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197105

The Sydney Bushwalker.

A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bushwalkers, Northcote House, Reiby Place, Circular Quay, Sydney. Postal Address: Box 4476, G.P.O. Sydney, N.S.W. 2001.

May, 1971.

EditorJim Brown, 10 Gipps St., Drummoyne. Te1.81-2675 (H)
TypistChrista Younger
Business ManagerRamon U'Brien, 61 Nickson St. Surry Hills 88-6444(B)
Duplication byJim Vatiliotis and Owen Marks

In This Issue.

Page
From the Editor 2
At the April General Meeting 3
Canberra CruiseBarbara Bruce 5
Bits and Pieces 6
Echoes from the PastJim Brown 7
Coming TalksPat Harrison12
Membership NotesBarbara Bruce13
Socially SpeakingSpiro Ketas14
Federation NotesRay Hookway16

Advertisements.

Page
Mountain Equipment 8
Paddy's15

Man's Crowning Glory.

From the Editor.

Not so many years ago, it was not uncommon for a male of the species to say, ruefully, “I'll just have to get to a barber or buy a violin”. One of the signs of the changing times is the slump in the male hairdressing profession without any significant increase in the sale of violins - although sociologists may be able to find some association between length of hair and ownership of guitars.

The fact remains that, over the past five or six years, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between members of the sexes when viewed from the dorsal aspect. Indeed, with the abandonment by some females of what used to be described in advertising media as “woman's most essential garment”, it is no longer feasible to make a really reliable frontal assessment.

In this age of flowing locks, it may seem odd that remarkably few male walkers have followed the vogue to any extreme length. Beards we have seen in plenty, and an array of sideburns sometimes reaching down into quite formidable mutton-chop whiskers, but tumbling, shoulder-length tresses have been virtually unknown. Why?

Is it a certain native conservatism? Perhaps, but if so, do not confuse conservative leanings with conservation. After all, conservation as understood by walkers means leaving things pretty much as Nature made them, and there is no evidence that Nature favours “short back and sides”, much less a crew cut.

Much more probable that walkers find it awkward and embarrassing if their hair gets tangled in a hakea bush or entwined with lawyer vine: not to mention the debris that can accumulate on the scalp in a day's bush-pushing. Note that American Red Indians of the forest areas shaved their heads, leaving only a “scalping tuft” as a sporting gesture to facilitate things for the braves who could vanquish them in combat.

Now don't ask me why some female walkers continue to tolerate long hair. That's all part of the remaining mystique of the sex. So far as your editor, and his shorn colleagues are concerned, we are not just old fuddy-duddies living in the past: we take pride that we are the forerunners of the inevitable revival of that daring, dashing style “short back and sides”.

At The April General Meeting.

It was quite a small gathering that heard President Spiro declare the meeting open at 8.23, and call on no less than five new members to come forward to be greeted. Actually there were only two there, Evelyn Walker and Chris Brown, and the badges and constitutions for Bruce Edds,David Peacock and Paul Notholt were put back into cold storage.

After a minor adjustment to the date of the Annual General Meeting, its minutes were confirmed, arising from which Ray Hookway wondered if the small group of S.B.W. at the Federation Reunion did the promised cleanup. Peter Franks explained that only three of our people were there, their services were offered, but apparently there was little litter to deal with. At this point Spiro sought in vain a Social Secretary, and then murmured he could probably carry on for the present: and was equally unsuccessful in securing a fourth Federation Delegate.

In addition to the usual crop of publications, correspondence included letters touching on the access to the Budawangs from the Mongarlowe Road, and Ray Hookway amplified that the Parks and Wildlife Service had asserted that there was a public right of way, which could not legally be cut off. The Treasurer was able to report on a highly successful month with no expenditure - all accounts having presumably been settled by the outgoing Committee and a favourable balance of $1,084 in the kitty.

