200310 Newsletter

QUEENSLAND BUSHWALKERS CLUB Newsletter

74 Kallista Rd. Rochedale South QLD 4123 Email [email protected] Phone No (07) 3341 7509 www.geocities.com/qldbwc

October 2003

Ravensbourne Tracks

Club News Incorporation At the September Committee Meeting the following motion was passed: “That QBW form a subcommittee to prepare a proposal for the incorporation of QBW to be submitted to the management committee prior to the next AGM.” There are many benefits to be gained if the Club becomes incorporated plus some disadvantages. The committee will carefully look at the proposal for incorporation and if it agrees that the Club should become incorporated, the proposal will be presented to all members at the next AGM in March 2004. The subcommittee will put forward the pros and cons of incorporation plus draw up a draft constitution suitable for incorporation. The present constitution is not adequate if the Club becomes incorporated. The new constitution will as closely as possible mirror the present one. Under the Club’s present rules, any change to the constitution must be agreed to by the majority of the management committee and then by two-thirds of the members. A copy of the present constitution is available on the Club website. It is important that as many views as possible be presented so that the management committee can make an informed decision. The committee encourages anyone interested in being on the subcommittee to contact Richard Kolarski who has been appointed chairman. He can be contacted on 3341 7509. The first meeting of the subcommittee will be held on Wednesday, the 15th of October at 74 Kallista Rd., Rochedale, starting at 7.30pm. The Club will keep members informed via the General Meetings and the Newsletter.

Under the present Insurance policy, any member of a bushwalking club affiliated to the Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs is covered by insurance. There are 14 affiliated clubs in south-east Queensland and 25 clubs overall in Queensland. The committee has decided that visitors from affiliated clubs are welcome on QBW walks if they present proof of membership of the affiliated club. Visitors from affiliated clubs will not need to become members and will not need to pay any fees. However they will not have any voting rights or receive the Newsletter by mail. There is a full list of affiliated clubs on the Federation website at www.geocities.com/qfbwc/affilclubs.html.

Pooling Members for Through Walks QBW has been contacted by a member of another club about whether it would be possible to pool resources for through walks. Several of the other club’s through walks have not gone ahead because of insufficient numbers for the walk. This has also been the case for us. QBW will be contacting a couple of other clubs about the possibility of sharing through walks on the Walks Calendar.

Comings and Goings Judy J is off to South America for 4 weeks. Judy will be walking in Patagonia and also do the Inca Trail in Peru. Amanda G is also off to South America. We wish them both well. Barbara M has just recently returned from the Blue Mountains where she did several walks.

Visitors from Affiliated Clubs Page 1 of 6

General Information

The Management Committee

Membership Membership is still only $20 per year. The Club year goes from the 1st of February to the 31st of January of the following year. Before a visitor can go on a walk, he/she must become a Probationary or Ordinary Member. Members of another bushwalking club affiliated with the Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs or another State Federation are covered for Insurance. Probationary Membership To become a Probationary Member, a person pays $10.00 to a member of the committee or to a walk leader. Walk leaders are authorized to collect the $10.00. The committee member or walk leader will note the name of the person and that he/she has paid $10.00. A Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member by their second walk. Ordinary Membership A person who is not a member can become an Ordinary Member by filling out a membership form and handing the form to a committee member or walk leader and paying $20.00. A Probationary Member can become an Ordinary Member by filling out a membership form and handing it to a committee member or walk leader and paying a further $10.00.

