Walk-Issue24-1973.Pdf
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Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc. disclaims any warranty for the content, and will not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from the use of any content. DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! KEEP UP WITH THE LEADERS - Use ''FLINDERS'', Australia's No. 1 Camping & Hiking equipment. HIKE TENTS • 11 MODELS RUCKSACKS • 11 MODELS 'H' FRAMED • 6 MODELS 'VENTURERS' HIGH PACK • NEW PATENTED DESIGN • CAPES • ACCESSOR I ES * VICTORIAN DISTRIBUTORS Aussie Disposals Molony, J Auski Myer Emporium (all stores) Bush Gear Sam Bear Footscray Disposals Scout Shop (all stores) Girl Guides' Association Waalwyk Camping Mainland Stores Geelong Disp., Geelong Melb. Sports Depot Ray's Disp., Geelong Mitchell's Army & Moe Disp., Moe Navy Store Oakleigh Disposals eHIGH PACK FLINDERS GEAR IS FULLY GUARANTEED TO BUY THE BEST QUALITY IS SOUND INVESTMENT Editor: Warren Baker Advertising: A tho I Schafer Distribution: Graham Wills-Johnson Barry Short All enquiries to: Melbourne Bushwalkers, Box 17510, G.P.O., Melbourne, 3001 WALK is a voluntary, non-profit venture published by the Melbourne Bushwalkers in the interests of bushwalking as a healthy and enjoyable recreation. 1 CONTENTS Editorial .. 3 Walking Across the Roof of Australia. Geoffrey Mosley .. 4 Travels with Grandma- Budawang Range. .. G. Wills-Johnson .. 13 Classical Analogies .. .. Warren Baker 19 Anodopetalum Biglandu losum In Situ .. Jon Cairns 25 Rivers of Rock and Brumby Track F .W. Halls 30 Pedder Lives .. 36 Oh What a Lovely Way to Spend Easter .. .. Stuart Hodgson .. 38 A Special Visit to Lamington .. .. Michael Griffin .. 43 The Eucalyptus Distillers G. Errey .. 49 Books for Bushwalkers .. 51 Mountain Muster 52 The Heysen Trail 54 Mapping .. 62 WALKS SECTION Mitta Mitta Territory (five days) 55 Feathertop the Hard Way (four days) 58 Easter on the Rocky Range (four days) 60 The Upper Reaches of the Darga (two days) 63 Poley Range Country (two days) .. 65 A Weekend in Kooyoora Country (two days) 67 Federation Track, Boobyalla (one day) .. 69 Walking Near Melbourne (one day) 70 MELBOURNE BUSHWALKERS always welcome visitors on their walks which include easy one-day excursions and week-end trips. Extended walking tours of three days or more are also included on the programme. If you are interested, then call in any Wednesday night, from 8 to 10.30 p.m., to the clubroom, Hosier Lane, Melbourne (at the rear of the Forum Theatre). Details may be obtained by writing to the Hon. Secretary, Box 17510, G.P.O., Melbourne 3001, or by phoning 97 3724. The editorial committee of WALK 1973 wishes to acknowledge its appreciation to all those who have helped in this production and are not acknowledged in the text. This includes those members of the club who have helped with the manuscripts, Miss Rosemary Rider for her sketches on the title page and cover, Mrs Darrell Sullivan for drawing the maps, Mr John Brownlie and Dr G. Wills-Johnson for photographic help and the Editor of the Australian for permission to print the article appearing on page 4. 2 EDITORIAL There can be no doubt that when Australia's environmental problems are sub jected to critical analysis the source of these problems can be traced to the philosophy inherent in the affluent society. This view, namely that anything that may be ex ploited for profit and fortune is fair game for any kind of industry, has unfortunately been fostered by leadership at all levels for many years. Federal, State and Local Governments - either from gross ignorance of the nature of the problem or general lack of interest in conservation matters - have encouraged the rape of most of our beautiful countryside. Governments have shirked their duty to the community by irresponsibly permitting industry to intrude into reserved areas. The political term for this is progress. Individual properties, forests, national parks, natural watercourses, fauna and flora have all been affected in its name. One of the disturbing features of this situation is the speed and secrecy with which takeover operations are performed, and the fact that there are few, if any, legal safeguards for the restoration of damage. "Walk" does not believe that all change is necessarily bad, but all too often the word progress is used by interested bodies to