BANKSTOWN BUSHWALKING CLUB INC.
THE OUTDOORS CLUB THAT DOES IT ALL!
BUSH TELEGRAPH
2010 No. 4
SUMMER 2010-2011
MIRRORBALL MULTI-PITCH ABSEIL TRIP Inside this issue:
By Rick Webber
Mirrorball abseil trip 1
The air was crisp and clean with a hint of
'Spring' and the pale sunshine threatened President‘s Piece 2
to get much warmer, so as I climbed aboard Mirrorball abseil trip 2
my trusty steed I was secretly excited [in a (cont‘d)
scary kind of way] at what the day might
bring. Cape York 3
The ride to Pierces Pass was a pleasant one, Belinda‘s walks 3
very little traffic and a side stop at Black- Sue‘s walks 3
heath for munchies was definitely the go. I
A short walk to Scot- 4
arrived at close to 9:00'ish and met up with land...
Danny, Lynda and Louise. I transferred my
bike gear to Lynda‘s car and we drove Floriade—Canberra 4
down to the Lower Car Park where a few
minutes later we were joined by Kevin and Plastiki hits Australia 5
Debbie. Leader newspaper— 5
After the usual "shall I take this?", "nah won‘t helped by staying out of the way and having RNP 100yrs recalled
need that‖ conversation that always hap- their morning tea.
pens because we have not bothered to fix Humanitarian trip to 5
We all geared up and Danny and I went Nepal
our packs from the last trip, we finally set off
down to set the ropes for the 1st pitch.
for Mirrorball (MB). Club 30th Year Reunion 6
Danny went first to check that the ropes
For those who don‘t know what or where were clear of any obstruction and after a
Mt Keira Ring Track 6
MB is, read on.... MB is a climb in the Grose smooth abseil he landed [gently] and sig-
Valley that can be accessed from Pierces naled that the next victim was OK to go, so New members 6
Pass. (It is also a geocache under the same Louise, Lynda, Debbie, myself and finally
name, [but only uses the lower 2 Rappels]). Kevin rappelled [bringing the safety gear Risk Mngt guidelines 6
It involves 3 long interesting pitches of 50 with him]. This rap is a large flat wall that
Snippets 7
metres [+] each, plenty of exposure and, in every so often offers up a bolt that climbers
the interest of safety that‘s all the info you‘re use whilst climbing this pitch. At the base
getting until you join us on the trip at a later Lynda had been busy taking embarrassing All opinions and recommendations
contained in this magazine are the
date! pics of the others and once her appetite had individual authors‘ alone, and do
The walk-in took us to the top of Walls been sated we wandered along to the next not constitute official endorsement
Lookout where we showed the others ex- rap. by the executive or members of the
Bankstown Bushwalking Club Inc.
actly what they had signed up for, and their The anchor for this had changed since I was
quavering voices gave away the last here with Linda Broschofsky [when we
'excitement' that they all felt about the im- did MB geocache]. The tree was still there, Club email address:
pending trip. and the dodgy backup tree also, but now the
pitch had a couple of U 'staples' and 2 safety bankstownbush@gmail.com
We walked the usual route to the Mid Level
and then ascended the pass that took us to lines for access, a much 'nicer' set up! Postal address:
the Upper Level, a short walk later had us at This rap has a very small landing site a couple PO Box 7061,
the top of the 'gully' that would take us of feet wide [60cms for the younger ones],
down to the cave and the top abseil. As and you have to track left to make sure to Mt. Lewis NSW 2190
Danny set up the safety gear, the others all land well. (Cont‘d on Page 2)
Phone no.: (02) 9773 9141
PAGE 2 BUSH TELEGRAPH
President’s Piece By Belinda Rothery
Hi everyone and welcome to the final Bush Telegraph of Hill, the South Coast and the Northern Rivers to attend this
2010. I hope that everyone has had a great year walking meeting. The one topic that everyone wanted to discuss
with the BBC, I know I have. My thanks go out to all the was how to get new members, and more specifically,
leaders that have put on such great walks this year. younger members. The answer to this appears to be mar-
People are often hesitant about putting a walk on the pro- keting, with the use of the internet and a walks program
gram for the first time but they shouldn't be. If you want to designed to attract a wide range of people. Most clubs
put a walk on the program but are not sure what's involved were unhappy with their websites and some have actually
in being a leader, talk to a management or walks commit- paid for a professional to create them a new site. I think
tee member and they'll be able to help you out. If you are that we have a great site and web presence and I'd like to
really nervous about being in charge of the horde, a more thank Lynda Paju for designing such a great web page for
experienced leader can tag along on your walk and help us for free. The meeting concluded with many recommen-
out if needed. So, if you know of a great walk, why not dations made to the Confederation including the redesign
share it and put it on the program. Of course, the most of their website and for them to undertake more promo-
important thing to know is where the coffee stop is after tional work to raise the awareness in the community of the
the walk! existence of bushwalking clubs in NSW.
