At the A.G.M. Beautiful Airly in Need of Friends Our Annual General Meeting will be Beautiful Airly, near Capertee, with its magnificent held on Friday 27 March at the Conserv- pagodas and golden cliffs is unique. It is the most ation Hut. If you are considering standing spectacular pagoda country in the State and should be for an office please phone and talk to a protected in a National Park and be part of our World member of the present management com- Heritage area. It is also an important part of our early mittee (contact numbers at the bottom of mining history, with relics of kerosene shale mining Thank you to members this page). Office facilities are available. which was carried out on a smaller scale than at who have been writing letters Following the election of officers Newnes and at an earlier time. to politicians, promoting the for 1998/99 our guest speaker will be But it is not protected — a mining lease is held by Centennial Coal Company Limited. A condition of this Society to their friends, Chris Dunstan who will talk about helping out at bushcare and reducing greenhouse gases through lease was that work should start within five years of the granting of the lease (before the end of April 1998). other working bees, leading developing sustainable energy in NSW. bushwalks, attending Council Chris Dunstan is project officer at the We have recently been advised that Centennial Coal Company Limited intends to start production on a trial meetings, making Sustainable Energy Development submissions, (the list goes Authority, a NSW Government body mine at Airly in the next few months. The company intends to mine 300,000 tonnes of coal to be transported on)..... which was established in 1996 to fight Attendances at our global warming by promoting renewable by road to the power station. It is not economic to mine coal at Airly. At the general meetings have been energy and energy efficiency. great, with lively general This is a very topical subject in light of present time, coal mining in the Lithgow area is being scaled down, and men are being sacked from viable business sections and good the Australian Federal Government’s poor guest speakers. Membership performance at the Global Warming mines. It is obvious that because of the 5-year clause in the lease Centennial Coal Company Limited is going has been increasing steadily conference in Kyoto in December. and our political profile has ’s greenhouse gas emissions into Airly at this time to make a mess of the area so that they can retain the lease. It is vandalism to destroy grown immensely. are close to the highest per capita in the Special thanks to: world. Using renewable energy and being Airly. We must act urgently! Please write to the Premier Heather Coster and Sarah energy efficient are important factors in Green who have been reducing greenhouse gases. and the NSW Minister for the Environment. Send a copy to Bob Debus (and a copy to us if it is not too packaging and posting our The meeting starts at 7.30. Visitors are newsletter (with more to send welcome. much trouble). The addresses are on page 2. In the short term this trial mine must be stopped. to more members each Day of Action The lease can be extended so that the company does not month!); Joan Gahl who Badgery’s Creek Airport Day of mine now. In the long term the lease must be cancelled. has taken on the job of Action, Sunday 15 March, from noon, Airly is too precious to be destroyed. serving supper at general at Jamison Park, Penrith (near (See page 2: How the Airly lease was granted). meetings (and works at the Panthers). native plant nursery); It will be a family fun day with free Belinda Coster , one of our younger entertainment and rides for the kids. Be An Auditor for CHANGE members, who helps Joan with supper and there and be part of the World’s largest CHANGE (Coalition of Hawkesbury helps in many others ways at general living anti-airport logo. (More details are and Nepean Groups for the Environment) meetings, working bees and children’s enclosed with this newsletter.) need a voluntary auditor. activities; Kees Putting who organises With only 30 members and few the leisure walks; Ron Wheeler who is Sale of Native Plants secretarial expenses, it is a very small job always willing to lend a hand. With summer and the heat on the way once a year which is, at present, costing The Society’s native plant nursery has out (hopefully!), now is a good time to the group more than it can afford. raised substantial funds for the Society. plant new natives. The Society’s native If you can assist, John Murphy Volunteers work EVERY Tuesday mor- plant nursery will have a sale of plants on (President) would be delighted to hear ning ( plants don’t