Volume 15 Issue 2 Winter 2007

Opening of the Walking Season and promotion of Newsletter of the the Pioneer Walking Federation of Women’s Trail South Inc 14a Stuart Road, Dulwich

All correspondence to Post Office Box 6067 Linden Park SA 5065

Phone (08) 8361 2491

Webpage: www.walkingsa.org.au Email: Walkers in the grounds of [email protected] Beaumont House

John Eaton John Eaton

Mayor of Burnside Wendy Greiner receiving Uniting all Certificate of Appreciation to Burnside Council people actively from Walking SA’s President Chris Bushell concerned with bushwalking.

Featured in this edition of Walking SA News :-

◊ Words from the President ◊ History of the Pioneer Women’s Trail Walking SA is supported through ◊ Walking Access Report the Office for ◊ Report on the Opening of the Walking Season 2007 Recreation & Sport and the Government of President’s words

I am honoured to be the new President of We hope that we can continue the Trail Walking SA. For those of you who don’t from Verdun to Hahndorf. That requires a foot- know me, I have been Coordinator of the ARPA bridge over the Onkaparinga River. The road Bushwalkers for the past three years. My hope bridge between the Hahndorf exit from the free- for the Federation is to raise our profile as we way and Hahndorf was a danger to pedestrians have been doing of recent years and to help and has become worse with the addition of crash continue the work of my predecessors. rails. We were pleased to see Ann Ferguson, The Opening of the Walking Season was Mayor of the District Council of Mt Barker, at the particularly successful and a credit to all those opening and we understand the council recognises who helped organise it. The attendance was the need for this footbridge. It is somewhat considerably above what I expected. beyond our capabilities. Combining the season opening with the We will continue to undertake trail analysis official opening of the Pioneer Women’s Trail and development programmes. Our problem is added to the attraction of the day. Annie Luur that there are a limited number of volunteers cur- Fox and her colleagues from the Hahndorf rently available on and around the committee. Chapter of the National Trust reminded us that We need to expand the number of volunteers and we had only recently become involved and that develop a structure to enable the work to be com- they had been working on the project for a mere pleted. You will see a request for helpers from 28 years. All comments about the map have John Eaton elsewhere in this newsletter. If you been most favourable. It is a great credit to all have the time and inclination to help in any of our those who worked on it. activities please contact the office or a member of We were delighted that Wendy Greiner, the committee. Mayor of Burnside, came to declare the Season and the Trail open. As you may know we presented the Burnside and Hills Councils with framed certificates of apprecia- Chris Bushell tion to acknowledge their assistance in the April 2007 establishment of the Pioneer Women’s Trail.

Walking SA Volunteers at the Opening of the Walking Season (Chris Bushell (WSA President), Mary Denton, Myra Betschild, June Boscence, Liz O’Shea, Peter Beer) The history of the HAHNDORF PIONEER WOMEN’S TRAIL: 25th Anniversary of the first National Trust Walk from Hahndorf to Beaumont House. by Anni Luur Fox, Hahndorf Branch, National Trust of SA. January 2005

