On Saturday 23 April 2022 we had our Quarterly Meeting of members. This was the first meeting for some years with some semblance of normality – allowing the members at its conclusion to mingle and enjoy a nice social chit chat as we enjoyed afternoon tea with nibblies.
The meeting had a good turnout – attended by over 30 members. The only disappointing thing was it was held on such a lovely Saturday afternoon – we could have been out walking!
Other than the usual office bearer reports, a highlight of the meeting was a tribute to long term members Barry and Lyn, who have been members for some 21 years and this year announced that they were hanging up their boots! There was a lovely photographic tribute to them presented by Karen, and Lyn gave an amusing speech recounting her and Barry’s many exploits in the club over the years. If anything, it seemed the good times where not always so much in the walking but the social activities thereafter where they got up to quite a few shenanigans if the pictures tell half the story! Hopefully Lyn and Barry will not be strangers and we will see them at some of the club’s social functions whenever we can get back to organising them!
The meeting also was used to announce the new walks programme for the second Quarter for the year. It is a full programme of 20 walks with a good split between ‘easy’, ‘easy/medium’, ‘medium’ and ‘medium/hard’ walks – something for everyone.
For those that missed the meeting here is just a taste on what is on offer.
One of the early walks to put in your diary is on 1 May, at Lemon Tree Creek just south of Lake Tabourie village. It is a straightforward walk of 11 kms, graded ‘medium’, on a mix of fire trails, off road bike trails with some short stints on gravel roads. There are a few creek crossings, but it is a very attractive circuit walk and a good way to get out there this next quarter.
For those of you who want something closer to home there is a walk to the Broulee Island Grave on Saturday 7 May, graded ‘easy/medium’. It will involve a walk around Broulee Island, which of course many of us will have done before, but then a short climb to the top of the island to visit the grave of Elizabeth Maleber who died in 1842. Elizabeth was the wife of Abraham Maleber who moved produce down the Moruya River to ships anchored on Broulee Harbour. It is an interesting part of the District’s history and well worth a look, as not many of us know exactly where the grave is! A great opportunity to be led there by Ed.
Broulee Island Grave
Deserted cove on the way to Rosedale
Karen is leading the Guerilla Bay to Rosedale walk on the 26 May. This is an ‘easy/ medium’ walk starting at Burrewarra Point, heading down to Guerilla Bay beach and then to Nun’s Beach and back with an optional lunch at the end at Guerilla Bay. Those that know Karen will know this is one of her favourite walks and she certainly shows it off well.
On 18 June there’s a more adventurous walk being led by Rob graded ‘medium/ hard’, DD of 28 (not too hard!). It is to the old ruins of the Bimberamala Gold Mine. This was one of the great Valerie Harris’ walks. It has not been done by the club for a few years, and it is exciting that it is back on the programme. It will involve a bit of hilly walking up to the old gold mine, where hopefully the remnants are still there to be seen from when last visited by the club – worth doing I would say.
Karen is also leading a walk on 26 June, originally put together by of Bob T near Pedro Point just south of Moruya Heads uninvitingly called Pedro Point and Swamp. But it is a lovely walk which hopefully will not be too “swampy” after the recent rains. It explores a section of the Eurobodalla National Park at the back of Pedro Point and along Congo Creek for 8 kms. It an ‘easy/medium’ walk and very close to home (especially for those living near Moruya).
Remains of the stamper at Bimberamala Mine
Giant swamp mahogany near Pedro Point
Donna is leading a walk that was postponed from last quarter being a new walk for the club, unfortunately uninspiringly called Duntroon Road. But from Donna’s photos from her recce, it looks like it is beautiful circuit walk, next to creeks and passing through moss covered gullies at the back of Mogendoura. There are some spectacular rock formations to see and rain forest that was not impacted by the fires.
There is also on the programme a couple of walks on the Bingie Dreaming Track – Bingi to Mullimburra Circuit, on 12 June (graded “easy”) and Mullimburra to Congo Return, on 23 June (graded “easy /medium’). The club likes to at least have one walk on the Bingie Dreaming Track each quarter as it is such an iconic South Coast track; and this Quarter we have two.
Talking of stables of walks – Murramarang N.P. has also not been missed out. We have on offer a few walks in Murramarang, which as we all know is an area well frequented by the Bay Bushwalkers. I personally am pleased to see on the programme the Wasp Head to North Head one-way walk. This is scheduled for 4 June to be led by Brian and Chris. It is a very scenic walk showcasing the secluded beaches in the southern part of the park. The walk does not follow roads or even many tracks but is (I am told) still relatively easy walking. It passes through an area presently unspoilt by walking tracks, but obviously that will change when this area is made more accessible to walkers when the Murramarang South Coast Walking Track is up and running- a few years yet I would think!
Emily Miller Beach in Murramarang National Park
One of the creeks near Duntroon Road
This is only just a small selection of what is on offer this Quarter, so if you have not already done so go and print out this Quarter walks’ programme – put it on your fridge; and mark those walks you are going to do.
Let’s hope that the weather remains friendly and Covid does not slow us down further, so we can all get out there walking again; and dare I say having a few social get togethers (with shenanigans) as well.
Happy Walking
Peter
Our Batemans Bay Bushwalkers emblem is a pair of Gang-gang cockatoos. We are lucky to have them in this area, but they are in trouble, with numbers down by 69% over the last 21 years.
