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Getaway 4WD Club Inc. Magazine

Please address all correspondence to the Secretary

PO BOX 295 BAYSWATER WA 6933

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 7 JULY 2007

CLUB GENERAL MEETING INFORMATION

Club General Meetings are held on the Fourth Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted, at the

Scout Hall, Beaufort Park, off Drummond Street, Bedford

Meetings Commence at 7.30pm.

For details, please contact Lindsay or Lesley: A/h 9310 3024 E-mail: lrw@iinet.net.au

Some of the Getaway crew at Bilya Rock

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CLUB OFFICE BEARERS

PRESIDENT: Lindsay Wrightson MAGAZINE EDITOR: Carol Bridge

VICE PRESIDENT: Phil Bianchi WA4WDA DELEGATE: Eric Morey

SECRETARY: Vic Bridge WA4WDA DELEGATE: Phil Moore

TREASURER: Gwyn Barrow INSURANCE OFFICER: Phil Bianchi

TRIP CO-ORDINATOR: Rudi Meneghello AWARDS POINTS KEEPER: Chris Pratt

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER: Wayne Thomson PROPERTY OFFICER: Phil Bianchi

SOCIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Glenda Thomson

Birthdays and Anniversaries in August

Happy birthday to: Happy Anniversary to:

Shaun Hamilton

Dear Members and friends.

Please continue to provide copies of your photos for inclusion in the Club’s Photo Album.

CLUB BUMPER STICKERS

Club Bumper Stickers are available from the Treasurer. A free sticker for each Membership. Additional Stickers at $3.00 each.

EDITORIAL POLICY Please provide your magazine contributions at least 10 days prior to the next General Meeting to allow for the Magazine's publication. It would be preferred that articles are in electronic form,

either e-mailed or forwarded on CD to the Editor. Email address: vicarb@gmail.com

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COMING EVENTS GENERAL CLUB MEETINGS:

22 August 2007 26 September 2007 24 October 2007

28 November 2007 No meeting in December 23 January 2008

28 February 2008 26 March 2008 23 April 2008

PLEASE DON’T FORGET!!

If you have your name on a Trip Sheet for a trip you cannot attend, please inform the Trip Leader/s the Thursday prior to that trip’s departure.

If you are running late to a trip meeting point, please inform the Trip Leader/s or another trip participant who can relay your message.

TRIPS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Trip name Wildflowers - Hopefully!

Date/s Saturday 18th

- Sunday 19th

August 2007

Trip Leaders Lindsay & Lesley Wrightson

Telephone 9310 3024 041 8852 897

Meeting Place Bindoon Bakery

Briefing Time 8.00am

Departure Time 8.30am

Rating Easy

Equipment Mandatory

Comments

Trip name Karakamia – planting, bbq and wildlife spotlight walk

Date/s Saturday 25th

August 2007

Trip Leaders Vic & Carol Bridge

Telephone 9377 5498

Meeting Place Karakamia, Gidgegannup 1.30pm – 8.00pm (ish)

Rating Social / Environmental

Equipment Gloves, enclosed shoes, old clothes, jacket for walk (if cold)

Comments Camping at Wayne & Glenda’s is available.

See information sheet for further details

Trip name Fremantle Prison Tunnel Tour

Date/s Sunday 9th

September 2007

Trip Leaders Lindsay & Lesley Wrightson

Telephone 9310 3024 041 8852 897

Meeting Place Fremantle Prison

Briefing Time 12:30 PM

Departure Time

Rating Social

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Trip name Wandina Station

Date/s Saturday 29th

September – Monday 1st

October 2007

Trip Leaders Vic & Carol Bridge

Telephone 9377 5498

Meeting Place TBA

Briefing Time TBA

Departure Time TBA

Rating Moderate (depending on weather)

Equipment Self Sufficient

CLUB MONTHLY RAFFLE ROSTER

As agreed by the Membership, the following is the Club Raffle Roster. You will need to purchase a raffle prize of $20.00 value and forward to the Social Co-ordinator at the General meeting prior to the prize being due.

