EXECUTIVE COAMI flEE

President: ViceP re a: Treasurer: Secretary: Walks Secretary: Social Secretary: Euipment: Editor:

Roporter:

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Canberra Bushwalking Club P.O. Box 160, qanberra City A.c.T 2601

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for July 1969

Newsletter of the Canberra Bashwalking Club Price lOc V01.1 No.11 NEXT GE'tERAL TUESDAY, 15th July 1969 at 8 p.m. in the Meetings LETING: Room, University House, Acton.

Feature: Movie film of Winter Olympics held at Grenoble. Kindly lent by Olympic Tyre Co.

NEXT COIMMITTEE Thursday, 7 August at 7.45 p.m. at Jim Dick's parking lot, NEETING: 39 Hutchins Street, Yarralumla.

Sybil Story, 104 Buxton Street, Deakin. John Hogan, 44/4 Owen Flats, Lyneham. John Holtzapffel, Box 989, Canberra City Mary Carter, 41 Throssell St., Curtin. Jim Collins, 5 Albany Flats, Dominion Circuit, Forrest, Nancy Sutton, 3/354 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson •. 44272 Lee Brown, 85H Kanangra Court, Reid . .496811-66 Jim Dick, 39 Hutchins St, Yarralumla 40477-237

812328 Miep Molijn, 10 Elouera Flats, 90 North- 1 71256 bourne Ave, Braddon 491250

SUB-1 Search & Rescue Convenor Julie ITenry; Harry Black, Robin Miller, COMMITTEES: . Jim Dick and Les Brown.

National Parks: Convenor John Wanless; Noel Semple, Julie Henry, Don Stodart and Peter van der Duys.

BOOKING PROBLEftIS with regard to our meetings room are keeping us on the hop. We hope it is only a temporary dislocation - meanwhile keep a beady eye on the day - Tuesday, 15th this month.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Barbara Graham, Govt. Geological Party, c/o Post Office, St. George, C 1 1and. (For winter months only!)

Carol Helman (Black), .326 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas.7000.

NEWS FROM PAR & NEAR: Chris Waters bezed into our city recently fora few hours reading at the A.N.U. library then back to family responsibilities - recently arrived daughter, Anitra and toddler Daniel Sebastian - at Wollongong. V)arwick & Jeanette Ward spent last week-end here and hoped to go on a day walk with the club. Warwick will once again represent us at "Federation" meetings in Sydney.

SEARCH AND RESCUE PRACTICE - SYDNEY

The New South Wales Federation of BLlshwalking Clubs will hold its annial S. & R. practice on the weekend 19/20 July in the lower Hawkesbury River area near Sydney. As well as the usual search exercise, the program will include parachute rescue by slçrdivers, also search for "lost plane and wandering members from this place who got lost", and lastly rook rescue demonstration by the Sydney rock rescue team. If any club members:can attend please contact. H. Black.

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CLUB DIARY DATE EVENT

JULY

Thesday GENERAL JThETING •- IT'S ON TUESDAY 15

Weekend FEDERATION SEARCH AND RESCUE 19/20

Saturday CAPTAINS FIAT, 19 Visit the old mine ruins etc.

Sunday Ut. TUIRAIiG now located east of 20 the Tinderries

Monday 71ALKS PUNNING !UTING 21 at Jim Collins', Flat 5 A1baty Flats,

Dominion Circuit, Forrest. Thips planned for September-October. ALL WELCOII.

Sunday P.ALERARG PEAK South of the road 27 from Hoskintovm to Braidwood.

AUGUST 1Teekend TMTDERRk CALLP TO ThTDRICK TRIG 2/3 combined walk with C.E.W.

Sunday COLINTON GORGE & TOP FLATS 3 on Nurrumbidgee River near

"Scottdale" property

Sunday Lit. TAYLOR in Woden Valley 10 on the outskirts of town

Sunday CASTLE ROCK on the road to 17 Booroomba homestead. Interesting

rock formations & views of Canberra

Sunday IJOODONG CREEK east of the 24 Big Hole

JULY 1969

GRADE LEADER

TIAP

EASY Elizabeth Bradford

!DIU!.I Dan Captins Fl Buchler Jerangle

MEDIUM Alan Braidwood !loy

IFEDIUM Harry Budawangs Black (C.M.1J.

