Blue Mountains Timeline Society Campaigns for Funding Jim Smith will be speaking at our Blue Mountains Conservation Society is seeking October general meeting about his Blue $12 million Commonwealth Funding for acquisition Mountains Timeline Project. The of Inholdings and $400,000 per year for pest species meeting will be held at the Conservation management within the Greater Blue Mountains Hut, Wentworth Falls, on Friday 26 World Heritage Area. October at 7.30pm. Visitors are The Society is asking Federal Candidates to in the minds of the public and welcome. commit this funding to conserve the natural integrity Jim has been working to produce a hopefully to stimulate dis- of the World Heritage Area by allocating it to a Trust cussion and prolong debate first draft of a seasonal nature calendar Fund, such as the Miles Dunphy Fund and dedicate it for the Upper Blue Mountains. Much of on environmental issues. The specifically for this use. This will ensure that when answers will be published in it will be based on the research project he Inholdings come on the market, money is available to a full page advertisement. carried out at Jamison Creek, Wentworth purchase them for the National Parks. Cost of the Falls, between 1979 and 1993. Assisted We are taking up the concerns expressed by the advertisements will be by TAFE students, Jim banded many IUCN advisers to the World Heritage Committee. $2,100, which we need to thousands of birds and captured and Our shared concern is that the World Heritage Area is raise by public and members released many hundreds of small not a consolidated area and has inholdings of State donations. If you wish to mammals. Forests and private land within the National Parks. support this important The findings from this project will be The World Heritage Area has 7 National Parks work please send a cheque, combined with information gathered by and Jenolan Caves Karst Reserve and covers 1 payable to Blue Mountains other local observers and naturalists to million hectares. 122 privately owned Inholdings Conservation Society, to produce a month by month list of the have been identified in the Greater Blue Mountains our Treasurer Bart Beech, most obvious environmental and nature World Heritage Area covering an area of 15,258 PO Box 29, Wentworth events in the upper Blue Mountains. hectares. Falls 2782, or come to a These seasonal calendars are now Privately owned inholdings are parcels of land meeting and make a being produced all over Australia. The completely surrounded by Reserves or National Park. donation. Timelines Australia Project is Private inholdings pose a threat because they are not coordinated by the Gould League in Missing Minute Book managed for nature conservation. They are used for Does anyone know the Victoria. Jim’s brother Michael farming, quarries and orchards, so natural vegetation published a book “Bush Mates” which whereabouts of the Minutes and habitat is commonly changed. Sometimes illegal Book of the Society dating contains the seasonal calendar for Nelson activities such as hunting and cultivation of prohibited from May l963 to March Bay. It was described in the Timelines crops occur. Pollution, erosion, introduction of pest l964? It was during this newsletter as “probably the best regional species, control burns for human safety rather than period that the opening of the nature guide ever written”. Jim believes conservation are some of the problems arising. old Hut was held, hence its that an equally high quality guide to the Private Inholdings result in significant work and importance to our records. seasons of the Blue Mountains is needed costs for NPWS who become involved in road There is a gap in recordings and will be an important tool for maintenance through the National Parks, management for this date, otherwise all the environmental education in the area. Jim of fencing, fire protection and provision of legal records are complete for the will also discuss how the role of the access to owners etc. 40 years. Please ring the naturalist, or close observer of nature, Only 12,274 hectares of the 15,258 identified have office if you can help has changed within the modern been costed for acquisition. Some inholdings have conservation movement. been excluded from the costing and recommended Photographs Wanted There is still time if you wish to add acquisition, such as those which have current Do any members have your observations to the calendar. Please residential occupation and/or capital improvements so photos or slides which could send details of weather events, mass are expensive. Others excluded are those with be enlarged and used for a flowering events, stages in the behaviour substantial land changes with low conservation value. display: (for example) or life cycle of local animals, that you Included in the $12 million is $750,000 for initial •Opening of old Hut in 1963 look forward to or notice each year. management costs at the time of acquisition. •Land purchased by the When do they occur? Observations can Currently, introduced species management budget Society at Kanangra-Boyd be posted to Jim Smith at 65 Fletcher for the World Heritage Area is underfunded and and donated to NPWS. Street, Wentworth Falls 2782. another $400,000 is needed to bring the •Members bushwalking Federal Election Fund recommended budget up to $610,000 per year. •Members propagating Throughout its 40 years, the Society This funding request is surely a saving and plants in the nursery investment in protecting the biodiversity of our World Please phone Meredith has been active in election campaigns (4782.4823) ASAP so they and written letters to candidates asking Heritage area and our beautiful Blue Mountains. can be ready for the Birthday their views. “Meet the Candidates” Dinner of 13 October. nights were held in the old Hut. a much bigger role in community debate During the last Council elections, we during the election campaign. Calico Bags asked questions of the candidates on To continue this important tradition The Society’s calico bags are selling environmental issues and published the we are preparing a questionnaire for well and helping to reduce the 14 million answers in an advertisement in the Blue candidates in the electorates of Lindsay plastic bags going to landfill in Australia Mountains Gazette. The questionnaire and Macquarie in the forthcoming each day. was successful in putting environmental Federal election. The questions which The bags are available at monthly issues before the candidates and the will be put to the candidates will be meetings for $5 and at the Conservation public, and environmental issues played published first, to create advance interest Hut Cafe during the day.

