:IL I CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB INC. I-' I NEVVSLETTER'P.O.Box 160 Canberra City, ACT 2601
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4. Registered for posting as a PSiodical Category B. Price 20c. Vol. 13. NOVEIVIBER 1977 No. 11.
Coming Events: . - •. . b Wednesday 16th -November MeetIng ' : 1 Land Use Research Building .C.8.I.R.O., .. Black Mountain 71. 45'pnrnvnrds . - was that track not shdwri on the imp" Major McClosky, Army Survey Corps will talk on the making of maps and listen to our complaints about the maps , that I are produced . . Wednesday. 23rd -Walks flariñing Evening and Library Night • . .; ..... Si Bonython Street,.. Downer ..... Come along and Thelp plan the programme, sociaJ.ise or sit. in a 6'0rner with a book from the mafficent Jrdt c•fléotion (no women's weekltes provided) B.Y.O.). Monday 28th - Committee Meetin . .. . . 5 Olympus Way, tArons This is the headquarters for LAG. The meeting is Open to members who would' like to come along.. . . Thursday 1st Dec - 'IT' CLiing Date for December IT a Sat/Sun 10-11 Christmas Party Wdékenid . . .. For details - look carefully in this issue of IT.
t Thesday¶ 13th - IT Cc.11ation.. . 25 Eggleston Cres, Ch1ffIJ. Are you an expert at walking round a table, stapling, fold.i-ng, sticky-taping, post-coding, or supervising - your services. are needed. (for supervising applications in writing to. Editói' please). . . ... . . .
EDTTORIAL "Our aim is that the National Park shalL afford to those who live in .itachnce to make a living in a competitive world,. and to thdse who visit it the solace of tiàtüral beauty,". . M . (Kenneth Dobefl) 4 This Is. one of the many quotes cocntained in a recently- published article J by the Assoctation for Regional Parks and Countryside Commissions. of Australia. A little later in Its article it says "There Is no natural state.. . Dedicated inhabitants need to preserve a.park. Nature is never statio.'
The Association appears to see man and domesticated, animals being essential to the entIre environment there seems to be no place in their world for undisturbed environments. Page Two November 1977 In its article it deplores the urbanisation of rural land. Why does it not take the next step: to a recognition that just as urbanisation is destructive to rural land, so too is ruralisation of Threat and aipine land.
The Association says its aim is education to a public awareness of a need for regional parks and country..side commissions or similar bodies dedicated to preserve the rural countryside having regard to: the prodikction of fresh foods and other horticultural, agricultural and forest products;
the maintenance, preservation and beautification of the ' S countryside for the recreation of the people;
: to preserve aI d6nities with the tMdit'ional
a) ' to ensure that housing areas fit in with scenic and environmental amenities, ...... ' to minimise environmental pollution and deterioration;. to encourage conservation of natural vegetation and . atw'al resources.
All fine and commendable aims, thou "to encourage oonservation of natural resourds" remifids one of the aternent'"in the National interetht: ' t &pljátion of thi aims of the Association", which is likely to be a 'body with à"tiong future ±rtfluence'on :4jjj.'. and forested land, leae grave concern fO;r the status of our remaining 'unmanused' bush and landforms. . . ...... ..,... .....
The .:4l$tralian ,concept,on of National Paris has been based langely on false:ideas of wilderness."
This was not in any way qualified and suggests thAssqciation4s attempting to denigrate the opposition instead of stating 'its own objective and uncoloured views. Possibly members of the Association are afrfid 'of" the oppdsitioti'so.they' feel the need to "str'engthen" their arguments. •. ' . .' .. . . Y
"Australia was like a park and not a wilderness when husbanded by the Aborigines
The Association has a distaste for wilderness (how do they define, it?) but the Aborigines were part of 4t, whether, park or wilderneâs. .: They did not have domesticated stQ6k'tnd were themselves nomadic in their habits.. They moyed with the .envirome,nt.
very large parts of the country environment tich delights and refreshes urban man, the maintenance, the work, the ordered detail, the almost park-like appearance are not provided unassisted. They are the work of the dedicated farmer. Remove him and the land that was the nation's pride and beauty will quickly deteriorate. .