Club Member Date Club Member Date

Wayne and Glenda Thomson July 2007 Mike and Chris Pratt July 2008

Trevor Oates and Jo Mann August 2007 Steve Mason August 2008

Gwyn and Tish Barrow September 2007 Phil and Eth Bianchi September 2008

Ted and Sharron von-Paleske October 2007 Colin and Julia Gilmore October 2008

Steve and Janette Gee November 2007 Terry & Marie Hetherington November 2008

Lindsay and Lesley Wrightson January 2008 Eric and Joy Morey January 2009

Phil and Julie Moore February 2008 Paul and Jan Tregurtha February 2009

Geoff Garrett and Karen Maxwell

March 2008 Vic and Carol Bridge March 2009

Nigel and Jane Hamilton April 2008 Andy and Carla Legg April 2009

Don & Chi Bradshaw May 2008 Rudi and Bev Meneghello May 2009

Dale Bandy and Julie Saunders June 2008 Alistair and Jane Gordon June 2009

Should Members leave, then the following name will move forward to fill that space. Your co-operation and

participation with this roster is appreciated.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MONTHLY RAFFLE WINNER

Ron Mutton

(visitor)

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THE CLUB’S MANDATORY EQUIPMENT LIST FOR VEHICLES

RECOVERY POINTS

Appropriate Recovery Points are

required to both front and rear of the vehicle, fixed with suitable strength and sized high tensile bolts, directly

to the chassis, or a reinforced extension of the chassis, as

recommended by the manufacturer.

FIRST AID KIT

That complies with the requirements of the Club’s First Aid

Kit List.

SNATCH STRAP

Snatch strap, in good order without fraying to any part of it.

RATED SHACKLES

Minimum 2 (two) rated and marked shackles of a minimum of 3.25

tonnes.

SHOVEL

Preferably with a long handle.

TOW ROPE

Approx 6 metres long, preferably with loops spliced at each end of the rope or eyes in a wire rope.

UHF RADIO

UHF 40 channel radio, fully functioning "in car", properly and conveniently fixed in the vehicle.

TRIP RATINGS The following is only a guide as anticipated by the Trip Leader. However, since track conditions can change

rapidly, always be cautious and be prepared for the itinerary to change.

SOCIAL: A sense of humour and an appetite for adventure.

SCENIC: Bitumen and gravel surfaces, limited 4WDing, vantage points, lookouts, flora and fauna of the local area, other points of interest.

EASY: Mainly off road, formed tracks, some 4WDing, no steep inclines or deep crossings.

MODERATE: Bush terrain, slight inclines, slight side slopes, easy creek crossings.

HARD: Off road, rough terrain, steep inclines, steep side slopes, rough creek crossings, possible recovery required.

DIFFICULT: Off road, very rough terrain, very steep inclines, steep side slopes, possible recovery required.

TRIP DEPARTURE POINTS (TDP)

North of Perth City East of Perth City South of Perth City

TDP No. 1 - BULLSBROOK TDP No. 3 - HOVEA TDP No. 4 - KELMSCOTT

Information Bay Bullsbrook. on the west side of Great Northern Highway,

Bullsbrook, approximately 7 kms north of Bullsbrook town site,

Parking Bay top of Greenmount Hill, just past the John Forrest National Park entrance, approximately 6 kms east of traffic lights, corner of Great Eastern and Roe Highways, Midvale on the north side of Great Eastern Hwy,

Hovea.

Coventry’s Carpark in Kelmscott, eastern side of Albany Highway, corner

Fancote Street, Kelmscott.

TDP No. 2 - NEERABUP TDP No. 5 - SUCCESS

Parking Bay at the entrance to the Light Horse Heritage Trail, on the west side

of Wanneroo Road, Neerabup, approximately 9 kms north of

Wanneroo town site.

Carpark at northwest corner of Gateways Shopping Centre behind the shops on Beeliar Drive near the corner of Wentworth Parade, Success. (South

of the suburb of Jandakot)

TDP No. 6 – MIDDLE SWAN

Parking Bay on the northern side of Toodyay Road, Middle Swan,

approximately 1.3 kms from the traffic lights at the corner of Roe Highway and

Toodyay Road, Middle Swan.

TDP No. 7 - BELLEVUE TDP No. 8 – BYFORD

Carpark at northwest corner of Great Eastern Hwy and Farrell Rd

intersection, adjacent to Red Rooster.

Parking Bay in between hall and shops. Entrance off South West Highway,

corner Clifton St, Byford.

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Phil’s Corner

Sleeper and timber cutting

In 1900, some 3600 people lived in the Murray district, and many of these lived in bush camps.

East of Pinjarra the main bush towns were Dwellingup, Banksiadale and Holyoake. These towns were rough and noisy, and the people were generally of eastern states origin. They were typical Aussies, they upheld mateship, disregarded authority and were hard drinking, indifferent to things cultural and were tough and hard workers.

They had camps throughout the bush and could earn a lot of money if they found a good patch of timber and had good hewing skills. The sleeper carting contractor would usually deliver all of the cutters supplies. These had been provided on credit by the nearest store. In those days credit was rarely refused and there were few bad debts.

