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MAGAZINE OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BUSHWALKING CLUBS NSW INC.ISSN 0313 2684 SUMMER EDITION - VOL 29 NO 2 NOVEMBER 2003

www.bushwalking.org.au email [email protected]

On September24, 2003 theNSW Govern-ment an-nounced a far-reachingchange to the

organisation ofthe environment

and ecological conservation agencieswithin the state. By amalgamating theNPWS, the EPA, Royal Botanic Gardensand Resource NSW into a new super-ministry called the Department of Envi-ronment and Conservation under theaegis of the former Minister for theEnvironment, Bob Debus, the governmenthas signalled its intention to tackle thenumerous environmental issues affectingthe state in a coordinated manner. Thereis a Sydney-centric aspect to the inten-tion to foster ties between the newdepartment�s activities and the SydneyCatchment Authority.

O V E R A L L T H I S

C O O R D I N A T I O N I S T H E

P R O M I S E B U T T H E R E A L I T Y

M A Y B E D I F F E R E N T .All of these departments were borne out of

separate issues. The NPWS historically was givena bailiwick to look after the State�s National ParkSystem but not the forestry that was gazetted as aresource to be exploited (e.g. old growth forests). TheEPA came into existence to regulate industry andother human landuses that threatened to destroy ourstate�s biosphere by a �thousand cuts�. ResourceNSW was a department dedicated to the minimisa-tion of waste through the recycling of excess,discarded or used product by any section of thecommunity. The Royal Botanic Garden is a premierresearch institution concentrating on defining thetaxonomy of our endemic and introduced flora andtheir associated antigens and pathogens.

Creating closer ties among these various bodies isto be welcomed. Such an attitude is mirrored in theenthusiastic support given to the announcement bythe peak environmental bodies within the state. Toadd to the kudos generated by the amalgamatingannouncement another governmental fillip wasannounced on October 15, 2003 with the declarationof the end to broadscale landclearing from Januarynext year.

All this is marvellous news for conservation inNSW. But hard-bitten critics such as myself, and I

ABOLITION OF THE NPWS?by Michael Maack Conservation officer On the weekend of 18 / 19 October 2003

Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS)held a training weekend in the Chichester region ofBarrington Tops.

On a windy, cold night in August 1980 a lightplane �VH-MDX�enroute from the Gold Coast toSydney got into difficulties and disappeared in theBarrington Tops area. The plane followed an unusualroute and was poorly tracked in its last movementsas it dramatically lost height along with failure of itsflying control instruments. As such, where this pl

ane disappeared is not exactly known. Therewere many persons who knew the five servingPolice Officers in the aircraft so that there is stillstrong interest in the whereabouts of VH-MDX withmany pet theories of where VH-MDX disappeared.

BWRS has been involved in many searches tofind this plane including the original search,�Operation Barrington�, �Whispering Gully� and the�smell site�. Many other groups have also searchedparts of Barrington Tops. However, for variousreasons central co-ordination of search results hasbeen poor. Finding this plane was always going tobe difficult. The plane could be spread over as littleas 5 to 10 square metres with the engine buried deepin the ground.

A reconsideration of the plane�s last moments andareas searched suggested that a high probably areahad never been sufficiently thoroughly searched. Onthe weekend of October 18 / 19 BWRS did a trainingexercise in line searching around the Mt Nelsonarea. Search teams involved in line searching aimto view every square metre of their search area bycarefully moving in parallel line sweeps. Goodnavigation is required to ensure that is no overlap insweep areas (ie areas viewed twice) nor any

missed areas between the sweeps. Line searching is thus labour / time intensive and dependent on the abilityof personnel to cope with the terrain to be effective. BWRS is always confident that its bushwalkers havethoroughly searched steep, scrubby terrain and is sceptical of other groups who claim faster sweep rates.

Modern search and rescue relies on radio communications. Small numbers of search teams can be veryeffective since they can always be redirected as events unfold in the field. During this weekend BWRScombined with another VRA Squad of radio enthusiasts �CREST� to practice the use of the BWRS HFfrequency and a UHF / VHF radio net via radio repeaters.

Whilst the HF radio network of BWRS has consistently communicated out of rugged country it does requiretime to set up. UHF / VHF radios are compact and quick to use but will not communicate without �line of sight�between radios. Radio relays on high points of buildings and hills can overcome this problem by automaticallyreceiving then retransmitting UHF / VHF radio signals to increase the range and coverage of the UHF / VHFnetwork.

The outcome of this weekend is that the missing plane is still there. Once again, BWRS is confident that itssearch teams have thoroughly searched around Mt Nelson although the area searched was less than we hadplanned. There is still a large area of this high probability crash site for future investigation. The CRESTpersonnel, unlike most other times, could not drive to Mt Nelson so had to decide what level of equipment theycould carry to arrange an effective radio relay. UHF / VHF radio transmissions were mostly good. Therewas good interaction between members of both squads with all members enjoying the training.

More information can always be found at the website. The BWRS website at www.bwrs.org.au hasinformation about Barrington Tops and BWRS history, NavShield, bush safety, training and joining BWRS. TheNSW Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) website at www.rescue.org.au contains a range of generalinformation about the VRA and its affiliates including BWRS and CREST.

detect a note of the same attitude in other environmen-tal group press releases, have tinged the welcomingnote with a slightly perceptible modicum of cynicism.My dampened enthusiasm comes from an experi-ence with merged entities in large industry. Thedifficulties in merging highly bureaucratic departmentsand their attendant systems follows the sameconundrums that plague the private sphere.

The problems reside in the coalescing of highaspect ratio hierarchies. People whose careers werefounded on the institutionalising of bureaucraticoperating systems are forced to discard their life�swork and adopt another set of values and processes.Peter Senge in his book the �Fifth Discipline� tracedthe different attitudes that could be adopted inresponse to a new vision. The linear spectrum ofattitudes ranges from commitment, enrolment, genuineto grudging compliance, to the negative anddestructive attitudes expressed through noncompli-ance and apathy. All these attitudes will operate tovarying degrees and the success of the merger willbe dependent on how well the new board is able toharness the positive to the detriment of the negative. Ithas been my experience that the problems do notreside in the lower levels of the departmentalstructures but among the ranks of managementhierarchy themselves.

Hopefully the overriding personal visions ofproffering a valuable service to the environment willovercome any petty jealousies and power structuremachinations that may be a consequence of thecoalescing of rival organisations. I sincerely hope thatthe officers adopt the cooperative approach as anyother type of approach is a demonstration of a lack ofmaturity. The environment can only be the loser.

I T � S S T I L L T H E R E !

............................................................................................................................Walk Safely - Walk With a Club........................................................................................................................................

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ContributionsContributionsContributionsContributionsContributions, letters to the editor,original cartoons and suggestions arewelcome. They should be sent to theaddress below. Except for short notesor letters, all contributions should beaccompanied with text file on three anda half inch floppy disk in IBM format orE-Mail.Advertising rates Advertising rates Advertising rates Advertising rates Advertising rates (see below) areavailable on request atadvertising@bushwalking.org.auDistributionDistributionDistributionDistributionDistribution is through affiliated clubs,major retail outlets, council informationcentres and national park offices.Address all correspondence toAddress all correspondence toAddress all correspondence toAddress all correspondence toAddress all correspondence to TheEditor, The Bushwalker BushwalkersNSW PO Box 2090 GPO Sydney 2001E-mail [email protected] Confederation of BushwalkingClubs NSW Inc represents approxi-mately 70 clubs with a total membershiparound 11,000 bushwalkers. Formed in1932, the Confederation provides aunited voice on conservation and otherissues, runs training courses for mem-bers, and provides for the public a freewilderness search and rescue service.People interested in joining abushwalking club are invited to write tothe Secretary Bushwalkers NSW at theabove address for information on clubsin their area.Or web site www.bushwalking.org.auPrices for advertisingPrices for advertisingPrices for advertisingPrices for advertisingPrices for advertisingBack cover $515.00 -Full page inside back cover $460.00 -Full page inside $400.00 -Half page $200.00 -Quarter page $105.00Business card size $60.00insert $290.00 +insertioncost approx$175.00.All Prices exclude GSTDeadlines for magazineDeadlines for magazineDeadlines for magazineDeadlines for magazineDeadlines for magazineSummer edition, 2nd week in October-Autumn 2nd week in January - Winter,2nd week in April - Spring, 2nd week inJuly

T H E B U S H W A L K E R

is the magazine of the Confedera-tion of Bushwalking Clubs NSWInc. It's published quarterly. Theaim of the magazine is to providearticles and information of interestto the members of clubs affiliatedwith the Confederation andBushwalkers generally. Any opinionsexpressed by individual authors donot always represent the officialviews of the Confederation.