It would seem that the Association cahnot h andle the concept oC an environment ecologicallr'un'changed by man's presence, and the beauty - nature's beauty - that is there. Is beauty derived from exploitation of the environment or from its preservation? Further, is preservation of flora, fauna,' and landform compatible with domesticated stock,' agricultural production or Patural resource explOitation. Why should the latter take precedence over the former when there is so little of a the former remaining.
A park may be grass azidradiata pine trees (or other.sPecies) but - - the evolved eco] ogy originally there - nature's beauty - is lost foreven.
-Pt Novethber .1977 Page Three Man's replacement is impermanent, often unpleasant an4can lead to a desolate environment.
"Establishfrsg t nature reserve is far from being a mere matter of fencing sheep, and possibly people, out' and then letting nature rip."
One feels saddened by the destructiveness of man, when he narrows his world down to what he can gain from what he thinks the world should be like. . He would destroy less and gain a fuller awareness if he observed and listened to what is there.
/Ev'en among bushwalkers there are degrees of awareness. Just as y6 find joy in a 'wildezigss expextence' so too can joy'-be derived from Imowing that some areas are undisturbed while we remain confined to our domesticated urban or rural environment.
A copy of the Association article is held.by the Conservation Officer.
EDITORIAL SUBCONMI= The Editor would greatly appreciated help from a couple of members who would be interested inbeing on the sub-committee. Please enquire to - that's right - the Editor.. .
"The Eye" has been sleeping lately but don't worry - he's stirring - so watch out! Who put that in - Ed.
President&sl Meanderings "In WilderneSs is the preservation of the World" . Henry tbc're :1851...
A few weekends ago I attended the first National Wi&derness Conference, organized by the Australian Conservflion Foundation. Modelled on those organized by the Sierra C1uW'in the U.S.A., the Conference provided an opportunity for people from all over Australia to focus on Wilderness in Australia. We as bushwalkers are prime users of this limited resource - a..resource that is fast disappearing. The Conferece was agreed that there was an:urgent need to identify potential wilderness areas and to impose 1.nteram restrictions on use of such areas while they are fully evaluated. The Helman Study of potential wilderness areas in N.S.W. was seen. as the first of a series of studies that need to be done throughout Australia. Another theme that emerged at the Conference was the difficulty of management of wilderness areas. Studies on recreational use and attitudes towards wilderness indicate that our attitudes to wilderness (varied as they' are) are not shared by other large seentsof the population. This Inevitably affects the way in which the varioUs Park services manage wildeiness areas. With their limited resources, adequate management of wilderness areas by the responsible authc-rities is not possible and this can lead to public reaction agathst the declaration of more areas as wilderness. Page Four November 1977
In our efforts, to have more areas preserved as wilderness we also create a greater awareness of wilderness values and experiences and this leans to increased use of areas. The Conference recognized the need to undertake urgently studies into problems of carrying capacity, physical and psychological, of wilderness areas; work on a code of ethics for wilderness users was also seen as necessary.
We as bushwalkers cannot be complacent. Thought must be given to what'each of us see as important to wilderness conservation. Next time we go into the bush and light a fire, tramp down a track, build a stone cairn, stumble across another group of walkers or trail bikes, remember that wilderness is a valuable resource - not just for our otm selfish recreational uses, but for ecological, scientific and cultural reasons. As bushwalkers, let us be at the forefront of those actively preserving and promoting wilderness. Henry
PHG1'OGRAPHIC COMPETTFION
Once again the Club photographic competition 'has come and gone with its share of troubles and criticisms.
Due to unforeseen circumstances the "non member" judge was unable to attend and this was unfortunate, however let me add a few more criticisms.
This club had 236 members in 1976 who were eligible to enter - 12 did. If one removes the slides I put in to fill out numbers and the slides which were ineligible for one reason or another we had a very small entry.
Criticism was voiced at the beginning about the lack of oral., criticism - that comment was made by someone who did not enter - were they afraid of criticism?? Constructive written criticism was available but only one person enquired, everyone else just grabbed their slides and ran.
I consider that the photographic competion should not be held again for several years and that more benefit would be gained by this year's entrants by their having a private showing of what they consider their best shots of the year - "ThVTTATION BY ENTRY ONLY".