Some cutters had a box by the railway line, when the train passed the driver would put the supplies in the box. There wasn’t a lock and no one stole any others mans tucker – to do so was almost unpardonable and would have meant ostracism from the bush community.

Thieving of another mans tools, sleepers or items from his camp were virtually unknown, such was the code of mateship and honesty.

Hewing sleepers was a skilled occupation, and although good money was made, they had to pay 10 shillings a month licence fee to the government.

Hewers usually worked in pairs. They would find a suitable tree, a few cuts would be taken out to check the splitting characteristics, and if the tree was ok it would be felled.

They would then cut notches into the side of the tree so planks could be inserted for them to stand/balance on. For the plank to hold a man’s weight these notches had to be cut with great accuracy and skill. Today’s log chopping events came from the skills developed by these timber cutters.

They always cut a tree at least two or three feet above the ground because the trunk was straight and this would make for easier splitting. Before cutting down a tree, they would survey the tree, determine which side of the tree top (crown) was the heaviest, this would be the way the tree would tend to fall when cut down. Using an axe they would cut a vee section, known as a scarf, out of the tree.

Once the scarf was cut and removed, they would then go to the back of the tree and using a cross cut saw would cut into the tree until it started to creak and fall, they would then quickly move out of the way until the tree hit the ground. This was the danger period, branches could fall onto people or when the tree hit the ground, branches could be flung into the air or other smaller springy trees could catapult branches into the air and hit the unwary. Such branches were called ‘Widow Makers’.

Once the tree was felled it was measured out into sleepers, usually 7 feet and then cut up. The bark was removed and the log split into halves or quarters. Wooden mallets or steel sledge hammers and wedges were used to do the splitting. A broad axe was then used to trim one side. Once done a template and string line would be used to mark out the sleeper. It would be split away and trimmed up.

Sleeper recovery from a log could be as high as 50%, the more sleepers one could get out of a log the more one would earn in a day. Most licensed hewers marked their log with a brand. In 1903 hewers received 1 shilling for a 7 foot long 8 by 4 inch sleeper, by 1911 the price was one and sixpence.

A good hewer could produce a sleeper the quality of one cut in a timber mill; he was so accurate and skilful. By the time of the 1930’s depression hewing had almost stopped. Sawmills had taken over producing sleepers.

My father was a timber cutter in Italy and came to Australia in 1951 and continued his craft. In 1971 he was hit on the helmet, by a tree branch, and was off work for a short time. Only two weeks later he was hit by another branch that was flung at him, catapult style, by another tree. He was found unconscious by a work mate and had to be transferred to Perth by ambulance. He suffered a fractured skull and survived but was never able to return to work again.

Only some 6 months after my father’s major accident, the father of a school mate of mine was crushed to death by a tree he was falling.

My father was a licensed faller, and his brand, which was required to stamp on every tree he cut, was “GAL”.

Karalee railway Station.

We have visited Karalee Rock on many occasions. Here is a photo of the Karalee rail station situated on the Kalgoorlie railway line. Nothing remains today.

Cheers, Phil Bianchi

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The Salmon’s Trip Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th July 2007

Trip Leader: Vic & Carol Bridge

Participants: Geoff Garrett & Karen Maxwell Ted & Sharron Von-Paleske Colin Gilmore Terry & Marie Hetherington Steve Mason

Day 1 – Saturday 14th

July 2007

A beautiful day dawned and off we went. Met at Bindoon bakery at 8 am. The troops were there. Others were off in the desert. Between us we practically bought the bakery out. Such lovely food.

Trip leader Vic gave us his message to start the weekend off. Coalseam was off the agenda, so Three Springs was to be our destination. He really inspired our confidence by telling us he doesn't know the way, but never mind we were all willing to follow anyway. A great leader will always have something up his sleeve.

We left Bindoon at 8 am, and turned left onto the highway and left onto the road leading to Gingin. Glorious day, life is great. 6 vehicles in all. Nice and green throughout the valley. A grain truck ahead of us. Viewed alpacas and then short necked alpacas (sheep to some people). Lovely green pastures. Travelling into the Shire of Chittering. Past a renovators dream for Ted to drool over (sorry Sharon).

Grain truck finally turned off into Wannamal West Rd. Now we can sit back and relax. Lake Wannamal looked lovely. Travelled into the Shire of Victoria Plains to Mogumber, where the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence" featured. There was an aboriginal mission there in the 1960s and later they migrated to New Norcia, according to our Colin who supplied us with this information.