T H E B U S H W A L K E R

C O M M I T T E E M E M B E R SPresident President President President President - Margaret [email protected] WanderesVice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President - Jim Callaway(02) 9520-7081The Sydney Bush WalkersSecrSecrSecrSecrSecretaretaretaretaretary y y y y [email protected] Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer - Maurice Smith(02) 9587-6325 (h)[email protected] Sydney BushwalkersBushwalkers Wilderness Rescue SquadBushwalkers Wilderness Rescue SquadBushwalkers Wilderness Rescue SquadBushwalkers Wilderness Rescue SquadBushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad(BWRS) President - Keith Maxwell (02)9622-0049 Pager phone 13 22 22 pagerno 6277321 [email protected] Druitt Bushwalking ClubAdvertisingAdvertisingAdvertisingAdvertisingAdvertisingadvertising@bushwalking.org.auConserConserConserConserConservation Ofvation Ofvation Ofvation Ofvation Officer ficer ficer ficer ficer - Michael Maack Ph(02)4757-1083 (h)[email protected] Bushwalkers

Tracks & Access officer Tracks & Access officer Tracks & Access officer Tracks & Access officer Tracks & Access officer -Wilf Hilder [email protected] Sydney Bush WalkersMagazine Editor & CommunicationsMagazine Editor & CommunicationsMagazine Editor & CommunicationsMagazine Editor & CommunicationsMagazine Editor & CommunicationsOfOfOfOfOfficer ficer ficer ficer ficer Colin Wood,Tel (02)6775-9214 (h) [email protected] Bushwalking ClubTraining officer Training officer Training officer Training officer Training officer - Ian [email protected] OfficerInsurance OfficerInsurance OfficerInsurance OfficerInsurance Officer - Margaret [email protected] WanderesAlso Committee membersAlso Committee membersAlso Committee membersAlso Committee membersAlso Committee memberscommittee1@bushwalking,org.auRobyne Hobson committee2@bushwalking,org,auPeter [email protected] Plowman

I N T H I S I S S U EAbolition of The NPWS?...................................................1

It’s Still There!..................................................................1

History of Batemans Bay Bushwalkers Club........................3

“Three Men On A Walk”...................................................4

Walking the Historic Deua..................................................6

Recommendations on Western Arthur Range -

Tasmanian World Heritage Area................................................7

Campaign For Berowra Valley National Park

Gains Momentum..............................................................8

First Aid Training...............................................................9

One Day First Aid..............................................................9

Rescue at Bungonia............................................................9

UPDATE: Status of the Australian Alps Walking Track.........10

Confederation Training Officer...........................................11

Canberra Bushwalkers 40 & Still Going Strong....................13

Confederation‘s President’s Greeting..................................14

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In April, 1985 JeanKenway placed anadvertisement in thelocal newspaper callinga gathering of people�interested in forming abushwalking group� inBatemans Bay. After a

further meeting and trial walks, it wasagreed that a new independent club should be formedin preference to association with an existing organisa-tion. The Batemans Bay Bushwalkers Club wasformed in June, 1985 and incorporated just over twoyears later. It currently has about 160 members.

It is active throughout the year, apart from aChristmas-January break. Two walks are held eachweek and these are alternated between Wednesdayand Saturday and Thursday and Sunday to makethem more widely accessible. General Meetings arelimited to four per year when programs and a shortmagazine are distributed.

With a surround of State Forests, National Parksand beaches, a wide variety of walks are availablereasonably close to the town � mostly within adistance of 50km. Walks range from Easy through toHard and Exploratory. To meet safety and insurancerequirements the Club has developed strict proceduresin planning, approval and leadership of walks. At least1500 walks have been held since the Club was

formed, excluding walks from camps and safari tours.Walk proposal forms include details of route etc.

with map and grid references, and the names of thosewho went on the walk are added on the day.

A computer record of walks has been compiled andis kept updated as an aid to the Walks Organisers andWalk Leaders. The use of GPS location devices hasbeen introduced and included in training programs forwalk leaders.

In addition to the regular day walks, a number ofClub members undertake overnight backpackingexcursions. The Club organises AccommodatedCamps (averaging about two per year) both in NSWand interstate as well as Bush Camps as a base forday walks in other areas.

A more recent development has been our so-calledSafari Tours where a group of members withcaravans, campervans or just tents, drives from onecamping location to another, usually in or adjoining

H I S T O R Y O F B A T E M A N S B A Y B U S H W A L K E R S C L U B

�The granite tors on the top of Mount Dromedary� photo Jill Carpenter

�Bangalow Palms and Cooper�s Tree Fern are at their Southern limit atDurras Mountain� photo by Jill Carpenter

wide variety of rainforest species ranging from sub-tropical and temperate forests, to species morecommonly associated with the high altitude rainforests

of Tasmania.The mountain towers 979 metres over the historic

villages of Tilba Tilba and Central Tilba and it takesaround 5 hours to complete the 11 kilometre returnwalk. From the top there are views of Bermagui andWallaga Lake.

THE CORN TRAILIn June 2002, Len Tompkins, our Walks Organiser

at the time, led a party of seven of our strong walkerson a survey of the historic Corn Trail, which links thetop of Clyde Mountain with Buckenboura River. Ourmembers had previously discovered that the trackwas becoming less and less accessible.

Their detailed and careful survey provided theinformation needed by National Parks and WildlifeService to rehabilitate the track. Suggestions weremade for information shelters, parking, access roads,better signage, distance and track markers, andremoval of trees fallen across the track, all of whichwere located accurately using our GPS.

The Corn Trail is now back on our Walks Programfor the walking pleasure of our members.

Jill Carpenter (Publicity Officer)

Exceptional bushwalking area surrounded byMurramarang National park. Walk alongside

pristine Durras Lake. The Discovery Trail. The beach.Or up to Durras Mountain. Extensive wildlife.

Peace & quiet.Cottages Cabins or Camping.

i n f o @ d u r r a s n o r t h p a r k . c o m . a uP O B o x 4 1 0DURRAS NORTH 2536

Ph : 02 44786072 .

National Parks. This started with an 11,000km SafariTour to Western Australia! Since then there have beentours in South Australia,Victoria, Northern NSW andQueensland and next year agroup is visiting Tasmania.Walking in these more remotelocations greatly extends ourknowledge of our country, isinteresting and sometimeschallenging as some walks arenecessarily �exploratory�.WALKING ON

DURRASMOUNTAINDurras Mountain rises

steeply to an altitude of 285metres from the Pacific Oceanon the South Coast betweenUlladulla and Batemans Bay.Its glorious position inviteswalkers to enjoy various levelsof walks. Easy walks from the car park near its opencleared volcanic summit give marvellous views westacross forests to the Budawang Range includingPigeonhouse. A good medium day walk is a circuit

from either Prettyor Pebbly Beachalong the beachesand rocks then upthrough eucalyptand rainforest tothe summit. Andfor the moreadventurous thereare off-trackscrambles downthe western flankinto gullies withBangalow palmsand Tree-ferns andseveral other sub-tropical rainforestspecies at theirsouthern limit inAustralia. All ofthis makes Durras

Mountain unique.MOUNT DROMEDARYNamed by

Captain Cook in1770, thismountain has theAboriginal nameof Gulaga. Thearea is nowknown as theGulaga FloraReserve and isan importantAboriginal site.

Gulaga is oneof the most uniqueflora reserves inAustralia with a


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The desire to travel by the ordinary means ofconveyance is a natural one, and the progress in themethods of vehicular travel is considerable. Neverthe-less a walking tour is fraught with a great deal ofpleasure to those who have the necessary enthusi-asm. The three wise men of this party thereforedecided on an unconventional holiday by means of awalking tour, from Bombala to Melbourne. Just howmuch of the tour was walked remains to be told.

After a very long drawn out railway journey wearrived at Bombala at mid-day on Saturday, Oct.4th.The day was marred by a vicious wind whichgradually decreased at noon. Thereafter the day wasmost enjoyable, and we spent the remainder of the dayinspecting the historic Monaro town. It is prettilysituated on the Bombala River, which divides the towninto two parts. The business done in the town isconsiderable, as it is the centre of a large pastoraldistrict.

At 6.30am on the following day we commenced ourjourney. The initial stages of the road to Delegate weremarked by an absence of trees. Owing to the pastoralinterests clearing the land of the native gum, there is aconspicuous absence of trees for some miles.

