SBW Magazine & History Project

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.

75TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Issue-No. 815

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.

Pack 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 weekend 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 highly waterproof; 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 wearer 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.

* Australian 12oz canvas * Made in Katoomba the old traditional way * 40 litre capacity * Proper hip loading with 2 shoulder strap sizes for walking comfort * Wide throat for easy loading and unloading * Buckle up front pocket with internal divider * Top lid pocket * Extendable lid for overloading * Padded hip belt with 38mm buckle * Hip belt retainer for city use (conveniently holds the hip belt back and out of the way) * Padded back (removable) * Thumb loops on shoulder straps for more comfortable walking * Internal compression strap for holding down your canyon rope * Side compression straps for minimising volume * Storm throat to keep out the rain * Hard wearing Cordura base * Price $159.00

ONLY AVAILABLE AT alpsport
1045 VICTORIA RD, WEST RYDE Ph 9858 5844

INDEX: 1. Index and Notices 2. Social Notes 3. Editor's Note 4. 75 Years of the Sydney Bushwalker (pages 4-5) 5. Letters to the Editor (pages 6-7) 6. Presidents Report (page 8) 7. Treasurers Report Maurice Smith (page 8) 8. The General Meeting Barry Wallace (pages 9-10) 9. At the Reunion Don Matthews (page 13) 10. Conservation Pages (pages 14-16) 11. MJD Dexter Dunphy (page 16) 12. Who'd be a Baulker Don Matthews (page 17) 13. Our Origins (pages 18-19) 14. Remembered Days Dot Butler (page 19) 15. An Interesting Year 1929 Clio (pages 20-22) 16. From The Minute Books (pages 23-24) 17. 60 Anniversary Dinner Patrick James (page 24) 18. Office Bearers 1988 -2002 (page 25) 19. The Walks Pages (pages 26-29) 20. Most Memorable Walks (pages 30-35) 21. New Members Page (page 36) 22. Prospectives Guide to Leaders Jo van Sommers (pages 37-38) 23. The Back Page (page 38)

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

Owing to planning difficulties and my foot injury I have unfortunately had to reschedule the next two stages of the walk from what appears on the Spring program. The new time for Stage 13 from the Grose River to Windsor is Sunday 10th November and instead of it being a walk this stage will be special in that it will be in canoes supplied by one of the Great River Walk's stakeholders. The following stage 14 from Bushels Lagoon to Cumberland Reach will be on Sunday 17th November.

I am sorry to have inconvenienced members and prospectives with these changes but my injury plus logistical difficulties with the planning for Stage 13 forced these changes. I hope that all the remaining stages will be as advertised.

Roger Treagus

Anyone interested in the trip but unable to take a week off should phone the leaders; Tony Marshall (9713 6985) or Bill Capon (9398 7820).

We will probably drive to Yerranderie and do a four-day trip from Tonalli Peak hoping to get to Cedar Creek (off Scotts) then return to Yerranderie.

The dates are 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th November.

The rest of the trip can be done from Kanangra at a later date.

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

This year we celebrate our 75th anniversary. The Club's main activity is bushwalking, but it has grown to include other activities 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

HELP - Lost Tent Pole. I recently walked in Cooloola National Park in Queensland and left the pole for my Olympus Eclipse (1993 model) at the campsite. I have tried to retrieve it but it is sadly lost for ever.

If anyone has a similar tent they would like to sell/dispose of, or if someone could kindly lend me a similar pole so that I can have one made up, please telephone me on 9773 4637. Many thanks - Maureen Carter

September featured two successful social activities. On Wednesday 18th Carol Beales repeated her amazing Antarctic trip slides - a combination of perfect weather, spectacular scenery and a most capable photographer. Does anyone want to take me?

The following week, on a pleasant Spring evening, about thirteen members walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a bite to eat and a beer at The Rocks.

October promises to be a very busy month with functions to celebrate the Club's 75th Anniversary. Full details of these functions are shown on Page 5.

October: * 19th - 21st 75th Anniversary Reunion Coolana * Wed 23rd 75th Anniversary Gala Night * Fri 25th 75th Anniversary Dinner * Sun 27th 75th Anniversary Picnic * Wed 30th Free Night

November: * Wed 6th Committee Meeting * Wed 13th General Meeting

• We will be discussing the size of the Management Committee. Wine & cheese will be provided.

* Wed 20th New Zealand photo/slide night with David Trinder

• Milford, Cascade Saddle and Rees Tracks
• SBW club walk - February 2002.

* Wed 27th Kimberley Region photo night with Wayne Steele

• Wayne will be presenting photos of his SBW trip in June 2002 to the Prince Regent River area.

Any suggestions, ideas or questions about the social programme should be directed to the Social Secretary: Vicki Garamy 9349 2905
You can find this social program (and updates) on our web site www.sbw.org.au

Congratulations to Jennifer and Eddy

Shaun Luigi was born today (30th September) at 12:44pm local time at the Royal North Shore. Jennifer and he are both doing well and should be home in a few days time. In the meantime Eddy is taking time off work to look after Ethan. Ethan likes all babies and has taken quite well to his new brother.

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

As your magazine editor I sometimes ponder the fine line between editorial freedom and responsibility. I am sure many of your past editors have been subject to the same thoughts. We are, in most cases, inexperienced in the world of journalism but with a little thought some guidelines emerge.

First, we should look back to the intentions of the founders of this magazine to determine what was intended. This is clearly stated in the first issue (see 75 Years of the Sydney Bushwalker on Page 4) where the aim of the magazine is stated as to place before members accounts of trips which would not be otherwise available to them. Naturally this was only the start as …constant features of future issues will be reports of social events and equipment… Conservation concerns were also expressed in the early issues.

So not much has changed as far as content goes, but now perhaps we should look at the freedom editors have to limit or edit the articles submitted. In the very early years problems of this nature prompted the resignation and subsequent re-appointment of the feisty Marie Byles as editor. Other editors have from time to time been subject to criticism from disappointed contributors but generally the great majority of items have appeared as submitted with available space the main determinant.

Moving to editorial responsibility, it seems to me that the editor should comply with any guidelines set by the proprietors ie. the members as expressed through the Management Committee. Within these guidelines the editor has freedom to determine which articles appear, and when; the extent to which submissions should be edited to ensure acceptability (ie. nature of language used and personal references) given the availability of space and a balancing of viewpoints.

Grammatical purity should not be a priority in a magazine devoted to expressing members views. Diversity of opinion is to be encouraged. Changes to submissions should only be made with the consent of the contributor.

As we move into an era where the nature of our Club is changing and general meetings will largely be a thing of the past it becomes very necessary to ensure that your magazine is maintained as a vehicle for members' opinions and a conduit of contact with the Committee.

Communication is a two-way process and the editor's task is to encourage this process by seeking members' submissions and contributions from the Committee advising and explaining its management decisions.

This month your magazine is a special enlarged edition. The regular features are shown as well as reflections on past events.

75 years of Club history is a lot to cover and it is not intended to give a complete coverage as much has already been included in past special editions. Instead, contributions have been sought on memorable events and particular aspects of the Club's activities.

And what do you know! No less than five Letters to the Editor this month! Add to this the many members' contributions and the normal Committee reports demonstrate that the two-way communication process is working.

There are many items looking back over the years, Club meetings and events of the last 15 years are summarised and credit given to our office bearers for that period.

The Walks Pages include several short walk reports of walks in September as well as reminiscences of leaders' memorable walks. Your Editor has prepared a short history on the Club's magazine and Alex Colley looks back on 75 years of conservation. Most apt, as Alex was the Club's Conservation Secretary for thirty years.

Other flashbacks include a summary of the Club's first meetings and details how the name Sydney Bush Walkers was derived. Clio, a regular contributor, looks back on 1929 and Don Matthews reflects on his early enthusiasm for hard walking.

As a bonus this month we have two jokes to lighten your day.

I'm sure we all look forward with pleasure to meeting old and new members at the Club's celebratory events.

Bill Holland

Contact The Editor: Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the Editor by the end of the first week of each month.

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)

Sydney Bushwalker Collating Members are invited to assist with the collating of the November magazine and Summer Walks Programme at the Holland's home at Westleigh on Thursday 21st November. Contact Fran Holland beforehand for details on 9484 6636.

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FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW)

A glance at the first page of this month's The Sydney Bushwalker shows it to be Issue No 815 indicating that the magazine has existed for approximately 70 years. In fact, other than for a short period when the magazine was issued quarterly, the Club has published its journal every month for 71 years.

The first issue of the Club's magazine appeared in June 1931. Marjorie Hill was the first Editor assisted by a Publishing Committee of notables such as Dorothy Lawne, Brenda White, Rene Brown, and Myles Dunphy. Their intentions were expressed in the following words:

The aim of “The Bushwalker” is neither ambitious nor comprehensive; -the main endeavour being to place before members accounts of trips which otherwise would not be so readily accessible to them. Such accounts will be more or less detailed and contain more of the personal element than can be the case with the Club's official records.

This first publication is brought forward with the hope of future continuous help and patronage of our members; and in this respect the Publishing Committee invites them to consider their various experiences in the light of common interest to fellow members, and to hand in clearly written accounts, in serious or humorous vein, together with personal items or jokes concerning members or walking. Constant features of future issues will be reports of social events and equipment section.

It is interesting to look at the articles in this first issue. The first item A Ballad of Bushwalkers was to the tune of the song The Darkies Sunday School.

Tall folks, short folks, everybody come
Gather around the campfire and make yourselves at home
Bring your rugs and groundsheets and laze upon the ground
We'll tell you tales of Bushwalkers that surely will astound

[Followed by tales of walkers whose names are still well known today]

Other articles included a report of a trip to Dalgety for a pioneering expedition of 16 days and 110 miles. The right-through pack weights varied from 50 - 78lbs for the men and 36 - 38 pounds for the girls, all correctly weighed. Walter Tarr (Taro) wrote of a trip from Lumeah to Sutherland and in an article Far From The Madding Crowd Marjorie Hill wrote of the walk to Red Hand Cave where 33 members grew to a crowd of 85 when The University Newman Society leader failed to appear. His party joined the bushwalkers in their walk to the cave in the company of Mr Thorpe from the Museum and Mr Bunyan, the discoverer of the Cave.

Although only eleven pages, this issue and subsequent issues required a great deal of effort. Without modern day conveniences the Publishing Committee had to arrange collection of articles, typing, printing and collating. Even in comparatively more recent times things had not changed - as the following extract from the book The First Sixty Years shows:

These days, the Club Magazine arrives in one's letter-box every month; in fact, one need never go to the Club rooms or on a walk to be up to date on all aspects of the SBW. This was not always so.

Up until 1968, The Sydney Bushwalker was only on sale in the clubrooms to those who wished to buy, which meant that, being a tight-fisted lot and given the small percentage of members which has always attended Club meetings, not many people saw the Magazine. …, this was all changed when it was resolved at the Annual General Meeting that the annual subscription for active members would include the Magazine, posted each month. This meant a mere $1.50 increase in the year's subscription.

Until this date, a month's magazine was sometimes produced in one weekend or less. When the Editor had enough material, he or she would arrive at the typist's home, clear the living room table of children and toys when necessary, and the editing and typing would begin. Quite often, in the same evening, calls went out to the Magazine Team and the printing would be started even before the last pages had been typed. The old heavy typewriter clattered away cutting its stencils, the illustrator sketched the odd drawing to fill up any spaces, the hand-turned duplicator chugged away and built up arm muscles.

Today, the magazine work load has eased. We have the benefit of receiving most articles by email or fax. Photos and typed documents are scanned. The computer is used for word processing and the printers use a near modern printing machine. Finally, the collating is carried out by enthusiastic members in a very social environment.

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List Of Editors 1931 - 2002 Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

The following list of editors of the magazine includes many names well known to members over the years - many still active today. Some have held the position for more than the customary two years and some have been editor twice or more.

* Marjorie Hill * Brenda White * Marie Byles * Dorothy Lawry * Clare Kinsella * Ray Kirkby * Ron Knightly * Alex Colley * Jim Brown * Frank Rigby * Geoff Wagg * Don Matthews * Stuart Brooks * Bob Duncan * Bill Gillam * Ross Wyborne * Jim Brown * Spiro Hajinakitas * Owen Marks * Dorothy Pike * Helen Gray * Evelyn Walker * Ainslie Morris * Patrick James * Morag Ryder * Judy O'Connor * Debora Shapira * George Mawer * Ray Hookway * Bill Holland

Each of the editors has contributed their own style of presentation and editorial content. The format has changed over the years but The Sydney Bushwalker continues to reflect the intentions of those who published the first issue so long ago.

Bill Holland

This year we celebrate our 75th anniversary and the celebratory events will commence at Coolana on the weekend 19th, 20th October and end with a picnic on the Sunday 27th October.

So come along to any, some or all of the following events.

19 - 21st Oct: Coolana Reunion This will extend to the Monday as well to celebrate the actual birthday. Activities include some cycling, canoeing and easy walks around the property. This event is for all whether old members or new to the Club. Friends are welcome.

Wed 23rd October: Gala Night At the Club rooms, Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli. Join us for reminiscences and historical, displays of old SBW photos, minute books, magazines and equipment. Marvel at the photo displays assembled by Mulga. Everyone is invited to bring just one (1) special bushwalking photograph of people. Bring your favourite photo to share with others. Open to all.

Fri 25th Oct: 75th Anniversary Dinner The dinner will be on Friday 25th October, at the Harbourview Room, Kirribilli Club, near Milsons Point Railway Station. 7 - 12 pm.

Sun 27 Oct: 75th Anniversary Picnic At Quarantine Park, Abbotsford. Entrance Spring St. Be there early 10.00/10.30 am to ensure a good position. BYO everything including lunch, champagne, other drink, good cheer, memories, old photos, questions, answers, kids, grandparents, and a chair to sit on. Enjoy a sizzled sausage. Open to all.

Contacts for all of the above: Vicki Garamy 9349 2905 (h), Bill Holland 9484 6636, Sophie Watson 9360 6678 (h) 0409 887 010 (mobile), Patrick James (phone 9567 9998).

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

DI Cross Country Ski Trips I note in the report of the August 2002 General Meeting, published in the September 2002 edition of The Sydney Bushwalker, that there was some confusion at the meeting about the status of the cross country ski trips that were on the walks program for 19 - 21st July and 1st - 5th August. The reason that I had not reported on these trips to the Walks Secretary is that, despite appearing on the program, they were no longer SBW trips.

This situation arose because the SBW's endorsement of these trips was withdrawn after publication of the program when the Club's insurer would not insure those activities that are the most fun - skiing and canyoning. Accordingly I assumed that these trips would be consigned to the darkest recesses of the club closet, with no mention permitted of them.

To set the record straight, both trips proceeded and were hugely enjoyable. Discerning recipients of your august September journal (i.e., those who read it) may even have noticed an article about A Nordic Ski Tour that went out from Munyang. Could this have been the trip that was cancelled?

Those members of the SBW who want to increase their enjoyment of the snow country by participating in ski trips can now do so by joining the NSW Nordic Ski Club. This club does have insurance cover for activities above the snow line and has a full range of skiing activities, including ski instruction weekends that are highly regarded. Membership inquiries should be directed to the Membership Secretary, John Lock at 9484 0891.

Kenn Clacher

DX Trekking Poles The letter on trekking poles [September magazine] contains some fact, some fiction, and a large amount of emotion. Tungsten carbide is harder that “stone”. Which stone? There are some 4,000 minerals with a whole range of hardnesses. Had the author said harder than corundum, or harder than 9 on Mohs scale then he would have been correct and his comment worthy of consideration.

It is a fact that the scratching of rocks can be directly attributed to the tungsten carbide tips. The scratcher must be harder than the scratchee! It is difficult to imagine the “significant” damage caused by poles to the track edges given that not all walkers have poles and that not all poles have tungsten carbide tips.

