J Canberra Bushwalking Club
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB INC JLb NE\NSLETTER P0. Box 160, Canberra City, ACT. 2601. Registered for posting as a periodical Category.B.. Pri-.cp 20c Vol. 13 JAI'TiJARY 1978 *0. 1 ••-- .,: Wttdñdsday '18 January - General Meetinj at Land Use Research Building, CSIt0, • Black Mountain at 7.45 p.m. Entertainment - three films: (i) 'Above the Gorge'; (2) ''The Viaterhol&; (3) 'Walk into Wilderness'..' •; • The first two films are about wildlife and the third .1OJ v ' ••' is about bushwalkthg. in good old TASS Monday 23 - Committee Meeting at 28 Pambula Street, Kaleen (Wendyts house and native garden, redently starte4). Wednesday 25 - Walks Planning Evening at 18 Alberga Street, Kaleen. • The program is looking sparse. Come and help plan a new program or just socialise. Thursday. 1 February - 11Tf Cl Date for Febxuarar. Tuesday .6 - ' IT' Collation - at.3 Brent Place, Garran. LETJ?T1RTO TIlE. .IT0R . Dear S, . I have recently(i4-oSbor) completed two trips with Canberra and it was on the fi±st walktttht I learnt that several pe6ple had become infected with a skin dj.sease, following a trip to the Budaviangs a week before. Ioring the facts (ü seen in hindsight), I then proceeded on the second trip the following weekendi Again I was in contact with sufferers of this complaint - and I was infectea. I was LbLt amused by this turn of events - perhaps I could go walking with 4 some .o'my. Sydney c,lubs and spread Canberra's disease (thXd good hame) amoxgst I them.' r sense,;of humour ('?) took ci downturn when 1nèa1y collapsed on the way to'4ork. The external medication did nothing to cdtrd]. the infCction within, I am now on atcourse of penicillin (which pleóses md no mid). Of the five S'ney people on the second trip (two of them visitor) ,' three at le4st have the complaint and I don't imow about the other two. In loocing back over the matter I would not wish to deny an individual his right tTà his own style of medication.- medical or natural cures. It is • irresp&isible for a person, lmowthg he has measles, to continue .to mix with the public. Similarly it is wrong that a' person suffering from an untreated infectiMus complaint to attend a bushwalke Canbei.has quite a good name in Sydney (if not all thE. well-known) and I would hate to see bushwalkers all over the State coming davn with the highly contagious skin disease. ••,. • . - . - W.L, BLAYD3 • Page 2 IT Januaxy 1978 CONSERVATION Conservation did not appear as an issue in the recent elections (e.g. the predicted debate on the nuclear question did not materialise) and no far-reaching promises were made by either side. The only item of general interest to come to my notice recently is the report of the Land Conservation Study Group, set up by the NSW Government. This group was to review the State's land conservation policies, including land use controls, and the management of State controled lands. After d-review of the present situation, the group suggests a number of alternatives. Flow charts show procedures under the Rural Lands Commission alternative, the Regional Council alternative, the Develop- ment Control (Planning) alternative, theAutonomous Departments oltorztive and the Free Daterprise alternative. The first 'alternative' is opted for by the study group. - IT I LAND MAITAGThThINT MISTER MThISTERS RURAL LANDS i- I1AND RESOURCES LAN]) WThIcXGEiNT - --.- ii COIVIIvIISSION SURVEY DEUARTNENTS -I-. - -- -- r---• I n PARTIOIPATIONrI POLICY 1 REVIEW LAND ?LLANAGHVIEMTI - H H MNAGT AND CONTROL; OF ThDIVIDtJAL PARCELS I STRAT1flS -H . !ixei,.pe 45of the repoN • The group sees the Rural Lands Commission as a policy-fonulating body with paers of review of both land use and management. it approximates a 'land: • se authority' such as the Land Conservation Council of Victoria. It is an expert body rather than a committee and has strong co-ordi4ative and consultative links to the land -'managing' departmonts • of govôxvniont. It also has a structure 'capable of - resolving conflict at the policy level with maximum publicinvolvement'. (page 28) Among the activities to be undertaken by such a commission would be the acqjlisition. and storage of infornation on land resources. This would flclude establishing a land resource data bank; undertaking a comprehopsive survey of key and endangered sites; undertking a comprehensive sui'vey of flora, fauna and soils; initiating long-ten e.cologiaI study; and establishing a Land Resources Survpy.Unit. If • the: -cotissi±iis created it seems to have an impossible task before it unlésit ha strong powors and the Government is prepared to back - it with hard cash. The suggestions Cut across so many areas that at- - - present We seen as belonging to entrenched government departments or 