The major forthcoming event in this programme is our Federation walk, which is being held at Blackwood on 16^th October. Our Fedwalk team have been very busy with planning and things are progressing extremely well. The walks are finalised, about twenty in all, the walk booklet is being prepared, and advertising, equipment hire and allocation of volunteer tasks are all well in hand. Whilst I believe that we have most tasks covered extra volunteers are always welcome. There may also be whips required though some leaders may have already organised their own whips. David Bass has organised accommodation for those interested. There are also plans afoot to organise meals and/or social events to make a weekend of it for the club. All in all this promises to be a great weekend, and a chance for all members to come along, do their bit, and have some fun at the same time. The only thing we cannot guarantee is the weather!

Ron Bell our equipment officer has brought to the committees’ notice just how little our equipment is being used. The club has been slowly writing off these assets, but they are still mostly in excellent condition. In particular we have nine packs, two tents and four stoves, which for a modest fee are available for use. Anyone, who is considering pack walking or perhaps a base camp, should consider hiring as a cheaper alternative. Unless a member is certain to get sufficient use from, for example a pack, which would cost $400 or so retail, then paying $5 or so is a much cheaper option even if used ten times a year. So please see Ron and find out what is available.

From time to time the committee or other club members request that I speak on items, such as confirmation of walk attendance or similar topics, related to ‘unwritten’ rules. The programme states that members are to confirm at least three days prior (this one is at least written). My experience is that most members do confirm, but sometimes less than three days prior - or even book in less than three days prior. It has also been pointed out to me that sometimes members forget that they have booked for an event in the first place. EBC does not have a rule-book; this was discussed at committee but discounted as being extra paperwork which was unlikely to be enforced in any case. The club does have a high member turnover who may be unaware of these ‘rules’, furthermore the risk is of them being interpreted differently and/or inconsistently by different members. One of the often underrated challenges of leadership is managing groups, and these issues are just such challenges. Whilst we do wish to have decorum in our walking, a sense of proportion is required.

May I wish you all happy walking.

ESSENDON

BUSHWALKING CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 32, Moonee Ponds, 3032

This edition of OME marks the passing of an era for the club. Nellie Earnshaw, near-founding member and inspiration to hundreds of club members, past and present, passed away in May, aged eighty seven. This newsletter contains three tributes to Nellie, and for those of you who never knew her, after reading these tributes, you will probably wish you had. Vale, Nellie.

Besides tributes to Nellie, this edition contains walk previews, and for something different, a book review! Many thanks to all of you whose time and effort make this a genuine Club newsletter. Keep up the good work.

Submitting Articles: E-mail: cjjarvis@labyrinth.net.au

Contributors must ensure their articles comply with copyright laws. The editor cannot be expected to be aware of the original source of an article or its contents unless informed by the contributor. Failure to comply with copyright law could result in legal action against the club, the editor and contributor.

SCARPA PEAK GTX Gore-Tex Hiking Boots, Size 38 (7) Worn only 3 times. Like new. Unfortunately too small. Cost: $320.00 Sell $80.00 Contact: Jan Edwards

Nellie Earnshaw was one determined lady. Nellie was born in Yorkshire, England and with two young children she and her husband Harry immigrated to Australia. Melbourne was their new home where later they had a third child. In her early fifties Nellie suffered a stroke, which paralysed her down one side of her body. She was bedridden for some time and decided whilst lying there that if ever she got better she would do things she always wanted to do, as the children were now independent.

It took lots of courage and determination before she was able to walk again. To assist her recovery she decided to take up swimming. She even encouraged Harry to provide an unheated swimming pool in the back yard. Nellie swam many laps each day of the year regardless of the weather. She did not always enjoy breaking the ice on some of the winter mornings and so eventually she succumbed to wearing a wetsuit. Her doctor remarked that this daily swimming discipline and her determination to repair herself contributed heavily to her recovery. She continued swimming well into her seventies.

In 1975 at age fifty seven, Nellie read an article in the Essendon Gazette about the newly formed Essendon Bushwalking Club. She followed this up and went along to a meeting. Not long after this she and Harry began attending regular walks. Her stroke left her with a limp but this did not impede her at all.

As time went by she and Harry became competent bushwalkers and attended many day walks and a few weekend trips into the high country and to costal areas. In the early eighties skiing was a popular programme winter activity with the few leaders we had, and during those cooler months there were fewer day walks. Nellie didn’t like this, so after some encouragement she took up the challenge and began leading day walks herself. In those days there was no formal leadership training in the club. Leaders rose from the ranks of competent walkers. Public liability insurance and first aid training wasn’t such an issue.