Pat Harrison could point to a quite active walking month in March, all eleven programmed trips proceeding. First up was Alan Round's jaunt on Ettrema on March 6-7, with seven people. They came back with a rumour that the water in Jones Creek was poisonous, and reported also the presence of stinging trees. Hans Beck with three others went from Mt. Victoria through Blue Gum, Hans being most enthusiastic about the upper Grose. Sunday, 7th, saw two day walks, Jim Callaway's joint trip with the C.B.C. from Garie along the cliff line, then inland to Waterfall; and an easy one with 15 people led by Jim Brown from Bundeena to Marley and back.

The second week-end was the annual reunion, with about 80 people at Woods Creek on Saturday night, and others calling in for the day on Sunday. One of the joint Finch/Tyborn ventures in Ettrema Creek started on Friday 19, with a party of 11; some newcomers found rockhopping rather arduous and the leaders had sundry complaints of sore feet after the trip. The ruins of an old mine were found in Jones Creek, also a trail of plastic markers left by geologists. Ray Hookway's trip from Batsh Camp to Yerranderie and back was reported in the April magazine. The day walk was Kath Brown's from Waterfall to Audley (12 folk): a broken bridge across Kangaroo Creek near Audley meant a detour to another bridge, but no mention was made of the lunch-hour diversion.

The final weekend of March brought the Federation Reunion, also Alan Hedstrom's unrelated walk in the Newnes area with a party of five, which visited Luchetti's clearing and looked at the Glow Worm tunnel on the way out on Sunday. Bill Hall's Sunday walk had thirteen along for a pleasant day in the country west of Waterfall.

Ray Hookway presented the Federation report (see April issue) and then mentioned the Myall Lakes Fund, suggesting that the Club should place some of its funds in the interest-free loans sought by the Myall Lakes Committee in order to preserve land from development. Geoff Mattingly proposed that it should be given preliminary thought by Committee to see how much the Club could spare, and Alan Pike strongly supported the whole proposal, feeling even $500 would not be too much to contribute. David Ingram thought some enquiry should be made into the likelihood of the Myall Lakes Committee making its repayments in 10 years, while Pat Harrison and Dot Butler both felt it would be a sound investment in conservation. Dot added that about $16,000 had been raised, that the solicitor connected with the committee had recommended casting about for land which could be secured at a reasonable figure, and various means of increasing the finances were being considered. The motion for Committee to look into and report in May was carried.

Len Scotland mentioned deer stalkers at work in Royal National Park, using trail bikes and similar vehicles, and operating early in the day.

In General Business, Don Finch reported that a recount of members (in view of the disparity in the annual report) gave totals of 244 active, 78 non-active and 10 honorary - 332 in all.

It was mentioned that the N.S.W. Public Library was seeking certain back issues of the Club Magazine - December 1969, October and November 1970. Owen Marks observed that the road into Coolana had been in fair shape on Easter Monday, and Bill Gillam said that after the overnight rain it was pretty bad the next day. Mention of Coolana brought an enquiry about the long grass before next summer, and the President said the Management Committee could look into this. It was now 9.20, no one had more to say, and the April meeting ended.

Canberra Cruise.

By Barbara Bruce.

On the weekend of 17th-18th April 1971, Frank and Joan Rigby turned on ideal weather conditions together with an open home and a terrific Indian curry dinner for ten plus five S.B.W. members who visited them on that weekend between Easter and Anzac.

Two carloads arrived from Sydney on the Friday night-Saturday morning - Owen Marks with Heather Williams and myself and Alan Pike with Dorothy Noble, Tom and Linda Wilhelm and Marion Lloyd. It was just a nice number to fill the Rigbys' house, although Lyn and Paul Faithfull and Ann O'Leary were nearby in case there had been any overflow.

Saturday morning, after a late rising, Joan served us up a large, fortifying breakfast before we set out to walk through part of the suburb of Campbell and to climb Mt. Ainslie for a good view of the city and environs, looking directly along the line from the War Memorial to Anzac Drive to Lake Burley Griffin to Parliament House and to Capital Hill.

After a barbecue lunch in the delightful atmosphere of Telopea Park, where the poplars and beeches and other introduced trees were changing colour and losing their leaves, we moved off in a three car cavalcade on a sightseeing tour of Australia's capital embassies, university, lake, Parliament House, typical new areas and shopping centres and finishing off with another magnificent view of the city from the picnic area lookout on Black Mountain, just as the sun was setting.