Travelling on. Parrots to see on the side of the road. A few 28s had a death wish according to Steve in his new Toyota. Impressive vehicle. Spotted a few ducks also.

Into the Shire of Moora. New lambs in the paddocks. Made Karen and myself quite homesick for NZ. BARRRBARRRRA. As no one had brought mint sauce we decided to forsake a lamb roast in our camp oven tonight.

We spotted a series of fires along the railway track. Must have been burning old sleepers.

Arrived in Moora at 9.05. Did a scenic tour for Steve’s benefit (got lost, did a u turn). Terrific mural of the 1999 floods. Really enjoyed the guided tour (took 1.5 minutes). Spotted the MCG (Moora Cricket Ground) on the left

Out of the big smoke into the countryside again. Spotted 2 black sheep. Into Watheroo, more 28 parrots with a death wish. White parrots also.

Into Watheroo township. (Wanneroo with a lisp) More pleasant pastures.

We turned left into Eagle Hill Rd drove down gravel road until we reached Jingemia Cave. This is the Watheroo National Park. We walked the 150 meters to the cave. Climbed down for a great view. Awesome. Took lots of photos.

Jingemia means "Devils abode" in aboriginal speak, it is on top of a range of low hills approx. 60 meters above the lower sections of the Watheroo National Park to the west. For many years it was described as an extinct volcano on Lands Dept maps which proved to be incorrect. The rock formation is called Noodine Chert and is believed to have originated from the middle Proterozoi era. approx 1,700 million years ago, in earlier times the cave was used to mine Guano, the waste product of birds, bats that lived in the cave. Guano was identified as a source of nutrients for agricultural purposes and a number of caves throughout the west region were set up as Guano mines. The Jingemia cave was mined on several occasions from 1940 to 1941.

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Enjoyed morning tea there. It was Geoff’s first 4x4 trip since his heart surgery. He looks terrific. Doesn't have to huff and puff up the inclines now.

We left there at 1030. Travelled into the Shire of Coorow. Maori hakas and songs over the radio. Wonder for whose benefit they were for?

Travelled into Wubin-Gundini Rd. Stopped at the old Gundini township. Not much there now. Just old memories. It was once a railway siding and township. Discussion on the whereabouts and history of the land.

Into Marhargee territory travelling along the 4x4 track, we could view the bitumen on the left then the rail line and ourselves on the 4x4 track. Took short cut back onto the bitumen road. Landscape dry with green crops here and there.

Past Carranya and Green Heads and into Coorow country town. We passed the Wincheaster Quarry on the right. It is now 22 kilometres to Three Springs.

Into Talc mine territory, we were going to view these. It wasn't to be. The signs all say ''No admission"

Landscape changing again. Low lying bush and sand. Spotted the wheat silos on our way into Three Springs.

Stopped for lunch at an old abandoned farmstead. Us girls explored the old house while the boys made lunch! After lunch the boys strolled along to the old house while we girls did the dishes. Parrots overhead protesting the invasion.

Left there at 1.30. Travelled along Hill Rd into Morawa Station. Past the salt lakes sparkling in the sun.

We turned left into Morawa township and right into the Koolanooka mine site. Drove into Kadji Lake Rd to view the minesite. Stopped for photos, Steve’s Toyota got a little too friendly with Vic’s Toyota (must have been the cute exhaust pipe!) Thankfully no harm done. Off we went up the hill to the lookout. Terrific views. Iron ore mining there.

Off we went again. Turned into Springs Rd picnic area. Went for a stroll. Stopped to consult map.

Finally found "The Salmons". Set up camp. Vic made his wonderful camp fire. The social times began.

Karen told us of her visit to hospital with a painful groin where a doctor straight out of Grays Anatomy appeared, examined her and she was cured instantly! And that started the evening of hospital stories and much hilarity around the campfire. To bed and up at 7 am to begin another fun filled day

Marie & Terry Hetherington

Day 2 – Sunday 15th

July 2007

Up bright and early but not as early as our intrepid trip leader who already had the fire blazing cheerfully. Yours truly joined the rapidly gathering throng as it was indeed a bit fresh prior to the suns appearance.

It turned out to be a beautiful winters day, nice sunshine, little wind and bright blue skies.

The fire was soon adorned with various billies and Jaffle irons, Steve impressed the old hands with his ready prepared jaffle inserts!

Breakfast over and done with and it was time to pack the tents and sundry accessories to be ready for an 8am start.

Well shortly after that it was off to Bilya Rock, which is another of those big granite outcrops in the middle of a farmer’s field except this one has been endowed with a Cairn allegedly built by Sir John Forrest and is a local Trig point. That’s something to do with where math meets geography I think.