Nellie researched and pioneered many diverse and interesting walks. She wove her love of the environment and native flora into her walking events. Some leaders were surprised when they attended her walks at just how interesting and sometimes difficult they were.

Her popular walking venues were: Essendon to Brimbank Park and return 28 kms; The big Mt Buffalo Walk 22kms; Mordialloc to St Kilda 25kms; And other long distance journeys to Point Nepean and Cape Shank.

Nellie was a very intelligent lady who did not suffer fools easily. A classic example of her way of managing her walking group was the time when she led a walk to Arthur’s Seat. As the walk progressed, a few enthusiastic people rushed ahead. So Nellie simply stopped the group and had lunch. About an hour later the racehorses returned rather sheepishly having learnt their lesson. There were other similar events.

Mother nature appeared to be on Nellie’s side as the weather on her walks always seemed glorious with blue skies and sunshine, and she was delighted to mention this each time she gave her walks report at the club meeting. Walkers today may occasionally hear the statement "It’s a Nellie day".

She was recognised as a life member of the club in the mid ninety nineties. (Apologies, the club records are not all that accessible to find the exact year she was made a Life Member. Ed.)

During her early eighties her failing back required major operations and she had to reluctantly retire from club walking. But this debilitating condition did not stop her walking from home to Poynton’s Nursery for her daily coffee fix.

In latter years she sold her Essendon home and moved to a retirement village at Mt Martha where she enjoyed daily walks along nearby cliff tops overlooking Port Phillip Bay. She required the use of her walking stick on these occasions. She also enjoyed many hours maintaining her small garden.

Last May she suffered a fall at her retirement village and never recovered from the operation that followed. Nellie passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday May 27, 2005. She had celebrated her eighty seventh birthday just three weeks earlier.

Club members and others who knew her well will dearly miss her. She was a mentor and inspiration to many people and was always encouraging folk in the gentle ways and urged her friends to do their best and to stay strong.

The recent passing of Essendon Bushwalking Club Life Member, Nellie Earnshaw, brought back memories of enjoyable times spent walking with one of our most caring and dedicated leaders.

Many of us had our first experience of organised bushwalking under Nellie’s gentle direction. Her walks were carefully planned and conducted, and often introduced many of us to areas we had never before visited.

Nothing was left to chance with Nellie, even the weather. There is an expression still heard in Essendon circles when the sun is shining before or during a walk - "this is a typical Nellie day". Good weather was a feature of Nellie’s walks as if she had somehow pre-arranged it. She always took great care to ensure that a novice walker was properly prepared with all the necessary gear, including when a rookie like me didn’t know what a Japara was!

Nellie’s walk areas were many – the Dandenongs, Kinglake, Mt Buffalo, etc, but her favourite walks were probably on the Mornington Peninsula. Arthur’s Seat, Portsea, Cape Schanck were all places she took our members during my time in the Club, and I’m sure others could expand this list.

We tend to think of Nellie as a leader of predominantly easy or easy-medium walks, but I recall quite vividly the 28km walk from Mordialloc to St Kilda in late 1992. The train trip from Moonee Ponds was full of the happy conversation of a quite large group of walkers looking forward to the challenge of a long walk. By the time we reached the starting point at Mordialloc the outside temperature had climbed significantly. We spent the next eight or nine hours walking into a strong hot northerly wind, and even by lunchtime, quite a few of us were feeling the pinch. As the walk progressed, people started to drop out and take public transport back to Moonee Ponds. By the time we reached St Kilda, I could barely stand, but there was Nellie, by then I believe in her seventies, looking just as fresh as when we set out.

If and when the history of the Essendon Bushwalking Club is written, Nellie Earnshaw’s name will feature prominently as one of the Club’s foremost leaders and a truly wonderful person.

Vale, Nellie.

Planning is now well advanced, and the sub-committee is now into the stage of setting departure times for the walks, and getting key volunteers briefed on their tasks.