MEDIUM Kurt Bredbo Cremer

EASY Betty Canberra Garvin

EASY Janet Canberra Bolt

MEDITJH Cynthia Brehney & Bendoura

Karl Si enkowski

NOTE Persons wishing to nominate for outings should do so 2tE22nally by 5.15 p.m. on the THURSDAY preceding the trip, at PADDY PALLIN's shop, Garema Place (above Radio Rentals). During the winter months members are reminded to take adequate warm clothing on ALL outings. Persons wanting to bring dogs mist get permission from the trip le3der.

For the benefit of new members the Club has for hire: 2 tents, 2 sleeping bags and 2 rucksacks. An additional charge is made for equipment not returnedby Wednesday.. Further information from the Walks Secretary, Jim Collins - 72591 ( T i. ).

HIrIA.LAYAN TRIPS at end of the year -- still a few vacancies on Pokhara outing. Details from AUSVENTURE ASSOCIATION, P.O. Box 54, MOSMAN, 1(5W, 2088

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CONSERVATION NOTES

Set out hereunder are Dr. Grahame Edgar's Recommendations to the N.S.W. Minister for Lands following his enquiry on controlled grazing and longer tern leases in the Kosciusko National Park.

"Recommendations:

In consideration of the fact that the losciusko Nation.l Park is the only area of high mountain catchinent on the Australian continent, its preservation as such must be main-tained. This has been emphasised repeatedly by numerous individuals and organisations. A considerable volume of investigation and research has been undertaken by a number of workers. These have covered a variety of disciplipes, notably plant ecolor, the effect of grazing sheep and cattle, and hydrolo'. The cumulative result of these studies has been to show that the summer grazing of Alpine pastures is producing a wide range of erosion effects. The rate of recovery of denuded areas is very slow even when left ungrazed. A policy of continued stonkingiust inevitably create sub- stantial and expensive regeneration problems.

As against this factual situation, the holders of grazing leases undoubtedly have .obtained considerable benefit over the years. The rents for the leases are not high - and on present day values are of little signifi-canceto State revenues. The high country has provided excellent summer agistment over the years to a select band of approximately one hundred stockowners. It has enabled men to graze cows and calves and build up reserves for winter grazing on their home properties. The season, -December to May, is of sufficient length for sheep to fatten. Even during a summer of below average rainfall, sheep return to their home pastures in goOd stOre condition.

The withdrawal of grazing leases above 4500 feet in 1961 has undoubtedly contributed towards the re-establishaent of Alpine herbage, which is the essential factor in the main-tenance of plant cover, without which erosion is a continuing process.

- The Monaro drought of 1966-68 created considerable problems for stockownars, which were relieved by Ministerial

- approval to re-open leases to relieve the position.

Considering all available facts and opinions and the - essential necessity to preserve this area for the nation and

- posterity, it is recommended:- - -

1. That controlled grazing, or any grazing,-. by sheep and cattle should be prohibited within the boundaries of the Kosciusko National Park.

2. This to be effected by reimposition of the embargo on grazing on leases above 4500 feet after 31st May, 1969. -

3, That holders of leases - and permissive occupancies within the Park bouxidaries below 4500 feet be advised that the tenure of their leases will not be extended beyond the existing period.

4. That freehold areas within the Park boundaries be acquired as finance becomes available.

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5. Ebcperience with National Parks in other parts of the world, notably U.S.A., has shown that commercial grazing, eveh with controlled conditions, is incompatible with the preservation of national resources - Action should commence now with the ultimate: aim of terminating grazing as a commercial enterprise within the boundaries of Kosciusko National Park.

6. Amendments of the Act are required to enable impoànding facilities.to be established in several regions within the Park.

7, Illegal grazing cannot be effectively controlled at the present time. Impounded stock have to-be trans-ported to Queanbeyan and the co-operation of live-stock cajEriers is not good.

8. The problem of illegal grazing is likely to persist for some time. Future appointees as Rangers who have.had livestock experience would assist significantly in handling this problem.

