MAGAZINE OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BUSHWALKING CLUBS NSW INC. ISSN 0313 2684 MAY 2001 AUTUMN EDITION VOLUME 26 NO 4 http://www.bushwalking.org.au [email protected] WALKING THE LAND WAKING THE PEOPLE
A WORLD HERITAGE CELEBRATION logging, we need to Walk the Land for ATOP Mt Cloudmaker a conversa- Wyn Jones * the eyes of the World to see. To show tion was heard late in 2000. Blue And because we fought for it, the people our land and how much we Mountains is World Heritage? So what! Bushwalkers and Greenies. Now World care. Bushwalkers were the primary We knew that for years. Heritage means that we have to be even instigators of this conservation and for But the rest of the world knows more careful in looking after this the World Heritage listing - they took now. AND THATS THE DIFFER- natural treasure, since it is considered so the lead in the battle and should take ENCE. valuable by all the World. The way we the lead in this walk. I have chosen a And by the way its the Greater look after it will be scrutinised by State name for this walk Gumtree Songlines, Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Federal Governments and by a name which goes to the very heart of What a mouthful, I guess the international conventions. More the Australian Landscape and the fact kooris had a shorter name people will come to see its beauty and that the Greater Blue And indeed the kooris had numer- wonder; A T LAST Mountains is the first more of area to be listed based us will D UNPHY S on the diversity of have to the Eucalyptus trees. care for D REAM CAME In the true manner it even TRUE. of Walking the more. Land, this walk is At last intended to awaken the many stories of Dunphys bushwalkers, traditional owners and Dream came people of the nearby lands. true. And to That is the difference that World give proper Heritage can make; a much greater public recogni- appreciation of this vast wilderness and tion to those the promise it holds for all people. conservation- Bushwalkers can and should be the ists who fought ambassadors of this promise. for this honour, Upper Grose Valley - photo Colin Wood This Walk cannot and should not be bushwalkers a repetition of the old one in 1992. The need to show Celebratory nature of the Walk suggests ous names many of which are embed- their flag, and display their hearts on the we have to do it differently. We have to ded in the landscape of the Blueys and shoulder together with their packs. connect with those communities on Dunphys Maps. Would you like to Once before we have witnessed a adjacent to the area; there are 14 Walk this Land in Celebration of this public Walk Event, when in 1992 this different councils or LGAs with Great Honour which the World Com- same area was walked in 52 days during diverse land uses from intense mining, munity has bestowed? Sure, you can the Greater Blue Mountains Heritage agriculture and hobby farming. There walk it anytime and probably have, but Walk. This too was a celebration of the are many stories hidden in these places how about walking it to tell the world natural values and those who had relating to the Heritage Area, stories what a super special place it is. conserved them during the 20th Cen- that this Walk will help to tell. I like to call this Walking the Land, tury. This was in the early days of the The Gumtree Songline Walk is Waking the People. But first whats all campaign for World Heritage listing. firstly a bushwalkers walk, it is through this World Heritage about? More than 100 people joined the walk the Wilderness. It is to be a relay The Blueys! World Heritage. Why? some for one day, most for more. Wyn where the cold coals of the previous because it is beautiful, Jones walked the entire distance of 450 campfire are carried and passed to the and wild, km. Bushwalking clubs and individuals next team of walkers. Coals from because it is were invited, and funds were raised for Campfires will be lodged for keeping wilderness and so diverse, conservation of threatened species in by all local communities along the way. because it the Blue Mountains. Continued on page 13 has over 90 species of gumtrees A New Celebration and it Now almost 10 years later and in the R EAD ABOUT THE PHOTO is evolutions cauldron ! cusp of the 70th Anniversary of the C OMPETITION ON PAGE 5. Saving of Blue Gum Forest from ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club THE BUSHWALKER C OMMITTEE MEMBERS Contributions, letters to the Conservation Officer John President - Wilf Hilder editor, original cartoons and sugges- Macris (02) 9526-7363 (H) National The Sydney Bush Walkers Ph 9587- tions are welcome. They should be Parks Association 8912 sent to the address below. Except for [email protected] Vice President - Jim Callaway short notes or letters, all contributions Tracks and Access officer - Alex (02) 9520-7081 (H) (02) 9219-4379 should be accompanied with text file Tucker (02) 9451-4028 National Parks (W) The Sydney Bush Walkers on three and a half inch floppy disk in Association [email protected] Treasurer & acting Secretary - IBM format or E-Mail. Magazine Editor & Communica- Prudence Tucker (02)9451-4028 Advertising rates are available on tions Officer Colin Wood, Tel email [email protected] request.Ring Judy Hellyer 029604-1101 or (02)4625-0916 H 0438013500 National Parks Association [email protected] National Parks Association Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Distribution is through affiliated [email protected] officer - Keith Maxwell (02) 9622- clubs, major retail outlets, council Training officer - Peter Mullens 0049 Pager phone 13 22 22 pager information centres and national park [email protected] no 6277321 Mount Druitt offices. Insurance Office and membership Bushwalking Club Address all correspondence to secretary - Anne Plowman (02)9747- [email protected] The Editor, The Bushwalker 1346 [email protected] Bushwalkers NSW PO Box 2090 GPO Minutes Secretaey Judy Hellyer Sydney 1043. (02)[email protected] E-mail [email protected] The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc represents approxi- mately 70 clubs with a total membership 2 2 around 10,000 bushwalkers. Formed in 1932, the Confederation provides a united I N THIS ISSUE voice on conservation and other issues, runs training courses for members, and provides for the public a free wilderness A World heritage celebration...... 1 search and rescue service. People interested in joining a bushwalking club are invited to The Bushwalker The Dunphy Wilderness Fund...... 3 write to the Secretary Bushwalkers NSW at the above address for information on clubs Photographic Competition ...... 5 in their area. Or web site www.bushwalking.org.au Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Training Weekend ...... 6 Prices for advertising Back cover $450 - full page inside NavShield 2001 7th - 8th JULY ...... 6 back cover $400 - full page inside $350 - half page $175 - quarter page Are you a Candidate for A Search & Rescue? ...... 7 $90 business card size $50 insert $250 +insertion cost approx $90. Letters to the Editor ...... 7 Deadlines for magazine Summer edition, 2nd week in NPWS News ...... 9 October- Autumn 2nd week in January - Winter, 2nd week in April - Spring, 2nd week in July Volunteer Workby by Member Clubs in National Parks ...... 10
Maps for sale ...... 14
