Oatley Flora & Fauna Conservation Society

Excursion to Victoria Barracks 1st March
We were greeted with a lovely day as we gathered at Oatley station, then train to Central and bus down Flinders Street. In all, thirteen of us plus some extras entered the Barracks via the security check-point on Moore Park Road. It was largely a painless experience passing through the various barriers although several AFP officers were standing about portentously.

Once inside we were greeted by Sergeant Ryan and members of the Corps of Guides. We were divided into groups of four and headed off to explore the many historic sites that make up the barracks with our large Visitors cards dangling round our necks.

We learned that not only is Victoria Barracks a major historic site, built in the 1840’s, it is very much an active military base where the headquarters of Australia’s Land Army is found – ready to meet any emergency. We all admired the fine Georgian architecture of the original barracks buildings including soldiers’, NCOs’ and officers’ accommodations. We enjoyed hearing stories of the soldiers of the past and present from our excellent guides, all retired soldiers.

After coffee we visited the museum where Peter Ryan gave us an excellent account of life in the NSW colonial army, the battle of Vinegar Hill, the Soudan expedition and other exploits from Victorian times. He was really good.  SEE PHOTO GALLERY

One of our party Anne Cale was able to see her Great Aunt’s 1915 nursing war medals.

Our president Graham Lalchere was interested in the rats Tobrouk display, as his father served in Tobruk in WWII. The Rats of Tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II

Following what was a demanding but highly worthwhile four-hour tour most of us retired to the Captain Cook Hotel for a good lunch and a walk back down Albion Street to Central Station.
 

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Nineteen OFF members and friends stayed at Charlotte Pass for 3 – 7 days in January 2018. It was our third year in Pygmy Possum Lodge, which has stunning views and is convenient for walks on the Main Range. Also resident were three couples from Berowra who were very convivial and even bought an OFF calendar.

Wildflowers were colourful and abundant (thanks to a late snowfall in October from which many snow drifts remained) and much photographed.

The usual walks were completed, even a trek to Blue Lake in rain, hail and mist.

The less energetic enjoyed watching Flame Robins visit their nest on the lodge verandah, and reading, chatting and doing embroidery, word games and a jigsaw. Tim repaired a cassette radio that became welcome entertainment for Melina’s mother who was nursing a fractured arm.

Weather was changeable and there was a light dusting of snow on the peaks on the final Sunday morning.

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The Thornleigh to Hornsby section of the Great North Walk goes through a number of different bushland types, from heavy creek bush to elevated, open grassland as it meanders through the Berowra Valley.

Meet: Thornleigh Station, western side 10.30 (Oatley to Central 08.43 – 09.12; Central to Thornleigh 09.36 – 10.26.). You can also leave your car at the station and pick it up after the walk as we’ll be coming back down the Northern Line from Hornsby.

There are a couple of moderate climbs and one scrambly bit near the end, so it could be classified as moderately strenuous, especially with the final climb out up to Hornsby station. It should take about 3.0 hours, so we’ll take lunch on the trail. For a general idea of the walk’s attractions see the “wild walks” website, although we won’t be taking the exact route shown.

Eight OFF members set out on Sunday, 30^th July for a walk along the Coogee to Bondi cliff path. We picked a day with very disrupted transport arrangements but eventually arrived at Coogee desperate for a caffeine fix. Because it was such magnificent weather, we joined a cast of hundreds walking the path, although it was great to see so many people enjoying our beautiful coast. We passed the smaller beaches of Gordons Bay and Clovelly and looking southward the view along the coast was picture perfect.

After a little over an hour’s walk we arrived at the historic Waverley Cemetery. Here we visited the graves of many notables such as Lawrence Hargrave, Henry Lawson and Dorothea Mackellar among others. Our hero must surely be Sir James Martin (three times Premier and later Chief Justice of NSW) who was a founder of the League for the Prevention of Pollution of Air and Water (later the Sanitary Reform League) in 1880, possibly Australia’s first conservation group.

After a short lunch at Bronte beach we continued onto Bondi where a combination of beautiful weather and a festival at Bondi beach resulted in long bus queues to take us back to Bondi Junction. Unfortunately the group was split while boarding the bus so Graham L and Trevor decided it was quicker to walk back to Bondi Junction while the rest of us were kind enough to wait for them by having an outdoor coffee.

See more photos in webgallery

For free downloadable books and maps on graves search for Waverley Public Library, then Local Studies. http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/services/library/local_studies

Report by walk leader Sue de Beuzeville