bushwalking victoria · 2017. 9. 12. · author: joslin created date: 12/3/2012 6:13:11 pm

Bushwalking News Bushwalking News Bushwalking News Victor iaVictor iaVictor ia December 2012

Issue No. 231

Contributions Email or post news, views, club profi les, art icles, photographs, sketches and letters on any subject of interest to bushwalkers (subject to editorial approval) to:

[email protected] or 24 Moorhouse Street Camberwell Victoria 3124

Deadline for the February edition:

Monday, 21 January 2013

The statements and opinions expressed in articles are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or position of Bushwalking Victoria.

Editor: Joslin Guest

Walking and Talking with the Bushwalking Victoria President ........ 2

Where2walk ........................................ 3

Around the Tracks:

Field officer reports ...................... 4

Alpine hut update ......................... 6

Hawkweed:

2012-13 Surveillance Program ..... 7

Reporting sightings ...................... 7

Track Maintenance & Conservation Activities ........................................... 8

Bogong High Plains work party .... 8

CAEX at Federation 2012 .................. 9

Excerpts from the DSE Website

Interactive maps ........................... 8

In s ide th i s i ssue. . .

Snakes fight for mating rights ........... 11

Walking in Hot Weather.................... 11

Wherewewalk Survey ....................... 12

90years of Melbourne Women’s Walking Club .................................. 13

Who’s Who at BWV .......................... 14

Andrew Hill, Kinglake (Photo: Alan Marshall) Koonung WalkTalk, Sept 2012

Bushwalking News Victoria December 2012

2

WALKING AND TALKING WITH THE BUSHWALKING VICTORIA PRESIDENT

Christmas & New Year Greetings

I would like to extend to all bushwalkers my very best wishes for a merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year filled with great walking experiences.

My sincere thanks to all of Bushwalking Victoria's many volunteers, in particular office bearers and board members, all of who made a huge contribution during 2012, which has been a big year for Bushwalking Victoria, with a number of significant initiatives and changes either completed or underway. 2013 promises to be an even bigger year.

New Bushwalking Victoria Office Manager

I am very pleased to announce that Bushwalking Victoria has a new office manager.

Following the retirement of Jenni Sykes as Administration Officer in October, the Bushwalking Victoria board decided to upgrade the duties and responsibilities of the position to better reflect the needs of the organisation and provide additional support to the executive, board and Bushwalking Victoria members. The new title of Office Manager is an appropriate title for the new position.

Our new Office Manager is Patricia Borton, who commenced duties on Monday 19 November. Patricia brings to the position considerable knowledge and experience from a variety of former positions, including executive assistant, office manager, business manager positions. She is also a bushwalker and bushwalking club member. Please make Patricia welcome.

Bushwalking Australia

The annual face-to-face meeting and AGM of Bushwalking Australia Inc, the national body representing the interests of bushwalkers, was held on 17 and 18 November. This year our host was the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW. The meeting being held at a caravan park in Narrabeen, Sydney.

The meeting elected Dodie Green from NSW as Bushwalking Australia President. Dodie replaces David Reid, a former Bushwalking Victoria President, who completed his three-year term as President. I was elected Vice-President and, for the time being at least, will continue as Treasurer. Bushwalking Australia also has a new Secretary, John Marshall, who is the President of Bushwalking Queensland.

National Training Survey

In September and October, Bushwalking Australia conducted an online National Training Survey to obtain a national and state-by-state perspective on existing training undertaken by bushwalking clubs, assess the need/demand for bushwalking skills and/or leadership training and to obtain views on the development and delivery of walk leader and skills training. Responses

were received from 54 clubs from across Australia, including 27 from Victoria. I thank all clubs who completed the survey.

The survey created unease in some clubs, particularly in other states, with feedback that the survey was part of a push by Bushwalking Australia to introduce a compulsory walk leader training program that would need to be completed before a club member would be allowed to lead a walk. There is no basis for this and there was never any suggestion that training or certification would be compulsory. The view of the Bushwalking Australia Council (ie. the presidents of each state’s bushwalking peak body) is that walk leader and bushwalking skills training programs lead to more enjoyable walking experiences by assisting clubs to encourage new walk leaders.

While many clubs have the capacity and capability to conduct training, this is not the case for the majority of clubs. Bushwalking Australia believes it can play a role in assisting these clubs in particular by providing a training option that clubs can access. In fact one of my conclusions from the survey is that a feature of the more successful bushwalking clubs across Australia is that they offer some form of structured (ie. formal) leader training to members.

The meeting approved the establishment of a small working group to undertake further work on this matter, and I will keep members informed the work of this group. Any training programs that are developed will not be compulsory.

Outdoor Leader Online

Outdoor Leader Online is based on the content of the Bushwalking and Ski Touring Leadership Manual, last published by the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Training Advisory Board (BMTAB) in Victoria in 2000. The content of the manual was the basis of the excellent outdoor leadership training courses run by the BMTAB. Following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, a Victorian Outdoor Industry Taskforce attracted funding to improve risk management and community confidence in outdoor activity providers. The project to make this resource available online was a component of that endeavour.

The outdoor training courses established and provided by the BMTAB from 1969 to 2002 influenced outdoor participation by many people throughout Australia. Through raising leadership standards, they enhanced trip enjoyment, increased safety and reduced the costs to the community of search and rescue operations. Many current and former members of Bushwalking Victoria affiliated clubs contributed to the BMTAB over many years as instructors and assessors, and to the development and publication of the three editions of the manual.