Trekking poles acting as a vector in the spread of a dieback fungus is no doubt correct.

I suggest that poles, walking sticks, crutches, wheelchairs, boots, shoes and bare feet are also such vectors. Why single out tungsten carbide tipped trekking poles? It would be most effective to ban all walkers from areas where vegetation stabilises tracks, where this dieback fungus is endemic and where walkers could fall over without the assistance of a pole. In the few remaining areas it could be made compulsory that all poles be tipped with a protective barrier, a form of safe walking.

Patrick James.

(<] From Ainslie Morris May I thank you for publishing the notice about Elwyn. She was a true lover of the bush. She took her job as Social Secretary to heart, and I don't think we realised how hard she was finding it and the true reason was the very beginnings of her dementia.

We appreciated the club members coming to the funeral; I spoke to Denise, Fazely, Ray, Brian, Spiro, Ann and Frank, as well as yourself - I'm sure I have left some out. The loyalty engendered by bushwalking is truly a wonder in this day and age. The same thing happens here at Batemans Bay Bushwalkers; when a member is ill, friends rally round to help.

We love getting our Sydney Bushwalker, and I read it from cover to cover in one fell swoop, amazed at the number of walks stories. You know that from it I was inspired to recommend our club here to have a newsletter. It has been a great success now for four years; for the first two years it was edited by the Publicity Officer, but as after two years all Committee members must relinquish their positions, she cleverly nominated me and I had the job of the Newsletter, called The Bushtalker, as well as articles for the local paper (which are all published with photos!). Now we have a new Editor and she went on the fast learning curve (I almost typed curse) of desktop publishing a magazine with photos. Our local Xerox shop prints it at half price, and it is handed out at our Quarterly Meeting with the new walks program.

Our only meetings are the Quarterly General Meetings, when business is attended to and everyone brings a plate of food and has a good gossip. Out of 150 members, we get about 60 or 70 attending, often people who may not have been on walks lately. We don't have speakers, but do have social events every couple of months. The last one was a bush dance called by one of our members with the Social Sub-committee doing the catering.

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

We probably don't need more frequent meetings as we have two walks a week, one mid-week and one at the weekend, with various grades from Easy/Slow through to Hard. Very few are overnight pack walks. As well, we have about four camps a year either in the bush or in accommodation, such as the Blackheath camp last October, when Jim Percy and Jo van Sommers led some hard walks for us. Another activity which you may not have considered is our Camping Safaris. We have just led one with the help of two other couples for five weeks through northern NSW and southern and central Queensland National Parks. Members drive and meet up at the next place, stay in their tents or caravans, or sometimes cabins, and go on every day walk available over a few days. The average age on our last one was 69, and the average weight at the end of the safari was probably 69 kg! We may only do day walks, but we still have the fun of evening campfires with singing and games and stories. Other safaris over the past six years have been to Western Australia, South Australia and western Victoria. Most of our members are retired from work, but we certainly haven't slowed down.

Best wishes, Ainslie Morris

DX) Some Facts About 1927 Far be it that I should correct Patrick James (July magazine) and the venerable Frank Rigby (September) re life in 1927 however there are some 'facts' that should not go unchallenged.

1. “No. television” - J L Baird's demonstration of an invisible ray to penetrate fog (this year) led to the Baird Television Co. being formed to exploit the invention for transmitting news and portraits via telegraphy or wireless (April). In June G A Taylor had an invention by which he was able to transmit pictures, in colour by wireless. Later in the year television was described as a new branch of science recognised officially by the British Association. 2. “Few telephones” - in fact by 1929 there were over 500,000 telephones in Australia when the population of the nation was under six and a half million. 3. “Few cars” - there were 200,000 motors registered in NSW for 1927 when Sydney's population was still under two million. (“Motors” possibly included all types of vehicles). 4. “Road accidents? Hardly” - reported accidents/fatalities included many involving horses and/or horse-drawn vehicles. Not all of these were rural - there was a collision between a steam water wagon and a sulky at Canterbury. Motor vehicle accidents increased during the year including those at level crossings.

As Reg Alder says 1927 was a period of great technological and social change. However it is arguable whether Australia entered the Depression when the slump began in 1927 with the general recession in economic activity or when the world prices dropped drastically in October 1929.

With the basic wage set at 5/16/6 ($11.65) per week many a family could not afford these luxuries yet single people, in good employment (eg accountancy), could purchase a motor vehicle with about thirty weeks pay - no different to today. However with this kind of investment bush bashing would be an anathema.

Clio

Send in Your Letters Letters to the Editor are most welcome and the likelihood of publication is much higher than in The Sydney Morning Herald! If you would like to comment on items or discussion published in the magazine, or matters of Club management or activities - feel free. Its your magazine!

WILDERNESS TRANSIT

Departs from Sydney's Campbelltown Railway Station Via Picton, Katoomba & Blackheath for Kanangra Walls Mon & Wed at 11am. Fri at 7am Returns 4pm Mon, Wed, Fri. Via Starlights, Mittagong & Marulan for Wog Wog-Nerriga Tues. & Thurs & Sun at 11am Returns 4pm Tues, Thurs, Sun. Yerranderie Ghost Town first Saturday in each month, returns Sun at 7 pm (any Friday min 6) Group booking discounts or charter service Tel 02 46 832 344 Mob 0428 832 344 www.wildernesstransit.com.au

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

Many thanks to the Committee and in particular to Wilf who steered the ship while I was away walking in the UK.

What a relief though to come home and walk in the Australian bush, off track and to smell the gum trees.

We have recently obtained the advice of our honorary solicitor about sharing transport costs. It appears that any common-sense cost pooling arrangement that the club might adopt is unlikely to entail a serious risk of contravening the relevant insurance policy held by the car owner. Therefore we shall look at publishing some proposals in the magazine which will give the owner a choice which of course will not be obligatory.

In the last two meetings we have approved membership for 9 new members which simply confirms that the club continues to prosper.

As we all know the bush is extremely dry at the moment and it looks as though it is going to stay that way as summer approaches. We must all be alert to the problems of bushfires and remember that when there is a fire ban that also means we cannot use stoves because all naked flames are banned.

Wilf Hilder, Jim Callaway and Maurice Smith have been re-elected Confederation President, Vice-President and Treasurer respectively. Hearty congratulations.

I am pleased to report that the motion to change the Constitution so as to remove the need for monthly general meetings was passed at the general meeting on 9 October. There was a good attendance at the meeting and some vigorous debate ensued.

As a result there will be the AGM and one other general meeting six months after the AGM. Other general meetings can be called as and when required.

Rosemary MacDougal

The Treasurer's life is a difficult one. Two people, presumably members, have sent the Treasurer bank cheques for $40.00 each. However, the senders gave no clues as to who sent the cheques or why.

The first envelope was printed with the words “The University of Sydney” and this had been crossed out with a black marking pen. It was postmarked 19 September 2002. There was no return address on the rear of the envelope.

The second envelope was postmarked 24 September and again there was no identification. Would the senders please contact Maurice Smith, our hardworking Treasurer on (02) 9587 6325 (home) or 0414 538 475 (work) to enable him to identify who sent the cheques and the reason for the cheque.

If there is no response, then Maurice will regard the payments as a donation. It could be that a member is sending in money for their (belated) membership renewal or for the 75th anniversary dinner. In either event the member's name will not be on the list of those who have paid.

Maurice Smith

Presented to the September General Meeting Bank Account Movement:

We started the month of July with $752 in the bank account. During August we received $1,042 in income. $784 of this was subscriptions from members and new members, $223 in interest on investments and $35 in donations.

In the month we drew cheques to the value of $2,853. The big items of expenses were $920 to Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre for Aug and September club room rent, $913 to Ricoh Australia for supplies for the printing machine, $300 to Shoalhaven City Council for the first instalment of the rates for Coolana, $519 to Don Finch to reimburse him for expenses incurred in relation to Coolana and $186 for other expenses. In addition we also received $2,120 for the 75th anniversary dinner. This money has not been recorded as income, rather I have put it into a holding account within the accounts. We ended August with $1061 in the bank.

The last of the annual subscriptions are still dribbling into the post office box.

Remember, if you haven't paid your subscription then don't blame us when you don't receive a Spring Walks Program.

I welcome any questions from the floor. Maurice Smith

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

The President was away overseas so it was Wilf, complete with bone, cotton-reel hammer, gong and stand, who called the 16 or so members present to order and began the meeting at around 2007 hours. There were apologies for President Rosemary, Pam Morrison, Fran Holland and Gretel Woodward.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and received with minor corrections and no matters arising.

There was a range of items of correspondence. We received a post-card from Stephen Adams travelling somewhere overseas, a letter from the Commonwealth Bank regarding changes to our signatories for cheques, a letter from Richard Brading advising on proposals for guidelines for the allocation of costs for vehicle use, and another from the Wilderness Society inviting us to donate. Telstra wrote with details of enhanced functions available for the club's telephone service. We also received more details from Confederation about the Public Liability insurance policy they provide for member clubs. An acknowledgment of our letter supporting conservation of the Styx Valley in Tasmania was also received from the relevant government department.

Barry Wallace

A report on recent committee activities was presented to the meeting. Details of this have been published elsewhere.

No conservation report was available to the meeting.

Confederation have held a general meeting and an annual general meeting since last we heard from them. Wilf Hilder has been elected President and Jim Callaway is Vice President, with Maurice as Treasurer. Confederation training weekends appear to be going well. The boundaries of the Tianjara firing range area have been extended to include sites found to include unexploded ordnance not previously reported. The Kosciuszko National Park plan of management is under review. Re-roofing of the rangers' cabin at Burning Palms is scheduled for the end of November. There was also quite a bit of what seemed to be discursive comment interpolated by Wilf but detail of this is not included here.

The Treasurer's report indicated that we received income of $3,162, spent $2,853 and closed with a balance of $1,061. We also received moneys associated with bookings for the anniversary dinner but this is not recorded in the income above.

(Continued on next page)

Birdwatching Bushwalks

Both trips will be accompanied by Kimberley Birdwatching's George Swann as well as a Walkabouts guide. For more information, check our website trip notes or ask us for a printed copy. www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au
www.kimberleybirdwatching.com.au

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The September 2002 General Meeting (continued from previous page) Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

The walks reports appear to have commenced with the weekend of 10, 11 August with Maurice Smith cancelling his walk out from Queira Clearing, no report for Ralph Pengliss' walk from Manly to Taronga Park Zoo, and no details for Charlie Montross' Saturday walk out from Wentworth Falls. Tony Crichton's Sunday walk out from Carlon's Farm did not get a mention for some reason. Wilf's mid-week walk on Thursday 15th was reconfigured due to ferry cancellations caused by high seas. The party of 7 parked the cars at Cronulla and did a walk from there in windy conditions.

Wilf's walk on the Colo, scheduled for the weekend of 17, 18 August did not go. Nancye Alderson's Saturday walk from Linden to Hazelbrook that weekend was abandoned due to transport problems but a small sub-group conducted a walk from Concord along the Kokoda Trail (7). Chris Dowling's Saturday walk from Mt Kuringai to Cowan went, with substitute leader Greta James, a party of 7, and wildflowers in abundance. Errol Sheedy led a party of 7 on a Sunday walk from Kirrawee to Sutherland in cool and pleasant conditions with cappuccinos. There was also mention of Maureen's temptation in there somewhere but that seems to have been an in joke. Ron Watters had 20 starters for his Megalong Valley trip out from Carlon's Farm on the Sunday. Conditions started fine but became overcast as the day progressed.

Jacqui Callandra led a party of 5 from Milsons Point to Balmain on the midweek walk on Wednesday 21st August.

Peter Christian's abseiling instructional, scheduled for 24, 25 August was cancelled due to a discontinuation of public liability insurance cover for this activity under the new policy. We are advised it will be reprogrammed later as a walk in the same area. Maurice Smith led the Six-Foot Track in a day walk on the Saturday, standing-in for Tony Crichton. There was a party of 25 walkers and 25 support crew. The walk went well but dinner at Caves House was a slow affair with the main course arriving at around 2200. Jim Percy's Saturday walk from Lawson to Wentworth Falls had 8 starters and was re-routed for some reason. Nigel Weaver had 8 walkers out on his Sunday walk in Muogamarra Nature Reserve in cloudy conditions without rain. Bill Holland led a party of 10 on his Old North Road historical and scenic walk the same day. It was a good walk and a report on this one appeared in the last month's magazine.

Bill Holland cancelled his walk out from Dangera Dam scheduled for the weekend of 31st August - 1st September due to illness. Carol Lubbers led a party of 12 in dry conditions for her Wolgan Valley walk that weekend. The wattles were in bloom and glorious. Saturday saw Zol Bodlay with 10 walkers enjoying a spectacular walk for his Aboriginal art site walk No. 9. Jim Callaway's Sunday walk from Helensburgh to Otford was deferred to Sunday the 15th.

Wilf led the midweek walk on the Wednesday, described as Sydney Spider Web No.0 with a party of 4. Navigation was reported to have been carried out largely from a street directory.

Alan Wells led the weekend walk for 7, 8 September from Bell to Newnes Junction via The Crater. There were 6 starters all of whom are reported to have had a great time. There was a day trip on the Saturday from Kanangra to Katoomba. The 9 participants were ably assisted by an equal number of members in the support team. The day was beautiful and the only casualty was one gashed knee. Roger Treagus deferred his Sunday walk to the following weekend and although Craig Austin's walk that day went, we had no other details. Not only that, it ended the walks reports for the month.

For a second month the call for general business went unanswered. The announcements followed, and the meeting closed at around 2124.

Notice - Camp Fires and Stoves All members are advised to check the restrictions on lighting fires in intended camping areas. Be aware that the bush fire danger season throughout NSW has been advanced to 1st September due to the dry conditions.

This means that fires in the open are restricted and may only be used under certain conditions e.g. a camp fire for cooking purposes. Total Fire Bans may be declared on days of extreme fire danger and fires in the open, including cooking and camp fires, are totally prohibited for the period of the ban. Lighting any fire in the open on a day of Total Fire Ban may lead to a fine of $5,000 and six months imprisonment. This applies to any naked flame including camp fires and camping stoves.

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Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002

The September Coolana bush regeneration weekend led by Bill Holland had a group of eight in attendance. Landcare coordinator Eric Zarrella attended on Saturday to assist members with poisoning of some of the privet in the creek. Lots more to go of course but a good careful start.

As you are probably aware a small group of people with an interest in Coolana have looked after the property continuously for many years. The group though small is not static with some coming and going from time to time. The Coolana carers, the core group occasionally find the tasks they have set themselves overwhelming, simply because there is too much to do in the time available. During spring and summer the weeds often get ahead of the small band of Coolana carers. The ideal growing conditions and the size of the weeding program simply mean that the weeds start to win, for a while at least. Not in all areas of course as there are many sections that have over the years been brought under control and require only minimal attention. These areas are fairly obvious, as they appear to the eye as grassy vistas with native scrubs in dappled light under tall trees inviting the wanderer to meander and enjoy the scene.

The problem areas are well known and what to do about the weeds is also well-known. At times the core group is just overwhelmed by the size of the weeding program. Now given that most people do not have the time or inclination to spend their leisure time doing work, this is a bit of a big ask. What is required is some extra help from time to time.

Do not think that this requires a major or ongoing commitment but if you could donate say two to four hours out of a weekend camping at Coolana just once, or every few years or so then believe it or not that would make a big difference. The difference between winning and losing, and more importantly the core group will not be confronted with a major setback against the weeds.

If in any doubt as to the success occasioning the efforts of the Coolana carers then a walk across the creek from the camping flat onto the eastern flats will dispel any doubts.

