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Friends Newsletter

JUNE, 2013

www.greatsouthwestwalk.com

P.O. Box 192, Portland, 3305

Congratulations & many thanks to our President of GSWW Committee, Lou Florakx, for his outstanding

presentation on behalf of this Committee and local volunteers at the

recent function organised by Glenelg Shire to acknowledge all

Community Volunteers.

Congratulations to Peter Hill who has received a National Emergency Medal for his contributions to fire-fighting last

Summer.

Diary Date: Annual Meeting, F.G.S.W.W.

Thursday, 19th. September, from 7pm. to 9pm. @ C.F.A., Percy St., Portland.

Membership: Membership Fees are now due for 2013/14

[See back page of the Newsletter for details].

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Walking Group Program:

The GSWW Walking group meets for an outing usually once a month and is always pleased to welcome new members. Refer to “What’s On”

section in Friday’s Portland Observer for any late changes.

All walks leave the Customs House, Cliff Street, Portland. Our by-laws require that intending walkers contact the leader by the Thursday prior to

the walk, so transport arrangements can be made.

• Saturday August 10th 2013 9.00am start from Portland – Sand Dune Adventure. Discovery Bay Coastal Park. Contact: Rob - 5526 5372; 0428 381 772

• Saturday September 14th 2013 9.00am start from Portland - Sapling Creek to North Nelson Road via Patterson's Canoe Camp. Bush and river scenery in Lower Glenelg National Park. Contact: Heather - 5521 8049

• Saturday October 12th 2013 9.00am start from Portland – Mt Clay. Wild flowers walk. Contact: Alan & Robyn 55272003

• Saturday November 16th 2013 2.00pm start from Portland - Walkers' End of Year - The Piccaninnie, Dunkeld, Southern Grampians. Contact: Jenny - 5578 8206

April Recreation Walk Report. Another successful monthly day walk was held on April 20th. A

record number of 31 walkers ventured into new territory. Hamilton, Portland & District, plus a car load from Warrnambool [ new people ], travelled to meet the rest of walkers at the Condah

Cemetery Road. Walkers enjoyed an approximately 10 km trek along country lanes and quiet forest tracks. Part of the trek was through the Anna Forest. At the completion of this lovely walk all walkers enjoyed their well earned lunch. Thank you Wendy for

organising this very interesting walk for the FGSWW Recreation Walking Group. Julie Davies, Recreation Officer.

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May Recreation Walk After long awaited rain we were very fortunate to have such a

good, fine day for our may walk. The walk started at Pipe Clay Rd. & 25 walkers enjoyed their lunch at Cobboboonee Camp, before we proceeded to Fish Holes Rd. Along the next leg of the walk

Jenny encountered a large Tiger Snake along the side of the track, sunning itself. Many photos were taken then Rob with his walking

sticks distracted the snake & it slithered away into the bush. The final trek of the 12km walk was completed. Alan drove & showed some of the walkers Stringy’s Tree which was planted about the time the Henty Family settled in Portland. All in all a

good day’s walking. Alan & Robyn Lewis

Stringy ’ s Tree. Tiger Snake Stringy ’ s Tree. Tiger Snake Stringy ’ s Tree. Tiger Snake Stringy ’ s Tree. Tiger Snake

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WANTED—VOLUNTEERS. As you can imagine, track maintenance is an on-going task.

If you believe you could spare some time to contribute to this important and rewarding role, then contact

Bill Golding, Ph. 55232636.

Norm Perkins & Issy Bennett Issy & Margaret, [Hamilton] May Recreation Walk - Photos by Issy Bennett

Rob Bartlett briefs the May Walking

Group on the upcoming

Little Desert trip in June.

Photo—Lou Flrakx

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June Recreation Walk—Rob Bartlett The Little Desert Nature Lodge and Park was our home for 2

nights and 2 days, from the night of the14th,then the 15th, and morning of 16th June, while our group experienced the Little

Desert. The Lodge is situated 14 kms south of Nhill and 85 kms north of Harrow and was able to cater for and accommodate 37 of our

GSWW walkers and families quite easily. Accommodation was in either the Bunkhouse, En-suite units or Caravans.

