CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB l INC NEWSLETTER . t GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 VOLUME 33 OCTOBER 1997 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING David Lawrence (Senior Ranger, NPWS) on Kosciuszko National Park 8pm Wednesday 15 October Dickson Library Community Room (entrance at rear of library) Make the most of the evening and join other members at 600pm for a convivial (BYO) meal at the Pho Phu Quoc Restaurant in Cape Street, Dickson. fly to be early to ensure there will be ample time to finish and still get to the meeting in comfortable time Walks to Allan Mikkelsen Tel: 6278 3164 8D Century Courts, 4 Beetaloo St, Hawker ACT 2814 World Wide Web: http:l/www.pcug.org.aul-amikkelslcbehome.html Articles etc. for publication to Paul Edstein Tel: 6278 3164(h) 6288 1398(h) Fax: 6271 4613 (w) E-mail: eozzia3caec.gov.au 19 Gamor St, Waramanga ACT 2611 PRESIDENT'S PRATTLE We have a new Committee (see the outside facilitator. Rob has also continued to revise the back cover) and I would like to thank all members of Bushwalking Around Canberra and will submit the new Committee for volunteering for their examples in the It for comment in the near future. If positions. After the Annual General - Meeting we you have any walks that you consider suitable for were left with 2 vacant positions but fortunately we this collection please contact Rob. have filled those positions already. Unfortunately, I If you want to help the Club in some way but believe, there is only one really new face (Jenny haven't the time to I spare on a regular basis then Horsfield) on the Committee. Jenny is also the only consider playing host for the monthly It Collation or woman on the Committee. I sincerely hope that just turn up to help. The dates and addresses are during the coming year other female members will included in the Activity Program. All we need is consider taking on Committee positions next year. some house space and the host provides tea/coffee I would also like to correct an omission in and cakes/biscuits for usually about a dozen or so my thanks in last month's "Prattle". That of Rob volunteers. Contact Barry Munns (the Club's Horsfield who has been the "Wild Card Walks" Publisher, phone number on the outside back cover) Paul Rustomji, to outdoor/adventure equipment if interested. shops in Canberra. In this issue you will find a proforma letter Walks & Activity Program concerning the proposed developments for the The Club's activity program once again Perisher Range and skifields in the Kosciuszko featured the popular areas including Namadgi National Park (Snowy Mountains). The subject of the Morton, Budawangs, Kosciuszko and Blue Perisher Valley development was explained by Doug Mountains National Parks and the rarely visited Wright in the previous issue of the It and invitations Wollemi National Park. Other activities included to discuss the mailer were made at the August and basic navigation courses, canoeing, rock climbing, September General Meetings. abseiling and skiing sometimes organized jointly I hope you will consider sending the letter if with the Family Bushwalkers, ANUMC, National you support its contents. The reverse has the address Parks Association and Canberra Cross-country Ski which enables you to send it without using an Club. envelope. Alternatively, you may prefer to compose a There were nearly 130 programmed walks letter of your own on this very important issue which providing about 5 walks for every 2 weekends. The will have an impact on walking in this area. It is not most prolific of trip providers were once again an issue of exclusive concern to the skiing fraternity. Terence Uren and Richard Bain. Other major The Committee intends to send a similar letter. The contributors were Jeff Bennetts, George Carter, words of which are reproduced elsewhere in this Murray Dow, Roger Edwards, John I'ons, Chris issue. Leslie, Stan Marks and Allan Mikkelsen. Numerous If you would like more background other members led walks and other activities and, information then please contact Terence Uren along with the above leaders, deserve the grateful (Conservation Officer) or myself. thanks of all participating members. Chris Roper P Extended trips included the 5 passes trip to the South Island of New Zealand led by John I'ons• THIRTY SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT and the MacDonnell Ranges and Central Australia led by Meg McKone. It is with pleasure that I present the Canberra There were only 3 new walks leaders this Bushwalking Club's 36th annual report. A number of year, John Dean, Kent Holman and Barry Munns. notable issues were considered this year including: This is a disappointing number but the Activity • Draft Management Plan for Canberra Nature Program provided a good range of walks and other Park; activities including weekend lodge trips to the Snowy • A submission