Bushwalking NSW -- STAGING

The Bushwalker magazine has changed a lot over the years. Before the advent of desktop publishing the magazine was a photocopy of a simple typed document, perhaps with a sketch or two. Keith Maxwell has been scanning old Bushwalker magazines from the 1970s onwards. They have now been uploaded to our website and offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.

When this ad featured in the December 1977 Bushwalker, the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs of NSW comprised 33 clubs. See how Paddy Pallin’s ads and bushwalking clothing fashions have changed in the last 40 years, in this illustration of a well-dressed bushwalker.

Or check out the inaugural Wilderness Visitor’s Code of Behaviour from February 1978.which was prepared by Dr Sandra Bardwell, after the Australian Wilderness Conference the previous year. It was created, “To encourage the preservation of the physical and intangible qualities of wilderness areas and their enjoyment by travellers on foot, ski, or in hand or sail-powered boats.”, because “In wilderness man is a visitor who neither remains nor leaves any trace of his presence.”

We would love to add more archival newsletters to the website. If you have copies of any issues of the Bushwalker that are missing from our website please contact Kirsten admin@bushwalkingnsw.org.au

Find out more about our history at http://www.bushwalkingnsw.org.au/bushwalker-archives/

Are you a biosecure bushwalker?

In her recent presentation for Bushwalking NSW, Sharon Fulcher explained: “You may ask what Biosecurity has to do with bushwalkers? Biosecurity is probably a term more familiar to us as ‘quarantine’ – something we have to ‘pass’ when returning from an overseas trip or when travelling domestically to places in Tasmania or northern Australia where certain items are prohibited entry. And yes, this too is a part of Biosecurity. However bushwalkers can also inadvertently spread weeds, fungus or intestinal bugs into our favourite walking areas with disastrous results without even knowing it.”

Spreading seeds and weeds is easier than you might think. Have you ever considered that you might be spreading harmful weeds when brushing seeds or plants off your clothes?

Weeds are commonly spread by bushwalkers in the following ways:

• Seeds can be picked up on footwear, socks, laces and trousers and open weave cotton T-shirts and sections of backpacks
• On velcro fastenings on jackets and gaiter
• In open pockets
• Seeds caught in muddy boots
• Picked up by vehicles in ‘weedy’ carparks or on car mats
• Emptied out of tents and picked off socks
• From around huts, especially in alpine areas
• From interstate, overseas or from another national park

Like seeds, bushwalkers can easily damage vegetation by spreading funal infections between plants or contaminating waterways. Some of the risks include:

• Bringing weed seeds, insect pests, or aquatic pests like waterweeds into new areas on their shoes, gear, canoes, boats or vehicles
• Damaging vegetation and soil, exposing new ground where  weeds can establis
• Damaging native wildlife habitat and creating conditions that encourage non – native specie
• Transporting fungus spores, plant diseases or wildlife diseases into previously un-affected natural areas or adjacent farmland
• Spreading water-borne parasites through poor hygiene practice

So how can we reduce these risks and protect our bushland? In Part 2 we’ll cover the ways you can help and leave no trace while you’re out in the bush.

Read the full “Are you a Biosecure Bushwalker?” presentation.

Notes, slides and content courtesy of Sharon Fulcher.
Photos by Yidan Saladine.

A national online survey is being conducted by the CSIRO and the Department of the Environment and Energy.

The survey will help them to understand how Australia’s bushland and biodiversity has been changing in recent years, and whether the 1°C increase in surface temperature experienced over the past century may have contributed to these changes.

If you have a strong, long-term relationship with the land and are passionate about the future of Australia’s special plants and animals then the CSIRO would love to hear from you. The survey will collect first hand observations, insights and stories about places that are changing and places that aren’t changing. For example, you may have observed new species appearing, plants flowering at unusual times, or trees dying in your area. This will provide a unique and important historical record for Australia and the CSIRO would love for you to participate.

To participate, you would need to be able to select a natural area (e.g. your local region or farm, a Nature Reserve, urban bushland) that you have been familiar with for at least the last 10 years. Note that they are interested both in areas where change has been observed and where change has not been observed.

