PO Box 2199

QUEENSLAND Sunnybank Hills

QLD 4109
BUSHWALKERS Email qldbwc@yahoo.com
CLUB Inc. Phone No: 0401 527017
http://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/
Newsletter July 2019

The ascent of Mt Maroon Photo: Michael H

Club News
From the editor
Welcome to the July newsletter.
Highlights of the past month included some walks to
places less well known led by Richard (Jimna, Glen
Rock & Flinders Peak caves) and Patricia (Mapleton),
and a social weekend at Bigriggen where friends of
Norm gathered to share memories. We are always
thankful for the voluntary efforts of our walks leaders.
Club membership renewals are due, the annual
Christmas party is taking shape and there is some
news on the Pilgrimage front. Best of all, there are
more walking opportunities to put in your diaries.
There is much to look forward to.
Walk early and walk often... Michael H
Meetings
The next monthly club meeting is on Tuesday 2 July at
7:30pm at Little Kings Hall, Carl St, Buranda.
The annual general meeting at which committee and
office holders are elected is normally in August, but this
year will be in September, after the monthly meeting.
Membership Renewal is due
Membership is on an annual basis which is due on the
1st of July each year. Membership fees are now due!
The annual fee is $30 which must be paid before the
annual general meeting to remain a voting member.
Please send your payment to Helen or by direct
transfer into the club bank account. Payment details
are on page 6.
Current members still need to fill out a renewal form
and submit it with the annual membership fee. The
same membership form is used whether you are a new
member signing up or a current member wishing to
renew – it is on the club website. Please complete the
form, sign it and either post, email a scanned copy or
hand it to Helen at a club meeting or on a walk. The
club email is qldbwc@yahoo.com.

