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Contents

President's Column

Editor‘s Notes

Kalbarri Gorges Walk  2012 - Eddy Schmid

From the archives: Venturer April 1989

Reminiscences - Jenny Young

Bushies Christmas - Tony O’Brien

Pilbara Trips - Rikus Kaijer

Why walk? - Gwynneth Moyle

Wednesday walkers - Niki MacLennan

Life with the Perth Bushwalkers - Barry Powell

Perth Bushies: a personal perspective - Duncan Robinson

Looking back, with Dave Osborne

My Bushie Perspective - Frank Obbens

Walyunga Revisted - Pat Giles

50 Years - Ian McDonald

Ian McDonald - Life Member BWA

Reflection - Mel Lintern

Poems - Maureen and Alan

Presidents and Life Members: 1981-2019


President's Column

By Chris Mawson

Note: This is an extract of the Club's Summer 2019 50th Anniversary Venturer, which is intended for the general public/non-members. Niki, our editor, has collected contributions from some of the club's members about their involvement in the club and its activities over the past 50 years.

It has been a big year for the club, the 50th, 2019. We have celebrated with commemorative wine and clothes, and created a great 2019 calendar. We walked the Bibb Track end to end (and we will get an official commemorative end to end, 50th Anniversary Certificate from the Bibb track Foundation), we partied at Nanga (see the Winter Edition if you missed this), we honoured life members and restored our connection to the Eagle's View Trail. Membership also increased significantly to ~ 400.

Importantly, it gives the personal views of many long and short term members. It shares their reasons as to why they joined the club, what the club used to be like, how it has evolved, and what it is to be a member today. We should all be proud to be a part of a club with such a long, and interesting, history. If you haven't already, I also recommend reading the 40th Anniversay book that was published.

I would also like to thank the committee for all the effort they put into organising the various activities, festivities and memorabalia that were created to recognised the 50th Anniversary.

Well done to everyone involved, on behalf of all the club members.

Thus, I hope you enjoy this 50th Anniversary Summer Edition Venturer. 

Yours

Chris Mawson, President, PBW


Editor‘s Notes

By Niki MacLennan

The collection of articles in the 50th anniversary edition of the Venturer comprises a history of the club told through the personal reminiscences of members who have a long connection to PBW.

Geoff Schafer’s account of the first 10 years of the club has been retrieved from the archives, it covers the development of the club from a bunch of enthusiastic walkers planning week-end hikes to a thriving organisation with members undertaking at least 3 walks a week,

There is no doubt that in 50 years PBW has left a lasting legacy for bushwalking in WA. 

Among some of the notable achievements of PBW members:

  • Geoff Schafer was instrumental in developing the Bibbulum track.
  • PBW members constructed the Eagle’s Nest walk in John Forrest National Park.
  • Carl Ebrick was pivotal in saving Helena Aurora range from mining.
  • WalksGPS, the website developed by Dave Osborne, has become an invaluable aid for all bushwalkers with its detailed description of well-constructed walks.
  • PBW has also been influential in conservation and forest management for recreation.

I would like to express appreciation to all the contributors to this edition. It is clear that many people have greatly enjoyed their association with the club and have also enjoyed digging up their memories and the photos.

Thank you.

hatsPBW hats worn by Eddy Schmid and John Mack with Richard Chapman looking on. Turtle Pool May 2019

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Kalbarri Gorges Walk 2012

By Eddy Schmid

Eddy has been a member of Perth Bushwalkers club for over 20 years. He says he has had some wonderful experiences.He claims to have ‘walked the state!’ Eddy has been on many Kalbarri expeditions, as well as Karajini and many locations in the south-west. He is noted for his stories. He organised a car-based camp at Collie when it ‘bucketed’ down but walkers still had a good time. Niki MacLennan

This was the first of 4 back-pack walks I attended in the Kalbarri Gorges over the years. Despite visiting the location four times, each visit was totally different from the last with conditions changing dramatically over the years. There was always something new to see. The last trip I did up there was directly after the massive floods that occurred there, and it would be an understatement to say the place had not changed. On the contrary, the changes caused by the floods were massive. The water sources that we relied upon were mostly destroyed and no longer viable.

Camp sites that were once nice and sandy with grass coverage no longer existed and the rubble from the destruction of the trees and shrubbery was piled up in piles 40 meters high, and in some cases even higher. Boulders, the size of houses, we used to rest nearby and take photos, were gone. We never ever saw them again. Who knows where they ended up?

Needless to say, that damage caused by that flood changed the Gorge totally from the very pleasant place it was beforehand.

But still, in my humble opinion, a place well worth spending a few days exploring. Photos are below.

Image 001Well deserved break in shade of overhang.

Image 002

Above: Afternoon, river and reflection - difficult to work out where the river ends and gorge begins.

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Walking along side of Gorge late in afternoon

 Image 005

My favourite water hole.

My favourite water hole. Despite the river containing too much salt for human consumption, this tiny pool always contained sweet drinkable water; maybe the River gum growing in the centre had something to do with it?

Image 007

This intriguing pic has foot prints of prehistoric crab left behind from when it was a sand floor of the river bed.
Many of such relics are to be found in the Gorge.

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From the archives: Venturer April 1989

Perth Bushwalkers 20 Years (Club formation) -

Geoff Schafer, founder.

Looking through previous Venturers I found this piece that Geoff Schafer had written to mark 20 years of Bushwalking in WA. Ed.

Firstly congratulations to Perth Bushwalkers and all members past and present for making the club what it is today after 20 Glorious years of Bushwalking in Western Australia.

The scene in WA today has changed vastly from that of the mid 60’s. For instance one could only buy a framed rucksack from only one outlet in all WA, and that was a Paddy Pallin A- frame from the Scout shop in Hay Street. One never saw a ‘backpacker’ in the city (this American word still jars the mind of one over the last 8 years since its introduction by the international tourists into Australia) and carrying a rucksack for a weekend bushwalk brought looks of wonderment from the city folk.Image 001

Geoff Palfreyman Geoff Schafer Jerome Da Costa, Nanga camp, May 2019. photo: N MacLennan

That grand old club, the Western Walking Club, founded in 1937 catered with distinction for the needs of a more relaxed society with a programme of Sunday walks in the Darling Range from Autumn to early summer each year. Weekend walks had been tried at times but for various reasons were not persevered with. However the WWC gave its blessing to the formation of another club (PBW) explicitly for those who wanted to do extended and weekend walks.