9. The Park is traversed by several stock routes and Camping Reserves under the control of three Pastures Protection Boards, namely Coopm, Gundagai and Hume. Endeavours were made to determine the volume of travel-ling stOck using these routes, that is from Travelling Btock. Permit books, but reliable data was not obtained. I formed the opinion that the routes most used were the "Broken Cart" and "Zig Zag" routes. "Broken Cart" route enters the Park at the northern end and extends via Sassafris, Dubbo, Broken Cart, Tin Pot to Rules Point. Another route enters the Park just east of .Greggreg and extends to Rules Point. The Zig Zag route enters the park at Coobragandra and runs via Peppercorn and Yarrangobilly to Rules Point In arriving at a firm recommendation as to the future control of these routes, factual data on the volume of livestock traffic using the routes over the Summer period is essential. This datahas hot been available tome.

10. It is possible that a situation may arise, and I have in mind the foreshores of Blowering Dam, wherethe use of livestock to control plant growth may be in the best interest of Park Management. It is appreóiated that the National Parks Service has no intention of entering the field of livestock production but in theiüterests of Park management this might be desirable. Advice from local Veterina4r and Livestock officers Of the Department of Agriculture might be -sough.. This situation has occurred on more than one occasion during the . lush seasons on Department of Agriculture periment Stations. Dry-sheep were purchased by means of short term loans made available by the Treasury - which invariably yielded a handsome profit to the Treasury. Budgeting for such contingencies is not possi3ie. This is preferable to taking sheep on agistment.

11. The detection of illegal grazing can be facilitated by the use of aircraft. It is suggested that some arrange-ment with Snowy Mountans Authoxity might be explored with the object of obtaining their co-operation to use their airc±aft for this purpose.-

II JULY 1969

12. Measures should be undertaken to reduce the number of brumbies in the southern area of the Park.

13. In some areas of the Park the rabbit population appeared - excessive. Ecolor studies on this subject are being undertaken by 0.5.1.11.0.

14. At the southern end of the Alpine Way blackberries have taken possession of substantial areas. Corrective action to destroy this pest should be undertaken at an early date."

- Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Direbtor, National Parks and Wildlife Service, for permission to publish parts of the Report.

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OF Sill PS AND SHOES

Direction finding from the Southern Cross

(i) Knowing which constellation is the Southern Cross

(ii) A clear night

(iii) Someiinagination.

Join the two stars of the long aiLs and project this line from the foot of the Cross a distance of four times the long axis. The end of this line is approximately the South Celestial Pole. To find South drop a vertical line from this Pole to the Horizon.

- Next month telling the time from the Southern Cross.

" In the bush you may be asked to give instructions for finding some particular spot. If you know the way, don't draw a map on the &ound but on a pieoe of paper and hand it to the inquirer. If possible, in the accompanying written instructions include information which will warn him if he has taken a wrong turning. Do not end with the usual - and incorrect - "You can't miss it." He can. So can you if being given directions. Never trust to memory; write them dovm as they are given. Above everything else, do not rely on the accuracy of any distances given."

- The Bushmati's Handbook - H.A. Lindsay - Jacaranda Press.

LINXS WITH THE, PAST

No. 4 - Aborines in the Southern Tablelands.

The early settlers speak of largenumbers of Aborigines living on the Monaro at the time of first white settlement.

Deputy. Surveyor General Tovthsend in 1846 wrote " The Blacks had visited thb Srowy Mountains, a short time previously to us, for the purpose of getting "Bogongs" a species of moth, about an inch long, of which they are particularly fond; to obtain them they light large fires,

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and the consequence was, the country throughout the whole survey was burnt, leaving my bullocks destitute of food. During the time I was on the range the lower parts of the country were burning, and I. was prevented from, in almost every instance, from getting angles on any diCtant points, by the dense masses of smoke obscuring the horizon in all directions."

This. and other references gave the impression of a fairly considerable Aboriginal population (some camps being said to exceed 500 persons) - yet by 1917 the Monaro Aborigines had become extinct - a victim of white settlement and the persecution and disease brought with it. .1

**-*-3E4****( X X X X

WALKS RflORTS

Mt. Orroral

28 June 1962-

fleven of u.s were on this walk and we left Canberra about half past eight on the Sunday tuonhing - a very cold and fog covered Canberra. However on reaching, the top of Fitz' 5

Hill the fog was left behind and the Weather cOuld not have been better for the rest of, the day. We reached the top of Mt.. Orroral after about an hour and a half of walking. Some of us clambered over the big rocks at the summit to the trig and cairn; others preferred to rest in the warm suns). --ine at the foot of the big rocks. £fter the disappearance of a mutinous grôupfO±'about twenty minutes on the descent the eleven set off back to Canberra about four-thirty.

