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SPLENDOUR ROCK – what about the women

By on 10 March, 2025 in Bushwalking history

Writing the book “Splendour Rock – A Bushwalkers War Memorial” with Michael Keats OAM was a great COVID project.  ANZAC Day is not far off again.  On ANZAC Day in 1948 Bushwalking NSW in a simple ceremony lead by Paddy Pallin dedicated the memorial that had been installed in February of that year.  Thirteen men were recognized as being killed on active service but what about the women.  Our book describes the fallen men in detail.

WWI was mostly a male affair.  Women were present in small numbers mostly only as nursing staff.  Plenty of socks were knitted and ANZAC biscuits baked.  You even had the silliness of white feathers being anonymously sent to repatriated soldiers no longer fit for duty.  Early 20th Australian history is fascinating.  In WWII women were not invisible.

One list I have never seen is the names of those present on ANZAC Day 1948.  Another list I could not find but that I could re-establish was the bushwalkers who served in WWII.  Our book has a list of 191 bushwalkers, young men and women from Bushwalking NSW Clubs who served in uniform from the recognized armed services to the merchant marine and “Australian Women’s Land Army” (AWLA).  One club, the Rucksack Club with almost equal numbers of both genders was noticeable for having more women than men in uniform.

During WWII the Manpower Directorate aimed to control all working age Australians in their occupations (the “draft” in another name).  Eventually nearly 1 million of a population of just 7 million were in uniform.  Many women were keen to serve and several voluntary organisations were formed as well as auxiliaries to the army, navy and air force.  So, not quite full members but still serving in important roles.

Despite the Japanese threat it was not all plain sailing.  There still were older men who resisted change.  Women also went into factories.  It was a different time.  When I first joined the work force there were still tradesmen from WWII who rejoiced in stories of women blushing when asking for a “mill bastard” metal file!

Well after WWII the RSL resisted women from the AWLA marching on ANZAC Day.  They did reneg and allowed them to march at the end of the parade.  Despite this my Aunty Merle had a fabulous time in the AWLA as farm labour and kept in touch with her friends from WWII.  Merle would take my two brothers and I to AWLA reunions as relief (I guess) for her sister.  (We were young and just found the events boring).  When Merle died in 1992, I was asked to be a pall bearer.  Four women I did not know turned up in green blazers.  As we carried Merle’s coffin out of the church, they were there as a “Guard of Honour” for their mate.

In 1994 Australia did recognize the women of the AWLA which was among the civilian groups to be recognized for their service in WWII.  Merle never married so I applied for her medal.  It was slow to arrive but was well presented so after showing it to our children and taking pictures of it I posted it to my cousin who had looked after Merle in her later years.

Australian women did play an important role in WWII.  We may never fully know how many women were involved as code breakers.  They were told to keep it a secret, and that it what they did well past 1945!

There are three great books I would recommend regarding Australian women in WWII and the authorities they served with –

Scott, Jean. Girls with Grit 1986. Allen & Unwin – ISBN 994 04 ‘2’ 088042.  A history of the AWLA that includes my Aunty Merle as “The Land Army Queen”.

Adam Smith, Patsy. Australian Women at War 2014. The Five Mile Press – ISBN 9781760062637. The “Abbreviations” shown on p. 379 lists all Enlisted Services for Women and Men plus Decorations etc.

Duffy, David F. Radio Girl: the story of the remarkable Mrs Mac, pioneering engineer and wartime legend 2020. Allen & Unwin – ISBN 9781760876654. An excellent read that mentions many voluntary women’s groups in WWII and the fight to be accepted.

Maxwell, Keith & Keats, Michael OAM. Splendour Rock – A Bushwalker’s War Memorial 2023. Design Portfolio – ISBN 978-0-6487913-2-4. This great reference is available where you find all good bushwalking books in the Blue Mountains or via the Bush Explorers website at https://bushexplorers.com.au/catalog

Keith Maxwell.

Honorary Historian BNSW.

Sydney Christian Bushwalkers turns 50

By on 30 October, 2024 in Affiliated club news, Bushwalking history

Sydney Christian Bushwalkers recently held 50th birthday celebrations over a weekend of walking in the Kiama area, followed by a dinner at Burwood RSL Club. The events attracted current and former members, who are pictured below in a group photo. In the second photo, the anniversary organiser Judith Ramm poses with the 50th birthday cake.