After our delicious curry supper, followed by fresh strawberries supplied by Doone and Lesley who were returning from Batlow, Frank showed us some of his South African slides and told us some of his experiences on this trip, which he took about three years ago.

Another late rise on Sunday and another good breakfast before visiting the Rigbys' newly acquired home, which is at present undergoing renovation at the hands of its new owners, and then an education in the initial, present and projected images of Canberra in the Information Centre at Regatta Point - right beside the 50th Anniversary Memorial Jet of water being boosted sky high about 100 yards from the edge of the Lake - and the Canberra Botanical Gardens which contain purely native Australian flora. Here visitors are given the one mile “White Arrow” or the two mile “Blue Arrow” walk - whichever they choose. Unfortunately it is the wrong time of year to see any blossoms on our native shrubs.

On the way back to the Rigbys for a scratch lunch, we took another detour through the university grounds and Owen must have made some motorists' blood rise suddenly when he began to turn to the right into the wrong lane of a street, but quickly righted himself when he realised his mistake. This apparently seemed quite dramatic and funny at the same time to those in the vehicles following.

We simply had to push off from 52 Glossop Street by 3.30, as much as we were relaxed and enjoying ourselves and wanted to stay, but on dropping Lyn and Paul off at their flat we all trooped in to have a gander at it and to see part of the notorious Russian Embassy from their back porch. We forced ourselves away from here, merely to call in at Ann's flat on the other side of town on our way out to survey it and to say bye-bye to her. (Yes, we were a lot of interested nosy parkers but we were impressed by everything we saw.)

It is said that when you are enjoying something you should stop doing it while the enjoyment is still at its peak, so that a pleasant aura will remain. Well, I think that's exactly what must have happened to me, because I sure could have stayed in Canberra longer.

Bits and Pieces.

A record?…..or only almost? On Saturday night of the Anzac Holiday week-end no less than 62 S.B.W. members, prospectives and relative/visitors camped on the headwaters of Corang River, when parties led by Owen Marks and Don Finch/Doone Wyborn, plus a few odds and sods, all came together in the shadow of the “Anvil Rock” on the Tarn Mountain massif.

On the Sunday a group decamped to do some climbing on the Donjon (late Mount Fletcher) but at least three new arrivals, Spiro Ketas, Lesley and Neville Page, who had motored down Saturday afternoon, joined the herd.


Verbal report has it-that the Donjon party on the Sunday of the Anzac weekend discovered no less than five ropeless routes up the crag, which has usually been regarded as a tie-on job in the past.


At least one of the multitude from the Budawangs took off on the Tuesday for a flying visit by rail to Melbourne. It's understood that Owen is a modest shareholder in a certain company which has plans to mine a particular kind of mineral in a well-known scenic area, and did his duty as one of the “stirrers” at the Annual General Meeting of the Company.


More than twenty years ago Marion Ellis was featured in a newspaper as the first grandmother known to have ascended Frenchman's Cap in Tasmania. It seems probable that she is now the first great-grandmother (for the second time) to have traversed Mount Solitary - on Bob Younger's walk in April.

Echoes From The Past.

1. Early Walkers In The Northern Budawangs.

As a fairly regular magazine feature, it is proposed to publish trip stories or other articles of particular interest from issues of earlier years. In view of the swarm of walkers who descended on the Northern Budawangs at the recent Anzac Day weekend, it seems appropriate to begin with an account of one of the first S.B.W. trips into that area.

In explanation it should be said that, although a few walkers had penetrated the southern Budawangs, which may be defined as the region south of Yadbora Creek, the absence of reliable maps, the peculiarly dissected nature of the ridges, and the problems of arranging return transport had apparently deterred walkers from making any significant inroads into the northern Budawangs lying between the Nerriga-Braidwood road and Yadbora Creek until the late 1940s. About this time some members became imbued with the idea of approaching The Castle from the north or west, and several trips went into the country south of Sassafras during 1948. Bad weather and poor visibility thwarted real progress and we should begin the story with Ray Kirkby's account of a subsequent jaunt late in 1948, which was reported in the magazine of January, 1949, under the title “Twentieth Century Paradise.”