Karl Sienkowski

Parker's Gp 22 June 1969

Parker's Gap is the name of an incision, used by the Captaint s flat - Braidwood road to cross the Great Divide, locally called the Gourock Range. The area covered by the walk is adjacent to the scene of the great Search and Rescue exercise of May 1969.

The trip was advertised as "Winter Solstice in Tallaganda State Forcst". As soon as nominationd had closed on Thursday night, names of participants started to pour in, and by Sunday morning there were no fewer than 26 of us. Discreet enquiries revealed that the majority had joined in the expectation of ancient and secret pagan rites of midwinter; others had understood the trip had something to do with "rights" and yet others had come along having heard there'd be:some "riots".

When the whole convoy.stopped at the outskirts of Queanbeyah to pick up loudmouthed Bob all other traffic obediently pulled up along the roadside' until'motorists were persuaded by the leader that they were free to move on.. Again thanks to the leader's skilful and circumspect navigation the party found its way through fog patches to Captain's flat, and then on to iarker's.Gap; there a track turns off the road and runs along the top of the range for 11 miles to a point just northof LUZ.: Qowangerong (4469!) where we parked our fleet of cars. ' We then continuOd south alOng the top of.the Divide. Here we were repeatedly booby-trapped by single-strand barbed wire strung only about one foot abpve the ground between trees. Those criss-cressing wires must have been there for some years, as some were well embedded in the supporting tree trunks. Explanations varied between anti-Japanese invasion

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entanglements, traps for catching one-eyed marsupial mice and arrestor wires for mini-saucers landing from outer space.

Deeply mystified we dropped down along a spur over huge logs of fallen timber to Round Mountain Creek. Here a Secessionist Party split from the parent body to climb the western peak of Round Mountain; the rest happily emerged on to Crow Valley Creek Road and continued on to the Forestry Hilt, Generalissimo Black's erst while S & H. H.Q. In due course the dissidents, now sadder but huny, rejoined the fold.

After two miles' walk along the road we followed for a while a disused track sidling up the range, and then through the scrub back to the top and the cars.

Full marks for young Christopher Bradley who negotiated fallen trees that were as thick as he is tall.

Tom Halsey.

- TRAVELLERS' TALES

I am told that many noons ago the Club used to be known as the Canberra Walking and Touring Club. Judging by the wanderlust shown by the present members maybe the "tc'ing" label ougfit to be resuneoted. The two contributions to this column this month are from Kath Clancy and your roving reporter.

fla'telin : Rome

Its rather hard to start writing for "It" - so much has happened since I left Canberra, but a few impressions of walking - Italian-style might be of interest.

The Club Alpino Italiano (CAl) is Italy-wide, and I am a member of the Rome section. (There is also a junior SectionESCAI.) The long weekend trip at the end of May was run jointly and included some unaccompanied children aged from 7 upwards. Generally the numbers on trips seem quite large, 29 being the smallest number I've encountered to date. Next weekend there is the annual outing, either for 11 days or 1 day only, at which members of 40 years' standing will be guests of the Section (transport and hotel costs). Speaking of hotels, on the May long weekend trip we stayed in a 4th class hotel (good food, adequate rooms). Trips where people carry tents, sleeping bags, food etc. seem quite unheard of - sometimes one or another but never the lot

There are a couple of habits whici I find a little startling - there seems to be no idea of carrying rubbish out, or even burying it, after lunch on a trip. Once after lunch the mow alongside was littered with orange peel, papers, tins i bottles, bean pods, etc. Also people tend to pick wildflowers - often as many as they can carry - even in the National Park in Abruzzi of whioh they seem really proud a few gentians were picked. I don't intend to go local in these respects, but can't say much because my Italian isn't yet up to it, and I am a visitor in their country.

