The major event on the Spring/Summer programme was our Federation walk, which the club hosted at Blackwood. We were most fortunate that the weather could not have been better. The event went smoothly, a token of the quality of the underlying organisation for which many thanks goes to the organising committee. A particular commendation goes to Chris Jarvis, Ian Tovey and Sylvia McLean for their efforts. In aggregate there were approximately 250 attendees. Most of the walks went and with full complements. For the volunteers and leaders the previous evening at the scout camp was a success and many thanks go to David and Vicki Bass for their efforts. May I also thank all of the contributors; the organising committee; leaders; and the many individual members helping with catering, car parking and administration activities. Whilst we still have to settle up the accounts, whether or not we make a small surplus the club can justifiably be proud of the result. A big ‘thank you’ to everybody from the committee.

The committee, after informal consultation amongst members has decided to increase in the agreed petrol-sharing fee, which has risen to 8¢/km. As usual there was a variety of opinions, most felt an increase was warranted and indeed a significant number felt 10¢ was more appropriate. In net, and given the volatility of petrol prices 8¢ was settled on as we do not wish to continually alter the amount. A flat sum method was felt most appropriate rather than a more complex formula. However the exact amount is up to individual drivers; what is suggested above is a maximum. Members should of course note that the expense of vehicle usage is far more than the petrol cost. Not only are there issues of maintenance and potential damage but there is the task of driving itself. May I encourage all members to take their turn at driving, then the agreed petrol-sharing fee becomes irrelevant. Please also wherever possible fill vehicles up. This is not only an obvious economy and a conservation measure, but reduces the number of drivers required. On average this would imply that individual members should look to drive once in every four walks.

On matters administrative a reminder to all members to ensure they are financial by the due date, that is the GM in August when the Spring/Summer programme is due along with OME. This cut off is now being enforced, due to the large number of continuing members who in previous times had not paid by the due date. The onus must rest on members; notice of renewal is given in the April OME prior to the AGM in June when payment is due, and a two-month grace period is allowed. It is neither fair nor reasonable to expect volunteer office bearers on the committee to chase recalcitrant members. Non-continuing members do not normally inform the committee, therefore all non-financial members will be assumed to no longer wish to be members. The penalty is a de facto $15 charge for rejoining by doing the three qualifying walks. Late payments will not be accepted.

May I wish you all a happy Christmas and New Year.

The hall at St Thomas is being re-developed in late 2006, so the committee had to find a new venue for club meetings.

Fortunately a new venue has been found. It is close by. It has excellent facilities. The meeting times will remain unchanged. There is ample parking. It is quite reasonably priced.

The club will have access to a bar, tables, chairs, loud speakers, urn and crockery. Members can even partake in lawn bowls if they wish!

A reminder that the club’s January Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Maribyrnong River BBQ’s, at the south end of Fawkner Street, Essendon. The Bowling Club will be the wet weather back-up venue.

ESSENDON

BUSHWALKING CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 32, Moonee Ponds, 3032

Here we are again with another issue of OME. Features of this edition include a report on the very successful Federation DayWalk, a fascinating tale from Neil on his adventures along the Kokoda Track, walks previews, our new meeting venue, Doris’s famous fruit cake (her secret’s out!), plus more.

Enjoy!

Submitting Articles: Articles can be sent to Chris Jarvis, at <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.

By Sylvia McLean

After about fifteen months of planning and hard work put in by a good many people it finally came together very successfully on Sunday October 16. October 16. Even the weather could not have been better. I heard it said many times during the event that ‘Nellie is looking after us!’

I would like to thank all of the FedWalk volunteers and leaders for their support and particularly the FedWalk committee. Comments were flying all day long about our good organization…. Well, you made it all happen… thankyou to all of you. Congratulations to the sixty-nine of us from the club that contributed entirely in a leader/whip or volunteer role, independent of EBC walker participants.

The committee which originally started at a leaders meeting with Ian Tovey, Chris Jarvis, Michael Howes, Frank Szentimiklossy, John Atkinson and myself soon changed shape as we lost John and co opted Inge Lingham, Jan Edwards and Mary Atkins.