Tree Wild Tobacco Solanum maritianum. Family: Solanaceae

Habit: Perennial shrub or small tree to 4m or more. Wild Tobacco Tree occurs on fertile wet margins of forests and rainforest margins. Found in sunny, disturbed soils.

Identifying features: * Leaf arrangement - alternate: type - size to 30 cm long and 15 cm wide: shape - ovate-narrow: colour - grey-green, paler underneath: scent - strong and unpleasant. * Seed: succulent, green berries maturing to dull yellow, containing flattened seeds, about 1-1.5 cm long. * Season - end of summer. * Dispersal - birds, possums, bats. Seeds are able to stay viable in the soil for many years. * Purple flowers, ear-shaped small leaves on branches. Seeds require light for germination.

Removal techniques: Remove with a mattock or cut and paint with glyphosate. Seeds germinate after fire.

Native Species - Astrotricha floccosa & Astroricha latifolia no scent, white flowers, star-like hairs, no ear-shaped small leaves. Do not confuse with above weed.

Would leaders please check before walking in National Parks near Sydney to determine if closures or partial closures apply. The continuing dry weather is delaying recovery of some areas following the disastrous bushfires earlier this year.

The following website might be useful in tracking current bushfires. It is the NSW Rural Fire Service Incident Whiteboard of current ongoing fires. www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/whiteboard/frmwhiteboardweb.asp// ====Acacia Flat (Grose Valley)==== Jim Percy advises: As of the 22nd September 2002, a fuel-stove only policy will be operating at Acacia Flat camping area. The policy has been introduced as one measure to reduce environmental impacts in this sensitive area. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated. Please help us inform other users. pagebreak ===== At the Reunion ===== FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW) Among the items presented at the April 2001 Reunion Campfire was the following “Song of Protest”. It was written by Don Matthews and sung by himself and Geoff Wagg. Old hands would remember when the Magazine Editor was more than happy to receive contributions hand-written on any old scrap of paper. With the help of a long suffering typiste, armed with scissors and paste, the copy would be converted into something reasonably presentable. Nowadays, copy is required in a format suitable for the computer age e.g. Copy can be sent to me by email or on a 3 1/2“ PC floppy disc or as plain copy using any common word processing program. Reference is made to GPS and EPIRB which need no further explanation; however, the comment “Bushwalkers won't be dry” is self-explanatory - the origins of the phrase are to be found in the June 1985 edition of the Sydney Bushwalker. <poem> Song of Protest Do you want to write an article Then get a floppy disc You just can't take a pen and write It isn't worth the risk They'll look upon your shaky hand A frown upon their face You might as well just write in sand It's lost without a trace In years gone past, in no great haste We typed across the page You couldn't always read the words Corrections took an age We cut it up with scissors and we glued it up with paste A rough around the edges But impeccable in taste Chorus: But please don't blame the Editor It's just the way things are. The typist quit on Tuesday, Took the scissors in her car, The paste has gone all funny And has hardened in the jar So please don't blame the Editor It's just the way things are. We'll have to watch our P's and Q's In this the Brave New Age When phosphorescent screen dictate And not the printed page And goodness knows who'll get to see Our Magazine-On-Air As matrices of ones and noughts Lay all our secrets bare And what about the GPS Its battery may run flat And then how do you figure out Just where the heck you're at At least with map and compass You've a chance to reach your goal Except when at the creases There was just a great big hole Voice 1. We've left the EPIRB till the last Its got me in-a spin What happens when it goes off Does it make an awful din Voice 2 Oh no its done by satellites All silent in the sky Don't ask me to explain it I don't know the reason why Chorus But please don't blame the Editor… … …. </poem> Don is obviously a bushwalker luddite. He has no sympathy for the editor who must take Don's quill pen scribbling and convert it to Word XP techno-format. I once gave him a floppy disc and he knew what not to do with it. He fed it to my dog. Nevertheless, Don remains a welcome contributor and one day he will sit in front of a computer. pagebreak ===== Conservation Pages ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 D4) Letter To The Editor David Trinder reports that “it is now time for the Government to rule out the south coast charcoal mill that will consume large quantities of native forest timber.” Thank you David for mentioning this. By now you will know that Australian Silicon Co. has pulled out of the South Coast site near Mogo south of Batemans Bay, and probably out of NSW. This huge conservation fight has been largely un-reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, although very well reported in the Canberra Times and Baypost over the past year. The devastation to our Southeast Forests of cutting down trees (not “waste” as they tried to tell us) to supply 240,000 tonnes a year to the charcoal plant would have spoilt our forests, water supply, forest roads and highways, not to mention our bushwalking activities. The company pulled out because the case in the Land and Environment Court mounted by the communities of the South Coast against the NSW Government was not likely to be won easily if at all by the Government as our case was so well researched by experts (the case is still pending). The rally on 21st September of 4,500 represented about one third of the population of Batemans Bay. Speakers such as our Mayor Peter Cairney, Liberal Leader John Brogden, and Jan Cohen MLA (Greens) expressed concern at the way the decision was made. The Premier only has to declare a project to be of State Significance, as was the case with the charcoal plant at Mogo and the silicon factory at Lithgow, and it will go ahead whatever the EIS may say. The NSW taxpayers were to fund the subsidised timber supply to Australian Silicon Co. You can find out more on the excellent website www.charcoalition.forests.org.au. The next battle to save your bushwalking areas could be near you! Yours in bushwalking Ainslie Morris Charcoal Factory Threatens Gippsland Forests and Tourism (extract from SEFA Media release 3 of September 2002) The South East Forest Alliance, representing more than 20 community and conservation groups on the NSW South Coast, has today offered assistance to Victorians against a massive new threat to the biodiversity of Gippsland's forests and its nature based tourism industry. Since the charcoal factory last week pulled out of Mogo, near Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast, plans are again afoot to establish the operation in Victoria, with timber from the Gippsland forests. “This was an archaic, indeed bizarre proposal for a woodchip style operation to fell and burn 200,000 tonnes of native forest logs a year for up to 40 years to supply charcoal from South Coast forests to a silicon plant at Lithgow, west of the Blue Mountains”, said spokespersons for the group. There has been nearly 15 months of intense opposition by the South Coast community and by all conservation groups. But we are very disturbed that in winning our fight, we may have pushed this environmental dinosaur into Victoria. Now, the logs are most likely to be supplied from the magnificent Gippsland forests to a charcoal factory at Orbost or a combined charcoal and silicon plant located in the Latrobe Valley, handy to the power stations there. However, all Victorian forests and regional communities, from East Gippsland to the Otways, are under threat until Australian Silicon, the company behind this project, clarifies its plans. Contact: Noel Plumb Convenor South East Forest Alliance 02 8800 8303 or 0425 23 83 03
Chris Kowal President Coastwatchers 02 4474 3335 Moruya ====Kosciuszko National Park - Plan Of Management==== The NPWS is reviewing the Kosciuszko Plan of Management which has had few amendments since 1982. This review is intended to be a complete overhaul of the Plan of Management. A committee of 20 people representing various stakeholders has been appointed with an independent chair to conduct the review, which is scheduled to be concluded by November, 2003. To date two day meetings have been held in Jindabyne and Tumbarumba, plus two field trips have been undertaken. The topics discussed so far are feral animals and weeds. At the next two meetings recreation in KNP will be discussed and appropriate recommendations given to the N.P.W.S to preserve the naturalness of the park. Any member who has concerns regarding access, activities, challenges or developments within Kosciuszko National Park should ring or write to Wilf Hilder who is one of four recreation representatives on the Community Forum reviewing the Plan of Management. pagebreak ===== Seventy Five Years of Conservation ===== FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW) Most of this article will be familiar to old members who have read The Sydney Bush Walkers - the first 60 years and the SBW Magazine, but the 75th anniversary is an appropriate time to remember conservation history. The Club was founded by conservationists - members of the Mountain Trails Club, most of whom were members of Australia's first wilderness society - the National Parks and Primitive Areas Council. MTC member Alan Rigby, whose drawing decorates the cover of our magazine, moved the MTC motion that created the SBW. Right from the beginning the SBW, inspired by Myles Dunphy, embarked on a campaign for the reservation of Garawarra: A long campaign of publicity, handbills, deputations and a petition containing some 5000 signatures, gained the support of the Minister for Lands and the park was gazetted in 1934. In 1931 a party of SBW and MTC members camped at Blue Gum Forest and heard the sound of chopping. They prevailed on Mr. Hungerford, who leased the property, to spare the trees and soon persuaded him to forsake the lease on payment of 130 pounds. This sum, equivalent to $10,000 or more in today's money, was difficult for two small clubs to raise in the middle of the great depression, but Mr. W. J. Cleary, Commissioner for Railways, came to the rescue with a loan, which was repaid two years later. The Blue Gum Forest was the genesis of national park reservation in the Blue Mountains. Another milestone in conservation was the creation of Bouddi National Park, one of the first coastal reservations. This was achieved by Marie Byles, who joined the Club in 1929. Marie gained the support of the Lands Department District Surveyor and the Federation of Bushwalking Clubs, founded in 1932. Myles Dunphy, the leader of the early nature conservation movement, was an inspiration to the SBW. He attended the Club meetings and kept us fully informed on conservation matters. Perhaps his greatest contribution to conservation was his Greater Blue Mountains National Park proposal, submitted to the Surveyor General in 1931 and published in the Katoomba Daily in 1934. The proposal was strongly supported by the SBW. Over the next 70 years his proposal was accepted in fact, though not in name, by the declaration of the Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd, Wollemi, Nattai and Gardens of Stone parks. The creation of these parks and the prevention by the conservation movement of damaging developments, preserved the natural environment of the Mountains in a state which qualified it for World Heritage listing. In the 30s the Club opposed the construction of roads along walking tracks to Careys Peak, Bundeena, Marley, West Head and Narrow Neck. In response to Myles Dunphy's appeal to walking clubs to take up leases in the Heathcote area, with a view to persuading the Government to create a reserve, the SBW leased 100 acres, which it called Morella Karong, on a tributary of Heathcote Creek. Reunions were held there for many years, and in 1943 the Heathcote Primitive Reserve was established. A favoured summer camping ground of the SBW was North Era. In 1943 it was learned that there were plans for a boarding house there. The Club negotiated for the purchase of block 7, the site for the boarding house. The owner was prepared to sell for 350 pounds, but under wartime regulations it could not be sold for more than the Valuer General's valuation of 200 pounds. Here Marie Byles came to the rescue and negotiated an acceptable price of 300 pounds. In those days the MTC and the SBW were almost lone conservationists. No other club took up Heathcote leases and other clubs donated only 24 pounds towards the purchase of block 7. The block was later resumed and became part of the Royal National Park. After World War 2 interest in nature conservation widened beyond that of some bushwalking clubs and the Wildlife Preservation Society. This was a welcome development, which laid the foundations of today's widespread conservation movement. Our Club's efforts continued both at Club level and through those of Club members who played leading roles in several of the new organisations. Tom Moppett and Paul Barnes were successful in promoting the National Parks Association. Henry Gold is a very effective campaigner. With a few notable exceptions, such as Sir William McKell, Neville Wran and Bob Carr, politicians don't find time to visit wilderness areas, but they do look at photographs. Henry's photographs were very effective in persuading Milton Morris to decide that there would be no Pines on the Boyd, and the lobby book featuring his photographs may have been the deciding factor in persuading 21 members the IUCN World Heritage Committee to vote for the listing of the Blue Mountains. The Club proposed a National Parks Act in 1957, the year when the National Parks Association was formed, ten years before the Act was passed. In 1968 the Colong Committee was established and it has been strongly supported by the Club. Many members have joined it (now the Colong Foundation), made donations and helped to collate the Bulletin. The Foundation's use of the Club's Gestetner printer is the equivalent of a yearly donation of over $2000. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 From the SBW viewpoint the conservation achievement of the century was the acquisition of Coolana in 1969. Describing this in the June 1982 magazine, Dot Butler wrote: > Our President (Don Finch) was urging everyone to look for a new venue for a Reunion site, so I went down to Kangaroo Valley to visit Warwick Deacock's Camp Chakola to see what might be offering there. I wandered a few miles downstream and came across what looked ideal for our purposes - lovely grassy flats among Casuarinas flanking the clean flowing Kangaroo River and bush covered hillsides surmounted by a fantastic rock escarpment. Shortly afterwards my neighbours Hanna and Rudi Lemberg (ex-bushwalkers) asked me to go with them to look at some land which the Quakers hoped to purchase. Imagine my surprise to find it was the identical spot I had visited earlier. The Quakers could not afford the $9000 the owners wanted for the 190 acres property, but they could afford $5000 and Dot undertook to raise $4000 to pay for 90 acres. By this time the Era fund, established with the payment for block 7, kept for the acquisition of another holding, amounted to $1500; $1000 was voted from Club funds and Dot succeeded in raising the rest. In these days of limited parties, fuel stoves instead of campfires and permits, we should be forever grateful for Coolana. I believe that today's conservation movement, which has made conservation a mainstream political issue, originated with the MTC and its offspring, the SBW. With the love of the natural environment which bushwalking creates we can continue to be leaders. * Alex Colley, at 91, still a great campaigner for the environment was SBW Conservation Secretary for over 30 years. ===== Mjd Dexter Dunphy ===== <poem> - In memory of Myles Joseph Dunphy 1891-1985 the leather boots gurgling through rocks to take us through lunch are cracked and dry on its way to the sea reeling back the years of your life the hobnails rusting out get me some standing sticks lad to find that lithe young man yet I half expected you'd say swag on back you to arrive and pull them on and soon the smoke rifle in hand for the day dawned would spiral to the sky looking out over the endless blue crisp, clear, autumnal smell of burning gum leaves ranges the dusty air cleared by rain sticks crackling and flaring then time to move on until the billy bubbles and sings. you'd say in powerful flight and we did swans passed overhead I see you lay out a pulsing arrowhead bread, tomatoes, cheese cleaving the sky on the battered tin plate open a can just the kind of day you enjoyed striding barelegged Boo beat Hamper Brand Corn through the coastal heathland lid meat brushing by stunted grass trees you'd say … sole meal and hakea your knife pack on your back blackened billy can swinging in your hand your practiced eye picking the wallaby trail holding grade on the rise and we would have stopped in a ferny gully with a creek of sweet water worm to an arc with sharpening carving out slices help yourself and you'd pour tannin-stained tea into the chipped enamel mugs this place puts me in mind of the Kowmung trip in 34… you'd spin us a yarn so many times until you moved on once and for all. today I want you to pull on those boots again so I can follow your swinging stride holding back just far enough to dodge the whiplash branches sprung by your passing I have no heart to go by myself into the sunlit spaces robbed of the rhythmic crunch of your boots your yarns your laughter </poem> pagebreak ===== Who'd Be a Baulker ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Don Matthews (September 1975) As I said to Dot Butler whilst idly surveying the road gang at Coolana the other weekend. When it comes to walking I'm a baulker, and when it comes to working I'm a shirker. She ignored any slight humour that the statement may have contained, handed me a pair of old gardening gloves and pointed to the pile of rocks that had to be moved from one hole to another. Half the battle in life is knowing your faults, so they say, and every autumn I make a firm resolve to do some serious walking. The best way to accomplish this is by taking time off during the school holidays in May. This allows a family camp early in the