I haven't yet seen the Alps, and the Appenines must lack some of their splendour. But now in Spring, at least, I find them quite beautiful. Very soon after leaving Rome you reach the hills, and though there's nuich more evidence in Italy of man's influence over centuries the countryside is a refreshing change from the congestion and noise of Rome. also a limit to how much man can influence mountains.

IT JULY 1969

Trips are usually organized by bus and a stop is made on the return trip to eat pasta and drink vino. There are at least two trips each weekend, and the two?d.ay trips seem to leave after lunch on Satunday (probably because most people work on Saturdays). On one trip there was a group who sang mountain songs beautifully, in harmony. Later I discovered CAT has a choir and if this was a sample Would love to hear it in full voice.

As with walkers everywhere, the members are interested in their surroundings and very friendly and pleasant. As a group they tend to be more noisy perhap, but then they haven't got many birds to listen to I suppose. They are particularly kind to me as a foreigner and insist on mLw trying all their foods (no effort at allt) andare delighted that I can eat pasta with a fork only (chopsticks were good practice). My Italian is not yet up to group-type conversa-tions, but with one or two persons I can enjoy a chat, and of course the practice is excellent. I also have to speak English with a few as they want to get practice too. The age group is most varied literally from 7 to 70.

The first three trips I made were to mountains in the region of Monte Terminillo (the nearest skiing resort to Rome). The first, Monte Pozzoni, (1904 m) was climbed in fine weather to start with, but this then deteriorated to overcast, windy conditions on lots of snow, so that it was extremely cold. No-one climbed the last rocIr peak because of the wind and snow, and we only had a very brief lunch stop. It's hard now to imagine how I felt sitting on a little bare roc1r patch, with snow all around, awkwardly eating a tin of jellied meat clutched in one mitt and using a teaspoon clutched in the other. At times we were Iaiee-deep in snow, and even though I was • told my boots were a little light, they stood up to it well- possibly-because it was too cold for the snow to melt. The views were good lower dovm and the first wildflowers were appearing on the lower slopes. Next Monte Caprino was a steep climb, descending through beoh forests where new leaves were just starting to show. The views on top were wonderful, and we lunched in bright sunshine sitting beside the snow, listening to mountain songs. It was a very short, but most enjoyable walk. Monte Aspra was a longer walk with less snow, more wildflowers and again new leaves. Afterwards we visited an old Abbey in a medieval walled village. Monte Soratte was avery easy trip in a different area, and we went by train and then bus to a small village to start climbing, so not much effort was involved; After lunch We explored some of the nearby rugged limestone outcrops and, bectsé there was much more variety in the vegetation, it seemed more like Australia. Perhaps fortunately for our walking, we missed by a week the annual event at Monte Soratte (which is near the Autostrada north of Rome and rises sharply out of fairly level country) when in the evening piles of brush are lit simultaneously giving the effect that the whole mountain is ablaze.

My only weekend trip to date (i seem to have boen fairly busy settling in) was the long weekend in the Abru.zzi National Park. We left Home about 3 p.m. on Saturday and the scenery was magnificent as we drove on winding roads through the mountains to our hotel at Villetta Barrea. Next morning we got up at 4.30 (actually it was 5.30 by our watches which we'd only changed at midnight to Italian summer hours) to climb. After getting the bus back to the park, we alimbed on tracks up to a rifugio (hut) where an animated discussion ensued as to whether there was too much snow to climb Balzo della Ohiesa (2,055 m.) and finally a decision made to at least look. Most of the party climbed to the top, although there was a lot of snow, but some of the older, younger and less-prepared members visited a waterfall and generally amused themselves. I was told the snow made it much easier in many way, particularly to come down, as when the snow melts itis all loose stones. The views-were wonderful through the whole 360 0 and there was tremendous variety in the wildflowers and other vegetation as well as lots of birds.

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It

Coming down we used a rope in a couple of spots where the snow was steep, and as expected, I lost my footing and went on a glorious slide towards some bushes. kiter that I relied on r' own feet, jumping on my heels and almost skiing at times. After lunch, rather late, we set off by bus to see a lake nearby which has resulted from a dam. On Monday we visited the small zoo and interesting museum at Pescasseroli before climbing Monte Vitelle in a sort of cage-lift. I shared mine with a stupid fellow who had come to the mountains without even a jumper. By the time we got to the top where there was cloud and a strong wind he was almost blue in his short-sleeved shirtl After falling out of the cage, I walked up to the peak and then down the mountain with four others and saw wild strawberry, raspberry and blackberry plants growing in great abundance, due to fruit in July and Au.gust. It was really a most enjoyable trip, but like all th& - others the worst part is coming back to Rome and getting held up in the traffic for long periods.