Carmel Roads, with her food handling expertise, was enlisted as the Catering Manager and liaised from Creswick with the assistance of Inge and myself. Jan became the queen of paperwork, starting with designing the FedWalk logo and making nametags, walks sheets and signs etc. Jan’s most impressive contribution (assisted by Ian) was transforming the leaders’ rough maps into comprehensible maps for the walks booklet, which delighted Chris who took on the responsibility of producing such a wonderful and comprehensive Blackwood walks booklet. Michael undertook the mammoth task of planning and organising the car parking. Peter Whelan, Karen Armitage, Frank Kinnersley, Tess Murton along with Philip, who was feeling pretty important managing the Stop/Go sign controlling cars and pedestrians, Geoff May, Max Amor and Helen Kearney ably assisted him on the day. In my mind this was the biggest dread… but Michael had it all worked out and they fitted with room to spare and there was no problem with the coming and goings as walks came and went. This was thanks to Gina Casalbuono and John Plucchino who had a very early start to the day as they distributed and secured the ‘caution walkers’ and Fedwalk directional signs throughout Blackwood before 7am. Following this Gina sold our commemorative tee shirts throughout the entire day. (Anyone who missed out or would like another, there are plenty left.) Evelyn Westwood and Max Amor organised a loan of poles and bunting from the Essendon Rowing Club. It did the job and looked very professional for the car parking, along with the witches-hats arranged by Mary Atkins.

Michael also coordinated his incoming list of phone registrants and their emergency contacts along with those from Ian, Frank and myself, in preparation for the event.

Mary had Lauren Eagle, Hillary May, Neville Hesketh and Laurie Charleston all working hard, checking off the 245 registrants, taking their fees and arming them with a walks booklet as they arrived. Only about 180 had pre-registered prior to the day, so the additional walkers all needed to be registered. From here there was a steady continuous stream of walkers to the walks sheets where I had to be on my toes to answer questions, quickly remove walks sheets that became full, issue these sheets and emergency contact sheets to the leaders (retaining duplicate copies) as they set out at fifteen to thirty minute intervals from the five assembly points from 8-10 am, pending on the time required to walk and travel. Then quickly change the walk number on the assembly point as the walks departed. EBC had fourteen walkers (four members and seven visitors) independent of volunteers/leaders etc who came on the day to support the club. Twenty-one EBC volunteers and ‘unemployed leaders’ (leaders and co-leaders whose walks did not proceed due to lack of numbers) managed to participate in on offered walk, which they did not lead. Four walks did not proceed due to lack of numbers. Walks directly from the reserve were exceedingly popular and heavily subscribed.

Walkers came from far and wide, 245 of them from thirty-four different clubs. Most of the larger and more active metropolitan clubs were represented, plus the country clubs Benalla, Shepparton, Peninsula, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Border, Echuca/Moama/Bendigo and Perigrine (Gippsland). Quite an effort!

Out of interest, the previous Federation Day Walk in 2003 at Warburton had 303 participants from twenty-two clubs.

Our leaders, co leaders and whips who seemed to have the best jobs of all were David Bass, Loris Cassar, John McRae, Keith Hart, Tony Creedy, Charlie Cassar, Neil Campbell, Sue Baxter, Therese Ryan, Bill McHardy, Chris Jarvis, Fiona Richardson, Stephen Bocquet (who could skite that his whip was Monica Chapman, the Convenor of Bushwalkers Search and Rescue), Nicole Lowe, Barbara Coward, Ian Tovey, Jan Edwards, Marion Skovdam, Ryan Davies, Frank Szentmiklossy, Rodney Williams, Inge Lingham, Bill Casey, Ray Scilley, Ron Bell, Allan Hall, Kevin Drever (who stood in at the last minute to duplicate Ron’s historic walk as it was so popular), Russell Christensen and Rob Hughes. Vera Damczyk, Hillary May, Henry Laskowski, Jason Durney and Geoff May were co-opted as whips on the day. Thank you all for putting on and assisting the leaders to have such successful great walks. You did us proud!

Also a large thanks to the hard working caterers. First of all Inge Lingham who researched prices and goods and spent much time racing around buying these things, and coordinating with Carmel Roads who battled Moorabool Shire’s food handling permit regulations and had to nut out a plan, fathom through paperwork and ensure that her hard working group obeyed all the food and hygiene rules. Even all the water had to be boiled before being consumed. Thanks to Beth Elkins, Vicki Bass, Evelyn Westwood, Elaine Palmer, Liz Fairchild and Val Readwin who helped Carmel to keep the supplies and drinks flowing in an organized and hygienic manner.

