Of the Mountains JOURNAL of the MOUNTAIN CATILEMEN's ASSOCIATION of VICTORIA INC
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of the mountains JOURNAL OF THE MOUNTAIN CATILEMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA INC. ISSN 0816-9764 19oice ol lhe mounlains Journal of the Mountain Cattlemen's ~iation of Victoria Inc. No. 10 1986. ISSN 0816-9764 Editorial Committee: Linda Barraclough, Debra Squires, Graeme Stoney and Sue Silvers. Office Bearers for 1985-86 President: Jim Commins Vice-Presidents (In order of ranking) Clive Hodge, Harry Ryder, Graeme·connley Executive Officer: Graeme Stoney Special Projects Officer: Lyle McCready Secretary: Mrs Coral Aston, C/- Post Office, Ensay, 3895 Assistant Secretary: Mrs Sue Silvers, 13 Tuxen St., North Balwyn, 3104. Ph. (03) 857 5316 Marketing Officer: Ross Brown, P.O. Box 344, Morwell, 3840. Ph. (051) 34 5918 A Message from our President, Jim Commins . 2 The Mountain Cattlemen are Riding . 3 From Parliament House to Nunawading . 4 The Phantom Cattleman, Bryan Jameson . 9 The Huts just seemed to be There, Neil Hulm ........................................... 13 The Speech Not Made to the Bar ............................................ .. ......... 14 Map of Proposed Extensions to the Alpine Park . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Some Experiences from the Kosciusko National Park, John Mitchell . .... .... ... ..... 19 A Mountain Heritage Lost, Neil Hulm ................................ .................. 21 The Bush Dance ................................................... ... ..... .. .... ... .. 23 One Hundred and Fifty Years on . Linda Barraclough . 25 The 1985 Gathering at Cobungra . 26 The Cattlemen, Evan McKenzie . ..... ........ ......................................... .. .... 28 Doc . Minnie Higgins . 29 Silent Voice of the Mountains, A.G. Simmons ........................................ .... 30 Freedom of Information??? ............................................... .......... ... 31 A Letter to the Editor, Neil Hulm . 32, Mountain Time, A. G. Simmons . 33 The Baw Baw Cleanskin, H. J. Stagg .......................... ........................... 34 Cattle Thefts at Abbeyard . 36 Your Church - His Bush, A.G. Simmons ................................................. 37 Farewell Old Mate, Allan Brewer . 39 Catherine Station, Rory Lumsden .......... ...................... ......................... 40 We'll be Back, Allan Brewer ............................................................... 43 Song of the Cattle Hunters, Don Treasure ................................................. 43 The Men from the Murray River, Debra Squires . 44 Where to Now? - A Time to Rethink. 46 - Towards Achievable Conservation . 47 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT The immediate part of just over a year has been quite the most eventful period in the history of our Association. After years of quietly lobbying and responding to public enquiries when they affected us, we realised that we were having no worthwhile impact. That being the case, we decided to change tactics and take a higher profile in public to draw attention to a potentially dangerous development that could bring about the end of Mountain Cattlemen and affect the freedom and livelihood of a great many other people apart from ourselves. I do not have to relate a chronology of events that are well known, but the net result has been marvellous support from a more aware public and our Associate membership has grown over tenfold. It was unfortunate that we were left with no effective option but to become involved in the political arena during the election campaign for the Province of Nunawading. We tried to signal the Government that they would be poorly advised if they persisted in trying to make huge increases to the already extensive Alpine National Park, and that we would resist to the utmost such a wasteful and unnecessary move. The National Park Extension Bill was introduced into Parliament just before the by-election in an electorate where some political pundits believed it would be a plus for the Government candidate's campaign. Another political party campaigned almost totally on the environment issue and received heavy support from the publicly funded Australian Conservation Foundation. With the big guns loaded against us we found after thirty years of gradual retreat that we had to take the offensive with all the strength that we could muster. To have effective support for our cause in Parliament we had to back the Liberal candidate who subsequently won the election. I must stress that we conducted this effort on the single issue of the National Park extension. As the Parliamentary Opposition now have the numbers to block passage of the Bill, and have remained firm in that resolve, the legislation has been shelved, but not withdrawn. We can only hope the Government will