YHA was small in numbers in the 60’s with a string of disused school houses for hostels from Parkerville to Serpentine plus Noggerup and Quindilup. A bush activities programme centering on these hostels with bushwalks in nearby areas contributed to a growing interest in walking. There developed the occasional weekend walk but an attempt to from a bushwalking club within the YHA ( a-la Victorian YHA Activities Clubs) was not successful, so a series of advertisements in the local Perth press and by bush telegraph got the new club underway in the Autumn of 1969.

The first meeting of Perth Bushwalkers Club was held 8pm on Tuesday 13thMay 1969 at the Youth Council of WA building, 9 Museum Street. There were 13 souls, 6 as a result of the advertisements in the West Australian Saturday issues over the preceding 4 weeks. I gave an introductory talk on the aims of bushwalking clubs with the possible development of weekend walks in areas of the Southwest and Perth hinterland plus conservation of our natural heritage. This was followed by a round circle discussion and it was decided to hold the club’s first walk, a weekend one on 24-25 May from North Dandalup to Keysbrook via State forests nos 22 and 14. Supper was introduced at this meeting and it is pleasing to note that his has continued without a break to this day.

Three of us turned up for that first ‘historic’ 16 mile walk, namely Paul Gentilli, John Wood and myself.

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Reminiscences

by  Jenny Young

Jenny joined Perth Bushwalkers in 1974 and is still an active member, she has been involved in the organisation of the Christmas camp for many years. Jenny compiled a comprehensive history of the first 40 years of the club,  Ed.

Image 002

Mandalay beach: Geoff Palfreyman, Hanni La Mela, JY, Tony O’Brien and unknown

After a stay in Vancouver, Canada where I had the good fortune to join in walks high up in the mountains, above the tree line in waist deep summer flowers which was truly magical, I sought out the Perth Bushwalkers on arriving in Perth.

The Club was in its infancy, just getting off the ground. These early days were the halcyon times. The few members were mostly new immigrants wanting to explore the country and we went on trips north to Kakadu, Karajini and the desert area east of Newman. I was amazed at the starlit night skies and the ancient rock engravings we came across. In those days there were no restrictions and we could camp and yarn round a camp fire almost anywhere.

Along the south coast we explored, fishing and cooking our catch on the beach before moving on. Finding new areas to walk with Club members was a challenge. Our first walk to the wonderful Walpole National Parks Mandalay Beach was a foot slog along a sand track to the ocean. Nowadays one can drive there along a sealed road and no camping allowed.

One day Jesse Brampton came to a Club meeting and asked us to help with a new Bibbulmun Track all the way to Albany. We were all enthused and it was a great project for the Club, defining sections and marking the trees with the Waugul. After this it was fun looking after a section of Track at Whitehorse Hills for a few years. This project was followed by the Eagle View Trail in John Forrest National Park which we planned and marked with our own Eagle marker.

It has been such a privilege and a source of great joy to be member of Perth Bushwalkers all these years.

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Bushies Christmas

By Tony O’Brien

We have spent most of the last 15 years celebrating Christmas with members of Perth Bushwalking club, we usually have a 4 hour walk on Christmas morning whilst Rod Catermole cooks the turkey on his ancient Webber kettle to perfection!

There is no better place to celebrate the Festive season than in the bush!

Image 003Christmas at Contos. December 2008 photo Barry Powell

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Pilbara trips

by Rikus Kaijer

Coondiner River Pilbara 2003

pilbara

In 2003 around July Tony O'Brien took us on a week-long trip to the Pilbara.Tony led a number of Pilbara trips before this one and the again after this one. We had a brilliant time, we explored aboriginal rock-art sites, waterholes and gorges.

rockart

Having only done weekend backpacks up to this point the experience of being away for this length of time inspired me to go on longer bushwalks. That resulted in a two-week walk in Kakadu in 2004 and subsequent walks in the Kimberley, Pilbara and overseas.

I joined the bushwalking club in, I think 1986 or 7, and for the most part preferred the weekend backpacks. Lately most of my walking has been with the Wednesday group and the occasional long trip overseas such as the Tour de Mont Blanc in the Alps and this year the Dolomites.

waterhole

 

daytrip

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Why walk?

By Gwynneth Moyle

Image 001Reflective conversation on Geddes Rock 2019.    (photo GM)

On foot, everything stays connected.

[Rebecca Solnit: ‘Wanderlust: A History of Walking (Viking Penguin, New York 2000)]

Ever since Homo erectus got up on his back legs, humans have walked. With Homo sapiens, they also thought. So walking and thinking, not necessarily at the same time, have been part of the human condition.

Walking became less essential at least for some, with the domestication of animals, the invention of the wheel and definitely less essential with modern transport. The 18th century saw walking for recreation gain momentum as the Romantics, such as Wordsworth popularised walking as recreation, for its own sake, to enjoy nature, and for some, to write poetically about it. Walking literature is almost a genre in itself.

Image 002View from the top, Mt Dale 2019  (photo GM)

Walking clubs seem to have arisen in the late 19th - early 20thcentury as people sought respite from the industrial towns. There was also a political element, sometimes to protect wilderness (Sierra Club USA) and in England where the right to roam was challenged in the Kinder Trespass of 1932, leading eventually to the Rights of Way available today.

As we celebrate 50 years of Perth Bushwalkers, we have a history that seems to reflect the love of walking as exercise, as enjoyment of the environment and enjoyment of the company of like-minded people- as least as far as walking is concerned! With access to crown land and state forests, we do not seem to come into conflict with landowners.

We seem to have ample space in which to walk, although at times we find RPZones or encroaching bauxite mining or dumped rubbish undesirable. The creation of walking routes by early members and more recently the amazing resource of WalkGPS, provide us with more walks than we can cover in a season. We are indeed fortunate to belong to such an organisation.

Image 003Good exercise in good company. Poison Gully. 2019   (photo GM)

The additional benefits are the moments of delight in the beauty of the forest, the discovery of flowers, the creeks flowing when they do, the amazing boulders, (and yes, thanks Dave – the outcrops!), the views when we get to the top, the challenge of navigating around thickets, the widely varying conversations and the satisfaction that the end of the day that we have stretched ourselves a little (and with luck, avoided ticks, snakes or tumbles).

For many of us, the bush could not safely be enjoyed alone. How fortunate then to have PBW with its offerings of walks in good company twice a week as well as other extended ventures.

I’d say this is 50 years well-spent. May there be many more.