piece and leads to the accruing of credit, and also to a useful wifely push like “For heaven's sake, why don't you go away for the weekend.” (With all this in mind, I arranged my leave. We could start off by spending a few pleasant days at Coolana. Then I could definitely go on the Colo car swap trip. Agog with anticipation, I dragged out the maps and magazines. Now when was that last famous Colo car swap trip - about 1970? I worked backwards through the archives; not a darned thing. Perhaps it was too frightful to recollect in print! But then success! October 1968, Pat Harrison, With map references and all. I turned to the end - it's always useful to know what time they reached the cars. I seemed to remember a midnight arrival at Drip Rock, but no, it was only seven o'clock. “That's O.K.” I thought. “It must have been the Bowen Creek end that was troublesome. What was Saturday like? Hmmmm. ..Good ridge into Bowen Creek - battling against water gums down to the Wollangambe - says he'd hate to do it in a season of average rainfall. Hmmm ….. beaut rock walls at the Wollangambe - should be called a river, not a creek.” I shuddered involuntarily. May is a bit late for swimming. I could remember the rest of the route which seemed innocuous enough. Still - the first day seemed interesting. It would be horribly long though, if we had to make it to the Colo on Saturday. Ah well, qui sera….. Came May and Kangaroo Valley. We were coming down a gentle ridge after an afternoon stroll and my downhill knee was creaking horribly. Suddenly I had a frightful vision of my last vacation weekend walk. The party was in a nettle-vine-rock-and-branch-filled side creek off a ridge off a ridge off Roots Ridge, if you know what I mean. If you haven't been down this one, you might remember a similar one off Tiwilla Buttress. Anyhow, I couldn't keep up because I couldn't raise my right knee high enough to surmount the obstacles, so I just had to go and find Roots Ridge again. The leader, who is made of sterner stuff (or stronger knees) and who says that he knew where he was going, could not be expected to believe my story, so I let him think that I was a purist. He still glances at me doubtfully from time to time. “What would happen”, I thought, on the slimy treacherous rocks of Bowen Creek. Dot - who had been regaling us with stories about geriatric physiotherapy, was strolling along behind. “Dot” I said - stopping with a suitable expression of anguish on my face, “Why do I get an excruciating pain just here,” pointing to the back of my knee. “Tendons, my boy” She boomed very authoritatively “When did it happen?” “In 1947” I said, “On the wombat parade around Warrigal.” Ha, she chuckled, “Once you've stretched 'em they're never any good again.” I can't guarantee the actual words she uttered, but whatever the anatomical realities, her tone bred no hope and little comfort. My imagination started to run riot. You're not fit enough” it said. You'll hold the party up. Remember Pat's article. The abiding memory is of water gums all the way? In the rocks, on the rocks and through the rocks….. we were lucky on this trip for it has been a very dry season. Go on I replied. It can't be that bad. Colo sketch map, there are plenty of escape routes. Nevertheless, doubts were gnawing. So I had another look at Bowen Creek. The contours were a bit blurred, so I took out the magnifying glass. This I now know is not a good thing to do. Instead of lifeless lines on a piece of paper, there leaped into focus an array of impossible cliff-girt rocky ridges and mossy boulder-bestrewn water gum-infested creeks. I retired to bed with a troubled mind. I awoke next morning with a sore throat and woolliness in the head, and as the day wore on it was clear that I had the 'flu. I phoned the leader. “Sorry,” I croaked, “I can't come, I've got the flu.” “The flu or just a cold? “she demanded firmly. Flu,” I protested. Hmph, said the missus, who was listening in the back-ground, “You were perfectly well earlier in the week.” After this gem of feminine logic I staggered to my bunk and sank back into the pillows with a gurgle of relief. My holiday was ruined but my life was saved. pagebreak ===== Our Origins ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 (extract from Oct 1977 edition - author unknown) Before the SBW came into being there was no mixed recreational walking club in Sydney. Gradually, however, it became apparent that there was a growing need for a new and freer type of walking club than that existing at the time. One of the first moves in this direction came from Jack Debert, who wrote a letter to “The Sun” suggesting the formation of - “a Hiker's club; where hikers could meet and discuss routes, places of interest etc.” A few people answered this letter and the ensuing group of six people arranged a walk to discuss plans for a new walking club. Also at this time other people were contacted including a group of three women (Marie Byles was one of them) who had been heard of through a magazine report as having walked the Hawkesbury River. In the meantime, the Mountain Trails Club had also replied via “The Sun” to Jack Debert's letter, and this resulted in an influx of visitors to their meetings. Eventually, the M.T.C. offered to hold a special meeting so that those interested, including some M.T.C. members who liked the idea of a club which included women, would form a separate walking body. So, at this meeting, held on 21st October, 1927, a new club was created and its objects and constitution drawn up. Thus the S.B.W. came into being, although it was not until a couple of meetings later that the name “The Sydney Bush Walkers” was chosen, and incidentally the word bushwalker also had its origin in the name of our club. ====Pages From The Past==== (Extracts from the Club's first minute book - originally published in October 1991) In October 1927 there existed only one walking club in Sydney, The Mountain Trails Club of N.S.W.. There were also large numbers of recreational walkers who desired to amalgamate for mutual benefit, some of them approached the M.T.C. for membership. The members of that club were primarily an amateur exploring and bushcraft body with a rigorous constitution and conditions of membership preventing acceptance of other than qualified bushmen and ladies were debarred from membership. In a spirit of helpfulness some of the M.T.C. members took the initiative and on Friday October 21st. 1927 constituted themselves, as a separate walking body. First Meeting (21st October 1927) Room 3. N.S.W. Sports Club Building. 10 Hunter St. Sydney. Present: Roy Davies, Maurice Berry, Alfred Cranston, Alan Rigby, John Cockerill, Eric Dickson, John Gillespie, Harold G. Peatfield, Myles J. Dunphy. Gathering declared to be the first meeting of the Waratah Walking Club, the name to be changed later if desired. (this meeting dealt with membership, objects of the club, the constitution and conditions of membership) Second Meeting (11th November 1927) On account of the large attendance the gathering was forced to leave Room 3. and use Room 5. (the long room) Mr. Eric Dickson was elected to the chair. Present: (37 in all) (First business dealt with subscriptions, much discussion then) Motion by Mr. Kilpatrick, seconded by Mr. Cook, “that the annual subscription be 10/-” carried on the voices. (Members were given the option of paying in advance or by instalments. The election of officers was next, followed by discussion on the name for the club) Mr. Torr suggested that nothing American be selected (hear, hear). pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Mr. Gallop suggested “The Sydney Tramps”. Mr. Dunphy suggested “Waratah Walking Club” because it had something in common with the M.T.C. badge. Mr. Gallop said that in the first place he always objected to the M.T.C. badge because of the waratah embodied in the design. The waratah was too commonplace…..and generally done to death… Mr. Pawley said he listened carefully to Mr. Gallop's remarks but was still in favour of the waratah…… as for the name of “Sydney Tramps” he asked members to imagine themselves going to a farmhouse and upon enquiry as to whom they were, replying that they were Sydney Tramps… the name was too common, it sounded low to him. (After more discussion, motion of abeyance carried. The balance of the meeting dealt with the constitution and amendments to membership rules.) Third Meeting: (9th December 1927) Held in No. 5 Room. Mr. Roy Rudder was in the chair. Present: The committee as elected, + 17 other members and 14 nominees (The first half of the meeting dealt with correspondence etc. admitting new members and arranging a walks programme. Discussion on the Club's name followed) A Motion moved by Mr. Duncan that the word “Sydney” be in the name of the Club was carried. The following names were suggested: * Mr. Dunphy: Waratah Walking Club, Illawarra Walking Club, Gymea Walking Club, Manmi Walking Club, Talawalah Walking Club, Milpera Walking Club, Wilbua Walking Club, Booral Walking Club, Bungama Walking Club, Elaroo Walking Club, Werai Walking Club * Mr. Carr: The Bush Rovers * Mr. Berry: The Bush Walkers or The Sydney Bush Walkers * Mr. Duncan: The Sydney Walkabout Club * Mr. Gallop: The Sydney Tramps or The Sydney Walkers, The Bushwalkers Guild of Sydney, Kurang Walkers * Mr. King: The Sydney Tramping Club * Miss Loxdale: The Sydney Bushwalking Club Mr. Gallop stated his objection to the word “Club” as being suggestive of a gathering for beer drinking etc. (A ballot was held and the final choice narrowed down to “The Sydney Bush Walkers” and “The Sydney Bush Walking Club” and finally our name was chosen. The rest of the meeting dealt with financial matters (balance of 19-18-112) meeting room and general business) Mr. Austen desired an expression of the opinion of the members as to the distance they were prepared to go on day walks… the Secretary was instructed to notify the estimated mileage of each walk. The meeting closed at 9:50 pm. The Club's early minutes are very detailed, obviously a dedicated secretary with time to spare. All minute books prior to 1960 are now lodged in the NSW State Library. Later minute books, magazines and other records from the past seventy-five years are in the Club's archive and will be transferred to the NSW State Library at a later date. ===== Remembered Days dot Butler ===== <poem> Who walks with memories never feels alone, Who takes of beauty wine and daily bread His constant comrades are the moon and sun, Will know no lack when empty years are lean. Shared bushland walks recalls the friends now gone, The brimming cup is by, the feast is spread, Invisible hands restore the absent one. The sun, the moon, the stars his eyes have seen Shall still his hunger, and his thirst be stayed Our camp still holds the footprints of the moon With wine of friendship from remembered days. That came and went a hushed and secret hour. A glowing campfire yields the lasting boon Remembered friendship's white immortal flower. </poem> (published in April 1989 issue) pagebreak ===== An Interesting Year (1929) SBW Activities clio ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 When Marie Byles returned to Australia in 1929 she noted during my absence from Sydney there had come into existence a Rambling Society, composed of people who love the beauties of the bush, and the open-air life … The society has, therefore adopted a charming flannel flower broach and the horribly prosaic name of Sydney Bush Walkers. In February the Club's Objectives were defined, with the Annual General Meeting held in September. Due, in part, to the large number of write-off of (existing and prospective) members it was proposed that February be made the end of club's financial year. An Extra-ordinary Meeting in December ratified this decision and the next AGM was held in March 1931. There were currently 91 members of the Club. The swimming carnival was held at the Bushwalkers Basin where events included: 50-yards Handicap freestyle Ladies, 50-yards Handicap freestyle Men, 100-yards Handicap freestyle Men and an All-Comer Handicap. There were also Round the World Races, Musical Life-Buoys, Balloon Races, Non-Swimmers Races, Diving Championship and Water Polo Match. The last Saturday in April was the Annual Boat Race Day (presumably a regatta) and club members could recover the evening at the home of Jean and Ernie Austen. During the year the map collection was started. A Mock Wedding appears on the social program. In October there was a Challenge Debate: St Basils Young Men's Institute v SBW “That Australia is devoting too much time to Sport.” Among songs that were popular with bushwalkers in 1929/30 was The Darkies Sunday School “tell you Bible stories that you've never heard before.” Some club members thought that some people might take offence with the words so Dorothy Lawry and friends gave new words to the tune. These words were revised (and updated) over the next 2-3 years but it became too cumbersome (presumably with reference to current members) and it dropped out of favour. Walks Programs The Programme of Walks appeared as a single foldout card to be read sideways. This year's eighty-five programmed trips were all based upon the public transport; Blue Mountains (17 trips), Campbelltown/Liverpool (9), National Park (24), Heathcote (7), Cowan/Hornsby environs (14), Nepean River (3), Wondabyne & Hawkesbury River (4), Manly/Narrabeen and Illawarra. There were sixty-four day walks and three walks that commenced on Friday evening - Saturday mornings were part of the working week. Other trips started on Saturday afternoon and finished on Sunday. Those long weekend trips included: * Easter: Blackheath - Grose - Richmond * Kings Birthday (June): Katoomba to camp at Clear Hill - exploration at will. * October Eight-Hours Holiday: Marulan - Shoalhaven - Tallong (M Berry) Whilst she was overseas Marie Byles saw that Europeans carried sandwiches in their pockets and drank cold water. She found the Sydney Bush Walkers stopped, summer and winter, for a lunch of chops and stewed vegetables. She considered this local practice of cooking at each meal to be effeminate. A June walk shows both males and females wearing army-type shirts and shorts, long socks and boots. Marie noted in an article for the Australian Woman's Mirror that female members of the Club assembled on Sydney's station platforms dressed as if they were off to the office except for the conspicuous rucksack. Upon reaching the end of the line they dive off and emerged wearing breeches, shorts or knickerbockers. Yet she noted that in England, Scotland, Canada, America and even New Zealand it was not unusual for a female to wear knickerbockers in public. The Club also endorsed private trips by club members (a practice that continued for over a decade). Consequently the Annual Report noted visits made to: Guy Fawkes Plateau and Nulla Nulla Mountains district, Kanangra Walls and Lower Kowmung, Shoalhaven River district, and Cox, upper Nattai, Wollondilly, Warragamba, Nepean and Grose Rivers. (Some of these would appear to be trips made by Myles Dunphy and his Mountain Trail Club mates who were, in some cases, nominal members only). In mid May Charlie Kilpatrick, Alf Docksey & two females left Oallen Ford to follow the Shoalhaven down to Nowra. Planning to cover 10-miles a day they quickly discovered how difficult the terrain was. Consequently they pulled out and headed across to Windellama then walked to Bungonia and visited the Lookout and the caves. It would appear that arrangements had been made for Arthur Hunt, the Goulburn canoeist, to replenish their supplies (at Badgerys). pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 The next day we went along the Shoalhaven, looking for the road which was marked on our maps as crossing the Kangaroo River and carries straight on to Nowra. That was one of the roads which wasn't there. That meant another cross-country walk, and on the second Saturday morning [viz six days after Bungonia] of our trip we struck the first farm in Kangaroo Valley. Reached Nowra on Sunday. An account of their journey was written up in The Sun as Bush - Walking, Sydney Adventurers, Road not There. Interestingly the names of the two women did not appear in the article. Early in the year Dorothy Lawry met some members of the Sydney Bush Walkers and ultimately joined the club. She also knew Laurence Mouldy H Harrison from an accountancy course and told him about the newly formed bushwalking club. In May Dorothy and two other females spent a week camped in Blue Gum - her first trip to the Forest. On the Friday night Harold Chardon came down in the dark to join them. On Saturday, he produced a leg of lamb and commenced to brew a mighty stew from which they had a large double meal. Next day they returned to civilisation. Later in the year Dorothy and six others (including Jean Austen; Marjorie Hill, Frances Ramsay & Winifred Lewis) made a fortnight's trip to the Kowmung, Yerranderie and the Cox. Whilst in the upper Kowmung they kept far too high on the western bank to avoid the narrow and rough riverbed. Myles commemorated this trip by naming one of the creeks, under Moola Mountain, Five Belles Creek: and which had proved an obstacle. Other Members Although then not a member Frank A Pallin arranged for his fiance to come out to Australia where they married and bought a house on Sydney's north shore. Myles Dunphy was still very active with 6 trips to Heathcote, Woy Woy/Patonga (3 trips) and four-days in the Wild Dogs. His Easter was spent Hill Top - Nattai River - Picton Lakes. Tom Herbert records a Club trip at Easter to the Nattai and meeting with Myles' party. It was from this trip that Jack Debert contributed an article and photographs (probably Tom's) to the Australian Sporting & Dramatic News The Sydney Bushwalkers, Lovers of the Out of Doors, Girls Who Wear Shorts. Members are free to wear whatever they like, but shorts, shirts, and stockings [long socks] find universal favour with both sexes. There is no doubt about the freedom and coolness of shorts; nor is there any about the scratches one has to contend with when wearing them In August Myles and Jim Cunningham were on the middle Kowmung and climbed Bulga Ridge. Later (possibly 1929) they located and named Billy Creek Caves. Max Gentle was already bushwalking by himself and wanted a long trip for the forthcoming Eight-Hour Public Holiday weekend. He had a blanket and some food in two bags, tied together at their necks, and slung over one shoulder. By chance he met Gordon Smith (whom he knew) on the train and was able to persuade Gordon to join him. Gordon, a race-walker, was heading for the mountains to do some