justify legalised extortion from indivi duals or minority groups. In the name of progress we have seen our environment change before our eyes in response to legislation introduced through the lobbying of pressure groups. The list is formidable; Lake Pedder; part of the Cradle Mt National Park; the dreadful scar on Arthur's Seat; the secret and rapid building of a restaurant on Mt Dandenong; the taking of part of Port Phillip Bay to build a restaurant; and the near misses of the Botanical Gardens and the Little Desert. In no case has the loss been replaced by something of greater aesthetic value. Money, and only money has been the prime consideration. The Mt Feathertop area is currently under attack from skiing organisations. The Australian Ski Year Book of 1972 wants new ski fields developed on Feathertop. There would, of course be immense financial interests involved in such things as ski lodges, their associated bars, ski tows and other ancillary services. Garbage and non disposable waste is a common problem at ski resorts. This is akin to the violation of a beautiful and gentle queen. The awe and majesty would be gone forever. After all how aesthetic is a ski tow7 Bushwalking is an activity which appeals to a very large section of the community, even those without the skills and co-ordination needed for more strenuous sports. The fact that it is a perennial sport is a compelling reason for bushwalkers resisting the efforts of more powerful and richer groups to take over and exploit walking domains for seasonal use. Australia is in a fortunate pos1t1on that a similar pattern has emerged in other countries. To avoid mistakes made elsewhere our legislators must listen to much of the expert and informed advice that is now being offered in connection with environ mental matters. They must ensure legislation is introduced to protect individuals against the ravages of industry. They must ensure that there are adequate safeguards for restoration of areas at present being exploited. They must ensure that the general population is made aware that there are vast areas of Australia whose charm and beauty depend on them being maintained in their present pristine state. Unless the present governmental attitude radically changes there will be few areas fit for habitation, bushwalking or anything else. 3 WALKING ACROSS THE ROOF OF AUSTRALIAt by Geoffrey Mosley • A long walk is very different from any other. Because you are out longer and because there is the challenge of a distant destination it takes on many of the charac teristics of an expedition. Instead of having to go home before becoming thoroughly used to a new style of living, as you must with a weekend trip, the bush begins to feel like home. Wit.h so many days and so many uncertainties it is inevitable that there will be adventures. There is still a lot of scope for long trips through more or less natural country in Australia and for several years I have had the ambition of walking the alps from end to end, one of the best long trips of all. It was not easy to find companions but this year I found two very good ones. Dr Niels Becker and I planned to do the whole trip and Dr Ken Myer said he would like to do the second stage. Since we wanted to avoid walking with the early morning sun in our eyes it was logical to start at Canberra. For a destination we picked out the Mt Skene road, about 300 miles away in central Victoria. South of here the mountains become considerably lower and there are roads nearly everywhere. Still, we decided we would go on to walk over the Baw Baw Plateau and finish at Walhalla if we still had time to spare at the end. It is not much fun carrying food for a long period so we decided to post food to three different points along the way and carry a maximum of six days' supply. We set off early on the morning of November 14 walking past the last houses on the edge of Canberra heading for our first obstacle, the Murrumbidgee River and after that the mountains. Days One to Seven: Canberra to Tom Groggin The Murrumbidgee waters were strong but clear and we swam across a 6Q-yard stretch without much difficulty, our packs providing buoyancy. At flood time the several extra miles walk to the nearest bridge would be worth considering. Then on through paddocks which made a nice contrast with the stormy looking mountains which we could see ahead of us.