Most involved can appreciate the efforts of David and Vicki Bass. David arranged our accommodation, picked up the marquee in Kyneton, and not only arranged the meat for the Saturday BBQ but for the Sunday volunteers as well. Thanks to David and Vicki for cooking the BBQ’s and preparing the salads for all of us. Thanks to all else for the constant supply of red on Saturday evening. The historic mining tour Ron arranged on the Saturday night to use Ron’s own words was ‘Fantastic, it was!’ Thank you to Ron for arranging this, and Allan Hall for sharing his detailed knowledge of the mines and Blackwood with us. Thanks also to Ron for making, revamping and storing all the signs used on the day. The signs have already gone up to Wodonga for next years’ Federation Weekend to be held at Bright in November.

Also thanks to John Widmer who had prepared himself to be a backup leader. I’m sure we will see his photos of the event posted on the web site. Thanks to Ian Tovey for getting quotes and arranging the marquee and toilets along with the printing of the booklets. (The same printer the club is now using for OME.) Thanks to Ron Pearce who especially came up (on the weekend of his ruby wedding anniversary) to help the others to erect the marquee. Thanks to Dave Wren for coming along and offering to attend to our first aid needs until our paramedics arrived. For those who are unaware, the paramedics are Mary Atkins’ son and daughter in law. Thanks to Mary for arranging this. For the record, they had a lovely day and did not even need to treat blisters! Wasn’t the presence of the ambulance impressive? We wish them well for the impending birth of their baby in about mid November.

Thanks for the extra offers of help from members. Volunteers seemed to come out of the woodwork. Hopefully no one was offended if we declined your services but volunteer positions had been carefully planned and delegated months before the event.

Gratitude goes to Alan Clarke from Melbourne Bushies, who made himself available from the time of the Rawson/Walhalla Federation Weekend last year. He attended all our meetings, shared his experiences, provided guidelines and offered sound advice. Parallel to this Alan has been working on refining the Federation’s general guidelines document on running a Federation Walk. Some may have discussed issues with Alan or noticed that he was madly talking notes on the day.

Thanks to Chris and Ian for hosting all those monthly meetings alternating their homes for this. Thank you to Keith for attending the official address, patiently waiting until most of the walks returned and timing it before they all made for home. Thanks also to Keith for being receptive to the idea of hosting this event when I first raised it many months ago and allowing us to run with it. The events’ success is a sign of the growth and strength of our club and the devotion and passion of the members within it. Having experienced and enjoyed this day, hopefully we will get a strong contingent up to Bright next year to represent EBC and support the border clubs. EBC is a very respected club within the Federation and our FedWalk has endorsed this. Thanks again to all those involved.

The twelfth annual Great Divide Marathon has come and gone. Fifty-eight walkers and support crew took part with forty-five walking the whole 42km, which is six more than the previous record in 2003 (the "wet" one). The weather this time was perfect – low 20s and overcast for most of the day.

The whole walk was staged over parts of the Great Dividing Trail from Jubilee Lake, Daylesford, to Vaughan Springs. Seven of the walkers taking part are members of the Great Dividing Trail Association, which built and maintains the trail. Visiting walkers included the President of the GDTA, Dr Barry Golding, and Richard Piesse who was Project Officer for the construction of much of the trail. Other visitors were from Geelong and other Melbourne clubs.

The day started at 7.30am when we boarded the bus at Vaughan Springs for Jubilee Lake, starting the walk at 8.40am. We finished at Vaughan Springs at 8.25pm, finishing with the now traditional dinner at Guildford Hotel.

Special thanks are owed to Beth and her crew, Lucy, Italo, Elaine, Ron, Gina, Tamara and Carmel – also to Ray for his adept handling of the finances.

Current plans are that next year’s GDM will be from the top of Mt Buninyong to Creswick.

Saturday January 14

16km, Medium

Marion Skovdam

A pleasant walk through typical Kinglake forest, with some undulations and a creek crossing or two. It is a circuit walk that begins and ends at The Gums Picnic Ground, just off Eucalyptus Road in Kinglake National Park. Lunch will be at Wombelano Falls. Leave from Moonee Ponds Bowling Club car park at 8am, or arrange to meet me at The Gums Picnic Ground at around 9.30am.