training so obviously this would fall within his program. They spent the night near the Sanatorium out from Wentworth Falls, and were a third of the way along Gangerang by Saturday evening. Cloudmaker was reached by noon Sunday, and they were at the ladders descending to the Dance Cave by 4:30 p.m. Monday they walked to Jenolan Caves and had covered 18 km towards Mt Victoria when they were offered a lift and thus were able to catch the 7:17 p.m. train home. Myles, who had not been to Gangerang, was astounded. He had spent many years exploring and mapping the surrounding country and had it in his mind to look at this particular area since it was a blank spot in the centre of his overall map of the Blue Mountains. When he questioned Max and Gordon over the type of country they had traversed they were unable to help him. Considering its importance, at least a week should have been devoted to the process of bushcraft that would or should have been necessary to discover, appreciate and note the shape and feel of the place. Myles arranged to Max to accompany him in December together with Dex the fox terrier. Commencing from Oberon they explored part of the Thurat area and went out to Gentles Sheerdown. Because he and Gordon had been moving so fast, Max was able to see the country for the first time. Their fortnight trip continued over Mt Cloudmaker, which Myles named, down Gangerang and out to Katoomba. Other Activities Probably what is not realised is that bushwalking was not the only outdoor activity. Towards the end of January Hector Macquarie and Richard Matthews returned to Sydney after travelling a leisurely 5,410-km to Cape York Peninsula in a Baby Austin motorcar. (The travellers had returned by steamer from New Guinea and the fate of the vehicle was not recorded). pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 In July Gordon Smith set the Australian 50 km record and establishing record times at the 40 km and 48 km marks. Six weeks later he won the annual 50 mile/80 km race though did not better the 1927 record. For adventure canoeing was by far the bigger news. Two 11ft galvanised iron canoes left Tocumwal early in January but, after a fortnight, were compelled to abandon their trip at Swan Hill - a drought meant the river sluggish as locks were shut. During the first half of the year readers followed the journey of Max Gray and Arthur Hunt for nearly two months as they canoed the Wollondilly from near Goulburn to Broken Bay. Concern was raised when the two became slightly overdue on the unknown and uninhabited section between Canyonleigh and just upstream of Goodmans Ford. In September F. Newnham and O. Clague left Wagga Wagga in a 14-foot canoe down the Murrumbidgee and Murray to reach Lake Alexandrina in early December. Ate Crows, Adventurous River Trip was the column header. Late in December Rev L Peacock and John Churchward set out in a 12 ft boat equipped with a small outboard motor from Tocumwal, to navigate the Murray River to its mouth. In August Reg Gelling and George Aalberg completed the Hotel Kosciusko - the summit & return ski run in six hours 19 minutes. This record remained till 1938 when Ken Breakspear and Oliver Moriarty (a future SBW member) brought the time down. Just as he was to commence his job with the NSW Railways W J Cleary wrote to his walking companion. When you told me that you were about to take to the road again … you made my heart ache for quiet places, and high places, and the open air … to the vision of the road, and the campfires and swags. (Cleary would have a great impact upon the saving of Blue Gum Forest, and assist in reducing instances of flora destruction by commercial flower-sellers). Neville Hunt and Jim Singer entered the Shoalhaven, above Burrier, and exited via Badgerys Crossing on Christmas eve. The NSW Government Tourist Bureau planned to run the First Personally Escorted Trail Ride across the Southern Alps commencing 22 December. The twelve day trip commenced in Sydney - Wangaratta - Mt Buffalo - Benambra, (by motor) - Nicholls - Sears hut - Mt McFarlane - Buonbah hut - Dinner Creek - Groggin - camp near summit of Kosciusko - Blue Lake - Hotel Kosciusko - Cooma - Sydney, all for 25 ($50). Conservation Matters In January The Bulletin carried an advertisement by the Garie Development Co. for a tourist resort at Era as well as 96 acres (39 hectare) residential subdivision. In March the Mountain Trails Club wrote to the Secretary, Lands Department, re the proposed subdivision of Gara Estate. Myles showed lantern slides of south coast to whatever groups he could to drum up support. Although the state of the economy put paid to this development the Garawarra Campaign lasted well over the next two decades. By April The Jungle Ltd was having problems meeting the interest payments on the mortgage plus the mortgage repayments. (A couple of years beforehand a number of interested parties had formed a company to purchase 280 hectares of forest at Mt Tomah to save it from being broken up into smaller blocks). In July an open season was declared on scrub and swamp wallabies for the parish of Kanimbla for two months. The Wild Life & Preservation Society formed a Rangers League. By 1929 a number of club members had been appointed Rangers under the Wild Flowers and Native Plants Protection Act and The Birds and Animals Protection Act. Late in November there was a call for women to serve on Park Trusts. The National Scene It is arguable whether Australia entered the Depression when the slump began in 1927 with the general recession in economic activity or when the world prices dropped drastically in October 1929 (leading to the Wall Street stock market crash). This time Australia was to enter into a deep and protracted depression, more severe and sharper than that of the 1890s. Jack Debert subsequently moved to the Burragorang Valley where he ran a pig farm but when this failed to bring sufficient funds he used to walk into Yerranderie each week to collect the Dole. Max Gentle, a builder, was to take to his pushbike and cycled through millions of hectares of prickly pear with a puncture every couple of kilometres from the thorns to Townsville looking for work. Clio is a regular contributor to the Sydney Bushwalker. I am often asked for his name but anonymity prevails. ……. Ed pagebreak ===== From the Minute Books - Significant Club Events 1987 - 2002 ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Looking back over the last fifteen years it is clear that many changes have occurred and the club's operations today are very different from those at the start of this period. Most of the changes reflect the work and social environment in which we live. Participation rates have suffered with weekend walks, general meetings and social evenings attracting fewer numbers. There may be a linkage here in that reduced social activity offers less contact and less encouragement for more interesting weekend walks. Clearly, SBW is fortunate in that there are members willing to participate in the Management Committee, the many sub-Committees and other offices. Generally, these appear to have worked well and much has been accomplished in a period of significant change for the club. The Committee and general meeting minutes show that there has been a great reduction in correspondence - fewer letters are received or sent. Is this due to current use of email? Many conservation issues were raised during 1990s; in fact, conservation was the major item in most minutes - possible resulting from proposed changes following the election of the Coalition State Government, proposed mining in national parks, expansion of forest logging and later proposals to gazette new parks and wilderness areas. Conservation issues were too numerous to be included in events listed below. National park management plans and questions of access came under considerable discussions later in the period. Limits on numbers, consent requirements and other restrictions threatened the freedoms that bushwalkers have always enjoyed when walking in parks. We are most fortunate that our property at Coolana allows much more freedom than is now permitted in our park system. Insurance questions emerged, both within the Club and the Confederation as both bodies became aware and duty of care warranted much attention and prompted an emphasis on leader training. Membership remained virtually static, around 500 during the period, although prospective membership fluctuated greatly, peaking at 200 in 1994 and reaching a low of 70 in 1988/9. General meeting attendances moved steadily lower at the Haberfield location leading to a shift to Kirribilli where attendances improved. Social nights' attendances varied with major events well attended and numbers lifting after the move to Kirribilli. In more recent time attendances decreased resulting in the current very substantial cutback to meeting nights. Here is how it happened: * 1987: Barry Murdoch elected President. Meetings held at Ella Community Centre Haberfield. Membership fee set at $20. Sydney Bush Walkers became an incorporated association. 60th Anniversary celebrations were held in October. Publication of the book The First 60 Years. * 1988: Barry Murdoch re-elected President. The Tax office confirms that the income of SBW is exempt from income tax. Coolana is transferred from the three trustees to the incorporated body. Moves to change club meeting rooms to another location. 84 members attend a meeting at which The Minister for the Environment addresses the gathering and answers questions. * 1989: Don Finch elected President. Club resolves to indemnify officers in conduct of their duties against claims and proceedings. Club printer purchased ($8,799). Song book sub-Committee appointed. * 1990: Bill Holland elected President. Membership fee set at $30. Conservation Fund sub-Committee appointed. Poor attendances prompt decision to adopt less formal format for general meetings and seek alternative meeting location. * 1991: Bill Holland re-elected President. Club relocates to Kirribilli. Coolana reunion moved to September. Lift in general meeting attendances and social evenings well attended. Leadership Training sub-Committee appointed. Prospective member sues Club for damages following injury on walk (later withdrawn after arbitration). SBW party lifted out of Kanangra area following river flood. 50 members attended Sydney Observatory on a cloudy evening. Approx 120 people attend the reunion at Coolana and to celebrate Dot Butler's 80th birthday. * 1992: Jan Debert elected President. 90 attend a Nostalgia Night at the clubrooms. 100 attend Coolana for Club's 65th birthday celebrations. Noted that there was increasing participation in day walks but falling participation in weekend walks. * 1993: Jan Debert re-elected President. Magazine sub-Committee appointed to assist editor with typing etc. Saturday day walks are established as a regular part of the walks programme. (Continued next page) pagebreak From the Minute Books - Significant Club Events 1987 - 2002 (continued from previous page) Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 * 1994: Greta James elected President. Very bad bushfires and severe drought impact on bush walking areas. Extended walks and day walks very popular but many weekend walks cancelled. * 1995: Greta James re-elected President. Coolana weed eradication programme established and working group formed under the Coolana Committee. Much discussion on leadership training and possible accreditation. Club first aid courses well attended. Club Safety Officer appointed. * 1996: Tony Holgate elected President. 70th Anniversary sub-Committee appointed. Leadership accreditation for outdoor recreation remains an issue. * 1997: Tony Holgate re-elected President. Membership fees increased to $35. Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) proposed for Coolana but after much discussion etc not proceeded with. Very successful 70th Anniversary celebrations. * 1998: Eddy Giacomel elected President. VCA sub-Committee appointed but later decided not to pursue VCA. SBW song book published. * 1999: Eddy Giacomel re-elected President. New format for general meetings introduced to make them more friendly and interesting. Questions on future of Coolana lead to formation of a special sub-committee to prepare a report. 120 attend long time member Alex Colley's 90th birthday celebrations. SBW web page commenced. * 2000: Wilf Hilder elected President. Poor attendances prompt review of club management and procedures. * 2001: Wilf Hilder re-elected President. Club review meetings held. 231 ie. 50% of members respond to membership survey - an excellent result. Review sub-Committee appointed. 75th Anniversary sub-Committee appointed. * 2002: Rosemary MacDougal elected President. Annual subscription $40. Prospectives period extended to 12 months. Walks attendance forms introduced. Landcare group formed at Coolana. Committee reduces social meetings to one per month. Special Meeting resolves to change requirement for general meetings. ===== Looking Back at the 60th Anniversary Dinner 23rd October 1988 ===== Patrick James Bushwalkers certainly do scrub-up well. It was difficult to recognise some of the 220 people who attended the dinner washed and polished and bedecked in their finery. Ten years since we last graced their halls we once again gathered at the Menzies Hotel, now with a slight name change, to show the world and ourselves that we are a cultured lot who know how to eat with more than just one spoon and bowl. As with the Nostalgia Night there were old faces and new faces, and some faces which hadn't been seen for ages. To judge from the noise of the conversation people were not shy, were happy to see each other again and were not intimidated by the plush surroundings. Not all our “official guests” were able to attend the evening despite having accepted the invitation. Those who were there did manage to have their say in the allotted time without incurring the wrath of our M.C., young Bill Holland. The evening had two highlights, the conferring of Honorary Active Membership on Kath Brown (nee Hardy) and Jim Brown. This charming couple were raised to this grade of membership in recognition of many, many years of service to the Club. Membership certificates were presented by the President, Barrie Murdoch, and Jim responded for them both. The second highlight was the launching of our book ”The Sydney Bush Walkers, the First Sixty Years“. The launch was made by Frank Duncan a foundation member of the Club and its second President. Frank described how he and his wife came to join the Club 60 years ago. After Frank's launch the invitation to purchase the book was taken to heart by a small mob which swamped the book's Editor who was trying to sell and record the numbers of the books (a limited edition of only 500 books were published). Note: Presidents are nothing special in our casual, no-titles-no-nonsense Club, but they each represent a period of SBW's history. And so it is a measure of the 60th Anniversary celebrations' success that 23 Presidents attended at least one of the functions… pagebreak ===== Committee Office Bearers 1988 - 2002 ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Thanks to Eddy Giacomel for supplying this detailed information | | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | |— | — | — | — | — | — | | President | Barrie Murdoch | Don Finch | Bill Holland | Bill Holland | Jan Debert | | Vice President | Bill Holland | Kenn Clacher | Kenn Clacher | Spiro | Spiro | | Public Officer | Alan Doherty | Barbara Bruce | Barbara Bruce | Helen Gray | Helen Gray | | Treasurer | Anita Doherty/Spiro Hajinakitas | Tony Marshall | Erith Hamilton | Erith Hamilton | | | Secretary | Carol Bruce | Deborah Shapira | Patrick James | Michele Powell | George Floyd | | Walks Secretary | John Porter | John Porter | Maurie Bloom | Carol Lubbers | Bill Holland | | Social Secretary | Ian Debert | Dot Butler | Greta James | Fran Holland | Belinda McKenzie | | Membership Secretary | Joy Hynes | Oliver Crawford | Don Finch | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | | New Members Secretary | Oliver Crawford | Carol Lubbers | Carol Lubbers | Peter Yardley | Laurie Bore | | Conservation Secretary | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | | Magazine Editor | Patrick James | Morag Ryder | Morag Ryder | Judy O'Connor | Deborah Shapira | | Committee Member 1 | Don Finch | Wendy Lippiat | Wendy Lippiat | Jan Debert | Joy Hynes | | Committee Member 2 | Deborah Shapira | Morie Bloom | Michele Powell | Ian Wolfe | Dick Weston | | Confed Delegate 1 | Gordon Lee | Gordon Lee | John Porter | Jim Callaway | Spiro | | Confed Delegate 2 | Spiro Hajinakitas | Geoff Bridger | Deborah Shapira | Bill Holland | | | | | | | | | | | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |— | — | — | — | — | — | | President | Jan Debert | Greta James | Greta James | Tony Holgate | Tony Holgate | | Vice President | Spiro Hajinakitas | Ian Debert | Ian Debert | Peter Miller | Morie Ward | | Public Officer | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | | Treasurer | Tony Holgate | Tony Holgate | Tony Holgate | Greta James | Greta James | | Secretary | Joy Hynes | Maureen Carter | Spiro Hajinakitas | Michele Powell | Michele Powell | | Walks Secretary | Bill Holland | Morie Ward | Eddy Giacomel | Eddy Giacomel | Eddy Giacomel | | Social Secretary | John Hogan | John Hogan | Jan Roberts | Jan Roberts | Peter Dalton | | Membership Secretary | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | | New Members Secretary | Laurie Bore | Bill Holland | Bill Holland | Miriam Kirwan | Jennifer Giacomel | | Conservation Secretary | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Alex Colley | Bill Holland | | Magazine Editor | George Mawer | George Mawer | George Mawer | George Mawer | Patrick James | | Committee Member 1 | Morie Ward | Denise Shaw | Morie Ward | Morie Ward | Suzanne Garland | | Committee Member 2 | Zol Bodlay | Maurice Smith | Annie Maguire | Jennifer Giacomel | Don Wills | | Confed Delegate 1 | Jim Callaway | Wilf Hilder | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | | Confed Delegate 2 | Bill Holland | Ken Smith | Ken Smith | Ken Smith | Ken Smith | | | | | | | | | | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |— | — | — | — | — | — | | President | Eddy Giacomel | Eddy Giacomel | Wilf Hilder | Wilf Hilder | Rosemary MacDougal | | Vice President | Tony Holgate | Tony Holgate | Tony Holgate | Peter Dalton | Wilf Hilder | | Public Officer | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Fran Holland | Maurice Smith | | Treasurer | Greta James | Edith Baker | Edith Baker | Carole Beales | Maurice Smith | | Secretary | Don Wills | Rosemary MacDougal | Judy O'Connor | Judy O'Connor | vacant | | Walks Secretary | Bill Capon | Bill Capon | Carol Lubbers | Carol Lubbers | Carol Lubbers | | Social Secretary | Peter Dalton | Elwyn Morris | Andrew Vilder | Gemma Gagne | Vicki Garamy | | Membership Secretary | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Barry Wallace | Pam Morrison | | New Members Secretary | Jennifer Giacomel | Frank Grennan | Frank Grennan | Kay Chan | Heike Krause | | Conservation Secretary | Bill Holland | Bill Holland | Bill Holland | David Trinder | David Trinder | | Magazine Editor | Patrick James | Ray Hookway | Ray Hookway | Bill Holland | Bill Holland | | Committee Member 1 | Elwyn Morris | Tony Crichton | Kris Stephenson | Pam Morrison | Barry Wallace | | Committee Member 2 | Louise Verdon | Spiro Hajinakitas | Roger Treagus | Chris Dowling | Eddy Giacomel | | Confed Delegate 1 | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | Jim Callaway | | Confed Delegate 2 | Ken Smith | Wilf Hilder | Stephen Ellis | Tom Wenman | vacant | pagebreak ===== The Walks Pages ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 There have been many changes in the walking environment over fifteen years. Our walks programme is just as varied, perhaps more so when we consider that Saturday and mid-week walks now appear. There are more restrictions on where and how we walk. Participation in day walks remain strong but weekend numbers are down compared to the 1980's. As has always been the case, only a relatively small group regularly walk on weekends. This seems to apply to other walking clubs as well. Technology has affected our walking. GPS is becoming a standard requirement for remote walking. EPIRBs are advisable and mobile phones are an invaluable aid in receptive areas. The use of helicopters has made search and rescue a much simpler task. We commence the walks pages with some recent walk reports, followed by leaders' memories of memorable walks in the past. ====Mt Kuringai to Cowan 17th August==== Leader: Greta James for Chris Dowling When asked, “What comes first? The words or the music?”, Sammy Cahn, the American songwriter replied, “the phone call.” So it was with my return to walks leading after 6 years. Chris Dowling called on Friday to ask if I would lead his walk the following day as he was unwell. Flattery gets you most places so, of course, I said Yes. Saturday dawned bright and overcast and Chris met us at Cowan to lend me his Hornsby map and to show me the route. There were 4 members and 3 prospective members. The four nasty little hills that this walk includes were still there and I was the last one up all of them by some margin. But the bush was inviting and the views magnificent. Lyre Bird Gully lived up to its name with three sightings of male lyre birds. Another feature of the walk was the wildflowers - wattle, boronia, bush irises. A terrific time of year for a walk. ====Megalong Valley 18th August==== Leader: Ron Watters Day overcast initially but the sun did come out. The water level is low in the Cox's River. Steep push up: Billy Healy and up on to Gibraltar Sugarloaf for lunch with 360 degree views, slip and slide descent to River and a riverbank rock hop. Back to cars at 5:30 and then to the Gardeners Inn. A good team who walked well together and socialised well. There were 7 members and 4 prospectives all of whom enjoyed their day out. Magnificent sunset on Narrow Neck to end the day. ====Royal NP 18th August==== Leader: Errol Sheedy 7 members, 4 prospectives had an easy walk on tracks, roads and fire trails. The weather was cool and pleasant. We had vigorous cappuccinos with lunch on the grass at Audley picnic grounds. I gave instruction re the orientating of the map, plus basic map reading advice to our 2 prospectives at morning tea. Maureen Carter took a little tumble early on in a slippery part of Temptation Creek, but after applications of antiseptic cream to assist massage she recovered to complete the walk in sturdy manner. ====Muogamarra NR 25th August==== Leader: Nigel Weaver 8 members headed to the lookout at Point Loop for great views of the reserve and the Hawkesbury. Continued into Peats Crater, then to the southern banks of Peats Bight, uphill, off track to a great hilltop lunch spot with magnificent views down to Cowan Creek and Coba Bay. Off track along Kimmikerong Ridge to an old fire trail, followed the car track back to park headquarters. Day started cloudy and there was only a little light rain in the afternoon. A great day with fabulous views. ====Blue Mts NP 22nd September==== Mount Banks to Explorers Brook and return.
Leader: Ron Watters 7 members and 4 prospectives. Warm, sunny, brilliant views off Banks Walls. Difficulty in finding entry to Explorers Brook held up by high cliffs but made it down after lunch at 13:30. Explored downstream for 30 mins - ferny, pristine brook, with high sandstone overhangs, filtered sunlight, water shallow. As it would have taken another hour to reach proposed exit point, we returned to entry point and climbed up and then back by firetrail arriving Mt Banks carpark at 16:50. ====Royal NP - Otford 15th September==== Leader: Errol Sheedy 5 members, 4 prospectives 'Twas a glorious spring day. The wildflowers were very good near the escarpment; as were hibbertias along the cliff track. Jim Callaway's party of two (from Helensburgh) joined us for lunch at Burning Palms. Errol's only anticipated hazard (leeches) did not appear. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 ====Wolgan River 31st Aug-1st Sept==== Constance Gorge, Deans Ck & return
Leader: Carol Lubbers Originally a party of 13, but unfortunately one of the cars was side-swiped on Saturday morning and a member had to drop out. The Wolgan Valley is extremely dry and the River is low but still freezing to wade. We made our way up Zobel's Gully, very dry with the light scrub now quite dead and scratchy. The Gorge was a little overgrown, it obviously makes the most of what precipitation does fall. Passed a beautiful Satin Bowerbird's bower decorated with shades of mauve, not blue, including plenty of gift tie! Looked as though the bird was basing his collection on the colour of his eyes. Scrambled up the side of the Gorge for lunch and had expansive views over the Wolgan Valley towards Donkey Mountain and back over the Gorge. We followed the Gorge until we found a lovely campsite with water about 200m before the Deans Creek Junction. There were signs here that there had been heavy rain flushing through only days before. (Must've been when Sydney had those heavy hailstorms.) The SBW Yowie visited the campsite in the dead of night and spooked a few. Some of us visited Deans Creek briefly on Sunday morning while the couch potatoes and influenza convalescents remained to keep the fire stoked. The weather was fine, sunny and warm until we had just returned to the base of Zobel's Gully when we were treated to a violent 5 minute thunderstorm which stopped as soon as all but one of the party donned their raincoats. Wet feet back across the Wolgan and off to the Gardeners Inn for dinner and drinks. ====Muogamarra NR 31st Aug==== Leader: Zol Bodlay Started and finished at the Pie Factory. First to aboriginal engraving site of animals & humans from the Dreamtime and Fish series. Track past masses of wildflowers and down to convict built disused Peats Ferry Road to Peats Crater. On to Berowra Inlet for morning tea. Cross country and trail to Mt Lloyd for lunch spot with views up and down the Hawkesbury. Next we visited the whale engravings and back to the Pie Factory. Stopped off at Mt Kuringai roadside site to view Big Foot set of engravings. Zol recommends that any leader visiting the Reserve makes sure the volunteer rangers are properly notified of their intention to visit. ====Wollemi NP 8th September==== Leader: Craig Austin 5 members, 3 prospectives, 2 visitors. Some scrub and many pagodas on the ridge out from Bell. Crossed the Wollangambe 400m downstream from the point intended, very steep scramble and scrub bash into and out of the creek, making the trip harder than intended. Fine weather, cool in the wind. Most of the party made a quick descent to the Crater and hurried back to Bell, finished just before dark. ====Blue Mountains NP 14th September==== Conservation Hut to Leura via Gladstone Pass
Leader: Peter Love 11 members Very steep and slippery going down Gladstone Pass. Weather fine, warm, sunny - perfect really. A short walk, however, some walkers thought the grading erred on the conservative side. It was easy because of the distance, medium because of Gladstone Pass. Three members took a short cut out using Copeland Pass which they reported later as very interesting and did not recommend descending! ====Helensburgh to Otford 15th September==== Leader: Jim Callaway A beautiful smoky day, could not see Wollongong from Curracurang. Bradley walked well and it was 11:00 hours when we reached the planned lunch spot at Curra Brook so we went on to Burning Palms arriving at 12:35. Had lunch with Errol Sheedy's party. Could have caught the 14:21 train from Otford but rock hopped to Werrong and caught the 16:21 train. ====Mid - Week Walking Group:==== We are a group of members with time available to participate in midweek activities. If you have time during the week or can take leave from work please join us. Phone 9484 6636 or email billholl@hotkey.net.au for more information. Here are some coming activities: * Berrara Beach Holiday Cottage * Mon 28th Oct - Fri 1st Nov * A week by the beach at Berrara on the South Coast. Possible future activities are: * Boat hire on Myall Lakes or on the Hawkesbury. * Lord Howe, Norfolk or Pacific Island trip Day Walk (Not shown on current programme) Tues 26 November Pennant Hills - Hornsby An easy day walk on the Great North Walk track with lunch and swim at my house. Bill Holland 9484 6636 pagebreak ===== Hinchinbrook Island ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Sue Arnott 14 SBW members, and two from Northern Rivers Bushwalking Club spent seven days walking the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island. The original intention to have eight of the party climb Mt Bowen evaporated in the tropical conditions and only the two Northern Rivers members made the difficult climb. As QNPWS have a six member party limit we formed three groups, walking separately but camping together on some of the days. Bill Holland and Bert Carter (BillnBert) led A and B groups. Sue Arnott was a member of John Keenlyside's C group and this is her report … …..Ed On August 3, at the Sunrise Village Leisure Park, Cardwell, Queensland, a Happy Hour took place to finalise arrangements for the SBW invasion of Hinchinbrook Island. Next morning we were driven to Port Hinchinbrook, for a cruise to the island in perfect weather. We mourned the mangroves lost to the resort, and the commentator told us, without a trace of irony, of the rare Dugong which would only survive with careful management of the fragile environment. In a narrow inlet lined with mangroves we struggled up the landing ladder with packs bearing eight days food. Nobody fell in (bad luck, crocs!) and we all emerged onto Ramsay Bay. It looked just like those enormous posters you gaze at when you're stuck in traffic jams in the city (minus tanned lady in white bikini) - white sand, turquoise waves rolling on to the shore. At Blacksand Beach, we had a swim and lunch in the shade of a magnificent white paperbark. Then a serious climb, up Nina Peak, for views of the inlets to the north and the sandy bays to the south, and inland - if we dared look - the mighty Mount Bowen (which, at that stage, some of us still intended to climb!) We descended to Nina Bay, our camp for the first night. Our tent was pitched in the shade of the casuarinas at the edge of the beach - just a hop, skip and jump into the waves. There was even a composting loo in palatial hut! Camp fires were prohibited, but a candle did the job. The following day BillnBert's groups went back to Nina Peak, Bill Dumigan and Neil Denison forged ahead (to climb Mt Bowen the next day) and the remaining Seven - Secret, Sensible, Senseless, Surprising, Super? - decided (while opening coconuts) they were going to camp at a different place each night! Because of the embarrassingly short distances involved in taking seven days to walk - thirty-five kilometres, we started measuring distances in dots as marked on the map - ten to our next camp, Little Ramsay Bay, nestling in the trees by the beach, with fresh water about three hundred metres up the creek bed which was the start of the route to Mount Bowen. It was strewn with boulders, and when I reached the first one bigger than me, I realised that this mountain wasn't for me! After dinner and some star gazing the lagoon frogs serenaded us to sleep. Next morning, we floated in limpid, cool water and gazed up at the pure blue sky, then continued on to Banksia Bay, which at low tide looked like a flat expanse of mud as we pitched tents among the mangroves with the mossies and green ants. We climbed 150 metres up the creek bed for fresh drinking water and a swim in a deep mossy rock pool. Back at the beach, we set off after lunch, armed with tide chart, to cross over to Agnes Island. We waded past coloured corals across Johns Passage, then hurried back before getting stranded! We returned to find Banksia Bay transformed by the incoming tide and inviting enough for an evening swim. After dinner we lay on the sand and counted several shooting stars and satellites in the night sky, Heike wondering nervously about her beach frontage tent as the sea lapped at our toes! During the night a gnawing sound persisted near Michael's head, till he found the scroggin he'd left in the flap and a hole the size of a twenty cent piece in the tent! Three minutes of rain fell - all we experienced during the whole week, despite the threatening clouds which often hung around. Next day it was out of Banksia Creek for a (gulp) thirty dot walk around to Zoe Bay (approx. 8 km). Rainforest with corky-barked golden bouquet trees and giant palms round rocky creek beds, alternated with open areas of white paper barks and pandanus. At Cyprus Pine Creek we plunged into a deep swimming hole and then we reached Zoe Bay, a huge semi circle of white sand lapped by waves and watched by brooding mountains. BillnBert's group arrived, and we pitched tents in the mangroves (half) joking about drag marks and crocs. We headed inland up the creek for a swim. About 750 metres walk was rewarded by Zoe Falls, with a deep plunge pool approx. fifteen metres wide, where I swam laps, eyed curiously by the rainbow perch. That night the sea came perilously close to Gemma's tent, but we turned the tide with our singing - which Heike enjoyed tremendously. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Next morning, after watching Henry wait patiently for the right light to photograph the ripples in the sand, the Seven set off for Sunken Reef Bay (19 dots away). We puffed up through grass trees, pandanus and colourful wildflowers to emerge on a ridge and view the Lucinda Jetty, stretching five kilometres out into the sea. We cooled off in Diamantina Creek then descended towards Sunken Reef Bay. We crossed a murky inlet filled with floating yellow pumice, the coppery bark of the trees giving the whole scene a golden glow. We emerged onto an exposed beach littered with debris. Some of us pitched tents in the sheltered forest, others preferred to brave the elements near the sea's edge. Maliant Valerie led our afternoon expedition. We ate oysters fresh off the rocks, and watched the waves crashing beneath us near Hillock Point (Hinchinbrook's easternmost). Thanks to the junk which polluted the beach, that night we all had something to sit on, plus table - and toilet seat! Day 6 took us out of Sunken Reef Bay into rainforest of bloodwoods, satinays and turpentines, echoing with the miaows of the catbird, the squawks of the riflebird, and the twitter of the yellow-breasted robin (most of this information thanks to Paul in response to my endless questions!) After lunch on the boulders in the sun at Mulligan Falls we headed off to wild and windy Mulligan Bay, crossing creek beds where ancient trees grew in the dark shade, their twisted, mossy roots bringing Macbeth's witches to mind! Safely back at the campsite, we leapt into the clear, cold water of the spa at the base of the Falls, then swam out over giant boulders and into the deep beyond. Suddenly chilled, we leapt out and ran for our thermals! Around the camp candle, the whole group now reunited, we compared notes and congratulated Bill and Neil on their record sprint up Mount Bowen and back. Next day was a solid plod along Mulligan Bay to our final camp spot at George Point. We battened down the hatches for a windy night and next morning Rosemary confessed to a nightmare - trapped on the island with one Cup a Soup for sixteen people! At 7:15 a.m. the runabout arrived to pick us up and we charged across the channel to Dungeness where we found a park with Otto bins and disposed of our week-old rubbish! Then it was off to the Lucinda Caravan Park for long, hot showers, plus damper and tea made by Bill's wife Pauline - a delightful end before we all went our separate ways after a fantastic trip. ====Chile/Argentina/Bolivia==== Gerry Leitner (9608 1169) advises that the trip to Chile is now definite - departing 25th April. Confirmation by 31st October required. pagebreak ===== Most Memorable Walks ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW) ====Maurice Smith==== Maurice joined the club as a prospective in about June 1992. After returning to Sydney in April 1992 from a 3 year long sojourn in Hobart, his Tasmanian experience didn't really prepare him for bushwalking a la NSW and SBW style. The conditions are so much different here compared to Hobart. When I recall starting out as a leader, my very first weekend walk as a leader, in the Budawangs, stressed me immensely when a member of the group broke her ankle around Sunday lunchtime. She and I spent an unscheduled night in the bush and we were picked up by helicopter on Monday morning after the rest of the group went out for help. Was this a memorable walk? Too right, it was. I learned so much on this trip, I had so much help from the rest of the party I don't think that I can ever thank them enough! Some years later I went back and did the same walk in reverse. This time the weather was adverse. The cold miserable rain set in during the early hours of Sunday morning. Morning tea was a miserable spot trying to get out of the rain and the cold. A young