Fire Bans & Extreme Conditions

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1 Affiliated with Box 2446 GPO Melbourne 3001 Issued free to members. CIRCULAR MAY 2019 MAY WALKS Wednesday 1 North Box Hill - Heatherdale John Webb Sat-Sun 4-5 Walter Briggs Hut Working Bee Tony Cagney Monday 6 Balnarring - Bittern Don Ziino Wednesday 8 Donna Buang - Club Hut Tony Cagney Monday 13 Menzies Creek - Belgrave Gordon De Navi 3rd Wed 15 Eltham Travis Clark Sunday 19 Brisbane Ranges Tim Gatehouse Wednesday 22 Seddon - West Essendon Bruce Heath Sunday 26 Combined Walk - Point Addis Alan & Jenny Hosking Monday 27 Batman - Fawkner - Easy Metro Hugh Gibson Wednesday 29 South Geelong - Waurn Ponds Jim Cone Copy for June to: Charlie Freedman - Phone: charliefreedman@yahoo.com before the 1st Wednesday in the month, 1st May. Submissions may be edited for space and other considerations. Circular Preparation: 3rd Thursday - 16th May at 2:00 pm, Venue: John Horan s home at 9 Oxford Street, Malvern Fire Bans & Extreme Conditions If a day of TOTAL FIRE BAN is declared in a walk area, all outdoor activities are CANCELLED in that area. On other days of extreme weather conditions the leader may cancel the activity at his or her discretion. Talk Over Lunch All members are reminded of the regular social event which occurs on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except January) at the Charles Dickens Tavern Bistro, in the basement of 290 Collins Street Melbourne, at 11:45 am for 12:00 noon. Barry Revill, Phone: or barryrevill@bigpond.com 1

2 Club Executive President: Trevor Rosen Junior Vice President: Charlie Freedman Secretary: Michael Corrigan Treasurer: Terry Simpson Activities Officer: Alan Hosking Membership Officer: John Rankin Sub-Committee Convenors Mt Buller Lodge: David Jones Walter Briggs Hut: Tony Cagney Walk Coordinators Metro Walks: David Watkins, & Oliver Lucas Peninsula Walks: Ron Anderson Office Bearers General Committee: Denis Ward, Jenny Hosking, Kim Rosen, David Jones, & Tony Cagney Website: Charlie Freedman Circular Editor: Charlie Freedman Sunday Walks: Kim Rosen Easy Metro Walks: Hugh Gibson 3rd Wed Walks: Travis Clark Generic addresses to contact appropriate Club Members: Have You Changed Your Contact Details? If any member has changed their postal address, phone number or address in the last year, please let John Rankin know so he can update the latest members register. Phone , or /20 Subscriptions Membership renewal fees are due by 30 June. Your prompt payment would be greatly appreciated. Payment details appear on page 14 of this circular. Laugh With Lance Look forward to birthdays... the more you have the longer you live. Reminder for Leaders of Metro Walks When a walk is completed, track notes and maps should be updated to include any route changes, and to highlight any escapes or options that members who may not wish to walk the whole distance can use. Two copies of the updated track notes should be forwarded to Oliver Lucas or ed to David Watkins at: mdwatti@bigpond.net.au 2

3 Chatter Around the Hut I confess to being slightly nervous when we arrived for the hut working bee on Saturday 23 March. You see... our February working bee was cancelled due to extreme hot temperatures and today the weather was reversed. As we arrived at the bakery for coffee it was on cold side of cool, dark clouds were gathering and it was already raining lightly. I was worried we might lose another chance to paint. After coffee we pressed on up and into the hut and started a magnificent fire in the fireplace. Frankly I could have happily settled in for the day in front of that fire, but before long the painting gods were smiling upon us. The clouds were gone, the sun was warming up the bush outside and that external north wall was calling us to paint. Trevor, Denis and Michael did a fine job of painting the hut s external north wall, window frames and shutters. Kim, Alan, Jenny and I made a start painting inside the hut making it lighter and brighter. After a satisfying day painting, five of us stayed on to enjoy Saturday night at the hut where we shared wine and cheese and solved for world peace while our dinner cooked over the open fire. Tony Cagney Convenor Walter Briggs Hut If you are interested in joining us for a working bee or booking an overnight stay please contact us at walterbriggshut@melbournewalkingclub.org. 3