The non-denominational Christian bushwalking club, Scripture Union Bushwalkers, was founded by the first club president Graham Morrison in July 1974. The inaugural walk was an overnight trip to Blue Gum Forest, in the Grose Valley near Blackheath – very cold at that time of year! A few years later Peter Onus took over the role of president.

The club had quite an active program of day-walks, overnight walks, and multi-day treks in those early years of the 1970s, 1980s, and into the early 1990s, with full use of Easter weekends, October long weekends, and Anzac weekends. Naturally there were numerous day-walks as well, which were the mainstay of the program. Some of the day-walks were fairly easy, while others could be quite hard and rough, occasionally including bushy and rugged off-track sections.

In the late 1980s and the early 1990s the number of members who liked overnight walks gradually reduced as people went their separate ways. As a result, day-walks became the main feature of the club’s program, complimented by occasional overnight walks.

In the new millennium, Scripture Union decided that any affiliated groups should follow the organisation’s policies and procedures. The club members considered that the link with Scripture Union had become tenuous, and a stand-alone club would be the better option. There was some debate over the name change, but eventually Sydney Christian Bushwalkers was incorporated, with its own policies and procedures appropriate to a bushwalking club.

Although membership numbers have declined, to remain steady around 67, the club has continued to have an active program. Many of the older club members have been in the club for several decades, and as the general membership age has increased, the type of walks has changed to moderate and easy walks on a Saturday, mixed with occasional urban walks and car camping or cabin weekends.

Christians of all ages and denominations are welcome, and visitors can attend 3 walks before being asked to join the club.

November 11 – a new name for an Honour Roll

By on 30 October, 2024 in Bushwalking history

November 11 is not far away, and many Australians will pause at 11am for a minute to reflect on the end of the mass slaughter that was so much a part of “The Great War” that was to be “The War to End All Wars”.

Of course, WWII was just twenty years away and the sons of many AIF (Australian Imperial Force – the Australian Army) servicemen in turn (such as my uncle) served in the Second AIF when Australia was seriously threatened in the Pacific Campaign.

From the book on “Splendour Rock – A Bushwalkers War Memorial” by Michael Keats and I we know that 191 bushwalkers (young men and women) served in uniform with 13 bushwalkers now being remembered at Splendour Rock.

But perhaps another name should be considered as a victim of WWII although it was before 3 September 1939.

The guns fell silent at 11am on the 11 November 1918 but the war was not over until the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919.  While this Treaty tried to avoid a future war by limiting the size of armed forces worldwide it failed.  Japan felt slighted from not being treated as an equal to the European nations and Adolf Hitler convinced the Germans that Germany had been stabbed in the back by the Allies (not correct).

In 1939 the drums of war were beating as Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain tried to negotiate with Adolf Hitler to avoid war.  Recently, Jeff Howard a past President of CMW mentioned a club member who died while training as a RAAF Flying Officer.

Maxwell Leonard Hickson joined RAAF on 17 January 1938 so would seem to have seen troubled times ahead.  On 29 April 1939 he was one of two pilots, and two other aircrew killed near Riverstone when an Avro Anson bomber crashed.  From what Jeff Howard can see in early CMW records Max would have been close to a foundation member of CMW.

So, Maxwell Leonard Hickson was prepared to serve in WWII and thus there is a strong case that he should be remembered as one of the fallen bushwalkers Bushwalking NSW recognises at Splendour Rock.

Keith Maxwell.

Honorary Historian BNSW.

The Bush Club – 85th Birthday Celebrations

By on 18 October, 2024 in Affiliated club news, Bushwalking club management resources, Bushwalking history, Events, News Updates, Walks

The Bush Club

Bush Club Birthday Celebration Walks

The Bush Club came into existence on 19th September 1939. The Club was founded by Marie Byles and Paddy Pallin. Both Marie and Paddy believed that the rigorous standards of the tests, pack walking etc., for gaining entry to bush walking clubs was too high. They believed this prevented those who simply want to walk in and appreciate the bush from joining clubs. Their belief was that a love of the bush and a willingness to protect its environment should be the main qualification criteria along with making friendships through bush walking. These core values remain the same for the Bush Club today.

Today the Club has 890 members. While the Club has grown considerably over the years it remains thru to the core values of its founders. The Club places great emphasis on celebrating the creation of the club each year. We mark certain milestones with special events.
The Bush Club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014 by completing club walks in 75 national parks all over the world. The walks ranged from the Blue Mountains, the Lake District in England, Horton Plains in Sri Lanka to Los Glaciares in Argentina and were completed between May 2013 and end of August 2014. See here for more information.

