PO Box 2199

QUEENSLAND Sunnybank Hills

QLD 4109
BUSHWALKERS Email qldbwc@yahoo.com
CLUB Inc. Phone No 0401 527 017
http://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/

Newsletter April 2022

View towards Charraboomba Rock and Binna Burra (see report page X) Photo: MH

Club News
From the editor
Welcome to the April 2022 newsletter. QBW Membership and Renewal
The latter part of March brought more heavy rain to If you enjoy bushwalking with a fun and responsible
SE Queensland but fortunately it was mostly group then you are welcome to join QBW. Patricia,
confined to the southern ranges. our membership officer, would be delighted to hear
from you and chat about the benefits of joining.
Two of the three base camps scheduled for March
went ahead successfully and details of those are Payment by direct transfer into the club bank
inside. Thank you to the leaders and participants. account is preferred. Payment details are on page 6.
There are also reports from other walks. Note that you need to fill out a membership form
The walks calendar has a variety of outings coming (same form for new member or renewal), sign it and
up in April / May. They range from local walks to an post, scan & email, or hand it to Patricia at a club
opportunity to join fellow bushwalkers from Central meeting.
Queensland clubs for a weekend camp at The club email is qldbwc@yahoo.com.
Biggenden.
Enjoy your reading, keep safe, and we hope to walk
with you soon.
Michael H

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Message from the (Interim) Outings Officer A quote from Saturday’s rescuees “You never think it
South East Queensland and Northern NSW continue will happen to you!” Be prepared, start early and
to experience significant rain events. Consistent with enjoy your mountain experience this hiking season
previous advice, the impact on QBW activities is that Lifeflight Training on-line
some events may be cancelled, rescheduled or
replaced with an alternative walk. LifeFlight in partnership with Shine Lawyers is
providing free training online to deal with medical
The club calendar of activities will remain active, but emergencies. For more details see:
this will be monitored and revised as appropriate. It’s https://www.lifeflight.org.au/first-minutes-matter/?
likely that many tracks will be damaged and some fbclid=IwAR3HHJ897SacFXFHyEh8oPWWixZ8hSF
parks may be inaccessible due to road closures. For bXIuHx8wD21_iyaFowUp-fiQAyiQ
example the Somerset Trail at Mt Mee is currently
closed but will hopefully reopen by 30 April.
Where necessary and if possible, alternative walks General News
may be substituted at short notice. We will try to Covid-19 Update
keep everyone updated by email with advice about Queensland Health advice must be followed by all
specific events. club members while engaging in QBW activities
Please consider your own safety and the safety of including social events and meetings. Note the
those around you as a priority. We look forward to Covid-19 protocol on the club website and click here
your company when you are able to join us. for the latest Queensland Health Directions. Please
Michael H consider the safety of your fellow citizens and follow
Message from the Scenic Rim SES 4 April Health directions during any club event.
The following message was posted to Facebook by For the latest advice about what rules apply in
the Scenic Rim SES. It is worth repeating: Queensland national parks see:
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/covid-19/.
Over the weekend two rescues took place in the
Scenic Rim. One at Mt Barney and the second at Mt Bookings can be made at https://qld.gov.au/camping
Maroon. As this is the start of the hiking season we in advance of any planned visits.
thought it would be an appropriate time to remind
everyone of a few things you should take hiking. National Park Updates
These items help keep you safe and/or make it Quite a number of national parks in SE Queensland
easier for help to get to you should you get lost or still have alerts about closed tracks or facilities being
injured while hiking. Most are quite affordable but will unavailable due to rain / flood damage. We are also
make things much more bearable. entering the controlled burns season.
1. Thermal blanket/emergency blanket – like a big Walkers are strongly urged to check Qld National
sheet of alfoil but works wonders for keeping you Parks alerts for details prior to organising a walk.
warm on a cold night and they’re tiny, cheap and Parks in northern coastal NSW have been badly
super light. affected by rain events and many walks are closed.
2. A spare battery pack for your phone – so often by Check at NSW Park Alerts.
the time we get to people, their phones are flat or
very close to it. If you can’t get the message out, it is
very hard for us to locate you. Queensland Police
Trivia
Service can use the GPS location from your phone Sundown is the most southerly National Park
where there is service and we can get to you much
in Queensland.
quicker.
3. Torch – A light is very helpful at night to follow a Koreelah is the most northerly National Park
track out but also helpful to alert those trying to find in New South Wales.
you.
4. First aid kit – it’s a given but so many don’t take
Kyogle is almost exactly due south of the
simple supplies in case something does happen. Brisbane GPO.
5. If you are a regular hiker, we would suggest a Cairns is further west than Charleville.
personal locator beacon (PLB). If your phone goes
flat or there is no service, it will still get a message Mt Superbus (1371m) and Mt Barney
out. Of course always take plenty of water, snacks, (1358m) are higher than Ben Nevis (1343m)
tell someone where you are going (take a map) and
go with a friend. the tallest point in the British Isles.
Imagine a night stuck in the dark, off track, cold, The highest point in England, Scafell Pike
possibly injured, by yourself and unable to get a (978m) is a similar height to Mt Maroon
message out for help. We don’t want anyone to be in
this situation but unfortunately it happens. (966m).