Finally let me congratulate this s winners, Mike Patterson, Reet Vallak, Cynthia Breheny and Philip Burden. Craig Allen
WALKS REPORTS
Plan A was described in IT (Sept, as 'Black Coda'), but not even Terry really thought'it would go. Other walks were full or cancelled so various people wanted to join Terry. Matrimonial harmOny prevailed and he devised Plan B which started: "Friday night (10 pm) Batsh Camp - Acetylene Spur - Kowmung, 10 km
Nine people started at 11 pm awl raached Lannigan's Creek via Acetylene Spur. Soon after, Plan C was formed - rock hopping by moonlight was unpopular so we camped at 2 am.
Next morihing(8.15 dep.), on to the Kowmung, passing quickly through Plan D, Plan E, Plan F and Plan G, all of which coil apsed when no nne, including Terry, would agree to being part of a 'fast party'. Under Plan Ii we continued down the Kowmung, stopping for lunch where it was discovered thatTerry provides 'yuk' tea, butonly drinks Twinings. fatnr in the day the leader disappeareã and was replaced by signs jib 'LIX' November 1977 Page Five
"Terry is making a cuppa 4 km downstream"). John Street converted the stop to our campsite and Ean I (after all, it was 6 pm) by pitching his tent. At 7.30 am we started downstram to molting tea at 11 am at Mares Hole Creek. The morning included (optional) enjnyable finger and toe work and swimming, and a switch to Plan J. then Plan K and back to - Plan J,- depending on whose navigation was in vogue. We then went up to the junction with Quig ('i) Ck, up o ridge, along Scotts Main Range fire trail, down a ridge to the Grog Shop on Butchers Ck, for a late lunch and the unfolding of Plan_M, unanimously accepted by all 8 present. Packing after lunch the 9th person pemarked on the expected lack of water, leading to a reversion to Plan L and the Axehead Range by 5 people. Terry and I and spice remained faithful to Plan M and Butcher's Ck, which had repaId us by becoming narvww, scrubby, and dark. We camwd at the agreed rendegunus at 7.20 pm - dark was 6.20ish.
The absence of the others resulted in Plan N and we headed to the intersection of Butcher's and Yerranderie (7) fire trail 1 kin away, to be guided in by the dulcet tones of John S and Meg McKone - their party got there at 7.30 the previous night and didn't fancy the trip fto the rendezvous. Together again, we evolved Plan 0 (Mt. Tonsil then Plan P (down th Colong Caves and up Acetylene), discarding both in favour of Plan Q, sk climbed up past Kowmung Mt and along to Kowmung Gap, losing Terry to a variant of Plan Q. We followed a completely overgrown fire trail to Squatting R'ck Gap, were rejoinined by Terry, had an early and long lunch, and were disturbed by 2 trail bikes vn their way into the national park. IReturn to the cars Batsh Camp was over Mt. CoJ.ong. We arrived at 5.57 pm, 3 minutes earlier than the time Terry had consistently quoted since Plan H. The drive home was an epic of misbehaving Moke and thirsty new Mazda. Thank you to Meg for Chepherding Terry and Henry's vehicles back to civil- isation, and the gentleman who provided petrol at 8.30 pm.