'free th4orprise' and many people would be protecting their empires. Something has.tpbe done to rationalise the present dhaotic situation - hero's hoping for some very strong legislation. - - Appendix E Iist possible issues that would concorn various groups and H asks for an indication of our intests. from the areas of nature conservatibn recrOation,-- and mining and power the following were chosen: January 1978 IT Page 3 * Wilderness conservation and reservation of wild and scenic rivers. * Conflict between wilderness/scenic/nature conservation values and utilities servicing urban centres. * Rftonsion of woodchip industry, including forest residue. * Feral animals - predation and habitat destruction. * Off-road vehicles and their competition with bushvialkers. a * Clearing of native hardwood, forests for pine plantations. * Fire management policios in relation to natural ecosystems. * Criteria for selection of national parks and nature reserves. * Conflicts between limestone mining and recreational and nature conservation issues; conservation of cave envimnments.. The following issue was suggested as an addition to the list: * Preservation of alpine environments, especially those above the tree-line. Addition to the Sore Debate In conversation with an ANY researcher I learnt that there had been sore trouble with those who cleaned out the fish ténks occupied by Australiaa spoàies of fish (no other fish tanks were involved). These sores were pussy, and transferred from one part of the body to another by touch. The Pathology Department diaiosed them as being caused by a 'virus' ,but did not specify which one. Maybe the concentration of fish and nutrients in the rivers because of the drought has led to a greater possibility of the virus getting into scratches upon walkers! I wonder if vie should conserve such a virus as part of our ecosystem? Wendy Davidson Eka.: Advice for the month - if you haven't had any sores yet, you should review your list of friends - FAST. NOTICE OF MOTION (January Meeting) That the Club lend $2,000 from the Publication Fund to The Budaweng Committee towards the costs of printing the book 'Pigeon House and Beyond'. Proposed - Bill Wilson Seconded - Gary Medaris A letter has been received from Warwick Blayden, representing The Budawang Committee, asking this Club to lend $2,000 (at 9% interest) towards the costs of printing the book 'Pigeon House and Beyond' and a sketch map of the Northern Budawang Range. The total cost of printing is expected to be $10,000. Thebook will contain information about the history, nomenclature, flora and fauna, geology and rock climbing of the area. Theim of The Budawang Committee is to direct all profits from the venture into a future publication fund. The fufid would be open to bodies seeking finance for bushwalking/conservation publications. The Committee will - retain only sufficient funds for reprinting. REWARD A reward of £10 is offered to anyone giving information leading to the discovery of the author of 'HIAWATHA' ('December 'n'). Ed. Page 4 IT January 1978 WALKS REPORTS A Late Christmas Parable ( 26-27/1 1/77) And so it came to pass that many travellers there were on Friday night; some to climb the Castle by moonlight, others to bludge along the river Clyde, and yet more to go direct up Owen's face. To these it was said, 'You're late, Gary', but Gary did mock the setting sun and went up anyway, even through the First Cliffs, with Bob and Rene and Greg and Geoff. And b so it yths that Sue and Reet and Shep journeyed up the Clyde, while the prophet Alan led his people towards the Castle, and these were Peter and Linda and Wendy and Penny and Charlie and Brian and David. But the prophet Alan was stricken with a grievous malady and was wont to say, lGod t I feel rotten and will go back soon', and when he came upon a small cave in the hillsidp, at the foot of the Castle, determined to remain there. But his people,. all apart from the woman Wendy, did leave him and go up to a place that was exceedingly beautiful. And thus, after the dawn in which one of. their number performed strange leaping rites of worahip to an image of Tripodandcamera, the people of the tribe of Alan left their prophetto journey over the Shrouded Gods. And lo, they came upon a wanderer in the wilderness and this was the man Craig, who led them to the waters of Holland and then Clyde just at the hour of midday-eating, where the tribe of Sue was found. Then the people gave great shouts of joy, but alas they bowed to the false god White Ant, and went naked on the land and did bludge and drink of Tea all the rest of the day. And there las great rejoicing when later the prophet Alan and the tribes of Gary and Patandstan also were found, and Gary did tell wondrous tales of the Donjon and Angel Falls.