooled off at Castle Rock Beach.

Annual General Meetings are always an opportunity for change and new direction, and the AGM in March proved to be just that for me. All hail your new, New Members Secretary and hip-hoorays of thanks to Kay the outgoing!! Kay has done a marvellous (ground-breaking in many ways) job with her band of happy-helpers and she has continued the wonders with her organised hand-over to me of the weighty files that hold the treasured details of our precious new members.

I am very much of the belief that new blood is vital to the club's survival, and you all well know I am not speaking of that spilt on the average SBW outing!

It can be very daunting turning up for the first walk, heart pounding, “have I taken the right turn off, they didn't mention no signpost and a road-surface resembling a moonscape of small-sedan sized holes” the minutes ticking down to the 15 minute deadline when all will jauntily disappear and you're left wondering ARE you in the right spot? Or knowing no-one and having a crowd around you cheerfully chatting all the club gossip, “ahem, er.. hello are you, SBW”?? (“No, we're Sydney Hash Harriers”, whoops must have been the other turn-off… Tyre squeal…,.). Yes, I have been there and done that, not so long ago.

I hope that by taking on this role with my band of happy-helpers we can be as usefully supportive as any new member requires and thus retain their blood to keep the heart and circulation of SBW pumping, strong enough to zoom up Perry's Lookdown 2 steps at a time, leap Govett and take on Blackhorse Ridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

There are many involved, Mark Patteson continues bravely on as does Henry Roda, Vicki along with her role as Social (Secretarial) butterfly, will assist as able if required, Tony Manes computates, conjugates and permutates every conceivable combination of details this bear of little database brain can cope with and Kay has comfortingly offered to remain close by.

This little band is however just a reflection of the warmth and commitment evident in the greater SBW club that is as it should be, seen most often out in the bush and tramping the track.

We, as a team, are just the bridge for new members to go and discover that for themselves, in effect all Sydney Bush Walkers are part of the new members team and therefore take a responsibility in the club successfully retaining these intrepid beings to full ongoing membership.

In anticipation I thank you all for being “on the team”.

There were other new directions decided upon at the AGM these were significant changes made to the constitution regarding Prospective Membership. You should be aware that these were discussed, debated and deliberated on for well over a year and that these changes have now been ratified by the club.

The first was that Prospective members can now have up to 12 months to complete their Qualifying walks.

The second change is that “Test” walks are now known by the less daunting term of “Qualifying” walks, this in no way changes the standard of the walk.

Change three is the deletion of the sub-clause that stated the applicant had to be commended by a member to the committee on their “sociability, stamina and respect for the association's welfare”.

The final change is that on application for full membership endorsement the applicant requires only the names of the three leaders of the Qualifying walks.

There may be a few snafus during the change over period involving those who are on the old system but we shall endeavour to make the transition unobtrusive, fair and reasonable.

• Joe Norman
• Diana Wayland
• Jo Dennys
• David Abdelmassich
• Lloyd Bridle
• Sandie Dunne
• Michael Lembach
• Alicia McNeill
• Elena Perla
• Mark Sina
• Alan Sauran
• Mark White

• Don and Lesley Reed

• Saturday 27th April Ku Ring Gai NP

Mackeral Track etc to West Head. An easy walk for those wanting to take children or babies in backpacks.

• Sunday 26th May Sydney Urban Walk

Walk the Cooks River cycleway. From Tempe Station to Bicentennial Park. Lots of pleasant parkways and a few back streets. An easy/medium walk of 20kms with options to shorten the walk.

South America features in the Social in the coming month following Jan Mohandas's very successful presentation in mid-April.

Don't let the eve of Anzac Day deter you from attending the New Leaders Training night on 24th April.

The new Winter Social Programme will be issued next month.

April:

• Wed. 24th New Leaders Training Night with Wilf Hilder

May:

• Wed. 1st Committee Meeting: Introduction to SBW (Introducing new members to the Club)
• Wed. 8th General Meeting
• Wed. 15th South America - Part 2 (Peru) Jan Mohandas will show slides this time including fascinating Peru with its high Andes and Inca ruins.
• Wed. 22nd South America - Video Oliver Crawford will show Part 1. of the video taken during the recent trip.
• Wed. 29th The Club's Insurance Come along and hear Maurice Smith give details of our insurance cover. Both Public Liability and Personal Accident covers will be discussed.

Any suggestions, ideas or questions about the social programme should be directed to our new Social Secretary: Vicki Garamy 9349 2905

The Thursday Bicycle rides continued through March with a “Bay to Bay” ride (Botany Bay to Homebush Bay) and a couple of rides near Bulli as some of our mid week riders prepared for the “RTA Big Bike Ride” in April.

These regular mid-week cycling activities are additional to those shown in the Club's Walks Programme. They are often scheduled at short notice so if you are free to cycle during the week please contact George Mawer 9707 1343.

Current planning also includes a bicycle ride from Georges Plains (Robyn's farm) to Abercrombie Caves and return the following day with car support for camping gear and non-bike riders - possibly in May or June. Please let Fran Holland 9484 6636 know if you are interested.

A lawyer and a blonde woman are sitting next to each other on a long flight from LA to NY. The lawyer leans over to her and asks if she would like to play a fun game. The blonde is tired and just wants to take a nap, so she politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists, saying that the game is really easy and a lot of fun. He explains how the game works: “I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me, and visa-versa.”

Again, she politely declines and tries to get some sleep.

The chauvinistic lawyer figures that since his opponent is a blonde he will easily win the match, so he makes another offer: “Okay, how about this, if you don't know the answer you pay me only $5, but if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.”

This catches the blonde's attention and, figuring that there will be no end to this torment unless she plays, she agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question. “What's the distance from the earth to the moon?” The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches into her purse, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the blonde's turn. She asks the lawyer, “What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?”

The lawyer looks at her with a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references. He taps into the air-phone with his modem and searches the Net and even the Library of Congress. Frustrated, he sends E-mails to all his co-workers and friends, all to no avail. After over an hour of searching for the answer he finally gives up. He wakes the blonde and hands her $500.

The blonde politely takes the $500 and turns away to get back to sleep. The lawyer, who is more than a little frustrated, wakes the blonde and asks, “Well, so what IS the answer?”

Again without a word, the blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5, and goes back to sleep.

John Michaelis and others are planning informal gatherings for the enjoyment of folk singing and bush music. If you are interested please contact John on 9555 1800 or in his absence Bill Holland on 9484 6636.

“We have to use with skill what simple equipment we can carry on our backs to achieve shelter, prepare food and have a night's rest?”

Paddy Pallin, 1900-1991



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