On September 25 I attended a Presidents Day organized by Have a safe and fun Christmas and New Year and I hope to
the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW which was see you all at the club Christmas party on 13 December.
attended by about 40 people representing clubs from all
over NSW. People travelled from as far away as Broken
M i r ro r ba l l — A b s e i l i n g (cont’d from Page 1)
We followed the same progression and once all were down
decided to have lunch on what is known as the Pinnacle, it‘s
about 10 metres long by 4 metres wide and has room for
10'ish persons. It has 50 metre drops on all sides and gives
uninterrupted views up and down the valley, a beautiful spot
for lunch! Earlier we had spotted what appeared to be BASE
jumpers, and thought we might be treated to seeing a cou-
ple of jumps, but they must have already jumped by the time
we got there.
The next pitch is down to the left of the Pinnacle [facing the
cliff] and descends between the Pinnacle and the cliff face in The intrepid abseilers enjoying the exposure of Mirrorball!
a slot that is wide enough to abseil with your pack on. It
gives a great pic down the valley framed by the slot [you just
have to remember to lock off and take it!]. We all descended
and after retrieving the ropes and having a quick snack and
drink we headed off on the
‗interesting‘ walk out, this is
along the base of the cliffs …..uninterrupted views up and down
down steep slippery tracks the valley, a beautiful spot for lunch!
that disappear, over rock
falls, through ‗downed
trees‘ and eventually along the BASE jumpers exit track. [This
leads down to the Hungerford Track that exits via Pierces
Pass]. Once we had all made it safely back we packed up and
said our farewells and headed our different ways home.
The trip was a full day event that gave fantastic views, great
abseils, great company and a warm and sunny day. The trip
took 6.5 hrs, very easy paced with 6 experienced abseilers.
Pictures of the trip can be viewed at the following:
http://picasaweb.google.com/webberrt/
MirrorballAbseilTripBBC#
http://picasaweb.google.com/weathergddess/
Mirrorball29August2010#
NO. 4 2010 SUMMER PAGE 3
Cape York July 2010 By LYN mcmillan
We, Lyn and Ron McMillan, joined Vicki Bell in Cairns, for an ern-most part of mainland Australia. When we did get there,
Outback Track Tours trip to the tip of Cape York and return. so did many others. It was like Mt. Kosciuszko on Australia
Day. We had to take our turn to get a photo, and before the
On 4 July 2010, 19 people left Cairns on the 12 day trip. We
tide came in. Some of us walked or scrambled to the tip, oth-
had Phil and Klara Buckley as our driver and cook, and they
ers took a free ride offered by some motor bikes. They trav-
proved to be very worthy of the praise we had heard. Phil
was an excellent driver and mechanic, and Klara always elled in style, didn‘t even get their feet wet.
managed to present us with a lovely meal. Even in wind Whilst we were at the top we also went to Thursday Island
and rain or any other extreme condition that can play and Horn Island for a tour and lunch. It was quite interesting
havoc with an open air gas stove. to learn that Horn Island, with an airstrip, was a key target in
the war. It was bravely defended by the local troops with evi-
Phil and Klara shared with us their vast experience of the
dence still existing in the form of slit trenches used to shelter
northern-most part of Australia, and this added to our ap-
preciation of the country, the sights and the challenges that from the 6 air attacks they endured.
