From the President Our 50th anniversary public attention to the beauty and value of Namadgi. Our website is an absolute Congratulations to all our members, joy to log into, full of information and supporters, officeholders and life inspiration. Our email newsletter is members who have made NPA ACT making communication with our such a wonderful organisation for the members quicker, easier and more past 50 years. For us to have survived effective. and thrived for 50 years is a significant Our publications program has grown achievement, and for us to have achieved substantially. The Bulletin has gone to as much as we have is inspiring. colour, at least on its cover, to do justice What has sustained us? What Clive to member’s passion for capturing the Hurlstone wrote 10 years ago in his beauty of our natural world with digital President’s column for the Bulletin on photography. Think about it: how many fields and up tall mountains every the occasion of our 40th anniversary of us actually owned a digital camera weekend with good grace and remains true today: 10 years ago? We have been fortunate to camaraderie. We have been entertained … the camaraderie, the shared have had a succession of excellent and informed at a grand total of enjoyment of bushwalking and the editors over the past decade and Bulletin 100 general meetings over the decade, intellectual stimulation of turning articles have continued to canvass ideas and our Christmas parties have become ideas, research and practical and issues, stimulate debate, and inform legendary. experience into submissions, have all and educate us all. We have put all past Moving our office was a big event, as been part of the sustaining process. issues of the Bulletin on the website. was the archiving of many important Many other things have changed, but That was a mammoth task made possible records with the ACT Heritage Library, the need for a strong, active NPA ACT is by many willing volunteers, and what a making us feel a bit like a teenager greater than ever. The worst tragedy we treasure-trove it has proven to be. leaving home with our parents putting all experienced in 50 years was the 2003 We have published new editions of our stuff in the garage. Volunteers fires which devastated Namadgi and our field guides and added new works to continue to staff the office and take care swept through our city, killing four our list. Our series of conferences of business, and without them we would people and destroying over 500 homes. brought prominent local scientists and be lost. In a hundred different ways, our Since that awful day, NPA ACT has led national parks staff together with the members, volunteers and supporters community efforts to establish community to discuss local and regional have fulfilled Clive’s charter of 10 years environmentally sustainable and challenges for managing environmental ago and that of our founders 50 years effective fire-management regimes in our issues in these difficult times. The third ago: we have created and sustained a park and nature reserves. But even in this series, to be held in May this year, dynamic, successful organisation that tougher challenges lie ahead. Drought will take this debate out into the national has worked in so many different ways to and climate change are altering the context and we hope it will be equally protect and conserve our challenging but seasons, intensifying fire danger, successful. Papers from these beautiful environment. supporting new pest and weed invasions, conferences have been distributed to The exciting events that have been and threatening the survival of key ACT schools and libraries, and have planned for the year ahead will give us a species. been a rich resource for submissions and chance to pause, reflect and celebrate In response, NPA ACT has got papers. who we are and what we have achieved. smarter and more effective. We have Our outings program has continued I hope to share a glass of Namadgi Red taken advantage of new technology to to be a major feature of our activities. or Gudgenby White with you all in 2010. find innovative ways of promoting our Though there may be slightly more car Christine Goonrey national park and its conservation values camps and perhaps a few easier walks February 2010 in the community. Our photographic than 10 years ago, our members still exhibitions are once again attracting stride through forests, across the open National Parks – can they take the heat? NPAACT Symposium 2010. Registration form with this Bulletin Friday 7 May, 1pm – 5pm Discovery Centre, CSIRO Saturday 8 May 2010, 9am – 5pm Clunies Ross Street, Acton Dinner Friday night Convenor: Kevin McCue 0262511291 [email protected]

Themes Changing expectations of national parks Reducing the risk for threatened species Timelines for climate change Resilient cities/natural parks Treasures in national parks Tourism, population and recreation pressure After the drought? Living with fire

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 3 Celebrating the 50th year of the National Parks Association of the ACT Molonglo Gorge being the first one. environment protection is of the utmost For 50 years, talented people have importance and must not be worked as presidents, secretaries, compromised by allowing human treasurers, committee members, walks activities to intrude and destroy. and outings leaders and organisers of The rangers and park workers in the social events, publicity, and school essay National Parks Service have half of the and art exhibitions. ACT to care for and protect. Over the Creative editors have produced the past 50 years many rangers have become NPA Bulletin every quarter, or more good friends of the Association and its frequently, and several books have been members as we work together. Climate published. change and population growth will bring Energetic people have worked on challenges to the administration of our track making and tree planting and National Park, and extra funding will be weeding. Skilled members have restored needed to increase staff numbers. historic buildings in the park, and others Namadgi National Park’s beautiful The National Parks Association of the have organised seminars to publicly mountains, clear streams and alpine ACT is a quiet achiever. discuss conservation issues. vegetation is special amongst Australia’s Fifty years ago an association of Members have learned to appreciate many varieties of landscapes. My hope people striving to protect the natural more deeply the value of the natural for the next 50 years is that there will landscapes and the wildlife within them, environment, and their lives have been continue to be a body of people called came together in the Canberra Institute enriched by such knowledge. Monthly the National Parks Association of the of Anatomy (now the Australian Film meetings, walking together, working ACT who will strive to protect the and Sound Archives). Under the together, camping together, yarning natural environment of the ACT and all leadership of Dr Nancy Burbidge, the around the campfires have created many Australia. National Parks Association of the ACT long friendships. Fiona MacDonald Brand was founded with the aim to gain a The strivings of the National Parks Foundation member, NPA ACT National Park for the National Capital. Association must never cease, as each Fifty years of striving has achieved new generation of public administrators that goal, plus several smaller reserves, has to be educated to the idea that natural The birth of the NPA ACT Up until 1958, Canberra was a small recreational activities. The locals pine plantations in the Cotter quiet town. In the 45 years since its realised that, with a population catchment area. It is indeed declaration as the national capital of explosion, existing legislation that said imperative that this interference with Australia, the population had increased that the ACT was protected as a ‘park’ the natural vegetation should cease from that of a very small rural wasn’t sufficient to guarantee the water … So continuous has erosion of such community in 1913 to only 39 000 by catchments, let alone preserve natural slopes been over the last four or five 1958, despite the opening of Parliament flora, fauna and geology. years, at least, that we have almost House in 1927. In 1958 the National forgotten what good water is like. … Capital Development Commission was Catchment clearing and water If the Health Department accepts no given the task of planning, developing responsibility beyond that of ensuring and constructing Canberra, with the quality concerns a water supply free of harmful money to do the job. The population There is inevitably a provocation before bacteria of known types and the increased by 22 000 (that is over 50 per action and, in Canberra, water quality Advisory Council is without power to cent in just 2 years) to 52 000 in 1960. It was that provocation. Leading up to request remedial action, the sooner was destined to double every 5 years for 1959, the quality of the water supply we press for the establishment of a many years to come. that Canberrans had taken for granted committee of properly qualified Up to that point, apart from people deteriorated, and Nancy Burbidge and persons to guard our community whose work supported the Federal other established citizens of the town against exploitation, the better. Parliament, a sizeable proportion of the blamed clearing for pine plantations. While the fundamental purpose of the Canberra population was involved in Letters to the editor of the Canberra catchment area in relation to the research, either at CSIRO or the Times voiced that concern. Nancy wrote provision of a first-class water supply Australian National University. Now the on 20 March 1959: to the National Capital is all- city was invaded by public servants, and Sir — Your correspondent ‘Rumex’ is important, our community interests developers and builders. Many of the surely correct in indicating the are not limited to this. Any committee new arrivals were initially housed in relationship between the condition of that is appointed should, therefore, hostels, and many were single, the Canberra water supply and the include not only persons able to employed and looking for social and practice of continuing to establish (continued next page)

4 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 The birth of the NPA ACT (continued) advise the Minister in such matters as organization but am full of crusading On the day of the meeting, support water supply, water conservation and fervor. Will somebody give us a lead? for a national park for the ACT came the prevention of soil erosion but also As early as 1901 William Farrer had from an unexpected source. The experts in other subjects, so that the suggested that there ought to be a Australian Primary Producers had a full potential of our mountain areas National Park in what is now the ACT letter in the Canberra Times, signed by can be realized for as many interested but that suggestion wasn’t pursued. Now I.L. Waight, their Federal Secretary. His and possible users as can be included. though, the idea of spearheading the support stemmed not from the usual At present there is no competent formation of the NPA obviously was conservation reasons, but because people authority responsible for the proper growing in Nancy’s mind. Nancy had seeking a ‘country’ experience, were integration of utilization of the support from many colleagues, including trespassing onto private agricultural mountains, including the Cotter members of the Academy of Science. lands and, he wrote, in the process ‘often catchment, for such purposes which She had recent precedents as National damaging fencing, pastures, animals and placed in order of priority are: water Park Associations had been established equipment. There is such a small area supplies, outdoor recreation of all in Victoria (in 1952) and NSW (1957). now remaining in the A.C.T. which types and the provision of floral and could be made available that it is a faunal reserves. Promoting the natural environment matter of grave concern to farmers and many other people’. To test support for the environment Not surprisingly, the meeting on Public support comes early Nancy organised a photographic 1 March 1960 voted unanimously to exhibition of the alpine area at the Letters that followed were quaintly establish the National Parks Association. Institute of Anatomy in late 1959. It passionate and frustrated. On The chairman of the meeting, Professor received an encouraging response. 1 November 1959 ‘Disappointed’ of L.D. Pryor, head of the Botany Another exhibition, organised by a Turner wrote: Department of the then Canberra committee representing the nature Sir, — I wholeheartedly support those University College, said continual conservation societies, was held at the writers who feel concern at any development was ‘pinching’ natural Academy of Science in the first week of possible threat to some of the natural lands in the A.C.T. It was important, he February 1960 to increase interest in beauty which surrounds this city … I said, to have a ‘forward-looking’ attitude national parks and to impress upon am more and more dismayed at the towards preservation. apparent apathy and even hostility people the importance of preserving with which any conservationist action wildlife, native plants and natural is regarded. Here, as in most other scenery. More than 700 people inspected The first committee cities, anyone who wants to preserve the exhibition. An article in the Canberra A temporary committee was formed, something … must be prepared to Times on 5 February 1959 reported an with Dr Robert Carrick, from the CSIRO fight. The fight is against heavy odds, unnamed ‘preservation committee’ Division of Wildlife Research, as usually money-making interests, but member as saying that there were ACT president and Nancy Burbidge as even more cursing, public apathy … mountain areas which could form the secretary. At that stage, there was a faith But here in the A.C.T. it seems there is heart of a first-class flora and fauna that the influence of such prestigious no National Parks Association or reserve. He (or she) called for a local scientists and a logical argument would other democratic body where the society or association to be formed to quickly achieve the goal of a national citizens who care can voice their promote these interests. park. opinions and contribute their ideas to On 12 February 1960 Nancy gave a Motives for supporting the the establishment of national parks or speech to the National Council of Association varied. Bushwalkers fauna and flora reserves in the A.C.T. Women in which she outlined a scheme supported it to ensure remote places Indeed, having observed the general for the formation of a National Parks where they might walk to experience attitude towards conservationists’ Association. Apart from working to anything from exercise to spiritual activities, I wonder whether there establish a National Park in the ACT, one renewal. Many, including the scientists, would be any support for a movement aim of the association would be to wanted it protected to conserve the such as a National Parks Association encourage children in field naturalist existing plants, animals, geological or Fauna and Flora Preservation activities. features and unblemished scenery. Some Society, both of which are active in graziers supported it as a means of other States. Public discussion regulating bushwalkers trespassing on But ‘Disappointed’ had support. This their properties. In addition to these Just two weeks later, on 27 February letter from J. Long on 30 November interest groups, the report of the 1960, the following public notice 1959 pleads for leadership for the cause: inaugural meeting in the Canberra Times appeared in the Canberra Times: Nancy Burbidge suggests that ‘our said: ‘It is hoped that representatives of interests may best be served by the Tourist Advisory Council, forestry forming a community organization to and pastoral interests will be appointed include all those interested in the on the Association’s committee’. Clearly, matter’. ‘Does anyone else think so?’ the ideas about the purpose of a national asks Miss Burbidge. park and what should be NPA’s policy Yes indeed — very many of us usually had yet to crystallise. silent citizens think so, and we must hurry up and join forces before T.V. aerials start sprouting from the top of our loveliest hill. I belong to no (continued on page 6)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 5 The 1962 walk to Mt Kelly The initial proponents of a greeted with disbelief today, national park for the national especially when there is a four-wheel- capital were very largely members drive track to the foot of the mountain of the scientific community in [now overgrown, Ed.], but was CSIRO and the ANU, as acceptable in 1962. My notes at the personified by Nancy Burbidge summit I have confirmed many times who was herself a botanist with since then—‘The view in all the CSIRO Division of Plant directions is spectacular, very wild Industry. As such, their primary and tumbled and thickly wooded to motivation was conservation of the the north, bare and with streaks of precious natural habitats and snow far to the south west’. The biodiversity of our mountain northern view took in what is now areas. However, the prospective Namadgi National Park, the snowy areas for a national park were bits were on Mount Jagungal. I had a very remote and rugged, and rather nice colour slide of the summit, therefore, as now, one had to do with Pat Green on the skyline licking some quite serious bushwalking to something sticky from her fingers. get into them. As a result the I collected 59 plant specimens which bushwalking fraternity of Nancy Burbidge subsequently Canberra became involved at a Julie Henry on the summit of Mount Kelly in 1962. determined and which are listed in very early stage. the report I made. I am ashamed to Two perspectives on the historic first as they cast round to see what areas say that I have forgotten who the other walk into Mt Kelly in 1962 are might be suitable and made a few smash- contributors were—all except Dick presented here. The first is an edited and-grab surveys and some Schodde, who dealt with the birds. My excerpt from an article by the late recommendations. apologies to them. They dealt with the Dr Bob Story OAM published in the The first recorded survey was in the mammals, freshwater invertebrates, September 1984 edition of the NPA spring of 1962 when Alan Bagnall of the entomology and geology. Bulletin and subsequently repeated in Canberra Alpine Club invited Probably in 1963 Julie Henry and large measure in the 40th Anniversary representatives of our association to join Sandy and Fiona Brand chartered a light Supplement in March 2000. a club trip to Mount Kelly. Julie Henry, plane and made an aerial inspection of Fiona Brand and I went along to spy out the Kelly area. It was a bit of a The initial meetings of the newly elected the land. A faint bridle track came and disappointment, for visibility was poor, Committee covered the routine of went and came, and then went for good, but it did give them a background for the constitution etc. that one would expect, and except that Alan Bagnall knew the aerial photographic work that was to and also a letter to the appropriate way, the trip would have been much follow and that played such an important Minister telling him, or perhaps warning rougher than it was. part in the drafting of our original him, of our intentions. Understandably A committee recommendation that proposal. the Committee rather lacked direction at the way in should be blazed would be (continued next page)

The birth of the NPA ACT (continued from page 5) A constitution drafted specific areas as National Parks. been replaced with ‘meetings or any • Stimulation of interest in and other means’. On 1 June 1960, at the first annual appreciation and enjoyment of such Also, the first and second points have general meeting, a draft constitution was natural phenomena by organised been broadened to include ‘cultural produced. Dr A. Nicholson, recently Field Outings, Film Nights, etc. heritage’. retired head of the Division of In the fifty years since 1960 the NPA Entomology at CSIRO, became the first • Interest in the provision of suitable ACT has seen many of its initial goals elected president, and Nancy Burbidge outdoor recreation areas. realised. It took until 1984 for the the first elected secretary. They were two • Cooperation with organisations and establishment of Namadgi National Park distinguished biological scientists, persons having similar interests and to come about, but the Association has Dr Nicholson having been awarded a objectives. been very active throughout its existence D.Sc. in 1939 for his work on mimicry in In later years, a fifth point was in pursuing all of its stated aims and insects, and Nancy Burbidge well objectives. With ever increasing recognised for her body of work on added: • Promotion of and education for pressures on our natural areas and Australian botany. She would be species coming from rising population, awarded a D.Sc. in 1961. natural conservation and the planning of land use to achieve conservation. competing development, global The original aims and objectives of warming, and the introduction of feral the Association, passed at that meeting Other small changes in the first point fauna and flora, as well as other issues were: were to add ‘and elsewhere’ after yet to emerge, the need for an active and • The promotion of measures for the ‘Australian Capital Territory’ and to effective National Parks Association in protection of fauna and flora, scenery delete ‘of National Parks and’ and insert the ACT will likely go on for ever. and natural features in the Australian ‘as National Parks’ after ‘specific areas’. Annette Smith Capital Territory and reservation of On the third point, ‘film nights’ has

6 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 The 1962 walk to Mt Kelly (continued) The second perspective on the 1962 In 1962 the access from Mt Kelly walk is presented by Alan the Boboyan Road (now Bagnall AM, recalling today the Old Boboyan Road) up the historic events of nearly 50 years ago. Naas Creek valley was much easier than today, The Canberra Alpine Club (CAC), of with the unlocked gates which I am a member, has been leading allowing us to drive bushwalks in the ACT and southern virtually up to the tree line tablelands since its formation in 1934. I at the head of the valley. first started my bushwalking career in Initially we were walking the mountains of southern ACT in 1950. through lightly timbered In the spring of 1962 with close country which gradually friend and Club member John Cameron, changed to very thick I invited members of the National Parks Daviesia—up to head height. and that camp was the foundation of a Association to join us on a trip to Fortunately the old bridle track used very close friendship between us which Mt Kelly at the headwaters of Sams during the cattlemen days, linking extended over some 30 years of Creek on the southern border with NSW Boboyan to Cotter Hut, was still bushwalking. to show them the potential of the region reasonably visible with some sections Next morning we left camp and as a national park. NPA members who being significantly ‘upgraded’ by the continued along the fire trail up to the accepted the invitation were Julie Henry, regular use by local brumbies. side of Mt Kelly, from there it was good Fiona Brand and Bob Story. Continuing on the bridle/brumby solid bush bashing to the summit. It was track we crossed over the worth it, the weather was good and the low ridge that divides the view was outstanding. As Bob Story Naas Creek and Sams described it: ‘The view in all directions Creek catchments, with is spectacular, very wild and tumbled Mt Gudgenby looming and thickly wooded to the north, bare high above us. On and with streaks of snow far to the south dropping down on to west’. Sams Creek we were The Mt Kelly visitors’ book was surprised to discover a signed to record the significance of the bushfire access track had occasion. This book was placed here in been recently bulldozed 1957 on my CAC President’s Bushwalk. along the banks of Sams The metal container and box were made Creek. This made for by a group of recently arrived Austrian much improved walking migrants. Prof. Erwin Koch Emery, a conditions, though its member of the party, had encouraged impact on the them to come on the bushwalk to obtain environment left a little to an appreciation of the Australian bush. I NPA walkers on Mt Kelly more recently. be desired. replaced the book in 1982 but Above: Phil Gatenby, Stephen Johnston and Eric Pickering, 1997. We pitched camp on a Top right: Phil Gatenby with Barbara Edgar in 2003. unfortunately the new book was left Photos Max Lawrence tributary to Sams Creek. unboxed and was destroyed by the John Cameron with his weather a few years later. The original Mt Kelly was selected as it is an improvised ‘tea tree fishing rod’ and book is held at the Namadgi Visitor excellent peak to view the Cotter valley grasshopper bait was able to land two Centre. and the rugged ACT skyline—Gudgenby nice sized trout from the pool just below Our trip back to the cars was in the SE, Scabby in the south, Murray, the camp site. These were a very uneventful but in hindsight it was a great Bimberi to the west and the Brindabella pleasant addition to the evening meal. It advantage to have been able to drive so Range continuing through to the north. was the first time I had met Bob Story far up the valley.

Dream on … Despite its popularity with the members, the NPA was obviously disappointed with the lack of real progress in obtaining a national park after its first 15 months. It is obvious that to achieve our aims we shall have to continue working vigorously for some time yet. (1960–61 Annual Report) In fact, it was the best part of twenty five years before we got the park, and the vigorous work still goes on, another twenty five years down the track.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 7 What is a ‘national park’? If you don’t know what a national park In 1971 the IUCN added further The 1986 Management Plan for is, the following definitions and criteria: Namadgi National Park includes a descriptions may help. • a minimum size of 1,000 hectares definition from a 1984 paper by S. Barrett and L. Mitchell on ‘Nature First, there is the definition used by within zones in which protection of conservation in the Australian Capital NPA ACT in its 1963 submission to the nature takes precedence Territory’, published by the Conser- government seeking the creation of a • statutory legal protection vation Council of the South-east Region national park for the ACT: • a budget and staff sufficient to provide sufficient effective and Canberra, Canberra. They identified The expression “National Park” protection national parks as ideally being land with shall denote an area • prohibition of exploitation of the following characteristics: (a) placed under public control, the natural resources (including the A relatively large area: boundaries of which shall not be development of dams) qualified by (a)where one or several ecosystems altered nor any portion be such activities as sport, fishing, the are not materially altered by capable of alienation except by need for management, facilities, human exploitation and occu- the competent legislative etc. pation, where most of the area authority. can be defined as wilderness, (b) set aside for the benefit and where plant and animal species, enjoyment of the general public, Meanwhile the NPA Bulletin of geomorphological features and as far as this is compatible with October–November 1970 had provided, cultural heritage sites are of the propagation and protection of from the 4th Ministerial Conference on special scientific, education and wild animals, and wild vegetation National Parks held in Melbourne in recreational interest, or which and the preservation of objects of 1970, a definition that is generally contains a landscape of great aesthetic, geological, prehistoric, accepted by the Park management beauty; historic, archaeological, or other agencies throughout Australia and New (b)where steps have been taken to scientific interest. Zealand. prevent or eliminate exploitation (c) in which the hunting, killing, or A National Park is a relatively large or occupation in the whole area capture of fauna and the area set aside for its features of and to protect the integrity of the destruction or collection of flora predominantly unspoilt natural ecological, geomorphological, are prohibited except under the landscape, flora and fauna, cultural and aesthetic features control of the park authorities, permanently dedicated for public which led to its establishment; and then only for bona fide enjoyment, education and and scientific purposes. inspiration and protected from all interference other than essential (c) where visitor access and use are This is the definition accepted and permitted under specified con- supported by this Association. management practices so that its natural attributes are preserved. ditions, for inspirational, edu- In 1969 the International Union for cational, cultural and recreational the Conservation of Nature and Natural The IUCN Commission on National purposes. Resources (IUCN) declared a national Parks and Protected Areas in 1987 Regardless of the definition, it is the park to be a relatively large area with reviewed reserves around the world, and legislation and good management plans, particular defining characteristics. On the came up with a list of eight categories and adequate funding for implemen- basis of the characteristics, a national meeting different functions, one of which tation of the plans, that matter. park was deemed to be a place where: was national parks. National parks in this Annette Smith • one or several ecosystems are not review were materially altered by human described as: exploitation and occupation, where … areas which plant and animal species, geomor- contain repres- phological sites and habitats are of entative samples special scientific, educative and of major natural recreative interest or which contain regions, features a natural landscape of great and scenery of beauty. national or • the highest competent authority of international the country has taken steps to significance and prevent or eliminate as soon as provide opportu- possible exploitation or occupation nities for out- in the whole area and to enforce door recreation effectively the respect of ecological, and tourism in geomorphological or aesthetic fea- natural settings tures which have led to its estab- to an urban lishment. population. • visitors are allowed to enter, under special conditions, for inspi- rational, educative, cultural and Stone arrangements near the summit of Mount Namadgi. recreative purposes. Photo Martin Chalk