Five Weeks Lost in The Tasmanian Bush ...... 14 T HEB USHWALKER is the magazine of the Confed- Bushwalkers Bush Dance ...... 14 eration of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc. It's published quarterly. Sydney Harbour Defence Lands placed in Public Reserves ...... 14 The aim of the magazine is to provide articles and information of Vale: Jack Watson ...... 15 interest to the members of clubs affiliated with the Confederation Confederation calendar ...... 16 and Bushwalkers generally. Any opinions expressed by individual A Small Dose of Fear ...... 17 authors do not always represent the official views of the Confederation. Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... T HE DUNPHY WILDERNESS FUND, A FIVE YEAR REVIEW D EUA-TUROSS By John Macris Conservation Officer National Park in the northern tablelands, HANGS IN THE As this magazine hits the streets, a clearly demonstrates the conservation public launch of stage two of the benefits achieved so far. The grey area BALANCE Dunphy Wilderness Fund will be taking shows the park as it was in 1996, while place at the Bondi Pavillion on Tuesday the dotted areas have all been purchased 15th May. Premier Bob Carr is to launch over the past five years. Over twenty the fund and speak on its achievements seven thousand hectares in total, with Until 28 May the State Government to date. most of the formerly isolated sections of will be taking public submissions on the The Fund was established in Septem- the park now connected. future of wilderness areas in southern ber 1996 by the NSW Government in Other significant acquisitions have NSW, one of many being the Deua- recognition of the contribution made by been achieved in Washpool, Morton, Tuross wilderness with its pristine Myles and Milo Dunphy to conserva- Oxley Wild Rivers National Parks and catchments, extensive old growth tion. It has provided one million dollars the greater Blue Mountains. forests, rare and rich fauna, diverse per annum over five years for the Revenue for the fund was to lapse in rainforests and fabulous scenery. purchase of private and leasehold lands July 2001, but representations by The Government proposes leaving within wilderness areas. On completion environment groups produced a commit- Bendethera and much of Deua National of five years of expenditure, approxi- ment that the NSW Government would Park exposed to horse and off road mately 45,000 hectares of land will have make resourcing of the Dunphy Fund vehicle damage and allowing intensive been acquired for addition to National part of normal budgetary processes and logging in thousands of hectares of Park estate. additional to the existing NPWS budget formerly identified wilderness in Badja In addition to government funding, (the fund to date was revenue normally State Forest and in the upper Deua River public donations to support the wilder- allocated to the capital works budget of catchment. ness acquisition program of the fund the NPWS). Please write to the Premier support- now total $73,100. Almost the entire 3 The launch coincides with a public ing the conservation movements Bushwalker The amount was contributed by environment exhibition of Henry Golds wilderness Wilderness 2000 Protection Plan. group The Budawang Committee, for the photography by the Colong Foundation. acquisition of leasehold land in the This runs from 14 to 17 May at the Graham Daly Budawang wilderness. Bondi Pavillion Gallery (Queen Eliza- Chairperson Many acquisitions under this fund beth Drive, Bondi Beach) and is in Canopy Native Forest Committee TEC have directly improved the connectivity support of the wilderness 2000 cam- of the core reserve system. The example paign. shown here from Guy Fawkes River ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club
Kakadu Kimberley Red Centre 4 4 There is no one else
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Willis’s Walkabouts 12 Carrington St, Millner NT 0810 Email [email protected] www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au Phone (08) 8985 2134 Fax (08) 8985 2355 Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... P HOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
T O COMMEMORATE THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE C ONFEDERATION OF BUSHWALKING CLUBS WE ARE CONDUCTING A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION WITH $1000S WORTH OF PRIZES
T HE FIRST PRIZE IS A $3000 TRIP OF A LIFETIME FOR TWO PEOPLE WITH W ILLIS S WALKABOUT TOURS PLUS MANY OTHER GREAT PRIZES INCLUDING WHITE WATER RAFTING AND ACCOMMODATION
5 The Bushwalker The
Lake Windamere Overland Track - Tasmania - photo Colin wood E NTRY FORM N AME......
A DDRESS......
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PHONE NO ...... Post to - Photographic Competition - Bushwalkers NSW GPO Box 2090 Sydney 1043
C ONDITIONS OF HOW TO ENTER
1. Information on how to enter and prizes, form part of the conditions of entry. 2. Entry will be accepted as a photo, print, floppy disk, or on CD in PC format, no slides. 3. Entry is open to all residents of Australia except the prize givers and their employees and immediate families and the executive committee of the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Incorporated herein referred to as Confederation, and their immediate families. 4. The competition commences on the 15th of May 2001, and closes on the 15th of May 2002. 5. Winners will be notified by mail and all prize winners will be published in the spring 2002 issue of the The Bushwalker. 6. Enter as many times as you wish by mailing in the completed entry form together with name and address clearly written on the entry. Separate entry form for each photo (photo copies are OK) 7. The judges decision in relation to any aspect of the competition is final and binding on each person and no correspondence will be entered into. 8. All entries become property of the Confederation and may be used in future publications unless otherwise stated by the entrant. 9. The Confederation shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered including but not limited to direct or consequential loss, or personal injury suffered or sustained during the course of prize winning trips or in connection with any of the prizes. 10. Confederation reserves the right to publish photos of the winners. 11. Any change in value of the prizes occurring between the publishing date and date of the prize is claimed is not the responsibility of the confederation. 12. Signing the back of the photo or disk confirms the photo belongs to & has been taken by the entrant. 13. WHILE ENTRY IS FREE, DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED AND WILL BE GIVEN TO THE A USTRALIAN CONSERVATION COUNCIL...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club BUSHWALKERS B USHWALKERS WILDERNESS RESCUE SQUAD NEWS WILDERNESS map and compass along their selected with its location only given by a 15 route, collecting points at each check- R ESCUE figure grid reference. An interesting point that they visit. The team with the challenge, and more difficult than you T RAINING most points at the end of the event wins. might think. There are two events in the NavShield, a Sunday morning saw all in their old W EEKEND one day (8 hour) and a 2 day (30 hour) clothes for the Challenge Valley Mark Dabbs event. obstacle course. We got completely dirty The weekend of 31st March, 1st The NavShield is designed to cater and wet, and it was great fun. No broken April saw a scruffy (and not so scruffy) for the whole range of bushwalkers from bones, but lots of smiles. The course mob of around 45 bushwalkers attend elite speed demons to people who just record was not broken, but I believe the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue enjoy a day out in the bush. The event is some bloke about 46 years old beat some training weekend. It was held at Cataract a chance for the best navigation and of the younger ones? Whos not so fit Scout Camp, near Appin. The aim of the rescue teams in the country to compete, now? unsupported, in unfamiliar terrain. For To finish the week- the rest of us, it is an opportunity to train end off we were organ- our navigation skills in a safe, friendly ised into groups and environment, and to enjoy a day or two participated in a simu- explor- lated search. Starting ing the from a briefing of team bush. leaders, we walked off The to the designated bush winners areas where we used the of last search techniques and 6 6 years radio skills that we had event learnt to find a poor lost covered soul, returning to base 59km for a final debriefing. during Careflight Rescue Helicopter BWR encourages the 30 any experienced exercise was to train bushwalkers in the hour