Two points should be mentioned. Because of the lack of maps, place names are seldom given (The Castle and Corang Trig were practically the only named features), and one must read into the narrative the locations which were actually reached. Also, members of some other Clubs, particularly the C.M.W., were pioneering the area at the same time, and it is not feasible to say who was “first” to reach some of the important vantage points.

Twentieth Century Paradise.

A brief account of the earlier trips into the country between Sassafras and Wog Wog Creek, in the Pigeon House region will show how our appetites were whetted. The trips mentioned are the only ones I have heard of.

The Easter before last I took a party between these two points and saw enough of the country to immediately fall under its spell. The country was not mapped and I knew it to be difficult so we cut across the valley below the main ridge which promised to have on it many difficult cliff faces. We had such good luck that we flew through, and did not make a single mistake. After knowledge gained from later trips I am still amazed at our good fortune on this occasion.

The next trip was led by Alex Colley and experienced heavy mists all the time so that the party seems to have spent the whole weekend wandering around on a sandstone flat top of a few miles in extent. Alex led the next attack also on this country and once again the weather was unhelpful. However, we gained a little more knowledge of the layout and retraced our steps over some of the ground covered on my original trip. Despite the poor weather, I could see on this occasion that others in the party were not unaffected by the attractiveness of the area.

My determination to spend a week of my holidays ferreting out its secrets was, I admit, occasioned by my fear that, if I did not act quickly, I should be forestalled. And I felt that this bit of country was mine.

The possibility of a lift on a timber lorry to The Vines had been investigated, so that is why Jean and I spent our first night in the sawdust under a paper bark in a Berry sawmill. In the morning we discovered to our chagrin that our friend's vehicle had broken down the day before, so we sprinted to the station, just in time to catch the train to Nowra. The Braidwood car took us out to Sassafras so we found ourselves once again trotting out to The Vines along the timber road, which is pleasant enough - but we were doing it for the fourth time.

Our first night was spent in the cave beside the creek just short of The Vines. This is remarkable country in so far as caves and overhangs are very plentiful, and if you know this, wet weather need not hold such horrors. Next day on the ridge near the aboriginal bora ground the rain pelted down with as much fierceness as it had on the trip a month before. This strongly reinforced a feeling of deja vu and I am sure we both felt “It's on again”, but after one or two more short violent storms the weather was urbane.

In the early afternoon we saw the view from the gap between the Endrick and the Clyde where on the previous trip there had been only a thick mist. Even on this occasion our stay was interrupted by a most fierce rain and wind squall. We then climbed up what appeared to be a low gap between the two branches of the Endrick, but I decided that the creek on the other side ran into the Clyde and was not our way. Unfortunately, I was mistaken, and we lost half a day through this error. While endeavouring to find a way up to the tops we walked along hundreds of yards of overhang after the style of Wombat Parade in the Blue Mountains and would have camped there had water been available. We were forced to drop down into the creek where we found a cave without delay.

(It sounds as though Jean and Ray had travelled out over the plateau of Endrick Trig, made their way down into the tops of the Endrick system - later Sally Creek, now Styles Creek - and thence on to the wombat parades west of Shrouded Gods Mountain).

On previous trips signs of the use of this country by aboriginals had been discovered first the remarkable bora ground, then the caves with “hands” in them. In a wind cave off our large cave this night there was a perfect axe head which excited Jean so much that she wanted to bring it back. I felt its weight and declined. I could, however, without much difficulty find this cave again and I returned the axe to its position, which was probably the reason for its excellent preservation. Whether the aboriginals did use this country a lot I don't know - it may be that it is just country where evidence would survive - but the number of wallabies and kangaroos in it is tremendous. Even this may not have always been so: the poor animals may have been driven here beyond the pale of civilisation. For it is beyond the pale. There appears to be no worthwhile timber and no grazing so the area is practically untouched. The valleys are heavily grassed with no signs of erosion and water is abundant, even in a droughty time, in crystal streams. I could only assign the good flow of the streams to the country being in its pristine state. The area is covered with animal pads of such size that it is difficult to remember that they are not made by domesticated animals.