Outdoor Leader Online is available at www.outdoorleaderonline.org.au

http://www.outdoorleaderonline.org.au


3

Walking & Talking…cont

Outdoors Victoria

Outdoors Victoria (OV) is a new peak body for the outdoors sector in Victoria that will be launching in early 2013. A not-for-profit, membership organisation, OV will provide strength, advocacy, representation, support, coordination, research, information services and policy development for members and other interested parties involved in outdoor recreation, outdoor education, outdoor tourism, outdoor therapies and outdoor sports.

OV replaces the Outdoor Recreation Centre (ORC) which is in the process of being wound up. OV will also become Bushwalking Victoria’s landlord at Recreation House in Westerfolds Park.

Supported by an experienced, skills-based board and specialist advisory committees, OV is committed to developing a sustainable outdoors sector for its members and the community. I have been on the committee developing and establishing the new organisation and have been appointed as one of the initial directors for a period of 12 months. Further details will be provided in the coming months.

Chris Towers, President

WHERE2WALK

www.where2walk.org.au, Bushwalking Victoria's online library of bushwalks was launched in September.

In the two months that where2walk has been live:

More than 500 people have registered as subscribers

The 20 most popular of the 150 walks on the site have had a total of 6,600 hits

The three most popular walks are:

The Big Walk at Mt Buffalo - 1720 hits

Donnelly's Weir-Condons Track-Mt St Leonard - 434 hits

Grand Strzelecki Track - 386 hits.

Around the Tracks cont

News from the Bogong High Plains

New tent platforms (similar to those in Tasmania) have been placed at the Cope Hut camping area. Also, a new toilet is being installed at Cope Hut.

Lots of tourism heritage signage have been placed along high plains road.

Friends of Bogong Newsletter, Dec 2012

file:///C:/Users/Joslin/Documents/JAG%20VicWalk/VWN_1212Dec/Articles/www.where2walk.org.au


4

AROUND THE TRACKS

Reports by BEC Field Officers, collated by David Rimmer, Manager BEC

Grampians, report by Phil Brotchie

Parks Victoria staff are excited to announce further flood recovery re-openings in the Grampians National Park. It has been a long and complicated process, and, finally, more sites are opening. Works are also continuing on the road network with the popular Glenelg River Rd, due to reopen within the next few weeks.

Venus Baths – re-opened on Friday 26 October

Contractors have completed the flood recovery works from the northern side of Stony Creek to Venus Baths. Entry to this walking track is past the tennis courts and via the Botanical Gardens. Works continue on the southern side of Venus Baths and the track from Venus Baths to the Wonderland car park.

Bullaces Glen is open. It can also be accessed from the Venus Baths track.

Golton Gorge

The picnic area is open. The entry road to the site has been graded and re-sheeted.

The walking track from Golton Gorge to Coppermine Track remains closed.

Heatherlie Quarry is open.

Silverband Falls Rd above the falls is now expected to open in early December 2012.

Walking tracks

Major Mitchell Plateau

The 3-day 2-night Major Mitchell Plateau walk (40.7km) from Sheep Hills car park through Mt William car park, Boundary Gap, First Wannon hiker campsite, Durd Durd (equal highest point in the Grampians), Stockyard Saddle, Jimmy Creek campground, Ingleton fireline and back to Sheep Hills car park, has been repaired and is now open.

Note: Access to the Major Mitchell Plateau via Kalimna Falls will not be available until works associated with the Mt William Picnic Ground Rd have been completed in about 3 months time. See also Requirement to Register Intention in the next column.

Fortress & Mt Thackeray

The 3-day 2-night Fortress and Mt Thackeray walk (27.3km) from Harrop Track car park through Deep Creek hiker campsite, The Fortress hiker campsite, Mt Thackeray hiker campsite, Mt Thackeray, Victoria Range Track, Hut Creek Track, and Harrop Track and back to Harrop Track car park, is now open. See also Requirement to Register Intention in the next column.

Mt Difficult-Briggs Bluff loop

The 2-day 1-night Mt Difficult-Briggs Bluff loop, a 21.2km walk from Troopers Creek campground through Mt Difficult hiker campsite, Mt Difficult, Long Point West hiker campsite, Long Point East hiker campsite, Briggs Bluff hiker campsite, Briggs Bluff, Mt Difficult hiker campsite (again) and back to Troopers creek campground is open. See also Requirement to Register Intention immediately following.

Requirement to Register Intention

Walkers planning to undertake any of the three walks referred to above must register their intention on the relevant form at Brambuk, Halls Gap before setting out.

Bomjinna Campground to Mt William

The track from Bomjinna campground to Mt William has been closed owing to very extensive damage. All facilities at the Bomjinna campground will be relocated to the Mt William picnic and camping area.

Grampians Peak Trail

On 23 October, at his request, I met with Graham Parkes, the ranger in charge of a huge area in Western Victoria that includes the Grampians, so that he could brief me on progress with the Grampians Peak Trail as I had not been able to attend the first meeting of the Task Force of which I am a member. He spoke to me for an hour and gave me literature which established the following situation:

Stage 1: Planning of this leg from Halls Gap to Borough Huts by Mt Rosea is well advanced and works will be completed by end-June 2013. The necessary funding, $1.2m from Regional Development Victoria and $0.4m from Parks Victoria, has been provided.

Stage 2: Stage 2 is included in the State Government’s election commitments, and will extend the trail south from Borough Huts towards Mt William. Planning for Stage 2 has begun, and a funding application will be made to Regional Development Victoria in the near future.

Graham is planning to hold another meeting of the Task Force in the near future, a key objective of which will be to produce a master plan that will finalise the preferred route, and define further stages and funding required.