Secretary Treasurer Outings Secretary Membership Officer Social Secretary Training Officer Editor

Dianne Cox Linda Hellmuth Barbara Makepeace Steve Hill Paul Makepeace David Haliczer Richard Kolarski

3273 3484(H) 3395 0754(H) 3245 2186 (H) 0408 952 975 3245 2186 (H) 3879 8334(H) 3341 7509(H)

Other Voluntary Positions Equipment Officer Supper Convenor Federation Rep FMR Reps (2)

Steve Moyle Margaret Smith Richard Kolarski David Haliczer Richard Kolarski

3800 3963(H) 3886 3342(H) 3341 7509(H) 3879 8334(H) 3341 7509(H)

Campsite Monitors Ratatat Hut

Barbara Makepeace Ed Thistlethwaite

Running Creek Falls

Richard Kolarski Gary Woodward

Throakban

Kerry de Clauzel Trevor Smith

Mt Superbus & Spicers Peak

Christine Harrison Cliff Harrison

Special Coming Events

Meeting Place General Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the East Brisbane State School, corner of Stanley Street and Wellington Road, starting at 7:30pm.

New Zealand - South Island

There is parking within the school grounds off Wellington Road. Consult a street directory, as there are a number of one-way streets in the area.

Cliff & Christine Harrison who are experienced bushwalkers are planning this 11 day through-walk in Nelson Lakes National Park.

Tea/Coffee and cake/biscuits provided after the meeting.

Depart Brisbane - Christchurch: Friday 13th February 2004 Back to Brisbane: Sunday 29th February 2004.

Equipment for Hire

Those genuinely interested, please contact us by Email: [email protected] or Phone 5429 5494.

The Club has a backpack (suitable for use as a day or through pack) for hire at $5.00 per week. QBW is also looking at purchasing further equipment in the near future. Any suggestions for equipment to buy would be appreciated. Also any person who has surplus equipment and would like to donate or sell to the Club, please contact Steve Moyle on 3800 3963.

February 2004

Hinchinbrook Island 21-25 June 2004 We have a permit for 5 people to climb Mt Bowen (1121m) on Hinchinbrook Island. Hinchinbrook is Australia’s largest island national park. Only a limited number of people are allowed on the island every day to walk the Thorsborne Trail. Even fewer are allowed to climb the peaks. Come and join me on this special walk on this pristine, rugged and challenging island.

Bivy Bag/Pack Liners for Sale The Club has purchased a quantity of pack liners from VicWalk suitable for through packs. They are 2 metres by 0.9 metres in a bright orange colour.

Contact Richard on 3341 7509 for more information.

The packliners can double as an emergency bivvy bag and have helpful information printed on them.

Editors Pic

They are available from the Club for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00.

New Members David Anderson

Rhett Foreman

Cath Carkeet

Richard Kolera Lutz Fehling

No of financial members 116

FOR SALE Optimus shellite stove “choofer” $10.00 Contact Richard on 3341 7509

Kangaroo Stew

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Coming Socials

Hadrian's Wall

Xmas Party

Hadrian's Wall is the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain. It is the best-known frontier in the entire Roman Empire and stands as a reminder of past glories of one of the world's greatest civilisations. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987.

When: 6 & 7th December Where: Binna Burra Education Centre Cost: $20 pp approx for accommodation in bunkhouse for 2 nights (Fri & Sat) $25 for dinner in the restaurant Saturday night Camping is available, also permanent tents; if required book yourself. Facilities: sole use of 4 bunkhouses sleeping 9 each, share toilet/shower facilities with camp ground, large indoor room in education centre with fridge and small kitchen, sole use of gas BBQ and campfire on terrace outside education centre.

In AD 122 Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall across northern England to hold back the advancing Barbarians. Other countries had natural features for boundaries - the River Rhine in Germany and the desert in North Africa. Britain had the Great Whin Sill, a dramatic geological outcrop, so Hadrian decided to make use of this in his design for a wall from the Tyne to the Solway.

What to bring: food, clothing, sleeping gear, and walking gear. Deposit: $20 to secure your place in the bunkhouse. (We need a minimum of 20 people to keep price near $20) Contact Paul or Barbara on 3245 2186 (H).