take holidays! ) from 9 Saturday 14 March at the Conservation from you. Please ring 02.4587.7990 (9-5) am to noon. For this we owe a special Hut, from 9 am to 12 noon. or 02.4577.4078 (home). “thank you” to David Coleby , Imre Gahl , Joan Gahl , Phillipa Fincher , Fuel Management We Deserve a Pat on the Back! Kevin Bell , Mary Shaw , Naomi Estelle , The Bushfire Management Assessment The Society has had a very successful Rae Druitt , and Noreen Skellon . Committee is now preparing the annual year, and many people have helped. hazard reduction program. This year it will include slashing as well as burning Hut News” , the newsletter of Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc. treatments. P.O.Box 29, Wentworth Falls,2782. Phone 4757 1872. Fax 4757 1753 If you would like to know what is Email [email protected] Web page: http//www.pnc.com.au/~bmcs proposed in your area and flag any matters President : Marion Hawley, 4784.1933 that should be considered please contact Vice Presidents : Linda Thomas, Phone 4782-1291; Imre Gahl, Phone 4784-3286 Secretary/Treasurer : Les Coyne, Phone 4757-3327 Fax 4757-2820 Email: [email protected] Hugh Paterson (4751.2303) or Ron Bushcare : Norm Harris, Phone 4784-1554. Education : Jessica Yuille, Phone 4757-2783 Wheeler (4757.1526). Native Plant Nursery/Entertainment : David Coleby, Phone/Fax 4784-1395 An issues paper about the fuel manage- Land Use : Don Morison, Phone 4759-2471. Macro Projects/Bushwalks Co-ord. (Vacant) ment plan is also available for those who Membership : Ross Coster, Phone 4759-1247 Fax 4759-1095 Email: [email protected] would like a better understanding. Bushfire Rep : Hugh Paterson, Phone 4751-2303 Publicity : (Vacant) Hawkesbury/Nepean Catchment Rep : Rosemary Lathouris, Phone 4757-2511 Newsletter : Christine Davies, Phone 4787-7246 Fax 4787-7777 Email: [email protected]

Hut News , No. 128, March 1998 — Page 1. Membership Enquiries: The Society Land Use How the Airly Lease was is keen to have new members who are Kowmung Safe for concerned about the welfare of the Blue Now Granted In 1992 a newspaper advertisement Mountains natural environment. Contact The Carr Govern- membership secretary, Ross Coster: Work ment’s decision advised that Novocoal had applied for a favouring a new lease on Airly. Novocoal is or was a (047)59.1247, Home 59.1837 FAX Spillway for wholly-owned subsidiary of CRA, which 59.1095, or write to P.O. Box 29, Warragamba Dam will, in turn is owned by Rio Tinto. Anyone Wentworth Falls 2782. for the time being, spare opposed to the lease should appear in the the Warden’s Court in Katoomba. Library Archives enzo.nla.gov.au, British Valley and other Bathurst Conservation Society, Library www.bl.uk Film archives www. important areas of the National Parks Association, Total cinemedia.net Maps www.aodc.gov.au Southern Blue Mountains Wilderness. Environment Centre, and other and www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ Sadly, State Liberal Leader Peter environmental groups appeared at enviromaps/enviromaps.pl Australian Collins and others have already launched a Katoomba. Company representatives said Conservation Foundation www.peg.apc. political scare campaign, claiming that it is that it was a replacement lease to keep org/~acfenv Patents www.patents.com and necessary to raise the dam wall. men from Western Main employed, and www.apio.gov.au Environment Australia Raising the wall would flood much of that they had orders for Airly coal. They www.erin.gov.au Australian Greens the wilderness. It would cost $500 million. refused to give evidence under oath. www.peg.apc.org.au/~ausgreen/ It would not solve flooding problems for There had been a long-time proposal Australian Nature Conservation Agency the Penrith and Hawkesbury local for a Gardens of Stone National Park. A www.erin.gov.au/portfolio/anca.html government areas, since river systems other letter from Tim Moore, then Minister for Centre for Alternative Technology www2. than the Warragamba are responsible for a the Environment, stated that Mount Airly cat.org.uk/cat/ Earthwatch www. large proportion of their floods. was integral to a Gardens of Stone earthwatch.org/australia.html Friends of If the wall-raisers persist, they will National Park. the Earth www.foe.co.uk Greenpeace strike a wall of opposition from The Katoomba Court decided that it www.greenpeace.org Greens NSW www. environmentalists. was an environmentally valuable area. peg.apc.org/~greensnsw Landcare WEB Meanwhile, why not send a message of The lease could not be granted under these www.agfor.unimelb.edu.au/lcweb.html congratulations to local member Bob circumstances (when the company would Rainforest Action Network www.igc. org/ Debus