The long valleys leading up to the divide are entrancing. The walking is easy for the valleys are shallow, covered with grasses and heaths, with clumps of gums usually with white trunks. We followed the farther branch of the Endrick to the divide expecting to find the Clyde water-shed this time, but looked into still more delightful valleys running up to sandstone cliffs - the Corang River. The headwaters of the Corang were even more beautiful and we were staggered to find, growing freely along its banks, numerous bushes of what we were accustomed to call the Tasmanian Waratah - a shrub covered with flowers like large red grevilleas. After referring to Sulman I presumed these to be telopea oreades “Gippsland Waratah”, which she describes as “growing as far north as Moss Vale.”

All this country is very bountiful in wild flowers. In the October weekend we had plenty - particularly eriostemon, but the exciting part was to find so may just a little different from their Sydney fellows. The Tetratheca was a giant of a plant, one kunzea was quite orange and there was a contrasty cerise and black grevillea. This time the publicity hunters were the sowerbaeas, the boronias (including a couple of varieties I had never seen before) purple conosperma, and purple Pattersonia.

At the head of Corang you get a spectacular view of the Clyde Valley and the ridge running out to The Castle. Indeed we decided one separate rock formation was The Castle, and we determined to go out and investigate it (Query - was it the western face of Mt. Owen?). The ridge was very thick and looked a long way down. In fact it was not far and here let me shamelessly state another attraction of this country - the comparatively little ups and downs unless you decide to dive down into the Clyde or Yadbora Creek. The cliffs infuse a satisfying feeling of height, although they are not very high but frequently fantastically shaped.

We sidled along the Castle ridge at overhang level and eventually arrived at the chimney we had espied from afar. There was water in this very high up and there we camped. No difficulty was experienced next morning in getting on top of the ridge but we were bewildered by its size. It is rather of the proportions of the Narrow Neck Peninsula and the surrounding sandstone formations are certainly amongst the most unusual and beautiful I have seen - great domelike formations like some Eastern temples. On the Yadbora side we looked on to a most striking rock mass - even for this unique country - and decided that we were looking at the back of the Castle. We may have been able to get from our ridge out to it but I think this is doubtful. It would have been very uncomfortable. (This sounds as though the Kirkbys possibly surmounted Mount Owen or Mount Cole and looked down into the Valley of the Monoliths.)

We retraced our steps to the main ridge with The Peak (Corang Trig) now our beacon. What a symmetrical shape this large pimple is! Many a time it has been our guiding star when there was no map or the latter was a snare and a delusion.

The top of this particular outcrop had an attraction all of its own for it was covered with grasses which were now a bright yellow like ripe wheat and the contrast over its rim of the blue ridges of Currockbilly was vivid. For several miles the ridge is parklike - on one side the green meadowlike effect of the upper Corang, on the other the great drop down to Yadbora Creek with innumerable blue ridges sweeping up to the floating Currockbilly while a backward glance shows perky Pigeon House itself. Along these ridges there is an almost continuous animal pad, like a path.

Though you are forced soon to leave the main ridge, there is a maze of ridges leading up to the Peak and with a little pottering around a way will appear. Nevertheless it is as well to allow some time for delays of this kind unless the country well known. Often innocent looking ridges are flanked by overhangs hidden by trees and most continuously continuous.

Why bushwalkers have not explored this country years ago and extolled it I am at a loss to understand, especially as it is comparatively close to Sydney. To use a modern phrase “It has everything”.


Despite Ray Kirkby's enthusiasm for the Northern Budawangs there does not appear to have been any follow-up by other members. A few years later Paddy Pallin and his “old buffers” spent an Easter exploring the Yalwal-Ettrema country on the Shoalhaven side of the Sassafras ridge and a vogue for trips in that area followed. It was not until about 1955 that further S.B.W. parties renewed acquaintance with the fantastic watershed between the Clyde River and the headwaters of the northward-flowing Corang and Endrick Rivers. Some of these trip stories will form future “Echoes from the Past.”

Coming Walks.

Pat Harrison.