4 Archives Sub-Committee The Club executive is looking to hear from anyone interested in reviving the Archives Sub-Committee, which was recently disbanded as was noted in the October 2017 circular. At that time it was felt that there was little work for the Sub-Committee to perform, but there is always a small amount of material that may need to be archived. Anyone interested should contact the president, Trevor Rosen on ( president@melbournewalkingclub.org), or Michael Corrigan on ( secretary@melbournewalkingclub.org). What s on in Mansfield and the High Country this month There are a number of events that are on in Mansfield during Autumn: Farmers Markets, Shakespeare in the Vines, Blues concerts, Twilight markets, Down hill mountain bike races, Mt Buller Sky run, and The Mansfield Cup in early April. Leigh Unsworth 4 MAY WALKS Wednesday 1 May North Box Hill - Heatherdale Note: Check train timetables before walk for any changes. Leader: John Webb Phone: Rendezvous: 8.55am at Bus Station 6 at Box Hill Station. Buses are on upper level above shops. Maps: Melway 47, 48 & 49. Grading: Easy / Medium Distance: Approx. 12km. Transport: 8.30am Belgrave train ex Flinders Street arriving Box Hill 8.51am, then 9.03am 302 bus, arrives Belmore/Elgar Roads 9.13am. Morning Tea: Adjacent to miniature railway in Elgar Park Melway 47 B4. Walk Details: Pleasant walk on Koonung Creek and Eastlink trails to

5 Schwerkoldt Cottage, Antonio Park, Heatherdale Station. Trains every 15 mins to City and Ringwood lines. A nice day's outing with good company. A few little ups and downs, nothing serious. Sat-Sun 4-5 May Walter Briggs Hut Working Bee Note: Please advise leader if attending no later than Wednesday 24 April so that tasks and advance notice provided to Parks Victoria. Leader: Tony Cagney Phone: walterbriggshut@melbournewalkingclub.org Rendezvous: 09:30 am at the Warburton bakery on the corner of highway and Thomas Avenue. Parking available in main street or behind bakery. Toilets available opposite Scotchmans Creek Road or behind the shops. Transport: By private car. Warburton is a 90 minute drive from Melbourne s south east suburbs. After rendezvous at the bakery we will continue by car up the Donna Buang Road for another 30 minutes towards the Donna Buang summit. The hut is just a few minutes walk from where we leave the cars. Details: We will be working in and around our Walter Briggs hut to do some painting, track clearing and general housekeeping. Notes: The hut has 6 bunk beds. This weekend is an excellent opportunity to spend Saturday night at the hut waking on Sunday to the sounds of the bush and brew before joining the Sunday working bee. Monday 6 May Balnarring - Bittern Leader: Don Ziino Phone: Rendezvous & Morning Tea: 9:30am Bittern Railway Station, Melway 164 F7. Maps: Melway 164 & 192 Grading: Easy Distance: 11 km. Transport: Private car. Walk Details: We meet at Bittern Railway Station car park for morning tea, and then car shuttle to Balnarring where we will begin the walk back to Bittern, we will pick up a joint bicycle walking track beside Sandy Point Rd that takes us through farm land to the Naval Base, and then winds its way to Bittern. This is flat country all the way and a different walk for the club. 5

6 Wednesday 8 May Donna Buang - Mt Victoria & lunch at Walter Briggs Hut Note: Please contact the leader if you intend to come on this walk. Leader: Tony Cagney Phone: tony.cagney@optusnet.com.au Transport: Outbound: 8:15am Lilydale train from Flinders Station to Lilydale Station. Car pool to Donna Buang (via Woori Yallock and Warburton). Return: Car pool from Donna Buang to Lilydale Train station. 4:09/4:24pm trains from Lilydale to Flinders St. Rendezvous: 9:15am Lilydale Train Station Morning tea: 10:30am at Donna Buang summit. Maps: VicMap McMahons Creek 1:50,000. Grading: Medium Distance: 6 km. Walk Details: Start 10:45am after morning tea. Take walking track towards Mount Victoria to discover the ruins of the University Ski Club hut and the Ski Victoria Hut. Shorter walk returns to the summit and then down to the hut. Longer walk continues on to the radio towers at Mount Victoria and returns along same route to the summit and then down to the Walter Briggs Hut for lunch. Depart for Lilydale at 3:00pm. Lunch: 1:30pm at Walter Briggs Hut (sausage sizzle and salads provided). Note: Booking essential. Please advise leader if attending no later than Wednesday 1st May so that the car pool can be organised. Walking poles not essential but may be helpful. Note the later time for lunch and suggest you bring a larger morning tea to get you through. Monday 13 May Menzies Creek - Belgrave Leader: Gordon De Navi Phone: Rendezvous: Belgrave Station. Transport: 8:30am train ex Flinders St. Station arriving Belgrave Station at 9:31. Bus 695 to Menzies Creek 9:44am at Belgrave Station. Maps: Melway 124, 75 & 84. Grading: Hard to Medium Distance: 12 km. Morning Tea: At Menzies Creek 10am Puffing Billy Station. Walk Details: Head to Aura Vale Rd. to Old Menzies Creek Rd. to Bolton 6