on the Carr Government’s decision? not give evidence under oath). The matter ran/ Solar Power Sites seds.lpl. Badgery’s Devalued was referred to a Commission of Enquiry. arizona.edu/billa/tnp/sol.html Federal member for Lowe Paul Zammit At the Commission of Enquiry, the Keep the Spirit of Kakadu Alive has resigned from the Liberal Party. This Commissioner, Justice Simpson, (there Help in the fight to protect Kakadu means that Badgery’s Creek Airport can was only one man) found in favour of the National Park from a new Uranium mine. make no political sense for the Federal company and granted the lease. Kakadu is World Heritage listed. This Government — it certainly makes no There is no appeal to a Commission of is the first of 26 proposed uranium mines economic or environmental sense. Enquiry. in Australia. We must tell the With Lowe gone, the Liberals are The company did not provide work for hardly likely to lose their other Mascot- Government: National Parks are not the the men from Western Main. They did not place for mining! affected seats of Bennelong (John have orders for Airly coal. In 1997 Howard), North (Joe Hockey), or First prize in the Kakadu National Novocoal sold the lease to Centennial Raffle is a trip for two people to Kakadu. Wentworth (Andrew Thomson). Coal Company Limited. In contrast, their Badgery’s-affected If you would like to buy (or sell) a book of Centennial Coal Company Limited raffle tickets contact Simone on seats of Macquarie (Kerry Bartlett) and now claims to have orders for Airly coal. Lindsay (Jackie Kelly) now become more 4754.4054. Or make a tax deductible important to the forthcoming Federal Some Addresses for Airly donation to Australian Conservation Election. •The Hon Bob Carr, Premier of NSW, Foundation, PO Box 660, Springwood Surely the Howard Government must Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower, 2777. now decide to keep air traffic at Mascot 1 Farrer Place, Sydney 2000 At The Hut until a genuinely suitable site is found to •The Hon Pam Allan, Minister for the The Conservation Hut Cafe is under act as an alternative or supplementary Environment, Level 9, St James Centre, new management with a team committed airport. 111 Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY. 2000. to providing for local residents, day Chop Chop •The Hon. Bob Debus, Member for Blue trippers and bushwalkers. It is open from Oberon Council has approved a regular Mountains, 107-109 Macquarie Street, 9 am to 5 pm every day. Helicopter tourist operation to overfly the Springwood 2777. (Fax 4751.1245) Information will be provided, focusing Southern Blue Mountains wilderness en particularly on the Valley of the Waters. route from Sydney to a property on the Welcome to New Members Ann Elliott and Ron Bradford, Katoomba This is where we can participate. In west bank of the Cox’s River. the original Conservation Hut, members of A landholder on the east bank of the Bill Harvey, Wentworth Falls Irene Vlachou, Wentworth Falls the Society provided information to bush- river (in Blue Mountains Council area) is walkers and visitors about the Blue developing a proposal for a competing Fleur Marshall, Blackheath The Lawson Family, Katoomba Mountains bushwalks and the local helicopter operation. environment. Fair Comment Frances Love, Wentworth Falls Naturally, I was interested to read Bob Paul and Simone Windon, Faulconbridge The new manager Michell Conway has Debus’ response to my column in January Peter and Michele Sherwen, Wentworth invited us to come to the Conservation Hut Hut News (circulated with February Hut Falls at weekends to provide information to News). The title of my item, ‘Will Labor Philip Simpfendorfer, Bell visitors. This is a wonderful opportunity Be Green Again ? acknowledged State Dean and Kerry Knibbs, Faulconbridge for us to promote the Blue Mountains Labor’s past achievements, but I expressed environment. fears about how some current issues will Useful Internet Sites What we need is a number of people develop. Jenny Stubbs, who was our guest (the more the better) who can help for an Since then we have had an excellent speaker at the January general meeting, hour or two or half a day so that we can decision on Warragamba (see first item), has supplied this list of useful internet make up a roster. If you would like to co- but little progress on the other matters. I sites: ordinate of help out, please contact would dearly love to have it proven that Book selection www.amazon.com.au Christine on 4787.7246. all my fears were unjustified. University thesis www.anu.edu.au State (By the way, their coffee is delicious! — Ed.) Archives www.records.nsw.gov.au Aust- • — Don Morison. ralian Archives www.aa.gov.au National