The Club celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2019 by completing 80 different club walks by 80 different leaders. The walks were completed between December 2018 and October 2019 from the Ophir Goldfields in NSW Central West to the Garden of Stone and as far afield as the Kerry Way in Ireland. More info.

This year we celebrated the 85th Birthday of the Bush Club. We asked our Leaders to put on 85 ‘trig’ walks / cycles to mark the occasion. As always, our Leaders responded enthusiastically and completed the 85 ‘trig’ events. The trigs were visited between October 2023 and October 2024. These walks and cycles took place throughout NSW, Interstate and the Lake Dunstan trig was claimed on a Club cycle in New Zealand.

All our special birthday events are recorded and a page created on the Bush Club Website for future members to look back on and continue the tradition into the future.

Along with the special occasions, we celebrate the Club’s birthday each year with walks to a central location within a National Park around Sydney. This year the walks finished at Commandment Rock, Lane Cove NP. There was tea, coffee and the birthday cake. We had in excess of 50 members attending the celebrations.

New Bushwalkers War Memorial

By on 30 June, 2024 in Bushwalking history

There is a new memorial on the official register of NSW war memorials.

How big should a war memorial be and how many fallen service personnel should it represent?  Say, over 100,000 from all wars Australians have been involved in as in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Or should we just remember the part played by the fallen from NSW as in the Hyde Park War Memorial?

What about your local RSL or town.  Not as big and not as many fallen personnel.  But then just thirteen (13) fallen bushwalkers are remembered at an official war memorial of NSW called Splendour Rock.  The view is outstanding, but the plaque is barely bigger than a sheet of paper (it did have to be carried out there.)

Should the sacrifice of just one fallen soldier be remembered as on the Central Coast of NSW?  The same bushwalkers who though that Splendour Rock was a good idea to remember thirteen fallen bushwalkers from what is now Bushwalking NSW also though that one bushwalker deserved a special mention above Maitland Bay.

In 1932 the NSW Federation of Bushwalking Clubs (now BNSW) was setup as part of the campaign to save Blue Gum Forest in the Grose Valley from the axe.  In 1939 its Honorary Secretary was Charles D’Arcy Roberts of Coast and Mountain Walkers (CMW) who also was performing another role.  As a Solicitor he is remembered as a very effective Honorary Secretary for “Federation”.  Marie Byles who helped establish the Bush Club with Paddy Pallin was at the forefront of other bushwalkers to help protect Bouddi “Natural” (now National) Park with its glorious Maitland Bay.

Before enlisting in 1939 in the 2nd AIF (the Australian Army of WWII) Charles D’Arcy Roberts was a “Trustee” for Bouddi Natural Park.  Unfortunately, his part of the 2nd AIF was sent to Singapore where he survived the fighting but died in captivity as a Prisoner of War.

On 28th, 29th and 30th May in 1948 (just after the ANZAC Day Dedication of Splendour Rock) there was a “Federation” working bee at Bouddi Natural Park before a 2.30pm dedication of a small memorial at Bullimah Outlook to Charles D’Arcy Roberts.

This memorial is far easier to get to than Splendour Rock.  In a return trip of under two hours you need to start down the track to Maitland Bay from the Bouddi National Park Visitor Centre.  Eventually, there will be a turnoff to the right to “Bullimah Spur”.  Follow it right to a spectacular view southward towards Sydney and Broken Bay with Lion Island and the memorial to Charles D’Arcy Roberts.

Bullimah Outlook is now on the official register of NSW War Memorials.  You can see my nomination at –

https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/memorials/bullimah-outlook

Keith Maxwell.

Honorary Historian BNSW.

See photos below with permission from www.twominutepostcards.com

Plaque to Charles D’Arcy Roberts at Bullimah Outlook

View south from Bullimah Outlook

Splendour Rock – another name

By on 1 March, 2024 in Bushwalking history

No, its not a fallen bushwalker overlooked just after WWII but one of a remarkable group of Australians that should be better known.

All overnight bushwalkers should camp at least once on top of dry Mt Dingo (in the Wild Dogs of the Megalong Valley) near its southern end on 24 April for an early start.  From around 5.30am onwards they will hear the tramp of feet as bushwalkers gather for the 6am Dawn Service at Splendour Rock.

Splendour Rock was a special place even before it was dedicated as a bushwalkers war memorial on ANZAC Day 1948.  The plaque is on a small rock island in what surely must be a bushwalkers cathedral.  There is no stained-glass window but an amazing view of the southern Blue Mountains.  Mountains just disappear into the distance bounded in the east by King’s Tableland and to the west by Kanangra Walls and the High Gangerangs of Mt Cloudmaker.