The Bushwalker bushwalker to join them for the next additional skills required for search and event, training weekend. We want to train you rescue, and was based around the new almost in modern search and rescue methods so structured training system which BWR is entirely you can join our squad. Of course, it is currently developing. cross also a fantastic social event to meet other Many aspects of search and rescue country! clubs and interesting fellow walkers, were covered, including how the emer- Another climbers, cyclists, cavers, canoeists, A BWR course setter at work gency services are structured in NSW, team canyoners and skiers. what to do at incident sites and search decided on the rather unusual strategy of See ya next time round. techniques. swimming (in mid-winter) across On Saturday morning we were N AVS HIELD 2001 Kandos Weir to reach a checkpoint, visited by the Careflight Rescue Helicop- because it was faster than walking ter - helicopter and all. No, we didnt get 7 TH - 8TH JULY around! Other teams decided to walk to a joy flight, although many of use were one of the checkpoints located on top of Last years NavShield was held in keen to take it for a spin. We were shown a pagoda and then enjoy a long lunch Wollemi National Park at Dunns the safety procedures, discussed the surrounded by magnificent views over Swamp near Rylestone. The weather was workings of the various medical and the national park. perfect, the scenery spectacular, and rescue equipment, radio contact methods This years NavShield will be held on whether you entered competitively or along with general discussion. The the weekend of 7th - 8th July in an area socially, the event was heaps of fun. dangers associated with helicopters was of around 100 square kilometres of The Navigation Shield (or inadvertently demonstrated by some grit rugged bushland in NSW. The exact NavShield) is an overnight navigation being blown into one of our members location will be made known in the event where teams of competitors eyes during take-off. The down draft of fortnight prior to the event. It is, how- attempt to gain as many points as the 5.5 ton helicopter is enormous - ever, being held in an area of bushland possible by finding their way, on foot anything loose will never be seen again! that few bushwalkers visit and the terrain only, through wilderness terrain to pre- The navigation training covered is completely different to the terrain on set checkpoints. There are more check- everything from the most basic up to last years event. (The course setter points on the course than can be reached some highly specialised discussions. For promises that there is not a single pagoda by any team during the event. Each those who felt they knew all there was to to be seen anywhere on the course!). checkpoint is given a score and it is up to know, they had the opportunity to head This means that this years event will be the team to decide which checkpoints to off into the bush with their trusty GPS a whole new challenge, and its a great visit and to select a route through the and search for a small ice cream bucket course. The team then navigates with C ONTINUED ON PAGE 19 Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... A RE YOU A CANDIDATE L ETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR A SEARCH &
R ESCUE? T HE END OF They have been doing it steadily in 5 Robert Sloss BUSHWALKING year bites ever since they came to power in 1967. They started by banning AS I KNEW A recent search and rescue effort in Verturer Scouts from their First Class the Nattai Valley underlines the need to IT Journeys in Royal. Then came the Blue plan your bushwalk beforehand. The Gum Forest ban bringing to it the over leader of a small group planning a day By Brian D. Saunders Ron Woodland grown condition it is today. Next came walk purchased a bushwalking guide for Blanch, (Bushwalker Nov. 2000) is the Little Marley Beach, claiming that kids the Nattai Valley which the salesperson first person to bring some common sense were caught cutting and stacking green indicated was the best available, but as a to the debate on public use of Sydneys bush pieces, to dry for future use (Cirea back up they purchased a L.I.C. MAP great National Parks. He should be 1982). Thats worth a public ban appar- 1;25000. Having read through the commended. This debate has obviously ently. various tracks they decided on the touched a raw nerve amongst outdoor Since 1993 I have been addressing Wanganderry Creek Circuit for a day loving people and exposed the resent- occasional meetings whenever possible walk even though the guide states 10 ment that often occurs toward our Park about these bans. So with the first hours walking time over 2 days. They Service. publication of the N.P.W.S. Brochure arrived at the track head at the end of I find this resentment exists amongst called The Future of Bush Camping Wattle Ridge Road, Hilltop at 9am and people deprived of old and innocent we read the famous words we believe decided that they would walk it in an usages of, especially Royal and the best way to offer enjoyable camping anticlockwise direction because the first Healthcote Parks. Kosciusko Park in Royal National Park is by phasing out half was an easy going fire trail, then to management is follow the route back up the Nattai River visibly much to Starlights Track and return to their
more user 7 car.
friendly, despite Bushwalker The The first problem encountered was much heavier the jelly leg syndrome inflicted on the client usage. uninitiated to the severe steep 400m When Ron W. drop down the steep mountain side. At Blanch protests the Nattai river they found a well worn about the loss of track heading off upstream and so off firelighting they went. Some 3 km upstream the rights, I really worn track ended at a river crossing and wonder whether they became disorientated and apprehen- he knows the full sive. Then the third problem happened; a extent of bans walker fell heavily on their hip and existing today on slowed up the walk. Problem number 4; youthful camp- the sun sets early in the Nattai Valley ers. A horrible which forced them to stop. Problem 5; form of group no camping gear, no food, and no one The Tarn Shelf Mt Field NP Tasmania - photo Colin Wood camping is now back home knew where they were only allowed in two places instead of uncontrolled bush camping over five walking or the expected time back. bush camping. years . Im still puzzling over this The next day they became more This new camping is eventually to be contradiction. distressed and bypassed or ignored the on land to be reformed and re-hardened. Well with these veiled accusations marked Starlights Track and spent This is an ecologically dangerous being made about campers doing their several hours scrambling up the adjacent practise used previously by N.P& W.S worst I once took a New Zealand steep mountain to phone for assistance, and as in the case of Pebbly Beach with Medical Doctor and tramper to inspect it then gave a map reference for a mountain disastrous and permanent damage. God all. At the end of considerable coastal top 5 km away. The search involved a spare us from that at beautiful North walking he asked me . where is all helicopter, police and the Volunteer Era, especially as it is directly below and this damage? Rescue Squad for most of whole day. in full view of Governor Games busy Again after my address one night the The moral is why bother going to so tourist lookout. then President of the Bushwalkers much trouble planning a disaster when Uloola Falls is less important as they Federation (name available) summarised there are many bushwalking clubs who can only improve on the previous my talk on the proposed bans, by saying welcome new members? destructive work done there before, this is the thin end of the wedge. Dont get lost, join a bushwalking some years back (1968). This damage Theyve gradually been closing and club. Local residents can contact the they readily suggest was done by never re-opening places in the Royal Confederation of Bushwalkers. Send a bushwalkers and campers, which is National Park for many years. stamped addressed envelope to incorrect. When next Boyd Plateau? Grose Bushwalkers NSW GPO Box 2090 Bans unfortunately have become the Valley? Budawangs? Kosciusko Tops? Its Sydney 1043 and ask for a clubs list or modus