Participants: Jim Harker (Convener of Track Clearing for Bushwalking Victoria), club members from Grampians Bushwalking Club, Melbourne Bushwalkers, Sunraysia Bushwalkers and Warrnambool Walkers (Linda, Lothar, Doug, Anne, Helen and Coralie)
Photos:
Report:
With the Bushwalking Victoria Track Maintenance Group.
Organisers: Rod Novak (Bushwalking Victoria), David Witham (Grampians Walking Tracks Support group), Frank Van der Peek (Parks Victoria Grampians Volunteers Coordinator) and Linda Haynes (organiser of the Warrnambool arrangements).
The Halls Gap Hotel hosted Linda, Lothar, Anne and Doug on Friday night for a delightful fish dinner of dory, all round. The chilly evening back at Borough Huts was warmed by a ‘modest’ campfire until even warmer sleeping bags beckoned. Groups travelling from afar arrived throughout the night so that by the first weak rays of sunlight next morning, a little tent city had sprung up.
At 9 am sharp the full gathering of workers was briefed at the base of the Boronia Peak walk. Safety glasses and reflective vests were issued; tools and tasks were allotted to participants. As the numbers were large, smaller teams were formed and tasks allocated according to expertise (and muscle!)
Linda, Helen and I were quick to volunteer for pruning and trench digging duties on the upper slopes of the walk. Although we had to walk, half an hour or so before starting work, this seemed like a better deal than moving rocks. Lothar and Doug were put to work on the lower slopes where they made stone steps and channels for rainwater to follow to minimize future track erosion. Other groups also worked on creating impressive stone steps and dry stone walling. As this track is heavily used at the moment, these works should do much to stabilise the lower section of the track.
That evening, around a blazing fire that kept the entire group warm (thanks to the boys from Mildura for their wood chopping skills), we listened to David Witham relate the story of the emergence of the Grampians Track Maintenance Support Group. Donation boxes at various locations in the Grampians provide some funds for its activities but more are desperately needed if tracks are to be re-opened in the wake of the 2006 summer fires. He also mentioned that the idea of an “Iconic Walking Track” that is in the developmental stages by Parks. The very rudimental and early plans have it starting at Staplyton then onto Roses Gap (avoiding the Coppermine Track), up past Beehive Falls, then to Lake Wartook where a camp would be developed. From here it would be onto Boroka, Mt Rosea, perhaps up to Redman Bluff, over to Mt William and the Major Mitchell Plateau. It may then go past Stockyard Creek and further along the lower slopes of the William range crossing on to the Serra Range before Signal Peak, Mt Abrupt and Mt Sturgeon finishing in Dunkeld. However, he did stress that in was only on concept stage and would be many years (and millions of dollars) before it is likely to be reality. He is planning a political campaign soon and may need our support if governments are to commit to the idea.
The Pork Report
This started Saturday night with the obligatory ‘pre dinner’ fare. Out of the cooler boxes came the White Castello, the garlic and cracked pepper Mersey Valley Cheddar, the gourmet soft cheese from a small farm enterprise in NE Victoria and hummus. This was accompanied by soy & linseed and water crackers, wasabi coated dried green peas (spat out in a hurry by a ‘first time taster’ Linda) olives and a sea salt cashew, macadamia and blanched almond mix and a reviving glass of beer or red wine.
Main course was provided by the organisers. The barbecue was trucked in and by 6 pm the locally made hamburgers and sausages were sizzling. An array of freshly prepared (by David Witham’s wife) salads and bread was laid out on a side table. It was too difficult to choose between the bean, rice, potato and garden salads so, sportingly, we took a spoonful of each.
The next morning, Linda arose at the crack of dawn to ensure the kettle was on for the early morning cuppa. Soon after, the aroma of hot pancakes pervaded the camp ground. It may have been the mascarpone cheese, the bowl of mixed berries or even the maple syrup that had others glancing with envy at our breakfast table.
A Porker’s weekend would not be complete without the farewell coffee at Maddisons in Penshurst. Again we avoided the difficulty of sampling just one of the cakes on offer by ordering and sharing four. We are still awaiting the jury’s verdict in order to award the gold medal. It was a close thing between the lime and passionfruit cake, the plum, lemon and coconut cake, and, the quince and apple tart with the crumble topping. The silver medal would probably go to the mud cake.
Coralie
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