8 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 And the winner is … Richard Shine, was the winner of Earth widens NPA ACT’s schools essay competition in 1966. His winning essay, as loping published in the Canberra Times of through yellow box woodland 17 February 1968, is reproduced below. crunching frost He is now Professor Richard Shine, listening to birdsong – Professor of Evolutionary Biology at pardalotes rosellas magpies the University of Sydney. And he is guest speaker at the NPA’s fiftieth anniversary meeting. walking slowly up the spur A.C.T. NATURE NOTES breathing hard The red-bellied black snake and wondering— The black snake has been the most inter- how long can I go for? esting of the number of snakes that I Food is mainly frogs, lizards, small have had in captivity. snakes and birds, fish, and eels, but they as I climb It is distributed along the east coast will accept mice in captivity. of Australia, but extends inland also from Earth widens beneath me … The snake is shy and, as noted by New South Wales southwards, always Eric Worrell, usually retires into reeds the southerly near water, usually in reedy areas. Swim- or undergrowth when alarmed. It will wind grows colder … ming and diving come naturally, and it bite only when cornered or attacked. It can remain under water for long periods. I put on my fleece flattens its body, hisses and feints, but It is common in the ACT, and along its behaviour looks more threatening major rivers there are probably five to 10 than it is. When caught it excretes a black snakes per mile. Often, especially out of the mist strong smelling fluid from the vent as a on the Murrumbidgee, there are more – looms the hilltop … means of defence, but this ceases after a near Kambah Pool I saw 5 in 250 yards. period in captivity. Several of my pale ghosts The Molonglo has fewer, probably specimens have “sweated” a greyish- because the river is badly polluted. of kangaroos … black urine through their skin when The black snake has a relatively frightened – I have never seen this brightness of rosellas small head not distinct from the neck. It mentioned and am investigating. is a shiny purplish black except on the The reptile authority D.R. McPhee belly, where the scales are pink to white, on the ridge writes of the rare blue-bellied black edged with black. The last pair of lateral snake, “If captured … this snake great trees with presence scales adjoining the ventrals (“belly employs its tail as a secondary means of standing still shields”) is crimson, and this heightens defence, and knotting the last few the general impression of a red belly. for three hundred years— inches of this member it thumps it Most ACT specimens have a brown vigorously against its aggressor, Eucalyptus melliodora snout. This startling combination, which creating the impression of another head neglects camouflage and invites atten- attempting to bite”. I have observed tion, probably serves as a warning. the dark cloud several red-bellied blacks doing the After hibernating in any shelter it can same thing, but to my knowledge this slowly lifts find, the black snake mates in early sum- has never been ascribed to the red- mer and produces a brood of up to 20 and I see bellied species which is more common live young from December to February. and more frequently kept in captivity snow covered hills The young are about eight inches long at than the blue-bellied. shining in distant sunlight. birth and are immediately capable of The venom is mainly nerve fending for themselves. The have slightly Gerry Jacobson affecting, but it acts to some extent on larger heads in proportion to body length the blood as well. J.R. Kinghorn states than their parents, but are otherwise that severe haemorrhage and shock are exactly similar. Few reach maturity – possible, but not more than one per cent natural enemies, especially foxes and of bites proves fatal. hawks, and a hostile environment from man-made hazards like the damming and Richard Shine pollution of watercourses, and man him- Schools Essay Competition self, combine to reduce their numbers. June 1967 Some, however, manage to survive until Provided by the National Parks they reach four to five feet, five feet Association of the ACT, being the usual ACT maximum. The Box 457, Canberra 2601 record is 8 feet 4 ½ inches.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 9 NPA’s fortieth to fiftieth anniversaries The following article mainly details the period between • The Canberra Spatial Plan Summit (11–12 June). NPA ACT’s fortieth and fiftieth anniversaries: issues, • NPA members attend Namadgi Management Plan activities and submissions. Review Workshops. [In this summary, NPA ACT is abbreviated to NPA.] • NPA web page created. • Bushfire Regeneration Walk. Pre-2000 is covered in detail in the NPA Bulletin, Submissions 40th Anniversary Supplement, March 2000. • ACT Recreation strategy. 1960 Inaugural meeting at Institute of Anatomy: 1 March • Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January Annual General Meeting in June: draft constitution. Bushfires (MacLeod Inquiry): joint NPA and Council of 1979 Gudgenby Nature Reserve proclaimed: 26 April. the South East Region and Canberra (CCSERAC) 1984 Gazettal of Namadgi National Park: 3 October. submission. 1991 Namadgi NP additions: Lower Cotter catchment, • Study into the Future Uses of Non-Urban Bushfire Mt Tennent/Blue Gum Creek, parts of Gibraltar Range. Affected Areas. • Draft ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy. 2000 • Shaping our Territory: report after Non-Urban Study Issues commissioned by ACT Government to provide advice • ACT Government’s Nature Based Tourism Strategy for on best pattern of future non-urban land use in the the ACT; accommodation proposal for Gudgenby ACT after January 2003 fires. Homestead; NPA discusses demolition vs retention and non-commercial use. 2004 Activities Activities • NPA celebrates its 40th anniversary. • Twentieth anniversary celebration of gazettal of Namadgi • Matthew Higgins completes recording interviews for National Park (NNP). NPA’s oral history; the Heritage Library and NPA • Environment ACT conducts community workshop for each retain a copy. Namadgi National Park Plan of Management. • Third reprint of NPA’s Field guide to the native trees of Submission the ACT launched. • Draft Lower Molonglo River Corridor Nature • NPA’s publications working group formed. Reserve Management Plan. • NPA’s policies developed and discussed at three general . meetings. 2001 • First Great Australian Bushwalk (GAB). Issues Submissions • Wilderness Protection Plan for South East NSW • Draft plan for Alpine Resorts. includes Brindabella Areas 1 and 2, and additions • Draft plan for Kosciuszko National Park (KNP). to Bimberi, Deua and Coolangubra. • Draft Strategic Fire Access Plan. • Interim Namadgi Advisory Board established. • The ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy. • ‘Transgrid’ clears down to bare earth under power lines • Draft Strategic Bushfire Management Plan (SBMP) for in Brindabella and Namadgi National Parks. the ACT (version 1). • Liability insurance for walkers. Submissions 2005 • On implementation plans for recommended actions in Activities Murrumbidgee Corridor, Canberra Nature Park and • Belconnen Naval Transmission Station: protection of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve management plans, and grassland. Nature Based Tourism Strategy. • National Heritage List nomination of the Australian Alps for their natural values. 2002 • NPA hosts National Parks Australia Council (NPAC) Issues annual conference in Canberra. • NPA opposes Gudgenby Homestead upgrade. Submissions • Indigenous wilderness interpretations. • Perisher Village, KNP Development Application. • Publication of NPA’s Caring for Namadgi together. • ACT Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategy. Submission • Draft Budawangs Walking and Camping Strategy. • Monga National Park recreational concept plan. • Molonglo Valley Draft Structure Plan. 2003 2006 Issue Issues • January bushfire: 90–95 per cent of Namadgi burnt. • Ecotourism proposal for Namadgi’s wilderness areas. Activities • Environment ACT incorporated into Territory and • Alpine advisory body proposed. Municipal Services (TAMS). • Assessing tasks for NPA work parties: i.e. surveys, • Budget cuts to Namadgi and Canberra Nature Park’s repair, regeneration, cleaning up. staff and resources. • Commencement of monthly e-newsletter, Burning issues. • New Land (Planning and Environment) Act: open-ended criteria. • Fire forum at ANU. (continued next page)

10 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 NPA’s fortieth to fiftieth anniversaries (continued) • Approval of new building adjacent to former Mt Franklin Chalet site without due process for public consultation. Activities • NPA’s symposium: Caring for Namadgi—science and people; Inaugural Amanda Carey award for best student presentation. • Symposium proceedings published. Submissions • Draft variation to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (TNR) Management Plan: camping proposal. • Senate Committee inquiry into funding and resources for national parks. • Draft Strategic Management Plan for the Lower (northern) Cotter Catchment (LCC); NPA advocates addition of LCC to Namadgi. • Proposed changes to fire trails in the Grassy Creek area. • NPA appears before Senate hearing into the An ABC television team interviewing NPA President, Christine Environment Protection and Biodiversity Goonrey, in 2007. The issue? A proposal to construct a Conservation (EPBC) Amendment Bill. substantial new fire trail along this ridge. Photo Adrienne Nicholson 2007 • Role of the Commissioner of Sustainability and Issue the Environment. • Proposed rerouting of Bicentennial trail along Grassy • Draft KNP Horse Management Plan. Creek. • Importation of Savannah cats. • NSW Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks. Activities • Review of ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan. 2009 • Launch of the second edition of the Field guide to the native trees of the ACT. Issues • NPA campaigns against Orroral and Stockyard Spur • National parks ‘must pay their own way’: tourism fire trails: Orroral fire trail not to proceed, and development pressures. modifications to Stockyard Spur plan. • Re-emphasising nature conservation and wilderness • Group of NPA and NSW NPA members tour KNP protection in national parks. with park management. Activities Submissions • ‘Linking landscapes’ summit: landscape connectivity • Jerrabomberra Wetlands. in response to climate change. • Long Flat Fire Trail Diversion, Four Fire trails: Orroral • NPA celebrates 25th anniversary of gazettal of Ridge, Stockyard Spur, Booth, and Bullen Ranges. Namadgi National Park. • NPA proposes a northern ACT national park for 2008 Canberra’s 100th anniversary. Activities Submissions • NPA publishes Colin McAlister’s monograph: Twelve • Joint Canberra Ornithological Group (COG)/NPA historic sites in the Glenburn and Burbong areas of letter on the 2009 Budget. the Kowen Forest, Australian Capital Territory. • Tidbinbilla PoM Discussion Paper. • Launch of NPA’s publication Field guide to the • Kangaroo Management Strategy. orchids of the Australian Capital Territory by • Victorian Fires Royal Commission. David Jones with Jean Egan and Tony Wood. • Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. • NPA’s symposium: Corridors for survival in a changing • Report on the consultations for the development world; publication of symposium proceedings. of a revised SBMP. • Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group celebrates • Mt Franklin Fire Trail Upgrade Environmental 10th anniversary. Impact Statement. • NPA co-sponsors European Wasp Workshop at Namadgi Visitor Centre with Parks, Conservation 2010 and Lands (PCL). Issues • NPA wins Conservation Council ‘Local Hero’ award. • National Orienteering Championships near Gudgenby • Australian Alps National Parks, including Namadgi, Homestead: up to 1 000 participants. added to the National Heritage List. Activities • Stockyard Spur fire trail proposal review. • NPA’s 50th anniversary, celebrations through the year. Submissions and proposals • Publication and launch of special tribute edition of • Brindabella Fire Management Strategy. Nancy T. Burbidge’s Eyes or no eyes. • NNP Draft Plan of Management (PoM). Judy Kelly • Second submission on the Namadgi PoM.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 11 Sub-committees and submissions: the first forty years The chief aims of the National Parks From 1964, an honorary librarian was year. Other short-lived sub-committees Association of the Australian Capital appointed, together with a publicity were formed to look at legislation and Territory (NPA ACT) were briefly stated officer. The publicity officer continued the NPA constitution. in its first annual report in 1961 as: until 1971 when a publicity sub- During the mid-70s the Conservation The establishment of floral and committee was formed. sub-committee was concentrating on faunal reserves, the protection of the The education arm of the NPA was lobbying on ACT issues: Molonglo natural beauties of the ACT, the active from as early as 1961, but it Parkway; Black Mountain Reserve; encouragement of interest in such wasn’t until 1970 that actual sub- Ainslie–Majura Reserve; Murrumbidgee features and an interest in the committees were formed to organise Corridor; bicycle tracks; and a Tennent provision of outdoor recreation children’s films and competitions; these Dam proposal. The Mt Kelly sub- areas other than play grounds and later merged as the Student Activities committee worked on issues that would games areas within the city area. Committee. eventually lead to the establishment of Gudgenby Nature Reserve and then This was an interesting statement Outings and Bulletin sub-com- Namadgi National Park. since the NPA ACT was formed to By the late 1970s, the sub- secure a national park for the ACT. But mittees established in 1971 committees were commenting on right from the beginning, the Association A new emphasis on sub-committees led environmental impact statements and had a far wider vision and sought the in 1971 to the outings and editorial draft plans of management for many establishment and protection of reserves functions being upgraded to full Outings areas within the ACT, Kosciuszko, Jervis around the ACT even before its landmark and Bulletin sub-committees. These sub- Bay and even Kakadu National Park, as submission to the government in 1963 committees have continued to this day. well as preparing submissions on other for a national park. environmental issues. Only a few months after it A Membership sub- was formed, the new NPA in committee existed from November 1960 submitted a 1974 to 1981, but proposal to the National membership remained static Capital Development Com- at a little over 300 during mission for a wilderness area that period. in the Upper Cotter, a faunal The Display sub- reserve at Tidbinbilla, committee was created in holding of areas in southern 1973. From 1982 until the ACT for a future national mid 1990s it and its park, and the reservation of successors were very active Molonglo Gorge and other at environment fairs, geological sites of putting on annual Heritage importance. Week displays and walks, Special activity groups and participating in soon formed. An outings ‘Life—Be In It’ and ‘ACT group commenced in 1960 Alive’ as well as organising and the newsletters of the poster and essay 1960–63 period were competitions for school produced by an editor, with a students. The Media sub- full bimonthly Bulletin from committee ran for two years 1963. from 1980, and the In February 1962, the Publicity and Education Mt Kelly sub-committee was sub-committee was formed formed to investigate that in 1985. area’s suitability for the On the environment national park. This resulted in Drop-log fence remnants, southern Namadgi. Photo Martin Chalk front there were continuing a major submission to the submissions throughout the government in June 1963, for the In the early ’70s, special sub- early 1980s on issues including the Mt Kelly area to be created as a national committees were formed to respond to future of the Honeysuckle Creek and park. This was the first of many specific issues. The Black Mountain sub- Orroral tracking stations, opposing the submissions on the subject over the next committee wrote a strong submission proposed Corin Road ski complex, the 20 years, emanating from the Mt Kelly against Telecom Australia [now Telstra] continuation of grazing in Orroral Valley, and (from 1979) Gudgenby sub- building a large tower with an access and supporting the proposed extensions committees. road on Black Mountain, and another to to the Gudgenby Nature Reserve During the early 1960s the main have Black Mountain declared a reserve. (including Smokers Gap, Blue Gum committee produced submissions for It was merged with the Mt Ainslie sub- Creek and the Honeysuckle Creek nature reserves at Molonglo Gorge, committee to form the City District valley). Gibraltar Falls and the Ginini Wetlands. Reserves sub-committee the following (continued next page)

12 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Sub-committees and submissions: the first forty years (continued) The golden age from 1984 the creation of a marine national park with a land component that could be The decade from 1984 was golden: properly managed to protect the the Namadgi National Park was water component. It later lodged declared; membership soared to submissions on the Jervis Bay around 700 from the mid ’80s into Territory Draft Management Strategy the ’90s. The priority was to see that Plan and against military armaments the new park was well managed into and exercises in the environmentally the future. sensitive areas. Ross Carlton, who became During the 1990s, there were president in 1984, set about submissions for the creation of the establishing new sub-committees: Murrumbidgee River Corridor, then Namadgi; Environment; and on draft management plans for it and Publicity and Education in addition the Molonglo River Corridor in 1996. to the existing Bulletin and Outings Changes to the boundaries of the sub-committees. Another, Finance Murrumbidgee and Molonglo River and Membership, was formed to Snow has fallen on Mt Gingera, corridors occupied much of the time review procedures for the settled into the tracks of the Environment sub-committee maintenance of membership records. we trod last week; and its research assistant through to The growing book sales arm of the gathering between the snow gums 2000. Association led to the formation of a and turning the rocks ice-white. Water-related submissions succession of sub-committees with abounded in the 1990s, with one on Finance, Marketing, Merchandise Birds were flying down the high ridges the Lower Molonglo Water Quality and Sales in their titles, indicative of when we were there, Control Centre in 1993, ACTEW’s a new direction for the Association remember? water strategy in 1994, the draft to promote its own publications. The and when we turned to look back Water Resources Management Plan Field guide to native trees of the mist had covered the path behind us. for the ACT in 1999 and 2000, and ACT was first published in 1983 and the draft Environmental Flow a series of reprints and related titles Now the crickets’ busy song is stilled and Guidelines in 1999. by other authors followed. snow grass bends beneath its winter load; In 1993 and in 1995 the The Namadgi and Environment the mountain is left to its own Environment sub-committee lodged sub-committees were extremely wild dreaming. submissions on the future active, sometimes with more than Christine Goonrey development of the Tidbinbilla 15 people attending their monthly Nature Reserve. The ACT meetings, assisting in writing Government’s ecotourism plan, submissions and supporting the part- legislation for the ACT, concentrating on released in 1994, and the NPA’s time research officers which the NPA environmental and heritage issues and submission in response to this plan, was was able to employ throughout the matters affecting national parks and summarised in the September 1994 issue 1990s. Their submissions were directed nature reserves. of the NPA Bulletin. Again in 1997, through the NPA committee, and a NPA had a special interest in the Tidbinbilla was in the spotlight and NPA selection of their work is outlined below, Mulligans Flat area and commissioned joined with the Conservation Council of just to give some idea of their activity. Kevin Frawley to examine the issues. the South-East Region and Canberra to His report, The conservation of remnant respond to the Tidbinbilla Nature Environment sub-committee woodland and native grassland in the Reserve Draft Management Plan. It ACT, was launched in 1990. It led to a After self-government in 1988, the new again raised particular concern over the proposal from conservation groups ACT Government set about formulating nature-based tourism strategy’s influence including the NPA for the creation of a Territory Plan and creating land-use on the plan. Mulligans Flat as a nature reserve. As a legislation for the ACT. From the late In 1994 the committee submitted result of this submission Mulligans Flat 1980s, this kept the Environment sub- comments on ‘Our bush capital, Reserve was included in the Canberra committee busy, examining and protecting and managing the National Nature Park when it was declared in responding to the draft plans and Capital’s open spaces’. They also 1994. Into the late 1990s, NPA continued legislation. contributed to the draft of the first State with submissions for improvements to In 1992, their submissions to both the of the Environment report by the the management plan for Canberra ACT and federal governments Commissioner for the Environment in Nature Park. emphasised the need to give greater the ACT in 1994. In 1991, and again in 1993, the NPA priority to environmental values in the Also in 1994, the Environment sub- lodged submissions emphasising the ACT. The ACT’s revised draft Territory committee worked on a ‘statement of value of rural leases in protecting Plan made extensive changes in line with principles and action’, noting that the grassland habitats and, in 1999, the NPA submission. NPA ACT should maintain a proactive responded to the report on Land Over the next few years there were approach to nature conservation (see Management Agreements for ACT rural submissions on the National Capital NPA Bulletin of June 1995). leases. Plan, the ACT Government’s In 1999, with the merging of the Following the declaration of Jervis environmental policy, and a substantial Environment and Namadgi sub- Bay National Park in1992, NPA lodged a submission on the draft land-use committees, there were submissions on comprehensive submission supporting (continued on page 14)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 13 Into the new millennium: new challenges

What emerges strongly from the with a grant from Environment The day before—Brindabella Range and MacIntyres Hut 2000–2010 time line (see pages 10 and ACT. It is a seminal document, fires viewed from the Mt Taylor car park, evening 11) are the fires, their impact on the concise and comprehensive, of 17 January 2003. Photo Max Lawrence natural environment, and their ripple reporting on the 1986 Namadgi effect: fire management and fire trails, Plan of Management. Its value is that it relating to Namadgi, nature reserves, and the number of submissions that resulted, is one of the few user-friendly references other national parks: work parties, and the countless hours that to Namadgi covering the wide spectrum • Protecting biodiversity is a long NPA ACT volunteers contributed. of natural and cultural values, in a publi- term commitment that requires Two points that are easy to overlook cation that isn’t overwhelmingly big or talented and experienced staff that are the significance of Caring for convoluted. need to be respected and retained, Namadgi together and the long delay in It also provided a valuable basis from so their depth of talent can be fully finalising the revised Plan of Man- which NPA ACT formulated its policies utilised; agement for Namadgi National Park, in 2003–04. • Recognition, appreciation and pro- which might be launched in May 2010. The document’s main sections are: tection of the natural values of Planning process; Values of the park, Namadgi National Park must con- Caring for Namadgi together including flora and fauna; Management; stitute the core objective driving Main recommendations; References; and NPA ACT’s Environment Sub-com- Namadgi’s Plan of Management; Appendices. mittee, under the leadership of Eleanor • Management needs to build a Many of the recommendations have a Stodart and Clive Hurlstone, produced sound knowledge base, including depressing permanency about them and Caring for Namadgi together in 2002 have been repeated in many submissions (continued next page)

Sub-committees and submissions: the first forty years (continued from page 13) the draft management plans for Ginini development in the Orroral Valley. The repeatedly expressed its concern that the Flats Wetlands, Morton and Budawang sub-committee did support the Plan of Management for Namadgi National Parks, and the draft Alpine conservation of the Tennent farm National Park has not been updated. This Strategy. complex. situation makes difficult a proper The sub-committee supported the assessment of, and effective responses The Namadgi sub-committee development of the Yerrabi Walking to, issues like ecotourism and other Track in 1987 and the subsequent nature planning and development proposals in A submission to the government’s plan notes, and also the Australian Alps the national park. It took 24 years to of management for Namadgi was an Walking Track stages through Namadgi. have the Namadgi National Park initial task of the Namadgi sub- The sub-committee’s 1995 declared. This year we celebrate NPA committee, with a further submission in submission on the government’s capital ACT’s 50th anniversary. It is also the response to the final management plan in works program emphasised that Namadgi Plan of Management’s 25th 1986. The administrative arrangements provision of camping sites needed to be anniversary, not something to celebrate. for Namadgi also took up much time, environmentally sound, and not just a We hope that the long gestation of the with the sub-committee members response to demand. In 1995 the NPA ‘new’ draft plan will end soon. meeting regularly with government responded vigorously to a proposal that officials. NPA put a strong case for management of Namadgi might be let to extensions to Namadgi and, in 1990, the Sub-committees and the interests outside the ACT, and eco- ongoing role of the NPA Lower Cotter Catchment, Mount tourism that might compromise the Tennent/Blue Gum Creek and part of the wilderness would be allowed. In 1999 As much as anything, the work of the Gibraltar Creek valley and Gibraltar NPA opposed plans to develop sub-committees illustrates that the NPA Range were added. Gudgenby precinct as an eco-tourist is not the Namadgi National Park The prospect of the Boboyan Pine centre and argued that, instead, the Association, but an organisation that Plantation being replanted after bushfires ecological resources of the area should plays a role in protecting and promoting in 1983 dismayed the NPA and the be upgraded. the values of natural places, especially government agreed to its plan to remove In 1999 the Namadgi and in, but not restricted to, the ACT— the pines and rehabilitate the area. This Environment sub-committees were helping people to realise the importance was a major achievement. merged into one Environment sub- of these precious assets. A long-running project was the committee. restoration of the Orroral Homestead, Annette Smith which commenced in 1981 and was Namadgi National Park Plan of completed in 1997. Construction of a boardwalk was also undertaken, but NPA Management opposed the proposal for recreational Since the mid 1990s, the NPA has

14 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Into the new millennium: new challenges (continued) species lists, and lists of the values Government environment challenging the principles of conserva- being protected and of threatening agencies under-funded tion and of minimum impact recreation and enhancing processes. in national parks. They are responding to [Caring for Namadgi together, p.47] Implementing recommendations requires expanding urban populations and those appropriate funding for staff and who have greater spending power to buy A large part is devoted to feral pests, equipment. With the ACT Government’s 4WDs, trail bikes, power boats, dune with recommendations for their manage- budget cuts, NPA ACT’s position has buggies, horses and mountain bikes; ment. Little mention is made of climate been that Parks, Conservation and Lands many recreationalists are demanding change which, in 2002, was only slowly (PCL), which was absorbed into greater access to national parks. Others gaining recognition. Perhaps it is time Municipal Services at one stage (!), has want adventure holidays with luxury for a revised Caring for Namadgi not overspent but has been under-funded accommodation. Recreation is becoming together, incorporating recommendations and cannot adequately fulfil its high tech, high impact and often noisy. for adapting to climate change and new obligations. What price the environment? The economy fluctuates but, in a research included in the symposium pro- Submissions were invited in 2005 to resource-rich country, the environment ceedings for 2006, 2008 and May 2010. the review of the 1986 Plan of Man- doesn’t get high priority. agement for Namadgi. There were many delays, The pressures have and a peculiar twist where reached Namadgi the public was invited to comment on the modified Environment ministers say that national draft plan in 2008 without parks must pay their own way and be having access to the entire more accessible, incorporating devel- draft plan. Only after the opment and tourism, much of it Greens tabled a motion in upmarket. NPA ACT opposed the low- the Assembly could key accommodation proposal for Gudgenby Homestead in 2000 because NPA ACT see the amend- of the impacts of the sewerage system on ments in context. the area’s aquatic ecology. Increased Subsequently, one com- traffic and a road upgrade would affect mittee member astutely NAMADGI wildlife. Parking provisions would observed that a table disturb Aboriginal sites and rubbish showing upper limits to Your Granite Tors disposal would be another consideration. the numbers of partici- Over time, pressure would inevitably pants in recreational grow to upgrade the Homestead’s events to be held in They were always there … we knew, accommodation to a more sophisticated Namadgi had disappeared level, leading to effects similar to those Along the ridges and atop your peaks, from the appendix of the evident at the expanding resorts in Those jumbled piles of granite amended 2007 draft. Kosciuszko National Park: overloaded Beneath their blue bush blanket. Always scrutinise appen- sewerage systems polluting water- dices! Showing a similar- courses; parking lots and ski runs ity to the Cheshire Cat in encroaching on wildlife habitat; feral cat BUT— Alice in wonderland, the and rodent numbers increasing near the It took a mighty conflagration, table reappeared after resorts, which also become alternative NPA ACT had written to food sources for native fauna. NPA ACT Your cover to consume the Chief Minister, but recommends that accommodation be And thus reveal without the upper limits to built outside national parks, not within Their full bold beauty. participant numbers. them. At the time of writing, the At the moment, Gudgenby Home- Namadgi Plan of Manage- stead is used as a rangers’ residence, Beauty of block stack; crafted with care; ment being used is the with a works depot on site. This ensures Tall mystic standing stones, and 1986 version. We have an official presence in the southern part Blasted free, scattered round your feet been waiting for 24 years of the park. for a revised plan which In 1980, NPA ACT ‘donated $50 to Sharp gritty shards, or— should be incorporating, at the Kosciusko Committee’s fund to keep In situ— the very least, measures to Kosciusko (sic) National Park free from Jigsaws of fragile fragments. meet the challenges of over-development by commercial climate change. interests’ (NPA Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 3, March 1980). Fifty dollars against Kerry We explore with awe Environment min- Packer and Transfield Holdings’ millions Yet sense some vague urgency invested in the Perisher–Blue Cow isters are challeng- resort. A real David and Goliath contest. For already these treasures ing the principles of (You too can search through the The bush re-wraps. conservation hundreds of Bulletins published over the years by accessing our website Environment ministers, Judith Webster www.npaact.org.au) both state and federal, are (continued on page 16)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 15 Into the new millennium: new challenges (continued from page 15) Two-thousand pounding feet: socks and clothes after a walk? Hawk- bidgee, with reservations and provisos. what environmental impact? weed, a member of the daisy family is The Association opposed the two that highly invasive and already in Namadgi. would cause substantial damage: along There is a large-scale national orienteer- Orroral Ridge, with its magnificent ing event with 1 000 participants Fire management: long, hard granite boulders, and up steep Stockyard scheduled for Easter 2010 near negotiations Spur between Corin Dam and the Mt Gudgenby Homestead. What’s wrong Franklin Road, through subalpine and with that? Orienteerers aren’t high tech The aftermath of the 2003 fires brought alpine country. and are entitled to enjoy the environment controversy, opposing viewpoints about in their own way. Sure, but not in such fire management and suppression, and a large numbers. plethora of draft plans and development A win on Orroral Ridge In the NPA Bulletin of December applications. The Orroral Ridge proposal was with- 2009 (Vol. 46, No. 4, President Christine The Association was disappointed drawn after NPA ACT’s successful Goonrey wrote (p. 3): that it wasn’t asked to provide a rep- campaign which involved media releases NPA ACT is concerned that the num- resentative to present an ecological and Christine Goonrey’s appearance on ber of participants competing in this perspective on fire management to the ABC TV’s Stateline program on 4 May off-track event will disturb and MacLeod Report. 2007 with NPA ACT members shown possibly endanger wildlife, NPA ACT President Christine walking between the Ridge’s egg- and including birds preparing to Goonrey subsequently became the mushroom-shaped rocks and tunnels. migrate; small mammals preparing Conservation Council of the ACT’s The original proposal for the steep for winter; and lizards and other representative on the Rural Fire Service Stockyard Spur fire trail from Corin reptiles which inhabit the rocky out- Board and informed NPA about fire- Dam would have been extremely crops and rock surfaces of the valley management developments. expensive and caused considerable and surrounding hills. Participants NPA ACT supports rapid response damage and erosion to watercourses and will trample and destroy grass, aerial bombardment and light equipment gullies draining into Canberra’s water small forbs, lichen and mosses on to combat fires in the rugged subalpine supply. soils and rocks already stressed by areas of the Brindabellas, Stockyard When this proposal was ruled out, years of drought. Runners will Spur and other areas of Namadgi. concerns still existed about the alter- damage considerable areas of Tankers and floats, which are cum- native of widening the existing walking vegetation as they traverse the eight- bersome and slow in rugged terrain, track and fire trail junction to provide a een different courses set up into the require turning circles, and roads or fire turning circle of 30 metres, and the granite hills above the homestead. trails often have to be widened to accom- prospect of frequent prescribed burns of A number of Aboriginal sites in modate them. The Association also alpine vegetation. the area are at risk of damage, even supports controlled mosaic burning After members had accompanied if only from competitors who get based on vegetation types, taking into PCL staff on a walk up Stockyard Spur lost. The European heritage of account different plant sensitivities and in July 2009, PCL agreed to modi- Gudgenby Homestead, Gudgenby their individual requirements for the fications— at the top of the spur the fire Cottage, associated building and appropriate fire intervals needed to trail would be re-routed to avoid certain landscape value is also being ensure their survival. granite outcrops and vegetation stands— ignored. Specialists in fire and its management but concerns remain, as with the at our general meetings and at the 2006 widening of the Mt Franklin Road. The damage inflicted by car parking symposium spoke of the complexities of Last in the list of fire topics is the and traffic on the fragile grassland fire behaviour and the need for control Strategic Bushfire Management Plan around the homestead, along with the measures to take into account tem- (SBMP), which Dr Margaret Kitchin installation of portable catering, event perature, fire intensity and speed, wind (Senior Forest Ecologist, PCL) and management and toilet facilities is of direction and strength. They spoke of the Dylan Kendall (Senior Management concern, as is the potential for the spread different types of fires, whether grass- Officer, PCL) collaborated on and made and dispersal of weeds. Have you ever land or canopy, and how conditions can a presentation on at the NPA general noticed how seeds and burrs stick to your change rapidly. meeting in October 2009. Beforehand, All this informa- Martin Chalk and Clive Hurlstone tion was valuable attended public meetings on the SBMP. in responding to Several committee members attended a four new fire-trail workshop where Margaret and Dylan proposals: outlined details of the components and NPA ACT construction of the plan. accepted two, one By its nature the plan is of dizzying for the Booth complexity. It comprises three levels: the Range, east of the SBMP sits at the top, the Regional Fire Boboyan Road, Plans are just below and the annual and one on the Bushfire Operational Plans on the third Bullen Range level of the hierarchy. Martin Chalk running parallel expanded on the details in his article to the Murrum- (continued next page) Burnt offerings—the view from Mt Kelly towards Gudgenby, June 2003. Photo Max Lawrence