After breakfasting on grilled steak and bread,together with a liberal supply of butter, we werealarmed at the signs of approaching rain. Breakfastwas hastily concluded and we took to the road. Wewere on our way only a few minutes when heavy rainset in. The position was beginning to look seriouswhen a gentleman in a Ford car kindly offered to motorus to Delegate. We gratefully accepted the offer. Later a�lift� was also given to a �real� tramp who was,unfortunately, deaf. The car owner turned out to be theRev. Mr Bradley, Presbyterian Minister of Bombala.He was a real Australian and loved the bush, and thebush folk. He conversed freely with us during the verypleasant drive over the Delegate hills, and enlightenedour party with his well-informed views.

Delegate was reached at 11 am. It was still raining,with every indication of further showers, so we madearrangements for accommodation at the Royal Hotel.After dinner the weather quickly cleared, and brightsunshine greeted our appearance on the hotelverandah. As Delegate held no attraction, being theusual, small, Country Township we decided on startingout for Bendoc, eight miles further on, and in Victorianterritory. Soon we were on the highway which makesin the direction of Mt. Delegate, a towering peak 3000 fthigh overlooking the Delegate district. As weapproached the foot of Mt. Delegate the countrybecame more rugged. Galahs and other birds madetheir appearance in the forest, and the walk was mostinteresting. After skirting the mountain the smoke arisingfrom chimneys in the distance betokened the village ofBendoc, and after an hour�s trip we reached the hotelkept by �Billy� Mustard. Immediately upon our arrivala storm broke over Bendoc and lasted for some time.It was responsible for a torrential downpour and wewere indeed fortunate to escape it. �Billy� Mustard andhis family made us welcome in a homely way andsoon had tea prepared. Later we conversed with thefamily, before a roaring fire, about the district and thenretired a weary but happy band.

Being ahead of schedule we accepted an invitationby an old prospector named Dowling, to explore theneighbouring mountain, Mt. Delegate. The localconstable and his wife also accompanied us, and so

the party set out. The knowledge of the bush displayedby the local members of the party was marvellous.Despite the absence of any signs of a track, we wereled to the pinnacle in a very short time. En route,several rabbits were shot, and much sport resulted inother directions.

The Constable�s wife was an Australian �amazon�.With her hair closely cropped, garbed in semi-masculine clothes, and slung across her shoulders, aWinchester rifle, she presented a truly strongcharacter.

The view from Mt. Delegate is a fine one and takesin the whole of Southern Monaro.

Rising early next morning, Oct 7th, we were soonin the real Gippsland country. Giant trees and thickfoliage were to be seen on every hand. Soon thevalley of the Bonang came into view, and later througha clearing in the trees a remarkable view wasobtained of the whole of the countryside. Toweringaway to the north-west was the snow-capped peak ofKosciusko, with the Snowy Mountains leading up tothis famous mount.

Rain commenced to fall as we reached the BonangRiver. Here we discovered a dray with the machineryfor a gold-mining plant. As alluvial gold exists in thisarea, there are many small plants and quite a numberof individual prospectors.

Hastily we prepared lunch. The menu consistedchiefly of raisins, bread and meat. The whole wasfinished by a draught of tea, and then to the road. Inorder to get the full value of the natural conditionsobtaining, we decided to take the old road to Goone-Gerah.

It was a delightful stretch. Unfrequented for years,vegetation on every hand was gradually overgrowingthe old road, and many stricken trees with immensegirths impeded progress every few hundred yards.

Eventually we reached the newly made road andlater we descended on the hamlet of Goone-Gerah, atired and hungry party. This stretch of 22 miles wasone of the best of the tour. Goone-Garah is apicturesque spot in the mountainous Gippslandcountry. Huge hills surround the small clearings andman seems to hold only a permissive occupancyfrom nature, which holds unlimited power on everyhand.

We lodged, or rather remained at Mrs. Edward�sboarding-house that night. The landlady who was atypically stage type Australian housewife had anobsession concerning influenza. She feared one of ourparty might harbour some dreadful germ on hisperson. After submitting ourselves to a completecross-examination as to our capacity to resist coldsetc. we were granted the privileges of the fire, and itwas here that trouble commenced. Harold Fraserplaced his boots before the glowing flame and left tochange his clothes. The fire burnt so fiercely that,before we had time to realise the danger, seriousdamage occurred to the very necessary boots, byshrivelling the soles beyond repair.

This occasioned a change of plan. The mail coachfrom Delegate to Orbost arrived at 9pm and perforcewe booked seats to Orbost as Harold Fraser waswithout tangible means of support.

At about four in the morning the coach was made

ready, and after a little breakfasting, we commencedour forty mile journey.

The coach needs a little description. Despite itspretentious claim to be called a mail coach truthfulobservers would unhesitatingly dub it a spring cart, forthis is actually its original design. Some few simplealterations transformed it into a passenger vehicle, andso Cobb & Co were perpetuated by this rudeconveyance, travelling regularly between Delegateand Orbost.

The horses kept a fairly good jog trot and soon wewere at the road-makers camp four miles from Goone-Garah. They were engaged in regrading the road andseemed pleased to see us all. A motley crowd theyrepresented several nations including, Italy, U.S.A.,Greece. They were busily engaged drawing theirbreakfast rations from the cook, who presided over afairly well stocked bark hut.

Set in a huge forest with giant gum and mountainash this spot made an impression on the coachpassengers. King Lory parrots, Rosellas, together withGalahs, and smaller mountain birds added to thescene. The presence of the busy road camp seemedto intrude on a natural sanctuary.

From here to Jensons the forest continued inunbroken splendour.

The straight tall gums were a source of continualadmiration. Some beautiful tree ferns also evokedconsiderable delight. At Jensons, a small clearingwedged in a valley, heavily wooded, we made ashort stay. After collecting the mail we proceeded onour journey past the bed of Martin�s Creek and on toSardine Creek. One of the party discovered, uponarrival at this point, that his hat was missing and somepassing travellers reported seeing a felt hat at Jensonsfarm.

After partaking of some refreshment wecontinued our journey on to Orbost through less-wooded country. At about four o�clock we arrived atthe Commonwealth hotel. During the evening wecalled upon the local constable, by name, Simpson. Adecent fellow, he arranged for a constable to retrievethe felt hat, lost on the previous day. He also produceda pair of boots to replace those destroyed by fire atGoone-Garah. Altogether he was a good Samaritan

Orbost, on the Snowy River, 230 miles fromMelbourne is the terminus of the East Gippslandrailway line.

It is a rich agricultural district, and the maize yield isthe finest in Australia.

We left Orbost on the following morning, by goodstrain but not after considerable trouble with the StationMaster, who felt it was stretching a point to allowtravellers on the goods train. We travelled to a pointthree miles from Tostaree in the Guards van. Truly aquaint way of travelling but still very effective.Eventually the train stopped to load sleepers, so wealighted. The engine driver invited us to travel on thetender for a few miles and we jumped up amongst thecoal, so on to just outside Tostaree.

Lunch was arranged for us here. Billy was boiledand raisins produced. The wind however, marred themeal blowing viciously from the south. As soon as ourwants were satisfied we made for Lake Tyers. Such abewildering set of cross roads met our party soon after

�T H R E E M E N O N A W A L K �( F R O M B O M B A L A T O M E L B O U R N E - O C T O B E R 1 9 2 4 )

J.R.Turner 2nd December 1924transcribed by Thais Turner


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our venture into the bush, that it was deemedadvisable to take the Princes Highway to NowaNowa.

We reached Nowa Nowa after a pretty walkof eight miles. Just outside the town we had the goodfortune to hear the bellbirds. The strange, tinkling,sounds are pleasingly musical and strongly resemblesmall silver bells ringing out their delicate notes.

Nowa Nowa we found to be a small strip of landwith a road awkwardly straggling through. A hotel, acouple of stores and some fierce looking timber-gettersgreeted our appearance. We sat down to rest on thehotel stool, outside the dining room. After someargument we decided to remain there for the night. Wehad scarcely made the decision, when a party offootballers arrived at the hotel. Here was a luckysituation. If they would arrange for our conveyance,there was still a chance of reaching Lakes Entrancethat night? So we made overtures to the driver andwere eminently successful. In an hour we had driven-portion of the party travelling the footboard-to Mr.Broome�s Federal House, Lakes Entrance.

Having arrived so early at Lakes Entrance, wewere enabled to stay over the week-end, from Fridaytill Monday morning, at this very fine Victorian seasideresort.

On the first day we crossed the lake and indulgedin some surf- bathing. The afternoon was spent atScone cottage, about five miles from the Entrance.Afternoon tea is served at the cottage, which is built onan elevated point commanding excellent views of thelakes.

The following day the house party, including Sahib,a civil servant from India, Mr. Leslie a leadingtobacconist from Melbourne and Mr. Bastin of Seddon,Melbourne, enjoyed an all day picnic to the TamboRiver. The trip up the river was very much appreci-ated by all, and a halt was made for dinner atMossiface. After dinner drizzling rain set in. Thecombined enthusiasm of Harold Fraser and severalothers in the party failed to avert the chilling influenceof the bad weather.

