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5 PcutY k,crCntk CANBERRA BUSH WALKING CLUB INC • NEWSLETTER I GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 VOLUME 31 OCTOBER 1995 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER MOiV/THL YMEETINa JAMES ASHBURJYER KAKA4D(J Dickson Library Community Room Wednesday 18 october, 8.00 pm onwards Make the most of the evening and join other members at 600pm for a convivial (BYO) meal at the Vietnamese Restaurant at O'connor Shops (the one on the corner). PRESIDENT' S PRATTLE wide range of topics. Some of the trip reports are hilarious, or at least the writer has portrayed them as Welcome to another Club Year. Thank you to such.. Others include articles on dieback disease, all the those members who attended the AGM and to all volunteers in National Parks, quolls, French tests, who nominated for committee positions, especially the mining and news on the Tidbinbilla and Namadgi new people on the committee. David Truman remains National Parks. When next in the Club room, borrow a the Editor until January/February when Frank McKone handful of magazines from the Club library. They are will take over. David is likely to be departing for Russia yours to borrow. Like me, you may become very aware then and Frank preferred to start next year; However that 'out there' are many people caring for our this IT has been produced by my husband, Paul; as environment and enjoying walking as a great pastime. David was in Russia for a short time. There are many reasons why we all enjoy In this IT there is an article on the Budawang walking and this activity program reflects these Identified Wilderness Area, including a map showing differences, with some of the new committee leading a the extent of th& area. Also, and of more concern, is a range of walks to cater for all abilities report on potential restrictions on walking, camping etc I hope all of you people volunteer to help with in the southern part of the Blue Mts. The Confederation the Broom clearing weekend in late October and earn a - of Bushwalking Clubs of NSW has been lobbying to chance to eat my chocolate cake! overturn or modify the proposals and has produced a draft list of access mutes for comment At the present Safe walking everyone. the Confederation is still negotiating with the Sydney Janet Edstein P Water Board for further clarification of walking routes and for a more reasonable approach towards the responsible, minimum-impact use of catchment areas by bushwalkers. One of the benefits of being President is having early access to all the magazines that are sent to the Club. Some are very interesting to read and cover a skiing trips programmed. Several of our walks were THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL jointly organised with ANUMC, National Parks REPORT. Association and the Family Bushwalkers. A change of venue for the annual Winter Solstice walk, to Brandy This year has proven to be another very Flat Hut, proved successful - over 30 people joined in. successful one for our Club. Many members volunteered to lead walks and this year was the greatest Our members showed a continuing sense of ever in terms of new leaders. Congratulations and thank adventure, exploring other parts of the world. Overseas you to all members who responded to help. There were trip leaders included Eric Pickering (to Alaska), David over 265 walks programmed, with 80 leaders - 26 these Truman (to South America) and John I'Ons (to Mt being first-timers. Many of these new leaders are now Aspiring, NZ). Back home in Australia, Richard Bain leading theft 2nd, 3rd and 4th trips. My sincere thanks and David Truman led a trip to the Cradle Mountain to all on the Committee for seeking out and encouraging Reserve in Tasmania, 1-lelen Stevens led a trip to the these people. Bungle Bungles and the Can-Boyd Ranges and Warwick Blayden led a trip to Cape Barren Island. There are also many other members who have helped with the effective running of the Club. Our Club The Club Newsletter IT is run by volunteers who have given great service. Advances in computer technology and software These volunteers include: David Campbell, our NSW have helped the Club in the presentation of IT, as has Confederation representative and Search and Rescue the enthusiasm of its Editor, David Truman, who has Coordinator; John Kyatt, our auditor; Maurice Wicks continued to produce an excellent newsletter. David has and Mike Pedvin, our equipment officers; and Brian consistently sought articles, trip reports, previews and McLcod, our NORLD representative. walking information from members and added articles At times the Committee has been short-handed and conservation notes of his own, all the above often due to prolonged trips, work or study reasons and accompanied by scanned graphics and pictures. His members of this committee has worked as a task- graphics were often a talking point in their own right! orientated team and willingly shared the load. Also IT's primary function is to provide the activity thanks to my husband, Paul, who did the book-keeping, program for all members. As usual, we relied on Club filled in as editor, collected the mail, enjoyed cold members to volunteer for the monthly collations, an dinners while I've been on the phone to members, and excellent way to contribute to the running of our club. proofed my Prattles - when I let him I Thank you too to Thank you all. the Committee members for your support to me. This year the Membership committee decided to The latest figures on Club advertise the Club program membership are as follows: on the Internet. We need to attract younger members and Ordinary members 250 the Internet was one way the Household members 98 Committee felt we could do Life members 8 this. So far, we have had Total membership 356 some good responses. Again Activity Proaram thanks to David Truman who was responsible for setting this up. At the beginning of 1994/95 committee year there was a concern that as some of our most prolific Conservation leaders had left Canberra there may have been a We began this year with Rod Peters organising shortage of walks. That a record number of walks was two weekends for the repainting of Bolton's Hill 1-lut. programmed is a clear indication of members' support This was followed by a weekend of Spanish Broom for our Club and the committee. clearing around the Cotter Hut, organised by John At the AGM, Vance Brown was awarded a Life Thwaite. During the year, I encouraged members to Membership for all of his valued service to the Club. adopt an area of parkland near their home and to ensure Congratulations Vance that litter there was removed. The Club has maintained its corporate membership of the Australia Conservation This year the Club's walking program featured Foundation ($100), Environment Centre ($45) and the mostly in areas such as the Namadgi, Morton, Conservation Council ($70). David Truman and I also Budawang and Kosciusko National Parks. There were brought to the members' attention notes on also canoeing, canyoning, rock-climbing and many CBC It October 1995 page 2 Conservation issues in the IT as awareness of Future Directions conservation is one of the Club's aims. The committee would like to see more people Library bushwalking! On some walks there were only a few The Club library opened in March and we can participants. This is quite disappointing to leaders who now boast of having our dwn library in the Club's have planned and set aside time to lead walks. As Alan meeting room (Dickson Library). Vidler's report shows, there's no rhyme or reason to the participation rates (walkers per walk) on some A catalogue was printed in the May IT For weekends. Indeed, the participation rate seems to this, many thanks go to Mike Pedvin who collected the increase with the number of walks programmed on a many magazines and books spread amongst members given weekend. all over Canberra. Mike spent a massive amount of time sorting and carding these books and magazines. He It is a concern that we do not seem to be was also helped by Rosemary and Roger Edwards and attracting younger members. The Committee has been Paul and myself. looking at ways to make the club more attractive to young adults and the CBC activities now appear on the Search and Rescue. Internet. So far these have proved positive steps. I think This year CBC were called out only once. This that we also need an organised social side to our Club. was in May 1995, when 8 members responded. David For 1995/96 I would like to see far greater Campbell gave an appraisal of this exercise with the participation by members on conservation projects and comment that CBC are well prepared to help in a greater use of the Library, now that it is more callout service. He is still working on our Club accessible. expertise being much more recognised and involved in S&R operations by the ACT Emergency Services. At To conclude this segment on another positive the present we are only called out by the NSW note, Rob Horsfield has suggested that the Club look at Confederation. the idea of updating BushwalkLug in the Canberra Region. Although there was an audible groan from Social Program those involved in the earlier project, we have had This year, the Committee planned a variety of encouragement from others! People have offered to interesting speakers for the meetings. Speakers included write up walks and to lake photos, and David Truman representatives of Lonely Planet books and Mont generously offered his Register of Walks manuscript to Equipment, National Parks Rangers Club members the club to be used for this, as needed.