operandi of the Park Service. time for angry responses; like the go to www.bushwalking.org.au/ fishermen and surfers did, (with 7am nswpage.html Continued on page 8 ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club opening). Continued from page 7 publics been bluffed. False claims have impact cooking techniques such as fuel Im surprised the large clubs dont been made about damage attributed to us stoves. publicly protest. However like myself and erroneous statistics quoted to Far from being deterred or campers they have gravitated away from the coast support it. I resent this and so feel being barred as suggested, more and to the Blue Mountains and beyond. entitled to criticise back. Is that vitriolic more people are visiting national parks Theyre not safe there though, as the too? every year. An independent visitor service now controls the main entrance Mr Brian Saunders, Cronulla, NSW. survey carried out in National Parks in to the Warrigal Mountains with potential 18/04/01 Sydneys south found that 97 per cent of for insisting you carry a stove and liquid visitors to Royal NP were satisfied with fuel. Its okay perhaps but by 7pm youll their visit. need to be in bed for warmth and a long To encourage people to enjoy our boring night. natural heritage and help visitors find the Well those eighteen year olds on the level of camping they desire, the Service coast may look like amateurs with their has just produced a new brochure K-Mart packs and tents, but clubs should outlining options in more than 70 see them as tomorrows members and national parks, from remote parks R ESPONSE TO LETTER FROM not have them chucked off now. And offering bush camping to busy reserves furthermore, it did once seem a great M R BRIAN SAUNDERS, close to the major population centres idea to have this Parks Service. The main by Brian Gilligan, which offer a range of facilities. Camp- activists who pushed for it were none Director General NPWS ing information is also available on our As a conservation agency the Na- other than the Bushwalkers Federation website, www.npws.nsw.gov.au. tional Parks Wildlife Service (NPWS) with Myles Dunphy and Alan Strom of has a duty to ensure our natural heritage N.P.A as advocates. Well I dont know Dear Editor is managed in a sustainable manner so why they bothered. One of the great and To Frustrated future generations have the opportunity most enduring successes of this Service Reading the summer issue of the to enjoy the bush as much as Mr magazine. I note readers and
8 now after 35 years has been to steadily 8 Saunders so obviously does. exclude traditional bushwalker/camp- contributers frustrations in finding In Sydney, the NPWS works hard to ers, including me. places to go and with shortages of fire balance conservation and the needs of an So you see the irony. Bushwalkers wood at camp sites. ever-growing number of people, local almost entirely influenced these great Having both, a place to go with a residents and international visitors, jobs for Rangers yet their own children camp fire and stacks of firewood, has wanting to visit and enjoy the natural and great grand children are turfed out prompted me to place the ad for Exys environment on the doorstep of Austral- Hut appearing on page17 of this issue
The Bushwalker like ferals. In fact feral deer get a better ias biggest city. Helping hand. go as grass cutters for those charmed Royal National Park receives more life cabins and their privileged lease than three (3) million visitors a year. holders. No question of bans here. Dear Editor, Before the 1994 bushfires the park had So Ron, I noticed no letters to I was at the Kingfisher Pool and to more than 300 bush camping sites that support you so here I am. Are they fair my horror witnessed firsthand the developed on an ad hoc basis, many of dinkum? We now have Service officers degradation by careless visitors. Also, a which were showing signs of serious who are going to teach us Bushwalking. brand spanking new tin toilet had been erosion. But believe me, this is just a way to erected alongside what appeared to be a As part of a Plan of Management for control us, and if we agree then were pile of red designer rubble. If we are the park formalised last year, the Service agreeing weve been naughty boys and encouraging visitors by making it easy is consolidating camping into select areas girls who deserve it . Dont cop this. for them to have a comfortable time it to allow damaged sites to rehabilitate Another gentleman says we are looks like we are also bringing in types and minimise visitor impact in the wider contributing to the degradation of the that are so comfortable they dont care to reserve. Great effort is going into upgrad- National Parks. The hide of him. Not take their own litter with them!! Let ing these sites so everyone can enjoy around my camp friend, but Im ready them suffer, I say. them, however bushwalkers can still for any tour of inspection you care to Cranky enjoy bush camping in neighbouring organise to make your point. Set a date. Dear Editor, Heathcote NP. Yet another tells us that National The park cannot sustain the un- Parks were founded by far sighted people checked collection of firewood by a to protect our unique flora and fauna. Dear Ed., growing number of park visitors. Dead This is incorrect, and ample sources tell I dont see it as a problem to take and fallen timber provides important us Sir John Roberston dedicated it other forms of heating and cooking into a habitat and protection for small native specifically for rest and recreation. national park. This is one of the many mammals. It is also a source of nutrients Any way the real reason was because the situations we have to take on board as as it decays. fragmented valleys and large rivers kept responsible users of the planet. Look at To help conserve the environment, the developers out. They did though it in the same way you do sun cream, ensure visitor comfort, and of course, hack into Heathcote East, Bundeena, gasmasks and checking your boots in reduce potential fire hazards, the NPWS Maianbar etc with no concern for flora England. Come to think of it, with a bit has provided gas and electric barbecues and fauna. of lateral thinking, the parks would have in many parks, including the Royal. In Well I dont offer any agreements provided our sunscreen and gasmasks. all parks, even in remote areas, campers with authorities Ron and Im aware the M.Opus are encouraged to adopt minimum Continued on page 9 Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... NPWS NEWS Continued from page 8 I recently parked my car in the In the last few weeks the NPWS have acquired Lots 1 and Kanangra NP parking space, having 17, Parish Broadmeadows through the Dunphy Wilderness already paid for my overnight stay, and Fund. These two leasehold blocks form part of the high then had to pay for my car park as well! habitat quality old growth areas currently gazetted as When I returned the following after- Chaelundi State Forest. noon, the car had obviously been broken People may remember that this patch of forest was at the into via the now smashed window. I was hub of logging, legal, and parliamentary show downs in the early 1990s. horrified, but there was nothing of value Acquisition means that about 1,400 hectares (Ive yet to get the exact figure for in the car to take. Presumably they also this one) of the State Forest will be revoked for addition to Guy Fawkes River did not want the car itself ( an 88 National Park, and subsequently declared as wilderness. corona) This is additional to the 3,097 ha of Chaelundi further to the east in Chandlers Just thought Id let the readers know Creek catchment, for which the lease was acquired in September 2000. In spite of that there seems to be a problem. I have the continued trashing of so much unprotected habitat elsewhere, I would suggest heard of it happening before. that this small step calls for a moment of positive reflection. Well done to all of the NEFA people and other supporters of the park and wilderness proposals for Chaelundi. John Macris Conservation Rep to Dunphy Fund Reference Group.