lady prospective member was so overwhelmed by the weather that during the morning tea break she shed a few tears. By about lunch time the arctic westerly winds arrived to replace the rain. Was this a memorable walk? You betcha! The weather was a significant factor in this walk. At the other end of the thermometer so to speak are the walks where it has been so hot that we had to resort to lots of swims. There has been any number of these walks. Once again one hot walk comes to mind. This time it was in Morton National Park, heading down into Bundundah Creek. We had an unexpectedly hot day, many of us running out of water. After stopping for a dry lunch another member and I scouted around and found that our objective was only about 100 meters or so away. So we immediately packed up, moved down to the creek to swim and over the rest of that day we indulged in lots of swimming and drinking. Some years ago I discovered the joys of the Ettrema Wilderness; this is part of Morton National Park, inland from Nowra. Since that time I've walked extensively in this area. While I'm not an expert on the area, I'm sufficiently battered by the vegetation that I know what I'm letting myself in for when I head into the area. My first trip as a leader in this area was challenging indeed. The rain arrived early on Sunday morning and I discovered one of the secrets of rock hopping in the rain. The secret is: don't. In exploring the Ettrema Wilderness I've had issues with passes that had been moved from where the map showed them. Jingles Pass was one such Pass. The trip up from Ettrema Creek to find the Pass was unsuccessful. So the choice was to descend back to Ettrema Creek and take an alternative exit or else walk under the escarpment and wait for Myall Creek to rise to meet us. We took the latter option and in the end we were able to drop into Myall creek without difficulty and return to our waiting vehicles. What about the lovely camp sites? There have been some beauties and some that could only be described as beautifully awful. Among the latter one comes to mind in amongst the awful scrub on the Ettrema Plateau, late in the day, a long way from our objective, we came to a relatively flat rock platform. This was not that far from a high point looking down into Tullyangela Creek. It immediately gained a high mark from the group. Why? It was flattish and scrub-free. The rocks used to hold down several fly sheets proved to be inadequate when shortly after retiring for the night strong wind and rain arrived. A frantic scramble in the rain to find heavier rocks ensued. The other end of the camp sites' extremes are those ones that are adjacent to clean clear water, with a convenient swimming hole, have lots of dry firewood, and have flat soft grass free of stinging nettles and worse. There are some of these that come to mind along Ettrema Creek, Bundundah Creek, Danjera Creek and related creek systems. Then again forget about carrying a tent, what about camping in a large overhang? Some great walks I've led have used rock overhangs for camping. This is especially so in the Budawangs. For size and beauty few overhangs can surpass Discovery Cave, adjacent to the Passage of Time. The walk there and back comes with its own challenges. For beauty of creek systems few can surpass that of Ettrema Creek. The water is crystal clear, the swimming spots are legendary, the camp sites lovely. I have no idea of how many trips that I've led into this creek system. No matter what the weather, wet or dry, hot or cold I come away from that area with a much fresher perspective on life. A significant number of prospective members have experienced their first taste of this Wilderness area with me in my ramblings around the area. There have been so many memorable walks. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 Two of the very many immediately come to mind. One several years ago, over an October weekend was an exit from Ettrema via Tullyangela Creek. On day three we walked for 17 hours to arrive back at our cars well after midnight, totally exhausted. The other trip was the Easter trip of this year where we entered Ettrema via Bullfrog Creek and then walked the rest of Ettrema over the balance of the four days. This required us to walk and rock hop for 11 hours a day. The level energy output required was demanding to say the least. The group slept well each night as we recharged the inner batteries. Well what about walks in other areas that I've led? There have many walks in other parks such as cold wet or hot dry summer walks in the Snowy Mountains, walks in icy gale force winds in Kanangra Boyd, as well as the Wollemi. So in trying to come to a decision about my most memorable walk, the only conclusion that I can come to is that it is much too difficult to decide. Except that it is just possible to say that there are two most memorable walks: my first one as a weekend walk leader and the latest one, whatever that was. ====Gary' [Wherever You Are] - You Did Me A Good Turn Brian Holden==== In 1970 I paid my prospective's fee, did one day walk and went straight onto an overnight walk. This was to Little River. I had no idea that weight became a problem when walking over undulating land for several hours and just kept adding to the pack I had hired from Paddy. Why so dumb? Well, the person who asked me along gave me no advice except to “not worry about a thing”. As Gary worked under me I suppose this was an opportunity to see his boss suffer. I had never played sport at school and had avoided physical work as if it was contagious. My muscle tissue was as soft as it can get. We got to the car park at Carlon's on the Friday night, crossed over the creek [what was wrong with sleeping by the car Gary?] and put our sleeping bags down on a ground sheet and got into them. As I looked up at the night sky I felt excited. This was an adventure. Then the adventure became more real as I heard dogs barking and felt the ground shaking with the hooves of horses. I struggled with the zipper to get out of my bag as I watched horses rush past on either side of us. Fortunately, horses can see in the dark. In the morning after no sleep I scoffed down something to eat, hoisted my pack on and moved off with about 12 people led by Barry Pacey. About halfway up the hill reality started to bite. Now I was physically working which was a totally foreign and a very uncomfortable experience. Then we went down - which was a great relief - but then we went up again. All I could do was follow the guy in front as we went up and down. I was pretty well done-in by the time we got onto the Cox's which would have been a good place to lie down and stay, however, there was more putting one foot in front of the other until a new experience presented itself to me. This I was told was called scrub-bashing. I was now depending on grabbing branches to pull me along as my legs had hit the wall. At some point up Little River the leader said “I did not expect all this to be so overgrown. We will go back to the Cox's”. By then it was almost dark. The rest of the time I spent moving was just that - moving in a forward direction unaware of any environment. I can remember the leader leaving me and another almost destroyed body when we reached a fire trail. He said “you two will be OK - just keep moving”. Maybe an hour later we saw a camp fire. This was our party up ahead and it had actually stopped moving. I got there, moved to the periphery of the chatting and laughing group [including Gary], dropped my pack onto the ground, lay down and the next thing I knew the sun was up. The reason that I did not die was that I was only 32 and youth can take a lot of punishment. I don't think Gary ever did another bushwalk with the club but I became a member and did many over the next few years. Gary moved onto another job and has no idea how he changed the course of my life by getting me out of my comfort zone. I am very aware of the lasting benefit of Gary's plot (which backfired) as I look around and see so many men my age and be astonished at their inactivity. Bushwalking is more than experiencing nature. It develops an attitude which welcomes movement rather than look for ways to minimise it. WALKS PROGRAMME: The deadline has passed for walks submissions but if you hurry our Walks Secretary, Carol Lubbers, may still be able to give you a squeeze your walk in. pagebreak ===== Most Memorable Walks ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 ====Roger Treagus==== Roger joined SBW in 1995 and almost immediately began to lead Club walks. Most recently he has conducted the series Great River Walks following the Nepean River from source to mouth. For sheer variety of experiences with a great group of people the walk I did to find the Stinson wreck on the Lamington Plateau holds the most memories for me. This was in the early 1980s. I was walking with some very old friends, one from school days, one SBW and 2 avid walkers from Uni. An inventor, a practical joker, an accountant and myself. It was a funny trip. But what happened was what made it. First we had to stop the Brisbane Limited Express at the border tunnel where there was no platform, only a signal box. We got special approval to do this by applying to that part of the railway department called the Section for Special Stops (no joking). We eventually were given grudgingly permission to stop the train provided we didn't blame them if we had an accident getting out. The rain forest started right at the track and on gaining the actual border up new Lions road we headed east along the border rabbit fence past more tiger snakes than I had ever seen in one go. Then where the border fence finished at the end of the last clearing there was just a slight hint of a foot pad ahead in the jungle gloom. But two blokes called Roberts and Rowland, the head surveyor and his assistant fixing the border back in 1864 or thereabouts had passed this way. And I'm proud to say that Rowland was my great great great something in the family. Following the path of least resistance we progressed until we got to a slight rise on the ridgeline that on the map is called Nungulba, the place of my next enduring memory. The bush was very thick here. So thick in fact that when I dropped the map I was reading I lost it. It fell between a tangle of knotted roots on the rainforest floor where we were standing, never to be found. Straight after this we hit a particularly solid patch of bush and for several minutes none of us could go forward or back, frozen in space supported by hundreds of little branches. From that time onwards Nungulba became my standard reference for off track difficulty. I was nungulberised in that forest. I have never been nungulberised since. We made it to the Stinson on the next day. It was far more impressive than I imagined it to be. A lot of the structure was still there. You could see it was an aeroplane. But how difficult a place it was. To get to it I had to hang onto ropes dangling down from trees, the ground was that steep. How did Proud and those other blokes survive? And I'd just finished reading Bernard O'Reilly's Green Mountains, the tale of his rescue of the survivors and of their suffering. I was quite caught up in the feeling of the great events that this place held, very emotional. It poured for several hours after that and I was covered in leeches. Finally we made it to Rat a Tat Hut which offered some shelter although one wall was missing. After dinner we got into our sleeping bags and I turned off my torch and wonder of wonders, the encroaching bush lit up. It was full of luminous fungi and glow worms. We were in a fairyland. This was heaven. It was so bright you could just read a newspaper by their light if you held a page up close. I couldn't get to sleep for a long time. I simply marvelled at the scene in luminous cold fire. I have never seen the bush like that again. We finally made it to the graded track system near O'Reilly's Guest House but we pushed on to Binna Burra in more rain. Something green was moving ahead of us on the track. We moved up to it. It arched its back, held out its pincers and started hissing in attack mode. We were cornered by an aggressive crayfish. It was so wet this bloke didn't know where the creek ended and the land began and we were invading his territory. Then after three days of pushing through gloomy rainforest and never seeing the sky there was light at the end of this green tunnel ahead, it was the end of the track at Binna Burra. But the forest didn't want to let us go that easily. I can recall the next several seconds very clearly. I was leading with the other three very close behind. I heard a sharp cracking sound. I didn't know what it was. I recall suddenly walking quickly in reverse colliding with the others. We all fell down like dominoes. A few metres ahead of us on the track there was a terrific crash as a mighty branch from some tree high above us in the canopy fell down. It was half a metre thick or more. It was big and heavy and hit around the spot where we would have been. We would have most likely sustained serious injuries. I remember feeling very relieved that the end was only 200 metres away. We walked out wet and tired. And I'll never forget the feeling of that hot shower on my back in the Binna Burra Camping area. It was the most wonderful shower I have ever had, before or since. All priceless irreplaceable memories. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 ====Stephen Ellis (Joined in 1990)==== One of the best walks I have ever done with the Club (and there have been many over the years) was a walk through the Coberras and along the NSW/VIC border in later March 1994. It seems like only yesterday!! I remember the walk was led by Kenn Clacher after the original leader was unavailable due to other commitments and that there were 6 of us in the party. The walk was over 8 days from memory and we had just the best of weather with only 1 wettish day and warm yet clear days the rest of the time. Essentially, we started from the Snowy River with a significant climb up a long hot fire trail where we all seemed to split up for a few hours. The first night was a lovely campsite which we shared with a couple of emus and their chicks. My best memories of the walk include walking through the snow gums, encountering a mob of brumbies on The Pilot, poking about the remains of the Southern Cross airplane near the NSW/VIC border and the absence of people! Our campsite on Coberras. It was probably the best campsite I have ever experienced with majestic views from the saddle as far as the eye could see. The photo that I took of it from a nearby hill still sits on my fridge today. ====Carol Lubbers (Carol joined in 1987 - has led many walks and twice Walks Secretary)==== Blue Mountains NP: Hat Hill, Crayfish Creek, The Hole & Return, 16th, & 17th January 1993 Leader: Geoff McIntosh. The weather was very hot as our party left Hat Hill and negotiated the short steep descent into lush and beautiful Hat Hill Creek. Lush is the word, the Blackheath Sewage Treatment Works are up-creek! If you ever need liverwort, this is the place. Just don't drink the effluent. The climb up the other side was excruciating - hot, steep, and scrubby. Frogs sat in trees calmly watching us claw by. We were consoled by the expansive views of the Grose Valley from Baltzer Lookout and awed by the sheer drop below us. It became a weekend of proposed abseils, if only we had a long enough rope! Late on Saturday afternoon, we sidled through the scrub along Crayfish Creek to where it drops to the Grose Valley. Along the way, we indulged in several well deserved ice cold sit baths in the creek. At the drop, there were huge boulders from rock falls in the creek bed and many big trees beside. A green and pleasant place. We camped back along the creek in a large, clean overhang - ideal for happy hour after such a hot day. First thing Sunday, we made a short trip to a side canyon running into Crayfish - cold, slippery, wet and dark but worth the wriggling and risk of hypothermia. Could've seen more if we'd had a long enough rope to drop in from the top, we mused. Whilst making our way to The Hole we found an impossible side creek (just as well only one of us went over one overhang - we had to pull him back!). Geoff vowed to return to conquer by abseil. While the retrieval attempts were happening, we were buzzed by a nesting pair of Rufus Fantails whose nest was precariously glued to a meagre branch above the drop. We retraced our steps and continued on to Geoff's usual way and ominous clouds rolled across the sky above us and it became very cold, but it wasn't just because of the weather. We gladly donned our thermals. Cold, wet, slimy, scary - one at a time, with our packs on, we slid into a freezing deep pool, swam a few metres, slipped and slithered, quivered and quaked across a short, slimy, sloping section to dangle over the next edge on a rope. A few feet of freefall to more slippery rocks and Geoff's open arms, then drop packs down into a large pool at the bottom. A very thin slippery sidle with a handline for psychological comfort and Peter Lafferty cheating death to ensure our safety (but not his!) led to a ramp down to the pool (full of big rough, slimy boulders beneath The Hole). We had arrived in a huge natural amphitheatre of high clean sandstone walls, the base of which was littered with great boulders and fringed with rainforest. We hastily shivered into our dry clothes and said, “next time, we abseil!”