Sunday was spent in a quiet manner, up till fouro�clock, when an exhibition of aqua-planing was givenby two Sydney visitors. The conditions howeverwere against spectacular displays, and on oneoccasion a serious drowning fatality was narrowlyaverted. Owing to the rope attached to the planebreaking, one of the Sydney visitors was precipitatedinto the lake. His plight was unnoticed for severalminutes but eventually assistance was forthcoming,and he was quickly dragged aboard a launch.

After a very pleasant farewell evening, at whichseveral items were given by members of the walkingparty, preparations were made for an early departureon the morrow.

The boat for Sale duly left the Lakes Entrance wharfat 8 a.m. Several of the party from the houseaccompanied us on our seventy mile trip. It was abright and clear morning and the lakes were seen attheir best. Lake King and Lake Victoria are first metwith. They are similar to our Tuggerah Lakes, perhapslarger in extent. Dinner was served on board and aftersome further steaming through Lake Wellington weentered the Latrobe River. For about three miles thevessel steams up this narrow river prettily borderedby trees of all descriptions. Much life abounds in theriver and many swans, with their pretty cygnets

accompanying them, were met with. The last stage ofthe journey is taken up the Thompson River, whichmeets the Latrobe just outside Sale. At three o�clockwe reached Sale, and as the train left at four thirty, wemade a hasty survey of this important Gippslandcapital town.

Leaving Sale by train, we quickly travelled throughthe rich agricultural districts of Central Gippsland.Arrived at Warrugul at about eight o�clock. We madeseveral enquiries from likely people as to thepossibility of getting to Nerrim South but all to nopurpose. At last one of the party was instructed tointerview the local police constable who was doingduty on the station. He turned out to be the mosteloquent, obliging, and generally diverting man we meton the tour. After some delay, he arranged anintroduction with a Mr. Healy, the licensee of theNerrim South Hotel.

In an hour we were driven out in the direction of theBaw Baw Mountains and were safely lodged with Mr.Healys hotel at Nerrim South. At this stage we foundone of our party getting rather seriously ill. We scouredthe township for a doctor but in vain. Hence a �councilof medicine� decided on the sickly one returning toMelbourne, by train, leaving us to push on per boot.

In the very early morn we started out for Noojee,eight miles distant. A strong head wind retarded ussomewhat and the signs of approaching rain alsoadded to our discomfiture. The road is a good metalledone, and passes through some old established dairyholdings. Away to the North is the mountain region forwhich we were heading. We obtained somenecessary provisions from a local grocer, afterdisturbing all his family from sleep, and then break-fasted behind the butt of an old gum tree. As rain beganto fall lightly we hurried on, and at eleven o�clock weentered the mountain region just outside Noojee. Wedescended into the valley and reached our objective intime for the mid-day meal. Noogee is the terminus of abranch line from Warrugul. It is of very recent origin,and as it depends on the forests for its wealth, thetimber industry is strongly represented. In itsappearance it is strikingly akin to movie towns sonumerous on our film sheets when a small Americancountry town is depicted.

The Latrobe commences its long journey to theGippsland lakes at a point some few miles at the backof Noojee. It courses through the small settlement at avery rapid rate. After partaking of a very homely mealat the local refreshment room we engaged inconversation with several townsmen. Eventually welearned that the Loch Valley timber train was about tostart. We hastily approached the engine driver, a �hardcase� who was only too delighted to offer us a seat onthe top of the week�s supply of oats.

The engine was of the Stephenson period and ranon a very narrow gauge. For eight miles we traversedsome very interesting timber country before arriving atLoch Valley, at the foot of the Baw Baw Mountains.During the course of the trip the couplings broke looseon one of the trucks and the train proceeded separatelyin two different directions. The manner in which theoffending trucks were retrieved created a great deal ofamusement.

After leaving the cluster of timber shanties whichwent to make up Loch Valley hamlet, we followed thetimber tram-line for a further five miles.

Through dense jungle the line proceeded for aboutthree miles and then rapidly ascended. Giant timberwas prominent everywhere. Towards the summit the

undergrowth became less pronounced and finally wearrived at the sawmill. We made ourselves known tothe Engineer who invited us to stay in the tin �humpy�for the night. After a frugal meal we spent some timearound an immense fire and then retired to our bunks.

A fierce storm occurred during the night the lightningand thunder being very disturbing. A heavy fall of rainalso accompanied the storm. The following morningwas very discouraging as rain appeared to have setin. During one of the breaks in the weather we madeoff for McVeigh�s, 14 miles on. The track was fairlyeasy to find, but on account of lack of directions wewere doubtful during the day as to our ultimatedestination.

It was unfortunate we did not happen on goodweather as the walk was a pleasant one. Traversingthe mountain we gradually descended throughavenues of all descriptions of natural growth. Therewere very few signs of animal or bird life till wereached the Yarra on the opposite side of the BawBaws. Our last stage on this part of the journey led usalong the river for some miles and about four o�clockvery tired and damp we dropped our �swags� on theverandah of the very well conducted guest houseknown as �McVeigh�s� Hotel.

The Seymours, who now conduct this establish-ment, proved generous hosts, and in addition toproviding us with a dry rig-out each, entertained us ina very hospitable manner during our brief stay.

In driving rain we departed early the next morningfor Warburton, 22 miles distant. The road in parts isquite good, but after passing McMahon�s Creek, half-way to Warburton, it becomes a veritable quagmire.Settlers are practically isolated as traffic is exceed-ingly difficult and well-nigh impossible.

For the majority of the distance the road followsclosely the Upper Yarra and affords some very fineviews. Owing to the heavy rains the river wasrunning strongly at the time and at some of the sharpbends presented a very animated scene.

The concluding portion of the walk was along thetimber tramway line leading to the Warburton railwaystation. After a mile or so, we crossed the paddockbelonging to the Seventh Day Adventist Society andso on into the progressive mountain resort ofWarburton. After some failure with several boardinghousekeepers we were successful in gettingaccommodation at Ballarat House kept by a Mr.Dunphy. Despite our unconventional and mudstainedappearance we were made welcome. A hot dinnerwas soon prepared and so officially our walking tourhappily ended.

An early departure was made by train on thefollowing morning. Arriving in Melbourne we made forthe �Federal� Hotel. Here a complete change ofgarments took place. We emerged ordinary citizenswith all the marks of the average Australian city-dweller, and passed unnoticed in the busy thorough-fares of the acting capital city.

The following day our party left by the �Zealandia�.It was an uneventful trip but nonetheless delightful. Acalm sea and a beneficient sun welcomed us back toour native city and thus ended a tour that will be longremembered for its diversity of scenery and innumer-able experiences.

This story was given to me by Thais Turner granddaughter of the author, well know member ofBankstown bushwalkers and BWRS (wildernessrescue).

Continued from page 4


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The Deua River uncoils like a serpent froma range of rugged rocky mountains whichwere celebrated in one version of the Manfrom Snowy River poem:�And down by Araluenwhere the stony ridgesraise their torn and ruggedbattlements on high ��

Araluen is a cute townbetween Canberra and theSouth Coast of New SouthWales, famous for goldmining, peach growing,and itself situated in thevalley of a tributary of theDeua.

Araluen and the DeuaValley were settled by whatwe could call the �Horse-back Culture� of the early19th Century. Araluen wenton through a large goldrush to become a normalfarming community withgood road access to theSouthern Tablelands andthe coast.

But the Deua aboveAraluen, because of theruggedness of the rangesand the propensity of theriver to rise more than 40 feet in its frequentfloods, remained accessible only to horse-riders, thus cutting its freehold properties andtheir owners off from the advance of civilisation.

When Deua National Park was proclaimedin the early 1970s, there was left a scattering ofresidents, the sons and daughters of pioneers,still living this horseback lifestyle on largegrazing in-holdings within the park. Theirstories have contributed greatly to the richexperience of walking this scenic and chal-lenging wilderness.

The keystone property, Bendethera, (thelocals pronounce it �Bindithera�) was pur-chased by the NPWS for the park at the pointof gazettal, only a few years after its lastresident owner, Iree McCarron, left bypackhorse for retirement in Moruya.

Bendethera can be accessed by 4WD fromthe Krawaree Road via Braidwood, or from theSugarloaf Road via Moruya, but it is bestwalked to from Khan Yunis via the BendetheraCaves � one system in the 40-cave karstcomplex on the limestone of the escarpment.