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Wednesday walkers

By Niki MacLennan

Regular mid-week walks were attracting an increase in numbers this year so two walks were often arranged giving walkers a choice of longer or shorter walks. There were new members who joined the most recent walk to Piesse Brook, Anita, Erik and Jacksie, a visitor, pictured below. This reduced the average age of regular walkers, (see lower photograph).Once again, although now no longer walking himself, Mike Barnes has devised the annual Wednesday walks programme and provided the essential weekly communications to the walkers, an invaluable comntibution. 

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Life with the Perth Bushwalkers

By Barry Powell

Image 001

I arrived in Australia on 22nd of December 1990, my family following shortly after. It was the beginning of a new life, also the beginning of a very traumatic period in my life. Through the turmoil I had the sense on 7 July 1993 to join the Perth Bushwalkers Club. I am not sure where the invitation to join the club came from, although I have a vague recollection of a flyer or a copy of the Venturer in a waiting room.

It was the beginning of this long association which has been such enormous benefit to me. The club has been a very valuable friend and provided enduring friendships through its members. I have got to know hidden corners of the Western Australian bush, a privilege not seen by many fellow sandgropers.

The hardest part of a bushwalk can be getting out of the cot on a cold and sometimes wet winter morning. But I never regret it. I can walk along, soaking in the physical exertion endorphins, embraced by the neutral peace of the natural environment. I can float in and out of conversations with different walkers and gain wide perspective. I can also remain silent. No judgement.

Bad walks? If they exist, I don’t remember them. Challenges, hot days, wet days, scratchy bush, slippery granite, a tumble caused by a careless foot caught on a stick, the glimpse of a snake slithering from the path. But many superlative memories.

Christmas can be a difficult time for some without family connections but never on a bushies’ Christmas, be it at Contos, or Green’s Island or at some remote bush outpost. I feel almost sorry for those folks back in Perth not being able to escape from the claustrophobic city sphere. No carols other than the singing of birds and buzzing of cicadas. And who could miss Rod’s turkey?

I can recall looking out of the window on Sunday morning to a wild and wet cold front blasting through Perth. I was the leader for a walk in the Mount Randall area and asked myself whether I would be leading a group of one. However, bushies tend to be a pretty adventurous lot and there were five or so walkers at the meeting point. It was still raining in the early stages of the walk when we got to the Mount Randall hut, when all the weather drama lifted with a golden hue to the grey clouds followed by a real “pot of gold” rainbow. The day followed with long breaks of sunshine with occasional brief showers of gentle rain; for me, almost ideal walking conditions, cool and calm with clear sunlight reflected off the leaves. A picture memory not recorded on a camera but held in the amazing experience memory.

Image 002

While not strictly a walk, a club kayak adventure to Broke Inlet, on at least two occasions, remains one of my favourite destinations. Paddling or dragging kayaks to a small island in the inlet surrounded by water too shallow for the power boats to get to, reveal a little gem. It was great exploring the inlet and then taking on the challenge of a return to the islet in the face of a stiff evening breeze. The corollary is returning from a different direction, jet propelled, with the breeze from behind and racing down the waves, avoiding the possibility of capsizing. With the excitement was the bliss of lazy afternoons on the rocks in a warm sun or a swim in the waters surrounding the islet.

Very recently, I was delighted to re-embrace the club after long absences from Perth. A Wednesday walk along the rocky sides of the Canning River revealed an experience that has not changed. Yes, the walkers, like me, were a little older and the hills seemed a little bigger but it was still the same low-key powerful therapy for a materialistic world.

I have chronicled a very small sample of so many bushwalking experiences and there are so many more …..Mount Roe, Windsor Rocks, the Stirlings, the Porongorups, Warren River and the list could go on and on.

Thank you to the Perth Bushwalkers Club for the enormous value you add to my life!

May 2019

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Perth Bushies: a personal perspective

By Duncan Robinson

cairn

I have only been a member of the Perth Bushwalkers Club (PBC) for eight years, but in that time I have had some wonderful experiences, met some amazing people, and visited places I would never have got to, were it not for the Perth Bushies. I have also learnt skills that enable me to enjoy my bushwalking more. I am thinking particularly of GPS skills, as well as map and compass skills. I have listed below, five of the actions I have taken that have enhanced my membership, and made my experiences with the Perth Bushies an enriching experience. The list is in no particular order.

Go on a camp

I’ve attended three camps during my time with the Club. I have enjoyed every one of them. The 50th anniversary camp at Nanga in May this year was a wonderful weekend. There was bushwalking of course, but the highlight was the 50th Anniversary Dinner on the Saturday evening. A great night was had by all. A wonderful way to celebrate fifty years of Perth Bushies. The Club usually offers a couple of Camps each year. I’ve been twice to the Mount Trio Camp in the magnificent Stirling Range. The walking is great, with iconic West Australian walks (Bluff Knoll, Toolerup, Talyupbrup, Mt Hassell, Mt Trio etc), but more than that, the camaraderie of camping out with your fellow Club members makes for a great weekend. The after dinner stories get more bizarre as the wine bottles get emptier. The facilities at Mount Trio Camp site are excellent, and the night sky is an amazing sight, that far away from the city.

For the fit and adventurous, the Stirling Ridge walk is a must. I’ve done it once, and really enjoyed the challenge. As I say, not for the faint- hearted, and should only be attempted with a group Leader who is experienced on the Ridge walk.

Read the Club history

I read the history of the Club in the excellent book put together by Jenny Young “Perth Bushwalkers Club 40 Years (1969 to 2009)”. It is the definitive history of the Club. Some of those early members were made of stern stuff. I recall one walk from the book, where to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Club, half a dozen hardy souls walked from Albany to Esperance. A mere 660km off track!

The creation of the Eagle’s View Walk in John Forrest National Park, and the role the Club played in creating the Bibbulmun Track are extensively covered in the Book, and shows how the Club has contributed to bush walking in this State.

In reading the history of the Club, one can be proud of where we have come from as a Club, and celebrate the legacy that we, as current members, are charged with preserving and enhancing.

Visit the Club website

The website is a great communications tool, allowing all members to check their walk history, check out upcoming walks and events, as well as all manner of other interesting links and articles on Bushwalking. The database, behind the website is the repository for all “Club knowledge” and is a huge leap forward to the Club from the old paper based systems. Check out the website, it is a treasure trove.

The Club website and database was the brainchild of past President Dave Osborne, and is maintained by current President, Chris Mawson. Both gentlemen should be commended for their foresight and efforts.

Get along to a Club night

Over the years I have attended some informative, inspirational, and thought provoking talks at the Club. It is always worth getting along on the first Wednesday of each month to catch up with fellow members. Some of the talks are extremely interesting, I recall a Tim McCartney-Snape talk about climbing Everest from both the Nepalese side and the Tibetan side. All without oxygen; spell- binding talk.