Saturday February 18

12 km, Easy/Medium

Ron Pearce

The Werribee Gorge State Park is reached via the Western Highway and Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road. The Gorge became a state park in 1975 and exists to protect native flora and fauna. The walk starts from the Quarry Picnic Area off Myers Road, and continues in an anticlockwise direction, calling at Eastern and Western Lookouts before reaching the Werribee River. The walk continues downstream through the gorge. Depending on the height of the river, there may be some rock hopping as we pass several beach areas where there may be time to cool the feet. There will be views of Falcons Lookout high up on the opposite side of the river and maybe the sight of some inquisitive Wedge–tailed Eagles or Peregrine Falcons that nest in the area. The walk continues along the gorge following an old aqueduct to Meikles Point Picnic Area before returning to the Quarry Picnic Area and a visit to Bacchus Marsh for afternoon tea.

Departure time from the Bowling Club Car Park will be 8.00am, with a travel time of about one hour.

Weekend February 18–19

28km, Medium

Darren McClelland

Cape Liptrap near the Prom, is proving to be an elusive walk for me! I had to cancel the walk once due to personal reasons, then on the second occasion, an Anzac Day weekend, there were torrential rains on the way down and the seas were too treacherous on the Saturday morning to start the walk on the rock platforms. This time we will walk in February, so hopefully the weather will be more favourable. Saturday’s walk will consist largely of walking along rocky coastline with some departures from the beach to avoid some heads. On Sunday the walk is mainly along surf beach. We end up in Venus Bay.

Saturday March 4

50km, Medium

Marion Skovdam

A circuit bike ride from Romsey to Lancefield to Woodend and back to Romsey. Most of the tracks are flat with some undulations. The tracks vary from bike paths to bitumen to dirt roads. Most of the ride is along tree-lined trails, which makes this a pleasant ride on a warm day. Hanging Rock can be visited along the way, as we will pass it twice from different directions. Lunch will be in Woodend, either bring your own or buy it from one of the many eateries in Woodend. We will be meeting at Romsey at 9.30am. You will need to arrange transport of your bike to Romsey.

Sunday March 5

10 km. Medium

Tony Creedy

This walk is from a book of track notes compiled by the late Jack Myers, who had formidable knowledge and experience of Werribee and Lerderderg Gorges and Long Forest. Our walk is in the Werribee Gorge State Park. The ‘granites’ are outcrops on the banks of the Werribee River, at the northernmost end of the park, upstream from the well known gorge area in the south. The walk starts on the western edge of the gorge, on the Ballan-Ingliston road. On the way out to the ‘granites’ we’ll cross Ironbark Creek, a major side gully of the gorge, then follow the north western boundary of the park with long views over surrounding farmland and the river valley. On the way back we’ll follow the river and stop off for a while at Falcons Lookout, with good views to the south along Werribee Gorge. There are some short steep climbs and around Ironbark Creek the terrain is uneven and rocky. A lot of the walk is on nice flat turf. Later, Bacchus Marsh will be at our feet for afternoon tea.

Wednesday March 22

12km, Medium

Ron Pearce

The walk starts on Mount Blackwood Road near the turnoff with the GDT track to the Fire Tower on Mount Blackwood. From there it is a descent down the Lower Chadwick Track to the Lerderderg River and then a climb back up the Razorback Track to Strachan Hill. Reaching the North Razorback Track, we will descend back to the Lerderderg River to the junction with Whisky Creek for lunch. Retracing our steps back to the Razorback Track we will head southwest towards Mount Blackwood Road and the cars. From there it is off to a suitable bakery for afternoon tea or a cool drink.

Pickup points will be arranged nearer the time, with a final rendezvous at the Myrniong Hotel before proceeding to the start area.

Weekend April 1–2

100km, Easy/Medium

Darren McClelland

This ride takes in regional Victoria's most famous rail trail! We'll train it to Wangaratta late Friday, then ride from Wang to Bright, with an overnight stop in Beechworth. A commercial operator will take us and our bikes on the return trip. The ride direction may change depending on trains etc. Nice easy riding except for a steep ascent to Beechworth! Early enquiries encouraged so that I can book accommodation in Wang and Beechworth.