Best wishes for 2013 to contributors to and readers of Bushwalking News Victoria. And, of course, to all bushwalkers and the editors of club newsletters. Thank you for your contributions and feedback.

Joslin Guest, Editor, Bushwalking News Victoria


5

Wilsons Prom, report by Ian McKellar

Road to Telegraph Saddle

The road up to Telegraph Saddle is still being reconstructed, it is planned to re-open by 21 December 2012.

Telegraph Saddle to Mt Oberon & Halfway Hut

The maintenance vehicle only roads from the Saddle to the summit of Mount Oberon and to Halfway Hut (Telegraph Track) will be available for walkers by 21 December.

However the Telegraph Track to Halfway Hut will be closed for varying periods early in 2013 for final repairs to the three bridges over Macalister Creek, Growlers Creek and near Roaring Meg.

Roaring Meg from Martins Hill to Lighthouse Track

The Roaring Meg Track from Martins Hill to the Lighthouse Track, including the three small bridges, is scheduled to be repaired in April-May 2013.

Waterloo Bay Track

The eroded section of the Waterloo Bay Track, east of Boulder Saddle is to be reconstructed as a raised ‘Envirograte’ construction, probably about March 2013.

Sealers Cove Track

Work is continuing on the Sealers Cove Track east of Ferny Glade. The boardwalk section is being raised and repaired. Ferny Glade itself still requires major repairs and the whole track will not be re-opened before Easter 2013.

Whisky Bay to Picnic Bay Track

This track is nearly complete. It should be open by Christmas.

Cotters Lake

Cotters Lake, which is due to re-open shortly, will be accessible only by walking.

Northern Prom the track from Chinaman Long Beach to Lighthouse Point

This track, which was recently cleared by Bushwalking Victoria volunteers (see the October and December editions of Bushwalking News Victoria), is now open to bushwalkers.

Johnny Souey camp site is to be relocated; possibly about 250m north of the former site which is now closed. The new camp site should be available by Christmas 2012. Some track re-alignments are also necessary.

Baw Baws, report Eileen Laidlaw

The AAWT is now open from Walhalla all the way up onto the plateau. There are a few fallen trees along the track over the Baw Baws, which is to be expected following the winter season.

Mormon Town track near Walhalla will be closed till further notice as a result of fallen timber.

Mount Buffalo, report by Pauline McLaughlin

Recently members of the Border Bushwalking Club spent a weekend at Mount Buffalo. They walked with Ranger-in-Charge, Julien Atherstone, and Ranger Scott Cunningham, along the Lake Catani and View Point Tracks discussing long term plans for upgrades of the tracks.

The rangers are very keen to maintain all the tracks on the mountain for the enjoyment of all visitors.

Lake Catani Track

The idea for the Lake Catani Track is to make it a complete circuit accessible to all. This would involve redirecting the track so that it no longer diverts to road sections and to achieve this, a boardwalk over the edge of the lake near the road section was suggested.

View Point Track

The Viewpoint Track has recently been upgraded, and the suggestion is to add interpretive signs along the track.

Both projects will require funding and perhaps volunteer participation. So the conclusion was that perhaps some bushwalking clubs or interested groups might apply for grants to assist these projects and provide some volunteer labour to feel some ownership and sense of achievement.

Tracks earmarked for work

Tracks that are earmarked for work this year or next are:

The Big Walk below 7 Mile vehicle track: To rebench and widen the track, and the introduction of some steps to reduce pitch of track.

Underground River: Work on the steep eroded section from Underground River to the View Point intersection.

Long Plain: To stabilise the surface in snow grass areas and repair the short eroded section leading to junction with Mt Dunn access track.

Monolith track: Repair the short eroded section and wet area below chalet.

Grand Strzelecki Track, report by Michael Haynes

I have just returned from 5 days walking the Grand Strzelecki Track. Although there are many trees down over the track and some places with bad erosion, almost all track markers are still in place and visible and all tracks are open and passable. The creek crossings are all OK; none is above knee height. Leeches are plentiful in places, and stinging nettles and thistles are a nuisance in parts. We enjoyed our walk which comprised 2 days from Morwell NP to Balook, and then a different loop on each of the next 3 days.

There has no progress with establishing camping facilities. We camped at Jeeralang West rest area first night. Only facilities are a nice picnic table with bench seats.


6

We camped at the old Balook school grounds (which were used by Westall Secondary School as a camp until the 2009 fires). There are picnic tables, a small grassy oval and a covered verandah for shelter. No water or toilets, but these are available quite close by (200m) at the Tarra Bulga Visitors Centre.

There have been two working parties, on 25 August and 20 October at which we had good support from the Friends group. Some steps were created at steep sections and some erosion barriers installed along the Billys Creek section. These are designed to prevent further deterioration, and are also helpful to walkers. The committee is anxious, however, not to create difficulties later by raising the level of the track beyond Class 4.

Numbers on marker posts are soon to be fixed, which should be helpful for navigation, locating walkers needing assistance or pinpointing areas where work is needed.

However, we are basically broke and investigating all possible sources of finance to enable us to complete and maintain the track as planned.

Otways, report by Bernard Jordan

The Surf Coast Walk originally went from Jan Juc to Moggs Creek. Now it goes 44km from Point Impossible (east of Torquay) to end at Fairhaven. The new route favours a coastal/cliff top/beach walk where feasible. There are significant inland deviations between Bells Beach and Port Addis, as well as west of Urquhart Bluff.

The walk has 12 sections. Several can be combined to give a set of day walks, eg. Bells Beach to Point Addis to Anglesea (15.5km). About half of the walk is also suitable for bikes.