form part of everyday life for the people who live in this part After the Outback Tracks trip, we spent a few days in Cairns to
of our country. wash and sightsee. Kayaking, snorkelling, the Skyway and
The bus only had 19 seats, so the trip was very cosy. Ron set Kuranda railway were on the agenda and very worthwhile.
up a seat rotation system that meant everybody had a fair Our trip to Cairns took us through outback Queensland, in-
share of the best and worst seats on the bus. We camped in cluding Winton, Richmond, Hughenden, Lawn Hill and Ka-
tents, with stretchers and foam mattresses, so this meant rumba. We saw lots of dinosaur evidence as well as spectacu-
that we were off the ground, and when it rained we were lar sights in Porcupine and Lawn Hill gorges. Everywhere we
high and dry. This was supposed to be the dry season, and I went it was very busy. At Winton the caravan park was
suppose compared to the wet season, it was dry. However it booked out 2 days ahead, not even a tent site was available.
did rain every day, sometimes just a slight shower, but none Everywhere in northern Queensland was popular, and every
the less it did rain, enough for us to get out of bed to close day we were joined in our travels by many other tourists es-
the windows on more than one occasion. caping the cold winter. It was a surprise to hear on the news
that there were claims Queensland was suffering from a drop
The first night at Cooktown set the scene. It rained quite
in tourism.
seriously and this meant that putting up the tent for the first
time was more interesting than it would have been in dry On our return from Cairns we stopped at the Undarra Lava
conditions. We came to Cooktown via the Bloomfield track tubes, Cobbold Gorge and Roma before heading home. We
and it was very wet and slippery and quite a challenge for covered 8,500 klms and saw some very special parts of Aus-
Phil. We all appreciated his driving, we were all glad we tralia. We saw lots of wildlife, including snakes, crocodiles,
weren‘t in the drivers seat that day. birds, frogs, geckos, macropods, we even saw a Cassowary.
The remainder of the trip basically followed the old Tele- We were lucky with the weather, we didn‘t realise how lucky
graph track, passing old Telegraph stations along the way. until we heard that the next trip was stuck the other side of a
Our aim was the tip of Cape York and therefore the north- swollen river for 6 days.
B e l i n da ’ s wa l ks S u e ’ s wa l ks
On 17 June, the club walk was down from On a very wet Sunday 24/10/10, Frances, Geor-
Lockley's Pylon into Blue Gum Forest involv- ges, Helen W, Winifred, Kevin P, Lance and
ing a river crossing utilizing a fallen Jin turned up for morning tea with my 5 sen-
tree. Three of our club members demonstrated iors from Gosford.
the different techniques that may be used in
We travelled on the historic railway at the
such situations.
Armoury, Sydney Olympic Park. Despite being
There's the stroll; issued with ponchos and plastic bags it was
so cold and rainy that the walkers raced for
the their cars as soon as the tour finished. It
was an extremely interesting tour and they
hesi-
did their best to look after us.
tant
side The programmed walk north of Sydney Harbour
slide; Bridge could not happen due to the weather.
Sydney walks are still attracting more par-
ticipants than those on the Central Coast.
On one of my other activities, only Kevin
came, to the Reptile Park. The weather was
and finally great on that day and there were lots of baby
the straddle. animals to be seen.
All of these techniques
saw the user safely, and
dryly, across the river.
PAGE 4 BUSH TELEGRAPH
A short walk to Scotland... (10.10.10) By Jon Gray
……Island that is (on the southern edge of the Pittwater). Our sustaining coffee, ice cream and bathroom facilities.
walk on this auspicious date started in light drizzle on West
By this time the weather had become beautifully warm and
Head Road in the Kuringai Chase National Park. The nine of
sunny, so we all particularly enjoyed the ferry trip back
us made our way down the fire trail through shrubland,
around the island and across to Elvina Bay. This time we
woodland and forest , ablaze with glorious wildflowers, to
took a narrow bush track back up the hill for the return leg.
the isolated and sleepy village of Elvina Bay. You couldn‘t
This included a short detour to a vantage point with won-
help but notice the clear vehicle of choice for most residents
derful views out over the Pittwater and later an investiga-
was …. the trusty wheelbarrow! There were no cars to be
tion of a unique expanse of tessellated pavement, contain-
seen at all, since there is no normal vehicular access to the
ing curious geological patterns and several interesting abo-
outside world, meaning residents must lug all there supplies
riginal rock carvings. But without a doubt the highlight was
from one of the two ferry wharves to their homes.
the fantastic profusion of wildflowers - red grevilleas, pur-
We were soon aboard the cute little ferry for the short trip ple boronias, yellow pea flowers, white daisy everlast-
across to Scotland Island. This residential island, located just ings…… (I‘m starting to make this up now, but yes, lots of
a few hundred metres from Church Point, is home to about pretty flowers!).