7 Rd. then Cubajons Ave. left Hallam and Reservoir Rd. to Belgrave Station or to Tecoma Station. 3rd Wed 15 May Eltham Leader: Travis Clark Phone: Rendezvous, Morning Tea & Lunch: 10:45am at Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham, Melway 21 J5. Map: Melway 21 Grading: Easy Distance: am: 5km. pm: 1km. Transport: 9:39am Hurstbridge train ex Flinders Street [platform 1] arrives Eltham 10:35am. Leader will meet train for short walk to rendezvous. Return train pm 20 min. service. Car: Take first road [Panther Place] to left, off Main Road, after the traffic lights at Main Road & Bridge Street intersection. Drive down Panther Place and seek longer than 2 hour parking, or continue under the rail bridge to find unrestricted parking around the Central Park Oval and walk back to Library. Walk Details: am: Follow Diamond Creek Trail through to wetlands and Barak Bushland, returning to Eltham Library via Wingrove Park. A pleasant walk along a bike/walking track. Some minor short uphill sections. pm: Short circular flat walk to Eltham Rail Station. Sunday 19 May Grass Tree Walk - Brisbane Ranges National Park Note: Please contact the leader if you intend to come on this walk. Leader: Tim Gatehouse Phone: Rendezvous and Morning Tea: Boar Gully Camping Ground, off Reid s Road, Brisbane Ranges National Park. Map: Melway 611 Grading: Moderate Distance: 14 km. Transport: Private car. Directions: Follow the Western Freeway to Bacchus Marsh. Drive through the town along Bacchus Marsh Road (the main street), to the roundabout from where Grant Street runs off to the left. This is the Geelong/Werribee Road. Cross the Werribee River and keep to the Geelong Road. After 10 km. turn right at the road sign to Glenmore. Follow this road for 6 km. After about 5 km. a newly built roundabout is reached. Keep going straight and the road passes through the newly planted Rowsley Avenue 7

8 of Honour (Pencil Pines). After the avenue, keep a lookout for the turn off to Reid s Road on the left. There is also a sign to the Brisbane Ranges at this junction, as well as the entrance drive to Greystones Homestead. Drive along Reid s Road (beware of blind crests and corners) for 14 km. until reaching a sign to the Boar Gully Camping Ground on the left. This is just after the turn off to Thompson s Road on the left. The camping ground is a further 1 km. along a track from the sign. The walking track leaves from the camping ground. Walk Details: This is a circuit walk beginning and ending at the camping ground, mostly along National Park gravel maintenance roads. The country is mainly undulating woodland, the main features of which are grass trees, with good distant views. Afternoon tea will be at Bacchus Marsh, where several venues are available. Wednesday 22 May Seddon - Maribyrnong River - West Essendon Leader: Bruce Heath Phone: Rendezvous & Transport: 9.31am Williamstown train (ex Flinders St) to Seddon Station by 9.45am. Maps: Melway 42, 28 & 27 Grading: Easy-Medium Distance: 13 km. Morning Tea: Short walk to the Yarraville Gardens which has toilets and seats. Walk Details: Very pleasant walk upstream along the Maribyrnong River after the Seddon area streets. Lunch at Pipemakers Park which has toilets and seats. Continue upstream on the western side then cross at the suspension bridge and continue along the river to the Lily St lookouts for the wonderful city views then short walk to Buckley St which has bus route 465/903 to Essendon Station. Escapes: Many roads have bridges over the track. Sunday 26 May Combined Walk with Women's Club - Southside - Point Addis Circular Walk Note: Melbourne Walking Club Members, please contact Alan Hosking by if attending. MWC Contact: Alan Hosking Phone: alanhosking4@gmail.com 8