. Following a short exciting rainforest sidle back to the exit point on Hat Hill Creek, a hot climb (it wasn't a hot time) was had by all back to Hat Hill. Amazing to think that all this rugged walking was so close to the tourist traps. A magnificent weekend. Thanks, Geoff! Postscript: A few years later, Geoff returned, armed with abseil ropes and party (including me) with harnesses AND wetsuits - we felt safer, we saw some more of the same side canyon to Freshwater Creek and I will never forget this magic area - it is a real adventure and it seemed to us at that time that no-one else had been there before us. Be Aware! The bush is very dry and creeks may not have good water. Please check with your leader and carry water as advised. pagebreak ===== The Apsley Gorge Triumph by Dot Butler and Frank Rigby ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW) (A story by Dot Butler about this memorable walk at Easter, 1967 first appeared in the May, 1967 issue of The Sydney Bushwalker. I have combined extracts from Dot's article, in italics, with my own memories to give you this composite picture. - F .R) To leaders Ross Wyborn and Don Finch: “Why are you going to the Apsley?” Leaders: “Because it is there, on the map”. To leaders: “Where is the Apsley Gorge?” Leaders: “On the New England Tableland, near Walcha”. To leaders: “What is the gorge like?” Leaders: “We have no idea. There is no info. on the place”. Despite such a dubious billing, ten bushwalkers had enough faith in this adventurous Wyborn/Finch combination to give the Apsley a go; Dot Butler, Shirley Dean, Margriet Dogterom, Heather Joyce, Joan Rigby, Bill Burke, Doone Wyborn and Frank Rigby from SBW plus Bill and Keith from N .Z. “No one's ever been through that gorge and no one ever will, mark my words. From the city, are you? I mighta known it, you'se ain't got a chance!” So spoke the local farmer where we left a couple of our cars somewhere near we reckoned we might exit the gorge. Ooohhh! Anyone for a nervous breakdown? The Apsley River winds its way in great loops from west to east across the map, dropping about 2,400 feet in this distance. While the car drivers took the cars on some thirty miles to where we planned to come out the last day, the rest of us wandered round to admire the falls, and to speculate on our chances of getting through the deep, rock-piled canyon floor down which the brown water tumbled, building up back-eddies of yellow foam. We clambered down a steep spur, covered with scant vegetation, and moved across to a steeply falling creek bed. When we reached the river bed we found it even more rugged than it looked from the top. Huge dark grey block-up boulders lay crowded together in great heaps and over these we clambered for the rest of the afternoon. We camped on a flood-strewn heap of rocks. To say something in its favour, it was at least fairly horizontal, and after we had scraped up heaps of dry casuarina needles for a bed it was even comfortable. The keen ones studied the map and found we had achieved hardly a mile. We'll have to make better time tomorrow. Away bright and early in the morning. The water must be swarming with eels; we came across many 2ft long ones dead among the rocks, probably killed by the impact of flood waters the previous week. Our progress this day involved much swimming, pushing our floating packs before us. Poor Digby, shivering his way over the rocks from one swim to the next, was heard to remark through chattering teeth, “Oh, for a little bit of subcutaneous fat! Camp for the night was another heap of rocks - the only thing offering in this steep gorge country. We made a big campfire from dry wood brought down by the floods and sang into the late hours, though you might wonder what we had to sing about as this day we had only covered another four or five miles, and no knowing how we were to get out. All night long bats flitted across the star-shine and disappeared into the dark shadows of the trees. Next day more swimming. In fact, the first seven miles of the gorge involved as much swimming as walking. This was a glorious day. With most of the food eaten the pack was light and easy to carry. Going quietly, barefoot, over the rocks, the wild creatures were not frightened into hiding. The lizards hardly bothered to plop into the water. As I swam quietly behind my pack the ducks accepted me as part of the scenery and stayed floating above their reflections as I swam among them– In the afternoon the country began to flatten out. The stark rocky canyon had given way to thickly-wooded mountains, which now gave way to lower hills. We had now finished with swimming. Grassy river flats made walking a pleasure. Camp for the night was a complete contrast to our previous ones - right in the middle of an acre of grassy river flat. Considering the many long compulsory swims in the Apsley Gorge, it seems incredible that none of us was properly prepared but we simply did not realise what lay in store for us. I think it was this element of surprise which made such an impact on us. At that time most bushwalkers carried a PVC cape/groundsheet in which they wrapped their packs; mostly this technique worked. However, I have a distinct memory of Don Finch emerging from a pool, barely able to carry his pack up the bank. We were aghast when we saw Don's loose sleeping bag swimming in several gallons of water inside his pack! pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 It was a pleasure to meet up with our farmer friend again. “We have come through the Apsley Gorge and lived to tell the tale”, we told him. He was dumbfounded. Yes, it was a memorable walk. What's more, we have every reason to believe it was the first-ever traverse of the rugged Apsley Gorge, a significant notch in the SBW belt. All credit to our leaders Ross and Don, only 21 and 19 years of age, respectively. —- Apsley Gorge - photo by Henry Gold —- pagebreak ===== Of Interest to New Members ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 ====Hello from Heike,==== I have a photograph on my wall entitled “A memory on the Sachs”. It is a picture of a group of my Victorian forebears up in the Swiss Alps; perched on rocky outcrops, surrounded by cliff-line and tall straight, presumably pines that stretch heavenwards out of the shot. They are all dressed as respectable walkers were (particularly when in the presence of ladies) in bowler hats, jackets, collar and bow-ties, polished boots, and having the essential curved, brass topped walking stick and umbrella (for emergencies…) The women in the picture are also suitably attired for the conventions in striped, high-collared mutton-sleeve shirts, pleated long skirts (modestly covering the ankles), straight sided “top” hats with small reticle bags hanging from chains around their waists… I'm sure the smelling salts would have to be whipped out if they saw one of our groups garbed up for the bush. This photo may have been a tourist mock-up 50 metres from the rear portcullis of the Schloss, but they may have well have intrepidly clambered and swung along in their formally restricting fashion. However what it says to me is that somewhere in the genes is the love of hiking, being out in the mountains and forests, or wilderness…. and that for generations families and friends have walked for the sheer love and thrill of it all. The gear and the freedom and the scope of range one can cover per period of time may have changed, the essence however has not. This is what we are celebrating this month 75 years of shared camaraderie and experiences of paced peace, tramped tranquillity, exploration and exhilaration, wonder and weariness. The trials and triumphs of going bush. Bushwalking is a heritage to be treasured. Let us not forget that Australia's first inhabitants have the strongest of walking traditions and that Australia is a country also of refugees where walking was not for pleasure but for survival, of culture, religion or simply the physical. As bushwalkers we have many steps that make up our stride. This is what anniversaries really represent to me. They are a time to celebrate all that is good in the on-going traditions and historical heritage but also a chance to examine the changes over time and realise the innovations of change within the context of the traditions. Clubs such as SBW do not survive as long as SBW has without the strong backbone of tradition but I confess I am a Darwinian. I firmly believe in the survival of the fittest, whether that is physically, mentally or emotionally. The “backbone” or spine in all living things is flexible, evolution is vital. Change is not comfortable, it puts the ants in the pants, but wouldn't you rather dance than sit stolidly??? I as a newish member have watched and listened and participated with interest in all that the club has been going through with the Review Committee and other progress for change and have been reassured by the debate and yea, the dissention, it is a healthy beast this SBW. Formats may alter, and yes sometimes changes can be for the worse but a mistake simply becomes a learning experience. Most importantly we do need to communicate. The world we live in now has the greatest variety ever of ways in which we can communicate; there is no excuse what so ever for lack of. So, new members and old speak out, have your say, but also listen carefully and keep SBW going for another 75. Heike Krausse Please welcome on your next walk our new members: * Perry Beebe * Bhaswati Bhattacharyya * Bronwyn Blanche * Brigid and John Duffield * Rod Dyson * Beth Faulkner * Lavinia Hobbs * Karl Holgate * Belinda McKean * Michael McKenna * Dana Serb * Bruce Taylor * Anne Thoroughgood * Christina van der Heyden * Jason Van * Stuart Wheeldon * Julie Webber * Paul Ware Striding on to full membership are: * Mark Hodge * Guy Patching * Sophie Watson * Marianne Watt —- Coolana Training Weekend: Our prospectives training weekends have been very successful and enabled many of those attending to gain their navigation and first aid entry requirements. Our next training weekend is on Sat, Sun 16th, 17th November. Please join us at the “Coolana” Wildlife Refuge in the beautiful Kangaroo Valley. The weekend offers practical training and provides an ideal introduction to camping. It is also a chance to extend your social contacts within the club. Phone: Bill Holland 9484 6636 or Patrick James 9904 1515 —- pagebreak ===== The Prospective's Guide to Leaders ===== Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 FROM OUT OF THE PAST (75 Years of SBW) Jo van Sommers Reflections on a year of being led by the fey, the feckless, the fearless and the footloose. In order of actual experience: [First published December 1979. This is Jo recalling her early experiences of the leaders of that time. Some are still active - others have retired … and Jo herself has led many walks … Ed] ====John Redfern==== “Somewhere around here I seem to remember there is a ridge that runs down to the creek. This looks like it! What fun, I love steep ridges. Yes, it does, drop off a bit sharply doesn't it, but it's too far to go back now. Just hang onto these bushes, that vine, there's no need to embrace that sapling; all you, need is a handhold. Wasn't that terrific? Let's light a fire and have morning tea.” John, surrounded by prospective women - excuse me - women prospectives - “Just put your foot there, your hand here, stand on my knee, very good. Didn't know you could do that; did you? Let's stop for afternoon tea!” ====Spiro Hajinakitas==== 6:45 am Saturday: “Do you realise how far we have to go? Moving off in 15 minutes”. Total surprise gives way to despair. As a prospective, I obviously was not going to make that deadline. I abandoned breakfast, forgot the washing up, got the tent down a lot faster than I'd got it up, threw everything into the rucksack, but I was still late. The ignominy of it! Spiro rounded me up like an errant sheep. It was obvious that he suspected that this was just the beginning. .. I was going to be the one who fell in the creek, was carrying a transistor radio and three tins of artichokes, and would eventually sit down and cry and have to have my pack carried. 5 am Sunday: Even rising at this godless hour, I was not first up. But I was first ready! ====Tony Denham==== “Let's make this a base camp, so we won't have any trouble getting in the supplies.” This sounded very promising, and having been promised the civilized hour of 9 am to depart, I was enjoying a leisurely breakfast when our leader swept past with his retinue, fully five minutes before 9 o'clock, and shattered me with his “Having a rest day, Jo?” The moral is, not only must one be ready, but one must officiously strive to appear ready. The piece of toast in one hand and the cup of coffee in the other will not do. “I'll get you, Tony, next time you've got a glass in your hand.” ====Hans Stichter.==== What beautiful cups of tea you make, Hans! What price the salons of London and the coffee shops of Paris when you can have a Stichter chosen bank of rocks on the Little River, fine brews, definitely no floor-sweeping, elegant nibbles, companions couth and not so couth. Ian managed to keep his Southern Comfort virgo intacta almost until sunset when the said companions helped him, perhaps too willingly in some cases, to demolish it. Next day on Breakfast Creek really was the morning after. I am going into serious training for a Debert led trip. ====Gordon Lee.==== 7 am. “Let's go! What do you mean, you're not ready! Just as well we have a little drive first; you can pack in the car. Well, sling it on the outside then! Course you can finish getting dressed - in the car. You can have breakfast at morning tea time. Clean your teeth!! This is no Sunday stroll! Look at this map. We're going out here where no-one has been before, then we run up this 1,000 foot hill, find a way down the cliffs, explore this bit of rainforest, chimney up here, abseil down there, shoot these rapids by rucksack and inflated wine-cask and find somewhere to camp. Come to think of it, perhaps you'd better have breakfast in the car too!” ====Brian Hart.==== Brian, springing from rock to rock, “One of these days I must take my trousers off.” Hope springeth eternal, even if the eternal hopeful crawls on hands and knees where the leader boundeth. Having experienced the Lee spectacular just the weekend before, Brian's “easy” weekend to Mt. Yengo looked just the thing. Saturday was “as programmed” (as they say in Newspeak). Sunday also was a nice walk - for two days. Still, it was a lovely sunset, and the last hour in the dark was quite easy since we were on a road. David kept playing hare and tortoise, one moment bounding ahead and the next having a little nap by the side of the road, which was a little alarming since he was driving my car home. Thanks Brian, for the wading down the sandy McDonald River. Wonder if I can arrange to be airdropped in and lifted out. pagebreak Sydney Bushwalker - 75th Anniversary Edition - October 2002 ====Peter Miller==== 5:30 am. Dawn breaking. “Moving off in five minutes!” Ho, ho, what humour. Loud breaking of branches. How can anyone make such a racket lighting a fire. Anyway, it works. We are all up very early. Lunchtime. Revenge. Peter announces confidently, “We're off on the optional afternoon walk,” strides manfully upwards, turns to survey his party and finds that the troops have rebelled. The less somnolent eventually join him, the rest crawl into their sleeping bags, becoming caterpillars for the afternoon in order to turn into moths for the evening. Note to the unwary: only the early morning rising part of this story is likely to be repeated. ====Fazeley Read==== 8 am Saturday: “Well, here you all are, I think. Perhaps we might just wander off.” 8 am Sunday: Saturday's start was non-authoritarian, but Sunday is delightfully anarchistic. We are standing around more or less waiting for the customary “Moving off in five minutes”, time dawdles past eight; it is noticed that Fazeley is missing. Someone happens to look up the hill in the direction we are to go; there she is, patiently waiting for the co-operative urge to develop itself within us. We move. The party fans out over the button grass, everyone finding their own track. Morning tea is a bit late and the wet wood somewhat recalcitrant. By the time the fire is established morning tea has turned into lunch. Fazeley led the conversation, and I'm sure if it hadn't started to rain we might be up on the Barrington Tops yet. —- A Sacrificing Woman There were 11 people hanging onto a rope that came down from a helicopter. Ten were men and one was a woman. They all decided that one person should get off because if they didn't the rope would break and everyone would die. No one could decide who should go so finally the Woman gave a really touching speech saying how she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children and giving in to men. All of the men started clapping… —- —- A Genie Can Do Anything ! A man is walking along the beach when he trips over something in the sand. Upon examination, he sees that it's a genie's lamp. He eagerly rubs the lamp and out pops a genie who says, “I am the genie of the lamp. I have been trapped in this lamp for 1,000 years. For setting me free I will grant you one wish.” The man thought and thought. Finally, he pulled out a map and said, “It's been my goal in life to do something for mankind for which everyone else will remember me. You see this region here on the map? It's called the Middle East and it's a very violent region. I realize I could wish for a lot of money, or fame, but I'd like to use this wish for peace in the Middle East.” The genie looked disappointed. He said, “I'm sorry sir, but I can't grant that wish. The people of that region have been fighting for thousands of years. The wars go back many, many generations. The religious battles and opinions run rampant in that area. Boundary disputes are constantly occurring. Violence and hatred is too far engrained into this part of the world for even one of my wishes to do any good. I'm sorry, but I just can't do that. Have you another wish?” “Well,” said the man. “If I can't do that for mankind, perhaps I can do this for men. I would like to understand how women work. What makes them laugh? What makes them cry? What affects their emotions? How do I make them happy? Why do they do the things they do? I wish I could fully understand women.” The genie replied, “let me see that map again…” —- ====Recipe of the Month - Dhal (Red Lentils)==== Ingredients: (for one person): * 1/2 Cup red lentils * 1 Small onion, finely cut or granules * 1 Clove garlic, finely cut or granules * 1 Small piece of fresh ginger, finely cut * 1/2 teaspoon turmeric * 1/2 teaspoon cumin * 1/2 teaspoon coriander * 1/2 teaspoon chilli * 25 grams tomato paste * 1 tomato (not too ripe) * 1 tablespoon oil * 1 1/2 cups water Method: 1. Heat oil, fry ginger, garlic and onion until light brown. 2. Cool a bit and mix the spices. 3. Add lentils, tomato and tomato paste or tomato powder and water. 4. Cover and simmer until lentils cooked (about 15 mins). Vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli, green peas or brussel sprouts can be mixed with lentils and cooked. (Recipe supplied by Jan Mohandas) pagebreak —- ^ Advertisement ^ “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 If you really want to get the best out of what you carry with you, then move up to Black Diamond, exclusive to Paddy Pallin. Black Diamond Moonlight Headtorch: Constantly frustrated with replacing your torch battery? Then the Moonlight is for you. With 4 ultra bright, energy efficient LED bulbs, it provides 70 hours of constant light. It weighs a mere 90g (without batteries) so you'll hardly know you're carrying it. Ideal for night walking, cooking and reading. 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