1000 people (at a guess). It has hundreds of interesting
After arrival back at the cars around 3.30 pm, we all headed
houses nestled in amongst the delightful remnant forest
for a café in Terrey Hills, to enjoy a well earned cuppa and
and bush gardens. Almost every house would have glorious
other refreshments. We all agreed it had been a most enjoy-
water views. The island obviously attracts people with a love
able day out, and that we would all gladly do another short
of water and bushland, a sense of adventure and perhaps a
walk to Scotland ……(Island that is).
slight alternative streak. Although there are no shops or
even any school, I sense there is a strong community spirit
on the island.
I suggested to Melissa that we should maybe move here
after we get married. I explained to her it would only be
short ferry or ―tinny‖ ride across to the mainland and then
just an hour or two of further travel to get to work each day.
The boat ride, especially late at night and during a winter
storm, would all be part of the fun and adventure. But sur-
prisingly, she didn‘t seem too keen on the idea. Oh well,
maybe after we retire!
We did a pleasant circuit around the island, enjoying a nice
The intrepid team on Scotland Island (L-R: Fay, Keith,
morning tea on the northern point and then lunch back at
Melissa, Barbara, Glenda, Louise, Peter and Kevin.
the original starting wharf point. We were able to squeeze
(photographer Jon)
in a quick trip across to Church Point to avail ourselves of
FLORIADE – CANBERRA October 2010 long weekend By Margaret McQuillan
Last October long weekend four members of
the club, Thaïs, Trish, Kerrie and Marg
spent a great couple of days in Canberra.
It was a fun packed few days which included
a visit to Floriade, National War Memorial,
National Art Gallery, Black Mountain and a
pub crawl on Saturday night. No mean
feat for a couple of the participants who
are in their sixties (and wish to remain
anonymous).
The accommodation at the YHA was excellent
and at $38.50 for the night very afford-
able, and deserves another visit.
Thanks Thaïs for organising this special
club event. I’m looking forward to the next
one.
NO. 4 2010 SUMMER PAGE 5
Plastiki hits Australia
The Plastiki hit Sydney on 26th July marking the end of a 4 month journey across the Pacific Ocean
in a 6 x 18m plastic boat.
The Plastiki was created from 12,500 plastic bottles and 120,000 man hours to inspire people to
rethink how waste can be used as a resource. It is estimated that the large majority of the marine
pollution in the world is comprised of plastic materials. According to the Plastiki website, the aver-
age proportion varied between 60% and 80% of total marine pollution. Unfortunately, only an
average of 20% of the fully 100% recyclable plastic bottles in the United States are actually recy-
cled, as calculated by Project Aware.
Powered by solar and wind power, as well as a bicycle connected to generators, the Plastiki trav-
elled at an average speed of 5 knots all the way from San Francisco to Sydney‘s Harbour.
For more information on The Plastiki and their message visit http://www.theplastiki.com/
Leader 50th: Royal's 100-year history recalled
23 Oct, 2010 04:00 AM Article about RNP from St George Leader Newspaper – Contributed by Trish Hamilton
HISTORY repeated itself in 1979 when the Royal National Park was rededicated on its 100th birthday.
First dedicated on April 26, 1879, the Royal is the second oldest national park in the world, just a few months younger than Yellowstone in the
US. Governor Sir Roden Cutler performed the rededication in the Reid’s Flat picnic area at Audley on a Saturday afternoon.