Monday April 3

15 km, Medium

Sylvia & Ian Mclean

A circuit commencing at Nolan’s Picnic Ground and taking in the remnants of a sawdust/mill site, the Balt Camp, and the impressive Rat Hole Mine. The route includes a good portion of the Great Dividing Trail, the highest point in the Wombat forest at 878 metres, some excellent views and a lovely moist gully surrounding Stockyard Creek. Meeting at the Blackwood General Store at 9.45am

Wednesday April 5

15km, Easy

Ron Pearce

This walk starts at the Westmeadows Reserve opposite the Westmeadows Tavern. We will follow the Moonee Ponds Creek downstream to Jacana. Crossing the creek here, we will head north towards the Broadmeadows Valley Park, along the cycle track before heading west to join the Attwood Creek. We then follow this creek before crossing Mickleham Road at Swain Street and entering Gellibrand Hill Park (Woodlands). Depending on time, we may call in at Gellibrand Hill Lookout for a view over the airport and city before moving on down the eastern boundary and back along Moonee Ponds Creek to the cars and a visit to the Westmeadows Bakery for afternoon tea.

Departure time from Westmeadows Reserve will be 9:30am, with pickup points being arranged nearer the time.

Sunday April 30

14km, Easy/Medium.

Ron Pearce

One of several popular walks in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, the Boar Gully circuit walk includes part of the Burchall Trail, a walk usually taking three days between Steiglitz and Boar Gully. The walk starts at the Boar Gully campground and as in other walks in this area we will see signs of the devastation caused by cinnamon fungus, a soil disease that affects the roots of some plants, including grass trees which grow in abundance in the Brisbane Ranges. We may also see the result of attempts to eradicate the spreading of the disease by having to pass through "boot cleaning stations", where our boots/footwear will be automatically cleaned and disinfected as we pass through specially built equipment – a bit like going through a sheep dip! It is virtually level all the way, with just the one descent and climb of about one-hundred metres. Finishing back at the Boar Gully campground, we will drive into Bacchus Marsh for afternoon tea.

Departure time from the Bowling Club Car Park will be 8.00am, with a travel distance of about 85km.

Weekend ‘plus’ April 22–24

34km, Easy/Medium

Darren McClelland

Portland is a fair drive so I have situated this walk smack between a weekend and Anzac Day, so you can extend your stay in the area if you wish. You will need to arrange to take off the Monday.

This pack walk is the first of a series of walks that will take in the entire GSSW route (150kms) over two or three years. The GSSW has just celebrated its 20th anniversary yet many Melbournians have not walked it. So why not give it a go!? It's a bonus for "Bay to Border" walkers, as you will have completed the ocean-side of the walk as part of the last legs of Bill's walks so the job will be half completed for you!

Features of this leg include Portland Bay, the Pioneer Cemetery, Bluff Lighthouse and the WWII Memorial Museum, Cubby’s Camp and the Cobobbonee State Forest.

Please note there are changes to starting points this year!

Sunday January 1

10 km, Easy

Sylvia & Ian McLean

Meeting 6pm at Melway 30 H12. Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield, first car park on the right (with toilets). BYO picnic tea prior to the walk, which will proceed at 6.30pm. NO shops at all on this walk. The walk will proceed in reverse direction this year so that the remote feel track next to the Yarra can be enjoyed before it gets dark. The view of the city as the sun sets initially, then past the Studley Boat House to view the city and the Children’s Farm at dusk with the view of thousands of fruit bats returning along the river to roost, is a sight to behold. The return side of the Yarra journeys past the Collingwood Children’s Farm to view Dight’s Falls, from where Merri Creek is followed back to the cars.

10 km, Easy

Australia Day Eve,

Sylvia & Ian McLean

Meeting at 6pm in Greenwich Reserve car park (corner of the Strand and North Street, Williamstown), Melways 56B5. Tea will be either bring or buy your own on route, as we stop in Commonwealth Reserve at Gem Pier along the way. The walk will encompass the sights and atmosphere of Williamstown at night, capturing the Melbourne skyline and it’s lights together with the yachts along the waterfront on Hobson’s Bay. Return is via the Botanic Gardens and streets where the shops and cafes are located, for which Williamstown is renowned.