to re-route part of the Australian Mountains and car camps. Alps Walking Track in Namadgi NP; • Strategic planning for the Australian Alps This year the Greg Buckley Award has been Walking Track; given to Terence Uren. Terence not only led the most • Closure of a section of the access road to activities (for which his next annual membership is Newhaven Gap in the recently created Budawangs waived) but he has been a consistent provider of Wilderness; and walks and skiing trips for some years. Terence's • Perisher Range Skifield Development. contributions have included some with a difference such as the walk up to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko Membership via Hannels Spur in December last year. The latest figures on Club membership are as A number of members took advantage of the follows: "Wild Card Walks" facility this year, enabling Ordinary members 218 members to combine with other members for unlisted Household members 90 walks, and sufficient for the service to be continued Life members 8 by Rob Horsfield. This allowed members to walk Total membership 316 with other members when they were not able to join Although the number of members has listed walks or wanted something different from what decreased since last year, there was a definite was on the program. increase in the number of new members towards the Stand-by Ski Tours were again operated by end of the Club year. This seemed to coincide with Terence Uitn with a good response considering the the distribution of a new Club leaflet, composed by relatively poor snow season. Canberra Bushwalking Club IT October 1997 page 2 Rob Horsfield has continued to revise the reached any clear stage but the Confederation has Bushwalking near Canberra book previously maintained its involvement. produced by this Club in 1974 and intends to submit Conservation examples for comment in the near future. The Club has continued its membership and General Meetings and Social Program support of the Australia Conservation Council, Members were provided with a variety of Environment Centre and the Conservation Council. subjects at the general meetings including talks and The annual Spanish Broom clearing in slide presentations, of trips and bush related subjects, Namadgi was organized once again by John Thwaite by both members and non-members and a photo in October but did not receive the level of support it competition. The Committee is veiy grateful to those deserves. Likewise only a very small number of members who provided some entertaining evenings. members turned up in early March for the Clean Up Matters discussed at meetings included Australia Day. Our Club's participation on Mt closure of a section of the access road to Newhaven Ainslie was organized by Allen Mikkelsen. Although Gap, personal risk insurance and the Perisher Range a wet day, those that did attend for just a couple of Skifield Development. hours made a significant difference. Thank you to all members who contributed to these occasions. The Club newsletter: It Search and Rescue Although the It's primary function is to provide the Activity Program it also allows members There were no search and rescue call-outs to share activity experiences and opinions on this year which can be considered a good result. bushwalking related subjects. During this year there 1996-97 Committee and Office Holders have been a number of letters and trip reports from members which have provided new information and Thank you to all members who served on the perceptions to many other members. Committee this year. The Committee was comprised of the following: Chris Roper (President), Gary The cost of production of the It was reduced Trevean (Vice-President/Treasurer), Paul Rustomji by changing the layout of some pages and restricting (Walks Secretary), Frank McKone (Editor 10 the number of pages per issue. This produced a months) and Paul Edstein (Editor 2 months), Roger considerable saving during the course of the year. Edwards (Membership Secretary), Allan Mikkelsen The Club has continued to promote the (Conservation Officer), Barry Munns (Publisher), Activity Program on the Internet, with thanks again Chris Bellamy (Assistant Walks Secretary 9 months) to Allan Mikkelsen who provided the home page. and John Dean (Assistant Walks Secretary 3 months), Roger Beddis (Social Secretary), Debi The Club purchased its own computer printer Williams (Minute Secretary) and Sharon MeAuliffe so that the current editor didn't have to rely on other (Correspondence Secretary). sources, and spend valuable time, to produce the camera-ready copy for the printing of the It. Others who provided valuable support and deserve thanks were Sue and Alan Vidler, Janet and Collation of the It continues to be a very Paul Edstein and Stan Marks (Check-in Officers), social event with volunteer members contributing John Thwaite (Club Conservation Associate), Rob time and venues.