Meetings: Held the 4th Thursday of each month (excluding December), at Leongatha Community House, 16 Bruce Street, Leongatha.

Next Meeting: 22nd October, 2009 at 8.00 pm

Editor’s Report
It’s happened again! Two reports on the one excursion. However, it’s interesting to hear two different people’s perspective on the same event.
I’m in an enormous rush to get this newsletter completed because tomorrow is the last day before we go to Tassie and there is still lots to do. So please excuse any omissions or other stuff-ups.

President’s Report:
I probably wrote the same thing last year, but how did the past year slip by so quickly. At least we haven’t had the terrible bush fires of Feb7th Black Saturday (hopefully it will be a major bush fire free summer)
Did everyone have a good Christmas and New Year - not too much Christmas pudding!!
I believe members have been active in January. Myself, I’ve been a bit lazy, but the New Year’s resolution to get fitter will kick in this month especially walking in New Zealand. Three groups, mostly members from our club, are making the trip (in Feb, March and April) to walk the Queen Charlotte track. No heavy back packs, comfy beds etc, not anywhere as hard as the group walking in Tassie (Walls of Jerusalem). I admire these members ability to put their bodies through such workouts, back packing, sleeping on thin mattresses, eating light weight food, etc (Will Steve get a birthday cake?) - We will think of your effort when sampling New Zealand food and wines.
Now a word of warning - SNAKES. I’ve already heard of 2 adults in the Wonthaggi area that have been bitten (thankfully nothing serious). A man in his 30’s was bitten on the knee by a copperhead snake, the other a lady didn’t realise that she had been bitten until much later after she had finished her game of golf (she had gone into the mid length grass to retrieve her ball) - so look where you place your hands, feet or backside, carry a pressure bandage (apply to the area - if bitten) and stay CALM!!!! - make sure you seek medical advice.
I believe New Zealand doesn’t have snakes - that’s a bonus, but the Tassie group - watch out (and any members out on bush tracks take care at this time of year).
Our club’s 20th birthday at Wilson’s Prom (June 16th - 18th ) looks like being a good social weekend. If anyone is interested in leading a walk down there - let us know, we hope to have walks for all degrees of fitness.
The Saturday evening will be our big night, if you have any suggestions to make it more memorable, contact Annie, Paula, or myself, some ideas have been: op shop formal, colour theme, school days or just good old bushwalking outdoors theme.
Check your new program, enjoy the activities, look out for nasties that bite! And think about leading a walk, bike ride or other social function.
Regards Val
PS: Position’s vacant - July 2010 - President and Vice President
Regards Val

Trip Reports

Phillip Island base Camp - 12th-13th December
Charlie Gilliam met David and I at Ventnor, Phillip Island around 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. After a meal of fish and chips Charlie and I hopped on our bikes and cycled around to Griselda and Cam’s for a quick visit and confirmation of Saturday’s arrangements.
Weather forecast was not good but we were keen. By 10 am Saturday, under overcast skies, David, Charlie, Cam and I were on our way to the Koala Park where we were to meet Kaye and her recumbant bike. Cam took us via the new bike path runnig towards Rhyll and then up a rough track through the Oswin Robert’s Reserve. After brief greetings with a tentative Kaye we were off cycling once more as our destination was lunch at San Remo. We were all amazed at how fast Kaye’s bike goes downhill and, although she only cycled one way, I know she was very pleased at how she had gone and I think now will be very keen to come with us again. Val happened to be driving past whilst we were in San Remo so we said a quick hello and goodbye before a delicious lunch and saying another goodbye to Kaye who was going to meet us for dinner that night at the ‘Rusty Waters’ restaurant. Cycling back over the bridge was quite an accomplishment as there were incredibly strong side winds to cope with but all in all we covered 54 kms and only had one brief shower. Just another one of those occasions to reinforce the theory ‘just do it’ and 99% of the time the weather works out fine. Charlie packed up and left Sat. afternoon as he had a jet ski outing on Sunday.
As arranged Griselda, Cam , David and I met Kaye at ‘Rusty Waters’ where we had a fabulous meal and apparently the beers on tap ’t too bad either. On Sunday, Cam didn’t get any starters for the paddle into Cowes but was still determined to go. Kaye had wanted to try out a sit-on kayak she had on trial but felt the weather and sea was too rough. In the end I cycled, David and Kaye drove and we all met Cam for a morning coffee at the Cowes pier before all going our own way.
Thanks everyone for coming, I had a great time. Kerry