I could go on and on about Rome itself, which I find fascina-ting to walk in. I like my apartment very much and it' s fairly easy to look after, though I seem to spend a lot of time being domesticated at present. I hope a system eventuates after a while, but perhaps it's really a case of things expanding to fill the space available and I'm not all that busy outside the office. Life has its frustrations here, of course, but this is equally true of Canberra. The worst thing has been the complete dislocation of mails last month with slow-downs and strikes, but this seems to be settling down at least. The traffic is almost unbelievable, and strikes are regular and varied. But I am glad to be here and hope my sense of humour survives the posting.

bhc tcnr€

"Journey to the Centre of Australia" -- A saga of hardships endured, privations suffered and

adversities overcome -im3. the pursuit of adventure, enlightenment and knowledge.

By the time I left the office on a wet Ftiday afternoon at the end of May I was fully convinced that I was setting out on a very hazardous expedition and very thoughtless not even to think of carrying a gun. A few hours later I felt a bit different after having been told that thousands of people do trips to places like Ayers Rock every month and even in cars that look more like bath-tubs ---- I would be better off with King peppermints than a gun. A few weeks later our member in Tennant Creek brought me completely down to size by convincing me that I was a chicken to take the train to go from Port Augusta to Alice.

Janet and I set off in a VI1 loaded up with tomahawks (two, you never know how bogged you can get), sugar bags (idem), spare coils, spades, tents, aluminium pegs which don't go down in the Centre, winter clothes, summer clothes, Sunday bests (in case), plastic overpants (also in case), etc., etc., direction Adelaide on 30th fley. Tie travelled through the very wet and Dutch looking country around the Murray Valley Highway, then went up to Port Augusta where we boarded the train to Alice Springs. We spent eight days around Alice md. four days to, from, over and around Ayers Rock and the Olgas. We got hold of a book with all the legends of the Rook and spent a day trying to visualize it all by exploring all the caves etc. with the book in our hands. Tie then went up to Darwin where we finally arrived just after the long weekend. We sometimes

- had our doubts whether we would ever make it back to Canberra on time to start work again -- the people in the Northern Territoit are so friendly and hospitable that you can't get away, and you just don't want to eitherl We discovered Sunday was by far the best day for travelling as there is open house in every petrol station/postoffice/ local shop/hotel (all in one) you stop at, and the car gets Very

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thirsty on these open roads. David Jenkinson assured us it was only eight hours driving from Pennant Creek to Nount Isa when he saw us off at 9 in the morning but he didn't know that you can't pass frewena without having a rum and a yarn, anyway we did get to fount Isa that day, at 9p;m.

I am fascinated by the Centre, probably because it was so green (best season for 100 years is what they say) you see all sorts of different grasses and bushes varying in colour from yellow green toa turquoise which give aterrific dontrast against the red earth, then there are also lots of trees and a never ending quantity of birds; wherever you stopped they were there, singing away in what is called the desert. 1 also got an enormous kick out of meeting so many people they couldn't care less who you are or what you do, they just like to have a talk with you and will make sure you feel very welcome, they are never in a hurry, why the hurry??

... I. •_ • ..- • .,'' -

While in Darwin, we spent some time with Graham i-Thitelaw in his VIP flat at the hospital, and really got stuck into the oysters he had brought back from his (business) trip to Groote FWland.t. Graham is enjoying his life in Darwin very much but will come to Canberra when we warmup in Jamary on his way to conquer Jagungal.