Pilgrimage 2003 Six QBW members attended the Pilgrimage run by the Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland. It was held at Glen Rock Regional Park, just south of Gatton. 115 bushwalkers from bushwalking clubs in Southern Queensland attended. Patricia and I arrived Friday afternoon and set up our tent in the very large flat camping area. BOSQ had prepared a light supper for all that night. Hadrian’s Wall on the Great Whin Sill

The Great Whin Sill takes its name from the north of England quarryman's term 'sill' meaning any more or less horizontal body of rock, and 'whin' meaning a hard, rather intractable, black rock. The Great Whin Sill is on average 100 feet thick and extends over an area of 3,900 square kilometres across north east England. Once thought to be a lava flow of Carboniferous age (about 280 million years ago), it proved to be an intrusion, squeezed as a molten mass between existing layers of Carboniferous rocks. A fresh unweathered specimen is usually dark blue-grey. The dolerite of the Whin Sill is extremely resistant to erosion.

There’s Fire in Those Hills!

Friday night was memorable because there was a fire burning in the hills to the north. As night fell the line of fire was clearly visible. Luckily weather conditions were mild with hardly any breeze and the fire did not pose any real threat. Also the wind direction stopped any smoke coming into the campsite. BOSQ had over ten different walks for the Saturday, ranging from very easy to quite hard. The day was sunny and hot, but a refreshing breeze on most ridge tops helped to cool the walkers down. One walk had to be changed due to the fire which continued to burn. That evening there was a concert with bush poetry, singing and short sketches. A highlight was “Jake the Peg”. All had a good time especially singing “If You’re a Bushie”. Sunday morning broke sunny and clear. There was a “secondhand camping and walking gear” market followed by a “Map & Compass Club Challenge” lasting for 2 hours. This was fittingly won by the Toowoomba Bushwalking Club who are hosting the Pilgrimage for next year at Girraween. Many thanks and congratulations to the Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland for the work they put in and making the Pilgrimage such an enjoyable experience. The yearly Pilgrimage is a matchless way of renewing old acquaintances and making new bushwalking friends. Richard

From AD 122 to 128 professional soldiers, legionaries, built a wall 80 Roman miles long (117km or 73 modern miles), from Wallsend-on-Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. It used the Great Whin Sill along its length. The Wall itself was a sophisticated piece of engineering. Every Roman mile there was a milecastle guarded by at least eight men. Between milecastles were two equidistant turrets where sentries kept watch. Thus a close check could be made on the movement of goods, people and animals crossing the frontier. During building, control was strengthened by the construction of large forts along the Wall. These and other supply forts to the south housed auxiliary soldiers, many from Belgium, Germany and former Yugoslavia. The forts also served as crossing points of the Wall. Around them grew civilian settlements. By the early 400s, the Empire was in decline and Britain became cut off from Rome. Frontier defences were neglected and as pay ceased to arrive, soldiers drifted away. Settlement patterns changed. Border skirmishes continued, the Wall's stones reappeared in local farmhouses, field walls and even churches. It was only relatively recently that interest in the Wall as an archaeological monument, and as a place to visit, grew. Despite the depredations of the centuries, it remains the largest ancient monument in northern Europe. The best way to appreciate it, and the ruggedly beautiful countryside around it, is to walk it. Patricia and I had such an opportunity recently and were blessed by great weather. Thoroughly recommended.

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Richard

The summit of East Peak provides 360 degrees view of S-E Queensland and is a great place to lie in the sun and reflect on your place in the world.

Past Walks Castle Crag

29 June 2003

It was a surprisingly warm winter morning with hardly a cloud in the sky when we set out for Castle Crag. We walked via the Wishing Tree and Mick’s Tower which we climbed for a view of the rainforest canopy. Morning tea at Moonlight Slab lookout was our reward after a brisk uphill walk. The views from the lookout are excellent over Lost World and towards Mt Lindesay and Mt Barney.

Our group of eight summited in about 41/2 hrs whilst a group of 5 led by Dave arrived a 1/2 hour later. They had done an exploratory looking for the little known mid S-E ridge which requires more advanced rock scrambling skills in some areas but is a more direct route. After lunch, lounging in the sun and after some photos we took a vote and decided to descend together via North Ridge. The normal 31/2 hr descent took considerably longer than normal (we wore some of them out). We didn't reach the car park till 6.00pm with the last section thankfully being on an old forestry track by moonlight. The North Ridge off North Peak is a good descent as the steep rocky slabs offer great views to the north and gives the walker a chance to test their scrambling skills and their knee muscles. Thanks to all who came and made it a great day.