Hut News , No. 171, October 2001 — Page 1. “Hut News ”, the newsletter of Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc. Our Home and not the whole tank P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782 of water, which is how Phone 4757 1872 Fax 4757 1753 & the Environment normal boosters work. Email: [email protected] Energy Use We have chosen gas Web page: www.pnc.com.au/~bmcs While we want to live in a comfortable as it produces less President: Robin Mosman 4757.1354 home (though I'm sure Jessica would be green house gases (fax) happiest if we were generating power from a than electricity. 4757.4503 push-bike) we have tried to influence Residents in the First Vice President: Bob Seaborne 4751.6100 drastically the three biggest consumers of Blue Mountains and (e-mail) [email protected] energy within the house. These are heating some other areas in Second Vice President: Jim Wallace 4784.3305 NSW are presently Correspondence Secretary: Frances Love and cooling of the home, heating hot water and 4757.2585 (e-mail) [email protected] refrigeration. being offered rebates Meetings Secretary: Heather Hull 4739.1493 Heating and Cooling the Home: Passive of up to $900 on the cost of a new solar hot (e-mail) [email protected] solar design (mentioned in a previous article) water system. This offer is being made to try Membership Secretary: Elizabeth van Reyswoud was the first stage in reducing our energy bills. and reduce greenhouse gases, Australia being Phone/Fax 4759.2508 Our design will keep our house cool in one of the world's worst polluters. For details (e-mail) [email protected] summer, and warm on sunny winter days. contact Energy Australia on 131 364. Treasurer: Bart Beech 4739.9947 The Fridge: Fridges can consume the (e-mail) [email protected] Extra energy however will still have to be used Publicity: Margaret Sleath 4759.3350 to keep our house warm on overcast winter most amount of energy in the home. It is best (e-mail) [email protected] days and in the evenings in winter. For extra to use the smallest fridge possible, which has Land Use: Lyndal Sullivan 4782.1635 warmth we will use a Sunlight Heater the best energy rating (uses the least kilowatt (e-mail) [email protected] (produced locally by Paul Curtis 4757 3096). It hours) for that particular size. We would like to Walks Convener: Bill Graham 4759.1692 is an active solar heater, meaning it mainly not have a fridge at all, since there really aren't (e-mail) [email protected] uses the sun with a little outside energy any very energy efficient fridges available yet. Plant Nursery Manager: David Coleby (electricity). Having tried wherever possible to find Phone/Fax 4784.1395 alternatives in this house we will try a 'cool Education: Meredith Brownhill 4782.4823 The principle is that, heat gained behind (e-mail) [email protected] black panels on the roof, is fanned through a cupboard' as the main food cooling system. Bushfire Rep: Hugh Paterson 4751-2303 salt block. The salt melts as it absorbs the 15m of terracotta pipe has been buried 800 (e-mail) [email protected] warmth. At night as the salt cools it resolidifies mm under ground below the house. This pipe Bushcare: Clive Heywood-Barker and gives off the stored heat. This is ducted opens at one end from below the house, 4782.9209 through the house, and on a sunny winters day passes under the house and then through an (e-mail) [email protected] should provide enough warmth to keep us insulated cupboard in the kitchen and out National Parks: Frank Winternitz 4751.2957 through the roof via a black pipe. The Projects: Helga Esamie 4787.7690 warm until we go to bed. On those very cloudy (e-mail) [email protected] winter weeks we will need another means of constantly cool air in the pipe underground is Ian Baird 4782.6775 keeping warm. We will then light up our wood drawn through the cupboard by convection by (e-mail) [email protected] heater, using the scrap wood from our building the warmed air in the black pipe. Serge Domicelj 4784.1907 and the garden. Once we know how well the cool-cupboard (e-mail) [email protected] Heating Hot Water: For a few years we works we will decide what if any sort of fridge Newsletter Editor: Christine Davies 4787.7246 have successfully used a solar hot water to get. It will be kept in the coldest room in the (fax at BANC, mark for attn C Davies) 4787.7777 system, with electric boosting for winter. In the house, thus less electricity will be needed to (e-mail) [email protected] new house we will use an instantaneous gas run it. hot water system to boost the solar unit. Any The next issue will be about how we are Council Takes a Stand ... water not hot enough after going through the making the electricity to run the house. Cheers solar heater will be boosted to the required - Greg Wellham and Jessica Yuille. Against the Trashing of the Bush At the BMCC September meeting, temperature by