16 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Into the new millennium: new challenges (continued) ‘Developing regional fire plans for the fragmented with the ACT’ in the NPA Bulletin, Vol. 46, No. 4 uprooting of their three (December 2009). known nesting trees. Their night calls could be heard NPA ACT: custodian and friend for months in the neigh- bouring suburb of Aranda of the environment as they battled for new NPA ACT is Namadgi’s guardian. The territories. Association also keeps a watching brief Jerry gave a very on Canberra Nature Park and the city’s sobering and poignant talk open spaces. The watching brief involves at one of NPA ACT’s leading walks to nature reserves: Rob general meetings about the Roy, the Molonglo Valley, Goorooyarroo Boobook Owl’s habits, and Mulligans Flat. Col McAlister has requirements, fate and led walks to the historic sites that he’s dismal future. researched and described in his Syd Comfort alerted NPA ACT monograph, Twelve historic members about the sites in the Glenburn and Burbong areas Canberra Spatial Plan, Burnt bog, Sams Creek, June 2003. Photo Max Lawrence of the Kowen Forest, Australian Capital ‘Shaping our Territory’ and Territory. impending developments in the Molon- near the Fyshwick sewage ponds, in an Individual members follow their glo Valley (NPA Bulletin, Vol. 46, No. 1, area that is one of Canberra’s top bird- particular interests in fungi, plants or March 2009), while Esther Gallant led watching spots. Two kilometres of birds and regularly visit their favourite subsequent walks to the Lower Molonglo overhead power lines will also be areas, becoming very familiar with them. and Kama woodlands. Esther is keeping installed. They can notice and report damage or a watchful eye on a wedge-tailed eagle The first page of NPA ACT’s sub- vandalism during their forays. Adrienne family raising two chicks, and reports on mission on Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nicholson knows many hiding places on developments in this Bulletin. (2 April 2007) states: Black Mountain where orchids lie low Despite being primarily an artificial and camouflage themselves. On one Concern for Tidbinbilla creation the Jerrabomberra Wetlands occasion, she took action after being told From early days, NPA ACT has been have become a significant habitat for about soil disturbance from a truck a range of native species and in par- driven by electrical sub-contract crew involved with Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Nancy Burbidge and Robert ticular migratory water birds. Its checking powerlines; she informed importance is highlighted in the members at a general meeting and Story made recommendations when the reserve was being formed. As the reserve recently released global review reported the damage to PCL staff who entitled ‘Waterbirds of the world’ a took action. recovers from the 2003 fires, the ACT Government is now strongly promoting key message of which was that The Association’s links with the ‘waterbirds are being sidelined by Black Mountain Spring Walk that Nancy it as a tourist attraction and has invested significant funding in its new infra- economic development. Too few Burbidge initiated, and George Chippen- conservation measures are currently dale took over with Laurie Adams, are structure, volunteer training, ranger-led walks and promotion. Where is the being undertaken for globally fading as NPA ACT leaders retire. The threatened species’. Australian Native Plant Society, and the investment in protecting Namadgi Friends of the Australian National National Park and having rangers to Despite evidence about the value of Botanic Gardens, with Jean Geue, and interpret the natural wonders along the the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, both the the University of the Third Age, with Yerrabi Track or Square Rock Track? Federal and ACT governments have which George was also associated, now NPA ACT stated its viewpoints and approved the work. have greater involvement. recommendations in its submission (continued on page 18) responding to the Tidbin- billa Plan of Management Impact of the GDE Discussion Paper in Construction of the Gungahlin Drive February 2009. Extension (GDE) in 2004–05 has had massive impacts on Black Mountain Wetlands: one sup- Reserve. Environmental legislation was ported, one threat- amended to allow the north-western part of the reserve to be excised for construc- ened tion; the ACT Government authorised While wetlands are being contractors to kill native birds or animals developed in Tidbinbilla, caught in the path of the roadworks. the Jerrabomberra Wet- Resident Boobook Owls (which Jerry lands are facing damage Olsen from the University of Canberra from electricity infra- had been studying for 12 years) structure development. A disappeared when their territory was substation will be built

Early signs of recovery, Bogong Gap, June 2003. Photo Max Lawrence

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 17 The NPA Bulletin of today—forty-seven years in the making Since the first issue of the Bulletin was newsletter, and later the Bulletin, to A new look produced in 1963, the editors have produce even though she couldn’t type. striven to produce an interesting and At that stage the Bulletin was copied In June 1971 the Bulletin took on a ‘new informative publication for members. It onto A4 paper using a Roneo machine, look’ with a cover incorporating the has been an ongoing effort by many then stapled and folded. Addresses were NPA ACT logo on an outline of the people, adapting to meet the needs of the handwritten. ACT. This design continued until 1974 membership and to master new Fiona prevailed on a friend to draw when Brian Lee became editor and the technologies. the possum which was used on the cover cover feature was changed to a stylized In the 1960s, just getting the articles from the fourth issue in October 1963. water, tree and mountain image. The typed was a challenge. Whilst Nancy One advantage of this simple Bulletin same cover was used when Bruce Ward Burbidge, the powerhouse behind the was that is was cheap enough to became editor in late 1974, and Norm infant NPA ACT and the Association’s distribute freely to friends and contacts and Jenny Morrison continued using this first secretary, could type, when Fiona who might be interested in the meetings, cover when they took over a year later. Brand became secretary in 1962 and outings or the movement for the national Reg Alder took over mid 1978. He Nancy became president, Fiona found park. As Fiona said ‘it was a big job in attacked the job with gusto and greatly herself with letters to write and a those first few years’. enlarged the content and size of the (continued next page)

Into the new millennium: new challenges (continued from page 17) EPBC review ignores climate wording, both of which involved intense You’ll meet people around the change discussion. The debate continues. committee table who use their culinary skills to maintain committee members’ Perhaps one of the mightiest of all 2010: a ‘one in fifty year’ energy most deliciously. You can choose submissions was that of the Conservation between wine and clean water—is the Council ACT Region’s (ConsACT) to As well as working hard, NPA ACT latter becoming an ever more precious the Independent Review of the Envi- knows how to celebrate. With 2010 commodity? ronment Protection and Biodiversity marking the Association’s 50th As for NPA ACT itself, what do you, Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999, the anniversary, several events have been NPA, want for your fiftieth birthday, centrepiece of federal environmental planned for the year, starting with the besides champagne, cake and catching legislation. Because NPA ACT is a celebration on 1 March, the date of the up with friends? member of ConsACT, this submission inaugural meeting of NPA ACT in 1960. The answer might be: This was held in the theatrette at the then (19 December 2008) reflects the A Namadgi Plan of Management that Institute of Anatomy, now the National Association’s stand. Three statements in recognises the recommendations that Film and Sound Archive. For 50 years the introductory summary (pp. 2, 3) are have been repeated constantly in sub- members have worked voluntarily in missions, where the natural and cul- especially significant: many ways towards having a national tural environment is given the top pri- The referral process needs ... to park for the national capital established, ority and respect it deserves; allow for ... more stringent protected and nurtured. assessment and greater compliance As already related here, members That the environment portfolio be monitoring ... have also volunteered their energy and funded appropriately with resources to There is simply too much Ministerial commitment to Canberra’s nature park research the effects of climate change discretion … , and and to areas outside the ACT. NPA’s and make provision for them; The glaring omission of climate latest project is a proposal for a northern A table of events with participant num- change as a matter of national ACT national park, incorporating bers that are limited to protect fragile environmental significance and the Mulligans Flat, Goorooyarroo, Mt ecosystems and is strictly adhered to; inability of the Act to contribute in Majura and Mt Ainslie, to celebrate and the response to climate change Canberra’s 100th birthday in 2013 (see The same for the Canberra Nature Park remains a serious shortcoming. NPA Bulletin, June 2009, p 4). Every member is welcome to come to And continuing good health well into The kangaroo cull one, some, or all of the events that the the future. Despite the heavy commitments of its Association has planned to celebrate the Judy Kelly members, NPA ACT still had time for fiftieth anniversary. lively discussion about the official If you want to practise your skills of culling of kangaroos. The majority of reasoning, deducing and debating, forget members supported the cull because of Sudoku and join the committee or a sub- the ecological impact the Eastern Grey committee. As you wade through Plans Kangaroo was having on the threatened of Management, contribute inspirational native grassland at Majura. ideas, plan work parties or walks, or Talking about kangaroo numbers work in the office, you’ll learn a great leads to thoughts of other species’ deal about the environment and numbers. The committee had debated the conservation. possibility of a population policy and its

18 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 The NPA Bulletin of today—forty-seven years in the making (continued) Bulletin, but not without some Outsourcing many members have been willing to challenges. devote their time and effort to this Changes became necessary as it was important element of the Bigger issues more and more difficult for NPA association’s activities. Their roles members to produce the Bulletin. The cover a wide spectrum … In his oral history interview with Committee reviewed the situation and Matthew Higgins in 1999 Bulletin produced a substantial ‘NPA Bulletin I would like to single out Len editor Reg Alder recounted the Policy’ document which was adopted in Haskew and Adrienne Nicholson. problems of finding a suitable typist: February 1989. One outcome of the Len has continued to assemble the PARKWATCH section and to write up I increased the size of the Bulletin. I review was the decision to appoint a paid editor. Green Words was awarded the the addresses given at meetings. think I had trouble with the typists Adrienne has undertaken the layout because one couldn’t cope with the tender to produce the Bulletin from 1989, paid for in part by an ACT Community of this year’s issues and in doing this amount of stuff that needed to be had maintained a very high standard typed so I had to go to another lady Development grant. Members had only to leave their contributions at the office, whilst saving the association some but they had different size fonts in $400 each issue. their typewriters, it was a 10 and or deliver them to the editor Roger 12, and that created a bit of a Green. From December 1989 it was Syd finally retired at the end of 2005 problem. I didn’t want to have two produced on recycled paper, and from as convener/editor of the Bulletin different sizes of types in the one 1992 to the end of 1996 funding came Working Group having successfully issue and so I experimented with from ACT Heritage Grants. guided the transition of the Bulletin back one issue by reducing type to all one Effective though this system was, to production by members. Adrienne size by having different length lines there was a feeling within the Nicholson continued the layout, and of text and then reducing it on a membership that they had lost ownership Neville Esau took over as editor until photocopier. That created quite a bit of their own Bulletin. The ACT mid 2007. Max Lawrence then became of scream from a lot of people Government’s Environment Grants chief editor with Kevin McCue and because they reckoned the type was program replaced the Heritage Grants in Sonja Lenz able to stand in when too small but actually the type was 1995–96 but that source of funding dried necessary. the same size as a newspaper font up at the end of 1996 when the ACT but I gave that up. So I then found a Environment Grants were restricted to Continuing progress lady, quite near, who was doing environmental projects. From then on typesetting and she had a financing the Bulletin became an issue, There was great excitement when the Remington machine which could although occasional assistance was still first NPA Bulletin for 2008 was printed right justify and gave a nice clear available through other project grants. with a full glossy colour cover, not to be font but she didn’t have any range of confused with the ‘coloured’ covers of capitals, apart from the normal Back to in-house – the Bulletin some early editions where coloured range on the machine. She did it paper was used for the cover. Our quite cheaply and then suddenly she Working Group Bulletin in 2010 is a showpiece for the went and upped her price. So I took A Bulletin Working Group was formed, wonderful photographers in the the pink pages and found another with Syd Comfort as convener and Association. We’ve come a long way. lady down in Macgregor and she Graeme Wicks on the editorial Apart from our editors and layout had a bigger range on her machine committee. With assistance from Green expert, there are many people whose but I didn’t go for any fancy heading Words, starting with the March 1997 work makes up the Bulletin. It is types because that was going to cost issue, the Bulletin Working Group was impossible to list their contributions, but quite a bit more money.” able to take more and more now with all issues of the NPA Bulletin responsibility for preparation of the going up on our website, the results of Controlling costs Bulletin and reduced the cost to the their work are there for all to see. Association. Annette Smith Printing was a challenge during the six By the end of the 1998–99 financial years Reg edited the Bulletin. He was year all government funding had ceased. very keen to include photographs on the In the circumstance, the quality of cover and inside the Bulletin but also the 40th Anniversary Supplement in determined to keep cost to a minimum. March 2000 is a tremendous By 1984, his task was huge and testament to the efforts of the eventually others rallied to assist him. A working group who produced it. team under Babette Scougall took over Of the membership production, producing the Bulletin for the special Syd Comfort was able to report in ‘Namadgi issue’ in September 1984 to the December 2002 Bulletin: celebrate the declaration of Namadgi National Park. The team approach This current issue of the NPA continued under Margus Karilaid who Bulletin marks the completion of took over in September 1985. When he six years during which the stood down a year later, ‘the team’ Bulletin has been produced by produced more issues of the Bulletin association members though the The cover of the NPA’s ‘other’ major anniversary before Judith Simondson took over for Bulletin Working Group. The Bulletin—the 40th—featuring Reg Alder’s the March 1986 issue to December 1988. Association is fortunate that so wonderful photo of Mt Namadgi as seen from Gudgenby.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 19 NPA ACT publishing—a dynamic program In support of its commitment to the which was set up in 1998 with again be published in time for the protection of native flora and fauna and significant help from the NPA ACT symposium. One outcome of the 2006 the conservation of the natural and committee and volunteer members. symposium was the publication, in 2008, cultural heritage of the ACT and In 1987, the first brochure and nature of a 1:250 000 scale map, Geology of the elsewhere, the National Parks notes for the newly built Yerrabi Track ACT by the Geological Society of Association publishes informative books were put out by NPA ACT and, in 1990, Australia to which NPA provided seed and reports on those topics as part of its the Association assisted the Australian funding and expertise. education program. Conservation Foundation in putting A photo competition for NPA ACT forward a Proposal for a Jervis Bay members and park rangers featuring NPA ACT publications Marine Park. Namadgi National Park was run in 2008. A Publications Sub-committee of The photos were displayed at Macarthur Mountains, slopes and plains: the NPA ACT was formed in 2007 under the House, the Australian National Botanic fauna and flora of the Australian leadership of Sabine Friedrich. Gardens, the Namadgi Visitor Centre and Capital Territory was NPA ACT’s first Previously, publications were managed at the 2008 symposium, which was held book. It was published in 1971 with the by small groups of willing volunteers, at the CSIRO Discovery Centre. Thirteen support of the then Department of the who are to be congratulated for their photos judged to be the best were then Interior. This was followed by Rambles dedication and perseverance. included in a Namadgi calendar for around Canberra in 1977, edited by To promote and support the 2009. A Mortlock and G O’Loghlin. protection of cultural heritage, NPA ACT The 2010 calendar celebrates Field guide to the native trees of the published in 2007 Twelve historic sites 50 years of NPA ACT events and ACT, first published in 1983, has seen in the Glenburn and Burbong areas of achievements with historical photos by reprints in 1990 and 2004, and a second the Kowen Forest, by C McAlister. This our members. edition in 2007, the latter including report draws notice to the earliest known colour photographs to further assist in European grave site in the ACT, dating What of the future? the identification of local native trees. from 1837. Demand for this slim volume Field guide to the birds of the ACT, far exceeded the print run of 100 copies. What does the future hold for NPA 1993, 1999 and 2007, by M Taylor and Field guide to the orchids of the publications? In 2010, our anniversary N Day, was financially backed by Australian Capital Territory, by D Jones year, we plan to publish another field NPA ACT life member Alastair et al, published in 2008, is the first guide, this time on common insects of Morrison. He also supported Reptiles complete local guide about these the ACT; a ‘big book’ to showcase the and frogs of the Australian Capital magnificent flowers. It was launched by beauty and importance of Namadgi Territory, by R Bennett, published in TV news reader and orchid lover Craig National Park for the ACT and as part of 1997. A second edition of this is Allen at our 2008 symposium and has the Australian Alpine National Park; and currently being developed. proven very popular with orchid a very special little book called Eyes or Significant reports published before enthusiasts, not just of the ACT but no eyes to honour our founding member NPA ACT’s 40th anniversary highlighted elsewhere in Australia and abroad. Nancy Burbidge. This is being produced conservation and preservation of The Association has also published by NPA members under the able Remnant woodland and native the proceedings of three scientific leadership of Sabine Friedrich. And we grassland, and of The northern Cotter seminars: Alpine areas in 1985, Caring are sure that there will be many more catchment as well as a review of for Namadgi—science and people in worthwhile and attractive publications in Woodchipping in Eden. NPA ACT also 2006 and Corridors for survival in a the years to come. commissioned a report by N Taws on the changing world in 2008. The latter two Beverley Hammond and Sonja Lenz Removal and rehabilitation of the most recent symposia were leading up to Boboyan Pine Plantation, useful this year’s 50th anniversary symposium background information for the with the theme National Parks—can Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group they take the heat? The papers will

20 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 NPA outings—a long and rich program Introduction • Sixty people attended the March 1963 outing to When the NPA was Mt Coree, and members who established in 1960, the didn’t want to walk to the outings program was the summit were taken by Jeep to vehicle to help the the top. Members sometimes community to appreciate and found Corroboree frogs enjoy the natural world. It around Coree. was also seen as a means of • About 70 people joined the educating people about outing to a cave at Wee Jasper nature, and learning about in 1966. People had to wait to what was in the ACT. enter in smaller groups. They had been instructed to bring Early outings candles and torches. Numbers Nancy Burbidge was were limited the next year. instrumental in creating the • Over 100 people turned up NPA in 1960 and directed in June 1964, on the NPA’s A kilted Nancy Burbidge leading an early NPA outing. third outing to Ginninderra much of her energy to Photo from the National Library of Australia collection. providing outings that would Falls and Gorge just across the teach people about the richness of the early 1960s. Some examples are: border in NSW. In 1966 an NPA work bushland of the ACT and its environs. In • at the Big Hole, a talk about the party did track work there. This beautiful the first few years there was only one geological and botanical features of area is privately owned and now closed outing per month. These outings were the area to the public. nature appreciation and learning • a weekend trip to Mount Franklin experiences, rather than the ‘bushwalks’ Chalet, with optional visits to Ginini Beyond the ACT that comprise the bulk of our Outings Falls, Gingera and Brumby Flats, and an evening campfire discussion on Many of NPA’s outings, even those in Program today. the 1960s, have been to areas outside the Between 1960 and 1964, at least ‘Nature Conservation—where do we fit in?’ ACT, especially to other national parks 30 sets of detailed handouts were in NSW and Victoria. Some outings to produced by Nancy and her colleagues • day trips to Mt Ginini to view Bogong moths in the rock crevices ACT or NSW coastal areas were to or for outings participants. The handouts through private property, usually owned described the birds, plants, mammals, before driving home in the dust of a convoy of 20 or more cars by people known to the leader. Such freshwater invertebrates, insects and/or outings are becoming more difficult to geological features that might be • a trip to Flea Creek to watch trout moving up the shallow creek to arrange as landholders change and old encountered on the outing, and also networks are lost. provided the directions for the day. spawn One of the first major outings was in • an outing to Burra Creek, with the November 1960, a few months after the leader, Dr Weatherly, providing Figuring out rules and advice creation of the NPA, from the Naas microscopes for children and adults Running an outings program was a Bridge to Rendezvous Creek. Part of the to examine the creatures they found learning process for organisers. By the handout is reproduced at the end of this • a morning visit to the Wildlife mid-1960s some changes were article to illustrate the great detail leaders Division of CSIRO followed by an advocated to cope with increasing went to for the outings. afternoon walk up Mt Majura. numbers of participants: • Advice for the monthly spring Education Crowds outings in 1964 was that dogs should Education in a social atmosphere could Many of the NPA outings in the 1960s (continued on page22) best describe many of the trips in the attracted large attendances:

On a ght.