June 4,5,6The Budawangs have everything to delight the heart of the keen walker - open swampy plains reminiscent of our Alps, double-tiered sandstone walls, flat-topped mountains of bare rock, rain forest, and beautiful views. David Brown and George Gray are leading a car swap trip through a section which provides all these things, and if you go on the walk David will tell you how he earned the sobriquet of “The Man who Never Was”.
June 5Meryl Watman leads an easy, but very pleasant track walk from Waterfall to Audley. Plenty to see and enjoy here if you have an observant eye.
June 11,12,13,14 Queen's BirthdayDoone Wyborn leads a snow and ice climbing trip to that most magnificent of mountains - Feathertop near the lovely little town of Harrietville on the banks of the equally lovely Ovens River in Victoria. If you intend to go to the top, you should be properly equipped with gear and warm clothing.
June 11,12,13,14 Queen's BirthdayThe grandest sandstone cliffs in all the Blue Mountains are on the Capertee and Wolgan Rivers. Peter Frank leads a scenic Test walk which begins and ends at the old shale-mining town of Newnes. Good campsites each night and good walking all the way. This trip has been done in two days, so you can see how enjoyable a three-day trip will be.
June 13 (Sunday)Esme Biddulph will not only pilot you around the beauty spots of the Lambert Peninsula but will also meet you at Chatswood Station around 9.00 a.m. and later will arrange afternoon tea.
June 14 (Monday)Bill Hall, one of yesteryear's Tigers and today's stalwarts has a Test Walk from Waterfall to Engadine. Part track, part trackless, with a few smallish ups and downs to keep you warm on this day of midwinter.
June 18,19,20What a variety this week-end! First of all Phil Butt has a cross-country ski instructional based at Sawpit Creek, while Peter Franks leads a navigational excursion along the plateau which separates the waters of Umbiella and Cooroongodba Creeks. After dropping into Cooroongodba (rope probably needed for lowering packs) there is good creek and river walking back to Glen Davis. The Northern Blue Mountains are an unbeatable walking ground in winter. This is a Test walk.
June 20On Sunday Alan Pike has a bike trip along the Mount Hay road as a prelude to an exploration of the face of Mount Hay and the Fortress.
June 25,26,27Bob Younger goes down Mittagong way and leads a Test Walk from Wanganderry (the chestnuts may be ripe). Scenic views from the plateau which divides the Wollondilly and Nattai Rivers, especially the bare rocky area which makes a luncheon grandstand, a camp under an overhang on the plateau, a quick scramble down Beleen Pass, a bit of road to the Wollondilly, a beautiful walk along the river (look for the view of Bonnum Pic from the vicinity of Fowler's Flat), up the ridge to the fire road, then a steepish bash up the rough track alongside Burnt Flat Creek.
June 25,26,27Bill Gillam's popular ski instructional has its first outing for 1971. If you want to learn how to ski, Bill's your man.
June 27Jack Perry has a 6-miler from Glenbrook to Lapstone. Mostly good footing, but possibly a little rock hopping. The view from the lookout is worth it.

The programme for June, July and August having been compiled and printed, we now move on to September, October and November, the Spring months of the year when everyone's fancy is supposed to turn to something or other. May it turn to thoughts of heroic things such as leading walks. And remember! It is never too early to put a walk on the programme!

Membership Notes.

Barbara Bruce.

Our only new member for the month of May is a mother of five boys, the youngest of whom is 14. Her name is Marj Stanton, and she lives at South Hurstville, in a pleasant little road which lives up to its name “Homedale”.

Marj decided that, now her sons were almost off her hands, she should look a bit further afield for another interest. She has been on quite a few walks since joining the Club in January, and also helps her husband on his South Coast farm. Marj is a cheerful and happy person and seems to have plenty of interests to keep her young. I hope you have a long and happy association with S.B.W. Marj.

Now to welcome our newcomer prospectives for May - Lindsay Boon (fiancée of Club member Lynne Tyborn), Norman and Wade Butler (twin sons of Dot), Rex Cameron, George Carrara, Clive McCloughlan, Peter Munday, Bernard Rostrum (second time around), Leigh Sheridan and Gary Tatham. What!… no new female prospectives this month?