Mt May

Linda

6 July 2003

We all met at the Mt May campsite at 8.30am ready to explore Mt May, as I had never walked there before.

Castle Crag

A nice downhill walk followed out on to Castle Crag with most walkers making it across a narrow rocky section to the end of Castle Crag. It is quite precipitous here so we found a nice place to sit and take it all in. The wind really sprang up and we felt the full force of it as we headed back up to Balancing Rock where we stopped for photos before heading around to Moran’s Falls. We intended to stop for lunch at Moran’s Falls but it was too exposed to the wind so we found a sheltered area near the creek in the rainforest to eat our lunch. After lunch we followed the track back to the road and back to O’Reillys where we enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate and cake. Thanks to all those who joined me on the walk for making it so enjoyable. Barbara Makepeace

S-E Ridge Mt Barney

Mt May

The track notes from the book were accurate so we quickly located the track to follow and ascended the first peak of Mt May. There was a small cliff line to bypass, the biggest problem being lots of lose rock underfoot.

5 July 2003

After a rest and morning tea we descended into the saddle climbing down another small cliff line then it was uphill to the second peak. We stopped for lunch on a rocky slab on the top of the second peak with spectacular views of Mt Barney to delight us while we ate. It was then a steep downhill to the road and a 4km road walk back to the cars. A very nice walk. Thanks to everyone who came along.

Mt Warning

Barbara Makepeace 13 July 2003

Rain in Brisbane - sunshine in the Tweed Valley and clear views from Mt Warning made this walk worthwhile. 5 of us made our way up to the peak on this fairly mild Sunday. Many birds were active and singing; especially whip birds that I've never seen up close before. Mt Barney

The South -East Ridge is the more interesting of the easier ridges up Mt Barney. It's a fairly direct route from Yellowpinch car park to the rock of East Peak (1351m). The ridge provides great views of Mts Ernest, Gillies and Lindesay and towards the top there are spectacular views of the 500m vertical wall of the East Rock Face.

Taking our time we arrived at the peak at around 1100hrs after a final steep climb over the rock face just below Mt Warning. Under one of the view platforms we spotted what looked like a bilby without the usually large ears. We enjoyed relaxing & having lunch before heading back down again. As we arrived at the car park clouds moved in and it started to rain.

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Ravensbourne Tracks

27 July 2003

The group met at the Esk Information Centre and then made our way to Ravensbourne National Park – a further 20 minute drive through some lovely forest area. To make the most of our walk we joined the circuit tracks and headed down to the Caves. Very interesting rock shelters. A brief stop and onwards to Buaraba Creek. The track is mostly narrow and takes you through rainforest to open forest. There are a few steps to navigate down to the creek. With so little rain there was just enough water to remind you of what was. We didn’t stay long as the cool weather soon seeped into our bones. A steady climb back up the track and completing the circuits we were back at the picnic area in no time at all. Not a long walk but very pleasant without the crowds. Brunch at “Gus Beutel” lookout - what a view across the Lockyer Valley. Of course refreshments (coffee/hot chocolate/ etc.) just down the road. Mt Warning

We stopped for coffee & cake at the art gallery/coffee shop just opposite the campground before making our way back home. Thank you all for your company.

Barney Traverse

Michael Menzel 26 July 2003

This and Eagles Ridge are both the hardest and longest day walks but easily the best day walks in South East Queensland and perhaps mainland Australia. My generalisation is based upon the following aspects of the walk. The scenery is amongst the world's best - if you haven't been to the far side of West Peak you haven't seen the best of the scenic rim! There are rock crevices, granophyre razorbacks, canyons, knolls, massive crags, and unusual montane heath - a community unique in the entire world to an area of about 100 hectares. Nearly every trip to this area includes the sighting of one or more Wedge Tailed Eagles.