Re-enacting what had occurred 100 years earlier, the news was flashed to the Victoria Barracks army base by heliograph [wireless solar tele-
graph that uses Morse code flashes of sunlight, reflected by a mirror]. Many guests travelled by steam train for the event and were served
afternoon tea by waitresses dressed in period costumes. Other centenary activities included guided bike rides, film screenings and beach
games at Garie Beach. A two-day festival was held at Bundeena and visiting US clarinettist Gerard Errante performed by the lagoon at Watta-
molla. When the park was created, Sydney's population was about 300,000 and the most southern suburbs were about Cooks River. A cen-
tury later, the population had grown to 3 million and annual visitations to the park numbered about one million.
"Every resident of St George and Sutherland Shire should be thankful that sufficient vision existed 100 years ago," the Leader editorialised.
"Our park was known simply as The National Park until 1955, when it was renamed following a visit by Queen Elizabeth II."
Then premier, Sir John Robertson, was credited with the foresight to dedicate the park.
"While the vision existed 100 years ago, the concept of national parks then was different to that of today," the editorial said.
"Original Trust minutes gave objectives as being ornamental plantations, lawns and gardens, a zoo, race courses, cricket fields, rifle range,
military exercises. Allowable also was mining for coal, lime, stone, clay, brick, earth and minerals, excepting gold and sil ver.
"Until 1922, when it was banned, the trustees continually considered allowing the logging of the park's timbers."
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/leader-50th-royals-100year-history-recalled/1975449.aspx
Humanitarian Expedition with Casey Emergency
In the same guise as the humanitarian organization ‗Médecins Sans Frontieres‘, with widespread media coverage and un-
precedented international exposure like never before seen, Casey Emergency, together with Peregrine Adventures and in
association with The Peregrine Community Trust, The Himanchal Education Foundation and
EverestER, will send 16 specialist emergency doctors, nurses and 1 pharmacist on an un-
precedented humanitarian/volunteer-aid mission for 6 weeks into one of the most harshest
and gruelling environments on the face of the planet…Nepal, Himalaya.
Travelling to the majestic Annapurna Region, Casey Emergency has been given a once in a
lifetime opportunity – to set up and run a field base village medical clinic with outreach ser-
vices in Nangi, delivering desperately needed health care services to a severely disadvan-
taged and culturally diverse community, consulting and treating local and surrounding vil-
lages with a particular focus on health promotion, disease prevention and emer-
gency front-line early intervention, whilst providing specialist training and educa-
tion to local health care personnel. Trip Dates: 17 April – 24 May 2011 For
more information on the Everest Base Camp Annapurna and the current state of
health care in Nepal click here. The team of doctors and nurses are looking for
donations for their medical clinic whether it‘s equipment, products, clothing, or
monetary donations. To Donate visit www.ebca2011.com.au
PAGE 6 BUSH TELEGRAPH
CLUB MEETINGS EVERY MONTH 30th Anniversary Celebrations / Reunion
USUALLY HELD ON 2ND MONDAY OF MONTH— Sunday
EXCEPT JANUARY
5th December
2010.
Georges Hall Community Centre Join members (current and
188 Birdwood Road previous) at our 30th year
anniversary celebration!
Georges Hall NSW 2198
Let‘s make this a reunion to remember!
Club email address: Bring along photos from activities over the past 30 years and
bankstownbush@gmail.com renew acquaintances with club members from over the years.
Venue: Haigh Park, Lake Moore,
near Liverpool, the most westerly part of the Chipping Norton
Contributions to this newsletter are always
Lakes Scheme. Use Bridges Road, off Newbridge Rd.
welcome & can be emailed to Thaïs on
tmaturner@yahoo.com If you are feeling energetic it is possible to take a short walk or
cycle from Liverpool Station or Bus Terminus via a footbridge over
Deadline for Autumn issue is: Fri 21st Jan 2011 the Georges River.
Be there early to secure a parking spot inside the gated area.
Meeting from 11.30am.
Meetings coming up in 2010-2011:
You‘ll find us easily – the biggest group! (30+ at last count).
Dec 13th - Xmas Party!
Jan No meeting Past and current members and their families are welcome.
Feb 7th Bring games/entertainment for your children. There is a small
play area available.
Toilet block includes Ladies, Gents and Disabled.