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QBW Christmas Party + 30 Nov
It may seem a little early in July to be speaking of
Christmas but there is some exciting news. Redland
Bushwalkers have invited QBW to join them at
Spring Gully Stays near Canungra to share in both
the venue and Christmas party. The QBW committee
has agreed to go ahead with this offer. Details are
yet to be worked out but it promises to be a fun
event including the usual activities boosted by the
extra numbers. We will keep you posted with
updates. Meanwhile please ensure you have the
29 November - 1 December weekend marked on
your calendar for the annual QBW Christmas Party.
Norm Johnston Memorial Weekend
It was a memorial, it was a feast, it was a very social
gathering and it was everything I'm sure Norm wished
for, as 30 people gathered at Bigriggen for a weekend
to remember and to celebrate Norm's time with us.
On Saturday morning John & Lyn Daly led a walk to
the Lower Portals. We didn't swim but John B provided
us with an interesting history of the Catholic
Bushwalkers hut nearby.
Afterwards we gathered at The Shed for an excellent
afternoon tea. We were delighted to welcome Donald
(Norm's brother) and his wife Libby to this gathering.
In the evening we enjoyed a self-catered feast, saw
many photos and shared many more memories of
Norm's history in QBW since 2010. Donald provided an
insightful and humorous picture of Norm's life
experiences prior to his time with us.
On Sunday a group of hikers led by Aileen walked to
the Mt Maroon summit (see page 1) and held a simple
but moving ceremony that affirmed Norm's connection
with the wild places as a bushwalker.
Overall the weekend had a warm and upbeat
atmosphere, a bit emotional at times, and Norm would
have been very pleased. A big thankyou to all those
who participated and helped to make it so wonderful -
especially Norm.
General News
Pilgrimage Update
Pilgrimage 2019 is on 27-30 September. BWQ has
advised that the Pilgrimage 2019 website is up and
running at the URL: bushwalkqld.wordpress.com .
Online bookings may open in July.
BWQ is inviting each member club in S.E Qld. to
lead one or more walks. Current walks include:
Saturday
. Mt Greville
. Mt Edwards
. Telstra Track
. Lake Moogerah circuit bike ride
. Boonah Fassifern Rail Trail Circuit
Sunday
. Mt May
. Mt Bangalore
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. Mt Edwards
. Mt Mathieson Trail
Please email BWQ if your club would like to
participate in the Pilgrimage 2019 Walks Program.
BWQ would also like volunteers to assist with the
soup, supper and tea and coffee serveries. Email:
secretary@bushwalkingqueensland.org.au .
BWQ General Meeting
BWQ is holding a meeting on Thursday 4 July at
87 Amarina Ave, Ashgrove (Ashgrove Library) and
representatives from member clubs are invited to
attend. The meeting time is 6.30 – 9.00pm.
Outdoors Queensland Awards
If you or someone you know is doing great things in
the outdoor space – leading, working, or developing
programs or events – you can enter a nomination in
the QORF Outdoors Queensland Awards 2019.
Visit the QORF website for details.
Otago Youth Adventure Trust 2019 walk season
The Otago Youth Adventure Trust/Milton Rotary
Tramping Club have opened bookings on their
tramps and bike trips for 2019. A variety is on offer,
including lodge based tramping, multi-day tramps
and bike trips. One of the bike rides – the Alps 2
Ocean Cycle Trail – is 360km long over 6 days and
includes a helicopter transfer, accommodation in
lodges and mostly involves riding along rail trails and
bike paths. To obtain more details and book, see the
website at otagorotarytrusttramps.org.nz.
Coming Walks
Any person wishing to come on a club walk must
contact the walk leader first. The leader will organise
the meeting place and car pooling and has full
discretion on who can come on the walk. If possible
provide leaders with plenty of forward notice if you wish
to nominate for a walk or if you change your plans.
Nominations close 9:00pm on the Wednesday prior to
a weekend trip or by 9.00pm on the Monday before
Wednesday trips.
More details are available in the club calendar.
July 2019
2 Tues Club meeting (Buranda) 7.30pm
Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
6 Sat Bellbird & Caves Ccts (Binna Burra)D/W
Peter Pendle
7 Sun Flinders Peak (Ipswich) D/W
Aileen Elliot
21 Sun Somerset Trail (Mt Mee) D/W
Peter Pendle
August 2019
3 Sat Jolly's Lookout Cct (Mt Glorious) D/W
Peter Pendle
6 Tues Club meeting (Buranda) 7.30pm
Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
Blue Mountains 16-24 February 2020 B/C
Note: This trip is fully booked but you are welcome to
indicate your interest to be on the reserve list.
Margie Rae is inviting members to join her and others
on a number of day walks around the Blue Mountains
area which may include Grand Canyon, National Pass,
Prince Henry Cliff walk, Govetts Leap Cliff Top walk, &
Scenic World to Ruined Castle. Accommodation will be
in a house (probably in Katoomba). Dinner meals will
be shared, with everyone cooking for the group at least
once. This trip will coincide with a small group of
abseilers who will be canyoning in the area.
Info on walks is available online at:
https://www.bestsydneywalks.com/blue-mountains-
walks/
Past Walks
Mt Blaine Sunday 23 June 2019 D/W
Mt Blaine. Mmm. Not going to make it onto my
Favourite Walks list.
From Flinders Plum carpark we headed off towards Mt
Blaine but ignored the first sidetrack to continue on and
took a left turn across the creek to approach the
mountain from the south. A side track leads off uphill,
600m long and 200m altitude gain up a rough, steep,
loose rocky trail to the top. Thankfully there is red tape
most of the way as the trail is hard to pick up in places.
View of Flinders Peak from Mt Blaine Photo: Noelene
The effort is really worth it for the fabulous, expansive,
360 degrees views from the top. We retraced our
steps to the main track and continued on along the
ridge. There was a helicopter rescue off Flinders Peak
in progress so we found a spot with a view for lunch.
Apparently someone had slipped off the track along the
razorback and needed winching out. The helicopter
dropped a paramedic down to the injured party, buzzed
around for a long time, then headed off to refuel.
Entertainment over so the majority decided we’d done
enough for the day and we took a shortcut back to the
car. Coffee at Macca’s then home.
Thanks to Peter, Noelene and Bert for coming on this
walk with me.
Patricia
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Karawatha Social Day 26/5/19
On Sunday 26th May we had a beautiful winter
morning to meet and learn about the Brisbane City
Council Karawatha Forest Park and Discovery
Centre. The main entry is from Acacia Road off
Compton Road.
Karawatha Forest contains mainly eucalypt forest
and areas of heath, wetland and woodlands. There
are over 320 native plant species and a variety of
habitats including freshwater lagoons, sandstone
ridges, eucalypt forests and wetlands. Too much for
us to cover in just one social outing, but plenty of
scope for longer walks and exploration another day.
Pre-walk talk Photo: Michael H
Around 10am our social group were met by staff and
signed in for the volunteer led tour along the short
Ironbark Circuit. A young family also joined us.
During the hour stroll and talk on the flora and fauna
we were invited to look for scratch marks on the bark
of trees and had explained the difference between
koala, bird and reptile marks. Clues to identifying
ironbark, grey gums, spotted gums and some of the
rocky features were also helpful. We also tried
rubbing leaves from the 'soap tree' (Alphitonia
Excelsa) scrunched up in our palms with some water
to make a soapy cleanser for our hands. The leaves
were also used by Indigenous peoples to help catch
freshwater fish.
On return from the walk we had a look through the
Discovery Centre with its electronic and interactive
habitat sections, aerial viewing of the forest and
other educational displays.
Our appetites whetted with information, we moved
on to lunch arrangements. An open grassed area
with picnic shelters, bbq's and toilet facilities easily
accommodates groups. After leisurely snacks, lunch,
coffee and lots of chatting, packing up began with
some heading for home and others doing another
walk around the more lengthy Rocks Circuit to make
the most of the day and fine weather. We didn't try
out the Nature Play equipment but our “inner child”
checked it out for our grandchildren and possible
future visits. Thanks to everyone who came along
and enjoyed the outing with me.
Sandy Thomas (Social Secretary)
 General Information Club Equipment
QBW Management Committee Compasses Topo Maps
Garmin GPS First Aid Kits
President Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
Vice President Lynn Sawtell 0419 686 559
5 GPSs which have a 20 metre contour topo map of the whole
Secretary Lynn Nicol 0400 705 041
of Australia included.
Treasurer Aileen Elliott 0457 144 012
PLBs with inbuilt GPS
Outings Officer Patricia Kolarski 0448 526 618
5 PLBs with inbuilt GPS. The PLBs will be made available at
Membership Officer Helen McAllister 0419 684 319 each club meeting and will need to be returned at the following
Media Officer Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017 club meeting.
Training Officer Vacant Contact Gerry Burton on 0408 793 715 to book these items.
Social Secretary Sandy Thomas 0403 821 525