This makes for a three-day walk out to theDeua River Road or Araluen itself. On the way

W A L K I N G T H E H I S T O R I C D E U A

down the bridle path along the meanderingriver, the walker passes through several

historic grazingproperties: �Canoolie�, with a bushwalkers� hut;�Alpine�, with a pioneer mud-brick homestead;�Cooranbene� with a cattlemans hut; and�Woola� with a pioneer slab homestead andlarge set of timber cattle yards built by mother-and-daughter pioneers, the Davis�s.

Walking the river involves sections withinDeua National Park, and some on publicroads, but if you intend walking on privateproperty you should check with the owners firstfor permission.

Well into his 90s at the time of the parkgazettal, Manor Mallon, a pioneer of DeuaRiver cattle station �Merricumbene�, claimed tohave witnessed a horse robbery by Ben Hall.Optimistic dating would have made him minus10 at the time, but he may have been speakingfrom the memory of tales he was told as ayoungster. The famous bushranger did steal ahorse from the station as well as robbing theAraluen gold escort.

Within the coil of the Upper Deua lies anisolated property in a valley, which has neverbeen entered by a wheeled vehicle.�Wambandera� is an in-holding purchased foraddition to the park in 1984. It is a natural

Cooranbene hut on the Deua River. photo Roger Fryer

impoundment on the Burra Creek, a tributary ofthe Lower Deua, cut off by the walls of the�Mountains of the Moon� and within which up to200 head of cattle could be held by a mere 15metres of fence across the Burra gorge.

Wambandera�s isolated and secret locationmade it a great hiding place for cattle duffers.Rolfe Boldrewood wrote sections of his book�Robbery Under Arms� while staying at KioraHomestead just downstream of the Burra�sconfluence with the Lower Deua. There is noreason to doubt that he heard of, or traveled toWambandera, and was almost certainlyinfluenced by it as he wrote about �TerribleHollow�, the hiding place of bushrangers, theMarsdens.

In an amazing coincidence, the real CaptainStarlight, who was the model for Boldrewood�s�Captain Moonlight� in the novel, owned aproperty called �Wombanderry�. But theoriginal title deed for Wambandera, with thename written on it, was issued 20 years beforeStarlight�s exploits and the writing of RobberyUnder Arms. Figure that one out.

In keeping with tradition, we will keep theaccess to Wambandera a secret; you�ll haveto work out how to get there yourself!

Other early Australian literary figures wereresidents of Araluen, including the poets HenryKendall, and Charles Harper, who was a goldcommissioner for the rich mining fields. Thetradition continues to this day with writers fromthe region including Judith Wright, RogerMcDonald, Robin Wallace-Crabb, JackieFrench and botanist Val Plumwood, who isfamous for surviving a vicious crocodile attackin the Northern Territory.

Originally open dry schlerophyll forest, theDeua Valley has unfortunately grown quitescrubby since free-range cattle running andregular burn-offs have stopped. Repeatedravaging by high intensity bushfires, whichhave increased in frequency and severityrecently due to climate change, have resultedin coppicing of the ribbon gum and riverpeppermint in many places, while young she-oaks now grow in dense thickets along theriver.But much of the intricate and ruggedvalleys and mountains remain clear andprovide interesting, pleasant and challengingwalking. CMA 1:25,000 map sheets areBendethera, Burrumbela, Araluen andSnowball. See details on the NPWS website:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

Roger writes a regular column for a Graftonnewspaper [email protected]

By Roger Fryer


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E X P E R T S T A F F T H A T REALLY C A R E , K N O W T H E I R S T U F F A N D C A N L I S T E N !F A X 4627 -8277 O P E N 7 D A Y S

O V E R 30 T E N T S O N D I S P L A Y

. .. ..

1500 O U T D O O R M E G A S T O R ESQM

( A C R O S S F R O M B U N N I N G S B E T W E E N

F I T N E S S F I R S T & T H E RTA)

AbsolutelAbsolutelAbsolutelAbsolutelAbsolutely Evy Evy Evy Evy Everererererything Fything Fything Fything Fything Fororororor:::::..Camping Bushwalking Kayaking & Canoeing4WD Touring Inflatables Towables

Abseiling & Rockclimbing

C A M P B E L L T O W N

2/1 TI N D A L L S T CA M P B E L L T O W N

www.greatoutdoorscampbelltown.com.au

Over the last few months the Bushwalking AndTrack Review (BATR) panel set up by the Tasmanianparks and Wildlife service has been considering thefuture of the Western Arthur Range in the TasmanianWorld Heritage Area.

For a number of years there have been dividedopinion on how to bestmanage the impactswalkers have on tracksand the environment.However, the variousstakeholders representingbushwalking, conserva-tion, natural science,tourism and anglinginterests have at lastreached agreement.Bushwalkers have asubstantial presence onthe panel and includerepresentatives from theTasmanian bushwalkingclubs.

A document detailingwhat has been agreedupon will be releasedvery shortly to give interested individuals a say in thefinal outcome. I�ll let you know more about this whenthe report is ready.

Various limits of acceptable change are suggested,accompanied by management actions

depending on the progression of change. For theupper end of the scale the BATR panel is recommend-ing:

· Placing a limit on what are acceptable changes to

the track environment, which if breached will result ina quota being placed on visitor numbers.

· Placing a limit on what is socially acceptable forcampsite occupancy, which if breached will result in

RE C O M M E N D A T I O N S O N WE S T E R N A R T H U R RA N G E -T A S M A N I A N W O R L D HE R I T A G E AR E A

Western Arthurs - photo Geoff Wisewww.wises.com.au/wa.htm

daily departure limits being enforced· Placing a limit on what are acceptable changes to

designated campsite environments, which if breachedwill require campsite hardening.

Funds to repair existing damage to tracks, for theWestern Arthur Range and for other areas that needwork, is unlikely to be sufficient so the panel isrecommending that an overnight walking fee beintroduced, probably in the order of $50 for an adultwho walks throughout the year. This suggestion isconditional on government continuing to preserveexisting levels of funding.

Because the impacts and usage pattern it wasdecided to put forward two choices for the type of trackat each end the mountain range. The central part isrecommend to be kept as a distinct track withmodifications primarily for environmental purposes(T3). However for the western end there is an optionof T3 or of providing generally modified track surfacethat includes hardening to make walking morecomfortable (T2). Whilst for the better preservedeastern section there is potential to keep it as generallyobvious track that may be indistinct in places withminimal modifications and only where unavoidabledue to environmental considerations (T4) or to upgradeto T3.

I would be most interested to here any comments.Anybody interested interested in being kept

informed then please email to [email protected] Peter Franklin

by Peter Franklin


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Local environment groups are mobilising to opposeHornsby Council�s and the NPWS drive for a newJoint Management agreement between Council and theNational Parks and Wildlife Service which wouldinvolve the abolition of the Berowra Valley RegionalPark Trust. The Joint Management Option wasagreed to in principle at a meeting held at HornsbyCouncil in June this year. The local communityenvironment groups see this as a further step towardsincreasing power,control and influence on the part ofHornsby Council on the Management of the Park.NPWS executive staff will not guarantee that aspecial Park Advisory Committee would be estab-lished or that there would be adequate communityconsultation or input on day to day managementdecisions under the joint management option.

Since the Draft Plan of Management is notsufficiently explicit the opportunity exists wherebyunder a joint management agreement in whichHornsby Council has some day to day managementinfluence over the park and where Council may haveconsiderable influence in drafting future POMs, anemphasis could be placed on high impact anddamaging uses. If Hornsby Council is sincere in itsclaims that it is a responsible environmental managerof the Park it will provide human resources andfunding to the Park as a National Park.

If a special Berowra Park Committee wereestablished under a joint management regime HornsbyCouncil would be in a position to select members forthe Committee who were sympathetic to Council�sdrive for high impact use of the Park if the Parkremains a Regional Park.

The Parks impressive Ecology- Undeniably,Regional Park Status is the wrong Category, A MajorAnomaly

§ The Park supports an impressive bio-diversityand there is very little alteration to the Park�s naturalcondition

§ All other Regional Parks in NSW have beenformed from previously cleared and grossly modifiedland.

§ The nearby Lane Cove National Park with onesixth the size of the Berowra Valley Park at 600ha.,has nearly total urban interface,far fewer threatenedspecies,has polluted waters and receives highvisitation impact � and yet is given the status of aNational Park. Why?

§ Size can not be used as a reason for BVRP notbeing given National Park status. The Park is big.

§ Berowra Valley has major water catchmentsignificance.

§ The park contains at least 24 known Aboriginalheritage sites, including artwork, rock engravings,artefacts and habitation sites.