The following should apply for an extension - Michael Black, Terence Donohoe, Gay Fordham, James Gardner, Don Hitchcock, Brian Holden, Barbara Krams,Peter Sanderson, Paul Sharp, Connie & Geoff Smith, Colin Walpole and Ross Wilson.

Socially Speaking.

Spiro Ketas.

June promises to be an exciting month socially, commencing with a rare opportunity to learn something of little known Greenland. Fitzganderpipe (Ian Dillon) tells us with slides of the recent trip there with Colin Putt, and of the sturdy yacht that carried them…….. on June 16th.

On June 23rd that well-known, controversial and idealistic octogenarian, Michael Sawtell, entertains with a talk on the Australian aborigine. Mr. Sawtell is particularly well qualified to discuss this topic, having spent many years with the Central Australian tribes.

Four members of the Australian Bowhunters Association will be along on June 30 to explain, with the help of slides, how it is possible to live off the land with bow and arrow by shooting rabbits and wild pigs. Supper provided (not rabbit or boar).

Paddy Made.

“We have maps and packs and compasses…
And an air mattress that pumpasses
Up to sleep on ice and bumpasses…”

(To slightly misquote what Geoff Wagg wrote for the Chronic Opera “Paddy Pallin Unlimited” about fifteen years ago.)

But that's only a small segment of the gear you can get for outdoor activities at 69 Liverpool Street (just a few doors west of George Street). Telephone 26-2685.

Equipment Hire: This department of Paddy's business has been in existence for more than 30 years. Gear maybe booked in advance at moderate charges.

Skiing gear: Check your gear - it's getting close to the time when you may be off to the snow again. Paddy can supply what you need to make you snow-worthy.

Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd. Lightweight Camp Gear.

69 Liverpool Street, Sydney. 26 2685.

Federation Notes.

Morton National Park.

A letter from the Minister for Lands confirmed legal access from the west to Morton National Park. The track is as shown on the new 5th edition of the Budawangs sketch map, and follows the old bridle track from the Mongarlowe Road. The Minister requests that any future complaints re access be addressed to the District Surveyor at the Goulburn Land Board Office.

Nature Conservation Council.

The annual conference of the Nature Conservation Council of N.S.W. will be held at the Cahill Committee centre at North Sydney on October 16.

Ecology Lectures.

Six lectures on the basic principles of Ecology or the theme “Ecology for conservationists” will be held at the Australian Museum in June and July. The fee for the course will be 2 dollars ($2) and interested parties should contact:

Dr. H. Recher, C/- Australian Museum, P.O. Box A285 Sydney 2000.

Lectures will commence at 7.30 p.m. and there will be a workshop conducted at the end of the series. Full details are as follows:-

Tuesday June 22ndEcology and EcosystemsDr. H.RecherAust. Museum
Tuesday June 29thHabitat & Communities.Dr. H. RecherAust. Museum
Tuesday July 6thPopulations & EnvironmentsDr. Allin HodsonUni.of Sydney
Tuesday July 13thPopulation ManagementDr. Graeme CaughleyUni.of Sydney
Tuesday July 20thPlant Communities in SpaceMr. Steve ClarkAust. Museum
Tuesday July 27thPlant Communities in TimeDr.P. MyerscoughUni of Sydney

Federation Ball.

Assistance is again sought to help organise the Federation Ball, to be held on Friday September 17th at the Roundhouse. Helpers need not attend the Ball.

Conservation and Wildlife Exhibition.

Assistance is also sought from people able to help man the Federation exhibit at the above function. Attendance for one day or one half day would be appreciated. The exhibition is to be held between the 16th and 22nd August in the lower Sydney Town Hall.

The Blue Mountains Parks Committee.

The Blue Mountains Parks Committee recently held their first meeting. The committee of 9 members, six of whom are NPA members, will control all Blue Mountains Parks including the Boyd Kanangra Park.

Wentworth Falls Sewerage Treatment Works.

Construction has commenced, of the new Wentworth Falls Sewerage treatment works. When completed this installation will discharge into Wentworth Creek and bushwalkers should treat this creek in future with caution.