Left. Mick Kelly and Mike Smith on The Castle, Budawangs, 1996. Right. Frank Clements on Byangee Mountain, 1996. Photos Max Lawrence

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 21 NPA outings—a long and rich program (continued from page 21) be kept on a leash. By 1968 there and so too did the number and was a ban on all pets on outings. By variety of outings. From fewer 1976 it was an Association rule that than 12 outings a year in the there were to be ‘no dogs, no cats, no early 1970s, the 1982–83 firearms and no litter’ on walks. program offered 88 outings with • In 1964 the need to encourage and 36 different leaders. train leaders was recognised, and that the outings program should cater for Checking it all out the ‘energetic’, the ‘less energetic’ and ‘children’. There were some fact-finding • The request that passengers offer outings to the Gudgenby/Mt monetary contribution to drivers hit a Kelly area during the 1960s snag in 1984 when the suggested and 70s, specifically to inspect contribution was doubled from two areas proposed for a national cents to four cents per kilometre per park in the ACT. In February person, and even some drivers 1962, the Committee was rebelled. The suggested contribution focusing on the southern area of was dropped to three cents for a the ACT for a national park, and period. In 2010 the suggested rate is wanted to obtain information on forty cents per kilometre per car. possible boundaries. They asked Julie Henry, convener of the Mt Kelly sub-committee, to see The 1970s and 80s if a trip to the Mt Kelly area A number of new experienced bush could be arranged through her walkers, Reg Alder and Neville Esau in association with the particular, joined the NPA in the 1970s. bushwalking fraternity. This Under their influence, the newly formed resulted in three of the Outings Sub-committee began offering committee joining a trip organised by the such as the annual president’s picnic more adventurous day walks and Canberra Alpine Club in September which operated during the 1970s and exploratory bush-bashing pack walks in 1962. In the years to follow the NPA 80s, have vanished. One long-running addition to the nature- and social-based organised its own familiarisation outings outing became known as the Burbidge/ outings. to the Mt Kelly area. Chippendale Walk. This spring walk on The less energetic outings included The outings program has continued Black Mountain is covered elsewhere in visits to Lake George to observe birds (a to provide a mixture of recreational this special issue of the Bulletin. very popular activity) and to Westbourne outings and outings with specific Woods to inspect the arboretum, objectives. For example, 1995–96 Joint outings followed by lunch on the lake shores. In outings included a history tour of There have been many joint outings with October 1971, for a mere $1 per person, Tidbinbilla, a guided tour of Canberra’s other groups, initially with the NSW there was a 2-hour Lake Burley Griffin remnant grasslands by ACT Parks and NPA and its branches, the Field cruise to identify water birds. The cruise Conservation grassland expert Sarah Naturalists and, more recently, with the resulted in a financial loss, footed by the Sharp, as well as many walks just to Family Bushwalkers (FBI) and the NPA, as 60 participants were needed to enjoy the bush and to explore the Canberra Bushwalking Club (CBC). cover costs and only 46 people attended. Canberra Nature Park. Some of the joint walks are organised by In the mid 1970s, the legendary Ian leaders who belong to both clubs, Currie weekend car camps commenced. Institutions especially where it is considered that The Curries arranged activities for there might not be sufficient interest A number of institutions have continued people of all ages, and many families from NPA members alone. as part of the outings program; others, attended. They remember fondly these (continued next page) very popular outings. Many of the outings in the 1960s and 1970s were definitely ‘child friendly’. On a weekend camp at Burrinjuck in September 1971 there were 24 members and 14 children. In more recent times, people like Di Thompson and Adrienne Nicholson have filled the gap, Di with a special interest in the management issues in national parks, and Adrienne with an emphasis on nature appreciation. Up to three generations have attended some of these car camps. Membership increased significantly during the late 1970s and early 1980s Top right. NPA party on Mt Gudgenby, 1997. Right. Fun in the snow on Mt Nungar, 1998. Photos Max Lawrence

22 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 NPA outings—a long and rich program (continued) Some special outings Later in the 1980s and early 90s, softly’ ethos of the clubs concerned. NPA held joint walks in Heritage Week Such concerns for the environment are in Perhaps our most rewarding outing was with the Kosciuszko Huts Association, stark contrast to the ACT Government’s that in August 1983 when, with the visiting places such as Brayshaws Hut approval of large-scale events for up to campaign for a national park renewed, a and the Grassy and Naas Creeks area. In 1,000 competitors within Namadgi group of NPA members took Tom Uren, other years NPA people led walks to National Park. This erosion of the then the Minister for the Department of Rendezvous Creek, the Yankee Hat national park’s primary conservation role Territories and Local Government, and paintings and heritage sites in the is of concern for our many walkers, who about 12 government officials in a Brindabellas, including Mount Franklin see Namadgi not as a sporting arena but convoy of 4WDs around the areas they Chalet. In 1993, Professor Lindsay Pryor as a place to find peace and renewal. wanted included in a new national park. explained the history of the Alpine At the end of the day, over a cup of tea Botanic Garden, in connection with and Tom’s favourite banana cake, Bushfire Regeneration Walk which Pryor’s hut was built in 1952. members pointed out exactly what they In 1995, Heritage Week walkers NPA members helped supervise the wanted over maps they had prepared and visited Bushfold near Mount Tennent, therapeutic Bushfire Regeneration Walk, laid out on a car bonnet. Tom Uren which had recently been added to the held in July 2003 after the bushfires. turned to his departmental head and park, and went to selected forestry sites This walk from Chapman to Isaacs asked him for a submission on what the in the northern Brindabellas. followed tracks in Canberra Nature Park. NPA had requested, and NPA knew they Over 200 people took part, at least were about to achieve their goal. 50 doing the whole walk. Several celebratory and public Mid-week walks outings are worth noting: The mid-week walks have become a Great Australian Bushwalk • To celebrate the declaration of regular joint activity with other Namadgi National Park in 1984, bushwalking clubs. The inimitable Olive The first of the Great Australian members carried champagne and Buckman instigated the NPA’s monthly Bushwalks (GAB) was held on Sunday food to celebrate on top of mid-week walks in May 1983. Until 24 October 2004 in all state capital Mt Namadgi. Fiona MacDonald 1989 they were run separately from the cities. It began as a concept developed Brand admitted to taking meringues regular outings program. In that first by NPA NSW and was subsequently because they were the lightest to 6 years there were 77 mid-week walks taken up by all the other NPAs including carry. led by 21 leaders. NPA ACT. The ACT Chief Minister and • A few years later, at the opening of Once the mid-week walks became Environment ACT strongly supported it. the Yerrabi Track in 1987, 150–200 part of the outings program they In the ACT that first year, two walks people turned up to celebrate. The gradually changed, becoming faster, were organised, one of 10km, the other track has become the focal point for harder walks, instead of the ‘time to 20km, to show off the northern sections NPA anniversary celebrations, look, watch and relax’ walks that many of Canberra Nature Park, particularly the including the track’s own 10th of the members had enjoyed. As Phyl new Goorooyarroo Woodland Reserve anniversary in 1987. Goddard put it so eloquently in the and Mulligans Flat. This turned out to be • The 10th anniversary of the Bulletin in March 1994: ‘During the past something of an extravaganza. Over 650 declaration of Namadgi National few years NPA walks have become people registered for the walks. Park was celebrated on 30 October increasingly gruelling with distances ACTION buses ferried people from 1994, with a walk along the Yerrabi longer, mountains steeper, pace faster Mulligans Flat to their starting points, Track, lunch at the top, then a further and fellow walkers younger.’ the ACT State Emergency Service party by the Gudgenby River, cutting Subsequently, there was a call for assisted with traffic control and in a large slab cake and singing Happy slower-paced walks for people wanting staffing checkpoints and rescue of weary Birthday Namadgi. The 25th to use the new NPA field guides, in walkers. The Ambulance Service was Anniversary in 2009 saw another addition to the mid-week walks in the also there for weary walkers and the happy crowd celebrating with cake outings program. ACT Government even hired a bush and champagne in the balmy In July 1997, NPA, FBI and CBC band. (continued on page24) sunshine on the track. commenced a rotating On a number of occasions, members’ leadership arrangement birthdays have been celebrated with for mid-week walks so special outings. that members of all three clubs could Heritage Week walks participate in a joint The NPA commenced providing walks in walk on each week. Heritage Week in 1982. The earlier ones These walks have were to Mt Boboyan. Members of the continued to the general public were encouraged to come, present day, although and on one occasion over 80 people the numbers sometimes turned up. They were served tea on top reach into the 20s, on Mt Boboyan, a generous effort by the raising some issues for hearty volunteers who had to carry the leaders and the ‘walk water and all the makings. Car campers, upper Murray River trip, May 2009. View of the Snowy Mountains from the west. Photo Adrienne Nicholson

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 23 NPA outings—a long and rich program (continued from page 23) The GAB was held again in October years. As part of this project, in 1995 and Today’s walkers 1996 they published a three-part series in 2005, again with the support of the ACT As always, the outings program relies on Government but with a little less the NPA Bulletins describing the walk from Namadgi Visitor Centre to a solid core of leaders and organisers. razzamatazz. The route NPA selected Over the last twenty years outings was the recently upgraded walking track Booroomba Rocks carpark, Booroomba Rocks to the Orroral Valley and Orroral conveners have been Steven Forst, Di along the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, Thompson, Mick Kelly, Phil Bubb, Max with walks of three different lengths all Valley to Murray’s Gap. These excellent articles were accompanied by articles on Lawrence and David Large. Mike Smith finishing at Pine Island. Again, around has been convener for the last four years. 650 people participated. birds, vegetation and cultural history along the ACT section of track, and the The NPA outings program continues By 2006 NPA ACT members were to offer a variety of easy rambles or concerned that the GAB wasn’t outings program was designed to complement this initiative. harder day walks, pack walks, snowshoe reflecting our bushwalking policies of or skiing trips, canoeing trips, work promoting the environment with Walks grading system parties and social events such as the dispersed walks for small groups of annual Christmas party. As well, there people who had little experience of the After consultation with members, a are occasional car camps where the bush. The government wanted to grading system for walks was adopted in emphasis can be on relatively passive continue it as a large-scale event for June 1989. The description for each walk activities through to explorations further people who prefer to experience the bush indicates distance and terrain and any afield. as part of a crowd. NPA opted to other information deemed useful to Members participating in outings are organise small groups only, and with the potential walkers. expected to abide by a low-impact code assistance of park rangers, led 160 of conduct whilst on walks, and to people in small groups on a variety of Insurance carpool to reach the start of walks. walks in Namadgi. The NPA joined the Confederation of Leaders are expected to be competent in By 2007, for a variety of reasons, the use of compass, map and, where support for organising the event was NSW Bushwalking Clubs in 2000. This gave it access to the same support and appropriate, a GPS device. All walkers waning around the country and the are encouraged to be competent in NPA ACT ceased participating in it. public liability insurance used by the other major bushwalking clubs in the administering first aid. The NPA has two personal locator beacons for leaders to The Australian Alps Walking ACT. This insurance policy gives the NPA, its walks leaders and all associated carry in case of emergencies in locations Track (AAWT) project with its outing program, public liability where there is no mobile phone Following the launch of the 655km cover against legal actions that may be reception. AAWT from Walhalla to Canberra, on brought against them alleging negligence For the NPA though, maintaining the 12 April 1995, the Namadgi sub- or breach of duty of care arising from outings program is essential to keep committee published, for the first time injuries sustained or property damaged people informed and in the field, so they since the 1960s, the equivalents to the or destroyed during the course of NPA can fulfil their crucial role, once outings handouts produced in those early sanctioned outings. described by Tom Uren, as … guardians, protectors and enhancers of Namadgi and our environmental treasures in the ACT. Annette Smith

Botanical Notes — Naas Bridge to Rendezvous Creek Copy of notes provided to par- ticipants on an NPA outing in November 1960. ‘Getting there’ instructions were invariably given; and directions for points and items of interest along the way. The plant notes are appropriate to the season, and other comments on natural history, cultural heritage, geology, land-use, etc were included.

24 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Symposium success story NPA ACT has held three scientific approach to the conservation of alpine symposia over its 50 years—in 1985, areas in Victoria, New South Wales and 2006 and 2008. A fourth is scheduled the Australian Capital Territory. for May this year. This second conference would, we Symposium Convenor Kevin McCue hoped, shine a bright light on the science, reported in the September 2006 and highlight the necessity for its NPA Bulletin, on NPA ACT’s 2006 continuation and possible expansion. Symposium Caring for Namadgi: From the organising committee’s viewpoint I think it has been a great science and people. In the report he The standard of talks continued in the success. The scientists have been put on also refers to the 1985 symposium. following sessions with memorable the podium, their faces are known, their What follows is an edited extract contributions from Roger Good, Geoff research shown to be not only relevant from Kevin’s report. Hope and Martin Worthy, who expanded but also interesting and exciting. The on themes from the 2006 symposium, In late 2004, the management committee great depth of their knowledge has really with consideration of impacts of climate of the NPA ACT decided to organise a only been hinted at, a taste for future change. Core logs shown by Geoff Hope public conference to explore the nourishment. support the contention by Phil Zylstra scientific research currently being On behalf of both the organising that Aboriginal use of fire has been undertaken in Namadgi National Park. committee and the management incorrectly interpreted and grossly Our goals were: committee of NPA ACT, I would like to Adistorted. tts. Photo Bay • to discover what research was being thank each and every one of the Insect and animal papers were conducted of relevance to Namadgi presenters, to congratulate Rachel Sims popular with the audience: Will Osborne NP for the education of the who was awarded the inaugural Amanda talked about green and golden bell frogs committee and all members of the Carey Award for presenting the best recently rediscovered along the Association paper by a young researcher, and to Molonglo River, until then thought to • to evaluate the scope of research thank my fellow committee members have been extinct in that area. Equally, available for managers preparing to without whom this conference would not there was much interest in the papers on sign off on the draft plan of have occurred. management for Namadgi NP fires by CSIRO’s Michael Doherty and • to determine whether there were any Symposium Convenor Kevin McCue Malcolm Gill. Post-2003 fire evidence gaps in the research, and finally reported in the June 2008 NPA seems to suggest that the bush is very • to expose the public to the wealth of Bulletin on NPA ACT’s 2008 resilient to natural fires (those occurring knowledge of our local natural world symposium Corridors for survival with natural frequency). available in the national capital and in a changing world. An edited Sarah Sharp and Brett McNamara, to the management processes put in extract from his report follows. representing ACT Government researchers and managers, summarised place to protect the conservation The quality of the presentations was very values of Namadgi NP. their activities and the extra workload high, right from the opening speaker of that would be imposed by a warmer, This was to be the second scientific Session 1 when Professor Jannette drying future. Maxine Cooper had the conference hosted by NPA ACT since its Lindesay set the scene with an animated last word, urging us to adopt more inception in 1960. The first was held to talk on global warming, spelling out sustainable lifestyles to support a coincide with the Association’s silver predictions of the range of temperature, population growing without limit. jubilee in 1985, two decades ago, and rainfall and evaporation changes for the Former ACT ranger Amanda Carey is nearly two years after the gazettal of the ACT region. remembered with an NPA ACT award in southern half of the ACT as a national Ian Pulsford followed with a her honour for the best student park for the national capital. In late description of the Alps to Atherton contribution. The judges were split November–early December of that year, conservation corridor, A2A (but should equally so both student presenters, NPA ACT held a conference at the be P2P Pole to Pole corridor according to Martin Worthy and Anett Richter, were Australian National University on the one member of the audience). Phil declared joint winners. topic ‘Australia’s alpine areas: Zylstra’s talk on forest flammability was management for conservation’. The picked up in the Sunday Canberra Times proceedings, edited by Kevin Frawley, and we hope his research will be widely were published in 1986. That conference discussed and adopted in fire- When you’re on a good thing … aimed at fostering a cooperative management plans. Kevin McCue is convening his third symposium in this series as part of the NPA ACT’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations. Its theme is National parks—can they take the heat? It will be held at CSIRO’s Discovery Centre on 7–8 May 2010. Be there.

Left. The symposium at Tuggeranong, 2006 Top. Convenor Kevin McCue addresses the symposium at CSIRO Discovery Centre, 2008 Photos Max Lawrence

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 25 Volunteer workers—the heart of NPA ACT From its inception, the NPA ACT has threat of fire does call the tune. Cotter Catchment and burnt-out been comprised of passionate people Protection from ember attack is also arboreta in the Brindabella Ranges who give freely of their time. Consider a theme of work-party activity at Frank • removal of fencing in Bushfold Flats for a moment the era when the NPA was and Jack’s Hut in the Gudgenby Valley. • survey for rabbit burrows in the formed, a time before broad-based Orroral Valley. community volunteering was Track and other maintenance fashionable, and this dedication is all the Recent activities more remarkable. Walking tracks are key to allowing NPA volunteers are active in a range public access to many areas of national As we move away from the 2003 fires of pursuits. They make up the parks. The most significant of these and towards a new set of problems in a committees that provide guidance to the from the NPA perspective is the Yerrabi drier and warmer climate, work parties NPA. The administration of its activities Track which goes from the Boboyan contribute towards increasing the is undertaken by a small staff of Road to Boboyan Trig. This track was sustainability of our natural volunteers. Outings are organised and conceived and constructed by the NPA environment. As species move to find a conducted by volunteers. The in the mid 1980s and its maintenance more acceptable niche, competition will contribution to, and publication of this continues to be a feature of NPA work- become evident. In this regard, native Bulletin, is managed by volunteers. party activities. species don’t need their competitive However, it is the long-running conduct From time to time, other facilities environment to be confounded by pest of volunteer work parties that I wish to receive NPA attention. These have species. Although it’s fair to say that pest relate in some detail. included: species are here to stay we humans can With the declaration of Namadgi • the Orroral Track from the Orroral assist by providing situations that tip the National Park in the mid 1980s, the NPA Campground to the Orroral tracking balance away from the pests. For work- shifted its focus from one of lobbying for station site party volunteers, this translates into the the declaration of the park to one of • the rehabilitation of the Nursery humble, sometimes hot, but always working for the park. As opportunities Swamp track after the 1983 fires rewarding tasks of planting and weeding. arose, the focus of work parties also • the Australian Alps Walking Track ‘Weed treatment’ has been dispensed moved into the NPWS reserves in from the Namadgi Visitor Centre to at a variety of locations in recent years: surrounding NSW. Mt Tennent and sections below the • briar and blackberry removal at Naas The nature of work parties has been Cotter Gap Creek dictated and shaped by the needs of the • the Budawangs walking track from • broom removal at Grassy Creek time. Although any set of individuals the Wog Wog access • removal of exotic species from the might perceive the activities in their era • the Square Rock Track above former Stockyard Arboretum as solely exercises in weeding, or track Smokers Gap • survey for and clearing of briars and maintenance, the following list will show • the rehabilitation of the road blackberry from Kangaroo Creek differently. construction depot site at Glendale. • clearing rubbish from the Honeysuckle Creek tracking station Building reconstruction and Bushfire recovery site • conduct of transects to detect pig stabilisation The devastation wrought in January activity in the Tinderry Mountains Perhaps the most significant building/ 2003 by bushfires resulted in a • weeding around native grassland plots reconstruction task was that of Orroral fundamental shift in NPA work-party along the railway easement near Homestead. This building is one of the activity. Royalla oldest standing structures in the As we all recovered from the shock • removal of willow saplings along the Australian Alps and its stabilisation and of the event, it became clear to both the banks of the Naas, Gudgenby and reconstruction were undertaken by the ACT park service and the NPA Orroral rivers. NPA with assistance from the ACT park leadership that the mountains might The NPA ACT had a seminal role in service. As an icon of the grazing era it need some help to recover. This may the declaration of Namadgi National has no parallel in the ACT. Unlike most sound like predictable human hubris but Park. Down the years it has sought an high-country huts, this was a homestead, those aspects of Namadgi that had active role in contributing to its and as such its preservation is highly previously been affected by human maintenance. This contribution has significant. activity needed assistance in their varied as needs and personalities have Tennent Homestead underwent recovery to ensure that they, in turn, did changed. At present, we enjoy an active similar stabilisation works to Orroral, but not become part of an ongoing problem. and robust relationship with park its pisé construction presented a set of The NPA appointed a permanent management that allows work-party problems that was never quite overcome. work-party coordinator to work with the volunteers to continue their contribution It was all but destroyed in the 2003 fires. park service to develop an ongoing to the care of the mountains in this time More recently the NPA undertook the work-party program. In the immediate of great need. post-fire period this involved a variety of stewardship of Demandering Hut in the Martin Chalk Clear Range. As a more recent (60 years tasks around Namadgi, including: Work Party Coordinator old) construction comprising a wooden • contributing to the Nursery Swamp frame and corrugated iron exterior, its walking track reconstruction maintenance demands are less severe • stream bank stabilisation in the Cotter than those of a slab building such as Valley, (photos on facing page) Orroral. Nevertheless, the ever-present • removal of wilding pines in Lower

26 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 1. A sample of NPA work 5. party activities 1. Laying planks across swamp, walking track in the Budawangs. Photo Dianne Thompson 2. Martin Chalk, Clive Hurlstone and Brian Slee, a break from weeding near Kang- aroo Creek. Photo Adrienne Nicholson 3. Weeding grassland study plots beside the railway line near Royalla. Photo Adrienne Nicholson 4. Mike Smith and Steve Hill building steps on the Yerrabi Track, Namadgi. 5. Mike Smith and Adrienne Nicholson setting anti-erosion logs on the AAWT. 6. Orroral boardwalk construction, 1994. Photo Max Lawrence 7. Briar and willow control, Orroral Valley, 2009. Photo Adrienne Nicholson 8. Ember-proofing around Frank and Jacks Hut, 2009. Photo Adrienne Nicholson 2. 6.

3. 7.

4. 8.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 27 Running ‘the office’ The job of the office staff is to to pay rent and bear the cost of attend to correspondence, putting security grilles on the maintain membership and other windows. association records, and support the work of the committee and Grants dry up sub-committees. When the NPA ACT was The generous administration formed in 1960, with the aim of grants from the Common- securing a national park for the wealth, then the ACT Govern- National Capital, ‘the office’ ment, to community organisa- for the grand dream was a box tions including the NPA, con- in a corner of someone’s spare tinued until 1999. When they room— specifically Fiona ceased the NPA could no MacDonald Brand’s. Associa- longer afford to pay for an tion business was stored in 'The office'. Formerly a construction site office, in 2010 the building office secretary. Neville Esau more and more boxes as time is occupied by NPA and ConsACT. Photo Max Lawrence bravely took over co-ordinat- went on, and there was a lot of ing the office, and advertised handwriting of letters and of individual farmed out to a commercial typist. With in the Bulletin for volunteer addresses on Bulletins or correspondence membership of around 700 by the late helpers. There was a welcome response. to members. It’s sometimes hard to 1980s, the bimonthly, then quarterly One of the volunteers, Kaye Campbell, remember that even until the 1980s we Bulletins were sent to 400 or more deserves special mention for her tireless, relied on typists using typewriters. addresses. Whether typed or handwritten, often single-handed work from Sep- Typing was a skill generally restricted to that addressing alone was a massive job. tember 2001 until September 2004, professional typists and secretaries. keeping the office running efficiently. From Childers Street to Chifley Jacqui Cole set about working on a Finding a typist—an early day membership database. Others have This all changed in early 1984. With the continued this initiative, particularly challenge assistance of a grant ($10 000 for staff Neville and now Chris Emery, so we It is hardly surprising that Nancy and a further $2150 for equipment) from now have a highly efficient Burbidge became secretary in the NPA’s the Community Development Fund, the computerised system. first year. As well as being an eminent Association was able to open an office at Before she left in 2004 for an all-too- scientist, she was proficient at typing. ‘the ROCKS’ in Childers Street near short retirement, Kaye documented the This skill supported her confidence in Civic and employ a part-time office procedures for the office tasks, greatly driving the association in its first years to secretary. Although it took the better part smoothing the way for her successors. type the letters, submissions, outings of a year to have the phone connected, During 2004 three volunteers took over handouts and meeting minutes just as she gradually the office took shape, with a from Kaye and established a roster wanted. computer and photocopier. The co- system. The work of Kaye, Jackie, For others, including Bulletin editors, location with other environmental Neville and now Chris Emery to finding a typist could be a challenge, as organisations was a plus. Committee streamline and computerise the office is reported in the article on Bulletin meetings were now transferred from tasks has cut these tasks to a few hours a history. Options were several. Fiona’s home to the new office, together week, down from the 14 hours we once Family. Women like Sybil Story, with the swag of boxes. The new office paid for. For example, producing the wife of Bob Story who was president was also used for Bulletin preparation address sheets for the Bulletin now takes from 1963 to 1965, were unsung heroes and other sub-committee meetings. One just a few keystrokes. for the amount of support they provided challenge here was to avoid tripping over year in year out, without ever holding the low wooden fence around the car- Back to the future—from park, especially at night. official positions in the organisation. Chifley to Childers Street Sybil, apart from years of typing for the Over the years, the environs of organisation, is remembered with Childers Street office deteriorated, with After the initial shock at the notice in admiration for the mentoring and support squatters in a room adjacent to the office. mid-April 2007 that we had to quit the she provided new members. Audrey Hill Maintenance and vandalism were major Chifley site, the sentiment was that a was another who quietly typed for, concerns as NPA records were still kept move would be a good thing. In truth our couriered and supported members over there. Sheila Kruse began sorting them ‘larger and brighter’ office had become many years. so they could eventually be archived. overcrowded and dingy. Even the once The typing pool ‘girls’ at the office. When plans to demolish the building proud curtains bearing the NPA logo These treasures might be coerced into a were announced in late 1992 it was time were faded and dirty. Parking was easy, bit of typing on the side, for which they to move on. but the building was quite isolated and could be rewarded with a box of The new office, in the former baby lonely for solo workers. chocolates at Christmas, and a blind eye health clinic at MacLaurin Crescent, The move was the much-needed was turned when it was ‘hair setting’ Chifley, was officially opened in April catalyst to ‘downsize’ the files, books, morning in the typing pool, or a 1993. It was larger and brighter, with journals and other material in the office travelling manchester salesman was in space for the yet-to-be archived material, and the archived ones held at Syd town. the library and even small meetings. The Comfort’s home. Diana Heins had However, often the typing had to be down side was that the Association had (continued next page)

28 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Our treasured mountain wilderness To the west of Canberra lies a beguiling … mosses, lichens, wildflowers, and dling the ACT border with NSW, you line of blue mountains, ridge upon mountain swamps and pools will find the highest peaks of them ridge, fading from deep blue to light Broad valleys are delineated by steep all—the Brindabella Range, which rises grey with distance, the tones and shades ridges often capped with huge, spec- to nearly 2000 metres. changing with the changing light. Liv- tacular granite outcrops and tors which … a land vital to the wellbeing of the ing in Canberra, one is always aware of may contain caves and tunnels and these mountains planet and their changing This is a beautiful lights and shadows. and rugged moun- Who has not tain landscape, a admired them land vital to the catching the first wellbeing of the light of dawn, seen planet, part of the them standing clear fragile biosphere and sharp with an that keeps us alive. icing of white in A land which has a winter, seen the right to exist for its delicate beauty of own sake and not the last of the sun for mere economic gently highlighting benefit of human high shoulders and kind. A land which ridges while the should be kept as gullies and slopes wilderness. have begun to sleep Namadgi National in shades of deeper Park lies within blue–grey? this mountain wil- derness and, … wild mountains, together with the hidden valleys and Cotter Catchment countless secret and Tidbinbilla places Evening view to Namadgi from Cooleman Ridge. Photo Barrie Ridgway Nature Reserve, But they are more preserves most of than just a painted it. Let it beguile backdrop to a which give spectacular views over the you with its magic. lovely city. Hidden within these blue surrounding landscape. Here you will Explore it, but tread lightly. Treasure it, lines and soft, distant shadows is a won- find tall forests, shy gullies of the for it is wilderness such as this that derful wilderness of wild mountains, Antarctic tree fern beside mountain affords more than beauty or economic hidden valleys and countless secret creeks, open, subalpine forests and, benefit. It nurtures our souls and keeps places. A magical land. The palaces of finally, along the summits, the alpine our planet alive. nature and, as the renowned mountain- zone above the treeline. Here, too, you Barrie Ridgway eer and poet Geoffrey Winthrop Young will find mosses, lichens, wildflowers, said in his poem The Wind, ‘… The and mountain swamps and pools that are beauties challenging our eyes, as so vital to the perennial flow of streams, ordered line and colour, but conceal a as well as a rich diversity of insects, symbol for the spirit …’ animals and birds. And finally, strad-

Running ‘the office’ (continued) become the new ‘Kaye’ and, with Sonja in a temporary building at Childers continues to back up as our computer Lenz our NPA Secretary and other Street, Civic. After completing the audit guru. The ever-present Sonja Lenz keeps volunteers, worked away listing all the of our extensive library holding, and the correspondence in order. Through all library holdings on the office computer. inducting a new team of volunteers, these years, Clive Hurlstone has attended Judy Kelly and Beverley Hammond Diana resigned at the end of 2008. to the phone and email messages, and helped cull unneeded items. They A dozen or more people have arranged stationery supplies. deposited the pre-2000 files with the volunteered for ‘the O Team’ since 1984, Annette Smith ACT Heritage Library, for safe-keeping for periods of one to five years. We’ve Office Coordinator and public access. consistently had two or three people to Since May 2007, our third office has share the work on an alternating, flexible been in the Conservation Council South roster enabling them to take a month or Eastern Region and Canberra’s premises, two ‘leave’ at will. Chris Emery

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 29 A labour of love: maintaining the Budawangs track This program, which ran between about Some things 1989 and 1993, probably arose from the never change as high frequency of walking along and the following through the boggy track in the Corang extract from my Peak area of the Budawangs (Morton records shows: National Park), on route to popular The NPWS, as destinations in that region. There was we all know at also a seemingly never-ending dialogue the macro between, and concern expressed by, NPA level, are walkers of the even then increasing strapped for pressures on favourite camp sites and funds and man- routes. power Our NPWS (NSW) contact was resources. We Senior Ranger Alan Norman, who was have been told eager to establish working relationships at the micro with bushwalking club members. He was level how already working with the Coast and dispiriting it Mountain Walkers and Canberra can be for one Bushwalkers, and had delineated person to labour all day on a hill group of 24 had to carry 70 ironbark logs sections of interest and ‘ownership’ to and to see how little effect their some distance across the escarpment each. NPA ACT got the Wog efforts have made to a large-scale because high winds had prevented the Wog–Corang side of the park. problem, but put 20 people there helicopter from dropping them at the Because of the terrain we almost and the scene is transformed before workplace. But as I recorded: always had to carry in our gear and tools. one’s eyes. The logistics consisted of trans- Generally there were 16–26 participants, Many will remember the ‘popular porting 23 ruck sacks, 24 day packs, including the then young Ben Thompson, with NPWS people’ double-sided rake- ranger equipment and radios, Andrew Paine and Michelle Puniard, and cum-hoe, and also how Clive saved us ‘dozens’ of picks, mattocks, shovels sometimes other young people seeking to on later work parties by building and other digging paraphernalia, a gain work experience. Clive Hurlstone, stretchers to carry the more than a metre large quantity of steel pegs, plus Les who became an NPA stalwart and some- long ironbark logs used for retaining Pyke’s car camping equipment time president, and his brother, made a purposes. Good thing we were all complete with gas stove and FOLD- Budawangs work party their first NPA younger and stronger, and that OH&S ING CHAIR. This latter workperson outing (and almost got lost in their car requirements were lower then. pleaded no knowledge of instruc- getting there). My printouts of who tions that the workers were to come attended read like a ‘Who’s who’ and ‘as for a back pack’ … Some time bring back many memories of special Of memories later (having packed a Land Cruiser times with special people. The program The commemorative song Working at troop carrier to the ceiling with went on to obtain a $1 000 grant from Wog Wog, by the NPA ‘poet laureate’ camping gear, sandwiched in five the National Estates Program, and to Judy Webster, was just one expression of NPA members, fitted further working receive written thanks and commen- our feelings at that time. Sometimes this gear, and the said Mr Pyke’s chair, dation from Graham Worboys of the author and leader had other feelings. One NPWS SE Directorate. (continued next page)

30 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 A labour of love: maintaining the Budawangs track (continued) into the rear section of said vehicle) mind the wooden blocks (‘cheeses’) for These days, many of us do not go we were about to depart only to NPWS to ensure that they were not used into the Budawangs as regularly as we discover that Les himself had been for bonfires or trucked off by passing used to, if at all. However, we did make overlooked in the packing! As there motorists for firewood. a difference both on the ground, and in was scarcely breathing space in the Another weekend we spent two days pioneering the now common practice of back, (well that was the excuse) he working in mud; using local timbers we working and collaborating with NPWS quickly opted to sit in the front with constructed a substantial corduroy across and Namadgi park managers. While Alan Norman (the Ranger) and the a well-known bog. The finished product there is now a lot more politics and female occupants. This entailed Les was most impressive, so we sat near the paperwork, NPA members still maintain nursing one, with Doreen Wilson left track to admire our work and to wait for the strong hands-on traditions of work to perform some fancy leg work to the first bushwalkers and the parties. the tune of the engine revs as Alan compliments we thought were so Dianne Thompson manoeuvred each gear change. deserved. Can you believe it? The group On another occasion Reg Alder and that came through were disappointed that Fiona MacDonald Brand went ahead of we had taken the ‘adventure’ out of the the main party to camp at Wog Wog to bog!