You might be wondering ‘Just what are we putting on?’ Well, here is a sneak preview:

Garden St Erth to Crown Dam Circuit, 9km, E ()

Newbury to Lyonville, 19.5km, E/M (David Bass)

East Walk – Cowan Track, 12km, M (John McRae)

Trentham to Blackwood via Blue Mountain, 15km, E/M (Keith Hart)

Babbington Hill, 10km, E (Tony Creedy)

Blackwood – Ruths Gully, 18km, M/H (Neil Campbell)

Whiskey – Nolan – Kangaroo Tracks circuit, 15km, M ()

Whiskey Creek – Ambler Lane circuit, 16.5km, M/H (Chris Jarvis)

Green Gully Circuit, 17km, M (Stephen Bocquet)

Trentham – Domino Trail, 12km, E ()

Mt Blackwood – Long Point, 18km, M/H (Ian Tovey)

Paradise Mill Circuit, 20km, M (Marion Skovdam)

Circuit south of Mt Wilson, 16km, E/M (Frank Szentmiklossy)

Yankee Mine Track, 16km, E/M ();

Yankee Creek Water Races, 12km, M (Bill Casey)

Blackwood Historic Tour, 8km, E (Ron Bell)

The Tunnel circuit, 17km, M Bryan Folie);

Balt Camp, 14km, M ()

Firth Park to Andersons Mill, 9km, E (Brian Smith)

Blackwood to The Tunnel via Byers Back Track, 15km, E (Rob Hughes).

It is a credit to all the leaders who have contributed their time and effort to planning and describing their walks that are making this event happen.

The next edition of OME will contain congratulations to everybody who made this event a great success. The major part of the event is still to come – the day itself.

The sub-committee will soon start communicating with leaders directly on procedures, starting times and other logistic details. The many volunteers will also soon learn their roles in detail.

The next few months will be critical. Stay focussed, and make this event a huge success, not just for this club, but for The Federation.

We have obtained the services of Barry Reef Scout Camp just 4km north of Blackwood. There is a full amenities block with hot and cold showers, standard equipped kitchen and an outdoor camp kitchen area with wood fire BBQ. A large Nissen hut equipped with a wood heater, for sleeping on a timber floor, costs $5.00 per person. Ample tent sites around the area cost $5.00 per tent.

For booking accommodation and information contact David Bass.

A large thankyou to John Atkinson for coordinating and running such a successful weekend, "fine tunning" eleven enthusiastic club members into new leaders.

Congratulations to our new leaders Ron Pearce, Marion Skovdam, Ryan Davies, Loris Cassar, Charles Cassar, Jason Durney, Fiona Richardson, Laurie Charleston, Ian Yarde, David McLaren and Dallas James. Well done. There is no pressure to lead a walk, but the knowledge these individuals have gained can always be used, even in an emergency situation. However, many of these new leaders have walks programmed for spring or planned in the future. Many are keen pack walkers and many have much experience already with map and compass from many previous rogaines and orienteering events. I’m sure that everyone will support our new leaders on their inaugural and future walks. New leaders mean fresh new ideas and areas to walk in for something different, which everyone appreciates.

Also thankyou to all those outstanding club members who are always there to back up and provide support on such an event: Keith actually managed to hold everyone’s interest and have a good interactive session on the administration, legalities and rights of a leader in running a walk. Darren McClellan advised on trip planning. Geoff Saddler, one of our very respected life members came out of the woodwork to give in-the-field sessions on the weather pattern and its relevance in given situations. The weather over the weekend was true to form and did not let us down, giving us plenty to look at and discuss! Dave Wren also materialised for a very entertaining afternoon of first aid in the bush. John guided us through astral navigation and hardest of all-people management. Chris with all his search and rescue experience also lent a hand. As did Neil Campbell, along with Greg Passlow and Ian and Philip McLean who’s role-play had the new leaders scratching their heads as to how to deal with the "very" inappropriately prepared and uncooperative walker?

All in all, I’m sure that the new leaders will tell you that it was an excellent and enjoyable weekend, expanding on already well developed skills and bush craft. From a leader’s perspective, I found it was a most enjoyable bonding exercise and it did not hurt to hear and refresh all that information again! I’m sure that there are many suitably qualified potential future leaders out there that really should be on board next time. After all you would pay big bucks to do such a course at a commercial outdoor recreational facility! And here you are nurtured amongst friends!

16km, Easy

Ron Pearce

There were at least two "Balt Camps" in the Wombat State Forest servicing the various sawmills there. The one near Bullengarook has been reduced to a concrete slab, probably where the fireplace existed. The "Balt Camps" were used as a base for the workers from the Baltic States of Europe that worked the sawmills in the area.

