Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
reach, and the bars where the stream purled over the lapstones.
(Dunphy 1979a:30)
The 'Trailers', as they were known, eschewed 'the roads of the crowd' and practised
'a kind of religion [of] mateship, self-reliance, endurance, protection of wildlife and
bushland…a way of life close to the manifestations, beauties and outstanding miracles of
nature' (Dunphy 1973, in Bardwell 1979:16). The fervent espousal of the Australian
tradition of mateship was well reflected in the club's refusal to admit women to its ranks
and in membership being by invitation only; this strategy was recognised as being flawed
in assisting the club to be open to wider conservation and bushwalking interests (Dunphy
1973:3). Nevertheless, the Mountain Trails Club played a major regional role in
developing an ethic of nature appreciation and walking experiences in New South Wales
comparable to that of the Appalachian Mountain Club in the eastern United States
(Manning 1985) and the Sierra Club in the west (C.M.Hall 1988).
The romantic notion of wilderness and the belief that contact with nature was
beneficial was not isolated to the Mountain Trails Club. In response to letters from Mr
J.Debbit in The Sun newspaper advocating the formation of a 'hikers' club', a Miss Jess
Scott wrote that, 'with the approach of spring the beauties of the countryside seem to lift
their voices appealingly to the “hiker”, calling him to view their unadorned splendour'.
However, pressures on the Mountain Trails Club
to provide information on walking tours helped lead to the formation of a new
bushwalking club (Dunphy 1973:3). Although 'its members would not damage their bush
brotherhood' and decided to 'render a public service by forming a new walking club with
an easy constitution and easy conditions of membership, with the definite object of being
a recreational walkers' club, purely and simply, and open to members of both sexes'
(Dunphy 1973:4).
Initially called 'The Waratah Walking Club', the new club changed its name to 'The
Sydney Bush Walkers' at their second meeting on 8 December 1927 (Dunphy 1973:5).
The new walking club had an important part to play in the evolution of an appreciation of
wild country as it enabled many people, both men and women, to become involved in an
organisation which consciously supported the idea of nature conservation.
The establishment of the Sydney Bush Walkers served as the catalyst for the creation
of several other clubs, notably the Bush Tracks Club and the Coast and Mountain
Walkers. In 1932 the walking clubs combined to form the New South Wales Federation
of Bushwalking Clubs. However, also of significance was the bush-walkers' contribution
to the establishment of the National Parks and Primitive Areas Council (NPPAC) in the
same year, with Myles Dunphy as secretary.
Among its objectives the NPPAC was concerned with the advocacy of 'the protection
of existing tracks, paths and trails in use, particularly those having scenic and historical
interests and values' (Dunphy 1973:7-8, in Bardwell 1979:17). Although the council
viewed wilderness from a recreational perspective, the NPPAC were extremely
concerned with preserving wilderness in a similar fashion to the United States. Indeed,
the NPPAC along with Myles Dunphy were strongly influenced by American
conservation initiatives (C.M.Hall 1992a). In 1932 Dunphy obtained a supply of booklets
on American national parks which served as 'propaganda' for the national park idea in
Search WWH ::




Custom Search