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 Coming Walks Past Walks
QBW provides walks and activities in accordance Postman’s Track Sun 6 March
with current Qld Health Covid-19 Directions. Several astute nominees for this walk provided me
with hints that SEQ Water may have closed all
Any person wishing to come on a club walk must recreational facilities due to the rain event. I had
contact the walk leader first. The leader will organise been dutifully checking SEQ alerts relevant to Lake
the meeting place and car arrangements and has full Samsonvale and could see no mention of this. But
discretion on who can come on the walk. If possible on the morning of the walk it all became clear – in
provide leaders with plenty of forward notice if you wish their wisdom SEQ Water had put that advice on their
to nominate for a walk or if you change your plans.
General News webpage, not the Alerts page. So
Nominations close 9:00pm a full two days prior to a there was a very last minute cancellation of the walk
walk eg at 9pm Wednesday prior to a weekend trip. and an alternative option just as quickly appeared.
More details are available in the club calendar.
To see what other clubs are doing see:
https://qldbushwalks.online/calendar.

April 2022
3 Sun Mt Coot-tha walks (Brisbane)
Richard Kolarski
5 Tues Club meeting 7:30pm
Little Kings Hall Cnr O’Keefe/Carl St, Buranda
9 Sat Kondalilla/Baroon Pocket (Montville) D/W
Helen McAllister
10 Sun Karawatha walks (Karawatha) D/W
Walks planning 4pm
Sandy Thomas
17 Sun Yul Yan Man trail (Beerburrum) D/W
Michael Hoopmann
23 Sat Wivenhoe Hills (Fernvale) D/W
Helen McAllister
Mary discovers a secret door
25 Mon Flinders Peak (Ipswich) D/W
Sandy Thomas Dave offered to lead us on a ramble around Mt
30-2 Sat-Mon Central Qld Combined Club Camp Gravatt and most of us were only too willing to
(Biggenden) B/C follow. We went up the north side, down the south
Bundaberg Bushwalkers Club side, around the west side, under the freeway to
Toohey forest and back again. Some of us went
May 2022 places we’d never been before. We didn’t spot any
koalas but we did see their scratch marks on trees.
3 Tues Club meeting 7:30pm To top off an excellent outing, Dave then treated us
Little Kings Hall Cnr O’Keefe/Carl St, Buranda all to a superbly crafted, silver medal winning coffee
7-10 Sat-Tues Harrys Hut (Cooloola) B/C, D/W, KYK back in his kitchen. A walk couldn’t get much better
Michael Hoopmann
than that!
Thank you Gerry, Helen, and Mary for your flexibility
Proposed Events and good company and to Dave for so capably
10 April – Walks planning taking on the lead at short notice.
A walks planning BBQ will be held at Sandy’s (36 (Subsequent advice about the Postman’s Track is
Falstaff St, Sunnybank Hills) at 4pm on 10 April. A that it is probably better left to the horse riders so
short walk in nearby Karawatha Forest will precede we’ll find a better Lake Samsonvale walk).
the walks planning. Michael H
Binna Burra Basecamp 11-13 March
29/4-2/5/22 Central Qld Combined Camp
Venue is Biggenden showground. Event hosted by This long weekend organised by Patricia saw a total
Bundaberg Bushwalking Club. Multiple walks include of 12 QBW members stay at Binna Burra in either
nearby Mt Walsh National Park. See Bundaberg the safari tents, the bunkhouse or the campground.
Bushwalking Club website for details and contact. Participants had the opportunity between walks to
check out the repurposed Grooms Cottage (now a
7-10/4/22 Harrys Hut (Cooloola) basecamp Bushwalkers Bar downstairs and a library upstairs)
Leader – Michael Hoopmann and the regeneration of the lodge area following the
Multiple day walks and kayaks. AWD access. 2019 bushfire. Despite the threat of rain, three walks
were planned and three completed.

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 The relatively early finish to the walk meant we had
plenty of time to settle in to our accommodation and
check out others. A leisurely dinner around a
campfire near Grooms Cottage followed.
Ships Stern Circuit
A larger group set out this day – which was to be
18km for some and 24km for others, depending on
how many side trips were added.

The revamped Grooms Cottage

Daves Creek Circuit
This 14km walk was completed under leaden skies,
but rain played little part. The track was quite muddy
in parts and clouds blocked most views, but this
made little difference in the rain forest where it is
shady, green and cool even on a sunny day.

At Koolanbilba Lookout
The day was clear and sunny initially which
thankfully lasted till after we had lunch at
Kooloobano Point with it’s stunning views down the
Numinbah valley. Along the way we appreciated
Koolanbilba Lookout, Yangahla Lookout, and Lower
Ballanjui Falls.