The other good aspect of the monthly meetings is that you can catch up with other walkers and have a chat over a cup of tea. You can learn a lot from your colleagues about where to walk, and upcoming walks that may be of interest to you.

The first Wednesday in December is the Christmas Show. Always a good night to celebrate the closing of the walking season, and seasonal good wishes to you fellow members.

Get involved; take on a leadership role

Just turning up on a Sunday morning and participating in a Club walk is the least rewarding part of membership of the Perth Bushies. It is a passive activity. If you wish to challenge yourself, take on a more prominent role within the Club. As a past Walks Coordinator, I have seen several examples of members who initially have been reticent to lead walks, but with mentoring, and guidance from experienced Leaders they have bloomed into confident, competent Leaders in their own right.

I enjoyed my time as Walks Coordinator. I confess that I am sure it was a lot harder job preinternet. It is a lot more efficient to organise the walks calendar using predominately email and the database, than a generation ago, where it would have to be undertaken by phone calls and paper based dissemination.

If leading walks isn’t your thing, there are always opportunities for Leadership on the Club Committee. There are lots of roles available, and I am sure if you express an interest in joining the Committee the President will accommodate you.

As you can tell from the preceding text, I am a proud Perth Bushie and hope to celebrate many more milestone anniversaries with the Club. Keep on Walking!

castlerock

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Looking back, with Dave Osborne

By Niki MacLennan

Image 001Great Wandoo Walk’, Wandoo National Park, 18-20 June 2015: Dave Osborne & Viv Reid   (photo: Mel Lintern)

Most of the Club walks in the Perth area have been mapped, described and made into GPS files by Dave Osborne, Past President and Life Member of Perth Bushwalkers’ Club. Dave has led many Sunday walks and during his time as President initiated the development of the website, now used extensively in the administration of the club and for reaching out to members of the public interested in the activities of the club. I had a discussion with Dave in which gave me some insight into his involvement with the club.

Dave Osborne, Life Member #8 served as Club President 2013-2016. He is currently President of BushwalkingWA, the peak body with a mission of promoting and fostering bushwalking / hiking in WA.

A key club achievement during Dave’s period as President was the development of a new website. But it was more than just a new website, it also involved a reinvention of many of the Club’s old procedures.

In 2014 the committee had recognised the club needed to modernise and streamline its traditional processes. The aim was not just for a pretty website, but was much more about using the website to help attract more members; making the club’s admin and operational tasks much easier and more efficient; making club and member information easier to access; and most of all encouraging members and visitors to “Get out there; Go further; More often”! By July 2014 the Club had obtained a $15,000 Lotterywest grant to cover most of the costs of contractor support to help build the new website. Dave closely project-managed the work, supplied many of the photos and put in many hours preparing and gathering new content and updating the old. A detailed ‘requirements’ document prepared by Chris Oakeley to guide the contractor was a key to achieving the outcomes the Club was seeking.

The Club’s new website was launched in late 2015 and succeeded in greatly simplifying the ways the club had been operating for many years; so much so that most of the twenty-or-so club policies and procedures documents also had to be re-written. In parallel with the website launch, the first weekly ‘Cooee’ newsletter was issued, initiating a new way of keeping members engaged by sending a convenient weekly snapshot of the upcoming program direct to their desktops.

But Dave’s Club contribution goes back more than a decade before the new website. Since joining the Club in 2001, he has introduced many members to a wide range of new walk areas, leading more than ten walks per year for the Club over several years. His enduring passion has been discovering and putting new walk opportunities on the map for members and the wider community through his WalkGPS website. Since he launched his original website in 2003, he has continued to explore and add new walks. The site now includes details on over 75 mostly adventurous off-trail bushwalks in the Perth region. They are all circuit walks (to avoid car shuffles), easily reached from Perth and mostly of ideal length to be completed as day walks. Today the Club’s mid-week walkers group, along with other Club walkers and direct subscribers, continue to enjoy the many popular routes and to try their own variations.

For Dave, the joy of sharing all these walks with fellow walkers has been ample reward for his thousands of kilometres of mostly solo driving to walk areas and the thousands of kilometres also of test-walking of new routes over the past sixteen years. But there is more to it than that: The enjoyment starts with the initial challenge of a blank map (and these days Google Earth), to start sketching on lines to try to develop the concept of a promising but still imagined, new walk route, often in an area that may not have been visited by the Club before or only rarely. Then follows the addictive thrill of anticipation and excitement when heading out to actually test the reality of the walk concept; often only to be disappointed when it falls short of expectations.

But at other times the test walk chosen may prove to be even better than anticipated, spurring on the enthusiasm to revisit the area again several times, to test out small or large variations, to fine-tune the route and finally achieve a new walk; one that’s finally worth sharing with others by leading it or by providing the GPS files and maps to them via WalkGPS. Most walks on WalkGPS have required at least 3-4 initial ‘recce’ visits to the walk area and usually at least 60 km of test walking, followed by hours of preparing detailed maps, editing and uploading GPS files, photos and walk notes. It’s been a long labour of love and thankfully it’s not over yet!

PS: If interested in the full story of how WalkGPS came about see article: “In the beginning…”

Image 002 Near summit of Mt Randall (Mt Randall-Mt Cuthbert walk 21 June 2009): Greg Paust, Frank Coppin, Malcolm Mintz and others (photo: Dave Osborne)

Image 003

Victoria Reservoir-Bickley Brook walk, 11 Oct 2015: Ras Gill,.., Karen? and others    (photo: Dave Osborne)

Image 005‘Great Wandoo Walk’, Wandoo National Park, 18-20 June 2015: Rikus Kaijer, Viv Reid, Dave Osborne (photo: Mel Lintern)

Image 006Avon Valley south side-overnighter, 24-15 Aug. 2013: Mooi Lee, Hazel Denny, Deb Stone, Seema  Saj   (photo Dave Osborne)

Image 008On Mount Cuthbert (Mt Randall-Mt Cuthbert walk,17June 2012):  Lynda Perling, Liz Dunn, Niki and others   (photo: Dave Osborne)

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My Bushie Perspective  

By Frank Obbens

I entered the old hall at the back of St. James church on Aberdeen St, Northbridge; it was the early 1980’s and my first Perth bushies meeting. Several members came up and introduced themselves – a good sign I thought. After the official club business and slide show, I sensed a buzz as various groups talked about past walks while others looked over maps planning new walks - another good sign.