Thank you to our companions for making it a great walk – a great day. Bob & Danuta

Lizard Point T/W

9-10 August 2003

Five members met up in Boonah early Saturday morning for this weekend through walk. After some preliminaries we drove on to Teviot's Gap, parked our cars and began the walk. Near where we normally start to climb Mt Superbus, we turned off to a disused forestry road and followed it along. Eventually we came to the base of Mt Bell, crossed the creek and began our ascent.

The Challenge - most of the day includes scrambling. A rope is carried for those whose nerves of steel get a bit rusty from time to time. There are plenty of scrambling challenges - some chimneys, balancing and pivoting over boulders to get to the other side, ledges and jugs. To those who don't do these sorts of walks it sounds dangerous and I guess the risks are there but are greatly reduced by having a group that has demonstrated experience and confidence in such situations. Thirdly - the variety. One of the most varied walks in terms of vegetation, scenery and land formations.

Lizard Point T/W

Everyone who came on this walk Frank, Barb, Linda, Peter, myself, Michael, Gary, Trent, Andrew, Alice, Dean were a very capable team. They were fit, confident and appeared to be having a good time all day. They must all do some form of cross training as not one of them struggled or were short of breath and red in the face and they all kept up a mean pace. We began at 6:30am and didn't get back to the cars until 6:30pm. Our route was up Logan's Ridge, down to Rum Jungle, up to West Peak, down and up to Savages Knoll and then down Savages ridge to Cronin's Ck. The last half hour was in total darkness. Judging by the number of younger people who came and the fact that they were all with the club for the first time (4 new walkers) it was felt that this level of walk is needed in the club to bring in new recruits. In technical terms there is a niche for this sort of walk and it would be terrific to see Queensland Bushwalkers Club continue to put on more walks like this. Thanks to all who came - the camaraderie is a very important aspect to walking. The man of the match goes to Michael Peel - this was awarded for quantity of charcoal smothering and enthusiasm. Everyone else came a very close second. David

This is when we deviated from the plan. Instead of following the taped trail, I decided to take a more direct route up. After crossing several old forestry trails, and making compass checks regularly, we managed to avoid the top of Mt Bell altogether and arrived on the ridge between Mt Superbus and Mt Roberts. We had pioneered a new way up! The other walkers had simply thought I was lost (not true at all). Once on the ridge we made good time to Lizard Point. Along the way we met several other bushwalkers who were just returning from Lizard Point. After putting up our tents at Lizard Point South campsite we hurried to Lizard Point itself, which was less than ten minutes away for breathtaking views. We missed the actual moonrise over Mt Barney due to the haze, but saw it several minutes later when it was higher in the sky. We had our dinner at Lizard Point and again enjoyed great views of the sun setting behind the Main Range. The next morning we were up before dawn and walked to the lookout point again. Some of us watched the sunrise while having breakfast. It was then an unhurried return via Mt Superbus. Thank you to Ken, Linda, David and Patricia for coming along on this leisurely walk. Richard

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History

Macrozamia miquelli grows in coastal Queensland from St Lawrence south to northern New South Wales in open eucalypt forests on sandy or stony soils. It grows to 1 metre tall with leaves 0.5-2.0 metres long with a sharp point. The female can produce several cones 15-40cm long on stalks. The red seeds are 2.5-3.5cm long.

Cycads are an ancient group of seed plants with a crown of large compound leaves and a stout trunk. They bear a superficial resemblance to palms, although they are not at all related. Fossil cycads from the Paleozoic (about 240 million years ago) have many characteristics similar to the cycads of the present time and thus deserve the name “living fossils”.

Macrozamia moorei is found growing on the central highlands of Queensland around Springsure and Injune and in New South Wales in the headwaters of the Clarence River in open eucalypt forest. It can grow to 6m tall with leaves to 3 metres long. The female plants produce bright orange to red seeds 5-6cm long on up to 8 cones 40-90cm long.

