Newsletter June 2014

June 2014Next MeetingNext Meeting

Tuesday 8th JulyTuesday 8th JulyCommunity Centre Wharf Street Logan VillageCommunity Centre Wharf Street Logan Village

7pm7pm

Badjala Sand Blow – Fraser Island – taken by Jan

PresidentSue Simpson 5546 8781

Vice PresidentBrian Watson 5543 1261

[email protected]

Secretary & Publicity Officer

Heather O’Keeffe 3208 6420

[email protected]

Committee Members

TreasurerLynne Lucas 3287 4934

[email protected]

Website ManagerMark Filius 3398 8528

[email protected]

Equipment OfficerDavid Nickson 3287 3312

EditorLesley Shaddock 0417 704 145

[email protected]

General Enquiries [email protected]

www.facebook.com/loganbeaudesertbushwalkers

Minutes of General MeetingLogan & Beaudesert Bushwalkers

10th June 2014

Meeting opened at 7.10pm

Members: Heather O'Keeffe, Sue Simpson, Lynne Lucas, Dave Nickson, Paulette & Brian Watson, Peter Rice, Regina Rosin, Gabi Nehring, Bruce Ludlow, Alice Bennet-Alder, Jenny Kemp and Andrew & Sue McLeod

Apologies: Kathy Rouse, Bruce Gore, Jim Holt, Malcolm Hill, Mark Filius, Monique Rotheut and Denise and Ken Bouyer Minutes of previous meeting:

As per May newsletter – Peter Rice accepted the minutes as being accurate. Seconded by Jenny Kemp  Business arising from the minutes: Nil Treasurer's Report:

Reconciled Balances for the period to 10/ 06/ 2014 1,882.21

Plus memberships received 0.00Donations 0.00Chocolates to date 0.00Sausage sizzle 0.00Interest 0.00

0.00

Less OutgoingsRent 60.00Heather, reimbusement 6.80KOK Fund Raising 0.00Insurance 0.00

66.80

Balance held at end of period 1,815.41

Funds made up ofAccount Balance 1,656.66Cash on Hand 158.75

Reconciled Balances 1,815.41

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Lynne moved that the report be received be received. Seconded by Alice Bennet-Alder Lynne advised that the hall committee had put the rent up to $75 per six months, effective from 1st July

Each week would the coordinator email Lynne with the type of activity that was undertaken e.g. track walk, off track walk, abseiling, swimming etc

Incoming correspondence

May newsletter from Gold Coast Bushwalkers – emailed to everyone

June newsletter from Brisbane Bushwalkers

Emails received via Lesley to advise Apple Tree Park and Burleigh Heads boardwalk open again

Outgoing correspondence

Our newsletter

Heather moved that the correspondence be approved.  Seconded by Paulette Watson

General Business

A discussion was held regarding the annual fees for the club. Everyone at the meeting voted to keep the Individual fee at $35 but to raise the Associate fee to $15. The pro-rata fee will remain the same i.e. $25 if paid after January

Lynne advised that an amount of $436 profit was raised from the chocolate sale (for the Kokoda Challenge)

Dave advised that Flinders Peak is now officially open

Reminder – Gold Coast Marathon water station is on Sunday 6th July. We have the same location as previous years

The Kokoda Challenge commences on the 19th July. Our team is doing some long distance training in preparation. Their goal is to complete the course in 24 hours

The Moreton Island weekend has been changed to the October Long Weekend. It was decided that with the expense of getting there it would be better to have more time on the island. Camp sites must be booked

The Bunnings Sausage sizzle will be at Browns Plains on Sunday 27th July. Please advise Sue if you are able to help. Sue will do up the roster

The Pilgrimage will be held from the 5th – 7th September. The proposed location is the Education Camp at Lake Moogerah

Mt Barney is scheduled for the 9th August

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Wyaralong Dam walk Saturday 15th June. There is a long walk from the Western end up over Mt Joyce and back to the Dam wall end or a short walk from the Dam wall end up to Mt Joyce. Sue also suggested another walk – from the Western end around the dam to the Dam wall end. Meet at Beaudesert at 6:45. Walkers doing the long walk will be driven to the Western end.

