THE CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB INC. NEWSLETTER it GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 VOLUME 40 December 2004/January 2005 NUMBER 12 PRESIDENT’S ❆ ❇ ❈ ❉ ❊ ❋ ❃ ❄ ❅ ❃ ❄ ❅ ❆ ❇ ❅ ❆ ❆ ❇ ❈ PRATTLE CHRISTMAS The year’s end leads inevitably to PARTY retrospection. Certainly, this year began better than last. At least there 6pm, Sunday were no fires. It has been a good year and our appreciation goes 12 December especially to the leaders on whom the club has depended over the year. At the home of Michelle Weston and Barry Keeley, It takes effort to generate walks – they don’t just happen. 32 Arndell St, Macquarie Roger Edwards was one of the first Fully catered, all you need to leaders I met on joining the club in bring is $15 and drinks 1995. I have done many of his walks P.S. Don’t forget a fold-up chair – and bottle opener! over the years. Roger frequently leads off track – he particularly enjoys ❆ ❇ ❈ ❉ ❊ ❋ ❃ ❄ ❅ ❃ ❄ ❅ ❆ ❇ ❅ ❆ ❆ ❇ ❈ climbing things and exploring rocky outcrops - so his walks are secretary himself, Rob Horsfield. Bay and home. Ross may put more always different and new. I thought Rob, who often co-leads with his coast walks on the program from it quite an achievement last year to wife, Jenny, has a relaxed approach time to time, keep an eye out for take him to a place he had never which masks a superb set of bush them if you like the coast. seen before. Roger started leading skills which are always in play I have immensely enjoyed the club walks in 1990 and has just ticked when we head off on a walk. year, as a participant in walks led over his 100th walk as leader. Horsfield walks also often end with by others, as a leader myself, on scones, and that is popular too. Also in this category is Doug club social activities and as Wright. Doug has been part of this At the other end of the scale, Ross President. Many interesting trip club since its early days and has also Andrews led a superb debut walk reports have appeared in it, stories just lead his 100th walk. Many of from Wasp Head near the of the ambience and beauty of the Doug’s walks are on the coast and Murramarang Resort south along places we have visited and the he seems to have a particular liking the coastline to North Head in mid companionship we have shared. for Nadgee and Mimosa. Doug is also November. It had all the elements And many more just didn’t get into known for his singing and good that make the coast of southern SW writing. nature and he is a life member of so wonderful – sandy beaches, I wish you all a Merry Christmas the club. rocky headlands, cliffs and and a Happy New Year. The third leader to make the ton burrawang forest. After a great day, recently is none other that our walks it was fish and chips at Batemans Stan Marks, President Canberra Bushwalking Club IT December 2004 – page 1 JANUARY “MEETING” Proposed track from National Museum to 6pm Wednesday 19th Uriarra Crossing BYO Barbecue Proposer, Paul Adcock, has a long history of creating and being Black Mountain Peninsula involved in community projects, many of them concerned with the If barbecues are disabled because of the fire situation, environment and all both non- bring a picnic tea and still enjoy the company of friends. commercial and for altruistic purpose. Follow the CBC signs on Garryowen Drive His draft proposal for the above is to be finalised and submitted in March 2005. With the spectre looming The bogong moth arrives in a from the north of urban residential WALKS similar fashion. It’s a pity the bush development coming down to the fly doesn’t aestivate as well. line of the Molonglo between the WAFFLE parkway and Murrumbidgee, his The new year is on the way and I’ve idea is to establish a river corridor been making a list of “might, The walks program over January as a natural resource and including has plenty of day-walks, many mid- should and must do”: walking each a walking track for public access. week, and is thin on weekend trips; weekend with a few days in although Meg’s trip to the Turross between (I wish); another ‘Castle He has reconnoitred the area in detail and intends that as much as will be just the right place to be in by moonlight’ – that was great; Mt possible, that the new track use the the hot weather. Kelly in the snow, maybe with snowshoes this time; I always like existing trails with the addition of I’ve been thinking about those bush Snowy Corner; a quiet section or appropriate signage, and have flies again. Last weekend the back two of the Namadgi; haven’t done intermediate access points at of the pack of the person in front that border walk from Forest Hill Yarramundi Reach and Coppins was totally