Bouddi State Park Committee.

The recent death of Daphne McKern of the CMW has left a vacancy on the Park local committee. Federation are seeking suggestions for a suitable replacement nominee, who should preferably have some connection with the district.

Mt. Banks Chimney.

Sergeant Tyson advises that the Mt. Banks chimney is in a dangerous condition due to an imminent landslide and the area should be avoided by bushwalkers.

Letter To The Editor.

Dear Jim,

Re Bouddi State Park.

This is an open letter which I hope you will publish.

The article on Bouddi Natural Park (April magazine) was written many years ago, and I should have read it before giving it to Dot (Butler) for publication.

Bouddi Park is now Bouddi State Park. It is sad that the name “Natural” has been dropped and the origin of the park forgotten.

It is worse than gad that Daphne Ball (who became Daphne EcKern a - few years ago) and succeeded me as Secretary of the Park died only a short time ago. She belonged to the C.M.W. and was a conservationist all her bush walking life, and the conservation movements will miss her very muck indeed.

Yours truly,

Marie B. Byles.

(I discovered the correct name was Bouddi State Park after sending the article to the typist. Probably I could have corrected it by a telephone call but like Marie I rather approve of “Natural”: I left it stand. After all, in my view that is still it real name, if not de jure - Editor).

Special Announcement.

At the General Meeting on May 12 urgent consideration was given to the desirability of obtaining new Club rooms.

This was prompted by the erection of partitions in the present room, reducing the capacity to about one third. Advice has also been received from the Nurses' Association that in any case we will probably have to vacate the premises within six months.

Several alternative sites have been examined, and the Meeting decided that the club should move as soon as practicable to a room accommodating 110 people in ANZAC House, 26 College Street, City (near the foot of Oxford Street). This space is available for renting on Wednesday nights.

A Special Notice advising the date of transfer of the Club's meeting place will be sent to all members as soon as this has been confirmed. If the decision is made in time, it may accompany this issue of the magazine.

Be on the alert for this Special Notice.

From Dot Butler:

A farewell party to Pat (Sullivan) and Ian Wood will be held at the home of Jane and Colin Putt, 65 Burdett Street, Hornsby, on Friday May 28th.

This will be a barbecue - Bring your own steak and implements.

Come any time you like after 6.0 p.m. Tea or coffee provided.

Ian is returning to his native New Zealand to a Professorship in Civil Engineering at Christchurch University.

All friends of the Woodies welcome.

Myall Lakes Land Purchase.

At the May Meeting the Club voted $250 towards the Myall Lakes Fund. The Committee, which is planning an extensive appeal for funds decided to register as Myall Lakes Committee but have been obliged to use the alternative Natural Areas Limited.

This is now a registered public Company and a copy of the prospectus will be forwarded to the S.B.W.

The generous financial support (we now have over $16,000) behind this venture has led the Directors to believe there is an exciting future for the Company as a means of aiding conservation in N.S.W.

Special Notice.

Members, prospectives and friends of the Sydney Bushwalkers, please be advised that the club will be moving to new club rooms in ANZAC House on Wednesday 2nd June, 1971. Meeting times remain unchanged at 7.00pm start to 10.30pm finish. See map and directions below.

The reasons for changing club rooms are that imminent redevelopment of Circular Quay area and the already completed alterations to our present auditorium by the N.S.W. Nurses' Association.

The necessary resolution to effect the change of club rooms was carried at the May General Meeting.

1. Location of ANZAC House - about 30 yds from the corner of Liverpool & College Streets towards the museum building in College Street.

2. Access - from Museum Station, about 3 minutes wa1k, from Town Hall Station, about 10 minutes walk, from central about 15 minutes walk.

3. Inside ANZAC House - walk across foyer through door marked Auditorium, turn sharp left and down stairs (do not go into Auditorium) follow signs marked Cloak Room & meeting Room, at the bottom of the stairs the Meeting Room is on the left. The area at the bottom of the stairs is for the use of S.B.W., as is the kitchen which is situated immediately behind the Meeting Room.

197105.txt · Last modified: 2016/03/10 16:32 by tyreless

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