In a moving but simple service thirteen (13) bushwalkers who died on active service in WWII are remembered.  With luck you will greeted by an amazing sunrise as the red dawn spreads out from King’s Tableland.

In February 2023 Michael Keats and I released a book “Splendour Rock – A Bushwalkers War Memorial” that documents these bushwalkers but also four other plaques at Splendour Rock available through www.bushexplorers.com.au

The History pages of Bushwalking NSW holds a page on Splendour Rock where you will find answers to obvious questions such as who were the fallen plus some details on the other four plaques in the immediate area.

But who were the bushwalkers who served and returned from WWII?  I am quietly pleased to have prepared a list for the book from available resources of 191 bushwalkers (including the thirteen fallen) since I could not find a list.

One name appeared frequently in a major resource as a POW correspondent – Bill Cawood.  Each month during WWII in the Sydney Bush Walker magazine there was a section “Letters from the Lads and Lasses” where young men and women in uniform from any bushwalking club were listed.

Now, I often read books about the edges of WWII such as a recent library loan of how the French hid the Mona Lisa and other art works from the Nazis who were known art thieves.  Or a book about the 2/5 AGH – “Proudly We Served”.  An essential part of an army must a hospital based close to the front line such as an Australian General Hospital – AGH.

One group of remarkable unarmed Australian servicemen accepted becoming POWs.  A desperate attempt to slow the German Army in Greece and Crete led to evacuation under fire via warship.  The female nursing staff of the 2/5 AGH were evacuated while a core of doctors and support staff stayed behind to care for injured Australian servicemen.  Their story is one of survival as they moved from prison camp to prison camp as they continued to care for those around them with limited bandages etc.  Later, it was desperate times as all sorts of starving people were on the move in various directions as armies closed in on a war-torn Germany during winter of 1945.  During this time the 2/5 AGH continued to assist those around them.

Previously I have never seen a bushwalker mentioned by name in a book unrelated to bushwalking but one man of this remarkable group of medical staff, is mentioned by name – Bill Cawood.  Thus, Sydney Bush Walkers should be very proud of an Australian who served in WWII with great distinction as an unarmed serviceman.

Hence when you reflect at Splendour Rock on the thirteen bushwalkers who did not return from WWII also remember an unarmed bushwalker who showed great care for his mates and others around him – Bill Cawood.

Keith Maxwell.

The Splendour Rock plaque from 1948.

November 11, 2019 – Splendour Rock.

By on 3 November, 2023 in Bushwalking history

Where were you on November 11, 2019?

On November 10 a good bushwalking friend, Matthew Stephenson and I had camped on Mt Dingo for November 11.  We were at Splendour Rock to remember the end of World War One 100 years ago.

On November 11, 1918, the guns of World War I fell silent.  Each year since then Australia falls silent for one minute at 11am (as the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month).  The mass slaughter was over, but the war was not over until the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919.  Medals from World War I often call it “The Great War 1914 – 1919”.  It had been such a vast war that it was thought this was “the war to end wars”.

The First AIF (Australian Imperial Force) army under General Sir John Monash played an important role in pushing the German army back to the border of Germany.  In the ‘glorious 100 days’ of combat Monash and the allies used the “all arms combat” they had developed where artillery, infantry, tanks, and planes all worked together.  The way was open to Berlin, but the allies went no further.  The German people were close to a (possible communist) revolution from a food blockage by the Royal Navy.  The German Navy had tried to stop convoys getting to Britain with submarine warfare, but the Royal Navy was successful in its similar blockade.  The Australian Light Horse had also played a major role in the defeat of the Ottoman (Turk) empire in 1918.  The original ANZAC Day Gallipoli campaign of 1915 was an attempt to defeat the Turks through the Dardanelles.

Unfortunately, there were those like Adolf Hitler who were convinced that Germany had not truly been defeated and hence wanted another go.  Japan had been an ally in WWI but felt slighted by the terms of The Treaty of Versailles.

War came close to Australia in New Guinea during WWII.  Darwin, Broome, and many other northern Australian towns were bombed.  Around 191 bushwalkers (young men and women) from clubs of Bushwalking NSW (BNSW) joined the fight.  Seven died in the Pacific Campaign while six others died in the European theatre.

Post WWII bushwalkers of BNSW were hurting.  They were keen not to forget these thirteen bushwalkers as their numbers had included some outstanding bushwalkers.