Andrew suggested an alternate venue for the Christmas Party. Andrew and Co stayed at Cressbrooke over the Queen’s Birthday weekend and thought it would make a great venue for the Christmas Party. It’s a lovely camp ground and has all the facilities we would need. It would be self-catered.

Heather tabled a clause used by other clubs that states that walkers have to be familiar with the walk grading’s and that it is their responsibility to ensure that they are capable of completing the scheduled walk. – to be added to the newsletter before the grading list.

Walkers Guide: Participants are required to read and understand the Grading System for activities as listed. They should ensure that they are able to complete the listed walk. New members will normally start with two shorter and easier walks with the Club, such as easy terrain, easy fitness, and or short to medium length and progress by one grading step per activity.

The group that did the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend had a great weekend. One group walked from Blackbutt to Linville (22.6km). The other group walked out from Linville and everyone walked back into Linville together (18km return). Lunch at the Linville Pub afterwards. The people who camped at the showgrounds shared it with 160 horses (and People) who were there for and endurance weekend

Sue suggested that we could do the section from Esk to Coominya next Queen’s Birthday weekend – 23km

REMINDER – The AGM will be held at the July meeting

Meeting closed at 8.10pm

Happy birthday and best wishes to our club members celebrating their birthday in June:

Marie Roberts, Bill Dryburgh, Regina HarveyMindy Bernhagen, Jan Sammons, Doug Roberts

Frank Peel, Pam Wright

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Future WalksNotes for Saturday walkers

If possible, please email or sms your intention to walk to the walk coordinator instead of phoning. The walk coordinator will always reply to confirm that you are listed for the walk and provide you with any necessary details.

Alternatively, please phone the walk coordinator between the hours of 6pm to 8pm on the Thursday before the walk

Please check the walks list to see when you have been nominated to coordinate a walk

The weekly walks will also be on the Facebook page which is updated every Wednesday night www.facebook.com/loganbeaudesertbushwalkers

June 2014When Outing Typ

eGrad

e Coordinator Phone

Saturday 14th

Wyaralong Dam Long walk – 20klmorShort walk – 14klm

D.W.L-4-4

orM-4-4

Brian 5543 1261

Sunday 15th No Walk Scheduled

Saturday 21st

Westray’s Grave and Larapinta WaterfallChristmas Creek Meet at Beaudesert – 7:00am

D.W. M-3-3 Lesleyemail or 0417 704

145(6pm – 8pm)

Sunday 22nd Lower Portals to Barney Gorge and backMeet at Beaudesert – 6:00am D.W. M-5-5 Lynne 0407 643

375Saturday

28th Birnam Range D.W. S-3-3 Heather 0432 197 577

Sunday 29th No Walk Scheduled

July 2014When Outing Typ

eGrad

e Coordinator Phone

Saturday 5th Venman’s Reserve - CornubiaMeet at car park – 8:00am D.W. M-3-3 Sue

5546 8781 0414

575509Sunday 6th Gold Coast Marathon Water Station Heather 0432

197577Saturday

12th Charlie Moorland Park - Kenilworth B.C. Sue5546 8781 0414 575

509Sunday 13th No Walk Scheduled D.W.

Saturday 19th Shepherds Walk D.W. M-3-3 Heather 0432

197577Saturday

19thSunday 20th

Kokoda Challenge

Saturday 26th

Mt MayDave to lead walk

D.W. M-4-4 Lesley email or 0417 704

145

5

(6pm – 8pm)

Sunday 27th Sausage sizzle - Bunnings Browns Plains Sue5546 87810414 575

509

6

August 2014When Outing Typ

eGrad

e Coordinator Phone

Saturday 2nd Plunkett Conservation Park D.W. M-3-3 Heather 0432 197 577

Sunday 3rd

Saturday 9th Mt Barney D.W. L-6-6 Sue 5546 8781

Sunday 10th

Saturday 16th

Pizza Walk Camp at Bigriggen Day walk from Drynan’s Hut - Mt Barney area

D.W. or

B.C.M-4-4 Brian

5543 1261 0409 010

436Sunday 17th

Saturday 23rd

Illinbah Circuit - Binna BurraMeet at Beaudesert – 7:00am D.W. L-4-4 Peter 5543 2108