I obtained a brochure of the walk. I gather it will soon be on the Shire's website (www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au) which defaults to a Facebook page, but this may change. There is also available at www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/the-surf-coast-walk

Victorian Alps, report by Jim Harker

Australian Alps Walking Track

Contractor teams have cleared sections of the AAWT from Champion Spur Track through to Mt Skene, and from Mt Skene through to Mt McDonald.

Alpine Area

A new project has begun to erect totems to communicate the traditional owners’ link to the Alpine area.

The totem signs carry the words: Australian Alps First Peoples. Our Country. Our Heritage, and Places where spirits dance. The totems visually bring together the eagle, moth and the mountains - key elements with special significance to those cultures—with connections to this landscape going back thousands of years.

The first totem was put in place at Namadgi NP (ACT). Adrian Brown, the Ngunnawal Caring for Country Ranger, played an instrumental role and says, ‘These totems are important because they show people that there is a past; a history of Aboriginal people in the Alps; an existence for thousands of years.’

Alpine Hut Update, report by Jim Harker

A lot of work has been done on huts in the Australian Alps, a necessity given their age and their setting. Weathering takes its toll even though the huts were created by resourceful craftsmen often using what they could find to hand. Happily these respected and loved places are cared for by parks agency people and volunteers.

Here is a roundup of just some of what’s been going.

NSW Huts

Late last year NSW Parks staff, contractors and volunteers worked on Daveys Hut (aka Hedgers, Williamsons and Napthalis) near the Gungarlin River in Kosciuszko NP.

Tucked up near Tantangara Dam in Kosciuszko NP is Pedens Hut. In January, the NSW Parks staff and volunteers from the Kosciuszko Huts Association dealt with the logistical challenge of the Murrumbidgee River in flood to repair footings, piers, flooring and the fireplace, carefully preserving the hut’s heritage values by doing as much as necessary but as little as possible. Where the footings were concerned, the floorboards and walls had to be carefully lifted to gain access.

The recent work by NSW Parks staff on Mackays Hut (aka Tibeados) was relatively straight forward, but was made challenging by the heavy rain. Floorboards were lifted to gain access to the timber piers. Then the hut was jacked up and leveled and the rotted piers replaced with brick. The chimney was last resurrected in 1972 (a plaque in the hut lists the volunteer groups as the Kosciuszko Huts Association, the Monaro Acclimatisation Society, Tate Ski Club and Number 5 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force). Since then it has developed a serious lean, so it was carefully dismantled and reconstructed.

Funding for the program in NSW was provided by the New South Wales National Park & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the National Historic Grants Program, with conservation works taking place at Wheelers, Coolamine and Bradley/O’Briens.

Victorian Huts

In Victoria , Parks Victoria staff and volunteers from the Victorian High Country Huts Association came together to work on Wallaces Hut, the oldest of the huts in Victoria’s Alpine National Park, Rotted base boards and many of the support posts are being progressively replaced, cut and shaped with axe and adze by volunteers who are modern craftsmen. New timbers are carefully heat branded 2012,

http://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.auhttp://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/the-surf-coast-walkhttp://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/the-surf-coast-walk


7

adding to previous evidence of people interacting with the hut; the names of cattlemen who first used the hut are burnt into the tie-beams of the roof and at the back of the mantelpiece. The slab walls are now complete as is the rebuilt tin clad chimney. Next time round it will be the interior that gets the treatment.

Treasures are being discovered during the works, among them a 1917 Australian shilling and a bridle. They will be catalogued and preserved as part of the process of caring for a site that means so much to so many.

Westons Hut was destroyed in the 2006-07 fires by embers which travelled the 3km from Mt Feathertop across the West Kiewa Valley. The original hut was built in the 1930s by local leaseholder Eric Weston together with Tom Briggs. The post-fire rebuild took place over the summer of 2010-11, thanks to members of the Victorian High Country Huts Association, the Victorian Mobile Landcare Group and Parks Victoria. Eric Weston’s

daughter, Mary Goldsworthy, and her nephew, Brendan Weston, were part of the design team which aimed to replicate the original and were there to cut the ribbon at its re-opening. Given the huts remote location on the western edge of the Bogong High Plains, materials had to be flown in while the volunteers walked five kilometers in and out each day.

The Victorian High Country Huts Association were also behind the recent works at Frys Hut on the edge of the Alpine National Park. The aim of this working bee was to replace the tongue and groove wooden flooring in two rooms, as well as repair two of the paned windows, install more exterior hut slabs crafted in the traditional way and complete some roof repairs.

Frys is a well-loved camping site, set as it is on the Howqua River, close to the Howqua Hills Heritage Walk. Access is easy now via the road.

See also News from Bogong High Plains on page 3.

2012-13 BOGONG HIGH PLAINS HAWKWEED SURVEILLANCE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Help needed to protect Australia’s biodiversity from Hawkweeds on the Bogong High Plains.

Native to Europe, Hawkweeds have recently become established on mainland Australia. Posing a serious threat to Australian biodiversity and the structure of natural communities, it is imperative that the incursion is eradicated before it’s too late.

Hawkweeds spread quickly via runners and roots forming dense mats, inhibiting and out-competing native vegetation. In grassy ecosystems like the High Plains, dense patches of the weeds dominate the spaces between grass tussocks that are vital for the survival and recruitment of native flora and fauna.

Survey sessions will be conducted during the active flowering period. Most sessions will be five days long, the session between Christmas and New Year will be four days. Attendance for a full session is preferred but is not essential.