Into the forest

The group split into two depending on whether a
walk clockwise or anti-clockwise was preferred and
the full complement met up roughly halfway at
Molongolee Cave. The clockwise walkers were able
to warn the anti-clockwise walkers about an antsy
python next to the track near Surprise Rock which
seemed a bit put out at the amount of passing traffic.

A careful approach to Yangahla Lookout

At Molongolee Cave
Palm forest

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Soon after lunch a brief shower of rain refreshed us, the road section after the bushfires. They prefer it to
and that was the last of the precipitation. Only the be done as a return walk, which changes it’s length
most energetic (Sandy and Bill) chose to walk the from 5km to 7km.
extra two kilometres to the top of Ballanjui Falls, but
they said it was worth it.

Amongst the caves

To celebrate this small triumph for pedanticism, a

walk guide brochure produced by the Lamington
Natural History Association was purchased from the
Information Centre which provided some education
and entertainment on the return leg. The wooden
posts numbered from 1 to 18 alongside the path
finally had some meaning! In addition we discovered
a caterpillar that seems to enjoy eating the leaves of
the stinging tree which gave us great delight.
Lower Ballanjui Falls

Eventually all walkers made it back to base. That

evening some enjoyed a fine dining experience at
the restaurant while rest were entertained by the
comings and goings fireside at the cottage. Most of
us felt we had earned a good rest that evening.

This caterpillar is our friend

Thankyou Patricia for organising this weekend, and

Bill, Gail, Gerry, Helen, John & Belinda, Lynn,
Noelene, Richard and Sandy for your company.
Nagarigoon Falls Michael

The Caves Circuit Humour

A slightly reduced complement of walkers set out on Husband:
the Sunday for the final walk of the weekend. My wife says that I only have two faults -
Although this shorter walk is often described as a
circuit there was a bit of debate about it’s length. We I don’t listen and something else...
eventually worked out that the QPWS no longer
recommend doing it as a circuit due to changes to

Page 5 of 6
 General Information Club Equipment
QBW Management Committee Compasses Topo Maps PLB
Garmin GPS First Aid Kits
President Helen McAllister 0419 684 319
Vice President Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
5 GPSs which have a 20 metre contour topo map of the whole
Secretary Lynn Nicol 0400 705 041
of Australia included.
Treasurer Bill Reed 0408 090 754
1 PLB with inbuilt GPS may be made available at each club
Outings Officer Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017 meeting and will need to be returned at the following meeting.
Membership Officer Patricia Kolarski 0448 526 618 Contact John Brunott on 0448 761 097 to book these items.
Media Officer Michael Hoopmann 0401 527 017
Training Officer Vacant Reciprocal Walks with Other Clubs
Social Secretary Sandy Thomas 0403 821 525
Redland Bushwalkers Club
Other Voluntary Positions
The only stipulation is that Redland club members have priority
Equipment Officer John Brunott 0448 761 097 over visitors. Calendar is available at:
Supper Convenor Mary Sherlock 0457 990 067 http://www.redlandbushwalkers.org.au/static/calendar.html
Librarian Noelene McCay 0407 658 023 Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland (BOSQ)
BWQ Rep Richard Kolarski 0455 879 785 Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
walks per calendar year. This will be with the agreement of the
BWQ Rep John Brunott 0448 761 097
activity leader. Members of BOSQ have priority for nominations.
Insurance Queries Ph: 02 9251 8700 Policy: 0012117 Calendar is available at http://www.bosq.bwq.org.au/
Meeting Place Bushwalking Adventures Queensland
Club meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month starting at (formerly YHA Bushwalkers)
7.30pm. There is no club meeting in January. Members of other BWQ affiliated clubs can join up to three
Meetings are held at the Little King's Hall on the corner of Carl walks per calendar year. Calendar is available at:
and O'Keefe Streets, Buranda. Entry is via the gate on Carl St. https://bushies.org.au
There is parking within the grounds and in Carl Street. Gold Coast Bushwalkers
Tea/coffee and cake/biscuits are provided after the meeting. Gold Coast Bushwalkers may admit as honorary members
A coin donation is appreciated. financial members of bushwalking clubs affiliated with BWQ.
Membership This dispensation will be at the discretion of the Management
Committee. https://sites.google.com/site/goldcoastbushwalker/
Probationary Membership
Ipswich Bushwalkers Inc
A non-member automatically becomes a Probationary Member
on his/her first walk after signing the Acknowledgement of Risk Intending walkers must contact the leader in advance. The
form. No fee is payable to become a Probationary Member. newsletter also contains a full description of the grading system
and a list of Committee members and their contact numbers.
A Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on
Calendar available at www.ipswichbushwalkers.bwq.org.au
his/her second walk by filling out a membership form and paying
the membership fee.
Ordinary Membership Feature Pic
A person may become an Ordinary Member by filling out and
signing a membership form, having a proposer sign the form
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
Is this the origin of rumours about hoop snakes??
Reference: Include your name and what the payment is for – Seen on the Caves Circuit, Binna Burra
eg “RSmith member fee”.
Website
Additional information is available on the club website at URL:
https://sites.google.com/site/qldbwc/
All photos by Michael H except where noted

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