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All had a stroll around on the rock, pictures and stuff, some ponds were found filled with tadpoles, which some of the members wanted to bring back for various reasons, two of which were growing the frogs for the garden and feeding the goldfish. I am happy to report that neither of these fates happened to the taddies, we were all good environmentalists and left Mother Nature to her own devices.

Back into the cars and off towards Three Springs, en-route Geoff and Karen had a flat, tyre completely destroyed, this was soon surrounded by a plethora of jacks, wheel braces and willing helpers, in fact

you were battling to get a Guernsey to help. While there we had morning tea, thanks for the cake Carol and Sharron for the bickies.

Wheel replaced and onwards to Eneabba where we had lunch in the rest area before joining the throng heading for the big smoke. En-route some refuelled at Cataby where we all had hugs and handshakes, thanking each other for yet another great weekend trip.

Then onto Perth, home and hearth.

Many thanks to Vic and Carol for organizing the trip and to all the participants for making it such a great weekend.

Col Gilmore

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE KIDS BORN IN THE 40’S, 50’S AND 60’S

Jan Tregurtha

First we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn’t get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a ute on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank

soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren’t overweight because…..

WE WERE ALWAYS OUT PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were OK. We would spend hours building our go carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running in the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We did not have play stations, Nintendo’s, X- boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no internet or internet chat rooms …WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and

teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Little league had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS

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LETS GET TECHNICAL

This area is for all those of us, who at one time or other, has had a problem arise with our vehicles and used our creative minds to find an alternative (or a mechanic, auto electrician, etc.) to keep us mobile. Don’t limit this to your vehicle, but share any experience that you have had to endure, even if you didn’t find a solution.

CLUB MAGAZINE ARTICLES MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION ROSTER

Club Members are encouraged to provide an article as per the following roster on any topic that takes their fancy; hobbies, camping, technical, cooking etc. If you would like any assistance with

your topic or article, please contact the Magazine Editor.

Club Member Date Club Member Date Club Member Date

Carla Legg August 2007 Geoff Garrett November 2008 Carol Bridge March 2010

Janette Gee September 2007 Phil Moore January 2009 Rudi Meneghello April 2010

Mike Pratt October 2007 Chi Bradshaw February 2009 Eric Morey May 2010

Eth Bianchi November 2007 Jane Hamilton March 2009 Jo Mann June 2010

Ted von-Paleske January 2008 Terry Hetherington April 2009 Glenda Thomson July 2010

Steve Mason February 2008 Chris Pratt May 2009 Bev Meneghello August 2010

Dale Bandy March 2008 Vic Bridge June 2009 Joy Morey September 2010

Don Bradshaw April 2008 Gwyn Barrow July 2009 Trevor Oates October 2010

Alistair Gordon May 2008 Julie Moore August 2009 Steve Gee November 2010

Sharron von-Paleske

June 2008 Nigel Hamilton September 2009 Wayne Thomson January 2011

Marie Hetherington July 2008 Jane Gordon October 2009 Andrew Legg February 2011

Karen Maxwell August 2008 Paul Tregurtha November 2009 Jan Tregurtha March 2011

Colin Gilmore September 2008 Julia Gilmore January 2010 Julie Saunders April 2011

Lindsay Wrightson October 2008 Lesley Wrightson February 2010 Phil Bianchi May 2011

Should Members leave, then the following name will move forward to fill that space. Your co-operation and participation with this roster is appreciated.

COPYRIGHT All material contained within this Magazine, is protected by copyright law. Copyright of the material resides with the Getaway 4WD Club Inc. or the contributing Author/s for their articles/s. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced or re-used for any purposes, whatsoever, without prior written permission of the Getaway 4WD Club Inc. or the contributing Author/s.

DISCLAIMER The information and any advice provided within this Magazine, is made available in good faith and the information is provided solely on the basis that the reader will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.

The Getaway 4WD Club Inc. provides No assurance to the accuracy of any information or advice contained within the Club’s Magazine. It is the responsibility of the user to make his or her own decision about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information.

Each user waives and releases the Getaway 4WD Club Inc. and its servants to the full extent permitted by law, from any and all claims relating to the usage of material or information made available through the Club’s Magazine. In no event shall the Getaway 4WD Club Inc. and its servants be liable for any incidental or consequential damages resulting from use of the material. The Getaway 4WD Club Inc. and its servants do not accept liability for any injury, loss or damages incurred by reliance on the information or advice provided in the Club’s Magazine or incorporated into them by reference.

The material contained within this Magazine may include the views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of the Getaway 4WD Club Inc.