the instantaneous gas unit. Councillors voted unanimously to This means we only boost the water we use implement a policy of blanket reserves and the adjoining National Park, over developments in their own towns in restrictions on trail bikes and four-wheel and with the enjoyment of public the Mountains, checking development drives using bushland reserves. This reserves by other users. Resources do applications to see if developments are policy will apply to all Council-managed not currently permit the detailed study of proposed in areas where they shouldn't be, Bushland Reserves until and unless more all reserves to determine site specific and to see if developments are being comprehensive assessments can opportunities to accommodate these uses. designed to protect special features, like demonstrate that these restrictions can be Council cannot demonstrate that the creeks, rocky outcrops or swamps. lifted. principles of ecologically sustainable Development applications are The policy includes enforcement of development can be met if it were available for public comment for 2-4 the prohibitions by Council Rangers and determined to permit motorised vehicles weeks. This is an opportunity for the the Police, erecting signs and to use bushland reserves under these community to give Council some of the surveillance. circumstances." local knowledge which may be relevant to Residents of North Lawson brought Unfortunately there is a hitch. The assessing its suitability, and can effect the this matter to a head as a result of the conditions put on the development. damage done to a beautiful hanging adoption of this policy is dependent on Mountain Watchers are gaining swamp in North Lawson Park. With the financial assistance and cooperation from specialised knowledge of their part of the help of the Friends of Lawson Action the State Government. $20,000 is being Mountains. This knowledge will be Group, they organised a successful asked for as a contribution to the signage invaluable when the draft LEP is exhibited public meeting in August, and have strategy. Support is also being asked for again (soon, we hope!). It is through the brought the matter to the attention of an education/information campaign and LEP that areas of environmental Council and relevant state authorities. also for a Nature-based Recreation sensitivity can be protected. Members of bushcare groups have Study. The Society’s Land Use subcommittee greeted this decision with enthusiasm as Members are asked to write to Bob is forming the core of Mountain Watchers, it means that finally Council has made a Debus expressing your support for this but we don't yet have people to cover clear stand against the destruction of Council policy and asking him to seek every town. If you think you may be bushland. the necessary assistance from his interested, please contact us. To do this job The report presented to council stated government. (Bob Debus, Shop 3, 107- you need local knowledge and weekly 109 Macquarie St Springwood 2777). access to the list of Development that "the bushland reserves of the Blue If you want further information on Applications, available on the internet Mountains have high environmental this matter contact either Jeanine Redfern which you may have at home or can use at values and they also form a buffer to the 4759 2028 or Lyndal Sullivan 4782 libraries. World Heritage listed Greater Blue 1635. Join Mountain Watch if you are keen Mountains National Park. The use of to protect our mountains from more bad motorised vehicles is often in conflict Join Mountain Watch development. Contact Lyndal Sullivan with the environmental values of the Society members are keeping watch 4782 1635.

Hut News , No. 171, October 2001 — Page 2. bushland; others are in town. Members of the Quoll Club A Sustainable Lifestyle Some have been designed and built Saturday 13 October (11 am to 2 pm) by owner-builders; others have had Tour of an Ecologically Sustainable professional input from architects Lifestyle Education Site at Pigface and builders. Some have won Point, Georges River, Sydney. awards — all are remarkable. This Places are still available for members is your chance to be inspired! and their friends who want to come on a These properties are only open visit organised by the Society to Pigface for inspection on that weekend as Point, an education alternative lifestyle part of WildAware’s fundraising site set up and maintained by Ted Trainer (and environmental awareness- (senior lecturer at the University of raising) efforts for the schools. If NSW) and his students. Transport will you want to be part of the tour, be provided for a small charge. ring Vera Costello (4782 5375) or Information about the site was given Nigel Bell (4782 5066) to book now as in last month’s Hut News. It is well places are strictly limited. Enquire also Having a Break and Cleaning. There are worth a visit!