Working at Wog Wog

(To the tune of a traditional Aussie song …)

Once some jolly workers sat around their lunchtime fire Under the shade of some eucalypt trees; And they sang as they watched and waited till their billy boiled ‘Who’ll come a-working alongside of me?’

Working at Wog Wog, working at Wog Wog Who’ll come a-working alongside of me. And they sang as they watched and waited till their billy boiled Who’ll come a-working alongside of me.

Up drove a ranger, impressive in his uniform Up jumped the workers—one, two, three ‘What’s that jolly load that you’ve got in your service truck?’ ‘A hundred more “cheeses” ’ he shouted with glee.

Working at Wog Wog, working at Wog Wog etc.

Then those weary workers, told him of their labours Slaving all morning—and all of it for free! Shifting stones and rocks, and ‘cheeses’ by the dozen ‘Who’ll come a-working at Wog Wog alongside of me?’

Working at Wog Wog, working at Wog Wog Budawang track work party photographs etc

Above. Sonja Lenz, Les Pyke, Sue Thompson, Graham They took the ranger down the track, to see the progress they had made Guttridge and Dianne Thompson. September 1991. ‘It’s great work you’re doing here, for sure!’ said he Facing page, top. When the helicopter drops the logs And they thought they heard him chuckle, as he left them all hard at it still somewhere up the slope, someone has to carry them ‘That’ll keep them busy, till its time for tea’. down. Budawangs work party, May 1992. (Final refrain) Facing page, far left. Jane O'Donohue selecting stones for track stabilisation, 1989. Photo Judy Webster Working at Wog Wog, working at Wog Wog Facing page, near left. Tim Walsh and Les Pyke Who’ll come a-working alongside of me.” bridging a ditch, rerouting a low-lying section of the And they thought they heard him chuckle, as he left them all hard at it still track, September 1991. ‘That’ll keep them busy, till its time for tea’. Photos from Dianne Thompson Judith Webster unless otherwise attributed

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 31 Recollections of Black Mountain spring walks Nancy Burbidge initiated the Black Mountain walks in the early 1960s, and George Chippendale took over their leadership from Nancy. George Chippendale, the author of the first part of this article, was a botanist specialising in eucalypts. George was NPA ACT President from 1971 to 1972. His wife Glossodia major Diuris sp. Thelma co-authored Wildflowers of Grevillea sp. Bracteantha sp. the Australian Capital Territory to change the time of the walk to Friends of the Australian Botanic Gar- (Jacaranda Press, 1972) with her Saturday mornings, and this became the dens, the Australian Native Plant Society husband. Sadly, we have heard of pattern for the next many years. I recall (ANPS) and NPA ACT for continuing to the passing of George as this one Saturday before this change when promote the walk. It is proving a Bulletin goes to press. rain was falling lightly. I wondered valuable outreach activity and I trust we whether anybody would turn up, and will be able to continue the tradition. We arrived in Canberra in August 1966, hoped the rain would get heavier and I We were delighted with the response, and it was not long before I had dis- could watch the game. However, I because we attracted our target cussions with Nancy Burbidge who was arrived on time, the rain continued and audience— people who love the bush a botanical colleague. I had met her and members turned up in good numbers, but who didn’t really know how to look also worked in her herbarium previously. with raincoats, brollies and all! It was all for wildflowers or see the subtle differ- Very soon she told me about NPA, and good fun, even with small streams ences and the diversity. Because of the invited us to join her walk on Black beginning to flow. drought, the flowers were smaller and Mountain. I was busy at the time with a I have many memories of those less abundant, but it was fascinating to botanical project in WA, and we were walks. They were always a total enjoy- find so many persisting. settling into a new house in Lyons. ment, and I was most glad to have my There were 31 people, including We did join NPA when we were wife Thelma, our daughter Joy and, on at 3 children, on the walk, drawn from adjusted. I remember Nancy stressing to least one occasion, our granddaughter members of the organisations promoting me that her walks were a mixture of Faith with me. Only some infirmities of the walk and the Ginninderra Catchment talking of the plants and, just as age have caused me to stop leading the Group, and in response to a ‘Community importantly, talking to one another. She walk, but it is most pleasing that it Contacts’ notice in the local newspaper painted it as a friendly social ramble on continues under capable hands. The Chronicle. Peter Ormay, Laurie Saturday afternoons. Perhaps a year or so Adams and I led the walk. later, Nancy asked me if I would Jean Geue wrote the second part of We started our walk via the consider taking over the walk. I felt I Belconnen Way entry to Black might not know enough about the plants this article. Jean belongs to several plant and conservation organisations Mountain, which leads to easier grades concerned, so I asked Laurie Adams to for walking. We attempted to divide the give me some clues. He willingly spent in Canberra and met George and Thelma Chippendale in the 1960s group into three, but mostly walked lunchtime with me on the walk area, and together or in smaller groups in the same I took over soon afterwards. I certainly when she was working as a librarian in the Alice Springs public library. direction. All the notices had said it was tried to keep it as Nancy had it, and I a ‘ramble’ with easy grades and this may enjoyed the company and the social George was a botanist with CSIRO in Alice Springs. Although Jean isn’t have worked as we attracted people who contact. were happy to do just that. Some turned There was one plant, a vine a member of NPA ACT, she took over the organisation and promotion of back after an hour, but they seemed to Comesperma volubile, that I always have enjoyed themselves and it was an looked for at a particular point on the the annual Black Mountain walk from George. Here she gives an easy return for them along fire trails until track. It was the only place I found it. It they could see the road. wound around other low shrubs and I account of the Black Mountain spring ramble of 11 October 2008. We had a late morning tea at about tried to make it a feature, as it was 11.30 and about eight people kept on It was great to be able to continue the different from the other plants. rambling until 1 pm. Burbidge/Chippendale tradition of the Because I wanted to watch Rugby We found flowers of a couple of League on Saturday afternoons (it was spring ramble on Black Mountain, in 2008, its 37th year. Thanks are due to the Diuris spp. (Donkey orchids), also live on ABC TV in those days), I decided Craspedia sp. (Billy Buttons), Arachnorchis sp. (a Spider orchid), Thysanotus patersonii (Twining Fringe Lily), Stackhousia monogyna (Creamy Candles), Comesperma volubile (Love Creeper) in its usual place, and many Hibbertia sp. (Guinea Flowers). We came across Lyperanthus suaveolens (Brown Beaks), an orchid rare in the ACT, which is just recovering from a Calochilus sp. Hibbertia sp. Thelymitra sp. (continued next page)

32 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Interim Namadgi Advisory Board The Interim Namadgi Advisory Board first met in August 2001, with Matilda House and Ian Fraser as co-chairs. Agnes Shea, Valda Connors, Rosalyn Brown, Sue Briggs, Fred Monaghan, Michael Pearson, Geoff Wells and Dianne Thompson made up the 10 members (5 Aboriginal and 5 non-Aboriginal). Ian Fraser resigned for personal reasons not long after and Geoff Butler took on the role of co-chair. The agreement for the establishment of the board was undertaken during Chief Minister Kate Carnell’s administration, in a spirit of recon- ciliation following the withdrawal of one of two undetermined Native Title claims The Interim Namadgi Advisory Board at the Namadgi Visitor Centre, 2003. over the Australian Capital Territory then Photo Di Thompson before the Federal Court. The Stanhope provided by the very able Terence Uren The 2003 fires: assessing the Government was happy to honour that and Sharon Lane. Their contribution to damage agreement. Members of the board agreed the smooth operation of the board and to to: drafting many versions of the NPoM Board members undertook several visits … participate in the management of cannot be understated. Nevertheless, at to Namadgi and to the Tidbinbilla Nature Namadgi National Park; to be the end of 2009, the NPoM remains, Reserve after the fires. The first involved consulted on specific regional unfortunately, a draft. a full-day trip (9 hours) in which we saw Aboriginal cultural issues; and to be only one small patch that wasn’t burned. consulted on the development of Indigenous engagement Yet the highlight, at a time less than amendments to legislation that will three weeks after the fires, was to see the One of the high points of the board’s amount of regrowth already visible, and impact on Namadgi National Park. activities was the employment of three to be with park officers when they heard The board’s last meeting was in trainee Aboriginal rangers and another the first bird-song as we got out of our August 2006. The government has never Aboriginal officer. While recognising cars on the Leura Gap Road. advised members of its dissolution, nor that nothing runs completely smoothly, Amazingly, the newly installed offered any thanks for the considerable the program of training and employment signage that the board and the Aboriginal amount of work carried out and goodwill became a very useful and successful community had had input to had been engendered between board members, the model. The period immediately after the left untouched by the fires. park service and interested sectors of the fires was one in which these young, new I too believe that bringing people community. starters had to learn ‘hands on’. Ten back to country (and that involves white employees’ houses in the park were lost, people too) does have a spirituality about 95per cent of the park was burnt, it and this was what we were seeing. I Drafting a management plan breeding programs and their animals still look with pride at the Namadgi During that period there were three over- destroyed and, in general, everyone, signage—which was, at that time, riding and interrelated events which including the people of Canberra itself, advanced in its design, interpretation and dominated, and will continue to was reeling. However, this provided the presentation—moulded to reflect the dominate, Namadgi management. The opportunity for the board, TAFE Canberra and Namadgi skyline. It still first was the drafting of a new Namadgi educationalists, the community, and staff brings back to me some very positive Plan of Management (NPoM). The from the then Urban Services memories of my time on the board. second was the 2003 fire event. The third Department to pull together and dem- I am proud to have been a member, was the simultaneous development of the onstrate strength and initiative with and especially the environmental draft Kosciuszko Plan of Management. respect to the trainees and Namadgi representative, on the Interim Namadgi Kosciuszko National Park and Brinda- management. The National Parks Advisory Board. bella National Park share a common Association of the ACT was one border along Namadgi’s long western community group that stepped in and Dianne Thompson and northern boundaries. developed a long-term program of Secretariat and other support was assistance.

Recollections of Black Mountain spring walks (continued) control burn some years ago, Cyrtostylis Peter Ormay and Laurie Adams did a reniformis (Gnat Orchid), scattered great job identifying our Black Mountain Glossodia major (Waxlip Orchid), a wildflowers and showing people how It is with sadness Thelymitra sp. (a Sun Orchid), and where to look for them. We are that we have heard Calochilus sp. (a Beard Orchid), possibly privileged to be able to call on their of the passing of George Chippendale expertise. Stellaria pungens (Prickly Starwort), as this article was Pultenaea procumbens (Eggs and Bacon) being prepared for and others that I didn’t photograph. Flower photos taken on Black Mountain, October 2009, Adrienne Nicholson the Bulletin.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 33 The Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Project: activities and achievments Although many of the founding contractors to perform tasks such members were affiliated with NPA as track maintenance and ACT, the GBRG is a separate spraying of large weedy areas. incorporated organisation and is now part of the Southern ACT Catchment Signs of progress Group. It remains very closely associated with NPA ACT in terms of The group has retained a common goals and objectives, and membership of 15–20 over the there continues to be a high degree of years, with an average of about overlapping membership. Syd 10 people at each work party. Comfort will be presenting a more New members have joined and detailed description of the progress replaced those who are no longer made by the Group at Gudgenby in able to make the monthly the June 2010 NPA Bulletin. commitment and they have been welcomed to provide new The Gudgenby Bush Regeneration incentives and energy to continue Group was formed in 1998 to assist in the rehabilitation work. Although Substantial feral pines are still located from time to time, the rehabilitation of the 380ha Boboyan the area is now all seeded or Pine Plantation back to native but these Gudgenby Bushies (Chesley Engram and Michael planted out to native vegetation, Goonrey) won’t be beaten! Photo Adrienne Nicholson vegetation. The pine plantation at the there are still the continuing tasks southern end of the Gudgenby Valley had of weeding, fence removal and looking her. Car Key Corner recalls the time been planted with Pinus radiata as a for pine wildlings, as well as monitoring Eleanor lost her car keys and had to commercial venture in 1966. The area of growth through transect data. A sign catch a lift home before returning with was incorporated into Namadgi National of real progress is the flowering of some the spares, while Syd Comfort is Park in 1984 and lobbying by the NPA of the gum trees in the earlier plantings. remembered for his Blackberry Patch. ACT, led mainly by President Eleanor Birds are abundant now that the native However, we should not forget the Stodart, to have the pines removed trees are regenerating and it is quite efforts of the early members who have finally resulted in commencement of a common to spot eagles, wood swallows made such a great contribution. Eleanor planned, progressive program of and others. Understorey species are also Stodart, Frank Clements, Fiona harvesting usable timber, burning the beginning to re-grow and spring is the MacDonald Brand, David Hall, Len trash and seeding into ash beds. Felling time to see the Chrysocephalum and Haskew, Simon Buckpitt and Clive of compartments began in 1996 and Vittadinia daisies and the occasional Hurlstone have all contributed to the continued until completion in 2004. orchid. success of the program through their hard work both in the field and on Reversing past changes Recognising major contributions committees. Martin Chalk has also For 11 years the group has worked hard Parts of the revegetation area have been collected and monitored water data for to achieve the aims of removing all given names by group members that many years which has assisted in pines, retaining the existing natural recognise the work of rangers and tracking trends in and quality of the vegetation and advancing the recovery of members who have assisted in the creeks. native shrub and tree cover. This work program. The most notable is Eleanor Without the enormous amount of has included direct seeding, growing and Grove beside Hospital Creek where over work that went on behind the scenes for planting of tube stock, ‘exclosure’ 150 Eucalyptus stellulata have been those on committees and in liaison roles, construction, watering, weed control and planted in memory of Eleanor Stodart. and in the physical hard labour of fence removal. This would not have been For former rangers, Amanda Slope is seeding in the regeneration area, this achieved without working in close named in memory of Amanda Carey, and project would never have succeeded. cooperation with Park staff who have Welch’s Way for Steve Welch who was Thanks and appreciation should be helped with the development of work the first ranger to assist the program in accorded to all those regular members programs, brought out the equipment 1998. Ranger Darren Roso has a ridge whose tireless efforts have made a very trailer for each monthly work party, named after him and Project Manager great difference to this landscape. organised the broadacre seeding and Ann Connelly has a crossing named after Hazel Rath

According to the NSW on 7 January 2010 that its database Yankee Hat name shifted Land and Property Infor- would be changed to reflect the Following the article Solving the puzzle mation Authority, the name has now been correction and the change would be of Yankee Hat in the December 2009 moved to the smaller peak of 1447m forwarded to Geoscience Australia for NPA Bulletin, the authorities have (latitude 35º 44’ 47’’S, longitude inclusion in the National Gazeteer in the accepted that the name Yankee Hat on a 148º 56’ 32’’E) seen on the Rendezvous next update. peak in Namadgi National Park was Creek 8626-1S map, second edition. This This leaves the prominent adjoining bestowed on the wrong mountain, as peak overlooks the Aboriginal rock art higher peak, wrongly called Yankee Hat shown on the Yaouk 1:25 000 topo- site of the same name. on the Yaouk map, without a name. graphic and orthophoto map, 8626-2N, ACT Place Names, part of the ACT Maybe a competition is called for. second edition. Planning and Land Authority, advised me Graeme Barrow

34 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 The NPA ACT website About the middle of 2004 an NPA ACT Whitmore provided the first mockups in working group, comprising Chris February 2005. The Encode office was Emery, David Large, Sonja Lenz and flooded during heavy rain in February Kevin McCue, met to discuss a long- which was a minor setback—that and an vaunted, much-needed update of the access problem for Mac users. On existing website. A first-cut draft had 26 May 2005 all the bugs were sorted been set up on an ANU Sun site by out and the NPA ACT website went live! David’s daughter Annabelle, working The content management system part-time on a voluntary basis while she dynamically updates the ‘News’ and the completed her studies. We agreed that to ‘Events’ program which is probably the speed up the process and incorporate a most frequently accessed page on the content management system (database website. A ‘Sitemap’ and ‘Gallery’ of driven) we would seek input from a photos including work parties, walks, professional web designer and go outings and ACT birds have since been through a tender process. Chris agreed added. Back issues of the Bulletin are to take on the job of webmaster. being progressively uploaded (thanks to Ridge of stone In July Christine Goonrey sent us a Mike Bremers, many compilers and draft design brief for an NPA ACT Chris Emery) and podcasting has been climbing website. Members of the working group implemented. We have added a form so out of the cave edited the draft and shortly afterwards that people can leave a bequest in their sent copies to five potential tenderers. will to the NPA ACT. up granite slabs Quotes were received by late November The website is constantly being emerging and Encode were chosen as the updated by our webmaster with news, into snow covered mountains successful tenderer in late December issues and events such as this year’s 2004. Their solution’s strength was its 50th anniversary celebrations. core, a content management system. Sabine Friederich is also touching Martin Chalk provided 18 excellent acknowledged for her encouragement, the boulder and moving photographs for a style banner across many suggestions and technical advice around it the top of each page, the photo chosen for improving the website. delicately … feeling at random at each page change. Content Kevin McCue was provided by the working group relief and gratitude members and Encode’s Rohan above the valley Different perceptions in the bush from north to south the snowcapped peaks … Artistic flourishes aren’t always Ginini … Gingera … appreciated, even if they’re from Bimberi … Mount Murray the hand of a master. On a walk to Gibraltar Falls in February 1966, new member grateful this day Betty Campbell wondered what for roughness sort of group she’d joined when of granite walk leader Nancy Burbidge and committee member Julie Henry friction of boots … reacted strongly to paint marks on the sense of freedom the rock next to Gibraltar Falls. The rock had been used as a dropping palette when artist John Perceval, an ANU Fellow, was painting a John Percival’s unsigned art work left at down off a tor scene near Gibraltar Falls. Gibraltar Falls. into forest ‘I was a fan of John Perceval’, one assumes the incident and minutes sunlight slants across Betty told me, but Nancy and Julie entry were connected, Nancy or Julie glowing white tree trunks were ‘so upset and distressed … I must have followed the matter didn’t know anything about the through because the ‘culprit desecration of the environment then’. apologised by phone and the after five hours She had thought the incident worth a Department of the Interior cleaned on the Orroral ridge quiet chuckle and one to share with a away the paint marks’. I feel tired — friend afterwards. Betty still has the photograph even another Committee meeting minutes (above) which she took of the archived in the Heritage Library at offending ‘mess’, but— without a rocky peak can’t tempt me Woden and dated 3 May 1966 have an signature. entry about ‘vandalism’ in the form of Judy Kelly Gerry Jacobson ‘paint smears’ at Gibraltar Falls. If

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 35 Molonglo Valley development—will the eagles keep their home? If you start from the end of Stockdill north of Weston Creek, stretching from Environmental Impacts (SAEI) of the Drive and walk along the ridge the Tuggeranong Parkway to Uriarra development of the Molonglo District is paralleling the Molonglo River, you will Road. The northern boundary is about required under Commonwealth law. The enjoy expansive views over the 0.5km north of the intersection of Uriarra agreement includes the following: Molonglo Valley, including the Lower and Coppins Crossing roads and Environmental investigations in the Molonglo Nature Reserve and Spring stretches from there directly east to the Molonglo and North Weston area Hill Farm. But dramatic change is about Molonglo River (see map). These two have identified several matters of to begin. ACT Government plans for suburbs are projected to accommodate national environmental significance, growth over the next 30 years are 5000 dwellings in a ‘sustainable’ including the pink-tailed worm focused on this region. On 19 August development. According to the ACTPLA lizard, the White Box–Yellow 2008 the ACT Legislative Assembly planning document: Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy divided the Molonglo District into three Molonglo is being planned from the Woodland and Derived Native regions (Variation No. 281 to the outset to establish a transit-oriented Grassland and the Natural Territory Plan): East Molonglo (north of structure for future urban Temperate Grasslands of the Weston Creek to William Hovell Drive) development. Urban development in Southern Tablelands of NSW and the to be developed for housing starting in Molonglo Valley will set new ACT. Given the presence of these, early 2010; Central Molonglo (from standards for sustainability in the development in Molonglo and North Kama Woodland Reserve to Stockdill context of safe and walkable Weston must be referred to the Drive) is under a development neighbourhoods, environmental Commonwealth Environment moratorium in perpetuity; and West protection, water management, Minister for assessment under the Molonglo (west of Holt) is reserved for energy and waste, with good access Environment Protection and the present for broadacre development to services and facilities, including Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. (i.e. peri-urban agriculture, education, fast and frequent public transport, research). The matter of a lake for the community facilities and According to ACTPLA a draft suburb (dam site 2km west of Coppins recreational opportunities. version of this document should be Crossing) is still to be resolved, subject available for public comment some time to an ACT Planning and Land Authority This all sounds admirable; however, in February 2010 (but we suspected it (ACTPLA) review of options. (This area there is no mechanism currently in place may well be March before it sees the has been the subject of two previous to guarantee that the developers will light of day). NPA Bulletin articles: Syd Comfort, adhere to this concept. In a December 2009 presentation to March 2009 and Esther Gallant, the Conservation Council ACT Region, December 2009). Draft Strategic Assessment of Kelvin Walsh, Director of Planning Environmental Impacts due Services for ACTPLA, gave the Plans for East Molonglo following schedule for the Coombs/ In September 2008 the ACT and Wright suburb development: north–south The first East Molonglo suburbs of Commonwealth governments signed an arterial road construction to start in Coombs and Wright are to be located agreement that a Strategic Assessment of February 2010, subdivision construction in January 2011 and housing construction in October 2011. At the time of writing this article, ACTPLA confirmed the February 2010 date for the start of road construction. Thus, work on the arterial road is likely to be underway before the draft SAEI has been made available for public comment, not to mention approved by the Commonwealth Environment Minister. However, in order to speed up development of Coombs and Wright, the Commonwealth has excluded these areas from the strategic assessment process. Advice is that the ACT Land Development Agency and the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services are developing a riparian strategy for Coombs and Wright, and that this will include community consultation. (continued next page)