Other Voluntary Positions

Reciprocal Walks with Other Clubs
Equipment Officer Gerry Burton 0408 793 715
Redland Bushwalkers Club
Supper Convenor Mary Sherlock 0457 990 067
The only stipulation is that Redland club members have priority
Librarian Noelene McCay 0407 658 023 over visitors. Calendar is available at:
BWQ Rep Gerry Burton 0408 793 715 http://www.redlandbushwalkers.org.au/static/calendar.html
BWQ Rep Richard Kolarski 0455 879 785 Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland (BOSQ)
Insurance Hotline 1300 574 980 Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
walks per calendar year. This will be with the agreement of the
Meeting Place activity leader. Members of BOSQ have priority for nominations.
Club meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month starting at Calendar is available at http://www.bosq.bwq.org.au/
7.30pm. There is no club meeting in January.
YHA Bushwalkers
Meetings are held at the Little King's Hall on the corner of Carl
Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
and O'Keefe Streets, Buranda. Entry is via the gate on Carl St.
walks per calendar year. Calendar is available at:
There is parking within the grounds and in Carl Street.
http://sites.google.com/site/yhabushies/outings
Tea/coffee and cake/biscuits are provided after the meeting.
A coin donation is appreciated. Gold Coast Bushwalkers
Membership Gold Coast Bushwalkers may admit as honorary members
financial members of bushwalking clubs affiliated with BWQ.
Probationary Membership This dispensation will be at the discretion of the Management
A non-member automatically becomes a Probationary Member Committee. https://sites.google.com/site/goldcoastbushwalker/
on his/her first walk after signing the Acknowledgement of Risk Ipswich Bushwalkers Inc
form. No fee is payable to become a Probationary Member.
Intending walkers must contact the leader in advance. The
A Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on newsletter also contains a full description of the grading system
his/her second walk by filling out a membership form and paying and a list of Committee members and their contact numbers.
the membership fee. Calendar available at www.ipswichbushwalkers.bwq.org.au
Ordinary Membership
A person may become an Ordinary Member by filling out and
signing a membership form, having a proposer sign the form Feature Pic
and handing the form with the membership fee to a committee
member or walk leader.
The proposer may be any current member of the club.
An Ordinary Member has the right to vote at an AGM or be
elected to a committee position.
Members of Another Bushwalking Club
Members of another bushwalking club which is affiliated with
Bushwalking Queensland Inc. (or an interstate Federation) and
who are covered by the same insurance do not need to become
a member of our club to go on our walks. However QBW
members will have priority if there is a limit on numbers.
Payments
Pay fees or other items direct to the QBW club account at:
BSB: 124-057
Account No: 20421276
Account Name: Queensland Bushwalkers Club
Reference: Include your name and what the payment is for –
eg “RSmith member fee”.
Website Spot the koala... on the Lower Portals walk
Additional information is available on the club website at URL:
https://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/ Photo: Michael H

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