Saturday February 11

11km, Easy

Sylvia & Ian McLean

Meeting at 6pm for tea prior to the walk, which will proceed at 6.30 pm from Western Oval car park, Park Street, Parkville, Melways 29E10. This walk traverses Royal Park, Melbourne University, Exhibition Gardens and Spring Street, and onto the Treasury Gardens. Possum and fruit bat sightings are guaranteed. Return will include Lygon Street for supper.

Tuesday February 7

Moonee Ponds Junction

Sylvia & Ian McLean

Meet 6.30pm Tuesday February 7 at Essendon Railway Station, Rose Street. The start is opposite Miller Street. Mel ways 28 G4

Come along and have some fun! Check out your basic map reading skills while ‘on the go’. No compass necessary. Anyone can do it, fast or slow, run or walk. Instructions are freely available. You will be encouraged and made to feel most welcome. For walkers the maps are presented at 7pm with the ‘go’ command. Your walk is completed by 8pm. The aim is to get to as many controls with the highest points value as possible within the hour. It is not a late night but is most enjoyable getting around the local streets on a balmy summer evening. Cost is $3 for good fun and exercise. See the neighbourhood nooks and crannies that you never knew existed. A number of EBC members already partake so you will see some familiar faces. Those that have had the experience say that it is well worth a try.

November 17 to 19

Advance notice

‘Bright and Beyond,’ to be held on November 17 – 19, 2006. Note it in your diaries and come along, enjoy it and show your support for Border Bushwalking Club in association with some other local clubs. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

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 the Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. 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.

To Djimpi Hood, on becoming Essendon Bushwalkers first ever Junior Member. Djimpi will no doubt be well known to most of you, as she is one of Georgina Alley’s three daughters. Club history has been made following the introduction of this membership category last year!

Congratulations also to Vicki and David Bass and Georgina Alley who all recently became grandparents. We believe that all is going very well (Even with the excited grandparents!).

(No added sugar or fat)

By popular request following sampling during The Marathon!

2 cups currants

2 cups raisins

2 cups sultanas

1 cup glaced cherries

1 cup mixed peel

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups water

2 cups self-raising flour

1 cup skim milk

2 egg whites, beaten

Place dried fruit, spices and water in saucepan. Simmer for six minutes. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Add flour, milk and egg white, mix well. Pour into foil lined 20cm square cake tin. Bake at 190°C for 45 minutes, then lower temperature to 180°C and bake for further 30 minutes.

After my recent trip to Papua New Guinea, I thought I might share some of my experiences with you about the Kokoda Track.

It started out eventful even before I left Australia when I flew up there, as we had a very hard and almost crash landing at Brisbane Airport in a Boeing 767. I didn’t even have time to grab my inflatable, or parachute, but seriously it was quite a relief when I eventually arrived up at Port Moresby.

As a Melbournian it is a huge surprise when you get off the plane from eleven degrees in Melbourne to thirty-four degrees in Port Moresby, humidity in the 80s, and no air conditioning or fans at the airport. After settling at our high security motel, we set out to start our trek the next day with a visit to the Bomana War Cemetery, just outside Port Moresby. From here it was a two-hour bus ride to the start of the Kokoda Track at Owers’ Corner. Boy, the road was so narrow and steep the bus near conked out several times, as the road was so steep and we had to turn off the air conditioner to conserve power as we headed over the Owen Stanley Range. After being ditched by the bus we started walking from Owers’ Corner and walked steeply for the first few hours in stifling heat, and into a deep gorge and across the Golden River, and that meant wading in waist deep fast flowing water! From here it was hard walking with very steep climb sections, and then wouldn’t you know it as nearly every day about 1.30 in the afternoon after hours of stifling heat you would get the usual thunderstorm, as the jungle suddenly became dark, and down it came in a torrent. The only noises you could hear were the rain pelting down on your pack and coat and the sounds of our porters, guides, and food carriers singing their Papuan songs while walking.

Every day was a challenge. You could not relax in concentration for one minute, as an upright tree root, or the slippery track would catch you out. The first night we camped at Frank’s Camp under a tarp that was half leaking and prepared for the next day’s walk where we walked up the famous Golden Staircase (as shown in the old War scenes), where the soldiers retreated from enemy fire. Lots of very steep climbing 271m to 910m, lots of mud! From here we dropped 710 m, along a gorge and then climbed 872m to our next camp at Ofi Creek. A hard day’s walk! Ofi Creek was a village (Timber) or what they call Guest House.