Paul Mannings about Nigel’s weekend ECOdesign + many articles and short notes of interest, (4754.4451) ASAP if you would like to ECObuild workshops, held late each such as the statistic that one office worker come. month. can throw away over a quarter of a tonne of materials in a year. Each of these 'WildAware’ ECOhomes tour Quoll Club Outing sections and notes contain links to other Ever wondered about straw bale 14 children and their carers enjoyed relevant sites for more information and housing … what ‘passive solar design’ the recent Charles Darwin Threatened greater detail. means …how to build in mud … or how Species walk along Jamison Creek. The Under "Paper" there are articles on to use recycled materials for your dream- day was cold and drizzly but a good day saving paper, principally by re-using the house? Well here’s a chance to find out. was enjoyed by all. Jessica led the group back of old sheets for photocopying and There is to be a Blue Mountains from Wilson Park to Wentworth Falls. printing (we do this quite successfully ECOhomes tour on Saturday, 20 Jessica provided information as to why where I work). One article explains how October. the pine trees have been culled, about the there are higher and lower qualities of This follows on from the huge native animals that used to frequent the recycled paper that can be purchased, and interest in BMCS’s eco-site visit in habitat of the valley, and pointed out the gives links to places where the January. Once again there is a chance invasion of weeds from uncontrolled appropriate paper can be purchased. for members (and others) to be inspired gardens into the native bushland. The section on "Having a Break" by fascinating environmentally satisfying The children enjoyed building a home suggests environmentally-friendly things homes. The ECOhomes tour is being and garden area out of natural objects, to do, which may be a bit hard to do in sponsored by ‘WildAware’ (Katoomba brought from home, on a sandy stretch of practice, such as buying only local, fresh Primary and High schools environmental the creek. All in all, an enjoyable food for lunch, and avoiding foods which initiatives) as a fund-raiser for those learning time together. Thanks Jessica. have lots of packaging or which may have schools. — Ron Hartshorn (Quoll Club member been transported for long distances. On Saturday 20 October the ECO- Brandon Hartshorn’s grandfather). For Another difficult-to-follow suggestion homes bus tour will visit around seven more information about the Society’s is to avoid commuting! When you live in leading-edge environmental homes in the Quoll Club, contact Jessica 4788.1200. the Mountains and work in Sydney, it is middle and upper Mountains. A tour of not a simple choice just to move closer to lower Mountains ECOhomes is being Green Office work or work closer to home. planned for early next year. Participation For those of you who work in an Despite these later comments, it is a is only for those who book and pay to be office, the website www.ecooffice. worthwhile website to check out. Robert part of the tour. It will be led by com.au could be of great value. On the Chapman. ECOarchitect Nigel Bell, with plenty of home page there is a ten-minute, four-step opportunity to talk to Ecohome owners tour as an introduction to a greener office, Welcome to New Members about why and how they did what they showing where the current office could be Leon and Hilary Smith, Lapstone did! Cost is $40. improved to produce less waste and have Lin Whitham, Blaxland Houses to be visited include those of less overall impact on the environment. A Gardiner, Hazelbrook earth, straw, Hebel, timber, recycled From there you can choose particular Julie Berry, Bringelly materials and the like. Some are set in sections such as Paper (a major area of Claire Wilson, Lawson waste), Equipment, Office Supplies,

walkers who took part in some or all of bush for five days brings rewards that the 5-day BMCS trek from Jenolan outweigh all the sacrifices ... the Caves. Also present were over 100 other limestone spectacles of the Devil’s walkers who had come from many Coachhouse and Carlotta Arch ... the sections of the World Heritage Area far satin bower birds mating outside my tent and near — either as members of at Black Range ... the unusual species of bushwalking organisations or as wallabies ... watching storm clouds swirl individuals — to join the celebration. in over the Wild Dog Mountains to The urns of gumnut ashes they carried envelop us in a rain and hail-storm as represented the Eucalyptus biodiversity we retreated along a stony ridge