If life truly is “a pudding full of plums” as Sir The Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail com- W.S. Gilbert once opined, the saga of the Hahndorf memorates these first efforts to supply Adelaide with Pioneer Women’s Trail fits into both plum and pud- fresh farm produce from the Mt Barker region which ding categories as the following overview of our ef- later became the “breadbasket” of the colony. In 1839 forts will reveal. On the 20 April 1980 when the first Hahndorf had been the first village established east of public National Trust re-enactment took place, the Mt Lofty. Its impoverished settlers immediately Hahndorf Branch was almost four years old and over- cleared ground and planted seed and like their coun- loaded with seemingly endless battles with develop- trymen at Klemzig, were quick to take advantage of ers, lawyers and government authorities. Gordon the lack of fresh food in Adelaide. Because Colonel Young’s Hahndorf Survey (1979-81) was gathering Light’s rural surveys had stalled, most immigrants had information that later substantiated our claims for the been stuck in the city speculating on town acres and town as a heritage site. We had played a major role in patronising the many pubs. The little food grown lo- th stopping demolition of a group of three 19 Century cally had to be supplemented through importation. buildings a developer wanted to replace with a shop- According to an early newspaper report flour was of- ping centre and we were trying to ensure that conser- ten contaminated with seawater and other undesirables vation principles were upheld in Neill Wallman’s new such as whiting, bonemeal or Plaster of Paris added to Supplementary Development Plan for Hahndorf…….. the casks by unscrupulous merchants. No wonder Mrs as well as trying to fix the windmill. Watts complained in her diary about bread being as Mrs Elizabeth Simpson’s enthusiasm to develop hard as bricks. Fresh produce from Hahndorf’s rich a re-enactment along an early supply trail from the Mt. soil in those very early days of the colony must have Barker region to Adelaide resulted in the Beaumont been a special treat. House committee’s invitation to join them in organis- The women and older girls feature in early ac- ing this event to mark the Silver Jubilee of the S.A. counts of transportation of Hahndorf’s produce to National Trust in 1980. It seemed like fun! They even market, probably because the men were away working supplied us with a copy of Frederick Nixon’s map of for landholders clearing the bush and fencing. The 1841 showing trails in the region which would help us women tended the animals and the gardens, made the determine the route from Hahndorf to Crafers while butter and cheese and other items they carried on their they would work on the shorter section via Eagle on backs for sale in Adelaide to pay off their ship and the Hill to Beaumont. land debts. Some of them are recorded as carrying 35 Our Chairman John Storey, a veteran of the kilograms of farm produce before works on the Great Kokoda Trail during World War 2, declared it “a Eastern Road had improved conditions for wheeled cinch”. He rushed off to the Woodside Army camp traffic by 1854. As more villages were developed at where he and Major Ian Ferguson converted the map Grunthal (now Verdun), Mt Barker, Lobethal, to the same scale as a recent one from the Department Echunga and Balhannah more people joined of Lands for comparison. They found that the Onka- Hahndorf’s women on the produce trail to Adelaide. paringa and Old Mt Barker roads were part of the To check the route which may also have been a original rough track but at least the route also trav- means of communication between the Peramangk ersed bushland where it could be possible to imagine Aboriginal people of the hills region and the Kaurna the first group of women setting off for Adelaide at on the plain, I joined John Storey, Clare Ferguson, midnight with their eggs and radishes for sale soon Lyndell Davidge and Rodney Allen on 29 March 1980 after Hahndorf was settled in March 1839. It must for the first hike to Beaumont House. After six hours have been a frightening prospect for them, given the we stumbled scratched, footsore and weary despite our awful tales of fierce Tiersmen, some of them outlaws “You Beaut” modern sneakers and lightweight back- living rough along the way at Crafers. packs, into the gorgeous dining room where the Com- mittee had prepared afternoon tea for us in elegant style. Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail cont

A creek near the Beaumont House site had been Like giving birth, the pain of it all soon passed the place where pioneer women, barefoot to save shoe in the euphoria of a successful event. Our Branch re- leather, had stopped to rest and tidy themselves be- peated the scenario, minus police, in 1983, !985 and fore the last stretch to Adelaide’s markets. What a 1986 in partnership with the Beaumont House Com- contrast! For us, a sumptuous spread of cucumber mittee. The success of these events had spawned in- sandwiches and Queen Mother’s Cake awaited, as creasing requests for more. Each time, John Storey well as motor cars to transport us up the hills to and I virtually had to walk the route thrice to hammer Hahndorf in comfort where a hot bath filled by turning in the markers, lead the walk/ensure no one got lost, a tap would ease the effects of such unaccustomed remove the markers. The Branch began supplying exertions. They didn’t remain unaccustomed for long! maps. Lyndell Davidge led the biennial walks by Fully expecting no more than three men and a Hahndorf Primary School. Our persistent requests for dog to turn up at the Pioneer Park on 20 April to regis- official marking by the SA Department of Sport and ter and actually pay money for the privilege of follow- Recreation came to naught until the Centenary of ing members of the Hahndorf Branch along the Trail Women’s Suffrage in 1994 when Terry Lavender to Beaumont, we had marked the route on the previous must have got sick of my nagging while following day but had organised few drink stops. How embar- him along the Trail during WomenTrek. This marvel- rassing! About 150 adventurous souls made the jour- lous event had seen women walking thousands of kilo- ney including a seventy year old woman and metres along the trails of South Australia, culminating C.Warren Bonython. (On subsequent walks in 1983 in the Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail. It was the and 1986 Warren walked with a 45 pound load of first time we had to walk back up the hills again (some vegetables, including a huge marrow, celery and other took a bus), to take part in the closing ceremony in greens in a rucksack. This same weight was carried by Mt. Lofty Gardens. “Whew! the Hahndorf women in the early days of the colony.) These were definitely “plum” events followed Along the way two of our walkers had somehow by what I prefer to term a “pudding” whose public ended up on the South Eastern Freeway median strip dissection won’t do our cause any good at all. The where a passing police patrol insisted they climb back project to officially mark the Trail has lurched on over the high cyclone fence, which they did. Having since 1994. Various project officers have worked on waited a while they scaled the fence again, dashed it, including planner Rod Worthington who had the over four lanes of traffic and jumped another high unenviable task of ensuring our Trail fitted depart- fence in search of the Old Mt. Barker Road they knew mental Trails Policy. As expected, the section from had to be there somewhere. the Eagle to Hahndorf is proving difficult and the offi- On reaching the “Eagle” our numbers were cial Trail will have to stop at the road bridge over the swelled again for the descent to Beaumont but at least Onkaparinga River at South Verdun where increasing the pub had a good supply of drinks. Historian Reg pressure for more commercial development on the Butler flanked by other direct descendents of the floodplain has sent us to the Environment Court yet Hahndorf women in period dress, led the throng with a again. flag sent him by citizens of Westerland, the birthplace The road bridge, in these litigious times marked of Captain Hahn who had been so influential in the by insurance industry catastrophes, has been officially founding of Hahndorf. St Michael’s Lutheran Church deemed too dangerous for foot traffic. We did try to choir entertained us with Paul Gerhardt’s hymn which improve matters by forming a partnership with the the first settlers had managed to sing at the top of the Hahndorf Community Association, Business and Beaumont spur after two days of lugging their belong- Tourism Association and Country Arts SA. We were ings up its steep slope on the way to establish successful in gaining funds for a Concept Plan for the Hahndorf in the heat of summer 1839, “O sun where Hahndorf Entranceway and Pioneer Women’s Trail art thou vanished?” And we soon vanished too, for the and were even short listed for funds by the Regional comforts of home after gladly abandoning plans to Tourism Program. Until the financial and political search for two missing walkers whose encounter with problems of building a footbridge over the Onkapar- the police had made them late for afternoon tea in the inga River are solved, we remain thankful for the lush gardens of Beaumont House. plums that have befallen us and, as the poet W.H. Auden once put it, “stagger on rejoicing” just as Hahndorf’s pioneer women first did in 1839.