David Jenkinson we met first at the camping ground in Katherine Gorge when he was on his way back from Darwin where he spent the long weekend. lie went on a very early morning cruise through the Gorge to see the reflections and as you go through just when the sun hits the rock, it was superb. We then were talked into:dding the local walk along the hikers track which was quite enjoyable except for all the snakes we saw. Theowalk ends in the gorge so we had a long swim to recover again. I got a bit of a shock though when somebody thought it necessary to show me what else had been swimming tn the -water- with us, a little crocodile which was at that stage sunbaking... According to them t they are quite harmless and only pester you when you pester

them but I can think of nicer companions. We saw David again when we shot through Pennant Creek with an Eski full (full only when we arrived) of barrainindi "we" had caught in the Daly River - David will be coming down for a flying skiing visit in August so we might see that telemarking grasshopper in action again.

The third bushy we met was John Hyslop and this after chasing him for hundreds of miles he was supposed-to have been in Tennant Creek but we found him not too far from that place frewena recovering from the picnic races at Brunette Downs, a yearly event whic1 lasts for a week and includes an enormous ball whereeverybody is dressed up in - evening dress - they import busloads full of nurses from Alice for the' occasion.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, all' 7.6000 miles of it, and if I had the chance I would love to go back again.

Niep i.iolijn

You can manage without expensive photographic equipment - Just

The envious interest in Cohn Totterdell's fine collection of wildflower close-up slides, aroused in members at a recent Club meeting, prompts me to utter a few words of encouragement to those who can't justify owning Hasselbiads or Leicaflexes even at Hong Kong prices. If you shoot off fully five rolls of film a year, mostly on.landscapes and family groups, it isn't worth investing in several hundred dollars' worth of latest Grandiflex Flikkamatic Special with 56 interchangeable variety lenses, padded headrests and free driver training. The sensible thing is to learn to live with the equipment you have, exploiting its potential, knowing and avoiding its weaknesses. The following few rather simplified rule--of-;thumb notes &en't' for the eyes of professionals or the pundits. But members who own less versatile cameras may feel they'd like to try their talents in a wider field, and at modest expense. It can be done.

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JULY 1969

There are two guiding photographic principles serious photography is hard work; equipment should always be the best you can afford. If all you can afford is a box Brownie and a magnifring glass, interesting close-up pictures can still be produced by stubbornness, care, and some luck. They won't quite be up to professional standard •-- but they won't have cost imch in capital outlay either. Expensive cameras with interchangeable lenses, extension tubes and bellows do make the photographer's life easier. However, makers of most well-known cameras with rangefinder or other ncn--•reflex focussing and even with fixed-focus lenses, market a range of accessories to convert for close--up photography. At a price, of course. In fact only three items are needeth an auxiliary close-up lens; a lens mount to hold it and fit on to the standard camera lens; and a steel tape-measure. A small leather pouch to hold the lens is also useful.

Close--up lenses come in a range of powers, called diQptres; a l-dioptre gives the smallest image on the film; in practice a 5-dioptre is the greatest power which can be comfortably used. As the lenses increase in power, they prevent quite a lot of light from reaching the film, and exposure compensations are called for. In addition, the quality of both the camera lens and the close-up lens is more critical for good rezutts at higher, powerw. For the beginner, a 2---dioti'è Ia -Oóffll round lens. It will produce an acceptable picture of an object down to

• about 2 inches in diameter or several objects •- such as flowers - of about an inch diameter. And it does not cause enough fall -off in light to -require exposure compensation; under normal lighting conditions the latitude of- the- fi-im wtl]r- take care of this problem. The lens mouht thust hold the lens firmly,.cand fit firmly over the camera lens. It is as well to take your camera in for a personal fitting when you go to buy, because lens diameters vary. The carrying pouch should be of a type to slip safely on to the camera strap. The steel tape-measure should be the cheapest, lightest and smallest available in town.

Having invested in the basiq accessories, you cannot race straight out and start recklessy shooting close--ups. You mst first check the distance of sharp focus for your particular camera when equipped with the close--up lens. This is done by clipping on the auxiliary lens and opening the back of the UNLOADED camera. Set the aperture at its lagest opening which is, of course, the lowest f-number, the camera focus on the closest distance, and the shutter speed on Bulb or Time so that the shutter can be held open. If a piece of ground glass is now placed across the back of the camera, where the film would normally be, the image of an object as seen through the lens can be studied. Naturally everyone carries such a useful item, so a thickness or two of airmail writing-paper will give near enough to the same effect. Now aim the camera at a flat, brightly lit object with some detail on it. An image will appear on the airmail ground glass as it would on similarly placed film. The camera nnist be moved back and forth until the image comes into sharpest focus - a distance of the order of 91t_13U between lens and object. The precise distance at sharp focus from the object to some specific point on the camera must be measured and noted carefully. It is the working focal distance for all close-up pictures at minimum camera focus. The whole process can be repeated with the camera lens set on Infinity to give working distance at maximum camera focus; the difference will be quite small. The depth of field (the area of apparant sharp focus) can be checked at various apertures; but at this level of photography it is enough to remember that there are a very few millimeters to spare in fromt of the point of sharpest focus, and a few extra ones behind it. There are fewer to spare at large apertures than at small ones.