Accommodation will be provided at Falls Creek. Transport will be provided to survey areas each day.

The surveys for 2012/2013 season will be held as follows:

Session 1: Monday the 10th – Friday the 14th of December Session 2: Monday the 17th – Friday the 21st of December Session 3: Thursday the 27th – Sunday the 30th of December Session 4: Monday the 7th – Friday the 11th of January Session 5: Monday the 14th – Friday the 18th of January

For more information or to express your interest in the program, please contact:

Keith Primrose [email protected] or mobile: 0428 508 299

Mt. Beauty Parks Victoria Office: (03) 5754 4693 Orange hawkweed flower. photo: Mark Imhof, DPI

REPORTING SIGHTINGS OF HAWKWEED

The Department of Primary Industries is asking bushwalkers in Alpine areas, particularly around Falls Creek and Mt Buller, to keep an eye out for suspect orange or yellow Hawkweed flowers and report the details of any sightings to [email protected]

Do not pull out the plants yourself. Not all that looks like Hawkweed is Hawkweed.

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


8

TRACK MAINTENANCE & CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

Condons Track maintenance

2 Dec 2012

Annual sweep of Condons track which was adopted by Bushwalking Victoria for

annual maintenance. A snip and walk exercise.

Contact Charlie Ablitt at conservation@bushwalkingvictoria,org.au for more

Sallow willow eradication

26-28 Jan 2013 (Australia Day long

weekend)

This is the ever popular annual weekend at Falls Creek for 30 volunteers to

search and destroy sallow willow.

We will be providing accommodation for two nights in a ski lodge at Falls Creek

and the usual ‘good tucker bbq’ on the Saturday night.

Contact Charlie Ablitt at [email protected] for more information and to register interest in attending.

Australian Alps Walking Track and Baw Baw feeder track clearing

Fri 22-Mon 25 Feb 2013

Note change dates advertised in the November edition of Bushwalking News

Victoria.

Join local Parks Victoria staff, Friends of Baw Baw National Park and the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club for a 4-day track clearing activity on the Baw Baw Plateau (Baw Baw NP). Come for the whole period or part; participants are welcome for whatever time they can spare and there will be a variety of tasks to

complete from very easy to arduous.

The activity will focus on clearing the walking track network between Jeep Track Flat and the Baw Baw Alpine Resort, including a section of the AAWT across Mt St Phillack. This will further enhance walking opportunities in Baw Baw NP following the completion of track works in the remote Mt Whitelaw area of the

park in 2012.

Parks Victoria will establish a base camp for this activity at Jeep Track Flat from early Friday 22 February 2013. Access to the base camp is via the St Gwinear car park or Baw Baw Village. All safety gear will be provided by Parks Victoria. Parks Victoria will supply fresh fruit, general consumables, energy food and all evening meals for participants who register an interest in attending. Ample water is also available at the base camp. Participants will need to bring their

own camping gear, sturdy footwear and wet weather clothing.

For further information or to register your interest in this activity, please contact the Parks Victoria Latrobe Ranger-in-Charge, Andy Gillham on 5172 2186, Mob

EXCERPTS FROM THE DSE WEBSITE

Interactive maps

There are a number of interactive maps on the DSE web-site which might be of interest to bushwalkers. These inter-active maps allow you to zoom in and out, pan around the map, identify features in the map, perform queries on data-bases, generate reports, link to other sites and create printable maps (in PDF) based on themes. You may find them interesting. See page 11 for a brief outline of some of them . Cont page 11

Friends of Mt Bogong work party 17-18 November

Saturday: Track work on the Wallace’s Hut to Cope Hut heritage walking track. After our safety briefing and wearing our bright yellow volunteer vests, we tackled the section near to Maisie’s Information signboard and installed permatreads (recycled car tyres). Our task was to repair braided sections of the walking track (where walkers were moving around the deeply eroded track and making new tracks) plus some minor re-alignment. Ranger Iris showed us the correct technique of prising up the snowgrass, leveling the track, but with a convex middle for water drainage, and then folding the snow grass over the permatread tile to hold the tile in place. Not easy, as the terrain, rocks and tree roots and the track was deeply eroded. The weather was sunny with a cool breeze.

Saturday evening: We camped at Buckettys. All had a great time with the laughs and stories around the campfire. A starry night but a cool change was approaching (on Ranger Iris weather radar).

Sunday: We completed the permatread section allocated to us (other volunteer groups are also assisting in this project). We installed approximately 150 permatread tiles over the two days. As the last peg was driven in, it started to snow. We quickly packed up and drove down to the Falls Creek Visitor Shelter and watched the swirling sago snow through the windows as we enjoyed our lunch in-side.

mailto:conservation@bushwalkingvictoria,org.aumailto:[email protected]


9

BUSHWALKING VICTORIA FEDERATION DAY WALK 2012 - MARYSVILLE

Seven members of CAEX Bushwalking Club participated in 5 of 22 walks at Marysville

Woods Lookout walk

Des, Lia and I were three of the 19 participants on Walk 19 to Woods Lookout, a walk of 17km, graded medium.

The walk departed from the new Community Centre, and headed through and out to the west of town to a small track leading over the new bridge across Wilks Creek. After a short distance, the leader admitted to too much chatting and turned us around and back a kilometre to head to the Mary Meadow Track and to Worcester Road. The leader claimed the detour was a 'little warm up to get

us going’. Well, going we did, UP HILL, and UP and UP

and UP! The track notes read ‘..after a short steep climb followed by undulations, reach South Palmer Track. Follow this to Woods Lookout Track and following a steep climb reach the lookout.’ Short, steep! Undulations! steep climb! Steep it was - very steep.