Hut News , No. 128, March 1998 — Page 2. On the Night Train by Henry Lawson, 1922. History of Our Walking Tracks Have you seen the bush by moonlight, from the train, go running by? The Blue Mountains network of walking Blackened log and stump and sapling, ghostly trees all dead and dry; tracks is unique in Australia’s history. How did Here a patch of glassy water; there a glimpse of mystic sky? it all come about? Have you heard the still voice calling — yet so warm, and yet so cold: In October 1997 Jim Smith spoke at the “I’m the Mother-Bush that bore you! Come to me when you are old.”? Conservation Hut about the Walking Track

Did you see the Bush below you sweeping darkly to the Range, Heritage Study. I have enjoyed reading a copy All unchanged and all unchanging, yet so very old and strange! of Jim Smith’s Draft Historical Report, and, While you thought in softened anger of the things that did estrange? with his permission, will publish some excerpts (Did you hear the Bush a-calling, when your heart was young and bold: in the next few issues of Hut News . — Ed. “I’m the Mother-Bush that nursed you; come to me when you are old.”?) The First Constructed Walking Tracks The 1832 Post Office Directory in In the cutting, in the tunnel, out of sight of stack or shed, describing the landmarks of the western road Have you heard the grey Bush calling from the pine-ridge overhead: between the and Wellington, “You have seen the seas and cities; all is cold to you, or dead — encouraged travellers to leave the road for the All seems done and all seems told — purpose of enjoying the scenery at only two But the grey-light turns to gold? places: at the Weatherboard Inn (Wentworth I’m the Mother-Bush that loves you; come to me now you are old.”? Falls) and Gardner’s Inn (Blackheath). (This was one of Henry Lawson’s last poems. I recently heard it sung by Blackheath’s At Wentworth Falls it was stated that “the Roz Wells. It is a beautiful song. — Ed.) wild scenery of the inaccessible valley into which it (the falls) vanishes is well worth the travellers attention”. At Blackheath the guide said there “is another fine cataract, named Govett’s Leap”. Thus the Post Office Directory could be considered to contain the first tourist’s guide to the Blue Mountains. The two inn- keepers had probably by this time cut rough tracks from their inns to the two sights mentioned. These tracks could be considered the first constructed walking tracks in the region. Both tracks were used by Charles Darwin in 1836. Darwin carried the 1835 edition of the Post Office Directory which had added a few crop-eating kangaroos. Some In the Bush resentment is felt because they cannot lines of poetry on the mountain air at A cool change and a shower of rain graze stock within the N.P. area as was Wentworth Falls. These lines, the only ones in prompted Bunyip to their practice when the that austere publication, began a long tradition explore fresh billa- home paddock was of poetic and romanticised descriptions of Blue bongs. Nangar bare. Mountain scenery in guide books. Darwin’s National Park was If the Park is goat own more scientific descriptions of the two gazetted in 1983 and free there is the bogey sights, published in 1839, brought international consisted of of dense undergrowth attention to these two early “bushwalks”. approximately 3,500 and very hot fires. The next bushwalking track to be hectares. Since then Once that would not constructed was made especially for the visit of the Nangar State have mattered so much Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred in 1868. Forest has been added as the burnt out areas The Colonial Secretary Henry Parkes organised and thus its area has would be recolonised the construction of a carriage road from the now trebled. It is from the lowland bush. Weatherboard railway station, to the edge of located roughly half Nowadays, farming and the escarpment. From there a walking track way between Orange grazing has removed was made to the lookout known today as and Forbes, or just a little east of Eugowra. that reservoir so these Parks will Prince’s Rock. Trees were cleared from around I was naive to hope that the Park would degenerate into islands of burnt out the rock to improve the view. give me some idea of what the Mid Western and weed infested bush. (Next Month: A remarkable period of private track Slopes may have been like in pre-white No-one is to blame except perhaps construction.) days. Alas, except for its profile of cliffs public apathy. I heard that about and crags, I doubt if there is any semblance $2,000,000 worth of fireworks went up on to what it may have been 200 years New Year’s The Turpentine Walk ago. The State Forestry