In those days the club was very small (~ 50-80 members) and consisted in the vast majority of persons from interstate or overseas. The club had some wonderful characters, not just your average Joe’s or Josephine’s – another thing that attracted me. Being a bit different didn’t seem to matter in this club. As club member Tom Reynolds once jokingly put it, “we were all bushwalking orphans bonded into one happy family”, a family somewhat incestuous at times, but full of keen adventurers.

In those years, just like today, members often found their life-partner through the club and I include myself in here. There was plenty of opportunity as the club met every Wednesday! I joined that night and received my membership a week or so later; member 641.

I grew up in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. The bush was always a big playground with lots of tracks to follow and creek to explore. Prior to coming to Perth, I’d travelled Australia extensively bushwalking in all our great N.P.s and with this behind me I thought I was a pretty competent bushwalker. That may have ‘rubbed’ some members as this newbie still had plenty to learn, especially about local conditions. And I did learn from those many patient and very experienced members who belonged to the club in those days and also from my own mistakes – particularly about the different types of bush, their landscapes and water or the lack of it!

Back then, there was a large group of back-pack walkers and while the day walks were lovely, I soon found myself attracted to this back-packing group. By this time (a few years later), I’d also started leading walks and found some of the above members participating. It became common for us to support back-packs each of us lead, usually adventurous, often challenging, often searching for that special wilderness area and with each walk completed a stronger friendship grew between us.

There was just something special about learning to be a self-reliant and a competent bush navigator. Also we enjoyed the bush and being with your companions around the fireside each night. During the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s we did so much back-packing. The club walk program (particularly in the earlier years) often had a back-pack every other weekend, sometimes two! And way back then, it wasn’t unusual on a normal weekend to do a backpack way down south – i.e. late Friday night drive to the walk, two days of hard walking, late Sunday night finish, wake up early Monday physically tired, but refreshed for work!

We may have been somewhat competitive by trying to outdo the last wonderful walk. Not just doing the usual back-packs, but by improving the routes or exploring whole new areas altogether, especially new wild places. Some of these routes/areas are now part of our regularwalk program. I’m told I got a reputation for doing ‘hard’ walks, but that was not also true. However, I do remember the odd river/estuary crossing in mid-winter, scrambling up coastal bluffs, many long steep ascents/descents and some pretty thick cross-country walks.

Whatever happened each walk, we still returned the next week to do some more hard walking and afterwards always talked, joked and laughed about that last tough journey. We just kept going for the sheer joy of being out there in the wild. Generally, we had lots of fun and a real sense of achievement. So many wonderful places, landscapes, sounds, experiences and so many good memories. Unbelievably, many of those members are still my good friends today.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to give something back to this club that has given so me so many great experiences and joyful bushwalks. I can’t remember the dates, but I was conservation officer for a few years, walks co-ordinator and helper for a couple of years and training and safety officer on and off over several years. I was Federation rep. In the early days and always happy to be general dog’s body when required. I am now a life-member of the club, something I will always treasure and feel honoured to be.

While some of us oldies may bemoan the fact (as oldies are wnt to do) that Perth bushies club has changed over the years (ie.we don’t do as much back-packing, not enough exploring, electronic forms, what next!!), I think the changes have improved our club, brought us into the modern world which we couldn’t really ignore. We have excellent leadership, both our committee and our walks’ leaders.

What is most important, we continue to be a club that is friendly, inclusive and challenges the membership. A place where people have the opportunity to learn and grow, both as bushwalkers and as good people for our community. We also have a very big bonus in learning to love the bush we all enjoy walking through.

What more could one ask for, I’m glad I made that trip to Aberdeen St so many years ago.

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Boyagarring Conservation area, 24.9.2019:     photo: N MacLennan 

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Walyunga Revisted - Pat Giles 

I met Steve Mansfield recently who told me that he and his wife had been members of Perth Bushwalkers Club about 20 years ago. Pat is currently in poor health, Steve retrieved the following story that she wrote about an unfortunate incident that occurred on a walk in Walyunga. Fortunately all was well in the end but this story illustrates that incidents can occur when out walking. Niki MacLennan

Pat Giles

Bush walking reminds me of the process of giving birth. The excitement of planning, preparation and anticipation, apprehension on the day about what you may encounter, wondering toward the end of it all why on earth you're doing it again, and the relief, pleasure and sense of achievement when it's all over.

After twelve months of bushwalking, Steve and I had done most of the walks that were easily accessible from Northam. Mundaring Weir, Kalamunda, John Forrest National Park (where we trudged in heavy rain for six hours) and Kings Park. When Wulyunga National Park, the site of my introductory walk appeared on the program again under a different leader, we decided to go.

It was the last day of August and as pretty as only an early spring day can be. By now, when the group arrived, there were familiar faces among them. In keeping with the tradition of leaders, Geoffrey was a character. On the one hand he seemed vague and absent-minded which was a minor cause for concern when he was in charge. On the other hand, he remembered a friend’s phone number because it was the square root of something! In addition he had the properties of a mountain goat.

As we walked along, others who had known Geoff for years told of another experience of his leadership when he'd strayed off course and taken the group up a hill, only to find that it was the wrong hill. Undeterred he took them up another hill, which again wasn't the right one. While he capered up and down the hills with gay abandon, his followers were less pleased to be covering extra distance. Their displeasure finally became apparent, even to Geoffrey, and he made an extra effort to lead them home.

The Avon River

Our walk initially took us along the Avon River, past Bell's Rapids where we took photographs, then across country toward our destination, Jumperkine Hill. It seemed to be a day of water crossings and climbing fences. From previous experience, I'd learned to remove shoes and wade if a water crossing looked difficult, but carried extra socks as well. When one of the few men on the walk fell in, I shared this information with him, belatedly! He said the thought of carrying more socks hadn't occurred to him and he'd certainly do it next time.

We had a delightful morning, easy company, spectacular scenery, steady pace and negotiable inclines until Geoffrey's mapping skills failed him again. Somehow we were blocked into a tight corner. The choice was to go back or climb the difficult rocky incline. Lunchtime was nearing, we were hungry, so we opted for over the top. I was unimpressed. In my estimation this shifted the grading of the walk from 'medium' to 'hard'. I conscientiously avoided 'hard' walks.

To my disgust, history appeared to be repeating itself. We tackled several consecutive steep inclines and I hit the middle phase of "what am I doing here?" state of mind. On the insistence of the rest of the group, Geoffrey allowed himself to be persuaded to take advantage of a premium picnic site, and stop for lunch. Soaking in the view, and replenishing energy resources, I relaxed. It was a privilege to dine at this magnificent vantage point where we viewed rolling hills, clear skyline and the distant city couched between two peaks.