Fortunately, the views from the top were worth it. But everyone claimed the walk should have been graded as Medium-Hard, given the steepness, even though it was on well made tracks.

Anyway, after a nourishing lunch and a good rest we headed along Woods Lookout Track, past the old television tower and descended steeply to Triangle Road - easier on the breathing but harder on the knees. We then took a small foot track off to the side of road to cross Mary Meadow Track where we part-abseiled down a steep embankment to the main road. We followed this back to Wilks Creek where we met up with another club member and her group of walkers who had walked the 10km Michaeldene track.

Whilst the walk was more strenuous than anticipated, the pleasant company and engagement with members of other clubs was most rewarding. Thanks to Elly, the leader and Maroondah who hosted the 2012 Federation Walk, and Bushwalking Victoria for continuing this tradition.

Susan Fitzpatrick President, CAEX Bushwalking Club

Lake Mountain-Geocache walk

I had never heard of a Geocache before this walk and thought it must be some sort of geological formation. We were given a run down before we left and it was then that I found out I was going to participate in a game of hide and seek. Hiders place a small box with trinkets in it (no money) in a hidden spot and note the location on a GPS. The reading is added to a website by registered uses, and players can note when they find/hide a cache. See http://geocaching.com.au/

Our group of 10 left the sports ground at 9.15am and drove in 4 cars to the Snowy (I think that was its name) car park. We crossed the main road and followed a narrow

track through dead Alpine Ash, with masses of regrowth – largely young eucalypts and Mountain Hickory Wattles. (Acacia obliquinervia). Unlike most eucalypts, Alpine Ash and Mountain Ash are usually killed outright by fire and regenerate only from seed. The foliage of the young wattles and eucalypts is very similar. At first glance the only hint of the wattles was a few yellow flowers in the dense foliage of the young plants.

Our first cache was found in a large burnt out log, up the hill from the track. The clue was something like ‘Log it!’

We continued on through a valley, with tree ferns, and some interesting plants I had not seen before. We even saw some pretty white flowers which turned out to be Long leaf Wax flower - Philotheca myoporoides (formerly Eriostemon). I could also see lots of young mint bush emerging (Prostanthera melissifolia) and various daisies, Trigger Plants, Dianellas etc which were recovering after being squashed by heavy snow. This will be a very pretty area later in the season, and in years to come. For anyone interested, a report on the Recovery of Victorian rare or threatened plant species after the 2009 bushfires is available

There was massive amounts of bark on the ground which, by the look of it, had been stripped off the dead trees fairly recently. The smooth under-surface of the bark made the track quite slippery in placed and I lost my footing a couple of times.

We gradually climbed up, and came across the second cache hidden on a rock, underneath a smaller rock just off the track. I managed to find that one – the clue was ‘Rock on’! Up to the top of Lake Mountain the third cache was hidden under a pile of small rocks which I noticed straight away. The cache included a small penguin which I let out and he sat on top of a large boulder, enjoying the view. The GPS coordinates given for the cache did not match the site where it was found – about 10m out, so one of our group will contact the person who placed it (via the Web) to let them know.

We could just make out the city from the summit and a viewing area a bit further around. This would not have been possible before the fires. We had lunch here and enjoyed the pleasant surrounds before walking around the summit loop track and heading off downhill. We made it back to Marysville for afternoon tea by about 3.00pm.

Possibly the highlight of the walk apart from meeting interesting and friendly people, were the Flame Robins which were very noticeable in the bare branches of the dead trees.

Jennie Epstein CAEX

See images, including the penguin, on page 12

http://geocaching.com.au/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/rtf_file/0010/137818/VBRRA-P9-web.rtfhttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/rtf_file/0010/137818/VBRRA-P9-web.rtf


10


11

From the DSE website

Biodiversity Interactive Map provides flora and fauna data.

Fireplan provides information about planned burns within the Fire Operations Plan.

Forest Explorer Online provides access to Victorian forest information. The guide to using Forest Explorer: Guide to using Forest Explorer [PDF File - 479.6 KB]

Public Access Map provides the latest information on closures to State Forest vehicle tracks, recreation sites and walking tracks which may be temporarily closed due to event damage (such as fire or flood) or seasonal closures (such as seasonal road closures over winter).

Making war, not love! Snakes fight for mating rights 12 November, 2012

Investigations by Senior Scientist Nick Clemann from DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute have helped to clarify a long misunderstood aspect of the mating habits of local venomous snakes.

When you are out in the bush and see two snakes twined around each other on a Spring day, it’s quite natural to think that they are mating, but what you are actually seeing is a ritualised wrestling bout between male snakes. It is probably an attempt to establish dominance and secure mating rights to a nearby female snake.

This behaviour in Brown Snakes has been observed in September and October, the breeding season for the species. In other species such as Copperhead Snakes (Austrelaps ramsayi), fighting has been recorded as occurring in Autumn, although this is probably a prelude to mating as well.

Some of the videos of Brown Snakes wrestling can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsevictoria/sets/72157631946712304/

The observations were published in Herpetofauna, the journal of the Australasian Affiliation of Herpetological Societies

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) Photo by Nick Clemann

WALKING IN HOT WEATHER Don’t walk in forest areas on a total fire ban day.

Consider whether you should be walking at all or on a particular track on a day when the forecast temperature is more than 30ºC.

Will there be sufficient shade? Can the walk be cut short? Will the walk be over before the hottest part of the day? Is water available on the route? What are the escape routes in case of fire? How close is medical assistance in case of heat exhaustion/heat stroke? etc

Drink plenty of water before, during and after your walk - no matter how long or short the walk is.