This L/R tzip (Terry says Mill) was also enjoyed by Ally Street and Philip Burden, but I'm not so sure about the various animals subjected to close attention - numerous frogs, large goannas, frilled lizards, the wombat which exited between Terry's legs, and the possum which climbed a tree via Meg's arm. The kangaroos, black snakes, feral cows etc. managed to keep at viewing distance only. -
Sue told me to say something about the panoramic views and the wildflcwers. Alan Vidler
Excerpt from a Genoa River Memoir The meeting of the two parties heading west and south which had last seen each other heading on those respective courses was not the most peculiar phenomenon which occurred on this mysterious and haunted weekend*. Forexample there was the case of Meds, the fastest bushwalker on four legs, being easily beaten to Nungatta trip despite 30 minutes start. This çcnzle trill doubtLs3 confuse extra-terrestial topograph- ical phenomeologists for the next two light-years. Then there was the case-of th-missing-bder and the case of the.tiny fruip cake being e easily diiisible into 15 p1cus(tJit1 SLQO"dS foç tho grc4y DnL-s *Tfrtsiphhononbn waE aaiLy e3cplained by a well-known bushwalker-mathe- matician as a 'Moebius strip' local magnetic anomaly (a kind of s-bend in four dimensions) **myself included! Page Six November 1977 Another miracle of loaves and fishes: Perhaps the most amusing however was a further observation of the amazing affinity people have for pitching tents at Terry Jordan* stopping places. At about 3.30 pm the mob came upon Terry innocently standing by the Genoa River. They immediately started to 'bag! tent sites, frantically gather tent poles and, by artful pitching, close off escape routes. The following drama is not a true and accurate recording. Me: Looks like you missed out on the best campsites, Terry. And you were here first. Terry: I didxft say I was áamping here Me: Say Terry, are there any better spots to camp? Terry: I didn't say I was camping anywhere. Me: Well, are there any better spots? Terry: There is a. much better spot 100 metres downstream Peter Conroy (entering): WHAT! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL us! merry:. (sotto voce) I didn"t say I was camping yet. It is only 3.30 Conroy (exits): HEY EVERYBODY PACK UP! THEBE' S A BETTER CAMPS TTE ROUI1D THE cORNER! People (offstage, hysterical): Where is it? Why.ididn"t you tell us? Has it got grassy banks? Has Terry been there? Terry: I didn't say I was going to camp yet. Me: Is there a nice swimming hole, Terry? Terry: Yes (there was) Me: HEY EVERYBODY IT HAS A GOOD SWThIMThIG HOLE! Has it got running water, Terry? TerI'y (whispering): Yes Me: HEY EVERYBODY IT HAS RUNNING WATER: The remainder of the mob tramples past at top speed Happy Ending The campsite is idyllic with three choices. of tent location and three choices of campfire. Mythical Ending Terry: Actually, there is an even better spot 100 metres upstream. Faithlessly recorded by J. Street
MEPERSHIP New Members ..
John Straddotto . Janet P .McCarr Mayo Mansen icym Jervois
Bryan J. Sullivan . . . . Alexander D. Bremmer Jan Carruthers ..
Prospective : Mpmbers Peter Hocking Brassey House, Brisbane Ave, Barton . 733522 x 15 (W) Gerard Anthony Neville 5/7 Inlay St., Eden 2551 0649-61547 (W). Anna Rojicek, .. 56:rmdter- Cres, Narrabundah . 951529 (H)
Lydia Rojicek ) 541239 (w) Gabrielle Passlow, 2 Hawker Gardens, Muaranji St, Hawker 526915 (w) Change of Address Marc Weinstein 478949 (W) 412152 (H) Elizabeth Bell 14/9 Tristania St., Rivett 2611 888948 (H) 726650 (w) Sue Wild 89715 (W) Tith Wright 462543 (w) John Erich 819405 (w) Wolfgaflg Kasper 701392 (W) j*also observed on Black Coda trip November 1977 Page Seven Change of Telephone Mos. (cont.) Stanley Nizon 1453860 (w) Esma Tiernan 971105(w) Peter John Anderson 61355 (w) Vernon Panning 0649-6151 1 (w) Rene lays 12 Canterbury Rd, Toorajc, Vie 3142 Robin Wood .. 11 Ferguson P1,, Flynn, 2615
try Along Rodgers Hill Road
The property cwner of the area (between Ettrema and Btudmidah Creeks) recently had some trouble with his cattle being shot. He would like advance notice of walking parties using the area. . Contact as follows: . Mr. Saeck Ettrema via NRIGA N.S.W. 2622 (no phone - mail from Nerriga on Mondays and Fridays). Walks Lists at Paddy's
The Walks Lists, in.addition to the Bushwalking gear have walked to a new location. Two doors down towards Icndon Circuit.
KAKADU . .. And the Ones Under Ten Pounds You can Throw Back W. L. Blayden This is to recount a trip I did recently to Arnheth Land and which is of importance at the present time. Rather than give a blow by blow description, I shall give a brief guide of the trip with a breakdown of the factors governing the region and a few reflections thrown in, . The trip was proposed for a four week holiday, with the use of food dumps. Fishing reports lead to the title of this piece. The aim - to see as much as possible without a set itinery. The plane cruised at 10,000 metres and approx. 14hr before landing at Darwin, a recpest was m ade to the pilot who banked his plane to the right thus letting us see clearly the great gash of Katherine Gorge plus the deeply dissected outcrops nearby.