The survey would take about 30 minutes. If this has sparked your interest, additional information about the full project can be found here.

Splendour Rock in the Wild Dog Mountains is a bushwalkers’ war memorial in the spirit of bushwalking. Though not a difficult walk, even the least challenging path typically demands more than half a day and route finding.  On approach, accessing the last rock and plaque requires a confident leap over a short deep slot.

The bushwalkers of 1946 chose this spot well; Splendour Rock can also be a cross roads. The vast view extends from Kings Tableland (east) to Kanangra Walls and the High Gangerangs (west) and southwards towards Lake Burragorang / Blue Breaks. The dedication in 1948 must have been extra special as some bushwalkers, along with some of the fallen, had opened up the country in view to bushwalking prior to WWII.

In true bushwalker style the plaque is simple, but with fabulous wording.

There is great camaraderie as neither wealth or pr estige makes it any easier to get there.  All attendees have to share the limited rock platforms for the simple secular service.  The fallen bushwalkers are listed by name and club before a piper and trumpeter (with the ‘Last Post’) help to focus thoughts and feelings.  Typically, a glorious sunrise slowly lights the sky.

Breakfast almost seems hum drum before breaking camp and the walk out.

In 2018, Bushwalking NSW would like to make the remembrance a little more special for the 70^th anniversary of the plaques dedication.  I trust that you can join us on ANZAC Day 2018.

Guest author: Keith Maxwell

Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey in January, 2017! It was a biggie!

To begin sharing the results and our actions with you, here’s the ordered response to the question:

What should be the current focus of Bushwalking NSW?

1. Safety, rescue, risk management
2. Tracks and access (defined walks)
3. Conservation (natural places to walk in)
4. Public promotion of bushwalking
5. Training
6. Services to clubs

Interestingly, these options were presented in quite a different order in the survey:

1. Services to clubs
2. Public promotion of bushwalking
3. Conservation
4. Tracks and access
5. Safety, rescue, risk management
6. Training

So it was a good question to ask!

If you would like to send us your thoughts, you can still respond to our survey here.

This information will ultimately go into our strategic plan, however we have already responded with work in these areas:

• more work on our Risk Management Guidelines
• met with NPWS and members about tracks and walk promotion
• visited the historic, Kedumba Valley hut with NPWS and talked about tracks and access (one member specifically asked for huts)
• delivered an excellent minimal impact bushwalking presentation
• and more!

While we could never do everything that can be imagined, members also made the following suggestions which we could may be able to  on if we find the resources: “Collate an inventory of walks”

Also, one members suggested we “monitor insurance suitability each year” which we do with the help of Bushwalking Australia.

Our Community Liaison Officer, Alexandra Davidson has been working tirelessly to analyse your results so we will be continuing to bring you more details of the results.

Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad have today announced a change of squad name to Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR) NSW.

The name change reflects the skills, experience and resources available within this specialist squad of the Volunteer Rescue Association.

Squad President Keith Maxwell explains, “Over recent years, it’s become apparent that our previous name was not only a mouthful to say and remember, but didn’t accurately reflect the broader range of services that we offer to the Police and people of NSW in our capacity as volunteers.”

With a history that dates back to 1936 (then referred to as the Search & Rescue arm of the NSW Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs) Bush Search and Rescue NSW work closely with the NSW Police Force, specifically the Police Rescue Squad, to provide fit, experienced and highly competent personnel who specialise in the area of wilderness search and rescue.

“The truth is, we don’t only search for missing bushwalkers. Our more recent work has included canyoners, dementia patients, small children or tourists who’ve wandered off into bushland areas,” continues Maxwell.

Bush Search and Rescue’s skills include a high level of bushcraft and self-sufficiency in a wilderness setting, vertical rescue and roping techniques, wilderness first aid, land search techniques, remote communications and remote area transport.

“It is our hope that the adoption of this new name will see us referred to colloquially as ‘BSAR’ and is yet another indication of our ability to change and modernise, whilst fulfilling the needs of the public and the emergency services community.

For further information on Bush Search and Rescue (NSW) , please contact publicity@bsar.org.au or secretary@bsar.org.au.