This walk will take us around the south east corner of the Wombat State Forest, and will be mainly along four wheel drive tracks, with a small section of scrub bashing to add interest. It is an area frequented by four-wheel drivers, so the tracks are badly eroded in parts, and could be muddy after rain! Also, being on the edge of the forest, and near Firth Road, the area gets plenty of use for rubbish disposal and abandoned cars. Despite this, the area is popular with orienteers, rogainers and mountain bikes (pedal power).

The walk will start at the Link Road/Firth Road intersection, with the circuit being completed in time for afternoon tea at the Gisborne Bakery.

Sunday September 18

16km Easy/Medium

Rodney Williams

This is a Federation walk, starting and finishing at Blackwood Recreation Reserve. From the reserve, it is a short uphill into the township of Blackwood. A walk through this picturesque setting soon takes us into the Wombat State Forest. We then proceed along the Lerderderg River which is below the track. Another climb will then takes us to Yankee Mine for investigation. A little further on will be lunch, in a clearing surrounded by low bushes rather than the iron bark forest we have been through. From there it is down hill with some views to the south. The homeward stretch is upon a wide unsealed, flat road till the final turn onto the upward sealed road back to Blackwood, passing the Shaws Lake Reserve.

Saturday September 24

15kms, Medium

Tony Creedy

The Goulburn River runs east through a wide flood plain past the town of Yea. North of the flood plain the ground rises sharply to a plateau about 430 metres above the river. The Switzerland Range is a ridge running south east from the plateau (Melways 610 Q7). Going back to squatting days, the property of Switzerland included the range and a large area of the plateau and river frontage. Now this has been subdivided into many smaller properties, but the top of the ridge and much of the very steep south facing slopes became the Switzerland Range Nature Conservation Reserve.

To get there we’ll drive to the top of the plateau, and the northwest boundary of the reserve, on local roads. We’ll commence a circuit walk in the reserve past an old survey marker, a knoll with good views, dip briefly into one of the gullies running steeply down the slopes (but only descend 100m or so) then west out of the reserve to the top of Mount Broughton, with excellent views in most directions, then on to the topmost of a number of waterfalls on stony creek, a watercourse which runs in a deep valley to the west of Mount Broughton. We’ll then return to the cars for lunch via the ridge top fire trail. Access to Mt Broughton and the falls is courtesy of local landowners on the day of the walk only. After lunch we’ll follow the fire trail out to the eastern boundary of the reserve, then retrace it back to the cars. The afternoon walk will be easy with good views over the Goulburn River.

Travel time from the Bowling Green car park is about 2hrs each way, so it’ll be an 0730 start. We should get time to visit nearby Yea for coffee, etc.

Saturday October 8

12km Easy/Medium

Ian McLean

Come and see the last remnants of the Mallee at Long Forest Flora Reserve, 55km west of Melbourne, north east of Bacchus Marsh, south of the Great Divide. Enjoy a river ramble and observe the flora and fauna. Wallabies and kangaroos are guaranteed to be seen, along with perhaps a koala or echidna. There is an array of bird life and the flora is unique. Walking will be on and off tracks following the Coimadai Creek with the surrounding terrain gently undulating. And if it’s raining in Melbourne, we can pretty well guarantee it will be dry in Long Forest, as the area seems to be in a rain shadow.

Afternoon tea will be in Bacchus Marsh.

Saturday October 22

15km, Easy

Ian McLean

A very pleasant walk, taking in the sensory delights of a section of the Mt Dandenong Ranges National Park at Olinda. Highlights include The National Rhododendron Gardens, R.J.Hamer Forrest Arboretum, a couple of lookouts and something called Nib Nab Nob. And if you want to know what that is, then you had better come along to find out.

A very nice afternoon tea is served at the Rhododendron Gardens after the walk.