I N THE COMING ISSUES THERE WILL BE INTERVIEWS WITH ALL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF C ONFEDERATION BY OUR OFFICE ASSISTANT, JUDY H ELLYER. SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD STSART WITH 9
THE EDITOR. Bushwalker The Judy: So, what is your title in Confederation, and while youre answer- ing that, could you explain what confederation is, please. Colin: Communication Officer. Confederation is the umbrella body that is over the 70 NSW clubs, comprised of 10-11 000 walkers. Confederation doesnt control them, theyre all autonomous, and operate by themselves. Confederation provides insurance, first aid training, as well as anything else they may need. Judy: Right. Why did you decide to give up a portion of your life for this unpaid work? And how did you meet them in the first place? Colin: Through the club I was a member of at the time, the YMCA Bushwalkers, and I saw an ad in the minutes advertising for editor of the magazine. I had always been interested in desktop publishing so decided to put my bushwalking interest and my DTP skills together. Judy: So exactly how many hours a month do you give up for the maga- zine, The Bushwalker? Colin: I worked this out once, about 40-50 hours a month. Judy: What did you do the first time your wife tried to sabotage your web page? Colin: (laughing) she wouldnt know how. Judy: If you were stranded in the Australian bush for two days what would you hope you had remembered to pack? Colin: Food and water. Something to cook it on. Judy: What was that incident again, about Little Marley in the fifties? Colin: Oh yeah, well, a few mates of mine and me, we used to go down to Little Marley on the weekend in the fifties for a weekend of camping as a teenager. An introduction to a love of bushwalking I suppose. Judy: What is your biggest achievement in bushwalking terms? Colin: Oh, The overland Track, I guess and One Day to Mt Victoria to Neats Glen, 27km. Judy: Are there problems associated with being a bushwalker? Colin: No, there isnt. Its just a pastime. Judy: What is your favourite spot of all time to visit Colin: Tasmania Judy: What is your long term goal as editor of the Bushwalker? Colin: Um, to do some good for the bushwalking movement, and to encourage more people to join clubs. Judy: Thanks Colin Colin: Your welcome ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club
V OLUNTEER WORKBY BY MEMBER CLUBS IN NATIONAL PARKS We read quite Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc The Service had provided training by often of Broom Clearing Upper Cotter bush care practitioners Another week- volunteer Catchment 8th Annual Exercise 2000 end is planned for next February. work being 10 members participated , two Great Grose Gorse Walk Members done or attended all eight days. This year GPS have attended in past years and now the proposed by was used to record locations of infesta- club has offered to assist the 2001 walk 4WD clubs tions and changes since last year. Weed Mapping The club has applied o r horse riding Weedbusters Weekend at Blue their navigation and mapping skills to clubs. The Federation of Bushwalking Waterholes (A November Program the accurate mapping of weed infesta- Clubs was established in 1932 by clubs activity) tions from the track head to Breakfast that had worked together to save the A joint club/N.P. staff endeavour, Creek, Blue Gum Forest from development and Ginini Project ( RAMSAR Clean up Australia Walks have been then to make it a more attractive place to wetlands ) Home to the Northern organised. camp, The clubs listed below are among Corroboree Frog those who have continued maintenance A project funded by the National The Coast & Mountain Walkers of work whilst other clubs have concen- Heritage fund to implement key func- NSW Inc trated on the political activity tions of the Management Plan. The Site Clean Up The Club has a policy directed to the expansion of the Na- clubs involvement may include: of removing other peoples rubbish and tional Park estate., We needed and still • Vegetation monitoring using fixed scattering fairy rings around camp need both endeavours and must be fire locations.( In very popular camp thankful to those who have maintained point photography Removal; of juniper seedlings sites , it is considered better to leave one the faith, • marked fire site rather than many originating from Stockyard Arboretum Elsewhere in this edition you will scattered fire scars) About 150 sites are read of our efforts to reestablish Confed- Water monitoring 10 10 • visited p.a. but not all require work. erations role as a facilitator of working • Propagation of snow gum seeds Reporting sightings of pigs, cattle weekends in our National Parks and later planting out etc to NPWS The following information has been Assistance with visitor monitor- Clean Up Australia Days Three in compiled from reports from clubs or • ing. The project is due for completion by recent years at Glenbrook Creek or gleaned from club newsletters. To April 2002 Shoalhaven River. indicate the range of programmed Clean up Weekend at Blue Gum
The Bushwalker activities in NPs. It is known that other Catholic Bushwalking Club Forest in association with Friends of clubs have long standing working Weed Eradication The club has B.G. arrangements with their local NPWS adopted the Carlons property recently Track Work to Folly Point offices, that many individual acquired as part of Blue Mountains NP Morton NP Twice in past five years 6 bushwalkers are active in bush regenera- with the aim of combating the weed volunteers for 2 days each occasion The tion etc. and that others carry and fill infestation which followed Carlons club has adopted some tracks in the garbage bags on day walks abandonment of cattle.grazing Last Budawangs and has regular maintenance February 19 members demolished, weekends. On the most recent occasion Bankstown Bushwalking Club Inc ,internally and externally, a large area of the work done exceeded the Rangers A regular activity is the removal of blackberries near the track head and six expectations accumulated rubbish from the popular months later the results are gratifying. abseil site at Alfords Point in Georges C ONTINUED ON PAGE 11 River NP
&TIGERS T REKKING TEMPLES
W HY NOT TREK WITH MELBOURNE SHERPAS THIS OCTOBER/ N OVEMBER/DECEMBER TO DHUD KHUNDA, EVEREST BASE CAMP, G OKYO LAKES, ANNAPURNA SANCTURY OR ENJOY THE ULTIMATE NEW Y EAR EXPERIENCE TOP OF THE WORLD PARTY? Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 Actively promotes the newly bushcare weekend • One weekend in February last year formed Friends of the Colo The club Narrabri Bushwalking Club Inc saw a CBC party of 19 attack the black- has organised one Colo Walk to survey Some of theTasks of the past five berries along the upper parts of the and treat willows on behalf of the years in co-operation with local NPWS Carlons Creek track, also they mapped Friends of the Colo, and there are plans office: Distributing cactoblastus into much of the weed infestation to help for more such walks in the new year. remote areas infested with prickly pear NPWS with their weed eradication Constructive interest in park • Assisting with landscaping of new • planning. This year a party of 17 got visitor facilities management issues. In particular, stuck into large thickets of Tree of • Documenting historic sites members on remote area bushwalks have Heaven in the same area. been reporting discoveries of rare previously unknown to NPWS Kath Ireland from NPWS Blackheath animals, feral animals, and Aboriginal Documenting Aboriginal sites organised last years attack with the help • sites. If your Clubs work has not been previously unknown to NPWS of several lovely ladies from the Good listed above please ask your club Secre- Bush Company and this year Lyndsay tary to Holme from NPWS Blackheath organ- send ised activities. NPWS supplied all of details to the necessary equipment, herbicide and the bushcare and safety training and CBC Tracks & supplied the willing labour. Access Since last years attack NPWS has Officer received funding for weed spraying in Contact the area and with the help of their details contractor, Duncan, have significantly page 2 expanded upon CBCs work of last year Coastal Track - photo Colin Wood and have given the Blackerries a