The BBQ area may be in use by other groups using the park on
We‘re on the Web! the day, so please bring along a portable BBQ/Gas Cooker if you
http:// have one, for those wanting to cook hot food.
bankstownbush.110mb.com Bring along everything else for a great picnic lunch:
All food and drinks, cutlery, crockery, cups, etc.
Don‘t forget your fold up chairs and tables, sun/wind protection,
and enthusiasm.
New Members: (up to 22 Oct 2010) We
We‘d love to see you there!
Iain Mason Breigh Thorn welcome
If possible please let Thaïs know that you are planning to attend.
Rejoining: Peter & Louise Harvey you!
Mt Keira Ring Track by Helen Wright
The group met at Georges Hall about 9am. Two carloads of
bushwalkers drove to the entrance of the track on Queen
Elizabeth Drive.
We descended down into the gully mainly by rock steps The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc.
walking through rainforest. Eucalypts and ferns were the Confederation has published 2 extensive documents
predominant plants seen.
dealing with risk management & safety and detailing
We stopped a couple of times for drinks so we could take in
the scenery and absorb the tranquillity. guidelines to be followed by member clubs. Check
Winifred and I waited at the cars after completion of the under ‘Documents’ on Confederation’s website:
loop while the rest did an extension to 'The Jumpers' a
short distance away.
http://www.bushwalking.org.au
When they returned we drove up to the Mountain Top Res- A Risk Management Framework for The Con-
taurant for a well earned afternoon tea. The panoramic federation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc.
views from the balcony were splendid.
Once we were in shadow it was time for us to depart. The and
trip back to Georges Hall did not take long. INTERIM GUILDELINES FOR MEMBER CLUBS UN-
Kathie Graham, our leader provided us with a very pleasur-
able day in the outdoors. DERTAKING ABSEILING AND SKIING ACTIVITIES
NO. 4 2010 SUMMER PAGE 7
SNIPPETS Compiled by Thaïs Turner
An interesting e-brief from July 2010 compiled by the NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service can be found on the website: http://
www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/V3ListRPSubject. Look under ‗Research Papers‘ then ‗NSW National Parks and Reserves‘.
The 10th anniversary of the listing of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, as a place of outstanding value to the world, will be celebrated
on Nov 29th. The Listing Day Gathering will be at Govett‘s Leap Blackheath, overlooking the historically significant Blue Gum Forest. The conservation of
the Blue Gum Forest led to the creation of the Blue Mountains National Park in 1959. Further info from NSW NPWS World Heritage Unit on 4784 7300.
Pet squirrels …we must be nuts! Members will recoil in horror when they hear of a plan to introduce the northern palm squirrel (found in Asia and Mid-
dle East) as a domestic pet in NSW. Government listed as an invasive species with ‗high pest potential‘ and ‗extreme threat‘, the reasons why this is a bad
idea will be obvious to outdoors-folk like our Club members. Unfortunately there are breeders already wishing to make money ($1200 per animal).
Please oppose this idea if you hear of it in your area. The stipulation that they be desexed and microchipped, (and also need to have a harness on due
to being able to run at 15k/h!), anyone can see, will be disregarded and a feral squirrel population would soon cause problems to our native wildlife.
For all those avid readers out there – some recent titles: The Burning Mists of Time by Philip J Pells and Philip J Hammon. About the miners and charac-
ters who helped to build Katoomba into the town it is today. Map Addict by Mike Parker. British focussed but will reassure all those with a maniacal
pursuit of all things cartographic. Solo by Vicki McAuley. A celebration of a life of adventure and the story of the fateful 2007 trans-Tasman voyage of
kayaker Andrew McAuley. Frederick Robert D‘Arcy: colonial surveyor, explorer & artist by Andy Macqueen. About the enigmatic surveyor whose expedi-
tions in the Wollemi were more rugged than those of any other early explorer.
A generous donation in Oct 2010, by a Strathfield couple – John and Shirley Sarks - of a 120 hectare parcel of valuable bushland to the Foundation for
National Parks and Wildlife, will make Blue Mountains nature lovers the big winners. The land is adjacent to [increasing the size by 25%] the Yellowmun-
dee Regional Park. This donation creates a link from the flats of the Nepean River to the top of the escarpment. Natural bushland and sites of historical
and cultural interest are contained in the land donation.