Lunch Spot

Conversation between us revealed that Lady Diana had been involved in a car accident. It didn't sound serious and we hoped she'd be OK. Steve had suffered some damage to the seam of his favourite walking trousers. For the sake of propriety, we salvaged a safety pin from his first aid kit and pulled the reluctant pieces of material together. It was makeshift, but we thought, "Hell, we're bush walkers so what does it matter."

It was with reluctance that the group packed up ready to move again. We estimated that we'd covered about twelve kilometres. We expected to have about six kilometres to go and we were looking forward to a less strenuous afternoon's trekking. Backpacks on, we moved down the first hill in single file. It was rough, there was no track and where the undergrowth was covered in dry leaves, it was slippery. As usual, Geoffrey appeared to be galloping into the distance.

Half way down the steep slope it happened. My feet slipped on the dry leaves and grass, flew from underneath me, and I went down. As if in slow motion, I saw my left foot shoot out at a right angle. There was a sickening loud snap followed by immense pain and awful involuntary cries that echoed right across the valley. While I strove to reach a point of control over the pain, walkers clambered around to estimate the damage and offer assistance. Did I think it was broken? I didn't know. Something snapped. Maybe it was a 3 bone, but it could have been a tendon. I'd had no previous experience with either. Could I walk on it? Definitely not!

Steve just happens to be a St John's Ambulance volunteer officer and took control of the situation. He organised people to find splints from the undergrowth. When he voiced a request for bandages, they flew out of every backpack! Sitting among rocks and bushes, it was difficult to attend to my leg. It was necessary for Steve to assume a position that made mince meat of the makeshift repairs he'd put in place on his trousers. While he carefully applied my splint, taking care to make me as comfortable as possible, and coping with his own anxiety, all I could focus on were his bright red undies now freed and cheerfully on view. He looked up from his work, saw my amusement, and grinned. He was beyond caring.

Discussion ensued. Looking upwards to the rough climb we'd just descended, the dilemma of getting me out was in front of us. When someone mentioned a helicopter, thoughts of M.A.S.H. flew into my mind where the patients appeared to be strapped to an external runner.

"I'm not doing that," I pronounced. "I'd rather stay here and rot!"

As this was apparently not a consideration, a plan came into shape. Two walkers left their packs and strode off to get help from a nearby farmhouse. With a firm splint now in place, and the pain manageable, I hooked my arms around the necks of two men, while a third held the offending leg up to stop it from colliding with rocks and bushes. The rest of the party navigated the easiest course up the incline and carried all of the extra packs. Using my good leg to hop on, we moved forward in giant hops, a metre or two at a time, then rested. Pleased with our plan's success, we slowly progressed up the hill. It was tough going for the fellow on the down side. My arm was around his neck and my hand flopped in the vicinity of his heart. He insisted that he was fine, but the rapid pounding worried me so much that I requested extra minutes during our rests. The last thing we needed was a heart attack.

It is difficult to say how long it took us to scale the 100 metres or so up that hill, but suffice to say we made it. We all felt very clever, and in the euphoria of the moment, cameras were brought out to record the adventure. Someone even produced coffee and biscuits as we waited for our two scouts to come back with help.

Pat Giles 2

We didn't wait long at all. Geoffrey and Loreen had located the farmhouse easily (Geoffrey excelled himself!) and arrived back with the farmer in a rugged little four-wheel drive that bounced over the rough country tracks. I was piled into the back with the toolbox. Steve and a couple of others climbed in too and the farmer drove us to his home where his wife was waiting with the family station wagon to ferry us back to the car park. It all seemed like a day's work for these generous people and we were very grateful to them. On the way in the car, the farmer's wife informed us that Princess Diana had in fact been killed. It was sobering news.

The rescue chariot

Back at the car park. I hopped over to Steve's car and fell into the front seat. We left the others behind, our thanks and their good wishes exchanged as Steve and I headed off to Swan Districts Hospital.

With difficulty, Steve piled me into a wheelchair. Realising that most of his frontage was still gaping, he tied his jumper around his waist, back to front! Fronting up to the Triage nurse in Accident and Emergency, we were amused to find that his interest was captured more by Steve's impressive splinting job, than my injury. "Haven't seen one like that before," he said.

It was a very busy night in Casualty. My pain was now moderate so I was triaged as non urgent. However, three to four hours of staring at TV programs featuring the impact that Diana's death was having on the world, was a long wait. I was beginning to wish that we'd traveled back to Northam and been treated on home ground. Finally, my turn came. The Doctor remembered seeing me in the waiting room when she came on duty, and expressed surprise at my long wait. The extraordinary splint was gaining us notoriety. I was trundled off to x-ray where the radiographer found I'd broken a bone. Back in casualty, a nurse applied a temporary backslab. When she'd finished, the x-rays and referrals to an orthopaedic surgeon were placed into an envelope, shoved in our hands and we were out the door.

The trip home was an anti climax. We were exhausted by the day's events, but touched by the care and concern of our fellow walkers, and the farmer and his wife. Somewhere near Bakers Hill, Steve's mobile rang. Geoffrey was calling to ask after me. Steve gave him the news. The event was to inspire much discussion among the bush walkers for a long time and in a crazy sort of way, I enjoyed momentary fame!

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50 Years

By Ian McDonald,  March 2019

Image 001Eagle Balls, photo I McDonald

I congratulate all the current and past members of Perth Bushwalkers Club Inc. for giving 50 years of service, to its members and the bushwalking community in general.

Joining Perth Bushies was the best thing I ever did – that is apart from getting an education, getting a job, getting married, raising a family, and then retiring - but that is what most people do - only a select few get to join Perth Bushwalkers Club.

I have been a bushwalker all my life, leading my first group bushwalk – actually a route march through the bush - as a member of an army cadet unit when I was about 15 years old. Over the years I wore out my friends and rellies dragging them into the bush, when they occasionally did not share all my enthusiasm. “Why don’t you join a bushwalking club Dad?”, asked one of my kids in desperation as he was discovering girls and other sporting activities as an alternative to tramping through the bush.

Luckily bushwalking clubs were listed in the Yellow Pages (the oldies will remember them) and after looking at what was on offer I joined Perth Bushwalkers Club Inc in 1986.