Hornsby Council-Not a suitable Park ManagerThe Draft Plan of Management for the Berowra

Valley Regional Park is about to be placed before theEnvironment Minister for approval. The plan is fairlyresponsible from an environmental perspective in spiteof:

1. the considerable pressure placed on the ParkTrust by Hornsby Council to change the plan in regardto Stringybark Ridge. Council�s Liesure Strategic Planwhich still prioritises the development of sports fieldsand amenities at Stringy Bark Ridge, an ecologically

sensitive area of the Parksurrounded by an endangeredecological forest community andother threatened flora and faunaspecies .

2. the imbalance on the ParkTrust of representation of threeCouncillors, one CouncilExecutive staff member and onlyone NPWS representative

3. the conflict of interestevident where Councillors on theTrust wear two hats

4. Council executive staff hadsignificant input in the selection of

the two community representatives.5. Council has recommended dog walking access

to the entire Park which is contrary to the Draft POMThere are a number of fire trails in bushland areas

outside the park area under Council�s control whichcould be used by dog walkers if adequately super-vised.

The question must be now asked does the NPWSexecutive represents Hornsby Council or theBerowra Valley Regional Park? The NPWSexecutive appears to be compliant and subservient inits dealings with Hornsby Council.

The Draft Plan Of Management is suitable fora Berowra Valley National Park

The Draft Plan could apply to the Park as aNational Park if the reference to dog walking on fourperipheral fire trails is removed and dog walking istotally excluded from the Park. The Park�s vulnerabil-ity will be exacerbated if a Joint ManagementAgreement is entered into with Hornsby Council.

There continues to be a very strong positiveresponse to the community wide petition signingcampaign for National Park status for the BerowraValley Regional Park addressed to the Premierthrough the NSW Legislative Council.

A Regional Park�Serious Dog Abuse�Failure of Parks Service and Council to ActEvidence from recent USA and local studies

indicate that dog faeces and urine are significantcontributors to water pollution through faecal coliformbacteria. There have been a number of problems overthe years with unleashed dogs on walking tracks andfire trails in the Berowra Valley Regional Parkattacking and/or frightening walkers and joggers.

The reports also refer to the fact that increased

nutrients from dog urine and dog faeces encourageexotic weeds along fire trails and walking tracks andenter creeks and could be responsible for the spread ofRoundworm and Giardia. Uncontrolled dogs can anddo chase wildlife often leading to fatalities. Thepresence of numerous dogs causes wildlife to avoidscent marked places and to abandon nesting sites.There have been several reports of wildlife beingattacked,mauled and killed by unleashed dogs in thePark.

The Park is currently suffering a considerableabuse from unleashed dog walking and lack ofadequate surveillance to stop unleashed dog walking.Signs are needed at Park entry points particularly atCherrybrook,Westleigh,Pennant Hills,Hornsby andHornsby Heights warning dog owners of penaltiesincurred if dogs are off lead.

There are numerous instances throughout NSWwhere local council�s assist in funding and/or providein kind resources to their local National Park. AMemorandum of Understanding between HornsbyCouncil and the NPWS could be be signed to assistin a funding /resources program for a future BerowraValley National Park.

The 1999 to 2002 Financial Statements whichaccompany the Berowra Valley Regional Park Trust�s2001 - 2002 Annual Report were not in the view of aformer BVRPark Trustee to an acceptable accountingstandard for a publicly available document. Theformer Trustee stated in a recent letter to the Premierthat they also do not include a proper accounting of themoney expended by Council on the Park and Councilis mistakenly attributing to the Park expenditure on itsStatement of Joint Intent Agreement commitment toclean up Berowra Creek using its CatchmentRemediation Rate levy funds.

A Hansard copy of Ian Cohen�s MLC speech inthe NSW Legislative Chamber on the 25th June �03 isavailable on the campaign for National Park website atwww.berowravalley.org Part of Mr Cohen�sspeech states that��.�The report and statementsshow that in essence the trust(Berowra Valley ParkTrust) is solely funded by the Government, and hasbeen since its inception. The documents show alsothat all of HSC�s documented expenditure on the parkwas recouped from the trust account. So the majorargument for HSC�s active involvement in themanagement of the park�that it makes majorcontributions in money and kind towards the cost ofmanaging the park�is clearly not supported by theevidence. Therefore, there is no financial advantagefor the State Government in Berowra Valley remainingclassified as a regional park.� Mr. Cohen also statesin his speech that��if the truth be known,HornsbyShire Council could be using the Berowra ValleyRegional Park as a cash cow to fund otheractivities in the Shire.�

PLEASE WRITE, EMAIL,FAX NOW TO THEPREMIER THE HON. BOB CARR at LEVEL 40GOVERNOR MACQUARIE TOWER 1 FARRERPLACE SYDNEY 2000. or fax 9228 3935 or [email protected] AND STRONGLY URGEHIM TO DECLARE THE BEROWRA VALLEYREGIONAL PARK A NATIONAL PARK.

C A M P A I G N F O R B E R O W R A V A L L E Y N A T I O N A L P A R K G A I N S M O M E N T U M

Funding: Questionable accounting practises

by Geoff Dowsett for the Redgum Bushland Committee


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H U G E C A M P I N G R A N G E

N E W & U S E D F A C T O R Y

S E C O N D S A L L M A J O R

B R A N D S

C N R G R E A T

W E S T E R N

H W Y &C O L Y T O N R D

M I N C H I N B U R Y

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15% O F F F O R A L L

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B U D G E T C A M P I N G1800-810 -490

COME IN & COMPARE OUR PRICES

W E

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& S E L L

A L L T E N T S

Phone Sydney 9677-2828

A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O H A V E A P I E C E O F H I S T O R Y .THE �BUSHWALKER MAGAZINE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE 1937.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF EVERY

MAGAZINE/NEWSLETTER/ANNUAL PUBLISHED SINCE THAT DATE ON

CD ROM A S PDF I M A G E.SEND $35 INC P&H TO THE CONFEDERATION OF BUSHWALKING CLUBS

NSW PO B O X 2090 GPO S Y D N E Y 2001.READ STORIES BY LEGENDS OF BUSHWALKING . DOT ENGLISH(BUTLER)AS

WELL AS MANY SKETCHES BY DOT. DOROTHY LAWRY, MARIE BYLES, MYLES

AND MILO DUNPHY, HORACE SALMON, GORDON SMITH, ELSE MITCHELL,BERYL THOMPSON. PADDY PALLIN, TED SLOANE & MANY MORE. ALSO

MANY OF THE MODERN AUTHORS OF BUSHWALKING STORIES AND HISTORICALARTICLES. THIS PIECE OF HISTORY THAT HAS TAKEN MANY 100�S OF HOURS

TO PREPARE CAN BE YOURS. BUY ONE FOR YOUR CLUB�S LIBRARY.PRICE FOR BUSHWALKING CLUBS $30

F I R S T A I D T R A I N I N G

A BOX OF BANDAIDSAND A COUPLE OF

ASPROSIf this describes your comprehensive First Aid Kit

then you haven�t done an accredited First Aid courseas offered by Bushwalkers

Wilderness Rescue Squad(BWRS) at specialdiscount rate forbushwalkers. Allconscientious trip leaders

should have at least aSenior St John First Aid

Certificate (or better). FirstAid training is worth having for its ability to

save lives in all sorts of situations (not just forbushwalks).

BWRS will be running another Senior St John FirstAid weekend course on 29th / 30th May, 2004. Thetraining will be 9am to 5pm both days (with the examheld on Sunday afternoon) at Bankstown Sports Club.Training with fellow bushwalkers must be the friendlyway to learn First Aid! BWRS needs to be certain ofpotential trainees so bookings are essential. The(heavily discounted) total cost for the course will be$100. Booking is only possible by sending the fullcourse fee with a stamped self addressed envelopeOR email address (clearly written) to BWRS.

Cheques for the full course fee of $100 must bemade payable to �St John Ambulance� and send to

BWRS SecretaryPO Box 22CANTERBURY 2193Remember that bookings will close with the mail of

the previous Friday � 21st May 2004.Full Details of this First Aid course and future dates

of St John Ambulance Senior First Aid courses can befound at the BWRS website � www.bwrs.org.au

Other Courses- The St John �Remote Area FirstAid� course is a more detailed course that takes either3 or 4 days, often over two weekends. These coursesare run several times per year but not on fixed dates.However, this course is frequently taught mid week.All bookings for these Remote Area First Aid coursesmust be done through the Sydney Office of St JohnAmbulance in Surry Hills � for information on Seniorand Remote Area First Aid courses, seewww.stjohnambulance.com.au

R E S C U E A T B U N G O N I A

Police and ambulance officers have freed a 31-year-old Victorian man trapped for almost 10 hours in acave near Goulburn, south of Sydney. The man, whohas yet to be named, was trapped while caving in theBungonia State Recreation Area. A police spokesmansaid the man was part of a group negotiating a seriesof narrow tunnels within the Acoustic Pot Cave. Heslipped after exiting the final tunnel into a drop-downarea, falling four metres and dislocating his shoulder,the spokesman said. The rescue was complicated bythe small entry to the area where the man fell,requiring Goulburn Police Rescue and specialistparamedics to climb, make an abseil descent thennegotiate tight cave conditions, an ambulancespokesman said. The man was brought to the surfaceshortly before 8pm (AEST), treated at Goulburn BaseHospital and released the next day.

