PO Box 2199

QUEENSLAND Sunnybank Hills

QLD 4109
BUSHWALKERS Email [email protected]
CLUB Inc. Phone No: 0401 527017
http://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/
Newsletter August 2019

The Bluff Knoll walk, WA Photo: Michael H

Club News
From the editor The nine management committee positions which will
Welcome to the August newsletter. be up for election are:
Typically for this time of year we are enjoying perfect President Vice President Secretary
weather for bushwalking in South East Queensland. Treasurer Membership Officer Training Officer
Interesting then that some of our members should Editor Social Secretary Outings Officer
head to a somewhat wetter north while others have If you would like to nominate yourself or another
departed to the somewhat cooler south. Hopefully they person for a position, please fill in the nomination form
are having some great walking adventures that we can (see p.4) and provide it at the AGM.
bring to these pages soon... The other important positions to be filled but which do
Meanwhile we have an annual general meeting coming not have a vote on the management committee are:
up next month and more Pilgrimage news. As always, Supper Convenor, Equipment Officer and two
watch the club walks calendar for the latest updates. delegates for Bushwalking Queensland Inc.
Walk early and walk often... Michael H No nominations are necessary for these four positions.
Membership
Notice Of QBW Annual General Meeting Membership is on an annual basis and comes due on
The club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held the 1st of July each year. The fee for 2019/20 is $30
on Tuesday 3rd September 2019. The venue is the which must be paid before the annual general meeting
Little Kings Hall on the corner of Carl and O'Keefe to remain a voting member. Please send your payment
Streets, Buranda. The AGM will immediately follow the to Helen or by direct transfer into the club bank
usual monthly club meeting which starts at 7:30pm. account. Payment details are on page 4.
To vote at the Annual General Meeting you must be a The same membership form is used whether you are a
financial member of the club. Proxy votes are new member signing up or a current member wishing
allowed if you are unable to attend the meeting. to renew – it is on the club website. Please complete

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the form, sign it and either post, email a scanned copy don’t have to be capable of going off track in the
or hand it to Helen at a club meeting or on a walk. bush. From manning a radio to stretcher-bearing,
The club email is [email protected]. whether you become a base support person or are
happy to go out as a group to search along a track
General News or water course, a role can be found and everyone
Pilgrimage Update
will have something to offer. Please contact Lynn
Host: BWQ
Docchar (0411811241) for details.
Venue: Camp Laurence, Moogerah Dam
Date: 27-30 September 2019 Wildlife Qld Annual Dinner 7 December 2019
Cost per person: $25 Pilgrimage fee (before 31/8) Professor Michael Archer (Palaentologist, Biologist,
PLUS Environmentalist) will be the guest speaker at the
Accommodation $27.50 per night (Dorm) or Wildlife Qld Annual Dinner 2019. Prof. Archer is an
$17.50 per night (Camping) expert on the Riversleigh fossil deposits in Qld and
This will be the 50th Pilgrimage. will speak on their role in helping save critically
BWQ is seeking support from all clubs to lead a walk endangered species. The event will be held at the
on the weekend and volunteers to assist with soup, Indooroopilly Golf Club in Meiers Road. Earlybird
supper and tea/coffee serveries are needed. Email tickets available until 1 September cost $75.
BWQ: [email protected] .
Plastic Bag Ban Success
The Pilgrimage 2019 website can be viewed at Coles and Woolworths combined have issued a
bushwalkingqld.wordpress.com/pilgrimage.The page huge 4.7 billion fewer plastic bags since the single
also has a link to the booking form, which can be use bag ban began on 1 July 2018. Queensland has
completed online. seen 900 million fewer plastic bags as a result of the
ban. This has resulted in a 70% reduction in
National Park Alerts lightweight plastic bag litter. Many birds and animals
The Green Mountains campground will be temporarily now enjoy much healthier and longer lives.
closed from May to the end of 2019. This is to allow
work on the Green Mountains Camping Area Coming Walks
Ecotourism Revitalisation Project. The day use area
will remain open during this period. For more info see: Any person wishing to come on a club walk must
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/tourism/ecotourism/green- contact the walk leader first. The leader will organise
mountains/ . the meeting place and car pooling and has full
discretion on who can come on the walk. If possible
The Maiala Day Use Area will be temporarily closed provide leaders with plenty of forward notice if you wish
until March 2020 to allow upgrades to the trailhead, to nominate for a walk or if you change your plans.
interpretive signage, toilets, shelter sheds, tables and
BBQs. Entrances from Maiala Day Use Area to the Nominations close 9:00pm on the Wednesday prior to
Rainforest Circuit, Greene's Falls and Western Window a weekend trip or by 9.00pm on the Monday before
are closed. Wednesday trips.
The Gantry Day Use Area at Mt Mee is receiving an More details are available in the club calendar.
upgrade which will affect access to picnic areas and August 2019
the car park. Trails remain open.
3 Sat Jolly's Lookout Circuit (Mt Glorious) D/W
Controlled burns are planned in Lamington National Peter Pendle
Park between Binna Burra Lodge and Egg Rock over 6 Tues Club meeting (Buranda) 7.30pm
coming weeks. Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
Check https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/park-alerts for the 11 Sun Warrie Circuit (Springbrook) D/W
latest information prior to doing a walk. Patricia Kolarski
FMR Training 14 Wed Daisy Hill tracks (Daisy Hill) D/W
Patricia Kolarski
Search and Rescue Training 17 Sat Mt Goolman (Ipswich) D/W
Helen McAllister
FMR will be running their annual Search and
Rescue training weekend on 14/15 September to 18 Sun Enoggera Reserve (Enoggera) D/W
Peter Pendle
maintain capability and train new volunteers. Skill
sessions on Saturday will be followed by a realistic 25 Sun Margaret Olley Exhibition (GOMA) SOC
Sandy Thomas
exercise on Sunday. They will also practice dealing
31 Sat Mt Maroon via caves (Rathdowney) D/W
with a crisis if one occurs on a club bushwalk. Aileen Elliott
Thanks to the support of Pointro at Lake Maroon,
members of BWQ-affiliated clubs and BBW can
September 2019
attend this training for only $20 per person, which 3 Tues AGM & Club meeting (Buranda) 7.30pm
Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
includes bunkroom accommodation and cooking
facilities in the Pointro House. There are many roles 8 Sun Yul-yan-man Track (Glasshouse Mts)D/W
Patricia Kolarski
to fill in these search and rescue operations so you