You never know when you might be called upon to help at a serious incident. Cyclists on the Oaks fire trail (Woodford to Glenbrook) on Sun 10th Octo-
ber assisted 6 men who survived a helicopter crash near Woodford. The helicopter came down on the fire trail, striking trees before coming to rest on its
rotor blades.
Now is the time to join BWRS (Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad Inc) and train up to help fellow walkers. Apart from participating in actual land
search & rescue incidents, BWRS runs operational exercises, the annual NavShield Emergency Services Rogaine, and general training weekends. BWRS,
a VRA (Volunteer Rescue Association) affiliate, also gets tasked to provide the safety response teams for big events like Oxfam Trailwalker & the NSW
Rogaining Championships.
Parramatta City Council has launched 9 new Themed Trails self-guided tour brochures for all ages and interests. They cover scenic walking and cycling
trails as well as heritage, architecture, food and other topics. They can be found at the Parramatta Visitor Information Centre or online at http://
www.discoverparramatta.com
The rumour has been confirmed. All Victoria‘s National Parks did indeed become ‗free entry‘ from 1 July 2010. This also includes all Metropolitan Parks.
Three ski destinations – Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller - have remaining fees as they are classed as ski resorts. The fee abolition is to increase park
visitor numbers (a 25-50% increase is expected) and to encourage the general public to get outdoors more, for mental and physical benefits. Maintain-
ing parks comes at a price however and it remains to be seen if the loss in revenue will affect the upkeep of the already under-financed parks. NSW
watches with interest!
An update on the canyoners who entered Grand Canyon on Feb 2 nd and got into difficulties, needing rescuing when they had ignored the warning
signs about closure of the area: they‘ve pleaded guilty, & been given 12 month good behaviour bonds, charged court costs, and one was issued a
$1000 fine (for having done the same thing previously). A timely reminder to never enter areas against the directions of NPWS or other official signage.
Local Councils may carry out an annual licensing policy for commercial activities conducted on Council owned land. Look out for your Local Council‘s
advice.
Over the last few months there have also been many reports of people (male and female) getting lost and being rescued from the Ruined Castle area.
Always walk with a safe number of people, take an emergency beacon and be prepared for any situation.
Look out for upcoming Remote Area First Aid courses run by BWRS.
Bushwalkers looking for something new to do – why not try your hand at being a Conservation Volunteer? Currently a project is occurring in the Bents
Basin Area (west of Liverpool) to assist in protecting the vulnerable Camden White Gum. See http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au for further
details.
The NPWS is looking for input to help develop a NSW Cycling Policy and Mountain Biking Strategy. A discussion paper was launched in Sept. about
mountain biking opportunities in the NSW national parks and reserves. This proposes a new approach – allowing controlled mountain biking in some
parks. A balance is sought between support for providing for more recreational opportunities, and concerns about the environmental impacts. Online
submissions to nsw.gov.au/shapeyourstate Or mountainbiking.discussions.nsw.gov.au
World Parks Day was celebrated on Sept 18 th. People all around the world took the opportunity to celebrate parks and green spaces.
You may have noticed adverts and leaflets in letterboxes from your Local Council Weeds team. There is a legal requirement now to treat or remove
noxious weeds on your private property or risk fines being applied.
After 30 years Gunns Ltd have announced an end to native forests logging in Australia. A welcome move, but can we trust that there are no conditions
that would allow further logging of old growth forests which cannot re-grow in our (or our children‘s) lifetime?
Tourists to the Blue Mountains had many reasons to visit during Spring. As well as the annual Hazelbrook and Leura Garden festivals, a new Australian
Painted Panorama was unveiled in Wascoe Street Glenbrook in September.
A wild dog trapping program conducted by NPWS and BM City Council in the Blackheath area during August has put pet owners on notice with 9
domestic dogs also being caught. Other areas of the Mountains will be targeted in coming months and walkers in the Blue Mountains National Park are
asked to report all wild dog sightings to NPWS office on 4787-8877 or BMCC on 4780-5000.
Look out for the Bush Regeneration program as well as walks and biodiversity initiatives which are being run by Bankstown City Council.
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