This article was originally published in Autumn 2005 for Heritage Living. MAPS & BOOKS FOR WALKERS

Onkaparinga River National Park Map for “The Lavender Federation Trail” Detailed coloured, contour maps showing features of Mt Beevor to Springton interest, tracks and gridlines of the Park have just been released.

Double sided A3 Maps feature The Upper and Lower Gorge Scale 1:15,000 Onkaparinga River Recreation Park and Hardy’s Scrub Scale 1:10,000 This map is available Cost: $15.00 for the set. from outdoor stores Contacts: Rick Williams 8384 7812 RRP $10.00 Malcolm Kirkham 8382 0929

Proceeds will be used by the Friends Group to

further protect the biodiversity of the Park.

Scott Creek Conservation Park TRACK SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY 2007 CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Detailed coloured contour maps showing features of interest, creek names, Walking SA is being contracted by DEH to carry out a sustainability survey of selected tracks in tracks and grid lines. Belair NP and Morialta CP that were damaged or Double sided A3 1:10,000 scale $10.00 suffered infrastructure damage as a result of the heavy Double sided A4 1:15,000 scale $8.00 rains of October 2005. Walking SA would like to hear from members Contact: of affiliated clubs who have some knowledge of the John Butler 8278 2773 use of GPS and OziExplorer software and who would Tom Hands 8388 2150 Walking SA 8361 2491 be willing to form a team that would be able to partici- pate in this project. Team members would also use a pocket clinometer to measure track gradients and enter Proceeds will be used by the Friends Group to track data onto a field sheet for later entry into the further protect the biodiversity of the Park. Walking SA’s TrackInfo/TracksData database that has been developed on Microsoft Access. The data will then be used to advise DEH of track sustainability is- sues and to advise on the direction of possible re- routes and track closures in these parks. If you are a keen walker, have experience in the use of GPS and map reading skills, and are interested in participating in this project as a Walking SA volun- teer, you are asked to contact June Boscence at the Walking SA Office (Mondays and Thursdays) or con- tact John Eaton directly. He would be pleased to hear from you. John’s contact details are: Tel. (08) 8431 5460 M. 0419 176 713 Email: [email protected]. Opening of the Walking Season 2007 and launch of the Pioneer Women's Trail.