Sunday 24th

Saturday 30th Springbrook Maintenance Weekend Heather 0432 197

577 Sunday 31st

Phone numbers for Park Rangers and the web address for park alerts

Binna Burra - 5533 3996Boonah - 5463 5041

Main Range - 4666 1133O'Reillys - 5544 0634

Park alerts can be found on the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing web site

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/park-alerts/index.php

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Walk Grading’sWalkers Guide: Participants are required to read and understand the Grading System for activities as listed. They should ensure that they are able to complete the listed walk. New members will normally start with two shorter and easier walks with the Club, such as easy terrain, easy fitness, and or short to medium length and progress by one grading step per activity.

DistanceS Short - Under 10kmM Medium - 10 – 15 kmL Long - 15 – 20 kmX Extra Long - 20+ km

Fitness1 – 3 Easy - suitable for beginners4 – 6 Medium - reasonable level of fitness required7 – 9 Hard - Strenuous, fit walkers only

Terrain1 – 3 Graded or open terrain, no scrub on track4 – 6 Minor scrub, rainforest, rock hopping, scrambling, off or part track7 – 9 Thick scrub, rock scrambling, using hands or ropes, off track

ActivityD.W. Day WalkB.C. Base CampT.W. Through WalkSOC Social ActivityS&T Safety and TrainingBush Qld Bush Walking QldFMR Federation Mountain Rescue

Please NoteTHURSDAY is the deadline to notify the Coordinator for through walks, base camps and Saturday walks

FRIDAY is the deadline to notify the Coordinator for Sunday walks

Some walks may be changed at the last minute due to weather or other conditions

PLEASE ensure you contact the coordinator before your chosen walk or check the Facebook page

When car pooling passengers are to pay $7 petrol money to the driver

Make sure these are in your pack Every Week & Every Walk Hat First-aid Kit

Food 1-2ltr Water Jumper Paper & Pencil

Raincoat Map & Compass

Sunscreen Insect Repellent

Torch Lighter Matches Watch Whistle

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Walk Reports

The GREAT! WALK - Fraser Island 11 May 2014 Jan and Rob with Dale and Christine (both from NZ and previously members of the club) travelled the 112 kms to Hervey Bay and booked into the YHA resort before having a cuppa and heading down to River Heads to check travelling time and location of the barge because it was to be an early start for Fraser Island the following morning. Regina and Sue and then Ineen (from Melbourne) arrived. After photos and drinks and amid comments of “tanking up before the big walk” it was off to the bar for dinner and a very pleasant evening.

Day 2 was an early start for a drop off of Regina’s vehicle at a secure parking facility and the catching of the barge to Kingfisher Bay taking a 4WD vehicle with us. We met Dave with his 4WD at the jetty and after sorting out gear and backpacks, Jan, Sue, Ineen, Regina and Christine started the 12kms walk to the 1st Walkers’ campsite at Lake Mackenzie while Dave, Dale, and Rob in the 4WDs headed for the east coast of the island and a pleasant drive north, up the beach to Happy Valley where we left the Prado and hopped into the Landrover for the ride back towards Lake Mackenzie. Lake Mackenzie was busy with a number of bus tours stopping for lunch. The ladies made it in good time. After lunch and the setting up of tents, we took the short walk down to the lake shoreline, just to sit on the foreshore and drowsily contemplate the gentle waves lapping the water’s edge and stare at the varying colours of the lake’s water with the contrasting white of the fine grained sand below. A wander back to camp for more “camp chores” for the group while I sat down to scratch my head and to put pen to paper and start the walk report, which I was “democratically elected” to write. With a backdrop of Fraser I didn’t anticipate that it would be a chore. Anyway it was soon time for Happy Hour.