picked the Eve harbour A group of five walkers braved the hot eyes out of it before the handover, display with weather to walk the Turpentine walk. they and bordering farmers grazed obvious public The bush is in good condition after the stock through it, and now the goats approval. recent rain. Murphy’s Glen was a great are there. Dense Much more is spot for morning tea among the giant trees thickets of spent on the reaching for the sky, then on to the old young cypress race track and dam where the track starts to Bedford pine have casinos, but a Creek. A friendly dragon seemed emerged and politician interested in our presence. along the only would not last It was time for lunch by the time we access road into five minutes if reached Bedford Creek. There was plenty the park there he or she made of shade and it is such a peaceful spot that was a dearth of increased shrubs. taxation to help we spent an hour over lunch. We had a I can’t see how the National Parks a re-election platform. Can visit from a Sacred Kingfisher. condition of the other this attitude ever be changed or do we just The walk back was at a leisurely pace newly-proclaimed become supporters of Groucho Marx who with lots of rests and drink stops. All western parks can be said, “Why should I worry about the next agreed that it’s a great walk. We finished any different. The generation, what has it done for me”. at 4 pm. farmers regard them as — The Bunyip. — Ron Amos. havens for grass and

Hut News , No. 128, March 1998 — Page 3. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saving the Bush From Us MARCH Part 4: Health in Bushland - Water 08 (Sun) Nature Trail Bushcare Group, Special Working Bee , 9 am to 12 noon. Water is a rather magic mineral. It Bring gardening gloves, morning tea, water and a hat. Meet at Backhouse moves from solid to liquid to gas fairly Street (turning west off Valley Road). Contact Jessica 4757.2783. easily. Moving from liquid to gas and 09 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Leura Forest. (Up via Scenic Railway). Meet 8.30 back it evaporates and condenses releasing am, Leura Station. Contact Kees Putting 4759.1958. and capturing heat. It is a universal 14 (Sat) Sale of Native Plants at the Conservation Hut, 9 am to 12 noon. solvent and no living thing has life 15 (Sun Badgery’s Creek Airport DAY OF ACTION. From 12 noon at Jamison without it. Its interactions with soil, Park, Penrith (near Panthers). See enclosure and story on page 1. vegetation and animal life are dynamic. 16 (Mon) Nature Track Bushcare Group, 9-12. Meet at The Hut at 9 am. Water and Soil : Soil is one of the Contact Jessica Yuille 4757.2783. banks for water. Water moves up, down, 16 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Minni Ha Ha Falls. Meet 8.30 am, Katoomba Station and sideways in soils. Sometimes it is north side. Contact Carolyn O’Neill 4757.3141. liquid and sometimes gases. Its states 19 (Thu) Committee Meeting. Mid Mountains Community Centre, 7 pm. change according to the vegetation, 21(Sat) Bushwalk — Crayfish Pool. A lovely walk in the Blue Mountains temperature, air pressure and acidity or National Park at Glenbrook. Fairly long, but medium grade. Meet 9 am alkalinity. Soil water attaches itself to at Glenbrook Station. Contact Ron Amos 02.9727.8931. organic matter and to clay particles. It 22 (Sun) Kids Club — Bonnie Doon Visit. Investigate animal bones, scats and sits in earthworm's and ant's holes and signs. Meet at the Nellies’ Glen shelter shed (follow the road in from the nests. Explorers Tree to the beginning of the Six Foot Track). Bring lunch and a Water and Vegetation : Vegetation drink. Contact Jessica 4757.2783. is another bank for water. Plants are up 23 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Den Fenella. Meet 8.30 am, Conservation Hut, to 98% water and Bill Mollison, Wentworth Falls. Contact Millie Rogers 4782.6631. Permaculture originator, describes a forest 27 (Fri) Annual General Meeting at The Hut, 7.30 p.m. Guest speaker Chris as a vast stream of water washing up hills, Dunstan, “Reducing greenhouse gases through developing sustainable across ridges and and down hills in the energy in NSW”. (Story on page 1.) plant biomass. Vegetation and water have 30 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Old Hartley Shale Railway. Meet 8.30 am, Mount a close relationship. They serve each Victoria Station. Contact Mervyn Bird 4787.7959. other. APRIL (Note: Leisure Walks commence at 9.30 am.) Plants protect the soil from erosive 06 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Crayfish Pool, Glenbrook National Park. (BBQ properties of water. Plants take up soil after, BYO). Meet 9.30 at the carpark, Glenbrook