covered with them. If to Cape Howe yet either; it would Crossing. He says that much work each fly weighed 20 mgm (?) it be best to do the Bibbelmun in is needed to clean the area up both would take 50,000 flies to add an September or October; …….. with regard to rubbish and invasive extra 1 kilogram to one’s load (and plants, like willow and blackberry. you may have read years ago of the In the meantime my best wishes to There are other considerations in Chinese peasant being given a prize members for Christmas and the his draft: preservation, fire security, during one of Mao’s great leaps New Year and good walking. heritage, historic, indigenous and forward, for collecting 4.5 tonnes projected urban residential develop- Rob Horsfield of them!) My rough tally in this ment. For the purpose of keeping this Walks Secretary instance was only a few thousand, article brief they have been omitted. much the same in weight as a Paul is interested in public feedback biscuit perhaps. MEMBERSHIP and would like to know what many There is more culture attached to a MATTERS in CBC think about the idea. bush fly than a biscuit of course: Written opinions can be sent to Rob Horsfield (email or post) and they the Great Australian Salute, the Prospective Members: Mary essential element in every arid will be forwarded to Paul. “Copy” Petocz; Patrica Thornhill; for it would go to Tom Gosling. landscape, the input in the food Rosemary Lott. chain for many animals—insect, Members have the opportunity to spider, reptile, amphibian, fish, New Members: Tracey Rich; Li evaluate the route, first-hand. The bird,… not to mention the Narangoa; Bert Stefaniak; Pauline Walks Secretary has scheduled it in occasional personal accidental Honeyman; Renee Todd; Hugh two parts, as day walks: The Museum ingestion. One book reference Campbell; Jarek Anczewski; to Coppins Crossing on 18 December states that flies can’t survive the Miriam Sikkema. and Coppins to Uriarra Crossing on Canberra winter and that the initial Allan Mikkelsen 8 January. influx is on the wind from the north. Membership Secretary Rob Horsfield Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club IT December 2004 Bushwalking in Timor-Leste Presentation at Monthly Meeting on 17 October At the October monthly meeting Cynthia Burton and Chris Roper talked about a number of bushwalking trips they had undertaken during their two years in Timor- Leste. Cynthia had been posted there to work for AusAid, Australia’s overseas aid agency, and Chris worked with various volunteer groups. The Timorese people, their sad history and the current condition of this most recent modern nation has obviously made a lasting impression on Cynthia and Chris. Timor is the poorest country in Asia and during the Indonesian occupation, thousands of people were killed and many fled to the mountains, where they lived for years. When the Indonesian military forces were ousted after the overwhelming referendum vote for independence, they laid waste to most of the natural, built and cultural resources of the country as they left. All government and private infrastructure has to be rebuilt, from ‘ground-up’ and there are major problems of chronic malnutrition and illiteracy among much of the population. Canberra Bushwalking Club IT December 2004 – page 3 As far as bushwalking in Timor- villagers in their daily life. The lived here through 21 Leste is concerned, Cynthia told us pictures shown were very bombardments and the walkers that local people were constantly reminiscent of part of the Australian came across frequent evidence of bemused, concerned, but always Kimberly, with tall grasses, damage, destruction and death. helpful when Cynthia and Chris, scattered, spindly trees and much There is a long mountain range in together with bushwalking friends, rocky land. this area, with lots of peaks and many spirit houses built of grass approached them for approval to Trees are used to shade the coffee and bamboo are found on small enter mountain areas and to guide crops while clouds often cover the grassy knolls. the party. Access to bushwalking mountain tops. The final approach areas in Timor-Leste is very to the summit was up rough, steep The climb was about 1400 metres, difficult, roads are in poor condition scree slopes with jungle vegetation, with an overnight camp on the way, and there are few places to stay. but this was compensated by the before a dawn assault on the peak. Nonetheless, Cynthia and Chris spectacular views, in fine weather Most of the rock is limestone, found that the local people engaged reaching from one side of the island beautifully ridged and eroded, with as guides for these bushwalking nation to the other.