Saturday October 29

Medium 30kms

Neil Campbell

This will be a walk along a beautiful section of the Great Dividing Trail, with a few undulating sections along the way. We will be walking Between Nolan’s Picnic ground, (just outside the Blackwood area), and walk to Jubilee Lake near Daylesford. We will start off from the Nolan’s Picnic Ground and head around steep sections of the Trail, around the top of the Great Divide around Forest Gully, as we head towards Balt Camp. We will visit the old Refugee Work Camp, which was constructed after World War 2 for Refugees. After Balt Camp we will continue along the Top of the Great Divide with some steep sections to encounter, as we head around the back of Spargo Creek and the end of the original Anderson’s Tramway, and the Stockyard. Anderson’s Tramway was used for the Saw millers for carting timber until the Barkstead Mill closed in 1879. We will then walk through the Wombat State Forest and along the Top of the Divide until we reach Leonard’s Hill Rd. From Leonard’s Hill Rd we will walk past and visit the Graves Telegraph Mill, which was also serviced by the Anderson’s Tramway, as we walk through a deep cutting. We will then walk along the Trail towards Specimen Hill, which was the scene of where the Children went missing in the Bush, (Hence Lost Children), and is also the section of track that (both yours truly, leading the walk), and Essendon Bushwalkers and Great Dividing Trail Association walkers, who cleared this section of track earlier in the year! The final section will be following the old Ballarat- Daylesford Railway line, as we walk over an impressive embankment and cutting to finish up at the scene of the start of this year’s GDT Marathon at Jubilee Lake outside Daylesford.

It will be the best way of getting yourself ready for Bill’s Marathon in two weeks and you can also say that you’ve walked 72kms in two weeks!

We will leave from the Moonee Ponds Car park at 7.30 am.

Saturday November 5

16km, Easy / Medium

Ron Pearce

The start of this walk will be at the Bostock Reservoir Picnic Area. After crossing the dam wall, we will enter the pine forest for the first forty-five minutes or so. Some of the pine forest will be new growth and therefore in the open. So if the sun is out, don’t forget the sun cream; if it is raining, don’t forget the wet weather gear. We soon get into the forest and some shelter from the elements, and walk along wide tracks. However as there is negligible undergrowth due to recent burning off, we may go off track and across easy walking forest. The walk will be a circuit of the Whipstick Forest area, with a challenging short steep gully to cross in the afternoon followed by a short climb to the pine forest and then back to the cars at the Reservoir.

We will leave Moonee Ponds at 8.00am.

Sunday November 6

12km, Easy

Ian McLean

This walk is not only scenic and historic, it’s a tribute and celebration of Nellie Earnshaw’s life and contribution to Essendon Bushwalking Club. More recent members may be unacquainted with Nellie Earnshaw who sadly and suddenly passed away at the end of May, but may well have heard about her.

Being one of the earliest members of EBC, a life member and a stalwart, she inspired all of us. Post pack walking days she led walks into the late 1990’s when she was ‘well’ into her seventies. A walk with Nellie always involved naming all the various wildflowers and plants and developing an appreciation of ‘what’s out there’. At meetings we always laughed about Nellie’s connections with the ‘weather man’ because the sun ALWAYS shone brilliantly on the day of any of Nellies’ walks. Her walks reports given with her British accent always started with standard line "we had a beautiful day". It was taken for granted that when any one said that, they had had a Nellie day, everyone just knew that the day had been perfect.

A standard Nellie led day walk consisted of at least 26 to 28kms and labelled as easy! On the occasion when a leader stood up at a meeting and had to cancel a walk, Nellie, not wanting to disappoint the members always put herself forward to put on a substitute walk, straight off the cuff! Nellie made no secret that Point Nepean was her favourite walk and anyone who has been there can understand why. Some of her memorable walks were located at Williamstown, Mordiallic, Green’s Bush, Gellibrand, 1,000 Steps, Lysterfield, Puffing Billy Track, Kinglake, and her favourite long weekend was always at Mt. Buffalo. Nellie’s walks were always a good starting point for beginners and new members (in those days we were ALL tough!), but that is not to say that they were a push over - you got your money’s worth!

Unfortunately chronic back pain and surgery put an end to Nellie’s serious walking. Four years ago Nellie moved to Mt. Martha to be closer to her family and beloved seaside.

In the past we ran this walk, often at Nellie’s request so that she could join us - usually in May, when her birthday occurred, though Nellie always avoided fuss and tended to call this her ‘anniversary walk’. This theme followed through in the planning of her own funeral. Very simple, no service, no speeches. For those that attended it was a get-together of old friends, the majority of who were past and present EBC members, a happy rather than sad occasion. But Nellie’s only major request was for a tree to be planted - at Point Nepean! Nellie’s family are currently working on this request, as Point Nepean is a National Park. We had hoped to tie this event with this walk, but it probably won’t happen this way.