Even the best laid plans can go very much astray! 100mm of rain fell in a few days washing the road out 3.5 kms short of our

Saturday walk starting point at the Kiata camping ground ,altering our plans totally. After a great deal of thought and apprehension we decided to walk the tracks in and around the Lodge, walking about 10 kms in total. The ground conditions and flora and fauna

were very different to what we are used to here in the South-West. [no leaches as well]. Although the region is still suffering from

indifferent seasons these past few years, the walking was most enjoyable, having great ground conditions and weather. This year

we were catered for at the lodge and it was perfect to be spoilt properly with great meals, breakfasts, packed lunches, 2 course dinner and morning tea on Sunday morning following one of the

best nature talks by the caretaker Michael Williams talking on the endangered Mallee Fowl which he is caring for in the enclosures at

the Park. I had a great time and thanks to all who joined me this year. Rob.

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WOES WITH WATER! A visiting expert once said, “There are three things that cause problems on walking tracks. The first is water; the second is water and the third is

water”. He is certainly correct—there are other problems of course. Holes dug

by echidnas for example surely test the vocabulary of mower drivers and rampant vegetation constantly calls for control but these annoyances

pale into insignificance beside water! Storm water regularly pours down our paths, cutting great gutters as it

goes. Originally we placed thousands of pine post water-deflectors across the

track but they now cause great troubles to the newer big mowers. An expensive sleeper deflector introduced in 2011 doesn’t stop

mowers but generally it doesn’t stop water either! The only solution is to build concrete speed humps across the track.

These really work but, don’t hold your breath, the transporting of heavy materials like gravel, cement and water to inaccessible sites is not

everybody’s idea of fun! In barren terrain, real trouble is also caused by water pouring off the land

and cutting gutters across the path. The only solution here is to revegetate the landscape.

Desperation in the face of this problem has led to masterpieces like ‘Schramm Dams’, Ruddick Rolls’ and ‘Hill’s Hedges’. These

picturesque inventions have won us important awards. However, huge challenges remain –especially in some of the

impossible country north of the Blowholes. Here, in April, we intend to introduce our latest secret weapon, the ‘Spicy Ruddick Roll’, which is

designed to make cushion bush grow in solid rock. Wish us luck! …………….Bill Golding

View from the viewing platform on the Ocean View Walk

section. Photo—Lou Florakx

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Mayor inspects track works …. On Tuesday 23rd April the Glenelg Shire Mayor, Karen Stephens,

met up with some of the Friends of GSWW volunteers at Cape Bridgewater where she inspected the resurfacing works being carried out on that day. After a short excursion to one of the

vantage points overlooking Bridgewater Bay the Mayor was kind enough to lend a hand and share a cuppa and home-made

cookies (courtesy of Bill Golding), with the volunteers. The opportunity was also taken to give the Major a better

understanding of our requirements and need for an Operations Centre with a visit to Gordon Page’s property, where she noted the scale of the storage and maintenance facility needed by the

Friends.

Mayor, Karen

Stephens, meets with some of the

volunteers.

All hard workers need something to

lean on! Photos—Lou

Florakx

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25th ANNIVERSARY ON G.S.W.W. While walking with the Friends Recreational Walking Group

monthly day walk in May, I realised that it was this same part of the Walk that I first walked 25 years ago—from Pipe Clay Rd. to

Cobboboonee Camp. Even the lunch spot was the same—Cobboboonee Camp!

On May 16th, 1988, three members of F.G.S.W.W. Committee, Gwen Bennett, Sam Bruton and I set off to walk the 250km trek in 14 days, but Sam only lasted 3/4 of the first day because he’d hurt

his foot before the walk began and he couldn’t continue. Our camping gear had been organised to be transported to each

camp every day so Sam became our male chaperone, shifting the gear, collecting firewood and making our morning and afternoon

‘cuppas’. Over the years, the track has greatly improved, with new

infrastructure including boardwalks, three new bridges, [Ralphs Surry River and two over the Fitzroy River], plus a new Fitzroy Camp, Land-care work along the coastal section and fourteen

new camp-site shelters. [Thankyou to all volunteers!] A group of walkers who walked along part of the G.S.W.W. on

Wednesdays, joined Gwen and me. From Bridgewater Lakes to Trewalla Camp, David Gorrie, [ from the Portland Observer],

walked with us for three days as part of his Duke Of Edinburgh Award.