hiding. However Tree of Heaven infestation • Participating in bio-diversity H ELL FOR THE 11 had, until CBCs attack this year, been Bushwalker The surveys T REE OF HEAVEN largely untouched as it requires hand • Reporting of concentrations of attention. feral animals by Jim Cook Those who walk along Carlons Creek nd • Reporting damage to service The 2 weekend in February saw may be surprised to learn that the two infrastructure members and friends of the Catholic very large groves of Tree of Heaven • Assisting with restoration of Bushwalking Club converge on the (including one very large specimen that historic hut and out buildings Carrying recently acquired NPWS section of the chainsaw kid could not resist) that out a major campaign to eradicate sweet Carlons property in Megalong Valley for have been demolished were bowled over briar from an historic precinct . its (now) annual bushcare weekend. in only one weekend by the small party Carlons (or Green Gully) would be of CBC amateurs. familiar to many Shoalhaven Bushwalkers Inc W HY NOT CONTACT Those club members who walkers who walk in Assisting Shoalhaven Council in attend the (now) annual CBC • the Wild Dog Moun- A LEX & OFFER TO the computer listing of more than half bushcare weekend made it a tains and the upper INCLUDE A BUSHCARE of Councils 150 walking tracks by great social activity and at end of Kanangra Boyd D AY OR WEEKEND ON providing detailed maps and information the same time gave a little National Park as the YOUR WALKS back to our national park. on track conditions and points of interest main access route to Developing a standard report PROGRAMME? There is the annual Great • these areas is through Gorse Walk and we know form and monitoring track conditions Carlons. a few other clubs organise bushcare during programmed walks Adopting a Several years back, using funds activities but there are many other clubs section of the Two Rivers walk by the donated by the Dunphy Foundation, who could help NPWS with this worth- initial clearing along the route and NPWS acquired several of the Carlons while activity. providing annual vegetation trimming blocks with a view to ultimately Alex Tucker, Tracks & Access and other light maintenance gazetting them as part of the Kanangra Officer at Confederation, is trying to Boyd National Park. organise clubs to help with bushcare Springwood Bushwalking Club. Not long after the NPWS purchase activities in national parks and NPWS • Each Clean Up Australia Day, the and following elimination of cattle are planning to appoint bushcare co- club does a clean up in the Glenbrook grazing in the area CBC members noted ordinators to help manage the whole precinct of the Blue Mountains National an explosion of weeds along the upper process. Why not contact Alex and offer Park. reaches of Carlons Creek such that to include a bushcare day or weekend on • Actively promoted the Friends of access along the walking track was your walks programme? This year CBC Blue Gum Forest since the latters almost impassable in places. managed 17 volunteers from a member- inception in 1992, including the annual In response to a request from some ship base of 450 so from the 8,000 or so Great Grose Gorse Walk. Several club club members that the club write to Confederation members a target of 200 members are actively involved in that NPWS and advise them of the weed to 300 should not be unachievable. With program. problem the club decided to go one step those sorts of numbers taking part in further and to not only point out the regular programmes the weeds wont problem but offer to help by organising a stand a chance...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club 12 12 The Bushwalker
L IFESTYLE UNLIMITED ®
C AMPBELLTOWN 2/20 BLAXLAND RD (02) 4627-8288
A ND ALSO AT M OVING SOON TO Caringbah 23 KoonyaCircuit (02) 9542-3688 BIGGER & BETTER LOCATION AT 2 TINDALL ST Erina 201 the Entrance Road (02) 4365-3688 C AMPBELLTOWN Lidcombe 82 Parramatta Road (02) 9647-1488 ( NEXT TO THE RTA
Prospect Shop 7A Homebush Centre(02) 9637-9266 Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Continued from page 1 Ultimately the final parties of walkers will meet in Blue Gum Forest for the final campfire. Teams of Walkers will start from the north and south extremities of the area walking for 2 to 4 days before swapping stories, passing on the campfire coals in their gumnut capsules, and leaving. Each group will be asked to observe the gumtree species along the way hopefully recording all 90 species. A most important feature of the Walk will be the Welcome Campfires at the starts where the local community meets the walkers and regales them with tales and song at a campfire. When I. Saturday 1st September: Start Baerami and Denman II. Saturday 8th September: Start Mittagong III.Saturday 22nd September: Finish Blue Gum Forest Who A bushwalkers walk, for those who walk the land. A celebration with the local communities. Get a team from your club or two clubs and contact Bluegum Pathways who are organising the walk. Each club will be responsible for their own walkers and trans- port. Ideally each group will have a person responsible for: I. Eucalypt ID (we will provide a kit), II. Recording the journey (still images, video, text), 13
III.Relaying info to Walk co-ordinators (sat phone, Bushwalker The GPS, radio) Route The start, finish, and transition sites need to be defined but the actual route between will be up to the walkers just as long as they take 3 days to get from A to B. Some significant places that we hope to include: Yerranderie, Kanangra, Jenolan, Colong, Carlons, Guouogang, Church Ck, Thirlmere, Blue Labyrinth, Scotts, Mobbs, Grose, Wollangambe, Deep Pass, Cameron, Coricudgy, Coriaday, Yengo, Cameron, Rocky, Baal Bone, Blue Gum, and many more. The Organisers The prinicpals are Wyn Jones, Richard Delaney, and Ian Brown. All are Blue Mountains residents with exten- sive experience walking the Mountains, Australia and overseas. They will discuss with you the final route and start dates and coordinate the Gumnut Campfires at the National Park boundary. * Wyn Jones is a former member of the Sydney University Bushwalkers and the Upper Blue Mountains Bushwalking Club and a very experienced bushwalker and canyoneer. Now a freelance poet and musician, he worked for 25 years with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW. During that time he conducted research into the effects of logging on forest wildlife, and many surveys for wildlife in the Blue Mountains. He is the senior name giver and taxonomist of the Wollemi Pine. During 1992 Wyn organised and lead the Greater Blue Mountains Heritage Walk. He lives in Blackheath. Contact Richard Delaney, e mail: [email protected] 47 82 1042 Wyn Jones, PO BOX 60, Blackheath. NSW 2785 Phone: 0247 877 511 e mail: [email protected] Ian Brown: 0247 871420 e mail: [email protected] ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club M APS FOR SALE C OME & CELEBRATE THE CENTENARY
A large number (approximately OF FEDERATION AT BUSHWALKERS 5000) of current 1:25k series maps of B USH DANCE SEPTEMBER 21ST NSW & ACT are for sale at $2-50 each. (Retail price $8-50) PETERSHAM Only some have been superseded by the new 3rd edition series maps. All TOWN proceeds will be going to the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad. H ALL Please email [email protected] to get a list of what maps are available and how to purchase them. To see list of maps go to www.geocities.com/mapsale