The weather gods provided The president of Walking SA welcomed our normal superb fine autumn day everybody to the event and thanked them for their for this event which was held on support, before introducing Annie Luur Fox from th Sunday 15 of April at Beaumont the Hahndorf branch of the National Trust, who House. Why Beaumont House you gave a brief history of the Pioneer Women’s Trail say? Well Beaumont House is at concept and expressed her thanks to all involved the end of the newly-marked Pio- in the development of the Trail and publication of neer Women’s Trail which, thanks the brochure containing background information to the efforts of a large number of and a detailed map. enthusiastic people, finally has come to fruition. I The Mayor of Burnside Wendy Greiner refer you to the article in the last walking SA then formally opened the 2007 Walking season newsletter for details of how this was achieved. and launched the Pioneer Women’s Trail. The The Beaumont House grounds became a official party then walked to nearby Brock hive of activity early in the morning as tents and Reserve to view the start of the Trail and inspect stalls were set up by a range of groups such as the signage used to delineate and explain features walking clubs, walking equipment suppliers, of the route. The Walking SA committee was also natural history organizations and health promo- appreciative of the presence of the Mayor of the tion bodies. During the morning several groups Mount Barker Council, Ann Ferguson, who from members of the general public were taken promised support for the extension of the Trail on walks to introduce them to the Pioneer through to Hahndorf. Women’s Trail and local points of historical The organizing committee led by Myra interest. Betschild, Mary Denton and members of Women Around midday walkers from several walk- in the Bush, with assistance from June Boscence, ing clubs began to converge at Beaumont House are to be congratulated on bringing the event to having walked from a range of different starting fruition. Walking SA would like to thank all points. The crowd swelled and provided a organizations and walking clubs who made the carnival atmosphere for the official talks which day such a success. began at 1.00pm. Peter Beer

Vale ATTENTION George Driscoll WALK LEADERS 14 October 1936 - 8 May 2007

Forestry SA Rangers have asked that clubs Outdoor lovers in South Australia and provide prior notification of all planned walks will forever remember in forest areas, giving the approximate George’s happy smiles and infectious number of participants and details of the enthusiasm for bushwalking. proposed walk route. This would apply to all George uncovered the best of the bush, walks throughout the year. publishing his favourite walks for us all to enjoy. Contacts: Mt Crawford Forest George has been a loyal and valued Phone (08) 8524 6004 friend to many and will be truly missed. Kuitpo Forest Our sympathy to Elfi, Harry and Toby. Phone (08) 8391 8800 Taken from a tribute in “The Advertiser” Saturday 12 May 2007 from the Friends of the Heysen Trail Walking Access Report

Official Opening of the 2007 Walking Season. the concept of a long distance walking trail to connect Another successful event, hosted jointly by Walking the Ranges. This outdated legislation is still current to SA and Women in the Bush to officially set in motion this day with no protection or security for these valu- various walking programmes conducted by member able public access routes that are vital to the walking clubs, was held at the National Trust property, Beau- system and for adaptation as wildlife and native vege- mont House, on Sunday, 15 April, 2007. The occa- tation corridors. Fortunately, the Native Vegetation sion was well attended by many walkers who had the Branch of DEH is named in the regulations of the opportunity to take part in an interesting programme Roads (Opening and Closing) Act for consultation by of walks organised to launch the Pioneer Women’s the local government authority before proceeding with Heritage Trail between Hahndorf and Beaumont the closure. Walkers will be aware of various indige- House. Walking SA was contracted by the Office for nous swampland plants occurring in this region that Recreation and Sport to mark the Trail from Silver may have protection within Federal Government legis- Road, Bridgewater to Beaumont with the section to lation. By some miracle, or by sheer dint of hard Hahndorf to be marked following negotiations be- work and dedicated application to the task, we have tween Mount Barker and Councils and the Heysen Trail stretching from Parachilna in the the Hahndorf National Trust to enable a safe crossing northern Flinders Ranges to Cape Jervis on the tip of of Onkaparinga River in order to complete the Trail. Fleurieu Peninsula and we all have a responsibility to Wendy Greiner, Mayor of Burnside Council, per- ensure we retain it in total. We cannot rely on suc- formed the opening ceremony that was attended by ceeding generations of public servants to ensure it is Ann Ferguson, Mayor of Mount Barker Council and protected, but we can implore our respective Local Christine Harris, representing Adelaide Hills Council. Members of Parliament to bring about legislative Anni Luur Fox and Lyndall Davidge, representing changes to an outdated Act of Parliament in an effort Hahndorf National Trust were also present. Clearance to provide some degree of security for a South Austra- of mature hawthorn trees on the steep slopes below lian icon. Mount Osmond had been carried out by Rob Marshall Proposed Road Closure and Sale at Inman Valley. of the Friends of Parks Walking Trails Support Group, Yet another public road reserve situated in close prox- assisted by Ivan Weiner, to provide a sustainable and imity to the Myponga Conservation Park and the Hey- negotiable trail. Walking SA is also indebted to sen Trail, providing ideal distant coastal views, will Andrew Crompton of Burnside Council for his advice possibly be sold to an adjoining landowner. Once and support. A number of clubs took the opportunity again, this is public land, land designated for use by to mount a display of photographs and information the public, but likely to be sold for the exclusive use about their respective clubs while the Friends of of a single landowner. There is an outstanding Onkaparinga Park supplied hot tea, coffee and cake, opportunity for a scenic walking trail to link to the and a sausage sizzle to sustain the walkers and visi- Conservation Park and the Heysen Trail and every tors. A tour of heritage Beaumont House was also effort will be made to retain the road reserve in public available. ownership.