An “earlyish” start to Day 3 with a quick breakfast before starting the walk to pass through Pile Valley on the way to Central Station. For part of the way we followed the old tramline track reminiscent of the logging activity in days gone by. We passed through some magnificent rainforest spending time discussing and identifying the trees. The highlight for me was Wanggoolba Creek with its gurgling sounds, Piccabeen Palms on its banks and

the pristine clear water with a vivid white sandy bottom. We had lunch at one of the shelters at Central Station where after which we wandered around immersing ourselves in the history of the early logging of the island. Replica buildings have been erected containing photos and information boards along with old tools and furniture to give a better perception of

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what it was like in that time. Central Station was also busy, with a large school group and a number of visitors wandering about as well. We returned to Lake Mackenzie passing Basin Lake, another one of a number of perched lakes on the island. A day of just over 18 kms.

On Day 4 we again followed the tramline track but this time veered southeast then northeast to arrive at the Lake Wabby Walkers’ campsites in good time covering about 12.5 kms. After a cuppa and while we set up our tents Dave erected a tarp cover tied off between some of the trees on one of the campsites. With a short break

in the wet weather we wandered up to the lookout overlooking the sandblow and Lake Wabby. It began raining again and only the hardy members of our group paying a visit to the lake. After getting back to the campsites it wasn’t long before we were all gathered under the tarp because it suddenly pelted down again. Happy Hour and dinnertime were both spent under the tarp. That night was indeed a wet one. It rained for the best part of the night with some of us waking to wet bedding. Dave and Dale in the

support vehicle played an appreciative role in many respects. The wet bedding and tents were dumped in the support vehicle and taken to the next campsite where they were able to be aired and dried sufficiently to be comfortable that night on the track. Extra goodies could be taken along without the need to backpack them from one campsite to the next and Dave’s tarp shelters made cooking and eating meals more of a social event in the downpours. Thanks Dave and Dale.

Day 5 began with another wet start, taking down dripping tents and leaving these for the support vehicle then setting off for The Valley of the Giants just over 16 kms away. After 2hrs we stopped for morning tea and in the sunshine which was very shortlived by a sudden downpour. Our visiting walkers from NZ and Vic. were expecting a sunny state but felt quite at home in the current wet and cool conditions. The Valley of the Giants was just that, old giants of trees, many doing well with some fallen and moss covered. Sue paced out one these fallen giants and found that it would have been over 50m high in its prime. Its an eerie feeling standing among these giants. One’s mind is inclined to drift to the walking talking trees in the Lord of the Rings series.

Day 6 was a rest day and yes you guessed it another wet night in a leaky tent. It brings back memories of a previous visit to this campsite some years ago with just

my head peeking out of the tent trying to cook dinner in the pouring rain. After breakfast we paid a visit to one of the ancient giants in this area. A giant Tallowwood. A 1000 year old tree with a circumference big enough that it would require at least 7 people arms outstretched to embrace it. A majestic living relic. Part of the top had been removed by

lightning so the height was undetermined. We also paid a visit to the Giant Satinay which is about 30mtrs high and estimated to be over 1000yrs old.

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Day 7 (for weather conditions during the night see above ) saw us heading for Lake Garawongera following another old tramline track. This led us from lush rainforest through Satinay stands intermingled with Piccabeen Palms, some Tallowwood, Blue Quandong, and a number of Lilly Pilly varieties just to mention a few. This changed to stunted Scribbly Gums and Banksias and a shrub type regrowth as well as large patches of Macrazamias.

Because of the amount of rain there was a problem with leeches and many of the group were bitten. Ticks to a lesser degree.

Day 8 was a short walk of just under 7 kms to Happy Valley and the tavern for lunch. Backpacks were divided between the Landrover (support vehicle) and the Prado. We then piled into both vehicles and headed for Kingfisher Bay Resort to await the barge. We returned to the YHA resort for a farewell dinner and to stay the night and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast cooked by Sue and Regina before heading for home.

Highlights and lowlights among the group were varied. Some of the lowlights were wet tent, falling over quite frequently, mossies, too few wine casks (purely for medicinal purposes?), leeches, standing in the rain under the tarp with cold legs. Highlights included Badjala Sandblow, Dave’s tarp, the group, swimming in Lake McKenzie, the variety of birds, the luxuriant bush, the variety of fungi, happy hour and the support vehicle. The camaraderie in the group was impressive while the youngest of the group (about 58 year of age) was particularly inspired not only on this particular walk but for future walking by the senior member of the group.