Picture Theatre, mineral nutrients in solution through their Contact Kees Putting 4759.1958. root system via the root hairs. Roots will 16 (Thu) Committee Meeting. Mid Mountains Community Centre, 7 pm. actually seek out soil water as many 20 (Mon) Nature Track Bushcare Group, 9-12. Meet at The Hut at 9 am. people know when their sewerage pipes Contact Jessica Yuille 4757.2783. are blocked. By removing water from the 20 (Mon) Leisure Walk — Old Point Pilcher. Meet 9.30, Medlow Bath Station, soil, the plants keep the water table in the North side. Contact Gillian Janus 4787.6181. soil at a level so soil salts do not 24 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut, 7.30 p.m. accumulate in a narrow soil layer and 27 (Mon) Leisure Walk — . Meet 9.30, Blackheath Neighbourhood cause soil salinity. Plants use so much Centre. Contact Christina Jones 4784.1101. water they can drain the soil. Mussolini drained the Pontine Marshes with Eucalyptus spp. By releasing water through their leaf recommendations that 30m each side of a came to Council I was able to rely on Eric pores, called evapotranspiration, plants river should be kept vegetated is based on to empower me with the subleties and humidify very dry air and make the air this knowledge. Indigenous vegetation is values that each bushland remnant easier to breathe. And when the air is best adapted to ebbs and flows of the local possessed. warm and humid, and plant leaf surfaces rainfall and the rivers. — Ro Morrow . “I recall when attending a great public are cool, water will condense on the leaves (Next Issue : Edges of Bushland) talk by Tim Flannery that before white and start to drip, even if it has not rained settlement in Australia many of the (rain gauges are not always accurate about Feathertail Glider Sponsorship indigenous tribes had to survive severe El how much water is available). So the plants Blue Mountains Conservation Society Nino events — periods of great social and help to dry humid air. They render the is the sponsor of a Feathertail Glider at environmental crisis. In what was local microclimate more pleasant for Taronga Zoo. These tiny creatures are considered a biologically resource poor humans and other living things. wonderfully adapted to living in our continent, the only way many of the tribes Water, on the other hand, washes the environment, but because of their size and could survive was to develop and share leaves of dust, virus and bacterial particles nocturnal habits are rarely noticed in the their cultural resources. as well as insect faeces and supplies a bush or the garden. “Much of this was done by special nutrient rain to the root's dripline. Water It is worth a visit to the zoo to see the people — people who moved around the fills the spiders webs; its infiltrates the Feathertail Gliders in the Nocturnal House. tribes and passed on local dreamings, song bark; sits in holes and seedcones, and A Tribute to Eric Mahony lines and survival successes. flowers and when the trees is all wet, it Eric Mahony, Council’s former “Their greatest gift was their starts to drip. Rain is bathtime for plants. bushcare officer, has resigned from his knowledge of where the scarce marine Water is also a trigger for seed position as Urban Run-off Coordinator with sedimentary rock, chert or flint was. germination, and sometimes for animal BMCC and has returned to teaching at “They would assist the tribes by trading growth. TAFE. Council’s loss is the TAFE in this rock. The rocks could be fashioned Clean Water and Plants : Apart from students’ gain — he is a exceptional into stone axes. This would lead to greater soil health, and climate modification, the teacher. In Council, Eric’s contribution to hunting and gathering successes in the main purpose of plant-water interaction is environmental management and education difficult times. These people were called that of cleansing water. There is no clean gained the admiration of fellow workers the ‘stone-axe traders’. They kept tribes water unless there is vegetation. Firstly and bushcare volunteers. alive through networking resources. the leaves, then the bark, then soil litter From a fellow worker (name withheld): “Although it is frowned upon these and various soil particles filter dirty water, “Eric Mahoney has a dedication to gener- days to appropriate indigenous metaphors, slow down its flow and the release it clean ating a local knowledge of our flora and it is difficult not to attribute Eric Mahony to rivers and streams. The present NSW fauna. He has been my mentor. When I as being one of the Blue Mountains’ great ‘stone-axe traders’.” This issue of Hut News has been printed on 100% Recycled Paper Hut News , No. 128, March 1998 — Page 4.