Proposed Closure and Sale of a Section of the Adelaide Hills Council. Negotiations are taking Heysen Trail. Mount Barker Council continues to place with Adelaide Hills Council to provide walking pursue efforts to close Long Gully Road, identified as access along undeveloped road reserves to link alter- Heysen Trail access through Glen Bold Cattle Station, native areas of the Botanic Garden to the Heysen Trail south of Mylor and north of Jupiter Creek. At the re- and other scenic options of interest to walkers. quest of a previous owner, the Trail was re-routed to Lavender Federation Trail. Included in the latest the eastern boundary of Glen Bold prior to manage- issue of “Footsteps”, Newsletter of S.A.R.T.I., are ment of the Heysen Trail being transferred to DEH details of plans to apply for funding to construct a from the Office for Recreation and Sport. With no loop trail around the Rocky Gully Wetlands on the legislative protection for the Heysen Trail and more northern outskirts of Murray Bridge near the com- than 50% of it following road reserves that are vulner- mencement of the Trail. The proposal will make an able to being absorbed into adjoining private property, alternative route available to walkers along the Trail in the future of the Trail is destined to be at risk of addition to creating a loop trail for casual walkers. An extinction. This statement is factual, not alarmist! appeal is also made for Trail Maintenance volunteers The legislation relating to undeveloped road reserves whose assistance is always greatly appreciated. was drafted within the Roads (Opening and Closing) Act in 1931 long before Warren Bonython put forward Thelma Anderson Walking Access Committee The National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference 'Just Walk It' is a free community based will be held in Fremantle, Western Australia. walking program. It provides participants with 6 - 10 August 2007. Sessions will be scheduled to the opportunity to engage in regular physical allow delegates the opportunity to attend all presenta- activity while developing social contacts within tions. Topics will cover a broad range of wildlife- related issues presented by veterinarians, specialist their community. rehabilitators, zoologists, researchers and profession- 'Just Walk It' focuses on two risk factors als working in various wildlife fields. for cardiovascular disease - lack of physical activity and social isolation. The program This Conference will be of interest anyone involved particularly targets sedentary adults in an effort with wildlife. to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. However, everyone, including existing walking Sunday 5 August groups, are invited to become part of the 'Just Pre-registration and Welcome Walk It' network. 'Just Walk It' has incentive awards that Monday 6 to Thursday 9 August acknowledge involvement at a range of mile- Conference with Conference Dinner stones and offers walk organisers free CPR Friday 10 August training and free Personal Accident insurance. Following on from the Darwin Conference, we will be presenting an optional For more information call 8224 2888. half-day Autopsy session on the Saturday morning. Session cost will include a copy of Karrie Rose’s Wildlife Heath Investigation Manual and a basic Walking SA’s Committee 2006/2007 autopsy kit. This session will be facilitated

by veterinarians and pathologists. Committee Members Chris Bushell (President) Updates: [email protected] Thelma Anderson National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference 2007 Peter Beer PO Box 232 Kalamunda Western Australia 6926 Myra Betschild email ~ [email protected], web ~ www.nwrc.com.au phone - 08 9316 8526 Merilyn Browne The 2007 Conference is being held under the auspices of the Brian Croft Western Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Inc Mary Denton ABN 96 705 889 719 John Eaton Bill Gehling Walking SA is looking for a person who would be Fran Lucas willing to represent the organisation at the David Marcroft Chris Moad Conservation Council of SA Joan Mooney Meetings. Lis O’Shea (Hon. Secretary) Arthur Ward (Hon. Treasurer) If anyone is willing to take on this task, please contact Walking SA’s Office ph 8361 2491 Administration June Boscence