Rob Sammons

Karawatha Forest 03 May 2014

After the heat of previous weeks, Saturday’s walk around Karawatha Park was undertaken, initially, with everyone wearing jumpers. So, at a sensible time, 8.00 a.m., we gathered at the Acacia Road car park off Compton Road at the entrance to the forest to circuit a reasonably easy course. [?] Heather and Sue, Maree McGahan and Robyn Smith, Marie Roberts and Jenny Kemp, Monique Rotheut and Bev Schofield, Dave Nickson, Bruce Ludlow and myself left the crowded car park and walked along the well-formed track adjacent to the picnic area and entered the Forest with its tall gums dominating.

Then my biro ran out so I had to scrounge around for another writing implement. [Again Bruce came to my rescue but this time I ensured I returned the pencil to him at the end of the walk.] Soon after we started along the path we had to stand to the side as a father /son team on separate bikes passed us and we weren’t game to thwart their progress as the son had a stack-hat cam pointing in our direction.

There are plenty of signposts around with locations/tracks and distances clearly marked but one really does need a map of the park to be able to relate one to the other. Thankfully there were some who remembered their way from previous trips

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but, if it had been left to me, we would have still been walking around the park trying to find a way out a week later.

We continued through the Scherophyll forest, stopped for a while and talked inconsequentially before moving on. At this point we noticed a low lying shade cloth fence below which were three, white, twenty litre buckets. This infrastructure constituted a pit trap – so we were informed by Dave -whereby little nocturnal creatures would be directed along the fence and fall into the buckets – hopefully. They would then be retrieved by researchers of some type and then examined the following morning before being released in exactly the same spot, being so territorial. About this time, we lost two members of our party because one’s knee started to play up and thought it better to return to base. The second insisted on accompanying her.

We reached the end of the track and came across a road which would have allowed for vehicle access to the nearby reservoir. Here again were the father/son bike riders but the father was, this time, lagging far behind. This road was within the park boundaries and paralleled Compton Road with its heavy volume of traffic making its passing heard.

We reached the huge, rectangular reservoir that would have provided reticulated water for the Calamvale area and moved on to the steepest part of the walk. It would have had an incline of about thirty degrees or more but the remaining nine walkers ascended it without too much difficulty and reached the high fence that defined the western edge of Karawatha Park. We were immediately adjacent to the Toll Road, looking over it, with its Saturday morning traffic in a hurry to get to who knows where. Our vantage point was high so we spent a bit of time trying to determine what roads we could see and the structures that lay before us.

We eventually came to a sandstone outcrop that gave us a great vantage point. Here we stopped for morning tea at 10.30 a.m. on this exposed rocky structure from which we could see Flinders Peak, the Wineglass Reservoir at Hillcrest, Mt Staplyton Weather Station to the east and, far to the south, Mt Warning, just.We could see the huge warehouse complex on Wembley Road and the new Coles Distribution Centre nearer to us sticking out so clearly. At 10.55 a.m. we left and followed the top of the sandstone escarpment with its edge seeming to be about forty metres above the flats below.

We eventually descended to the level of the flat and walked along the base of the escarpment through a Casuarina forest covered with needles. There were layers of loose, crumbling conglomerate in the face of the escarpment and the occasional thin pocket of coal. In the shade of the escarpment, several different varieties of ferns grew as well as the bracken which was common in the park.

After a bit of searching we came across the large area that had been quarried and this was now full of water. The resultant lake probably was about five hectare in area, of indeterminate depth and surrounded by a high fence with padlocked gates. The security measure taken to prevent access were of no consequence because there had been multiple entry points created to this prohibited area by the ripping away of chain wire in fence lines and in gates. The track along the fence line was partially clay with the resultant clinging to our boots/shoes making for awkward walking for a while until we had discarded our claggy adherent.

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The wind sprang up fiercely and hummed through the high power transmission lines that crossed the park and this kept us company for an extended period. All the while we walked along the track adjacent to the heathlands that characterised this particular area. Tall wattle trees and Casuarinas were the dominant trees with Leptospermum helping to fill in the understorey creating an almost impenetrable arboreal animal sanctuary.