A D V A N C E N O T I C E - O N E D A Y F I R S T A I D

First Aid training is a really useful skill to have for bushwalks. It gives us the confidence to move further intoremote bush areas since we are able to deal with minor medical incidents. Where there are more seriousinjuries we can stabilise the person and send an accurate description of the signs and symptoms to emergencyservices.

Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS) has co-ordinated many First Aid training courses. Byhaving a good Instructor for these courses and a discounted course fee BWRS has made getting First Aidqualified as straight forward as possible.

However there is always room for improvement. What if you could halve the time to requalify for a SeniorSt John Ambulance First Aid Certificate. Now the normal First Aid course is two days. Bushwalkers who holda current (ie unexpired) Senior St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate can requalify in JUST ONE DAYinstead of the usual TWO. More time for bushwalking!

In October 2004 the two day, weekend, First Aid training will be replaced by the ONE DAY REFRESHERcourse to requalify for a Senior St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate. Check your wallet now. Will yourcurrent St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate expire just AFTER October 2004?


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I A N B R O W N

PDF F I L E � W I L D

B L U E � FBW A D V E R T 2

Bushwalkers are advised thatparts of the Australian AlpsWalking Track are CLOSEDfollowing extensive fire damageearlier in the year.

The following table outlinesclosures and expected dates ofre-opening:ACT Section � Fire Effected Area

(east to west)Namadgi National Park Access re-opened by:-

Visitor Centre Tharwa to NSW border Currently OpenNSW Section � Fire Effected Area (east to west)Kosciuszko National Park Access re-opened by:-NSW border to Kiandra (walking on fire trails & tracks only) Currently OpenJagungal Wilderness � Guthega (walking on fire trails only) Currently OpenGuthega � Charlotte Pass (walking on fire trails, roads & tracks only)

Currently OpenCharlotte Pass � Dead Horse Gap Currently OpenPilot Wilderness (walking on fire trails & tracks only) Christmas 03Victorian Section � Fire Effected Area (east to west)

Access re-opened by:-Cowombat Flat to Limestone Creek turnoff 1 December 2003Cowombat Flat Track to Limestone Creek Easter 2004Limestone Creek, Mt Murphy, Buenba Flat Easter 2004

Buenba Flat, Johnnies Top, Benambra Corryong Road Easter 2004Benambra Corryong Rd, Morass Creek, Taylors Crossing, Omeo Hwy

Easter 2004Omeo Hwy, Mt Wills, Long Spur Easter 2004Long Spur, Mt Bogong (subsiduary) 1 December 2003Madisons - Ropers Easter 2004Big River Firetrail - Ropers Hut to Warby Corner 1 December 2003Big River Firetrail � Warby Corner to Watchbed Creek Currently OpenCope Aqueducts, Cope Hut, Pole 333, Youngs Top Currently OpenBasalt Temple, Dibbins Hut, Swindlers Spur Easter 2004Derrick Hut, Hotham, Twins Track Currently OpenTwins-Mt Murray�Mt Murray- Mt Selwyn � Barry Saddle Easter 2004

Victorian Section � Not Burnt (east to west)Barry Saddle to Walhalla (Baw Baw National Park) Currently OpenUsers are urged to stay on formed tracks and trails and not to rely on huts or

markers and signage.For further information visit www.australianalps.ea.gov.au or contact:ACT: Namadgi Visitor Information Centre, phone: 6207 2900NSW: National Parks Centre, phone: 1300 361 967VIC: Parks Victoria Information Centre, phone: 131 963

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 3UPDATE: S T A T U S O F T H E A U S T R A L I A N A L P S

W A L K I N G T R A C K


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C O N F E D E R A T I O N T R A I N I N G O F F I C E R

The new training officer for Confederation is Ian Svenson. Ian has been walkingfor many years. In fact he likes to think that he led his first SBW walk at the age of9 but that¹s probably pushing it a bit! He is currently training officer for the National

Parks Association Sydney Branch.He has been involved in training at a variety of

levels, including a number of years as a high schoolmathematics teacher. He holds a Masters degree inEducation and qualifications in navigation (air and sea ),cartography and surveying. He worked for a number of

years in the Central Mapping Authority as a cartogra-pher drawing topographic maps.

He recently returned from Western Australia where he ran his own publishingbusiness. While there he was both a Fire Control Officer for the local shire and anambulance officer with the local ambulance.

Ian has been impressed with the work done by his predecessors, especiallyPeter Cheetham, in producing the Confederation Training Manuals. He believes,however, that the changed insurance regime means that the time has come torethink Confederation training policy. He says that Confederation may need to movefrom being a training provider to a training facilitator, focussing on leader rather thanactivity training.

He intends inviting club training officers to a round table conference to look at thewhole issue, and hopefully develop a set of basic skills and standards for walksleaders. Confederation¹s role would be to provide a training forum and to help clubtraining officers do their job by supplying materials and certifying leaders in the hopethat our insurers, seeing that we take the issue of training seriously, would bemoved to be more generous in their insurance provisions.

However, he says the bottom line is that the clubs are in charge. He is there toserve them. If they want it he will try to facilitate it.

Machhu Pichhu - Lyn Taylor & Lama

Peru is a fascinating country which is difficult to describe, it is a country of many extremes, ranging from the mountains of the Andes to the vaststeaming Amazon Jungle. All this together with the excitement of the modern cities, ancient cities, tropical beaches, sand blown desert and aqua blueglacial lakes has the making of a wonderful holiday package.

Here at Lyn Taylor�s Adventure Travel we have put together an itinerary that not only suits your budget, butgives you a tour that will satisfy any special interests. We visit the fast dynamic cities of today and the lost but wellpreserved cities of yesterday where you will marvel at the wonderous contrasts. Our trips are planned andoperated by experienced people who not only love this country, but live in it. This is a truly specialised trip whichallows you to decide if you would like to do the full 39 day extended trip or the 32 day option. The departure dateis June 2004 an excellent time to travel in Peru, as the days are crisp and clear. Here are some of the fascinatinghighlights of your trip.

HIGHLIGHTSBuenos Aires/Iguazza Falls/Paracas Peninsula/Nazca Lines/Arequipa/Colca Canyon

Puno/Lake Titicarca/Cuzco/3 Day Inca Trail hike or optional bus to the ruins3 nights in the Amazon Jungle/4 day Hiking in the Mountains of Huaraz or optional day trips from your hotel.

FANTASTIC FALUE $8350Here is what is included for your money

International and Internal Flights/Private and Tourist Bus Transfers/3 star centrally located hotels/All breakfastsand some lunches/all meals on both hikes/all meals and activities in the Amazon/Sheraton Hotel Iguazza Falls/English Speaking Spanish Guide

throughout the tour/local guides whilst in the cities/Australian Group Leader/Small Personalised GroupContact for a more detailed itinerary

L Y N T A Y L O R � S A D V E N T U R E T R A V E L(02) 999 77442

email: [email protected]

L U X U R Y B U S H

R E T R E A T

& N A T U R A L

H E A L T H S P A

High in the Blue Mountains, NSWBordering Blue Mountains & Wollemi National Parks

� Private and peaceful

� Spectacular views

� Comfortable bedrooms + ensuites

� Fabulous food: B&B or all meals

� Local and wilderness guided walks

� Outdoor hot spa and massages

Relax and enjoy top quality and personal hospitality in the stunning�tree-lodge� surrounded by native bush and tranquillity

Tel: 02 6355 2939Email: [email protected]

www.dargansprings.com.au


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E A S T E R 2004 T R A N S P O R TK A T O O M B A T O K A N A G R A W A L L S

D E P A R T S K A T O O M B A A T 7 A M

E A S T E R E X P E R I E N T I A LA t Y a r a a n d o o a M i n i C o n f e r e n c e t h a t

i n c l u d e s 4 d a y s a n d 3 n i g h t s a t a s u p e r bM o u n t a i n R e t r e a t . T o u r s t o S c e n i c N e w

E n g l a n d N . P . B u s h w a l k i n g T r a c k s .M a r s u p i a l T o r c h l i g h t E n c h a n t m e n t

W a l k s . B a c k g r o u n d o n t h ee s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e E n v i r o n m e n tM o v e m e n t . E n d a n g e r e d E c o l o g i c a lC o m m u n i t i e s , n o w a n d t h e f u t u r e .