Carry extra water. Make sure that infrequently used water containers are not mouldy or smelly. Get rid of them if there is the slightest hint of either.

Wear clothes that will protect you from the sun.

Wear a hat that protects your nose, the top of your head and back of your neck.

Shorts and short sleeves are cooler but offer less protection from the sun. Light weight long clothing gives better protection than shorts, short sleeved shirts or sleeveless tops. (Long sleeves and long legs offer the best protection from radiant heat during a bushfire.) Do not walk bare chested.

Wear good sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and glare.

Natural fibre offers the best protection from fire. Bushwalking clothing made from synthetics may melt during a fire.

Use sunscreen to protect areas of your body exposed to the sun. Reapply it regularly according to the instructions on the container.

Walk more slowly than in cooler weather.

Be aware of the following signs of heat exhaustion:

Increased thirst Weak, rapid pulse

Weak, rapid pulse Profuse sweating

Muscle cramps Flushed or pale skin

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. If the above symptoms occur stop walking immediately, get out of the sun, lie down, remove excessive clothing, sip water. Cool the body with moist cloths and by fanning. Seek medical assistance.

If these signs are ignored it may lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke can kill. The symptoms are

Dry, red, hot skin Rapid, strong pulse

Sweating stops/no sweat (most but not all victims)

Rapid, shallow breathing

Convulsions

Altered responsiveness / no responsiveness

Get medical assistance immediately. Lie down in the shade. Sip cold water if possible. Cool the body with moist cloths and by fanning. Place icepacks/cold water wads under the armpits, in the groin and around the neck. Monitor vital signs and provide CPR if necessary.

http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp?site=bimhttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/fire-and-other-emergencies/planned-burning-an-introduction/fire-operations-plans-approvedhttp://nremap-sc.nre.vic.gov.au/MapShare.v2/imf.jsp?site=forestexplorerhttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/96626/FS0095_-_Guide_to_using_Forest_Explorer.pdfhttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/forests/public-access-maphttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dsevictoria/sets/72157631946712304/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsevictoria/sets/72157631946712304/


12

BEEN WALKING? Tell us about your bushwalks by completing our short

survey.

Win Great prizes

www.wherewewalk.org.au (WWeW) is an initiative of Bushwalking Victoria (BWV) to collect some basic data on bushwalking.

Why is Bushwalking Victoria doing this?

There is no systematic collection of information on who is bushwalking, where people are walking or how often they are walking. The lack of data compromises BWVs ability to advocate for better bushwalking and government funding to support bushwalking, including clubs.

It is vital that all our member clubs support this initiative by completing the survey for each club walk. Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) has now made it a condition of our funding that we provide member participation information every six months. Not doing so jeopardises this funding, which currently amounts to around $4 per club member. If we lose this funding, to continue our current work would require BWV to increase the membership fee by $4pa.

The Survey

WWeW is a quick and simple online survey for anyone who bushwalks in Victoria to record basic details for each and every bushwalk they undertake, such as date, location, specific walk completed, distance and duration of walk and how many people were in the group. Walkers can also provide comments such as how they enjoyed the walk and any problems they experienced along the track . Suggestions for improvements or changes to the walking tracks will be passed on to the relevant land manager — i.e. Parks Victoria or the Department of Sustainability.

Clubs also have the option of using an Excel spreadsheet to record the required details which can then be emailed to BWV. Walks reported using the spreadsheet will be included in the prize draw. Download the spreadsheet at http://www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au/files/wherewewalkform.xls

WWeW is for anyone who bushwalks, so we also want as many non-club bushwalkers as possible complete the survey too, so please promote WWeW as widely as

possible to friends, family, colleagues etc.

GREAT PRIZES

We have a great range of prizes to offer people who enter their walks on WWeW.

Winners are drawn randomly with weekly prizes awarded from October until May 2013. Bushwalking clubs are also eligible for the prizes and should a club be successful the prize will be sent to the club which can then decide how the prize is to be allocated within the club.

Major Prize A $400 Snowgum Caddis tent. This prize will be awarded

after 31 May with all participants eligible to win.

Weekly Prizes

Our range of prizes include:

Backpacks and water bottles (supplied by Snowgum). Valued at $70.

Items of Lowe clothing e.g. supplied by Bogong Equipment. Value varies with item types.

Vouchers (supplied by Ajays Snow Country Sports and Eastern Mountain Centre).

Head torches - latest release Petzl Tikka2Plus. Valued at $74.

Steripen Emergency Handheld UV water purifier Valued at $70.

Powermonkey Discovery Charger valued at $90. FIRST PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED We are delighted to announce the following people have won prizes for completing the WhereWeWalk survey form:

S. Packer, Melbourne, a Petzl headtorch

K Dessent, Invanhoe, a $50 voucher from Eastern Mointain Centre in Deepdene

G. Dean, Geelong, a Steripen Emergency handheld UV water purifier

J. O'Doherty, Maffra, an item of Lowe clothing supplied by Bogong Equipment

R. Michelson, Melbourne, a Traveller Powermonkey Discovery Charger.

G. Fengler, CAEX BWC, a $25 voucher from Ajays Snow Country Sports store in Deepdene plus a sports water bottle supplied by Snowgum

J. Jefferys, Berwick BWC, a daypack supplied by Snowgum

Chris Towers, BWV Presiden

BWV gratefully acknowledges the generous support from our commercial and government sponsors for WWeW.

http://www.wherewewalk.org.auhttp://www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au/files/wherewewalkform.xlshttp://www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au/files/wherewewalkform.xlshttp://www.snowgum.com.au/http://www.bogong.com.au/http://www.bogong.com.au/http://www.snow-ski.com.au/http://www.snow-ski.com.au/


13

9 0 Ye a r s o f t h e M e l b o u r n e W o m e n ’ s Wa l k i n g C l u b

Beryl Haile of the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club sent me a copy of “Wayfaring”, the Journal of the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club 90th Anniversary Issue 2012. This entertaining book should be of interest to anyone interested in the history of bushwalking in Victoria. You can obtain a copy of the book from Beryl Haile at [email protected] or by phoning 9889 1727. The cost is $10.