We passed another reservoir, this time cylindrical, and then reached the television repeater tower [?] before descending the rocky section that led to one of the major tracks back to the picnic area. This we reached at 1.15 p.m. where that important decision had to be made – where to spend that impromptu meeting held at this part of the day after every Saturday walk.

Karawatha Park certainly has a great diversity of plant life. The trees that dominate in height are certainly the eucalypt but there are tall Melaleucas – tea trees –, tall Acacias –wattles - and Casuarinas – she-oaks. There is the occasional Callistemon – bottle brush- and Banksia. Prevalent as understorey are native grasses, especially Entolasia, commonly known as wiry panic [?] which grows from a rhizome, a creeping underground stem. It is so common that it has a track named after it.

Another understorey plant found in the thousands is the grass tree, Xanthorrhoea, which in a taller form is found in many of our drier walking regions, especially on the way up to the base of the Golden Staircase walk and at the Bunya Mountains.. This particular grass tree does not have a tall trunk as the others do but has finer needles that come out from its ground level base.

In crevices in rocks at the start of the homeward descent I was able to point out a substantial amount of Skeleton Fern, not a true fern, but a fern ally in the same vein as mosses and tassel ferns. You don’t come across a great amount of Skeleton Fern but there is some where you climb through the hole in the rocks to get a better view of the Lower Portal. Similarly on the rock face soon after leaving the information centre at Binna Burra to walk down to Gwongoorool Pool there is some but not as much as at Karawatha.

Ferns are common in the shadier areas especially Bracken but there is another particularly interesting one at the base of the tall escarpment above which we had lunch.

Unfortunately there is a fair amount of Lantana regrowth starting to become obvious and it would be devastating to see it take hold to the extent that it has in other parks as that darned Lantana Beetle imported to rid us of this accursed plant decided that there were tastier morsels to be had in our environment, plants that we did not want to rid ourselves of.

We saw no fauna but obviously with the variety of grasses and flowers and saps then our regular bushland marsupials should have a feast. It is great to see such an area set aside within the city boundaries that can provide sanctuary for our remaining wallabies and kangaroos, our possums and our gliders and, perhaps, a koala or two. Not my favourite walk but very interesting.

Where did be sojourn to after the walk - the Calamvale Hotel.14

Horace Heldyoup

Lower Ballanjui Falls Saturday, 10 May 2014

Fourteen met to do the Lower Ballanjui Falls walk, eleven at the usual rendezvous at Canungra at 7.00.a.m. and three at the Information Centre at lower Binna Burra. This was a good number seeing that some of the usual walkers were involved in the Fraser Island adventure.

Bill and Mindy, Bruce and Kathy, Ken and Denise, Reggie, Lesley, Bruce Ludlow, Gary Logan, Heather, first time walkers, Phillip and Virginia, from Kooralbyn, and myself were off to do a walk that, in one form or another – with a little variation, was being done for the third time this year by some of the walkers.

At 7.50 a.m., all were rearing to go so it was down the bitumen road avoiding the traffic from both directions as we went until we reached the entrance to the Lower Bellbird Circuit walk. [The usual start of the walk to Lower Ballanjui Falls from upper Binna Burra cannot be used because access further along that track is still closed by a landslip.]

We followed this track along which attempts have obviously been made to rid the edges of that dreaded lantana, whether mechanically or by using herbicide or a combination of both. Then there was the area where tree plantings had occurred using Aruacaria Cunninghamiana or hoop pines that were looking particularly at home in their new location, if not anywhere near as tall as their relations spread throughout this sub-tropical rain forest.

Into the forest we entered with Reggie taking the lead with Bruce keeping an eye on her because she has a tendency to stop unexpectedly to take a photo of that which her discerning eye has determined will be a most worthy subject. The forest was very dry and greatly in need of a drenching.

We wandered along the narrow track passing through a grove of dozens of Asplenium nidus – bird nest ferns – with the steep cliffs high above us and the deep gorges dominated by the Piccabeen Palms below. For quite a distance, some treaded machine had obviously been manoeuvred along the track for some reason. Its treads which were clearly stamped into the track on occasions would have been no more than forty-five centimetres apart and would have required careful management because of the narrowness of the track.