We had previously arranged to have a fly past of the escarpment hence our plane was tanked up with fuel. Prior to boarding our little single-engined plane, it was realised that four bodies (plus pilot), five packs (four weeks food), would prevent our fuel-laden plane from leaving the ground. Hence a great deal of unpacking and shifting around of gear, after which we finally took off (with a flickering stall light), leaving apack to follow the next day. Because there were no commercial flights next day near Cooinda, we wasted a day and paid for an extra flight to bring out one pack. To add to our problems the ranger who was to pick us up and to set up the food damp was not there to meet us. He had been called away to Alice Springs unexpectedly. I was beginning to see how flexible our trip was going to be. Topography Upon leaving Darwin we flew eastwards over predominantly flat country. These plains were covered with trees set amid dry red soil. Several rivers were crossed including the South Alligator River as they wound their way to the coast, we had been following the new Anthem Highway from the air and even this far inland, all the / .. rivers were subject to strong tidal influences. An indication of the flatness of the area can be seen by the spot heights of the country near Cooiñda (40 metres aboe Ceal level) a hundred kilometres from H the coast. . . November 1977 Page Eight This plain ended suddenly ahead by an escarpment running N-S for a hundred kilometres and near Jim Jim Falls (to the south) swins to the West. - Whilstheading to this escarpment one prominent yellow faceappeared out of - the plan - a face on Mt. Broolcnan. in the skyline adead (i.e. to the east) were several small humped mountairio in forbidden country. The plane followed the escarpment down to Jim Jim Falls before landing at Cooinda. The pilot made several sharp bends over the falls for the photographers - much to the discomfort of one party member who found consolation in a plastic bag.
Cooinda is the mane of the airstrip servicing Jim Jim Motel (also signposted as Yellow Waterhole). Our plans were somewhat disorganised so that it was decided to head to Deaf Adder Creek by foot to dump our surplus food. We then would prodeed up the valley and onto the escarpment, head south to above Jim Jim Falls. Upon descending past the falls, a long plain walk would return us to the dump. Maps We had the following 1:100,000 maps - Cahill, Howship, Gilruth and Jim Jim which proved quite adequate for the country an@ though only a year old, were already out of date with information. Probably the first thing that grabs one's attention with the maps is the heavy dissection of the :escarpment. One immediately thinks back to that aerial view over -Katherine Gorge and the similarity in the country. Aerial photographs proved handy on occasions. Plains Walking Really this area is a delight to walk in for there is so little to restrict progress. The begetation can change so quickly that one has little time on occasions to appreciate it. I guess the best description of the plains is a savanna woodland. One moment one can be walking in knee high long grass (straw), then on a close cropped lawn. At times one is on sand and others on clay. Probably the image that best sticks in ny mind occurred early in the trip - we had just drossed a road and were in a pat'-h of long grass. Movement ahead, and we say a typical African scene. A pack of dingoes were crowding round a carcass but they quickly disbursed as we blundered by. All that is except one or two who seemed more loathed to leave a meal than tear off in fright. Nearby the remaining herd of pigs had ignored all - a sacrifice had been made and the predators were satisfied only with the dead. Animal life on the plains was limited to pigs and buffaloeS. A few cows were seen with one group of buffaloes but apparently this is not a common occurance. Buffaloes have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell, one whiff (of us) was enough to send them off. There have been occasions however where buffaloes have charged. Both the pigs and buffaloes affect the environment, creating mud baths, eating and rubbing the available foliage away. There are many pools (billabongs, lagoons) that lie generally along the water courses and are usually linked by pleasant flowing creeks. It is a great place for the buffalo to wallow. Some billabongs however seemed free from these vermin, probably as they had steep banks and no shallows. These were lined with. pandanus and parE rbaHcs and made ideal camping sites. Bird life was, attracted to these pleasont sancturles, and so too was the occasional fish. One problem encountered throughout the trip was gree ants. These little stinging beasties bind leaves on a branch together to form a nest and woe betide anything that disturbs the nest. Fortunately they sting whilst only in contact and no after effects we'e felt. Whilst the country was predominately flat, gradual rises in the lnnd Tsummitt were perceived once was reached and the descent had started 1 The woodland made the sighting of prominent landmarks (which were few anyway) --hard, hence the reliance upon the compass. Indeed the few peaks that ile