The book is full of reminiscences of walks and other activities undertaken by the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club for the last 20 years and further back. The poems are touching. Women in particular will relate to many of the articles. Well done compilers and contributors to the book. And of course members. Here’s to the next 90 years!

Below is a bit of history and a few humorous snippets. (Editor)

Brief History of the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club

In the first decade of the 20th century there were no walking clubs open to women. Mixed clubs did not spring up until the 1930s. Young women listened with envy to the tales told by their male friends — stories of remote places visited...It wasn’t until four years after WWI had ended and women were becoming more independent that the time seemed ripe to start a walking club...Twenty women came to the inaugural meeting where a provisional committee was appointed to act in the formation of the club. Thus on 11 October 1922 the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club was born…

Is Bushwalking Really for Me?

“You need boots” barked the male voice over the phone in response to my inquiry about an upcoming walk. Having already explained that this was to be my very first bushwalk, I asked if good sneakers would be OK as I didn’t want to invest in a pair of walking boots at this early stage. “No, you need boots’ was all he could say. Feeling dispirited I thanked him and hung up the phone. Maybe bushwalking wasn’t for me after all…[Not true! as I discovered when I joined the Melbourne Women’s Walking Club.]

Scouting...Comments left by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips

Escalators would help on steep uphill sectionsTrails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.

Please avoid building trails that go uphill

Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests

The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.

Too many rocks in the mountains

Pleasures Abound

Do you ever get a queer look when you mention to friends that you belong to a walking club, as if they think you’re mad? Although, how they get that impression is hard to tell. Of course, once you tell them a few of our doings, they change your mind. They’re quite sure you're stark raving bonkers!...

From Ena Stewart (member 1949-1999)

This is to certify that members of the Melbourne Women’s Walking club are true bushwalkers and as such are liable to be:

Certified

Rarefied

Mystified

Glorified

Clarified

Pasteurised

Verified

Terrified

Mesmerised.

How do you know when you’ve had a really hard walk?

When I have three glasses of wine instead of two in the bath

When I have a plate of porridge for tea

When I order a pizza and go to bed

When I don’t take the dog for a walk

When I fall asleep before the 7.30 serial on the ABC.

B u s h w a l k i n g N e w s V i c t o r i a A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s

1/6 page advertisement $27.50 1/4 page advertisement $42.00 1/3 page advertisement $55.00 1/2 page advertisement $82.50 Full page advertisement $165.00

Note: Advertisements must be artwork ready.

* Advertiser to supply 300 printed inserts each edition.

Advertising is welcome but insertion is subject to the editor’s discretion.

Products or services advertised in this publication are not endorsed or recommended in any way by Bushwalking Victoria.

mailto:[email protected]

14


Bushwalking News Victoria

If undeliverable please return to

Bushwalking Victoria Inc. PO Box 1007

Templestowe 3106 Victoria

Office Office Manager: Patricia Borton

PO Box 1007 Templestowe Vic 3106 Phone: 8846 4131 Fax: 9846 7473 [email protected] www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au Office Hours: Monday: 9.00am – 4.00pm Tuesday: 9.00am – 3.30pm Wednesday: 9.00am – 3.30pm

Office Bearers President: Chris Towers

[email protected] 9802 4449 Skype: ec.towers

Vice President: Tony Walker [email protected]

Secretary Fred Bover [email protected]

Assistant Secretary (Vacant) [email protected]

Treasurer: Val Wake [email protected]

General Board Members Megan Major [email protected] David Reid [email protected] Terry Sydes [email protected] John Creaser [email protected]

Standing Commit tees Bush Search and Rescue Victoria: Peter Campbell [email protected] Manager Bushwalking Environment: Dave Rimmer

[email protected] 0458 998 872

Standing committees (cont) Conservation and Track Maintenance Project Officer: Charlie Ablitt

[email protected]

Specia l ist Off icers Insurance:

[email protected]

Publications and News Editor: Joslin Guest [email protected]

Federation Walks Coordinator Sylvia McLean [email protected]

Consultants Strategy Consultant: Elaine Towers

[email protected] Honorary Auditor and Accounting Consultant: Stephen Skaleskog Land Management Submissions: Phil Brotchie

[email protected] 5356 2459

Representatives on Other Organisations Bushwalking Australia:

Victorian Delegate: Chris Towers Victorian Deputy Delegate: David Reid

Please contact via the office

Organisations where BWV Members Provide a Bushwalk ing Perspect ive Grampians Peak Trail Task Force: Phil Brotchie

Outdoor Recreation Centre Committee of Management:

Chris Towers

Living Links Steering Committee: Tony Walker

W h o ’ s W h o a t B u s h w a l k i n g V i c t o r i a

R e g N o A 0 0 0 2 5 4 8 Y A B N 8 8 3 4 4 6 3 3 0 3 7
mailto:[email protected]:www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.aumailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]