Also, at the sides of the track were indications that animals of some sort – bandicoots, scrub turkeys, etc. – had been recently foraging. Similarly, it appeared that ground-covering plants, possibly Lantana, had been sprayed at the sides of the track because of the manner in which it had been opened up and cleared. In one spot five Christmas orchids had clustered but Christmas, when they should be in bloom, is months away.

We eventually reached a level, rocky widening of the track across which a concrete path had originally made its way. This had undergone some heavy work with some very large rocks having been moved and other smaller rocks and stone having been

15

compacted to form a new, rougher path. Obviously the aforementioned piece of equipment had been brought into play to effect this improvement.

In the next gully, water seeped down the rocks before topping up a small rock pool which, when full, trickled down to another rock pool below and so on and so on and so on. Up the steps hewn into the surrounding rock we continued, entering a forest of Piccabeen palms. These are self-cleaning palms which means that they drop their fronds without their having to be pulled off and so the ground was covered with these expended fronds. The sides of the tracks were littered with literally thousands of recently germinated palm plantlets, more than sufficient to replace those mature palms that are nearing the end of their useful life. By this time, everyone was jumperless and it was very humid with shirts being damp from the “perspiration”.

We reached the turn off to the Ship Stern and were within 600 metres of Lower Ballanjui Falls which we reached at 9.45 a.m. The sky was clouding up as we sat down for an early “brunch”. There wasn’t a great deal of water flowing over the falls. At the bottom there were three distinct small water falls that originated from the creek possibly 150 metres above. The top of the falls was not able to be seen clearly but there were up to seven different tiers that had to be negotiated on their way down. The water fell into a small rock pool before continuing downhill. Stream lilies clung to the rock face of the falls in places and a mass of ferns dangled over the top of the bottom tier. At 10.20 a.m. we started back for Binna Burra with the return being uphill, but easy uphill.

The Lower Ballanjui Falls walk is characterised by its variety. There are steep, tall cliffs above, in places, with deep, heavily timbered gorges below. There are now waterless gullies that would become rushing torrents immediately after heavy rain. To the east the Ship Stern stands out and Egg Rock is visible.

The sub-tropical rain forest has a huge variety of trees of all sizes with the box gum and their huge bulbous roots being outstanding as are the huge, straight hoop pine which dot the forest. Staghorn and Elkhorn ferns cling to the taller trees and there are the huge Dendrobium orchids, unfortunately not in bloom at this time of year. Ferns of a wide variety attach themselves to the trees, climb them, cling to the rocks or grow at the side of the track. Mosses cover some of the rock faces but these are stressed because of the dryness. Piccabeen palms are found in huge numbers in the shady valleys and in places you cannot avoid standing on clumps of recently germinated baby palms because of their profusion. Animal life, apart from the occasional call of a cockatoo or forest pigeon, was not evident apart from the occasional trackside scratchings.

We left the forest, crossed Rankin’s Paddock, reached the bitumen road and struggled the remaining 500 metres uphill to the parked cars.

The Metz, as usual when in this area, was the next stop so the fourteen of us met there for another hour of friendly companionship.

Peter Haza Sorenee

Box Forest and Elabana Falls: Saturday, 24 May 2014.

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I left home at a reasonable time, 7.30 a.m., and headed for Canungra through countryside heavy with mist. The sun was trying to burn it off to provide us with a great morning but there was thick cloud above. We had the usual number walking, twelve, and we all met at Canungra.

Bev Schofield, Monique Rotheut, Kathy Rouse, Bruce Gore, Bruce Ludlow, Debbie Dakers, Brian Watson, Karen Roache, Frank Peel, Heather O’Keeffe, Sue Simpson and myself constituted the group for the day so it was up the thirty-six kilometres to O’Reillys to do the Box Forest walk which we had already done this year. This walk had been scheduled for the weekend before but, seeing there were only two prospective walkers then, it was called off.

Roadworks were being done in several places along the road up to O’Reillys with batter stabilisation being done in some of the most precarious of locations. The thick forest near the end of the road was very dark with shafts of sunlight forcing their way through in places. We all arrived safely, readied ourselves and were off at 8.45 a.m.