of that underpinned the success of the Angophoras and paper-barks ... not to World Heritage nomination in 2000. mention the excellent company of my The 70 years since the saving of Blue fellow bushwalkers. Over the Hill ... and the next one ... and Gum Forest marks the span of the We admired the beauty of lands near the next! modern conservation movement in New Little River, which have recently been Patience, persistence, enthusiasm South Wales, and now BMCS has spent sold and are the subject of a and stoicism. These were among the 40 years as a part of that. In many bushwalking access controversy and an qualities that enabled BMCS to ways, the campaign has seemed like appeal to State Minister Bob Debus. successfully enter one of the oldest climbing a hill with a heavy pack, only Thanks to the organising committee contingents in the Gumtree Songlines to be confronted by another hill. Near of the Gumtree Songlines celebration Walk which constituted our annual Alum River, as we negotiated the Six and to all those who provided logistical multi-day activity for 2001. Foot Track, we met two idiotic trail- support to our walk, especially K On September 22 a campfire was lit bikers and a feral pig, which reminded Putting, Corey, D Burrell, R Mosman, T in Blue Gum Forest by Angela Cleary, a me of some of the conservation Flynn and C Davies. We look forward to descendant of one of the original movements’ long-term opponents. even more of you taking part during the campaigners from 70 years ago. But, like campaigning for activity proposed for August or Watching were several of the 28 conservation, marching through the September 2002. Don Morison. Hut News , No. 171, October 2001 — Page 3. Environmental Law for DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Oct 13 (Sat) 40th Birthday Dinner Party , at The Hut. Green Campaigners Oct 20 (Sat) Management Meeting , 9 am, Mid Mountains Community Centre, Saturdays 27 October & 3 November, Lawson. 10.30am to 4pm, Blaxland Community Oct 26 (Fri) General Meeting , at the Conservation Hut, 7.30 pm. (See page 1). Centre (walk from Blaxland Station). QUOLL CLUB (Activities for 12 and under - contact Jessica 4788.1200)) An informal and practical course is to BUSHCARE (Tools provided — bring morning tea and gloves.) be run over two days in the Blue Oct 12 (Fri) Valley of the Waters Bushcare Group. (2nd Friday of every Mountains by the Environmental month) Contact Karen on 4757.1929 for the meeting place. Defender's Office (EDO) for volunteers, (following Friday if wet). students, paid workers & activists. EDO BUSHWALKS : is a community legal centre specialising Monday Leisure Walks: Usually half day walk unless noted, leisurely pace. in public interest environment law. Oct 15 Hornes Point and Cox’s Cave .
Jock 4758.6346. Mt Vic Station 9am. Find out how and when the law can Medium. BBQ. be used to protect the environment. Oct 22 Terrace Falls.
Kees 4759.1958. Hazelbrook Stn carpark 9am. Easy. Topics covered include: the legal BBQ. framework, how the planning and Oct 29 October Creek.
Norah 4757.4058. Mt Vic Station 9am. Easy. BBQ. development system works, laws Nov 05 Birdwood Gully. Allan 4739.2767. Springwood Stn 9am. Easy. BBQ. covering threatened species, native Nov 12 Lithgow Zig Zag & Viaduct View.
Ron 4757.1526. Train to Zig Zag vegetation and pollution, relevance of the Station arr. 9.16am, leaves Wentworth Falls 8.29, return 3.05pm. Be in the law to your campaigns, rights of appeal, last carriage. Medium day walk. Take lunch. Also Train Museum visit. defamation law and freedom of Nov 19 Bus Trip to Jenolan Caves (walk on final section of Six Foot Track). Bus information law, and what legal leaves Katoomba Depot at 8.30.
Bill 4759.1692 for bookings. Lunch resources are available. at Caves House or bring your own. Opportunity for cave inspection or Cost per participant is $80 (waged), other walk in afternoon. $40 (student/ unwaged). Fee includes a copy of the Environmental Law Tool Kit Wednesday “Getting to Know the Blue Mountains Walks” (Half day, easy/med) (rrp $25.00). 10% discount for bookings Oct 10 Braeside Track to Govett’s Leap .
Jock 4758.6346. Blackheath of 4 or more. Members who wish to Neighbourhood Centre 9am. Easy. BBQ. attend should contact Lyndal Sullivan Oct 17 Walls Lookdown and Mount Wilson.
Bill 4759.1692. Mt Vic Stn (4782.1635) to organise the discount and 9am. Easy. BBQ. possibly a subsidy. Oct 24 Walls Ledge.
Jock 4758.6346. Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre For more information contact Natalie 9am. Easy. BBQ. Ross at the EDO, phone 02.92626989, Oct 31 Old Point Pilcher.