During the Jurassic Period (206 to 144 million years ago), cycads were a common sight in many parts of the world, making up 20% of the world flora. For this reason, the Jurassic is often referred to as the "Age of Cycads".

Macrozamia pauli-guilielmi is found growing on sandy soils in coastal areas of southern Queensland and northern and central NSW. It usually has a very short or no trunk with only 2-12 leaves in the crown which are 0.6-1.1cm long. The seeds are orange to red 2.5-3.0cm long from cones 10-20cm long on stalks. This is also called pineapple zamia. This can be found growing on Fraser Island.

CYCADS As you wander about the hillsides on your walks have you ever noticed the fern/palm like plants commonly referred to as cycads?

Cycads extended over the Earth from Alaska and Siberia to the Antarctic. Fossils are known from every continent. Australia's cycads are distributed throughout the continent but are absent from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. However fossil deposits of these ancient plants have been found in Victoria. Local Species

Cycads are Poisonous! Cycads are poisonous with both the seeds and leaves reported to cause death in livestock.

In Australia there are 10 species of Cycas, 2 species of Lepidozamia, 2 species of Bowenia and 16 species of Macrozamia. The following are the most common cycads found growing in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Cycas media is found growing on rocky hills in eucalyptus forests and the edges of rainforests from Gympie north. It grows to 3 metres tall with a thick, brown trunk and a dense crown of leaves. A ring of dead leaves is found hanging down towards the ground. These plants are either male or female, the female producing brown, egg-shaped seeds 2.5-4.0cm long. The male plants produce a large amount of pollen in cones. The leaflets of the cycas have a prominent raised midrib.

Seeds

It is remarkable that many indigenous people in different parts of the world have quite independently found out how to detoxify the seed. All 'recipes' are based on steeping the crushed seeds in water which slowly breaks down and dissolves out the poison. Members of Captain Cook's party told how the Australian aboriginals harvest seed of Cycas media, pound it up and dry it, then soak it in a stream for 4 to 5 days, after which it is made into a paste and baked into bread. In 1788, Governor Phillips of New South Wales reported a similar process was used to render the seeds of Macrozamia spiralis (the 'burrawang') harmless. More recently this species has been used for alcohol production, manufacture of laundry starch and the production of adhesive pastes. Another, rather different, problem arises from poisons in cycad leaves. Grazing by stock on leaves of certain Macrozamia species in Australia has resulted in partial or total paralysis of the hind legs, a condition known as the 'wobbles' or 'staggers'. Whilst this rarely kills the animals, they are unable to obtain more food and water and thus perish as a result. The Future

Lepidozamia peroffskyana female plant with cone

Lepidozamia peroffskyana is found widely in south east Queensland and northern New South Wales on hillsides in wet sclerophyll forest that borders on rainforest. The leaves are up to 2-3 metres long. It also has male and female plants, the females producing 50-80cm cones with red seeds 4-6cm long. This can be seen growing along the Lepidozamia track in Brisbane Forest Park.

Today only a handful of cycads still exist. Cycads are in danger of becoming extinct both because they live in endangered habitats such as tropical forests, and because they grow so slowly and reproduce so infrequently. Several species are already extinct in the wild. Many more are under threat from habitat destruction, and pressure from unscrupulous collectors. However, because of their large attractive leaves, many cycads have found a home in public and private gardens around the world.

Macrozamia lucida is also found in coastal south east Breeding programs have been undertaken to preserve the Queensland and northern New South Wales on hillsides in open various species, but this is made difficult by the necessity of forest. It differs from Lepidozamia by not growing a trunk, the maintaining genetic variation present in natural populations. To trunk is underground. It has only 2-15 leaves 0.8-1.1 metres long protect natural populations, five genera are now covered by in the crown. The female plant produces a 15-20cm long cone international law, prohibiting trade of seeds collected in the wild. and the fruit are red and 2.5cm long. Page 6 of 6