What a great bunch of people, from all walks of life, and all political persuasions. No political correctness. The ‘forbidden’ sex, politics and religion were regularly discussed around a campfire. We read maps. We designed our own bushwalking routes. Together we discovered the beauty of Club walks and of feral walks, and the pleasure of overnighters and week-long expeditions along the Bibbulmun Track, and as our confidence and skills grew, from Pemberton to the mouth of the Warren and back, and the length of the gorge system in the Kalbarri National Park. We tramped through the bush and discovered long forgotten relics of the indigenous occupation of the bush – which we shared with archaeologists and aboriginal elders, and other Club members.

I got involved in Club management. I went on one of the leadership and navigation weekends that Frank Obbens once led regularly and became a Club walk leader. I was Venturer Editor for as long as the then constitution would allow, in the days when the Venturer published the Club’s walk programme. I transferred the Venturer from a typewritten document, when cutting and pasting meant literally that, onto my Commodore 64 home computer. I was privileged to hold the position of Club President for two, three-year terms, from 1998 to 2001 and again 2004 to 2007. I represented Perth Bushwalkers Club Inc. on the Federation of Western Australian Bushwalkers Inc. from about 1996 until about 2015, mostly as either president or secretary. I also represented WA on Bushwalking Australia Inc. from its inception in 2006 to about 2015 and was president of that body in 2009 and 2010.

We, that’s me and the various committees made up from people who gave their best, changed stuff that we reckoned could make the Club work better. I could mention names of the outstanding helpers, but there were many, and the risk of leaving out someone who had made a seriously valuable contribution, and thus offending them stops me from doing so.

Some of these changes were very successful and are still Club practice. Some changes didn’t quite work out as well as expected – but how to undo the change sometimes eluded us. Some things we wanted to change but didn’t know how. For example we were concerned that some 60 percent of our members were female, and we had good female representation on the Club committee, but they were under-represented as walk leaders. I suspect that is probably still the case.

A small group of us, in association with other bushwalking clubs assisted with the alignment of the current version of the Bibbulmun Track.

Perhaps we can look at the construction of the Eagle View Trail in John Forrest National Park as proof of the quality and dedication of our members during the 1990s. This trail, conceived by Frank Obbens, was navigated and built by a dedicated group of Club members led by Frank.

A highlight of the time with the Federation was negotiating access terms for bushwalking in drinking water catchments. The public servants we battled with (and it was ‘we’ because there were well considered contributions from many good people, especially Mel Lintern and Dave Osborne) were limited by various catchment management acts which prohibited bushwalking, yet there was wide realisation that the public health benefits of bushwalking far outweighed the public health risks, provided simple precautions were followed. After a parliamentary enquiry a joint government committee was set up which negotiated what I think are the current arrangements. (They are the regulations that I observe anyway.)

Looking back on my thirty plus years with the Club I remember this great group of people. I have some very good friends who came out of Perth Bushwalkers Club Inc. We know each other well. We have seen each other exalted and exhausted, wet and cold, and hot and bothered. Now as I get older I ride bikes and paddle canoes and go four-wheel driving, and less frequently bushwalk, with many of these same people.-

Perth Bushies is indeed made up of a great group of people, and is the best thing I ever joined.

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Image 003Hecate - Porongurups.   photos I McDonald

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Ian McDonald - Life Member BWA/Hike West

By Bushwalking WA/Hike West

Image 001The following citation was published by Bushwalking WA (now HikeWest) to recognize the award of Life -Membership to Ian McDonald at the association’s AGM on 15 October 2019

Ian McDonald accepts Certificate of Life Membership from President of BWA. Dave Osborne

Ian was the stalwart of the Federation of Western Australian Bushwalkers (now ‘BWA’) over a long period and showed a rare, sustained commitment and tenacity in advocating over the years for the best interests of bushwalking in WA. He served as President from 2005 to 2011 and also several years as Secretary.

Under Ian’s leadership, the Federation made several key submissions to ultimately ensure continued ‘free-range/off-trail’ bushwalking access to the outer water catchments which had been under threat. Among other contributions, he also had a key role in lobbying for continued access to the Fitzgerald River National Park when that was also under threat before today’s improved access and infrastructure was installed.

Life Membership is a fitting recognition of Ian’s past substantial contribution to the association and his inspiring legacy.

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Reflection

By Mel Lintern

mtlindsay

Raining hard. Pitch black. Mud. Three steps up and one slide back. Ascending First Arrow.

My first walk with the Perth Bushies was in 1985 doing the Half Ridge Walk. Our goal was the camping cave on the Third Arrow. Anyone who knows the Ridge Walk will regard an attempt in these conditions as fool hardy - no GPS, PLB, EPIRB, SPOT, mobile. As we entered the cave we realised we were not alone - but what a relief! Through the mist we saw 30 bedraggled walkers hunched around cooking pots and a makeshift fire while others were sardined in sleeping bags. Too tired to eat we were serenaded to sleep by the rhythmic tinkling sounds of billys filling with water from drips.

Perth Bushys was a different club thirty odd years ago. More adventurous weekenders, more backpacks, and fewer day walks. Personally, I enjoyed the backpacks and looked forward to these twice a month. Exploring new country, banter with friends, self-sufficiency, camp- fires, escaping the city. We would think nothing of driving down to Walpole for a Friday night camp then into the Nuyts Wilderness before returning back on Sunday night.

We used the January Long Weekend for many years to walk in stages from the mouth of the Warren River to within cooee of Esperance, starting where we left off the previous year. June long weekends saw us attempt the Murchison Gorge or venture to Cape Le Grande. Easters we relished especially when they connected with Anzac for extended walks to goodness knows although Christmases haven’t changed much except then we’d walk the turkey and pud off with a four day backpack. With apologies to Monty Python “ we ‘ad it tough in them days!”

We were a younger crowd so had fitness and endeavour on our side. We were concerned that our demographic was ageing but I think the younger crowd these days are more likely to go it alone or with friends rather than with a formal club - or perhaps they have never heard of us? Of course the advantage of a club is that you can tap in to collective wisdom when looking for a more adventurous experience. We had Forests on Foot as our Bible in the 80s and 90s for these extended walks.

We were heavily involved in conservation issues in the 80s and 90s. The Department of CALM (!) would keep us busy at someone’s house for an evening or three pouring (?red wine) over draft management plans on National Parks to comment upon, while the logging of the native forests or threatening to put a coal mine in an area of outstanding bush (Mt Lesueur National Park) called for more active protests from our numbers.