S YDNEY HARBOUR Bushwalking in the 1900s D EFENCE LANDS PLACED IN F IVE WEEKS LOST IN THE TASMANIAN BUSH P UBLIC RESERVES by Peter Caldwell, President of NPA Sydney Branch. A BUSHWALKER given up for dead emerged hungry and disorientated today Thanks to the active lobbying by after wandering lost for five weeks in Tasmanias rugged southern wilderness. Defenders of Sydney Harbour Police and searchers had given up hope of finding Victorian Benjamin Maloney, Foreshores, a coalition including NPA 27, who set off on a 12-day trek through Tasmanias South-West National Park on Sydney Branch, many of the amend- March 15. 14 ments to the Sydney14 Police called off the search for Mr Maloney on April 2 in wet and cold weather. Harbour Federation Trust Bill passed But Mr Maloney, from Geelong, was found this morning by campers who said he appeared to be in good health, although disorientated. Ragged-looking and appearing to have lost track of time, he told them he had not eaten for 14 days. Asked later how he had managed his miraculous survival, he simply stated: I wanted to survive. Campers Marcus and Joey Hamilton said a gaunt Mr Maloney wandered into The Bushwalker their camp at South Cape Rivulet at 9am. They then walked with him for more than six hours to Cockle Creek, the last point for road vehicles at the start of the South Coast Track, then drove him to Lune River where he was met by police. Tonight he was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital. Police said he was lucky to be alive. He said he had stumbled onto the South Coast Track sometime yesterday, and in the Senate in June 2000 has now been was heading back to Cockle Creek, Mr Hamilton said. included in the Act passed by the House Myself and my wife walked back to our car with him. Its normally a four-hour of Reps and the Senate in March 2001. walk, it took about six hours. We fed him, and chatted, and established who he The official hand over of these lands to was, he said. He didnt really have a clue how long hed been away, hed lost all the Trust was conducted on Georges sense of time. He said he hadnt eaten for 14 days, he said. Heights on Sunday 18 March. As he was transferred to an ambulance in Dover tonight, Mr Maloney briefly Proposals for the management of spoke to reporters with a message for his family. I love you, he said. these sites will been on public display in His first call to a sister in Nowra was dismissed as a hoax, but another sister, the old Customs House in May/June/ Rosie Murtagh, said the family had received confirmation of his safety. July. Work of the Community Consulta- Were ecstatic, we havent spoken to him but he is on his way to Hobart Hospi- tive Committees continues. tal, she told AAP. The Trust has opened the previous He rang my sister in Nowra and said he was alright, its fantastic, she said. Mr Army Maritime School at the northeast- Maloney was reported overdue on March 28 and an extensive search of the area ern end of Clifton Gardens and the 150m conducted by about 20 police, State Emergency Service personnel and Hobart of road into Middle Head so that one can Walking Club volunteers failed to produce any sign of the missing walker. now walk from Sirius Cove to Middle An aerial reconnaissance also failed to find any trace of the missing man and the Head along the foreshore during the day. search was called off on April 2. Plans are being finalised for walking The full extent of Mr Maloneys condition will not be known until a thorough tracks from the Maritime School up to medical examination is completed at Royal Hobart Hospital, where it is expected he Middle Head road and also through the will arrive later tonight. Mr Maloney had been in the army and had some bush southern end of HMAS Penguin to skills, but he was inexperienced in Tasmanian conditions and was believed to be Balmoral beach. poorly equipped when he set off. Police said the Victorian was not carrying a map, compass or distress beacon and there were doubts that he had enough warm gear for the conditions, which deterio- rated with wet and cold weather during the search period. Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... V ALE: JACK WATSON Andy Macqueen The death occurred recently of Jack In an interview for the Blue Gum Morning Herald of 12 March 2001. Hayward Watson, an early member of Forest Oral History Project, Jack the Rover Rambersthe bushwalking recalled his fond memories of trips in Photo: The first bushwalkers search club formed by Paddy Pallin the Grose and and rescue party. L to R: Tom Herbert, for former Scouts. Jack joined elsewhere. He Jean Trimble, Jack Watson and Paddy the club in 1934 at the age of was able show me Pallin. (Photo courtesy of Jack 18, and was very active until a delightful series Chisolm) he joined the forces in1941. of journals and In 1936 Jack was a member photos from his of the first search party made early walks: like R EPRINTED FROM up of bushwalkers, when a many of his THE BUSHWALKER ANNUAL group of youths were overdue colleagues he was 1945 a meticulous on the Grose River. The event S EARCH & RESCUE brought about the formation of note-taker and BY J. H. WATSON the Federations Search and record-keeper. Rescue section, the first Jack pursued (ROVER RAMBLERS CLUB) volunteer search and rescue a distinguished Not once but on several occasions in service. Jack was active in that life in many other the past eight years has the phone rung section, and also in Federa- L to R: Tom Herbert, Jean Trimble, ways. A lawyer about teatime for members of the Search Jack Watson and Paddy Pallin. (Photo and barrister, he and Rescue Section of the Federation; tions Conservation Bureau, as courtesy of Jack Chisolm) the conservation subcommit- was the NSW lifting the receiver, a familiar voice is tee was then known. Registrar General heard, Hello! Paddy speaking. Theres a During the war years Jack contrib- for 19 years from1958. He worked party overdue; can you get out tomor- uted articles to The Bushwalker. (Jacks tirelessly in several volunteer organisa- row? In every such instance, the Section 15 brother Bill Watson, another enthusias- tions including the Scout movement and has been able to furnish valuable assist- Bushwalker The tic walker, was president of Federation St John Ambulance. More details were ance. during the war.) published in an obituary in the Sydney The need for an efficient organisation Continued on page 16
S UBSCRIBE TO THE BUSHWALKER Keep up with all the news and developments happen- ing within the NSW bushwalking scene for only $6 per year. (This covers posting and handling charges only, the maga- zine is free) Name...... Address...... Postcode...... Do you belong to a bushwalking club? yes/no If yes name of Club...... If NO would you like a copy of our clubs list free. Please tick. Payment can be made by cheque, money order made out to Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs PO Box 2090 GPO Sydney 1043
R ECEIVE THE BUSHWALKER S LAST 19 ISSUES( UPGRADEABLE EACH YEAR) PLUS THIS ISSUE ON CD WITH A BONUS OF THE FIRST ANNUAL PUBLISHED IN 1937 ALSO THE LATEST CLUBS LIST THE BUSHWALKERS CODE AND N ATURAL AREAS POLICY A LL FOR $25 INC P&H Adobe Acrobat 4 Reader included. Send request to Bushwalkers NSW PO Box 2090 Sydney 1043. Payment can be made by cheque or money order to The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW
...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 then move upstream to find a cave scended via Tomah Creek; they in- marked with the names of two of the formed us that the police were taking the for search and rescue work was first missing lads. Nearing Linden Creek we missing youths back to Blackheath, and realised in 1936 following the big Grose heard the planes roaring up the valley gave us notice of an easy way out along River search. A party of four Sydney and attracted their attention; they the spur between Hungerford and hikers had set out over Eight-Hour thought we were the missing party until Porcupine Creeks. We followed this Week-end to journey down the Grose we signalled to the contrary. We route and, after some bother with from Blackheath to Richmond; by the reached Wentworth Creek at midday to bushfires, reached the Bell Road at 1 following Friday grave fears were find that the police had been through the p.m. and followed it to Bilpin for lunch entertained for the safety of the missing same morning. As the afternoon wore and a wash. Thoroughly refreshed, we youths, for whom planes and land parties on lack of sleep on the previous night returned by car to Kurrajong for the train (led by police) were conducting a search. began to exact its toll and we made home.rch and Rescue Section then came Following a meeting of members of the camp at 6.30 p.m. as another plane into being and its first call to take the various walking clubs of the Federation, passed over. We lit a smoky fire to field came in January, 1938, when two convened by Paddy Pallin, an offer was attract attention and on the return hikers were reported missing after their made of a search party to enter the Grose journey the plane dropped four paper failure to return from a hike through the