B u s h w a l k i n g a n d t h e N a t i o n a l P a r k sS e r v i c e . S a t u r d a y N i g h t S h i n d i g . B u s

d e p a r t s S y d n e y 7 a m E a s t e r F r i d a y . $ 1 8 8pp . Four room share $30 . pp . o r $49 pp .twin share . Ca ter ing ava i lable or se l f

c a t e r i n g f a c i l i t i e s . R e s e r v a t i o n sessent ia l . Deta i led info f rom Rober t .

T E L 02 46 833 344 M 0428 819 655N S W W I L D E R N E S S T R A N S I T S E R V I C E

WWW.WILDERNESSTRANSIT.COM.AU

$33.00 p.p.

Y A R A A N D O O

B_ W A L K 1_4 A D A S

PDF F I L E


he Bushw

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In October 2001,CanberraBushwalkingClub reached its40th anniversary,and celebratedthis eventwith aphotographicexhibition held atthe AustralianNational Botanicgardens. Asuperb range ofcoloured and

black and white photos, printed and mounted with theaid of a local heritage grant, allowed present and pastmembers, as well as the general public, to visit someof the wild and wonderful places where our club hasbushwalked, skied, canoed and climbed, over thepast forty years.

The early days of the club were marked byadventure and improvisation, with simple gear andclothing, and often quite rudimentary maps. The firstprogrammed walk was for 3-4 February 1962, upperCotter- Bimberi, an area which is now part of theBimberi wilderness area of Namadgi National Park. Itattracted five walkers. The trip for March 24-25 was atraverse of the Budawangs (grade hard) with separateparties starting from east and west and exchange ofcar transport. The plan to camp together on top of MtRenwick (now Mt Owen) , proved to be hopelesslyoptimistic, as the westbound party pitched camp in thedark in the Valley of the Monoliths and didn�t catch upwith the others till the next morning. They wereprobably one of the first of many such parties from avariety of clubs, that got �bushed� getting through thatterrain. Although the Coast and Mountain Walkers�map was already published, the Budawangs were stillremote and it was not always easy even to find theway from the west to Corang Peak.

The Woila country, east of Cooma, still proves achallenge to bushwalkers. A club member GeoffMosley has described the attempt by a couple ofintrepid walkers to explore what was then virtuallyunknown and unmapped country in the 1960�s. (SeeWild issue 66, Oct-Dec 1997, p42-7)

The club had been formed at apropitious time, led by young andenergetic people who were discoveringthe advantage of living in Canberra, withready access to the Brindabellas,Kosciuszko, the Deua and Tuross region,the Budawangs and the coast. Rockclimbing and orienteering were popularaspects of the club�s program as well.The lack of specialist maps provided achallenge: the orienteering maps usedthen displayed a particular area on a 40times smaller scale than what is availablenow, and gave 50 feet contours ratherthan 5 metres. This no doubt added to thechallenge of the event! The rock climbersmade trips to Bungonia and the granite rocks ofBooroomba in Namadgi. And Mt Coree, a dramaticprofile visible to the west of Canberra, became thescene of some memorable days pioneering routes upits rocky buttresses.

The 1970�s are important in the club annals for majorconservation challenges in both the ACT andKosciuszko. Many individuals and groups includingthe National Parks Association and the CanberraBushwalking Club, the two major conservation groupsof the time, lobbied over many years to create anational park in the southern ACT. Two local Liberalmembers John Haslem and Senator John Knight,wereyoung,enthusias-tic, andkeen toshow theirenviron-mentalcredentialsin whatwasregardedastraditionalLabourterritory.ClubmembersAlan Vidler and Dan Buchler invited them to come asguests of the club on a weekend walk in the Kelly-Gudgenby area (which is now the heart of NamadgiNational Park). The walk proved long and strenuous(it would be graded Long/Rough now) and the twopoliticians must have found it both a challenge and arevelation. When the Namadgi National Park wascreated in 1978 a couple of experienced NPAcampaigners reckoned that that particular trip hadbrought forward the creation of the park by at least 18months.

A notable conservation project that the club initiatedwas a rehabilitation program in severely eroded areasof the Budawangs National Park, in the area aroundMonolith Valley. Other user groups, the CanberraNational Parks Association, Milton NPA and CMW allcarried out subsequent work in the Park as well.

The club continues to be, for many of its 300 or somembers, an enjoyable way of getting out into the

bush, visiting new areas, meeting like minded peopleand expanding one�s physical and mental horizons.The January 2003 bushfires which swept a path ofdestruction through our suburbs and nearby bushland,had a strong impact on the club. One of our longest

C A N B E R R A B U S H W A L K E R S 40 & S T I L L G O I N G S T R O N Gby Jenny Horsfield

President Canberra Bushwalking Club serving members, Gosta Lynga and his wife Pauline,lost their house and all possessions in the fires, andalso many records and equipment that were storedthere as part of their work with a local land care group.Six months after the fire, much of Namagdi remains ablackened devastation, its watercourses choked witheroded soil and ash, though it is very heartening tosee the slow but steady regeneration occurring inmany parts of the park. The club has expressed an

interest in beinginvolved withconservationand restorationwork after thefires. To thisend we willcontinue tomake visits tothe upperCotterCatchmentarea where theclub has beeninvolved in aBroomeradicationprogram for the

past ten years. We hope to also be involved inmonitoring recovery of the Alpine Walking Track,whose whole length has been walked by a number ofclub members.

Our favourite club walks are as many and variedas our members. A day walk that many regards as a�classic� is the climb up Stockyard Spur to Pryor�sHut and from there a climb to Mt Gingera, one of thehighest peaks in the Brindabella range west ofCanberra.

The Namadgi peaks are on our doorstep, so theyform an important and much loved backdrop to muchof our walking.

Pryor�s Hut in the Snow photo - Steven Shaw

Camping under Mt Namadgi - photo Steven shaw

S U B S C R I B E T O T H E

B U S H W A L K E RKeep up with all the news and develop-

ments happening within the NSWbushwalking scene for only $7 per year.(This covers posting and handlingcharges only, the magazine is free)Name............................................Address.....................................................................................................Postcode.............Do you belong to a bushwalking club?yes/no If yes name ofClub............................................................If NO would you like a copy of ourclubs list free. Please tick.Payment can be made by cheque,money order made out to Confedera-tion of Bushwalking Clubs PO Box2090 GPO Sydney 2001


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C A L L I C O M A H i l lwww.calli.com.au(02) 6571 [email protected]

Hunter Valley wilderness eco-retreat cabins. Just 3 hours from Sydney

mountain views

native wildlife

world heritage national parks

rainforest walks

peace and quiet

TWE B U S H W A L K E R

1 /4 A D A S P D F F I L E

T O G O H E R E

Acrobat Document

The Moonan Brook For-estry Cottage is located in thenorth western foothills of theBarrington Tops. Originally theMoonan Brook Public School &residence, the cottage was builtin the late 1800�s to service theeducational needs of a thrivinggold mining community knownas the Denison Diggings. Anideal base-camp for fishing,bushwalking, fossicking, scout-

ing & nature study groups. The cottage is equipped withBBQ�s, electric & fuel stoves, hot showers, open fire-places and sleeps up to 25 people. The Barrington offersthe visitor spectacular scenery and unique flora and faunawith the occasional snow-fall in winter.

Accessible by road from Scone (55km) & Gloucester(90km).

Bookings & EnquiriesPh/fax (02) 6546-3173

also for more informationSFNSW website: www.forest.NSW.gov.au

P U R E T R A I L S

NZ A D

A S PDF

Greetings to all at the beginning of my term as Presidentof Confederation. Unfortunately I was away at the beginningof my term on a trip planned long before I ever thought oftaking up the Presidency. However now I would like to beginmy tasks, & would like to know what Confederation clubswould like from Confederation. One thing important to manyclubs (that is, the majority of clubs who use Confederation�sinsurance) is still the insurance issue & we are still workingaway at that in the current very difficult insurance climate. Atpresent we are obtaining a barrister�s opinion on some ofthe legal issues, & intend to hold an insurance meeting withclubs when this comes through.

However there must be other expectations & issues thatconcern clubs & I am interested to hear about these. Myother main hope is that more clubs would become involvedin Confederation so that we can all work with some enthusi-asm to our common ends. I would like to feel Confederationis relevant to its member clubs, so look forward to hearingyour concerns. I can be contacted by e-mail [email protected] oron 4961 6453. Margaret Covi

C O N F E D E R A T I O N � S

P R E S I D E N T � S

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