36 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Molonglo Valley development—will the eagles keep their home? (continued) Agreed conservation objectives nest is located high in a dead casuarina tree on the bank of the Variation No. 281 includes many of the river. At the time of writing this, recommendations made to the ACT the clearly distinguishable parents Standing Committee on Planning and (smaller darker male and larger, Environment by the ACT Conservation partly blond female) are tending Council (website at ). In addition to removing unusual as eagles are said to rarely Central Molonglo from urban raise more than one chick per year, development these included: an enlarged although they commonly lay 2–3 Kama Nature Reserve to provide a more eggs. The progress of this pair of significant wildlife corridor; retention of youngsters from fluffy chicks to yellow box–red gum woodland within handsome fledglings has fascinated urban development areas; mandatory cat me for over 2 months. Each time I containment; conservation leases in headed out to visit I wondered if Central Molonglo; and a recognition of the clearly smaller chick would the importance of maintaining habitat for have survived another week. I have iconic large raptors (e.g. wedge-tailed watched them exercise their wings, eagle, on a branch only about a metre or eagles) in the Molonglo Valley. Issues tear apart meals (sometimes a cockatoo), two away and even in the top of the nest yet to be resolved include the plan of and finally glide through the gorge on tree. Common birds of the region management for the Kama Woodlands enormous wings. The smaller chick did abound: several raptor species (including and Molonglo River Corridor, the extent take 2 weeks longer to fly but seemed to black-shouldered kites and goshawks), of development in the northern part of grow rapidly once the bigger, rainbow bee eaters, mistletoe birds and East Molonglo (how close to Kama (presumably older) chick left the nest. several species of parrots. On one slow Woodland) and stormwater management The parents continued to feed both walk, we counted 2 dozen species. There (i.e. with or without a dam). chicks—one on the ground and the other are swamp wallabies, wallaroos, eastern Furthermore, the nature of the proposed in the nest. The young birds are grey kangaroos, echidnas, jacky lizards conservation leases has not yet been intermediate in colour to the adults and (tree dragons) and, judging by the considered. The big picture question— identified themselves as juveniles by number of active burrows, a number of How much growth does Canberra continuing to make their feeding cry wombats. These are just the animals and need?— is outside the scope of this after leaving the nest. The eagles have birds that I have seen— only a small article. As usual we need to be ever not been concerned by my presence, sample I’m sure. There is also a variety vigilant. If you have information on the sometimes accompanied by a friend or of native plants which produced an flora and fauna of any part of the two, or several as on the 1 November impressive wildflower display in early Molonglo area, details would be 2009 NPA walk. We watch mostly from a November, especially the bulbine lilies. gratefully received by the Conservation distance just within range of telephoto One of my botanically knowledgeable Council which will be working hard to lenses. On one early visit one of the companions identified a cluster of ensure minimum impacts from the adults circled behind us and flew low westringias considered to be rare in the construction and existence of the new over our heads. Since then we have been ACT. Unfortunately, very few suburbs. ignored, and the eagles have carried on Canberrans know what this area with eagle business. For the adults this contains, or even that the place exists. In Eagle watching— a personal seems to mean mostly sitting in trees all my trips there I have not seen a account along the cliff top above the nest site or walker other than those who have soaring high overhead. They must be accompanied me. Approximately midway along the stretch very efficient hunters to have so much of the Molonglo River below Coppins What will happen as development leisure time! Watching the young eagles proceeds to the south of the river? Crossing is the nesting territory of a pair learn to fly has been a special treat— of wedge-tailed eagles. The enormous Certainly the hunting territory of the especially seeing one extricate eagles will be diminished. Since they itself, with difficulty, from a need such large territories they probably swaying brushy treetop perch, will be the first affected of the valley and later apparently giving up and residents. It would be sad to think that walking the rest of the way to the the northern ACT might no longer have top of the cliff. these magnificent birds soaring in the skies. Most certainly, I will be visiting A rich fauna and flora the nest next spring in the hope that the A pair of kestrels appears to have eagles will stay for another year or two. a nest on the cliff just upstream of I thank John Hibberd for his the eagles. Amazingly they all assistance in the preparation of this seem to be on good terms, as I article. have seen a kestrel perched in the Esther Gallant same cliff-top tree as the male Photos of the eagle chicks growing up, including flying practice, by Esther Gallant

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 37 The Glendale trees—pioneering native revegetation Steve Hill is a long-time member of did not present a good image at the entry NPA ACT who leads day walks to to the Gudgenby Nature Reserve. The interesting spots in Tidbinbilla and NPA ACT wanted to meld it into the rest the Snowies. His father Charles of this beautiful valley. Hill, who was a life member of The idea was to collect seeds from NPA ACT, initiated the Glendale local eucalypts in the region, mainly tree revegetation project. Steve’s Snow Gum, Black Sallee, Candlebark mother Audrey supported the and Apple Box. The site was relatively venture and was also an active weed free apart from briar roses that member of the organisation. could be easily cleared. And there was Steve Hill on Mt Nungar, 1998 money around. Up to $1000 was Photo Max Lawrence A dominating memory from 25 years ago offered— way more than was expected for some of us is of washing, flattening for such a project. Planning and ‘Nanny and Grandpa’s Trees’, included and storing empty milk cartons for tree surveying was conducted throughout as many 5-litre containers of water as seedlings and filling used orange juice 1982 and seed collecting was done could be collected. containers with water. Certainly our adjacent to the proposed site during June children were always reminding us to 1982. The seed was expertly prepared by Resilience rewarded keep each empty milk carton so they John Banks. could give them to ‘Nanny and Grandpa’ It worked because despite all that could Hill. We would ask our kids why. ‘So be thrown at them— by kangaroos, Nanny and Grandpa can grow baby trees The ‘year of the milk carton’ insects, misdirected mowers, continuing for Gudgenby’, they would answer. 1982 became the year of the milk carton drought and frost— just over half of the as the ever-ingenious lateral thinkers of of the plants survived beyond 5 years. The Year of the Tree and beyond the committee quickly realised that the The last formally recorded review was conducted in 1988, noting that there had 1983 had been designated as the Year of recently introduced milk carton would be a brilliant vessel to pot seedlings for also been some useful natural the Tree. This was all new stuff then, but regeneration. not included in the planners’ minds was transfer to the new site. The plantings took place in late 1982–83 in ploughed So, over 25 years later, what does it that 1982–83 was to become the year of look like? Well … despite fire and more the drought— the most severe for furrows, and hand-made tree guards were installed to keep the animals at bay. The drought, the degraded patch of land has 20 years. We are still looking forward to blended in rather nicely. Moreover, the the year of the rain. first were too small and unstable, but more effective designs were developed at Glendale project sowed the seeds for the Like now, the National Parks major revegetation projects of the new Association of the ACT comprised a no cost. But 1983 was also the year of the orange-juice container. Because the millenium in the old Gudgenby Nature vibrant, enthusiastic group of people and Reserve. the prospect of the Gudgenby Nature drought was in full swing by January, Reserve being declared a national many a trip to what our kids called Steve Hill park was looking good. So the keenness to participate visibly in celebrating the Year of the Tree was strong in the Association. The idea was developed in the committees during 1981 and early 1982 and was all new, the science of native-tree planting in the ‘high country’ being at an embryonic stage then. The project had to be both practical and inclusive for volunteers to manage. Some degraded land near the newly completed Gudgenby Nature Reserve Information Centre, at that time located between the Boboyan Road and Gudgenby River just downstream from Glendale Crossing, had been used as a storage depot for road- making equipment and supplies. It

Teddy's Hut, Kosciuszko National Park, January 2010. Ink wash by Gary Thompson

38 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Looking over my shoulder: fond memories of NPA ACT people Organisations may be directed towards took up campervanning, and Barbara and pursuing objectives and realising ideals, I were fortunate enough to enjoy a but it is people and relationships that number of national park trips with make things happen. Fortunately the Audrey and Charles. ACT National Parks Association has Charles was a tower of strength in the never been without members who have association, contributing over a wide done just that and have also provided the spectrum from committee membership to substance of some rich memories. leading walks and camps. He will be particularly remembered for the Bob Story thoroughness of his management of the Glendale tree planting project in the mid Bob was one of the architects of the 1980s, but that is a saga that warrants a proposal for the establishment of a telling in its own right. On one occasion national park in the ACT who, as well as Charles led a car camp in the Tom contributing his dedication and Groggin area and he took us on a longish Bulletin, some of his issues being a professional knowledge, brought a day walk the return path bringing us tribute to experimentation in the use of delightful, puckish humour. On one along an old vehicle track. A small truck print size and a challenge to the eyesight ramble in the Canberra Nature Park, I led came along the track behind us, stopped and determination of members. the group across the busy Hindmarsh and offered a lift towards the camp, Drive at a fast-moving and rather blind which some accepted. It became clear Ian Currie spot. Bob, knowing that I had spent some that our leader was not at all sure that a time in the navy, casually remarked that I In the mid 1970s Ian instigated the now wheeled vehicle had any right to be on legendary weekend car camps. His must have been in the Kamikaze squad. I the track, nor that to accept a ride was got the message. whimsical sense of fun and capacity to the right way to conclude the walk. Not work along with people overlaid a keen On another occasion, during an that he said a word! overnight work party clearing pines in recognition of the significance of the Boboyan Pine Plantation (now the important issues. Ian also managed to Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Area) Reg Alder debunk any ideas of the stuffiness of the dental profession. One of his stories after the 1983 bushfires, we were sitting Whereas Charles brought a Victorian round after the evening meal when concerned his time in the dental hospital flavour to the association, Reg brought a towards the end of his training. Faced someone remarked that they had not seen distinctly Sydney background with years Bob for some time: nor had anyone else. with the extraction of a particularly of walking and association with early stubborn molar he and his male fellows But a little later he was again with us. bushwalkers such as Paddy Pallin. Many Subsequently the explanation surfaced: exerted their not inconsiderable strength of our members cut their bushwalking to no avail. When they retreated a Bob had come without his victuals but teeth on Reg’s walks. But Reg had many rather than be a burden on the less- slightly built colleague of the fairer sex other interests which made him a natural quietly grasped the forceps and with a forgetful members he had made himself fit into many of the association’s scarce at dinnertime hoping his absence deft twist and pull secured the prize to activities, and a warmth that engendered the stunned abashment of her fellows. would not be noticed. close friendships. I remember too the time on a coastal Reg had a long-standing interest in bushwalk Bob was the target of a photography which he applied to Ken Johnson vigorous night attack by a host of small capturing many aspects of the Although Ken was perhaps not so widely ticks and sought relief in various association over a number of years. known as some of the others recalled medications offered by other walkers, During this time there was rarely an NPA here, he made many a contribution to the but to little avail. His scientific interest Bulletin that did not feature one or more association often through his artistic and overcame his irritation and he carefully of his photos. Although he had used drafting skills, his cover design to Kevin collected tick specimens on the adhesive colour slide film from the time that it had Frawley’s valuable report on ACT side of sticking plaster for later first become available, Reg’s NPA grasslands and woodlands being a good identification. But I gather from recent photographs were all black and white, example of his ability. But Ken was also visitors to the area his studies had done giving scope to his skills in developing a keen bushwalker, the Budawangs being little to curb the enthusiasm of the tick and printing as well as behind the his favoured area. He sometimes drove population. camera. He was unobtrusive when us into the Budawangs on the Newhaven photographing, usually skirting on the Gap track which involved a steep, and at Charles Hill edge of a situation or group taking a times, slippery pinch on the return trip. Charles Hill brought to the association small number of carefully composed On one occasion as we approached this his extensive experience on the Victorian shots. The National Library holds many spot Ken, noting the wet and soft snowfields and of walking with the, then of his photographs. appearance, stopped and fitted chains. all-male, Melbourne Walking Club, Reg was in his element working on These were no ordinary chains but a experience he willingly shared with other the restoration of Orroral Homestead and Johnson-designed and built set. Once members. Charles and I were like- managed substantial components of the launched on the slope a disturbingly work. During the 1980s he edited the minded in that on retirement we both (continued on page 40)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 39 Why I painted this picture for another, less strenuous activity, and birdwatching filled the bill, becoming quite a passion for the next few years. It was high time to see more of Australia anyway and so there were birding tours to be enjoyed, often camping in deserts and ranges, as well as the conservation work of atlassing, until eyesight problems gradually intervened and it was time to find new pastures again. Like many people I had always wanted to paint so, although knowing there was no detectable latent talent to tap, I gave oil painting a go, partly because a U3A course for beginners was about to start. By now I had scarcely any way of getting out and about but here would be a chance to sublimate my passion for the bush by painting it. That was about seven years ago and now, in my mid- eighties, landscape painting has filled and continues to fill a big gap. I like to paint what is there: I wanted the Life slips inexorably along, individual with those earlier NPA members at Eucalyptus mannifera in my painting of days and even years pass unnoted and, every opportunity and, more Black Mountain to be identifiable as with the youthful assurance of importantly, learned from them that the such, whereas to art teachers the tree immortality coursing through the veins, bush was often under threat and there species might be irrelevant. we assume it will always be thus. But was a need to work towards its My need to be out in the native bush circumstances and attitudes change, conservation. My first job was may finally, and permanently, be sometimes slowly and sometimes with a instructive—to type for the NPA Bulletin assuaged if our ACT Government will jolt and we realise, unwillingly, that the under the editorship of Reg Alder and, implement the plan for setting some way we conduct our lives has to change ever since those days, conservation of land aside for the purpose of allowing too. Australia’s beautiful and unique flora shallow burials without clutter to When I joined the National Parks and fauna has been my major goal. provide fertiliser for a eucalypt, and Association in March 1979, I found a But after a few years of maybe native grasses planted on top. new love in my life—the beautiful, bushwalking, I began lagging behind the But not quite yet; there are too many unspoiled Australian bush and the sheer group. One day, by the time I staggered conservation issues to be tackled and I joy and peace of walking in it. As Bob to the top of Mt Gingera, the group had can still write letters. Brown says, ‘it repairs the soul’. I finished lunch and was ready to make Phyl Goddard walked and climbed and bush-bashed the return trek. So it was obviously time

Looking over my shoulder: fond memories of NPA ACT people (continued from page 39) loud, metallic clanging developed in the we parked cars at the locked gate on the keys with him, then set about a truly rear end of the car but as stopping to Old Boboyan Road a short distance from thorough search of the clothes, and the investigate was not an option we hung on the Boboyan Road junction. We were pack, and its contents— not a pretty and hoped. Near the top of the slope a quite a large group so arrived back at the sight revealing, as it did, inexperience, sudden silence took over from the noisy cars rather late on Sunday keen to be on the effects of a wet night and earlier clanging and we just made firm ground, our way in daylight. A new factor was furtive searches. Frank’s persistence and relieved but chainless. We walked back introduced when one walker, a systematic approach paid off— the keys and forth over the soft track, along the newcomer to the association reported, had found their way into an out-of-the- edges and in the gutter and looked and rather sheepishly, that he could not find way fold in the pack. Although never looked … Those chains are still there his car keys. After the predictable but admitted, perhaps Frank had seen service somewhere as silent evidence of a not- probably unhelpful questions had been in Customs. so-silent passage up the slope. asked and answered, and had not The great thing is that the association improved the situation, we realised that still has people who are the makings of Frank Clements we had not so much a problem as an stories like these. inconvenience. With no mobile phones Syd Comfort Frank, a long-time member, brought a lot available, a long drive to Canberra and of bush experience and good humour to return in the dark was in prospect. Frank, his walks. For one of his weekend walks convinced that the walker had taken the

40 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Namadgi: ‘Australia is wonderful and mysterious’ In February 2008 we were enjoying a day walk to the top of Mt Gingera when we stopped en route at Pryor’s Hut and I took the chance to glance through the logbook. One entry, dated 23 January 2008, stood out for its beautiful writing, in both Roman and Chinese script. On the side of the page were the words: ‘Snow Luzhou Sichuan, China’. The writer’s entry expresses a refreshing appreciation of what she had experienced in the Mt Gingera area, despite several ‘misadventures’. She wrote: This is the first time I’ve experienced a bushwalk in Australia, quite different from Chinese hiking. I bashed through the bush (we have paths through the forest in China), beautiful but unknown flowers and These are observations full of tripped over a hidden log, twisted plants, especially the spitfires wonder and amazement. Perhaps my ankle on a hidden rock, and together on the leaves. I even saw tourism promoters could take a few cues most horribly I saw a black snake some tree galls which most Chinese from our traveller. 5cm thick, 1m long! His frightening and I don’t think are cancer but Judy Kelly and unexpected greeting scared me, fruit. This is really a fantastic place a Chinese lady who was born in the for adventurers and botanists. I’ll year of the snake and has never never forget this adventurous been shocked by a snake in China! bushwalking and I look forward to However I greatly enjoyed the more places like this. Australia is extensive forest full of gum trees, wonderful and mysterious! NPA ACT Raffle Orroral Homestead painting NPA raffle: a painting of Orroral Homestead by Phyl Goddard (see Phyl’s article opposite). There are two pictures: one is a view of the front of the homestead with the mountain ridge as backdrop; the other depicts the back of the homestead nestled in its valley setting. The winner can choose one of Raffle tickets: these paintings (the other will be returned to Phyl). $2 each or Tickets are available at general meetings and at $5 for three NPA ACT events early in 2010. The raffle will be drawn at the Family Day at the Namadgi Visitor Centre in May. The exact date will be announced when it is known. NPA ACT thanks Phyl for her generous donation.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 41 The magic of Monga: an NPA ACT appreciation Monga National Park is a green gem that be retained by State Forests for logging’. lies between Braidwood and Batemans He also describes the concerns of the Bay, off the Kings Highway where many Friends about the proposed Mogo motorists drive at breakneck speed in charcoal plant on the south coast and their anxiety to reach their destination, how it would affect the south-east oblivious to the sights in Monga’s rich forests. Many NPA ACT members wrote rainforest. private submissions opposing the Many local residents who live near proposal, which was finally abandoned. Monga State Forest joined the ‘Friends In 2004 came the good news that of Mongarlowe River’ and campaigned Monga National Park would be extended and lobbied to have a national park and logging halted. created before further logging could prevent the concept from materialising. An indelible memory of a walk Two of the campaigners were Robyn in the park Steller, who edited and published the book Monga intacta, which NPA ACT In about 2000, Dave and I joined an helped fund, and Val Plumwood, an NPA ACT day outing to Monga that Len environmental philosopher and writer. had organised before it had become a Sadly for us, both campaigners national park. Heavy rain had recently suffered premature deaths: Robyn in fallen in the area but not enough to make May 2005 and Val in February 2008. Val the roads impassable. We joined the had adopted the name Plumwood, from Friends and broke into two groups. one of the common names for Eucryphia What we experienced and saw has moorei, the white-flowered tree of the left an indelible memory. The overall Monga wonderland. Photo Judy Kelly leatherwood family that grows in Monga impression was one of moisture, shade white petals formed a careless scattering National Park. and greenery, an experience that will on the ground or else transformed Erica Steller, Robyn’s daughter, used rapidly be reduced if droughts in themselves into dainty shell shaped boats to work at the Conservation Council of Australia intensify. The tree-fern fronds on the streams. the South East Region and Canberra formed a fretwork of nature’s umbrellas, For lunch we sat near a creek and (now ConsACT) and helped distribute a contrast to the Monga waratahs, heard about Val’s experience in the Monga intacta after her mother’s death. Telopea mongaensis, with their spindly Northern Territory when she had finally red flowers rather like fire wheels. They escaped from a crocodile’s death roll ‘A little-known Eden’ reminded me of the Tasmanian Waratah after the reptile had capsized her boat. Telopea truncata, which we saw in Val was totally on the side of the We have Len Haskew to thank for Tasmania’s Central Plateau. They are crocodile which she said was simply creating the link that enabled NPA ACT unique to the Monga forest and occur in defending its territory from an interloper. to visit and experience Monga’s wonders close association with the Gippsland She also told us about interlopers who through day visits he organised there. Waratah Telopea oreades. Monga ‘is one remove tree ferns from Monga forest. Len also wrote informative articles for of only two places in Australia where Unfortunately, the tree ferns don’t have the NPA Bulletin about the Monga/ two species of waratah grow so closely any defence mechanisms. Buckenbowra area: ‘A little-known together’, writes Dr Brendan Mackey, Eden’ (June 2000, Vol. 37, no. 2, p. 10), Reader at The Australian National Drought effects evident and ‘A driver reviver to help save the University, School of Resources, Monga Forest’ (December 2001, Vol. 38, Environment and Society in Monga In February 2009, we visited a Monga no. 4, p. 11). intacta, p. 55. forest that was much drier than in 2000. In the second of his articles Len It still retained its charm and magic, reveals how, despite the declaration that Remnants from Gondwanaland particularly on the banks of the the former Monga State Forest would be Mongarlowe where the Monga Waratahs protected as a national park, details in Both the Pinkwood, the other common bent over the river, their spent flowers the Regional Forest Assessment revealed name for Eucryphia moorei, and the disintegrating into the water. A that ‘about 20 per cent of the area was to Monga Waratah are remnant species kingfisher darted across the river, adding from when Australia was part of an iridescent flash to the scene. Gondwanaland. Mackey (Monga intacta, In a forest clearing, we met a p. 55) emphasises their uniqueness when Victorian birdwatcher and photographer he notes: ‘From a global, continental and who was sitting patiently at a table regional perspective, Pinkwood and the waiting and watching for the birds. A Monga Waratah are rare plants with very treecreeper was carrying out its restricted distributions’. inspection of a tree trunk with staccato Reaching above the tree ferns and hops and New Holland honeyeaters were waratahs were the Pinkwoods with large probing nectar-yielding plants. Our white flowers just like the distinctive birdwatcher said he hadn’t seen Monga Monga waratah. Photo Max Lawrence. Leatherwood tree in Tasmania. Their (continued next page)

42 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Rewards from botanical sleuthing in the family Gentianaceae My first experience of the genus colleagues to attempt a revision of the Gentiana in Australia was back in 1967, genus; and to cut a long story short, the on a NSW Southern Tablelands survey revision of the four species appeared in with CSIRO (incidentally, the leader of 1988 in the NSW journal Telopea, with that survey was Bob Story, Judy Kelly’s John Williams and I as joint authors. father, and one time NPA president). At a John called the Ebor species Gentiana query site at Jerangle, northeast of wissmannii, honouring H. Wissmann, the Bredbo, I found a seedling bearing original finder. The Jerangle species I characteristic foliage I immediately called G. bredboensis, and the Moss Vale recognised as strikingly similar to the one G. wingecarribiensis. The Bombala gentians I knew back home in England. species I named in honour of Wilhelm seen anywhere else in the valley all day. Searching in literature, all I could Baeuerlen (for those unfamiliar with However, there is a sad postscript to this find was an 80-year-old record by latinised German vowels, pronounced story. Of the original total of about Ferdinand Mueller (the 19th century ‘boyerlen’), he being its sole collector 20 plants we later counted in the Orroral director of Melbourne Botanic Gardens), (and thus his being the type specimen). site, the colony has gradually shrunk mentioning a blue-flowered plant sent to Bear in mind that, by that stage, Genti- and, probably from the long-drawn-out him by the amateur collector Wilhelm ana baeuerlenii had not been seen drought, none at all have been recorded Baeuerlen in 1887 from a swamp near growing for over 100 years. Details of all for nearly 10 years. Bombala, NSW. Mueller equated it with four species, and of the Gentianeaceae as a species he knew from New Guinea, but a whole, can be found in Volume 28 of A new genus for the snow-gentians on reading the description of that the Flora of Australia (1996)). gentian, he saw that the Bombala plant At the same time as we were revising the was clearly different. Serendipity in the Orroral Valley genus (with me now having become unavoidably steeped in the gentian fam- It was a calm and sunny autumn day in Converging discoveries ily) I was aware that a separate group of May 1992 that I was on a long bushwalk our native gentians— but at that time My aroused curiosity led me to investi- with NPA, up and back along the Orroral lumped under one name, Gentianella gate what was going on, taxonomically River valley. On the return journey, we diemensis— desperately needed sorting speaking. Later I went back to the still had about 2km to walk back to the out. These are the species bearing some- Jerangle site and found the gentian again, footbridge over the river to get to the what larger flowers (all looking rather now plentiful— but white-flowered. I cars. Getting weary and trailing well like white buttercups) and no doubt reported my find to the NSW Herbarium behind the party and off the track, I familiar to many NPA members bush- in Sydney, and discovered one of their happened to traverse a small, swampy walking in summer in montane and members had, by amazing coincidence in patch of grassland situated on an alluvial alpine areas. Thus, after much local, the same year, unearthed another (blue- ‘fan’. Mostly with my eyes (as usual, Victorian and Tasmanian fieldwork, flowered) gentian in Wingecarribee being a field botanist!) ‘glued to the descriptions of 14 species of a new Swamp, near Moss Vale. Six years after ground’, I spied a cluster of tiny, sky- genus called Chionogentias (snow-gen- this, I heard from John Williams, New blue flowers. A couple of seconds was all tians) were published in 1995 in the England University, Armidale, that yet it took to recognise that it was a gentian, journal Australian Systematic Botany. another gentian had been found, this time and then it took just a few more mind- We have four of these species in the near Ebor on the Northern Tablelands of blowing seconds to guess that this was ACT. NSW. Thus there now appeared to be Wilhelm Baeuerlen’s long-lost gentian. Laurence G. Adams possibly at least four different species in I cannot help but speculate, given the NSW. sizable area that we had covered that day, Survey Botanist and Plant Taxonomist that it was some sort of ‘sixth-sense’ that since 1962, Australian National Revising the genus made me deviate through that tiny patch Herbarium, CSIRO, Canberra and long-time NPA member Soon after this I was persuaded by of unknown swamp, a habitat we had not