Valley from Faulconbridge. bags to signify that the missing party bush near Heathcote on a Sunday. The Some eleven walkers then caught the had been located. Thereafter chief request for assistance was received at 5 Mudgee Mail as far as Faulconbridge, to interest was in the speediest means of p.m. on Monday and at 4 a.m. Tuesday move off at 12.30 a.m. and stop for the leaving the valley. eight members of the Federated Clubs night at 2.40 a.m. just above the river. We continued upstream on the met at Railway Square to travel by lorry Up again at 5.30 a.m. on the Saturday to Sunday and about 8.30 a.m., beyond to Heathcote. We ate and drank; mean- descend to the Grose for breakfast and Porcupine Creek, we met three while the police and relatives of the bushmen from Bilpin who had de- missing pair had arrived. After consultation, the police and tSht02-81 16 16 noitaredefnoC-ht91 eniagoRrh6ht71 ecnalubmAnhoJ enuJ gniteemlareneg nillapyddaP tsrifaerAetomeR LSRdleifhsA esruocdia tSts12&ht51-41 *RWBht8&ht7 noitaredefnoC-ht71 ecnalubmAnhoJ yluJ secivreSycnegremE gnittemlareneg The Bushwalker tsrifaerAetomeR dleihSvaN LSRdleifhsA esruocdia noitaredefnoC-ht11 noitaredefnoC-ts12 tsuguA lareneGlaunnA gnittemlareneg gniteeM LSRdleifhsA egatireHfotratSts1 launnA-ts12 noitaredefnoC-ht81 fohsinifdn22 &imareaBklaw sreklawhsuB rebmetpeS gnittemlareneg eulBklaWegatireh taht8&namneD ecnadhsuB LSRdleifhsA tseroFmuG gnogattiM llahnwoTmahsreteP noitaredefnoC-ht61 decnavdA-ts12/02 nhoJ.tS-ht82/72 rebotcO gnittemlareneg gniniarTR&S gniniarTdiAtsriF LSRdleifhsA dn2-1&tcOts13 noitaredefnoC-ht02 ecnalubmAnhoJtS rebmevon gnittemlareneg tsrifaerAetomeR LSRdleifhsA esruocdia tS-ht8&dn2-1 noitaredefnoC-ht81 ecnalubmAnhoJ rebmeceD gnittemlareneg tsrifaerAetomeR LSRdleifhsA esruocdia The Remote Area First-aid course is designed to equip those individuals whose interests, activities or employment takes them to isolated areas, with the knowledge and skills necessary to give ongoing care, over a prolonged period of time, to an ill/injured casualty. For enquires contact St John Ambulance N.S.W. (02) 9212-1088. Courses will also be conducted on request for groups of 12 or more.Courses are also available at Bathurst, Castle Hill, Gosford, Lismore, Newcastle, Nowra and Wollongong. To become a member of the Rogaine Association phone 9990-3480 or visit the website at http://rogaine.asn.au The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs represents over 69 clubs and 10,500 walkers in NSW. Visit our website at www.bushwalking.org.au - email [email protected]. Phone (02) 9294-6797 Any member of any club may attend meetings of the Confederation. *BWR Bushwalker Wilderness Rescue Walk Safely - Walk With a Club...... P ROPOSED DOCUMENTARY A SMALL DOSE OF FEAR ON THE BUSHWALKERS by Colin Gibson AN UPDATE My world was reduced to the resonant hum of the heat, Towards the end of last year the The struggle with scrub, determined working of feet. Scripture Union Bushwalkers put My very next step was almost complete ... forward a proposal that Confederation approach a television network to request When, unleashing the threat that the heat had been brewing, the making of a documentary called It seemed the leaf-litter beneath me hissing and spewing The Bushwalkers. As the brown snake spat What the hell are you doing?! The main aims for this proposal is to highlight some of the history, activities Indignant, insulted, it leapt to alert on the ground; and achievements of Confederation and What manner of creature was I that came crashing around affiliated clubs. The showing of the Disturbing the peace with a devil of sound? documentary would hopefully be in 2002 which marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of a Bushwalkers And rearing on its spine, like a dagger it whipped back its head: Federation in NSW. I instinctively halted in the very midst of my tread A documentary, with careful input (For one more step Id be walking with the dead). from Confederation, could highlight such things as: I froze in that instant, I dared not to blink - *minimal impact bushwalking Those fangs could have found their mark in the tenth of a wink; *walk safely, walk with a club We each had a split-of-a-second to think. *historical footage/archival material on clubs For that moment, my fate in the balance, no options were mine *current club activities *special events (eg. annual BWR 17
Transfixed by a force that I could not describe or define, Bushwalker The Like a psychic grip in control of my spine. NavShield The proposal has been enthusiasti- Then, soon as the snake was sure with its will Id complied, cally discussed at each Confederation It dropped to the leaves and spun to one side meeting this year and should soon be And shot through the sticks like a whip at a hide. developed to the point when we can approach a TV network. My companions footsteps crunched up through the bush from behind So far a number of clubs have ex- And the curious question was put to me What did you find? pressed interest in possibly having their Something I said of the slithering kind. activities filmed as part of a doco. The Watagan Wanderers has provided some I stood there: that moment seemed tangible, crystal and clear video footage on their club and to the As the sweat on my brow, with the pulsing of blood in my ear, Canberra Bushwalkers has sent me Cooled with the chill of a small dose of fear. details of a variety of older bushwalking films held in the archives. Thanks to I F YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF COLIN S WORK, HE both clubs. HAS JUST PUBLISHED HIS LATEST BOOK OF BUSHWALKER If you are in a club that also has or knows of some video/film or archival POEMS ENTITLED A WILD BLUE WANDER WRITE TO material on bushwalking that may assist HIM AT 29 EAST PDE FAIRFIELD AND ENCLOSE $16 TO in submitting a documentary proposal, it PURCHASE THIS WORK. would be great to also hear from you. I can be phoned on (02) 9630 3371 (home). S OMEWHERE TO GO Confederation presently has a publicising bushwalking sub-commit- S ECLUDED SLAB HUT IN tee that meets at Ashfield RSL over BUSH. PIONEER STYLE. dinner (from 6.30pm) on the nights of C AMP FIRE. STACKS OF Confederation meetings. New people are welcome to join the sub-committee. WOOD. WALK EVENS A documentary on The C ROWN. THE OLD OBERON- Bushwalkers would present a great T ARANA RAIL LINE, JENOLAN opportunity to spread a positive message C AVES, KANANGRA WALLS. $100 PER NIGHT. about Confederation and member clubs, S LEEPS FOUR PHONE JOHN FOR BROCHURE (02) and to highlight the efforts and achieve- ments of bushwalkers from the past, so 4757-3778 OR GO TO WWW. BLUEMTS. COM. AU/ hope many of you will look at lending your support! Tony Miller Scripture Union Bushwalkers ...... Walk Safely - Walk With a Club
C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 opportunity to check out a new area of bushland. The event is open to members of search and rescue organizations including members of Confederation of Bushwalkers clubs, and members of rogaining associations. So mark the date in your diary, get together a team together and come along to NavShield 2001 for a great weekend of navigation, bushwalking and socialising. For further information on the 2001 NavShield contact the event secretary, John Tonitto by email at [email protected] or by phone on (0427) 455 397, or visit the web site at http://www.bushwalking.org.au/ and click on the NavShield 2001" link. P LEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS, WITHOUT THEM WE COULDN T PRODUCE THIS MAGAZINE.
T REK THE HIMALAYAS OF NEPAL Soft Treks Adventure Treks Cultural Treks Tailored Treks PHONE: (02)9997 7442) email: [email protected] w.w.w.tayloradventure.com 18 B18 USHWALKERS! C OMPARE OUR PRICES H AVE YOUR FAVOURITE HIKING BOOTS We Trade H UGE CAMPING RANGE PROFESSIONALLY RESOLED AND VULCANISED BY N EW, USED & FACTORY SECONDS & Sell QUALIFIED BOOTMAKERS ALL MAJOR BRANDS all Tents NU-TRED 3/12 SALISBURY ROAD B UDGET CAMPING ASQUITH NSW 9677-2828 FAX 887-2850 7 DAYS The Bushwalker P H : 02-9477-3944 FAX 02-9482-1766 C NR GREAT WESTERN HWY & 3/12 SALISBURY ROAD ASQUITH NSW C OLYTON RD MINCHINBURY P H : 02-9477-3944 FAX 02-9482-1766 2770(OPP MC D ONALDS) http://members.tripod.com/~nutred/ P H 1800 810 490
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