When we arrived at Tarrigal Camp we decided to go home for a shower, a cooked evening meal, comfortable bed and to see our

loved ones. We enjoyed our 250 km trek with the company and support of

Sam. It was the second time I had completed the G.S.W.W. In

September/October, 1982, a very dry winter, my husband Michael and friend Greg Baker and I were the first officially recognised

locals and the third group to complete the then 180 km track in 10 days. The track started at the Nine Mile Reserve at Heathmere and finished at Yellow Rock. Many changes before our walk in

1988! In the Lower Glenelg National Park the track was along the river Road/North Nelson Road to Nelson then three days along the

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beach in Discovery Bay Coastal Park to Bridgewater

Lakes. This was my first introduction to bush walking and carrying all my gear and I will continue to walk along this magnificent track as long as I can. Originally the concept of the G.S.W.W. sprang from the lively minds of two Portland residents, Sam Bruton and Bill Golding. This 250 km loop walk is one of the greatest treks in South West Victoria, attracting walkers from all around the world. Many thanks Sam and Bill!

Top to bottom: Sam Bruton, Julie Davies, Gwen Bennett

Julie Davies recording names, G.G.S.W.W. May monthly walk, 2013

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2013 ROTARY LONG WALK

12 Walkers set off on the 14 day Rotary Long Walk on the 14th April in pleasant walking conditions with a shower of rain during

the first three nights. At the completion of their 2nd days’ walking at the Cut-Out Camp

the walkers were greeted by the lovely warm camp fire and a damper prepared by Gordon.

Bill Golding was also kind enough to address the walkers with a presentation on the history of the Great South West Walk and the

support mechanism being provided by the volunteer “Friends” group that make the track what it is today.

Many thanks also to Cathy and Gordon Page for providing the

logistical support for the walkers.

Gordon checks on the damper!

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Healthy Parks Healthy People Funding On Monday, 6th May the Premier and Member for South West

Coast Denis Napthine announced $16,250 funding for the Friends of the Great South West Walk as well as funding for other

community groups.

These grants will enable these dedicated teams of volunteers to continue the fantastic work they do maintaining and revitalising our

local environmental assets,” Dr Napthine said.

“The Friends of the Great South West Walk” plan to use this im-portant funding to maintain the popular tourist track and its associ-

ated campsites with plans to improve interpretive signs to make the route more user friendly.

Dr Napthine applauded the work of the dedicated locals who pas-sionately protect and maintain the region’s ecotourism icons, en-

couraging visitors and locals to get outside and enjoy the local en-vironment.

“It is inspiring to see the huge range of ways the local community is getting involved to help care for our regional natural assets to

make them more accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” he said.

“I want to congratulate the grant recipients and thank them all for their continued support and hard work.”

Comment by President Lou – We have acknowledged and thanked the Premier for the funding. However, it should be noted that the funding is for the period ending 30/06/2014 and in real

terms is a decrease of about 25%, but is still well above what other organisations have received. This means that we will have to be

very stringent with our expenditure and look to ways as to how we can raise more money to fund our ongoing operations.

Thank-you to Brewster & Walsh for their sponsorship of our

Newsletter and to Cathie Cram for organising the printing of the

Newsletter.

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2013-2014 Membership Subscription Subscription benefit: A quarterly newsletter or e-newsletter highlighting special GSWW activities, walks and events. New members will receive a broadsheet map of the GSWW *Subscriptions are for the financial year i.e. you will be offered a renewal option next July. How to subscribe: Simply complete the form below and attach it to an email to the above email address. OR print and post it to - The Treasurer - Friends of the GSWW. PO Box 192 Portland. Vic. 3305. We will then send you your package.

Subscription categories: Please tick category in box provided Individual/Family: $30.00

Concession: $15.00 Corporate/Clubs/Associations: $110.00 Donation or Sponsorship: $.............

TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE (GST incl] $ • CASH (accepted in person only. Do not send cash in the post) • CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER (made payable to Friends of the Great

South West Walk) • DIRECT DEPOSIT (Please include your initials and surname!) Bank - National Australia Bank Account Name - Friends of the GSWW BSB - 083 841 Account Number - 01992 6284 Please indicate whether you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Great South West Walk: Yes/ No Please refer to the Volunteer page on our website. [Optional) If Yes to the section above, please outline an area of interest

in the space below.

Date : Name/s : Surname :

Business Name : Phone :

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