Point Nepean National Park has only been open to the public since December 1988. Over the proceeding 100 years its association with early settlement, shipping, quarantine and defence gives it great significance in Victorian history. Its coastal scenery is spectacular and it’s features; man-made and natural, are diverse. This is also where Harold Holt disappeared. There are many points of interest along the way to discover. Bookings are essential for a group, as only six hundred people are permitted into this fragile area at any given time. So please notify your walk intentions well in advance of the date. There is also an entrance fee, which applies.

Wednesday November 9

12km, Easy

Ron Pearce

Normally, Gellibrand Hill Park takes on a typical dried up appearance, or after rain, it can become a nice green colour. However from late October to mid November, it has been covered in a purple colour – nice for the photographer – but not liked by the farmers. Pattersons Curse is the cause of this mass of colour. This noxious weed can cause serious problems for animals that eat it.

We will start the walk at the Providence Road Car Park, walking up the hill towards and through the Peppermint Gum Plantation. From there we will make our way to the Somerton Road Picnic Area for morning tea, looking at the colourful grasslands on the way. From there we will wander along Moonee Ponds Creek on the Northern edge of the Park, making our way to the Homestead in time for lunch, and a chance to look around the old home if required. In the afternoon, we will wander around checking out the extent of the "curse", before making our way back to the Aboriginal Cemetery and the cars.

Saturday November 12

6-42km, Easy to Medium / Hard

Bill Casey & his band of great Helpers

It’s coming round again in a few months – the annual 42km walk. This year we start at Jubilee Lake near Daylesford and finish at Vaughan Springs, the same finish point as three years ago after the unusually high November temperature claimed so many of our walkers.

The walk date is Saturday, November 12. Meeting point is Vaughan Springs at 7.15am. This can be reached either via the Western Freeway, turning off at Ballan and passing through Daylesford and Guildford, or by following the Calder Highway, turning off at Elphinstone and then via Chewton and Fryerstown.

At Vaughan Springs on the Saturday morning, we will board the traditional Little’s of Daylesford bus which will take us to the start at Jubilee Lake from where we hope to get away by 8.30am. Along the walk route we pass Lake Daylesford, Tipperary Springs, the Blowhole, Breakneck Gorge, Golden Spring, Beehive Gully and the Glenluce goldfields when are teeming with relics of the past, not that we get much time to inspect anything.

Walk format will be as per usual – seven stages, six en-route check-points, support cars meet the walkers at each check-point. Very little needs to be carried so backpacks can usually be dispensed with. The walk should be finished by 8-30pm.

Optional two-course hot dinner for $17-50 is available at the Guildford Hotel, and booking is necessary. Talk to Ray Scilley.

Other costs are:

Bus fare & support cars $7.50

Non-members fee $5

By the time you read this all pre-booked Friday and Saturday night accommodation might have been taken, but have a word to one of the GDM team and we’ll see what we can do. The team consists of Ray Scilley, Beth Elkins, Mary Atkins, Des Sunderland, Gina Casalbuono and Bill Casey.

Ray Scilley will accept the money for all the above items at the August and September meetings.

Further details on the walk and how to get there will be supplied at the October or November meetings.

Saturday December 17

10 km, Easy

Sylvia McLean

Meeting at the BBQ area at the Somerton Road car park for a 6pm start. NB Carry your tea to be enjoyed atop of Gellibrand Hill. We stroll through Woodland’s beautiful red gum forests onto the Homestead and through the wildlife enclosure (dogs are banned from this area), along the creek and up to Gellibrand Hill to sit on the granite boulders watching dusk change to darkness and a fantastic view of the lights of Melbourne. A torch may be helpful but hopefully there should be a cloudless sky and a near full moon.

December 27-30

60km, Medium

Darren McClelland

Join Darren on this four-day, sixty kilometre circuit to check out the fire damage, but more importantly, the re-growth! Walk off the Xmas pudding as we visit Sealer's Cove, Refuge Cove, Waterloo Bay and more! Get in quick though as there are only spots for eight people.

Payment of a $20 camping fee to Darren will secure your spot if among the first eight registrants. Please note that the walk is subject to cancellation in the event of the walk not being re-opened in time.