Jock 4758.6346. Medlow Bath opp Hydro 9am. email [email protected] Easy. BBQ. Nov 07 Pope’s Glen .
Bill 4759.1692. Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre 9am. Walk in the Snowies Easy. BBQ. I have booked accommodation in my Nov 14 Forgotten Walk No1.
Allan 4739.2767. Faulconbridge, St Georges ski lodge at Perisher Valley for the week Terrace 9am. Easy. BBQ. Sat 12 to Sat 19 January 2002 for members keen to walk in the Snowy Weekend Bushwalks: Bushwalkers are requested to phone the contact before 8 pm the day before the walk. The walk may be cancelled if fewer than 4 walkers register, Mountains. The lodge is accessible by car in summertime and holds 16 persons or if other circumstances make conditions unsafe. Oct 13 Long Swamp, Lawson .
Elizabeth 4754.4966. Lawson Bowling Club at $11.00 per night on a self-catering (Sat) carpark 9.30. Easy. Bring lunch. basis with no linen supplied. I will Oct 20 Mount Solitary.
Warwick 4757.1354. Meet at North Side of arrange four or five one-day walking (Sat) Katoomba Station 9am. Six hours with hard climb both ends. Bring trips, according to weather and fitness lunch and water (1.5 litres at least). levels. Phone 4757.1354 for bookings Oct 27 Reinit’s Pass.
June 4787.7312. Mt Vic Station 9.30am. Medium. and further details. Warwick Mosman. (Sat) Bring lunch. Nov 03 Govett’s Leap to Junction Rock.
June 4787.7312. Blackheath Station Thursday Bushwalks (Sat) 9.30am. Medium. Hard climb out. Bring lunch. Springtime (September) is a lovely Nov 10 Mt Wilson to Wollongambe River.
June 4787.7312. Mt Vic Station time to walk in the National Park at (Sat) 9.30am. Medium. Bring lunch and swimming togs. Glenbrook. Our last walk in this series was Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek. CHRISTMAS PARTY Bus Trip to Evans Crown and Tarana Hotel Lunch. Monday 17 December. Please book early. 29 places. All welcome. Wedding bush (Ricinocarpos pini- folius), which grows so well perched on Walks are generally Easy to Medium Grade, unless otherwise noted. Easy : the edge of a cliff, was spectacular, as Mostly good surfaces, but some rough or steep sections. Suited to people of average was pink Eriostemon (Eriostemon austral- fitness. Medium: Includes rough or steep sections, some of which may require asius). Yellow bloodwoods (Eucalyptus clambering over natural obstacles. Suited to people of better than average fitness, but eximia) were just starting to flower. discuss with the contact if in doubt. Hard: We occasionally arrange a walk Among other lovely wildflowers was a considered most suited to experienced and very fit walkers but it is conducted at a pretty trigger plant with a flower like a moderate pace. Always discuss with the contact if the walk you would like to do is butterfly (Stylidium laricifolium), and a Medium/hard or Hard, before attending. If this is your first walk , or you are in any delicate vine with pale yellow tubular doubt, discuss with the contact or Bushwalks Convener Bill Graham 4759.1692. flowers (Billardiera scandens). Afterwards we had a barbecue lunch, shared unwillingly with the Kamikaze with your steak in its beak, the rest of see some stunning displays of wildflowers Kookaburras of Euroka. Hungry as you your sandwich falling to the ground for on the exposed heath-covered ridgetops of may be, you have to have a sneaking the cockatoos and noisy miners, and then the upper Mountains. admiration for the audacity and skill of manages to roll the flat piece of steak into There will be eight walks, 3 to 4 hours the bird as it swoops past you and flies off such a shape that it can be swallowed duration, leisurely pace, commencing whole. Other, nicer, birds were bower Thursday 18 October. Guests with birds, and a pretty bronzewing pigeon. expertise in different fields, e.g. birds, Membership Enquiries Springtime in the upper Blue plants, will come on some of the walks. Contact Elizabeth van Reyswoud Mountains gets into full swing in October. Cost is $20 for the series. Numbers are Phone/Fax: 4759.2508 (a.h.) During the next series of Thursday limited. Contact Christine on 4787.7246. Email: [email protected] morning Interpretive Bushwalks we will Post: PO Box 29,Wentworth Falls 2782 This issue of Hut News has been printed on 100% Recycled Paper Hut News , No. 171, October 2001 — Page 4.