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Bluff Knoll Walk, Western Australia 30 April 2019
Bluff Knoll is an enigmatic walk. The walk itself is
quite straightforward, almost easy, as it follows a
formed path all the way. And yet, it can offer surprises.
Capricious changes in weather can abruptly turn a
sunny open vista into a swirling cloak of enveloping
cloud, with an eerie sense of precipitous 200 metre
high voids hidden by mist. It commands respect.
Bluff Knoll at 1019m is the highest of a series of
mountains that rise abruptly from an almost flat
landscape to form the Stirling Range in the south west
corner of Western Australia. It's height and
susceptibility to weather patterns originating in
Antarctica means that it can sometimes snow on the
summit – not a common event but it did happen twice
in the month prior to our arrival. Needless to say we
kept an anxious eye on the weather. On the one hand
it would be awesome to experience a snow fall at the top, but on the other hand we didn't want to get totally
boxed in by a blizzard. As the forecast was only for cloud with some chance of rain we decided to go ahead.
From the lookout at the carpark the well designed track leads
steadily up a spur almost to the base of the cliffs then turns right at a
sharper upwards angle to traverse across the face. Spectacular
views begin to appear through the trees. The steps continue on a
relentless climb and it becomes apparent that the vegetation, which
soon begins to thin out, screens a substantial open void on the right.
A short while afterwards we rounded a smaller knoll to the left and
began to follow the ridgeline back towards the summit. The area
along the top of the ridge had been badly burnt by a bushfire and
was quite open and exposed. At this point the clouds closed in and
we entered a dull grey world.
After a bit more effort we were at the summit, though the incredibly
abrupt drop off the edge of the cliff at our feet was totally masked by
cloud. We huddled out of the light rain to eat lunch, take photos and
chat with other walkers. Our patience was rewarded when eventually
the clouds parted and we were presented with a breathtaking
panorama. Far below was the carpark at the start of the walk. Away
to the west lay a line of mountains surrounded by natural bush which
ended abruptly along the park's northern perimeter where cleared
farmland began. Occasional bursts of sunlight pierced through as
the clouds swirled above the peaks, sometimes lowering to again blot out the view, only to be swept away by
the next uplift of wind. It was a wild and dynamic scene – raw nature at it's finest. We enjoyed the show for
as long as we dared, then began our descent.
On the way down I thought how much the rocky
crags wreathed in mist reminded me of Scotland
– weird given that I've never been there! How
much weirder did it become then as we
approached the carpark and could hear the
sound of bagpipes. It seemed a bit surreal, but
soon enough I confirmed that there was in fact a
piper complete with kilt standing in the bush
playing a series of classic Scottish tunes.
Magnificent!
The elation of our experience was tempered
somewhat when we heard a while later that a
young, fit, female walker had gone missing on
Bluff Knoll. Sadly despite a week of dedicated
searching by many search and rescue personnel
she was found deceased at the cliff base.
Michael H (with Sandy)