March or April 2006

Neil Campbell

I will be having a base camp over the weekend at Terrick Terrick State Park, which is just to the north of Mitiamo and Bendigo in northern Victoria. The park contains some of the most impressive grasslands, which were put aside from the nearby light sheep grazing, and also has extensive White Cypress Pine, and Grey and Yellow-Box Woodlands. We will be camping at the Mount Terrick Picnic Ground in the park itself and do some extensive walks throughout the park. This area was passed through by the famous explorer Major Sir Thomas Mitchell on his way to climbing nearby Pyramid Hill. The granite outcrops in the area were also home to the Dja Dja Warung Aboriginal People. The park is also home to the Mallee Ring Parrot, Barking Owl, Brolga, Black Wallaby, Fat Tailed Dunnart, and Tree Goanna. We will possibly also visit and climb nearby Pyramid Hill and Mt Hope and some of the aboriginal sites in these areas. We will get magnificent views over the irrigation district around Kow Swamp, and Murray Region.

If time allows, we will visit Cohuna, (where our leader was brought up in younger days). He may even give you a guided tour of the area, as well as Gunbower Island, near the River Murray, checking out all the extensive bird life in the area.

Date, meeting place and time will be confirmed in next program and Old Man Emu.

Spring 2006

Neil Campbell

It is at early stages, but I will be organising a twelve to fourteen day walk along a section of the Bibbulman Track, possibly around the Mandurah, Margaret River, or quite possibly around the Denmark and Pemberton areas, (visiting the Timber top walk), and walking through the giant Karri Forests along the south west region of Western Australia.

The aim of having the walk in spring is due to the wildflower season, as Western Australia is at it’s best, and the climate should be ideal for walking.

It is a walk that is a long way off and I will be discussing it throughout 2006, but unfortunately a limit of numbers applies. I will be negotiating with accommodation, car hire and Air Travel during the year.

For 2005 - 2006 is:

President: Keith Hart

Vice President: **Ian Tovey

Secretary: Brian Smith

Treasurer: Ian Yarde

Committee: Ron Bell, Bryan Folie, **Darren McClelland, Jan Edwards & **Neil Campbell

** Denotes Delegates to VicWalk

Don’t forget that members can obtain a discount at Bogong Equipment, 374 Little Bourke Street. They offer a 10% discount on all non-sale items.

(Snail) Mail: The Secretary, Essendon Bushwalking Club Inc., P.O. Box 32, Moonee Ponds, 3039

Are released three times each year, at the April, August and December club meetings.

One copy of the program is included within the hard-copy version of the club newsletter, Old Man Emu.

Additional copies are available from the Secretary or Treasurer for 20¢ each.

Are held on the second Wednesday of each month, at Hall 3, St. Thomas Church (behind the church), Mt. Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds Junction (corner of Mt. Alexander and Pascoe Vale Roads). Meetings start at 7.30 pm.

The contact for loan of equipment is Ron Bell

Equipment available for loan:

Tents; Backpacks; Sleeping Bags; Rain Jackets; Stoves; Sleeping Mats.

Visitors Fee (per event) $ 5

Annual Membership fees apply from June 1 to May 31. Membership fees not paid two months after the June AGM render the member unfinancial. There are no pro-rata membership fees as the club is required to pay an annual Federation / Insurance premium.

An unfinancial member is required to pay the visitors fee for every event they attend until they have paid their full membership fee. As an unfinancial member, the Club's Personal Accident and Public Liability Insurance on any club activity does not cover you.

Unfinancial members and visitors attending more than three events in a club year are required to pay the full membership fee.

New members must pay the annual membership fee within 28 days of their membership application being approved by the committee.

(From April to July)

Louise Williams, Gail and Les Mayes, Rodney Casey, Margaret Tehan, Rita Bradbury, Marilyn Moore, Rob Elliott, Paul Kimpton, Tess Murton, Ben Denham, Marek Turski and the return of a former member Elizabeth Fairchild.

This is a new edition of a book first published by A.H. & A.W. Reed in 1954. I’d be surprised if you can find it in a bookshop here – I had to scour the bookshops in Auckland airport to find a copy. It would be well worth the trouble to order it, either from a bookshop or on the internet.________________________________

A guest at the last Federation Meeting was a very interesting chap called Loch Wilson from the "Winter Group". This is a group has been in existence over forty years and consists of about forty paid-up skiing members. This club runs its own ski trips much like our club runs its own walks. They have just had their AGM and the good news is that they have world wide insurance coverage through Victorian Snow Sports Association.

The membership is $25 per year for individuals and $35 for families.

Did you know that you can get a free copy of VicWalk News every month on the internet? VicWalk News is an informative read that keeps you up to date with Federation happenings, new tracks and books and unusual walks that other clubs undertake. Go to home.vicnet.net.au/~vicwalk/vicwalk-news/