eventually see the futility of persevering with the Bill. I must express appreciation and sincere thanks for the support of members who rallied to almost every man, woman and child when called upon. My highest level of gratitude goes to the many Associate members who have given their utmost in positive and generous support for our cause. With that ever growing circle of friends and supporters I am confident that Mountain Cattlemen are not a dying race and that a much more pleasing and safe alpine environment will be maintained, than if some misguided conservationists were to have their way. I must devote a line to record the extremely effective work of our Executive Officer, Graeme Stoney, and the efficient and professional manner in which he has carried it out. Also, I can say no less for Sue Silvers, our Assistant Secretary, an Associate member whose ongoing effort and dedication is positively outstanding. While I hope that we may never have to become so heavily involved in the political arena again, we must continually watch developments. One cannot help but be reminded of the Returned Servicemen's League motto: The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Our Executive, Members and Associates intend to fight for our rights in 1986 and beyond. My good wishes go to you all for 1986. James A.Commins President, Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria, Inc. 2 L. ;~fh)-Jai' THE MOUNTAIN CATTLEMEN ARE RIDING The Ride of the Cattlemen to Melbourne From the wide high country, Defending our rights, our heritage, Far older than a century - Was a sight to be remembered; To Parliament steps we rode, Bringing our cause for justice, Distrusting the easy code. Assurances we were given, Our grazing rights to keep; Mountain men and their families asked: "Were the promises real - or cheap!" Three hundred strong we mustered, A breath of the old Aussie way - Then back again to our mountains, But Melbourne remembers our day. From Parliament House to Nunawading September 1984 to September 1985. Victoria's legendary High Plains Cattlemen House agreed that the sight of the horses, wagons made history on the 4th September 1984 when and crowds of people was inspiring, and made the they and their supporters rode through Melbourne onlookers proud to be Australian. in what some commentators called 'the greatest Following the ride and the Annual General display of horsemen since the Light Horse left Meeting held in September 1984, a meeting was Melbourne for the war'. called of those people interested in supporting the The Cattlemen said they were fed up with Cattlemen in their fight to prevent any extension dealing with constant inspections, enquiries and to the Alpine Park system. This meeting was held submissions to no apparent avail. They were com at the Exhibition Building on the 25th October pletely against the proposal to double the Alpine 1984. More than three hundred enthusiastic and Park system on the grounds of cost to the determined supporters of the Cattlemen attended, community, loss of public freedoms and loss of voicing their concern at the Labor Government's vast Alpine multiple-use areas. The Cattlemen policy of creation of a massive park .. From that further threw into question the correctness of night to the present time the associate membership present National Parks Service regulations and of The Mountain Cattlemen's Association of management techniques as applied to large alpine Victoria Inc. has steadily grown, and now stands park areas. Further, they stated that they intended at over eight hundred. to push for recognition of the value of alpine Mountain Cattlemen attacked the Govern grazing, which they claimed should be encouraged ment for it's lack of sensible and correct manage rather than discouraged as at present. ment techniques in January 1985, when devastat Another deliberate tactic of the 'ride' was to ing bushfires struck many places in the alps. draw the fire of the conservation movement which Included in these fires was one in the Mount the Cattlemen believed should be brought to Buffalo National Park where protective burning account for it's extreme views and demands for had not been carried out and where, sadly, cattle the alps. no longer graze. Veteran Cattlemen, Lyle McCready said, 'What a pity these bushfues have On the morning of the 4th September 1984, ravaged the beautiful and once well cared-for three hundred and seven riders, two wagons and area. More than a coincidence, it is the first time more than two hundred people in four wheel drive since the 1939 fires and a great pity that the vehicles moved towards Parliament House to the Beveridges, Westons and others are not still graz applause and delight of the large crowd. The then ing cattle there. The inflammable material would Minister for Conservation, Rod Mackenzie and have been cut down and access to fight fires Planning Minister,