Next day we left Ofi Creek and walked and down the Owen Stanley Range and over the Moguli Range and had very steep sections climbing up from 872m to 1300m and down over rivers to 600m to 100m. Most of the river crossings were by two and three-pole log bridges, one imbalance and in you go! After another hard days’ walk we settled in at Nouro (Village). The next day we meandered our way down past the airstrip and walked along the swampland (plenty of mud), and crossing a few fast flowing rivers along the way. It was then a steep climb around the Moguli Range to the village of Menari, which was a position overrun by the Japanese during the war. We met one of the last remaining Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels.

From Menari we headed towards the village of Naduri with plenty of river crossings and steep up and downs, as we visited Brigade Hill, which was an Australian War Cemetery and was where the Japanese had their line of attack before Menari. We had a quiet ceremony and laid a wreath for our fallen heroes. We walked a bit further that day and arrived at Efogi before dark set in. From Efogi we encountered possibly the hardest section of the walk as there were very dangerous sections along the way, narrow and slippery and very steep, plenty of mud and tree roots, and one slip and you could fall 500m down a cliff and into jungle. We walked about 18kms through the Owen Stanley Range and walked from an elevation of 1480m to 270m, then climbing to nearly 1100ms. Our next stop for the night was at our rest day stop of Myola, which was 8kms off the Kokoda Track and situated in grasslands and a swamp, but high up in the Owen Stanley Range. Boy, we needed this rest day as some of our party were very sick, including myself. We spent half the time exploring old plane wrecks.

After leaving Myola we joined up with the Kokoda Track and visited a recently discovered plane wreck, an old USAF B25 Mitchell Bomber, but it came at a cost. The local tribal leader charged us 150 Kina, or he’d have us down the Track! We climbed up to one of the highest points of the track near Mount Bellamy (2000m) down and very dangerous and slippery section and narrow track and through the ancient pandanus forests to Eora Creek for the night. We got very anxious as we had to try and beat a nasty thunderstorm that threatened to stop us from walking down the cliff face and getting through to Eora creek for the night. After the night at Eora Creek when we first set out at 8.30 it was already 36 degrees, but eventually the weather changed and it became wet and dangerous walking for the rest of the day. Lots of slippery tree roots and mud to negotiate, and more up and down steep climbs and rivers to cross as we headed for our next destination, Templeton’s Crossing. After such a wet day and we were all saturated, we discovered that some bright spark had left the shed padlocked, so we had to sleep out under a tarp, which made it nice and cold for the night, and with the slope of our campsite I was in fear of rolling down the hill in my sleeping bag! Would have made good entertainment I do think, but got drowned out by the sounds of the nearby waterfall.

After a cold and uncomfortable night we headed to a very steep up-and-down section, one of the final serious climbs along the track as we headed towards The Gap and onto the village of Allolo, which even had proper showers, where we stayed the night. We shared the village with another group who were walking from the opposite end and we told them how easy the walk was!

After being woken up by the roosters we headed to the Australia Memorial site at Isurava for breakfast. After breakfast we walked all day down, descending down to the finish at Kokoda Hospital. The rest of my trip was spent relaxing at Buna on the Northern Coast of Papua New Guinea. It was something out of the film The gods must be crazy. We got picked up from Kokoda and driven in a open tray truck with a bench seat and tarp for five hours on rough roads to Pompendetta and Buna, with kids and their families racing out onto the roads to wave at us going by. When we were at Buna, the guide told us to look at the bright side, and any bad luck on tour had gone, because the last group that walked the Kokoda, the plane did not show up at Pompendetta and they missed the connection to Australia. What do you think happened to us? Our truck was an hour and a half late, the plane turned up, and we just made it to the airport at Pompendetta with minutes to spare, and instead of waving to the kids and families along the way, we nearly claimed a few casualties along the way desperate to get to the airport! What we walked 110kms in eight and a half days on the Kokoda Track we covered the same distance almost from Pompendetta – Port Moresby in a Dash 8 aircraft in thirty minutes!

On a final note I must say after reading this if you are still keen to do the Kokoda Track all I can say is DO IT! It was definitely something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life, and it was a real experience, and to learn about a different culture of a third world country, as well as appreciating how much better off we are in our country, but on the same hand meeting the lovely local people who make up Papua New Guinea.

I look forward to my next adventure up there.