9 MWC Leader: Jenny Hosking Phone: MWWC Contact: Rocio Cereceda Phone: Rendezvous: 9.30am - Bells Beach Southside Car Park. Transport: By Car. If travelling from Melbourne, take Geelong by pass Road, turn left into Angelsea Road and right into Great Ocean Road. Turn left at Jarosite Road and meet at Bells Beach Southside Car Park. Morning Tea: On Beach. Limited seating & no toilet. Lunch: Ironbark Basin Park. Limited seating & no toilets. Maps: Vicmap, 1: Torquay and Angelsea, Map 60, Melways Key Map 15 and/or Google. Grading: Medium with a walk along the beach and then ascents/descents along Ironbark Track. Distance: 11 to 13 km. Walk Details: Circular walk between Bells Beach Southside and Point Addis. Of interest is the Koorie Cultural Walk, Nature Trail and the old Jarosite mine. Afternoon Tea: Approx to 3.00pm, Bowside Café, 557 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae, Vic, Monday 27 May Batman - Fawkner - Easy Metro Leader: Hugh Gibson Phone: Rendezvous: 9:30 am at Batman railway station. Map: Melway 17 Grading: Easy Distance: 8 km. Transport: 9:05 am Upfield train ex Flinders Street, 9:09 ex Southern Cross, arrives at Batman at 9:30. Return trains from Fawkner at 20 minute intervals. Morning Tea: 9:45 am at Coburg Lake Reserve, Melway 17 J10. Walk Details: A pleasant flat walk mainly following Merri and Merlynston creeks with interesting sections through Fawkner Memorial Park. Plenty of escapes. 9

10 Wednesday 29 May South Geelong - Waurn Ponds - South Geelong Leader: Jim Cone Phone: Rendezvous: 8.30am Southern Cross Station to board 8.50am V/Line train to South Geelong arriving at 9.51am. Maps: Melway: 452, 465 & 466 Grading: Easy Distance: 13 km. Transport: 8.50am V/Line train ex Southern Cross (as above). Morning Tea: Near Corio boatsheds alongside Barwon River. Walk Details: Follow Yarra Street from rail to river. A pleasant walk alongside the Barwon River which leads to Belmont Common (a large area of river plain) then follow along Waurn Ponds creek to Surf Coast Highway. The walk then crosses the creek and follows opposite sides of both the creek and the Barwon River. Plenty of open space with a toilet midway at Belmont Common. Good trees and bush along Barwon River. Monday 3 Jun Peninsula Walk JUNE PROGRAM Leader: Jim Smith Phone: Wednesday 5 Jun Plenty Gorge Park Loop Leader: John Rankin Phone: wjrankin@outlook.com Rendezvous: 9.40 am at Hawkstowe railway station. Maps: Melway 183 & 184 Distance: 12 km. Grading: Medium; mainly dirt tracks and undulating topology. Transport: 8.35 am Mernda train from Flinders St (8.38 from Southern Cross) arriving Hawkstowe Alternatively, #901 bus to South Morang station to meet the 9.28 Mernda train. Morning Tea: Hilltop Park (Melway 183 J3). No toilets. 10

11 Walk Details: A pleasant walk through the Plenty Gorge Park, starting and ending at the new Hawkstowe railway station. We walk mainly along undulating dirt tracks and across open fields. Lunch is at the Hawkstowe Picnic area (toilets and shelter) with the opportunity to look at the historic Le Page Homestead and out buildings. Toilets at Hawkstowe station and at lunch. Return trains at 2.07, 2.27, 2.40, 3.07 pm. Escapes: Before lunch at Wilton Vale Rd (walk to Hawkstowe station), After lunch, a short walk to Plenty Rd to the #382 bus (Northland direction) to South Morang station. Wednesday 12 Jun Healesville - Donnellys Weir - Maroondah Res Leader: Trevor Jupp Phone: Sunday 16 Jun You Yangs Walk Note: Please contact the leader by or text (on the number below) if you intend to come on this walk. Leader: Richard Jasek Phone: richardjasek@bigpond.com Rendezvous: Turntable car park. Maps: Vicmap 1:25,000 "You Yangs". Grading: Easy Transport: Private car. Morning Tea: Turntable car park. Distance: 11.3 km. Walk Details: The walk consists of three independent loops, each returning to the starting point. One is up and down Flinders Peak. It rises 200 metres and is 2.4 km in total. One 4 km long goes around the peak, and another of similar length is mostly flat through woodlands. It will be determined by weather on the day which order we walk the circuit. The walk can also be shortened by doing only one or two of the loops. Monday 17 Jun Olinda - Hamer Arboretum - Olinda Leader: Stephen Pfundt Phone:

12 3rd Wed 19 Jun Mid Year Lunch Walk Leader: Ken Launder Phone: Monday 24 Jun Easy Metro - Alphington - Darebin Leader: Alex Hordijenko Phone: Wednesday 26 Jun Laverton - Cherry Lake - Seaholme Leader: Sandy Moller Phone: Club Trip to Mt Buller Thirteen members of the MWC made the trip to Mt Buller to stay at the club s ski lodge between 1st and 4th March The trip was organized by Trevor and Kim Rosen and Jenny Hosking and was an attempt to introduce members to both the lodge and to the many attractions of Mt Buller during the summer. The lodge is a wonderful resource for the club and it is available all year round to be enjoyed by members together with their families and friends. More members are encouraged to stay there during the summer period. It is in excellent condition, extremely well equipped and it is conveniently located in the heart of Mt Buller. Parking is available outside the front door and the summer tariffs are more than reasonable. We were fortunate to have warm, sunny weather the whole time we were there and different members of the group enjoyed a variety of walks including a walk to Mt Stirling via Howqua Gap and return, a walk along the Delatite River Trail from Box Corner to Mirimbah as well as the Circuit Walk around the village including the walk up to the summit. Each of these walks has magnificent views of the alpine scenery and maps and information about these and other walks can be obtained from the Visitors Centre. Mt Buller is also a center for mountain bike riding during the summer with a multitude of trails throughout the area. If neither bushwalking nor mountain bike riding appeal then the lodge is still a wonderful place for a relaxing summer 12

13 break. If you would like more information about the lodge have a look at the club website and if you have any queries or would like to make a booking please contact the Booking Officer Ian Morton at: ianmorton@optusnet.com.au. Trevor Rosen Bushwalking News Victoria (BNV) The Melbourne Walking Club is affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria which publishes a monthly Bushwalking News on the Internet. For those interested, the Current and past BNV s can be read on their web page: BSAR in search for missing bushwalkers on Mt Buffalo Fifty-three members of Bushwalking Victoria's BSAR section (Bush Search and Rescue) participated in the successful search over three days for two missing bushwalkers on Mount Buffalo from March. BSAR search tasks included easy walking tracks, large rock formations, alpine meadows, some peaks, scrubby gullies, and rivers. The walk the bushwalkers attempted was to Mollison s Galleries, an 18km return walk (6 hours, grade: hard). They eventually walked out to Yarrarabula Creek after spending 4 nights out using their survival skills. Bushwalking Victoria recommends that all bushwalkers carry a communications device (e.g. mobile or EPIRB) and also to leave your trip intentions with a trusted contact person before the trip. Here is a link to our WALKSAFE booklet: And here are some good safety tips from BSAR: State of the Environment Report The State of the Environment report from the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability is published every 5 years, and the latest one is now available. You can view the report and future recommendations here: 13

14 Graeme Barker s OBE presentation, on the Inverloch bus trip 14 Mt Buller Lodge With the ski season approaching members are reminded that access to the lodge begins at 4pm on the day of your arrival. If you arrive early you may store your equipment including food in the ground level store room which has a large fridge. Please be mindful of this rule as departing occupants will still be using the lodge until 4pm on that day. Roger Jepson 2019/20 Subscriptions Membership renewal fees are due by 30 June. Your prompt payment would be greatly appreciated. Rates for 2019/20 are as follows: Members -- Within Victoria and under 80 years $65 -- Outside Victoria $60 -- Aged 80 years and over $60 Note: As previously Life Members and those who have been members for 50 years or more are not required to pay annual subscriptions. The following discounts apply: Prompt Payment: $5 (for payment by 30 June 2018). ed Circular: $10 (for 12 months, currently or advised by 30 June 2018). Terry Simpson - Treasurer

15 Mt Buller Lodge- Leaders For 2019 Ski Season Month Dates Period Leader Mobile Home June 7 9 (QB) Weekend Midweek Weekend Midweek Weekend Midweek Weekend * 30 4 Midweek * July 5 6 Weekend * 7 11 Midweek * Weekend * Midweek Weekend Roger Jepson Midweek Weekend 28 1 Midweek Ian Morton Aug 2 3 Weekend Leigh Unsworth Midweek David Jones Weekend Midweek Weekend Midweek Weekend Midweek Weekend Leigh Unsworth Sept 1 5 Midweek 6 7 Weekend 8 12 Midweek Weekend Midweek Weekend * Midweek * PLEASE REFER TO THE LODGE BROCHURE (DISTRIBUTED WITH THE MAY CIRCULAR) WHICH CONTAINS THE WINTER BOOKING INFORMATION, WINTER TARIFFS AND BOOKING SHEET. SHOW THE DATES OF THE FIRST AND LAST NIGHTS OF YOUR BOOKING. If an appointed Leader cannot attend, he must organise a replacement. No ski period may be cancelled without first contacting the Booking Officer. If you wish to lead a vacant ski period contact the Booking Officer Ian Morton at 137 Ludstone Street Hampton Phone * - School holiday period 15

16 Ship of Fools? If undeliverable, return to: Melbourne Walking Club Inc. Box 2446 GPO MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Melbourne Walking Club Circular Place Stamp Here 16