The magic of Monga: an NPA ACT appreciation (continued) forest so dry before and the number and ecosystem that is becoming increasingly It also shows the value of having variety of birds was down. endangered and threatened because of NPA ACT members like Len who are clearing and the effects of global awake to areas of conservation interest Precious coastal rainforest warming. outside their immediate locale and who under threat Monga National Park is testament to make contacts that are rich and Monga National Park’s value lies in its the dedication and determination of rewarding. NPA ACT must maintain its intrinsic beauty and the diversity of its volunteers who worked very hard to have interest in areas across its borders and plants, birds and animals, and as an most of Monga State Forest preserved as keep lending its support to fellow intermediate zone between the coast and a national park and to prevent further conservationists. inland. There is precious coastal logging. It will need its advocates to Judy Kelly rainforest on its eastern slopes, an continue their watching and protection despite its status.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 43 Promoting conservation, the environment and a national park for the national capital to do posters. There was a deadline, at Ed only what which time the same little group would we considered go around and collect the posters from the better the schools—if there were any! ones, while he meticulously An overwhelming response continued his detailed and We waited anxiously and appointed a thorough main judge, Ed Slater from CSIRO, and viewing. I can organised a judging evening at our still see Mary Barnard sitting back in her house. Collection day came and we were chair, with her eyes closed, looking like thrilled to find some schools did have a faded flower. Eleven o’clock, mid- bundles of posters. But what started as a night, 1:00am, 2:00am … We became thrill, slowly became alarm, because the more ruthless. We had to finish that night response was overwhelming. Every but could not hurry Ed. helper arrived at our house with huge We finally finished at 3:00am. We bundles of posters— we had them were all so tired that we could scarcely stacked everywhere, sorted by age talk, but at least we did have a pile of groups. We couldn’t move for posters. prize winners. The next task was to mount this huge Judging night exhibition of posters and present the Glyn Lewis, Honeysuckle Creek, 1986 Judging night came and we packed the prizes at the Griffin Centre, which was family off after an early evening meal. another mammoth job. Glyn and I joined NPA ACT in 1968. We didn’t have a big living space, but we Glyn served on the committee from early optimistically thought we could manage Lessons learnt days and part of his role was the easily! The assistants arrived (I It was all very well accepted and had establishment of the publicity sub- remember Margaret Aston, Gay Watt, been a popular activity for schools so I committee—a role which he carried for Merle Bailey, Mary Barnard, artist Ken suppose we had achieved our objective. many years. Johnston and others) as did Ed Slater, But whether to ever have another one In those days, NPA ACT’s main aim who was full of enthusiasm for the task was the question! We did. was to inform the public of its aims and ahead, and took it very seriously. He However, we felt we had learnt a to spread the conservation message. insisted that every poster be studied great deal from the first experience: in Then, Conservation and the environment intently, from an artistic point of view, future years we got the schools to select were not the big issues they are now. and also to see whether the child had the best to send in to the competition, so As well as organising talks, slide grasped the conservation message. We the actual quantity of posters was more shows and bushwalks (often with had set topics for the posters, according manageable. We also improved on our instructive commentaries), the Ass- to age. own management skills! ociation set out to stimulate an aware- Fortunately, we started early. Ed ness and appreciation of the bush and of studied every poster very slowly and the need for its conservation among carefully, discussing the various points Essay competition primary school pupils. To that end, we about each one with Ken Johnston. We also decided to run an essay com- decided to run a poster competition with Gradually, the best were selected for petition for high schools in alternate a conservation theme for various age prizes and put aside. It had been decided years to the poster competition. These groups of primary school children. It beforehand that every child’s poster must events, for which the entries were fewer sounded like a great idea and Glyn and I go into the exhibition in the Griffin Cen- than for the poster competition, were were asked to do it. We accepted eagerly. tre. Ed was very fair-minded and managed mainly by Glyn, who selected believed that every child should be judges from the scientific community. The school poster competition encouraged and needed to see his or her [For one of the early winners, see page 9 We gathered a small group of helpers art work displayed. The process was of this Bulletin.] and sent information to all the primary slow, the evening was wearing on, and schools in Canberra and Queanbeyan. all the assistants were working people Photo exhibition and competition with a job to go to the next morning. Canberra didn’t extend far in 1969–70: Following on from those two schools- Woden Valley was very new and based competitions, Glyn started the Belconnen didn’t exist beyond Aranda A 3:00am finish popular photographic competition and and Macquarie. We visited many of the I remember making endless cups of tea exhibition, which was open to all ages. schools in Canberra and Queanbeyan and and coffee to keep everyone alert. It was This ran for many years, during which talked to the teachers in an effort to find beginning to get late, so we decided to our house became the repository for some kindred spirits. We didn’t know start screening the posters in another boxes and boxes of photographs and whether the teachers themselves would room to reduce the vast pile. slides. It was extremely well supported feel motivated to encourage the children To speed up the process, we showed (continued next page)

44 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Promoting conservation, the environment and a national park (continued) and generated a lot of enthusiasm Griffin Centre. This caused Glyn much produced and were finally amongst NPA ACT members. anxiety because he felt that as an completed in 1979. amateur in the line of audiovisual Audiovisual promotion productions, the presentation wouldn’t A Christmas memory be up to scratch. He gave a short The push to establish a national park for introductory talk and the evening went I remember attending an NPA ACT the national capital was still on, but this smoothly. The Governor General person- Christmas party on the banks of the aim needed more publicity. To this end, ally thanked Glyn and expressed much Murrumbidgee at Tharwa and enjoying Glyn was asked to make an audiovisual interest in the content of the audiovisual. the drive into the country, feeling very about NPA ACT’s aims and objectives. Glyn went home feeling great relief and fortunate to be going to a Christmas This project dominated our family life satisfaction. celebration in the bush. After eating, for quite a time. There was then no high For a number of years our phone NPA members went to the Tharwa Hall tech equipment available, every aspect number was listed in the phone book as for bush dancing and games. One game, being made separately on very basic the first contact for NPA ACT; we similar to pass the parcel, involved equipment and then assembled. Glyn received many and varied calls, indi- passing a balloon around a sitting circle. wrote the script after much research and cating that a vast number of people had When the music stopped, the balloon tested several possible narrators until he no idea what a National Parks stayed where it had landed and one of found the best [the late Brian Lee, also a Association would do. the children had to sit on it, trying to former Bulletin editor, and Gabrielle Along with many other members of burst it. During one round, the balloon Watt]. He put out requests for the loan of NPA ACT, both Glyn and I led many ended up with Nancy Burbidge who was slides appropriate to the script and chose walks. Neither of us were pack walkers, laughing heartily as a child repeatedly the accompanying music. Our household so it was day walks on Sundays and, sat on her lap, trying to deal the balloon got used to evenings and weekends filled later, mid-week walks. They were well a final blow. This was probably in the with recording the narrators and record- patronised and we enjoyed them a lot. 1960s when Tuggeranong was open land ings of the music. At that time, Glyn was Our participation faded over the years and the road to Tharwa was unsealed. still working full time, so evenings and and Glyn died in 2000. But for a quarter Times change and we now have weekends provided his only spare hours. of a century our involvement with the auctions instead of games at the Editing entailed many stops and National Parks Association of the ACT Christmas party. Children? Members’ starts in recording the narration and in was a highlight of our recreational lives. children attending are a rarity and grand- the playing of Richard Strauss’s Alpine All our family participated to varying children are often too busy with their symphony, which Glyn had selected as a degrees, and the values of conservation own Christmas entertainment or grand finale to emphasise NPA ACT’s and appreciation of the outdoors have functions. aspirations. To this day, I appreciate carried over into the next generation. hearing the whole symphony without Shirley Lewis [with editing help from The audiovisual will be shown at her son Trevor, also a member] interruptions! NPA ACT’s 50th anniversary picnic It was a labour-intensive exercise. on Sunday 21 March at The Governor General, Sir Zelman the theatrette in Namadgi Visitor Cowan, attended its first screening in the Centre. Two audiovisuals were

NPA PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS: VENUES 2010

The NPA is presenting a series of photographic exhibitions in 2010 to showcase members’ work and, through it, the places that we love. The images range from flora and fauna to landscapes and people enjoying their environment in typical NPA fashion.

Please visit one or more of the displays and support your fellow members who have put their work forward.

The exhibitions will move across seven venues, but will not be directly duplicated at each location. Each venue is open to the public. 4 May to 14 May Foyer of Macarthur House, 7 June to 25 June National Botanical Gardens in the Wattle St, Lyneham. main exhibition area—this display will have a flora theme. 6 May to 8 May CSIRO Discovery Centre in conjunction with the 2 July to 9 July Tuggeranong public library (may NPA symposium. be changed to Gungahlin public library depending on availability). 14 May to 18 June Namadgi Visitor Centre, Tharwa. 6 August to 20 August Civic public library, 4 June to 11 June Woden public library. mezzanine display area.

Any changes will be advised through Burning Issues.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 45 Western nostalgia Stephen Johnston, the author of this Phil Gatenby article, was a former president of for some alt- our sister association the Victorian ernative ideas NPA before he came to Canberra. for south- During his all-too-short period here eastern NSW he was a very active member of our wilderness committee, chaired the Environment walks and he Sub-committee and was a keen responded with participant in our outings program. just one word: He moved to Perth in 2000 for what Brogo. That was to be a temporary stay, but to was to be the our loss put down roots there too. first of three 5–6 day walks I Last year a CD of Max Lawrence’s led into that photos of NPA ACT events and wonderful wild- people found its way to Stephen via erness area. Len Haskew. What follows is Christmas party at Nil was my last Stephen’s response to Max on seeing Sadness— very much when I looked NPA function and I fluked a visit to those photos. at the photos of Reg Alder in particular, but also Frank Clements, Eleanor Franklin Chalet a couple of years earlier As the photos came up on the computer Stodart, Olive Buckman and Bob Story. when Brett McNamara, then the ranger screen I felt a mixture of surprise, Reg was an old mate in both senses of based at Bendora, was in there recording nostalgia, a fair bit of sadness and a few the word— his late 1978 car camp to the the memories of Canberrans who had regrets. The surprise was for photos of Weddin Mountains was the first used it as a ski chalet in the 1950s. A trips that I’d almost forgotten about, NPA ACT activity I ever registered for friend and I wandered in and were particularly Tuross Falls. Then I vaguely (although I didn’t actually attend), and I entertained for about 20 minutes with recalled you taking those photos of me went on a lot of his walks both during their stories. Then one of the group got on top of the rock in what I think was a my first 12-month stint in Canberra in up and started playing the old, barely-in- slightly less perilous position than it 1978–79 and in the early 80s when I’d tune piano and singing, soon to be appears. come up from Melbourne each Easter for accompanied by his friends. It was quite Nostalgia— not just the places I’d the NPA activity. Your photo inside a magical moment, recalling the era been to but the people; the ever-cheery Reg’s green campervan reminded me of before iPods and portable stereos when face and wry humour of Len Haskew, the the cup of tea and a biscuit that was you entertained yourselves with a warmth and sincerity of Fiona always on offer from the back of the van singalong. MacDonald Brand and the distinctive at the end of a walk. Your photos of the walk up to the voices, from the Mick Kelly Australian Our paths—in a sense—had crossed Bog at Mt Booth rekindled my memories drawl to the other end of the spectrum, some 20 years earlier. In 1959 as a of that walk on that cloudy day— Joan Goodrum’s very precise youngster I came back from three years bringing up the rear behind a panting pronunciation. The photos of Roaring in England with my family on the P&O Jack Smart, his gloved hands reaching Camp and Mt Tingaringy reminded me ship Himalaya. It collided with the side out for trees to pull himself up and his of the first overnight walk I ever led— of the Suez Canal, fractured a propeller complete lack of sense of direction for the Victorian NPA in January 1986. and after several days stuck in Aden for which he demonstrated so well on our We went down to Tingaringy Creek repairs limped across to Melbourne. Reg return by walking straight down into the which looked to have great potential for perchance heard me telling someone that creek bed rather than turning north a wilderness walk up into the Byadbo story as we were walking one Easter towards the cars. I drove him home that area. I had it twice on the VNPA program down near Pretty Plain and he told me he night little knowing that in another but we never got there because it was too was in charge of the Garden Island dock remarkable crossing of paths, he and his dry. But it is an ill wind that blows no crew which repaired or replaced the wife Elizabeth would soon move to good— the first time I cancelled it I rang propeller after the Himalaya got to Melbourne, into a unit only a drop kick Sydney. away from my parents in an eastern It was also saddening suburbs retirement village. They got to to see the photos of Nil know the Smarts well and Mum was at Desperandum, Mt Fran- dinner with them only a few weeks ago. klin Chalet and the huts Jack doesn’t say much— but he’s always on Bushfold Flat, which got that distinctive smile and laugh. He were also destroyed in certainly would not be up to climbing the fires. I am so glad I Mt Booth or leading such walks these was able to see all of days. those, plus the brumby The photos of your walk to yards down from the Mt Nungar—what a glorious day— Smokers trail, before stunning weather, a nice layer of crisp their destruction. The (continued next page) Top. The snowy view from Mt Nungar, 1998. Left. Stephen Johnston tests the water, Tuross Falls 1997. Photos Max Lawrence

46 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Fond memories of earlier-day NPA walks Family affairs especially did not wish to project anything at all controversial and During these early years, NPA walks confided to me on one occasion that a were held only once a month and were documentary she had selected included a rather more like family outings than the shot of koalas mating and asked ‘do you walks of today. Quite a few children think it should be withdrawn from the were amongst the participants and they program?’ would be up with the leader for most of the day. The pace was usually leisurely Laughs along the way to accommodate old and young since there were no walk gradings then. The Amongst the many humorous incidents lunch break was long, often very long if that enlivened those wonderful NPA there was dry, green grass to lie on to outings was the day a Tidbinbilla emu, ‘chew the cud’ after our thermos soup, arriving from nowhere, put its long neck egg and bacon pie and chocolate cake across the shoulder of a seated, A fiery start with lemon-butter filling. Not too many unsuspecting Kathleen Moriarty and My first NPA walk, in mid 1965, was to healthy salad sandwiches on wholemeal proceeded to pick at her lunch bowl of Billy Billy Rocks, led by president Jim bread were carried in those 1960s rice salad. Surprised reaction and shouts Webb on an overcast day. The rucksacks. sent the rice flying. After running the temperature quickly dropped when In the 1970s, several of the monthly reluctant bird away, we all donated heavy rain began to fall as we neared the walks were theme based, the most sandwich fillings to provide Kathleen top. Several in the party did not have notable being ones led by Nancy with her coeliac meal. appropriate raingear, but sheltering as Burbidge, who generously gave of her Then at a summer car camp at best we could, laughter broke out when botanical knowledge; by an ANU Thredbo diggings, four of us—Betty one of the men squeezed himself full Professor of Geology who showed us the Campbell, Hansine Hansen, Kathleen length under a slightly raised fallen tree impressive geological formations near Moriarty and Margaret Aston—were trunk. Wee Jasper; and by Ian Currie who seated at dusk at our table and chairs to As the rain eased, Jim started shared his love of birds. sedately partake of our evening meal, bounding through the bush, yelling: ‘I’ll only to be amazed as a huge wombat get a fire going amongst the rocks at the Getting to the kids wombled—also sedately—between table top!’ And indeed, by the time the and chairs, brushing the leg of one of the Merle Bailey and I, in a late 1960s stragglers arrived, Jim’s large fire was a diners. We had inadvertently set up our committee-supported effort to publicise welcome sight. Our ‘log man’ (none dining room, complete with serviettes, the NPA and to encourage primary other than the Canadian High on the animal’s track to its nearby school children to enjoy and learn about Commissioner to Australia) was soaked burrow! our natural environment, arranged film and, stripping off his shirt, he placed it viewings for several winter Saturday Margaret Aston across a forked stick and presented it to afternoons. The venues included the his wife to hold over the fire. This his Dickson Library and the Hughes wife dutifully did, but animated Community Centre. Our audiences also conversation distracted her until included lots of mothers but, sadly, few someone exclaimed ‘The shirt is fathers. The short films, from the then burning!’ So for the return walk, our ‘log National Library Association film man’ wore a dry shirt but with holes and collection, featured Australian bush and black marks, and his usually sunny coastal scenery and included plenty of disposition was nowhere to be seen. wildlife. Merle, a mother of three,

Western nostalgia (continued) snow, easy walk and superb views. first saw from Pigeon House Mountain 7 years (1978–79 and 1993–2000) in Couldn’t have been better. Much like in 1979; and the Six foot Track. But all the 30. The fact I’ve remained a member, those views you took from Mt Scabby on in all I count myself very fortunate that I will always remain a member, and am Phil Gatenby’s quite demanding got to see so much of that wonderful still in touch with people there is weekend walk. While some of us country in the seven short years I was indicative of my love of the place and struggle along under the weight of our living in Canberra before a move to the centrality of the NPA ACT to my packs, Phil seemed to always move at a Perth and family life brought connection with the area. half trot and I can’t ever recall seeing bushwalking activity to a halt. Stephen Johnston him looking puffed. A bit like Eric Last year was the 30th anniversary of Pickering—no matter how demanding my joining the NPA ACT— I got the the terrain, nothing ever seemed to faze membership form from the then Eric, nor his wife Pat. secretary, the late Sheila Kruse in her A few final regrets as I looked at the inner city flat. I must be the longest photos of places I would have loved to serving member who has spent the least have got to: like Byangee Walls that I time in Canberra— only a total of

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 47 President Kevin (McCue, that is) room; NPA ACT membership grew members. dramatically as there was lots to do. In 2004 we celebrated the 20th After acting in the role of President anniversary of the Declaration of for six months I agreed to assume the Namadgi National Park with a meeting position formally. In that time I had at the Namadgi Visitor Centre organised heard members debate different issues— by Environment ACT. Tom Uren was horse riding in National Parks was one, flown to Canberra for the occasion and and I realised we didn’t have clear featured with NPA life member Fiona written policies on important issues, MacDonald Brand for the front page of which made it difficult for anyone to the September 2004 Bulletin. The year speak on behalf of NPA ACT. That was was also the 125th anniversary of the our first major task and it took a lot of establishment of the Royal National Park time and effort but it was interesting outside Sydney, Australia’s first National getting the members’ consensus at Park. monthly meetings with lots of writing on NPA ACT drafted a submission on butcher’s paper (my first memory of the draft Plan of Management for August 2002. At election time during the Christine Goonrey who wielded the felt Kosciuszko National Park and an overview was presented in the AGM I volunteered for the vice- pen with such flair). It did surprise me that members kept coming to the general September 2004 Bulletin by our new President’s position, having recently Secretary, Christine Goonrey (prior to retired though I had no qualifications for meetings even when they knew it was policy work (I found out later they came her appointment, Lyndall Young and the position. Stephen Forst was Treasurer Judy Kelly alternatively took minutes at and newcomers Chris Emery, Rod for Adrienne’s supper). Another goal was to reestablish a user-friendly up-to-date committee meetings). Christine also Griffiths and Lyndall Young, along with drafted a submission into the draft old faces Clive Hurlstone and David website which (with sage advice from David Large) Chris Emery and I tackled. Alpine Resorts Plan. Large, made up a new committee. Alas NPA ACT contributed financially to Judy Kelly rejoined the committee there was no secretary until 2004. The a new book Monga Intacta, on our editor of the Bulletin was not a mid-year 2003 by which time NPA ACT nearby Monga National Park. We committee member then but Syd had made a number of submissions to facilitated the presentation by VNPA’s Comfort kept the Bulletin going without government relating to the bushfire: The Phil Ingamells of a magnificent book on missing a beat, continually improving Operational Response to the January the Alpine National Parks to the head of the publication. Bushfire (McLeod Inquiry) jointly with the then ACT Department of the Caring for Namadgi was published in the Conservation Council; The Environment, Dr Maxine Cooper, on August/September 2002, just in time to Recreation Strategy; and the study into behalf of the Minister, and another to make a contribution to ‘assist with the the Future Uses of non-Urban Bushfire Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal production of the new management plan Affected Areas. Clive Hurlstone led this Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt for Namadgi National Park’ (Eleanor work. in May 2005. Stodart, NPA Bulletin, September 2002, All the while, the Outings We hosted a memorable meeting of p3). The Interim Namadgi Advisory Committee, convened by David Large NPAC at Manning Clark House in Canberra. Board was in full swing at this time— and then Steven Forst, continued putting on walks, despite the bushfire and with Each Committee, sub-committee and whatever happened to it and the lofty working group member made an ideal of joint management by the much of Namadgi National Park closed. This was a most successful way of enormous personal contribution; all in all traditional and new owners? we were a steady-as-you-go committee, The December 2002 Bulletin attracting new members. The monthly meetings, with exciting speakers and writing policy, preparing submissions, recorded stark details of the 1983 publishing Bulletins and the new e- bushfire in Gudgenby Nature Reserve occasional policy fora, continued under the direction of Clive Hurlstone with the newsletter, organising walks and other (the following year gazetted as part of outings, updating field guides and the inestimable Adrienne Nicholson pro- Namadgi National Park) by Reg Alder, website, holding monthly meetings and Neville Esau and Chris Watson. Their viding supper. work parties in Namadgi National Park. article was headed by a dramatic Reg Sonja Lenz joined the committee in We maintained the many roles of Alder photograph across pages 8 and 9 late 2003. NPA ACT, and sought new members to of the destruction caused by the 1983 August 2004. Christine Goonrey prepare the next committee for the work fire. Reg concluded his contribution to joined the committee as Secretary at the ahead. the article with the sentence ‘Weather AGM of August 2004. Work commenced Sadly we lost several members, conditions this year are the same as in on updating the NPA’s field guides on including life members Reg Alder and 1983, with drought, little moisture and ACT birds and ACT trees (revisions Eleanor Stodart, while I was President. high winds, so that more than normal published in 2006 and 2007). In 2004 we My contribution was actually a joint care will need to be taken if the 1983 established a Publications sub-committee contribution with Sonja Lenz who kept holocaust is not to be repeated’. to facilitate this work and Burning Issues me sane, and provided wise counsel. was instigated under Judy Kelly’s fair Sonja went on to become Secretary at January 2003. The bushfire! The hand. the August 2005 AGM when I stepped February general meeting had standing We participated in the Great down as President. room only, people were very concerned Australian Bushwalk in 2004 and 2005. Kevin McCue about the future for Namadgi National This ended up being a huge job with Park. There was a lot of energy in the little or no reward in terms of new

48 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 A day at Grassy Creek The black of night is slowly seen off by forces that exist all around. The gradual the flat light of a new day. Points of march of shadows and scurrying of ants light merge into the blue–grey of an combine to make the only discernible ever-changing sky as wispy high clouds motion. Meanwhile, the ever-warming gradually assume the colours of a rose sun brings life and relaxes tired souls. In garden. such a threat-free environment it can be With the improving light comes difficult to conceive of life in any other One can only speculate at the better visibility. Crunchy white grass way. activity that such changes would and foggy breath confirm what other generate in people such as the senses have suspected for some time. A change in the weather Westermans. Torn between the No other creature is abroad at this Gently the leaves stir giving me pause to preservation of personal wellbeing and hour. Perhaps the residents of the wild focus on things of a larger scale. The tending to stock, many a cold night take such experiences as this for granted. sky is now laced with cirrus and a must have been spent in the upper Then again, maybe we humans are the distinct chill enters the valley. The reaches of this valley, away from a ones who have been deprived for too weather is about to change and so is my comforting fire and a warm meal. long. attitude for, above all else, these high * * * * * The business of dawn must eventually valleys demand respect. Within a few Many cycles of sun and moon have end. Then I turn my mind and senses to hours my peaceful escape could be passed in the valley of Grassy Creek. Each my surroundings on Grassy Creek. transformed into an ordeal— leaden witnesses some change, small though it skies atop truncated hills, spawning may be. Despite these changes, the The people of the valley deafening winds that threaten to uproot enduring features of the valley are reliably In times gone, this valley supported rural every tree in sight. Just as quickly, present each time I visit. This guaranteed families, and before them Aboriginal horizontal rain can turn to snow. To ‘escape experience’ makes this Grassy clans. Abundant grass for stock and watch such changes and wonder at the Creek one of my favourite places. kangaroos, plentiful clear water and forces which generate them is one of Martin Chalk space to expand must have proved life’s great privileges. tempting indeed for those free-spirited individuals who lived before the ordered and invasive days of the early 21st Century. Thomas and Mary Jane Westerman’s humble homestead with its ornate barge boards and flowering garden beds tells of people who considered this valley very much their home. Natural life Clear and calm days are a particular delight. Besides the occasional, celebrating magpie, the only sound is that faint murmur made by the primal Name ‘Old Joe’ explained The evocative name Old Joe Hill Old Joe in honour of Joe Gallagher, who Canberra as Australia’s national capital fascinated me when I was researching a in the 1950s and 1960s supervised after decades of neglect. Suitable names bushwalking guide several years ago. chainmen when they and the surveyors were not easy to come by and it seems The hill of 813m is within the had premises at Acton. the surveyors had a free hand in this Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve in ‘Everyone knew him as Old Joe,’ respect. One stipulation however was Gungahlin and a trig station, also called Kevin says. ‘He was of lowly education, that a person giving his name to a trig Old Joe, crowns its summit. but nevertheless was a fine supervisor station must have passed on. So Old Joe Who was Old Joe, I wondered. who ensured all the chainmen were kept never knew that he had been honoured in occupied and that anything that needed this fashion. Unfortunately I was unable to to be done was carried out promptly and Kevin said he also named Rogers trig discover its origins before the book was efficiently. station in the suburb of Fraser after a published. Then last Christmas I had a ‘He was a character in the office and former chainman, John Rogers. The hill, call from Kevin Wellspring, of Melba, a gentleman with it.’ Mt Rogers, 704m, was subsequently one-time surveyor and holder of various Quite a number of trig stations were named after the trig station. senior positions in Commonwealth erected in those days when the National Graeme Barrow survey organisations—a friend. Capital Development Commission was Kevin was able to tell me that, in hitting its straps in its mission to develop fact, he had named the trig station/hill

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 49 NPA artwork

Artwork from a number of NPA members is presented here. Other works are scattered through this Bulletin. The wonderful watercolour panorama is the work of Muriel Story Edwards, depicting the western skyline from the Gudgenby Valley. The ink and wash field sketch of paper daisies is also Muriel’s work. Christine Goonrey has completed several pieces of her intricate dyed and machine-

50 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 stitched landscape quilts, inspired by her time at the Gudgenby Cottage. The texture and detail she achieves is remarkable. Judy Kelly's beautiful botanical art is represented by her Monga waratah. (See Judy’s article on page 42). Adrienne Nicholson con- tinues to manipulate impossibly fine, ‘reclaimed computer wire’ into discs, either as abstract patterns or simple pictures, about 10cm in diameter. These are suspended in various combinations as ornamental mobiles or hangings which sparkle with light.