We were emboldened by our conservation successes and genuinely felt we were helping protect our walking environment for the future as well as the animals’ and plants’ right to be there. Recently, an ex-Bushy, Carl Erbrich, helped save Helena Aurora from being turned into an iron ore mine. The Water Authority have been a thorn in our boots for years but we made headway here too. If we didn’t object about the progressive exclusion the way we did I doubt whether we would have a WalkGPS website full of catchment walks. Indeed, the primary reason for forming The Federation of WA Bushwalkers (now HikeWest) was to champion and protect our walking environment, we were an endangered species not so long ago!

I think the club is in an excellent position going forward. Hard working committees and enthusiastic walkers have ensured that. We have many members involved in activities each week. The Wednesday Walkers are unstoppable putting on two walks a week. The clubhouse meetings are vibrant and full of inspiring talks and backed up with a strong social scene. I wonder what we will look like in another 50 years?

What is your favourite walking area?

It would have to be the Stirling Range. It’s our only real alpine mountain range within half a day's drive of Perth. The Stirling Range Ridge Walk is one of the best walks in WA and although it can be done in a day it is best savoured over three spending a day based in the cave exploring the Arrows.

Why do you like bushwalking?

I love getting out and exploring the bush with friends. There's so much to see. I have been walking for over 30 years in WA alone and there are many places still yet to see within an hour’s drive of Perth. I particularly like backpacks especially when we are permitted to have a campfire. You get a deep appreciation of the environment and it is truly humbling being immersed in the bush. Spring is often the best time to walk for the wildflowers and birdsong but winter is good too as long as you are prepared.

Have you ever bushwalked interstate or overseas?

I have walked in all states and territories but not extensively. My last walk was on the Larapinta which I found gruelling but enjoyable. It’s amazing how time heals the wounds and I now feel as though I could do it again! I started walking in England when I was 16 with an attempt on the Pennine Way, but got beaten by blisters:'my pack was too heavy. The Overland Track was memorable even though we did it the luxury way and I am looking forward to the Three Capes Walk also in Tasmania. New Zealand is an incredible destination for extended walks. I have done a number of walks there including the Dart-Rees where the views of the Dart Glacier were unforgettable.

What is the most important thing to take on a bushwalk?

That’s a tricky one to answer. First Aid should always be considered when going on any walk but so should a tot of port on an overnighter! Two bushys had close encounters with snakes on Wednesday walks this year - but I wonder how many have first aid knowledge? Water is a must on any walk and I have found it surprising how little people drink and then find themselves with headaches at the end of the day. What are big issues facing bushwalking in WA? Undoubtedly it is problem of being 'over-managed' out of bushwalking areas such as the catchments. The climb up Uluru is no longer possible and I recently saw a list of other 'sensitive' areas that walking may be excluded from. I have heard calls that we should not be allowed to climb Bluff Knoll because we are putting rescuers' lives at risk if we become lost. It never ends.

styx

mtlesueursouthcoastbrokemtlesueur2

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Poems - Maureen and Alan

In September 1999 Maureen, Ian Denny, Joy Stewart, Leonie Taylor with children Saxon and Axel, Bev Turner, Mike Wilson, Jenny Young and Ian McDonald travelled Holland’s track. The track was pioneered in 1893 to make a faster route from the Coolgardie goldfields to Albany. When the railway was completed eastwards in 1896, traffic on the track dwindled to a trickle. The track is now favoured by off-road drivers. It traverses some spectacular country. The experience inspired Maureeen to compose the poem below. Ed.

Maureen’s poem

Odd Ode,   by Maureen Potter

Thirteen eager Bushies

Set off on Holland’s Track

One got bogged immediately

,But twelve did not look back

 

Twelve sleeping Bushies

Suffering cold toes

One went to get her liner

Eleven stayed and froze

 

There were eleven Bushies

(Half of them were men)

One went in search of sandal-wood

Then there were ten

 

Ten merry Bushies

Knocking back their wine

One knocked back a bit too much

Then there were nine

 

Nine hot and tired Bushies

Tried swimming in a pool

One swallowed several tadpoles

Leaving 9 who just kept cool

 

Eight star-struck Bushies

Looking up to heaven

One stayed to watch a satellite

Then there were seven

 

Seven freezing Bushies

Rising with the dawn

One built far too big a fire

And six became the norm

 

Six intrepid Bushies

Explored a monadnock

One chased a lizard out of sight

And five were left in shock

 

Five Bushies liked bush tucker

And went in search of more

One bit into a quandong

And then there were four

 

Four careless Bushies

Climbing round a tree

One’s head got stuck inside the trunk

Then there were three

 

Three flower-loving Bushies

One was ‘you know who’

And she went off to look for hakeas

Leaving only two

 

Two Bushies cooked some jaffles

One severely overdone

It’s owner choked “it’s far too burnt”

And then there was one

 

One lonely Bushie

Wandering in the sun

Fell right down a gnamma hole

And then there was none


Alan Green composed the following poem to recognize Mike Barnes who was made a life-member of Perth Bushies at the AGM in May 2019.

Salute to Mike Barnes

Mike Barnes
A giant of a man

Stands tall
Stature of a giant
Humble
Hard-working
Leader of men

Mike Barnes
A giant of a man

Sets an example
Walks dawn to dusk
Chooses a leisurely pace
Sends weekly walk descriptions out
One day the knees said ‘ it’s time now to stop’

Mike Barnes
A giant of a man

Had a dream
Became a pioneer
We salute
Applaud
Give a hearty thank you

Mike Barnes
A giant of a man

Life member now
Glasses raised
Hats off
We toast
You are soldiering on

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Presidents and Life Members: 1981 - 2019

Presidents

Steve Pawley 1981-84
Judy Jarass 1985-87
Jerome Da Costa 1988-90
Melvyn Lintern 1991-93
Jerone DaCosta 1994-95
Douglas Brown 1995-96
Geoff Palfreyman 1997-98
Richard Inglis 1998-99
Lisa Pickering 2000-01
Andrew Priest 2002-03
Ian McDonald 2004-07
Lance Costello 2007
Don Allanach 2007-08
Ralph Ditton 2008-11
Colin Walker - 2011-13
Dave Osborne - 2013-16
Joe Malpas - 2016-19
Chris Mawson - 2019-20

Life Members

Geoff Schafer 1989
Jerome DaCosta 2000
Geoff Palfreyman 2003
Ian McDonald 2005
Jenny Young 2008
Mel Lintern 2009
Tony O’Brien 2010
Dave Osborne 2013
Frank Obbens 2014
Colin Walker 2015
Lisa Pickering 2018
Michael Barnes 2019

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