- Finally: parallax, or, light travels in a straight line. Uhen an object is correctly centred by viewing through the back of the camera, the image in the viewfinder will, on most 35mm non-reflex cameras, appear. slightly skewed towards one corner; The viewfinder is set above and to one side on the lens, and is actually "seeing" a scene at a slight angle in relation to the lens. This makes very little difference in distant views, but with near objects the angle is more acute; in close--up work it can ruin the most artistic composition. To osti?mate the necessary correction, set the camera firmly, take careful aim through the ground glass writing -paper, and then note the placement of the image in the viewfinder.

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a

-12- IT JULY 1969

It is easy to over-correct, and composing the scene in the viewfinder so that it lines up as wanted at the film plane takes a little practice.

The operating drill for picture--taking is to support the camera firmly, hold the steel tape to measure off the focussing distance, angle the camera correctly against parallax, drop the tape out of sight at the crucial moment, and still have a free finger for the shutter button. It's quite simple when you get used to it. It is wise to try a few dry runs, and then do a training session in the bac1rard with black and white film. Contact prints from 35mm black and white will be adequate to show what improvements, if any, are needed in technique. As I said, it's hard work. But there's also a lot of satisfaction when you manage to come up with something good. ('Did you really take that picture with your Eobsworth Cheapomatic?")

See you at the next Club photographic competition.

'i.e.

TE RFNIDOURA AP-flJNT

On 23 Kay a large number of peo ~"t v ;ered in the depths of the Eendoura forest, near Captain's Flat, for the rurpose of losing and subsequently finding a representative sacple of themselves. It was a dar-ing objective, as the representative sample was quick to note, and the whole operation was probably saved from becoming a serious civil emergency only by the masterly organisation of 1-iarry slack and the presence of mem-bers of the Canberra Civil Defence unit. Yith the assistance of six planes from the Canberra Aero Club, a cube of approximately one by two by ten miles was thoroughly searched for about six hours on the Saturday. On the Sunday a representative of St John's Arbuiance gave a lecture on first aid, pilots from the Aero Club r;aported on their sightings the previous day, and confessions were heard from leaders of the ground search parties. In the afternoon, an intensive search of a small area near the canp yilded M.Cox, A.Ioy, and J.Dick. The hunting season was thereupon declared closed, and people returned to Canberra by a variety of routes.

About fifty persons were involved in the land zutn: uvres on the first day. Club raeabars, who could be identified by their unusual acthods of feeding, accounted for about two thirds of those present. The members of the Civil Defence unit, who accounted for the remaining third, could be identified nainly by their radios and tin helmets. Ten lost parties were placed at specified ia references in the surrounding wilderness, and told to siwulate tents, parkas, fires, persons in distress, persons nct in distress, persons going this and/or that way, and persons who are multiples of them-selves. As night be guessed, some of these acts of simulation involved exhausting and almost ceaseless activity, and it was therefore a great pity that a]saost none of thee were seen from the air - which was their purpose.

Coaunications were poor during the exercise, due probably to the thick timber and rough topography. Yithin minutes of the search parties' departures, all contact with thea, was lost, and was not regained, for prac-tical purposes, until the and of the day. Search EO was thus spared details of the border disputes, lyre-bird sightings, and notional rescues which preoccupied some of the searchers.

On the Saturday evening a capfire, supplemented by twenty four are lights, buc&ets of i.ary Carter Gluhwein, The Great Flack Rendoura Le-caorial Damper, and The Steiger Accordion, produced a lively party which lasted until early on the Sunday riorning.