Charlie’s Birds - 24th Jan
On Friday, 24th Jan the plan was to meet at 6pm at the Woolamai Pizza parlour. I knew we had the right venue as I spotted Charlie vanishing into the shop as we drove up. I went in to ask him if he had reserved a table which was wishful thinking. THERE WERE NO TABLES!!! OR CHAIRS!!! Not even an occasional one. So much for my imagined Italian meal with a bottle of red.
Whilst Kerry and I waited for others to arrive Charlie vanished once more only to reappear with fish and chips (you may notice a pattern here, see other Phillip Isl. Report). The excuse was that a pizza might prove too much for him to handle (yeah, right). Slowly, other members of the grand tour arrived - far too many to be named here. So now Charlie had to wait whilst we all ordered. Once served with our pizzas we made our way to the beach where Charlie ‘I really don’t eat that much’ Gilliam managed to help out with pizza disposal. It was now about 7pm and Charlie advised us that the birds would be coming in at about 9.10pm. O.K. what do we do now? We walk. How far? About 30-45 mins. Then what do we do? We wait. Did anyone bring a gameboy?
So, off we trudged into the wilds of Cape Woolamai. We had to scale the island’s highest peak - a dizzying 112 metres above sea level. No oxygen, either. Finally, our guide decided that we were at the best viewing spot and so we waited. And waited. And waited. Unfortunately, I hadn’t packed my cardboard cut-out Steve Horton (with poems on a continuous loop). Nervous tension was in the air. Noticing this, our astute guide suggested that any of the ladies in the party concerned about the impending avian onrush should just lay down on the ground. I think he then intended to, selflessly, throw himself upon them thus shielding them from the onslaught. Strangely, there were no takers and I had to talk a couple out of jumping off the cliff. We became inordinately interested in one very small boat, a long way away, just in case it was a whale but gradually the light vanished and we could just make out flocks of birds on the water. Finally, in ones and twos, they started flying in. Gradually their numbers increased until we were surrounded by thousands of birds, unusually quiet and reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock. After a while, their numbers diminished and we made our way back to the carpark. We couldn’t hang about as Charlie had to get home to bed so that he could get up at 2am for tea and toast.
Thanks for the experience, Charlie. I have now seen so many shearwaters that I may never need to see another one. And having tasted one, not this night I hasten to add, I can tell you that they are perfectly safe when I am around.
David Baggallay

Shearwaters at Cape Woolamai - 24th Jan
On Sunday Jan 24th 2010 Charlie Gilliam, Val Mc Donald, daughter Jenny and her two children, Kerry and David Baggallay, Kay Walton, Allison, Lyn Birt, Petra Shandley, and visitor Liz Gheller met at Cape Woolamai and we ordered Pizza to eat on the beach.
At 7.00 pm we set off in front of our knowledgeable leader Charlie, who sent us off for a walk around Cape Woolamai. Lots of shearwater burrows to be seen as well as echidnas, wallabies and birdlife.
By 9.00 pm David refused to walk any longer and lay down on the sand, so we all had a rest and waited for the birds to come in. They could be seen bobbing up and down off shore.
At around 9.15, when the sun had set, they started flying in and hovered and swooped high and low in a anti-clockwise direction, and continued in this fashion for around half an hour or so. By then there were thousands of birds up in the night sky.
One by one they dropped down and found their nest. Some had to clear the doorway before they could enter the front door, and others came home to a tidy front yard. The young chicks could be heard welcoming home their dinner.
Lovely walk in the moonlight along the beach and back to the car by 10.30 pm.
Thank you Charlie for organising a very interesting walk
Petra Shandley

Upcoming Events
Beginner’s Caving Trip
Our daughter, Rachael, is running the trip detailed below. If you are interested you will need to register by 1st April. We are going. It is with the RMIT Outdoor Group. Kerry and David Baggallay

Ed: If you are interested in this activity, please contact Kerry as soon as possible.

20th Birthday Celebration Weekend
There are only 4 places left in the lodge at the Prom now so if you want one of these spots you had better book soon.

Lilydale to Warburton overnight bike ride - May 22nd-23rd
This can be a pannier ride, carrying camping equipment or share an on-site van with hired bedding. Some people may only be able to come for one day in which case they could join us part way along the trail and return the same day. Lilydale police have advised that parking, with surveillance, is available adjacent to the Railway Station. The ride can be extended beyond Warburton for those who would like a longer ride.
Contact Kerry Baggallay 56647440

Jatbula
Josie is planning a 60 Km (5 days) walk in the Nitmiluk National Park (Catherine, N.T.) from Mon 28th June to Fri 2nd July, 2010. It will be a self guided walk and you will need to be totally independent.
For more details and expression of interest contact Josie on 56 573 305. Limited numbers only.

Walks Program

For the web version of Footprints, the walks program is located on a separate page and is kept up-to-date with changes as they come in.