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 Nomination Form For Committee Position
I wish to nominate …..........................................................……………………………….

For the position of …………...........................................................……………..……….

Nominator ……………………………….........................................................….

Seconder ….....................................................................................................

General Information
QBW Management Committee Payments
President Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017 Pay fees or other items direct to the QBW club account at:
Vice President Lynn Sawtell 0419 686 559 BSB: 124-057
Account No: 20421276
Secretary Lynn Nicol 0400 705 041
Account Name: Queensland Bushwalkers Club
Treasurer Aileen Elliott 0457 144 012 Reference: Include your name and what the payment is for –
Outings Officer Patricia Kolarski 0448 526 618 eg “RSmith member fee”.
Membership Officer Helen McAllister 0419 684 319 Website
Media Officer Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017 Additional information is available on the club website at URL:
https://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/
Training Officer Vacant
Social Secretary Sandy Thomas 0403 821 525 Club Equipment
Other Voluntary Positions Compasses Topo Maps
Equipment Officer Gerry Burton 0408 793 715 Garmin GPS First Aid Kits
Supper Convenor Mary Sherlock 0457 990 067
Librarian Noelene McCay 0407 658 023 5 GPSs which have a 20 metre contour topo map of the whole
of Australia included.
BWQ Rep Gerry Burton 0408 793 715
PLBs with inbuilt GPS
BWQ Rep Richard Kolarski 0455 879 785
5 PLBs with inbuilt GPS. The PLBs will be made available at
Insurance Hotline 1300 574 980 each club meeting and will need to be returned at the following
Meeting Place club meeting.
Club meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month starting at Contact Gerry Burton on 0408 793 715 to book these items.
7.30pm. There is no club meeting in January.
Meetings are held at the Little King's Hall on the corner of Carl
and O'Keefe Streets, Buranda. Entry is via the gate on Carl St.
Reciprocal Walks with Other Clubs
There is parking within the grounds and in Carl Street.
Tea/coffee and cake/biscuits are provided after the meeting. Redland Bushwalkers Club
A coin donation is appreciated. The only stipulation is that Redland club members have priority
Membership over visitors. Calendar is available at:
http://www.redlandbushwalkers.org.au/static/calendar.html
Probationary Membership
Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland (BOSQ)
A non-member automatically becomes a Probationary Member
on his/her first walk after signing the Acknowledgement of Risk Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
form. No fee is payable to become a Probationary Member. walks per calendar year. This will be with the agreement of the
activity leader. Members of BOSQ have priority for nominations.
A Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on Calendar is available at http://www.bosq.bwq.org.au/
his/her second walk by filling out a membership form and paying
the membership fee. YHA Bushwalkers
Ordinary Membership Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
walks per calendar year. Calendar is available at:
A person may become an Ordinary Member by filling out and http://sites.google.com/site/yhabushies/outings
signing a membership form, having a proposer sign the form
and handing the form with the membership fee to a committee Gold Coast Bushwalkers
member or walk leader. Gold Coast Bushwalkers may admit as honorary members
The proposer may be any current member of the club. financial members of bushwalking clubs affiliated with BWQ.
This dispensation will be at the discretion of the Management
An Ordinary Member has the right to vote at an AGM or be
Committee. https://sites.google.com/site/goldcoastbushwalker/
elected to a committee position.
Members of Another Bushwalking Club Ipswich Bushwalkers Inc
Members of another bushwalking club which is affiliated with Intending walkers must contact the leader in advance. The
Bushwalking Queensland Inc. (or an interstate Federation) and newsletter also contains a full description of the grading system
who are covered by the same insurance do not need to become and a list of Committee members and their contact numbers.
a member of our club to go on our walks. However QBW Calendar available at www.ipswichbushwalkers.bwq.org.au
members will have priority if there is a limit on numbers.

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