So with clear, blue sky visible through the canopy we set off along the Border Track which seems to be more open along its edges in places. The green fruit from one of the tall Szygium trees – lilly pillies - dotted the forest floor as we passed. We reached the place where the Box Forest track branched off the Border Track 3.2 kilometres from O’Reillys and started clockwise around this four kilometre circuit whereas we had done it anti-clockwise on the previous occasion. The track, in part, is narrow, not dangerously so, but I am not particularly at ease on some sections so am forced to hesitate on occasions, reassure myself and then continue. However, such a process has become easier of late.

We eventually reached Elabana Falls positioned at the head of such a lovely gorge. With just on 23 millimetres of ain having fallen within the previous twenty-four hours there was a good flow of water over the falls and lichen adorning some of the rocks bristled with life. Several walkers crossed over the rough, boulder littered obstruction that prevented others from seeing the falls from directly from on so that they could see Elabana Falls at their best. A fine mist emanating from the falls saturated the surrounds.

Yes, the brush box gums - Lophostemon confertus - are spectacular and have been written about beforehand. Similarly sized trees in other parts of the world have been carbon dated to 1 500 years.Tall, slender palms outnumber the brush box by a huge margin. With the recent rain, the fungi had taken advantage of the conditions and proliferated. Pin-head sized small fungi were abundant in the shade while a larger type had dominated a rotting tree trunk and gathered in a hugely concentrated area comprising hundreds and hundreds of larger growths.

Seeing that we had done this walk several months beforehand I did not take many notes as the surrounds were basically the same so, for this time, the report is brief. But there were all of the typical sub-tropical forest expectations. The vines and the palms and the ferns and the orchids and the fungi were all present as you would expect.

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When finished we again decided to retire to the Metz at Canungra for the usual, anticipated session of conviviality but, not before my new Nissan Patrol had the choice of being side-swiped by a coach soon after leaving O’Reillys, or going further off the narrow road that one would do ordinarily.On a narrow, tree-lined stretch up-travelling coach came too far onto my side of the road forcing me to take evasive action by heading somewhat further off the road than one would usually dare travel. In doing so, my vehicle came to a sudden halt as it hit something sticking up from the ground. The coach didn’t stop and I was relieved to find that I could progress. What I’d hit I didn’t bother checking.

On closer inspection I discovered that the bull bar had been bent, pushed slightly out of place and a flare on the left hand side had sprung. It was only much later that I realised that something had happened to the steering because the steering wheel no longer sat in the correct orientation when the front wheels pointed directly ahead. It was out by about seventy degrees. However, all is now fixed apart from the bull bar whose damage would only be noticed by someone looking for it. So, when coming down from O’Reillys, expect the unexpected as this incident could have occurred in a less safe part of that long, narrow, steep descent.

Hopalong Hugh

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Upcoming Events

Eat Local Week tasting tables – 28th June to 6th July Locations TBA - http://www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/eat-local-week

Jazz on the Mountain, Bestbrook – Saturday 19th Julyhttp://www.bigrigs.com.au/things-to-do/australia-day-at-bestbrook/60646/

Opera in the Bush, Jimbour – Saturday 19th July

Darlington Markets – Saturday 19th Julyhttp://www.weekendnotes.com/darlington-community-markets/

Gourmet in Gundy –13th & 14th Septemberhttp://goondiwindi.qld.au/?page_id=62

Maleny Food Festival –13th & 14th Septemberhttp://realfoodfestivals.com.au/

Australian Camp Oven Festival, Millmerran – Saturday 4th October (Labour Day weekend)http://www.australiancampovenfestival.com.au/

Dingo Creek Jazz Festival (Gympie) - Saturday 25th Octoberhttp://www.dingocreekfestival.com.au/

MarketsFernvale – Every Sunday – 6am-1pm

Laidley Village Markets – every Friday

Mt Mee – 1st Sunday – 8am-1pm

Mulgowie Farmers Markets – 1st Saturday of the month – 8am-11am

North Pine – Every Sunday – 8am-1pm

Plainland Markets – Every Sunday

Stanthorpe – 2nd and 4th Sunday

Withcott Community Markets – 3rd Sunday of the month – 9am-2pm

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