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 51 The lure of Gudgenby

This little essay was written when All these are good and Namadgi was still Gudgenby Nature valid reasons supporting Reserve, and recalls even earlier his high regard for days. But some things remain true Gudgenby. I must admit even today. that I do admire it as a masterpiece of tree and A pragmatic mate of mine, who has no stone. I respect it and time for superstition, recently completed would never approach it his 13th ascent of Mt Gudgenby, that casually. I am too spectacular rocky landmark in the conscious of its strength southern ACT. to do that. It is prone to He challenged credulity head-on by give the unwary and the climbing Gudgenby in dreadful contemptuous a swift kick conditions of wind and rain, followed by for being so disrespectful snow in the access valley. as to treat it with All the members of his party got up unthinking disdain. But as and down without incident, taking with for climbing it 13 times— The tors of Mt Gudgenby, 2007. Photo Max Lawrence them a five-year-old boy and a baby that’s not for me. carried papoose-like on her father’s I have been on the summit in tranquil At one time, before the Gudgenby back. times when the sky is the softest of light Nature Reserve came into being, it was a Familiarity over 15 years has not blues, the winds stilled, and the comparatively simple matter to climb dulled my friend’s regard for Gudgenby. countryside all about a patchwork of Gudgenby in a single day. Then you And he says he wants to climb it again mountains and valleys, the peaks rock- would drive out from Canberra, travel and again. Ask him why this peak strewn, the valleys the emerald green of along the farm track running almost the attracts him so much and he will give Mother Ireland herself. length of the valley, park near the tree- you numerous reasons without singling At these times it seems that the line marking its head, and walk in to the out one above all the others. mountains must roll on for ever, so base of Gudgenby. From there the climb Certainly the approach to Gudgenby bulky and numerous are they, filling the takes about two hours. down the wide and grassy Boboyan landscape with the grey-green-blue of These days, however, you have to Valley reminds him vividly of valleys in their eucalypt-clothed flanks and watch the clock. The reserve controllers New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where he thrusting their granite summits ever have closed off the valley track to has climbed in each of the past 11 years. skywards. vehicles at a point which adds about Then there’s the animal life of the At other times Gudgenby goes out of 90 minutes’ walking time to reach the valley— wild pigs, ’roos, foxes, wedge- its way to be unpleasant, malevolent tree-line. Another 30 or 45 minutes must tailed eagles, dingoes even— making the even. On these days the clouds stream up be expended in getting to the base of the long trek one of continuing interest to from deep in the wilderness, low and a mountain, so you are looking at about those whose eyes are quick. vivid puce, scudding across the sky at eight hours of walking, climbing and Yet another reason is the thick bush the behest of powerful moaning forces descending time, plus the three hours or on Gudgenby’s flanks, bush that makes that clearly resent your intrusion into so spent driving from and back to the forest floor a maze of variety. Young their normally private domains. Winds Canberra. eucalypts, decades from reaching their thrust and pluck at you, threatening to None of this deters my mate. One of prime, look down on past giants rotting hurl you from your perch should you be his feats since the access track was closed where they have fallen. Mounds of silly enough, or unlucky enough, to be off was to walk in to Mt Kelly, further on frond-like stringybark drift over knee- caught on that enormous sloping from Gudgenby, by torchlight. His idea, deep piles of leaves. Bursting out of the rockface which is such a stomach- which came to him one night while he side of the mountain are immense moss- churning feature of Gudgenby. was drowsing in front of the television covered boulders (regrettably, I think of Frequently the clouds drop rain that set, was to climb to the summit of Kelly them as monstrous boils, green with the whips and stings. Sometimes it turns to to watch the sun rise. solidified pus of centuries), enticing hail and snow. When this happens the The immortals who watch over the those who get their kicks from Gudgenby granite is more than usually wilderness from their eyrie at the Sentry scrambling up seemingly inaccessible treacherous. Feet slip and cracks and Box, that huge oblong block of granite places. crevices sought by groping fingers fill visible on the opposite side of the valley Gudgenby’s main rockface, a steeply with hail and snow, adding to the misery from Gudgenby, must have bellowed sloping horror that makes some quail but or, as some assert, the adventure. with laughter at such a ludicrous notion. that fills my friend with excitement The snow often drifts low on They covered Kelly’s summit with cloud whenever he ventures upon it, provides Gudgenby’s flanks, so that the downhill so dense that no sunrise was seen that the thrills of the ascent. It is a challenge trek to the sanctuary of the Boboyan day. Then, on his long trudge back, they to his quickness of mind, his strength Valley can be dangerous if made in caused the clouds to fade away and the and agility, especially when it is covered haste. Deep holes appear where you sun to come out, strong and hot, sapping with ice and snow. Another attraction is thought there was solid ground, and energy. the mountain’s changing moods— sunny saturated rotting debris causes boot-shod Graeme Barrow one moment, bleak the next, fine, wet, feet to skid wildly. hot, cold.

52 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Presidents of the National Parks Association Dr Robert Carrick; inaugural, elected provisional President at NPA’s formation in March 1960 Mr John Banks 1979 Dr A.J. Nicholson; elected at the first AGM in June 1960; Mr Neville Esau 1980 3 years served for 2 years Mr Ian Currie 1983 Dr Nancy Burbidge 1962 Mr Ross Carlton 1984 2 years Dr Robert Story 1963 2 years Dr Kevin Frawley 1986 3 years Mr Ian Grant 1965 Mr Syd Comfort 1989 Mr Jim Webb 1966 Mr Les Pyke 1990 Mr A. (Sandy) Brand 1967 2 years Ms Beverley Hammond 1991 3 years Dr Nancy Burbidge 1969 Ms Eleanor Stodart and 1994 Miss Julie Henry 1970 Mr Clive Hurlstone Mr George Chippendale 1971 Ms Eleanor Stodart 1995 2 years Mr W. (Bill) Watson 1972 2 years Mr Clive Hurlstone 1997 3 years Mr Ian Currie 1974 4 years Mr Kevin McCue 2002 3 years Mr Darryl Hawke 1978 Ms Christine Goonrey 2005 5 years Office bearers and conveners The following record of NPA office bearers and conveners Julie Henry Vice President 1963, 1969; was mainly extracted from the lists published in successive President 1970. August/September editions of the NPA Bulletin. The Bulletin Margaret Hamilton Assistant Secretary 1963; was not born until the Association was in its third year, so Secretary 1964. entries for the early years have been taken from the first three Annual Reports of the Association. Ian Baird Treasurer 1963–1965. The record does not purport to be comprehensive; the very A L G MacDonald Vice President 1964. many ‘ordinary’ committee members have been excluded despite their often great contributions; and some vacant Miss Marie Sexton Assistant Secretary 1964; positions may have been filled later in the respective years. Secretary 1965–1967. Some editions are known to have had incomplete lists, Mr Alex Brand Publicity Officer 1964; especially of conveners, and there have been some President 1967–1968. amendments in the entries for more recent years to counter such shortcomings. D MacLean Outings Convener 1963. The record is presented largely in chronological order, Ian Grant President 1965. each person’s entry appearing in sequence according to when they first became office bearers. Where a person’s name is Mrs Pat Hammond Assistant Secretary 1965–1967. known to have changed, the most recent monicker is applied Dick Schodde Publicity Officer 1965. throughout. Murray Upton Outings Convener 1965. Dr Robert Carrick Inaugural President. Jim Webb President 1966. Dr A J Nicholson President 1960–1961. John Schunke Treasurer 1966–1969. Prof L D Pryor Vice President 1960–1961. I Dahl Secretary 1968–1969. Dr Nancy Burbidge Secretary 1960–1961; Margaret Aston Assistant Secretary 1968–1969. President 1962,1969; Laurie Adams Publicity Officer 1968–1969. Vice President 1967. Celia Westwood Secretary 1970. Roy Tait Treasurer 1960–1961. Wendy Haines Assistant Secretary 1970–1971. S Wilson Outings Convener 1961. Norma Price Treasurer 1970. Prof Brown Vice President 1962. Keith Green Publicity Officer 1970. Fiona MacDonald Brand Secretary 1962–1963; Publicity Officer 1966; George Chippendale President 1971. Editor 1971–1973; Bill Watson Vice President 1971; Assistant Secretary 1975–1978, 1980–1982; President 1972–1973. Membership Secretary 1979–1983; Vice President 1984–1985. Sheila Kruse Secretary 1971–1973, 1975–1980; Publicity Officer 1981–1982. Dr Robert Story President 1963–1964. (continued on page 54)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 53 Office bearers and conveners (continued from page 53)

Bruce Mitchell Treasurer 1971–1972. Babette Scougall Editor 1984. Glyn Lewis Publicity Officer 1971–1973, 1987–1989 Syd Comfort Treasurer 1985; Ian Currie Vice President 1972–1973, 1980–1981; President 1989; President 1974–1977, 1983; Editor 1999–2005. Membership Secretary 1964. Ian Haynes Outings Convener 1985–1987. Thea Exley Assistant Secretary 1972. Margus Karilaid Editor 1985. Jenny Cusbert Assistant Secretary 1973. Kevin Frawley President 1986–1988. Rod Panter Treasurer 1973. Judith Simondson Editor 1987–1988. John Banks Vice Pres 1974, 1978; Steven Forst Outings Convener 1988–1989, 2004–2005; President 1979. Treasurer 2002–2003; Esther Hardware Secretary 1974; Namadgi sub-committee Convener 1994. Publicity Officer 1975. Judith Webster Secretary 1989–1990. Jane Skinner Assistant Secretary 1974. Les Pyke Treasurer 1989; Pat Jeffress Treasurer 1974. President 1990. Allan Mortlock Publicity Officer 1974. Mike Smith Treasurer 1990–2001; Outings Convener 2006–2009. Brian Lee Editor 1974; Vice President 1975. Dianne Thompson Vice President 1991–1993; Outings Convener 1991. Mike Hardware Treasurer 1975. Len Haskew Secretary 1991–1994, 2000. Andrew Fordham Outings Convener 1975. Tim Walsh and Co-conveners, Environment. Bruce Ward Editor 1975. { Len Crossfield Sub-committee 1991 Norm and Assistant Editors 1975; Dugald Monro Convener Namadgi Sub-committee 1991. { Jenny Morrison Editors 1976–1977. Michael Kelly Outings Convener 1992–1993. Darryl Hawke Vice President 1976–1977; President 1978. Eleanor Stodart Vice President 1994; President 1995–1996. Neville Esau Treasurer 1976–1978, 1984; Vice President 1979, 2001; Phil Bubb Outings Convener 1994. President 1980–1982; Stephen Johnston Convener Environment Sub- Editor 2006–2007. Committee 1994. Cynthia Hook Publicity Officer 1976–1978. Clive Hurlstone Vice President 1995–1996; Jan Kiek Outings Convener 1976. President 1997–2001; Convener Environment sub-committee Reg Alder Editor 1978–1983. 2002– 2006. Sybil Story Assistant Secretary 1979. Max Lawrence Secretary 1995–1999; Lyle Mark Treasurer 1979–1982. Outings Convener 1996–2001; Editor 2008–2009. Bernice Anderson Publicity Officer 1979. David Large Vice President 2000, 2003, 2005; Harriet Mitchell Publicity Officer 1980 Convener Environment sub-committtee John Webster Outings Convener 1980. 2000; Outings Convener 2002–2003. Judy Payne Secretary 1981–1982. Judy Kelly Secretary 2001. Beverley Hammond Outings Convener 1981–1984; Vice President 1989–1990; Kevin McCue Vice President 2002; President 1991–1993. President 2003–2004. Denise Robin Vice President 1982–1983. Lyndal Young Secretary 2003. Diana Pickering Secretary 1983. Martin Chalk Work party co-ordinator2003–2009 Lala Reeves Assistant Secretary 1983. Christine Goonrey Secretary 2004; President 2005–2009. Joan Hegarty Treasurer 1983. Rod Griffiths Treasurer 2004–2009. Ann Robertson Publicity Officer 1983–1984; Secretary 1985. Sonja Lenz Secretary 2005–2009. Ross Carlton President 1984–1985. Chris Emery Vice President 2006–2007, 2009. Hazel Bancroft Secretary 1984. Sabine Friedrich Convener Publications sub-committee 2006–2009.

54 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Honorary Life Members of the NPA ACT Honorary Life Membership: any Kelly area). She also represented the ordinator, and as person who has rendered NPA, speaking to the Senate Committee editor of the meritorious service to or on behalf inquiry into the Black Mountain Tower. Bulletin for six of the Association may, on the years. It blos- recommendation of the Committee, Ms Sheila Kruse OAM, June 1979 somed under his administration, be elected a Life Member by a (died 3 May 2007) General Meeting, and for all raising issues and purposes shall be considered a The success of the bringing the ob- financial member of the Association. NPA depends on the jectives of the [NPA ACT Constitution] dedicated and Association more consistent efforts of fully to the notice members like of members. His superb photographs Dr Nancy Burbidge AM, 20 July Sheila. Sheila often illustrated Bulletin articles and 1972 (died 4 March 1977) joined NPA in 1971 graced its covers, and they are still used becoming Secret- from time to time; he was a frequent NPA ACT’s first ary later that year, a contributor of articles and letters. Reg Honorary Life position she sus- led many outings, often ‘over the hills Member, Nancy tained for some and far away’. He was a keen work party was a mainstay of 10 years. She continued as an active participant, memorably on the Orroral the Association — committee member, notably overseeing Homestead restoration and the Yerrabi from 1959, i.e. production of the ‘tree guide’ and Track construction with its associated before its official documenting NPA material for archiving. Heritage Week walks. beginning. She Six presidents valued Sheila’s assistance held the offices of and support; she was described as having President, Sec- Dr Robert Story OAM, August a ‘quiet strength and stability in her 1984 (died 19 February 1999) retary and com- gracious, composed behaviour … is mittee member for many years and was systematic, and her reliability sets Bob was a always available for advice and help in impossible standards for lesser mortals’. foundation mem- conservation matters. An outline of her ber of NPA, services to NPA includes: prime mover Ms Fiona MacDonald Brand OAM, served as Pres- in its founding; its first Secretary; ident for two Secretary for three years; President for July 1982 years, as Vice- two years; 12 years committee President, and as membership; leadership in numerous a committee and outings; many important contributions to sub-committee the Bulletin. One of her greatest member for many enjoyments was to introduce people to years. His enth- the bush by leading outings and by usiasm and his expertise in the plant patiently pointing out features which to world made him a valuable member of the untrained eye would go unnoticed. the NPA team which in the early 1960s Her Eyes or no eyes series (41 in all), surveyed the future Namadgi area and drawings and text on native plants from Fiona was a foundation member of the made the ultimately successful recom- our area, appeared in early issues of the NPA ACT. She was one of those mendation for its preservation as a Bulletin; individual pieces have been responsible for defining the area national park. For several years Bob was repeated from time to time. proposed for a national park for the ACT. the NPA’s delegate to the ANPC and She was Secretary, Bulletin editor and/or became its President in 1979. A regular Ms Julie Henry, July 1973 committee, sub-committee and working and frequent walks leader, he was always group member for most of the Julie’s long in- an energetic, kind, helpful, generous and Association’s first 25 years (and since) friendly presence; he and Sybil often volvement in con- except for short periods while overseas. servation and opened their home to NPA ACT She keeps a close eye on environment meetings and gatherings. with environ- and conservation issues in our region and mental groups is willingly undertakes a stand-in role to based on a great represent NPA. Fiona has led numerous Mr Ian Currie, August 1985 love of the bush outings, provides cheerful and willing (died 26 June 2006) and a determina- help in many NPA activities, and makes Ian’s election as a tion to inspire new members welcome. Life Member others to ‘cherish acknowledged it and protect it fiercely’. She joined the members’ NPA ACT committee in 1961, soon after Mr Reg Alder, August 1984 appreciation of arriving in Canberra, and served for nine (died 6 October 2003) his [to then] 14 years, including a term as President. Reg was associated with walking and years of official Julie worked hard on the proposal for an environment issues from 1938, in both and unofficial ACT national park, convening the sub- Sydney and Canberra. He served the services in his committee which explored for, and com- NPA ACT on the committee and sub- first 15 years of piled the initial submission for, a national committees, as the Australian National membership of park in the ACT (Gudgenby/Mount Parks Council (ANPC) national co- (continued on page 56)

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 55 Honorary Life Members of the NPA ACT (continued from page 55) the Association. He joined in 1970, was urer (two stints), sub-committee and frogs of the Australian Capital elected to the committee in 1971, Vice- convenor and energetic member of many Territory (Bennett, 1997), made these President in 1972, then President in 1974 working groups. Neville presided over excellent NPA publications possible. (four years). He continued on the NPA during an innovative and busy time committee and sub-committees, and for the association and he involved many Ms Olive Buckman,August 1999 became Pres-ident again in 1983. At one members in its activities. He (and his (died 11 May 2006) stage Ian’s re-election was said to have family) enjoy the bush and he has led been by a committee and membership day walks and pack walks over many Olive arrived in Canberra in ‘... not willing to [be deprived] of those years, and been convenor for the outings October 1963 to sensible and irreverent comments we had committee. He has been NPA’s delegate come to value when committee take up the to ANPC annual conferences. discussion threatened to become bogged position of down or flighty’. He was a frequent Director of the leader of walks and a great ‘camp Dr Kevin Frawley, July 1991 YWCA. In this father’. This ‘… pipe-smoking, choc- Kevin has given position she did olate-eating, bird-watching, person- great support much to baiting Life Member’ was also renowned over the years to encourage for having instigated, and passed on, the NPA ACT Canberra youth to take up bushwalking, warm tradition of having gluhwein at activities and camping and orienteering, and to annual general meetings. objectives, as appreciate and care for the environment. President (three Olive joined the NPA ACT in 1970 and Mr Charles Hill, September years), and serv- was soon asked by Secretary Sheila ing on the Kruse to respond to requests to the 1988 (died 5 October 2000) committee, sub- Association for public speakers and for Charles was in- committees supervisors of guides’ and scouts’ first- terested in the (notably the aid and conservation awards. As well, natural environ- Environment and Namadgi Sub- Olive organised and led hundreds of day ment since committees) and working groups. He walks (she instigated mid-week walks) childhood and played a leading role in the development and longer camping tours to national was always a of major reports for the NPA — the Eden parks all over Australia. Olive also keen walker and woodchip report, the Alpine conference contributed significantly to NPA skier. He joined papers and the Northern Cotter activities by writing numerous articles NPA in 1971 and catchment report. He authored the highly for the Bulletin (including many was elected to strategic Report on the conservation of pioneering ones on first-aid in the bush) the committee in the remnant woodland and native and in many other ways. 1976. His att- grassland in the ACT. Kevin represented ention to detail and conscientious the NPA on the Conservation Council of Mr Jack Smart AC, August 1999 dedication were invaluable in leading the the SE Region and Canberra and on the Jack joined ANPC. He became Chair of the ANPC in Glendale tree-planting project. Charles NPA ACT in 1989. and his helpers did a sterling job 1977 and has encouraging the trees to grow. He been an active efficiently supervised sales of the Field Mr Alastair Morrison, March member guide to the native trees of the ACT. 1995 (died 4 August 2009) through the Charles was: committed to caring for the Alastair and years, in- natural environment; a cheerful leader of his wife Hedda volved in day walks, ski trips, car camps and (on joined NPA in developing the walks(continued program on page52) and retiring) of mid-week walks; an 1969. Alastair participating in and leading walks. enthusiastic Yerrabi Track constructor; provided un- Before leaving Canberra to settle in an energetic bush regenerator (describing ceasing Melbourne near his family, Jack wrote as ‘fun’ the work of deleting temporary support for … the NPA has meant so much to me, so fire trails in Namadgi after the 1983 conservation many good walks and good friends, bushfires); and a regular meeting groups with a memories of wonderful talk on the track attendee. broad com- and round campfires … I cherish the munity base and maintained the aims and friendships that I have made in NPA. Mr Neville Esau, August 1989 objectives of the NPA over many years. Neville joined Alastair’s commitment was exemplified Eleanor Stodart, August 2003 NPA ACT in 1974 by his donations, his Bulletin articles, his (died 2 December 2004) indefatigable letter writing to newspaper and has been a Eleanor joined the NPA ACT in 1994 editors, and his participation in NPA very active because, as she said, her family had been work parties and outings. Alastair’s most member, both enriched by holidays walking, skiing and significant contribution to the NPA was physically on being in contact with nature in national the development, from an idea to a outings, and parks, and she wanted to do something successfully completed project, of the administratively for the parks in return. She fulfilled this Field guide to the birds of the ACT as President (three desire by immediately joining the (Taylor and Day, 1993). His generous years), Vice- committee and, soon after, accepting the President, Treas- funding of this guide, and of Reptiles (continued next page)

56 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 Honorary Life Members of the NPA ACT (continued) position of Pres- contributed widely to the Association manning the NPA display. Adrienne has ident, a post she over many years. contributed extensively to the Bulletin held for three years with articles and photographs, and by until 1996. Eleanor Clive Hurlstone, August 2007 organising the layout for printing and continued on the helping with the mail-out over a long Clive Hurlstone has time. She worked behind the scenes on committee until served NPA ACT as 2001 to complete the 2006 NPA symposium and has been President and an active member of the Gudgenby Bush eight years of committee member attentive involve- Regeneration Group, again for many for longer than any years. ment with the affairs of the Association. other previous She was a driving force behind many member of the reports and submissions made by the Association. He is Len Haskew, August 2008 Association, including the report on joint author of Len has made protecting native remnants in pine forests several important significant con- and the major document Caring for NPA documents and submissions tributions to NPA Namadgi together. Eleanor also brought including Caring for Namadgi and ACT over many her scientific background and writing Conservation of land under ACT Forests. years. He served skills together in many articles published Clive represented NPA ACT before the on the committee in the Bulletin. Eleanor joined the Senate Standing Committee and on the for 10 years, five Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group, Conservation Council of the ACT. He of them as became its President and worked as its organised the NPA office for years, and Secretary (on two Secretary until her untimely death. directed re-publication of NPA ACT separate occasions). He was an effective guidebooks such as Birds of the ACT and Secretary who carried out the duties with Native trees of the ACT. He has also quiet efficiency. He was always willing Syd Comfort, August 2003 arranged the selection and invitation of to act in the position if the then Secretary Syd Comfort guest speakers for monthly general was unavailable. In addition he was joined the NPA meetings and provided technical support convener of the Marketing, Publicity and ACT in 1980, for the conduct of the meetings for many Education Sub-committee. Over many was elected to years. Clive is a founding member and years he has been a prolific contributor the committee in former President of the Gudgenby Bush of articles, book reviews and 1984 and Regeneration Group. photographs to the NPA Bulletin. In the became Trea- mid 1990s Len offered to compile the surer the Adrienne Nicholson, August 2007 ‘PARKWATCH’ column in the Bulletin and following year. In 1989 he became continued to do this in every issue until President, at a time when the committee Adrienne Nicholson is early 2008. Throughout the 1990s he was dealing with such issues as the well known and was an active participant in walks and logging of the south-east forests and, appreciated for her other outings. He led walks, car camps nearer to home, the Canberra Nature management of and work parties, including some Park and the push for the removal of the general meeting extended walks such as to the West Boboyan pine plantation, which he suppers and Christ- MacDonnell Ranges. His companionable continued to pursue through the mas parties for many personality added greatly to the value of Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Project. years. She has any outing in which he participated. Syd has been involved in a number of organised and led Over the years Len has given a great deal facets of the Association’s work some very interesting of his cheerful and positive personality including the Namadgi Sub-committee, day walks and car camps, and has been to the Association and made a great organising work parties and leading active on the Outings sub-committee. contribution to the spirit of fellowship walks. As editor for 10 years, he oversaw She has been the public face of within NPA ACT. 40 editions of the NPA ACT Bulletin. NPA ACT at numerous fairs and ACT Through his tact and experience, Syd has functions, designing, erecting and

NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010 57 NPA notices National Parks Association Calendar New members of March April May June the association Fri 2, Sun 4 Public holidays Mon 8 — Mon 14 The NPA ACT welcomes the Mon 5 following new members: Cynthia Breheny NPA inaugural meeting celebration 1 Mon 1 Noureen Rainsford General meetings Thur 18 Thur 15 Thur 20 Thur 17 Lucinda Lang Committee meetings Tues 2 Tues 6 Tues 4 Tues 1 Deanna Buffier 50thanniversary picnic 2 Sun 21 Karen Cody 3 Kerri Tomkins NPA ACT symposium Fri 7, Sat 8 David Burgess and Penny 4 Gudgengy Bush Regeneration Sat 13 Sat 10 See notice Sat 12 Grahame. Further details: 1 Celebrating the 50th anniversary of NPA’s formation These people have joined at a 2 Namadgi Visitor Centre, 11:30am onwards. great time; we look forward to 3 Discovery Centre at CSIRO. seeing everyone at NPA 4 Meet Namadgi Visitor Centre 9:15am or Yankee Hat car park 10:00am. activities.

Eyes or No Eyes Special 2010 anniversary calendar NPA's tribute to our founding To members who would still like a 2010 NPAACT member Nancy Burbidge. anniversary calendar, Nancy's nature notes and we have a few copies left, at $10. drawings of native plants of the Contact Sonja on 62511291 ACT, were originally published in Bulletins from 1963 to 1971. Gathered together for the first time as a book, this limited GBRG May work party edition is available at general Because the NPA symposium clashes with the usual meetings for $30 to NPA Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group work party in May, members (RRP $35) or ring the latter will be changed. GBRG members: keep an eye out Sonja on 62511291 for email advice, else contact Michael Goonrey (6231 8395) or Clive Hurlstone (6288 7592 or mobile 0407 783 422)

Tent for sale. We have a Tornado Extended T 10TX Wines to celebrate our 50th Anniversary canvas tent for sale (no centre pole) in excellent con- dition. It includes a large awning and heavy-duty Imagine: Namadgi Red Gudgenby White plastic bags for the poles. $500 ono. Bimberi Port. Please contact Barb or Chris de Bruine on (02) 6258 3531 or email [email protected] These three desirable drops are on offer to toast NPA ACT’s 50th Anni- versary this year. The labels are as attractive as the contents, featuring This Bulletin had a myriad contributors, from images from Namadgi National Park, then and now, and was prepared by taken by our own members Brian Slee Editors: Max Lawrence and Judy Kelly and Adrienne Nicholson. Sub-editor: Ed Highley Bottles are $12 each, and our Presentation: Adrienne Nicholson supplier ‘Plonk’ will deliver mixed or straight 6-packs free of charge to A special acknowledgement to Annette Smith and Judy Canberra and Queanbeyan Kelly for their huge inputs to this golden anniversary addresses. edition of the Bulletin. NPA ACT receives $3 from each bottle sold. The Order Form can be downloaded from the NPA website at Cover photograph www.npaact.org.au Post or deliver your order with payment to Plonk at Shop 36, Fyshwick Markets ACT 2609 Rock outcrops and woodland patches are characteristic or, if paying by credit card, you may wish to fax your order to of the Gudgenby Valley Photo Adrienne Nicholson (02) 6260 6337.

58 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2010