Several ideas were thrown around including a memorial park on Narrow Neck or renaming a peak towards Kanangra Walls.  Now, Splendour Rock had always been a special location.  It is even featured in ‘An Introduction to Bush Walking’ from 1939.

During February of 1948 four bushwalkers installed the memorial plaque at Splendour Rock.  In the book by Michael Keats and I (Splendour Rock – A Bushwalkers War Memorial) you can see the breakdown of which items each bushwalker carried as described from Minutes of BNSW.

We are not sure of how many bushwalkers were present at the dedication of Splendour Rock on ANZAC Day 1948.  It was led by Paddy Pallin (an RAF veteran from WWI) and the BNSW President, Stan Cottier.  It is said a list was passed around, but I have never seen it.  One report says 140 bushwalkers while another suggests 80 bushwalkers were present.  Equally, I have not seen a list of the bushwalkers who served despite having a Bushwalkers Services Committee to support bushwalkers on service.  The list of 191 bushwalkers in our book is based on a collation of data from available sources.

Australia changed considerably as it fought for its survival.  It changed from an agricultural society to an industrial society.  In WWI only Australia and India were volunteer armies.  Very few women served, mainly as nurses.  In WWII women donned overalls to work in factories or served in important support roles within many auxiliary services.  Male farm labour was replaced by the Australian Women’s Land Army (AWLA).  While two Conscription referendums had been defeated in WWI under the (WWII) Manpower Regulations the entire Australian workforce was either directed into armed services or kept at home (like my father) for essential services to make munitions or war materials.  Rationing was tight.  At the end of WWII Australia had the fourth largest air force in the world.  So many of the very best young bushwalkers were serving that there was concern about the future of bushwalking.

Only since 1992 has there been an annual ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Splendour Rock.  Australia’s most remote war memorial requires a serious bushwalk to get there so for many past mid-week ANZAC Days there was no service.  Special anniversaries only had been remembered.

An overnight camp on Mt Dingo then the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day is a never-to-be forgotten experience especially the sunrise over King’s Tableland.  All bushwalkers should go there at least once.  Splendour Rock has drawn visitors from all over the world.

Matthew and I were on our own on November 11, 2019, but we did not stay until 11am.  The bushfires of the ‘Black Summer’ were already becoming a menace.  Walking in the Wild Dogs during midday was out of the question as it was going to be a fiercely hot day.  We passed through the upper gate in the Megalong Valley just as an NP&WS Ranger was posting a sign – PARK CLOSED.

Keith Maxwell.

The Splendour Rock plaque from 1948.

ANZAC Day is near

By on 5 April, 2023 in Bushwalking history

ANZAC Day is not far away so your mind may be turning to the special memorial at Splendour Rock that remembers 13 bushwalkers (from bushwalking clubs of Bushwalking NSW) who did not return from World War II.  This memorial in the Megalong Valley of the Blue Mountains must be Australia’s most remote war memorial.

You may or may not be aware of some other memorial plaques at this site.  A new book by Keith Maxwell and Michael Keats OAM should be on your bookshelf.  It is the definitive work that is bound to become a valuable reference on Splendour Rock with so much information.  It answers so many questions.  For example,

# Who found Splendour Rock plus when was the plaque installed and by whom?

# When was the memorial put on the official NSW register of war memorials and Australian War Memorial?

# Who are the bushwalkers remembered and what did they look like plus who were the bushwalkers who served and returned from WWII?

# How did the bushwalkers at home support their friends in uniform?

# How have these bushwalkers been remembered at ANZAC Day Dawn Services starting in 1948?

# What are the other memorial plaques including on the Central Coast and in a North Sydney church?  What is their story?

# How have fallen NZ (of ANZAC – New Zealand) trampers been remembered?

# What is the bushwalking club founded by a walk to Splendour Rock?

With 360 glossy pages it is a great read packed full of so much information plus pictures and early maps.  A must for every bushwalker’s bookshelf.

Splendour Rock – A Bushwalkers War Memorial by Keith Maxwell and Michael Keats OAM is available at bookshops where you find other great bushwalking books or from the website – bushexplorers.com.au (postage free at $66)

Keith Maxwell.

The Splendour Rock Choir from the Illawarra Grammar School.

Know your Clubs – YMCA Hobnails

By on 2 January, 2023 in Bushwalking history

Hobnail Canyon is a short, pleasant canyon located just off the Bell Road past Mt Tomah.  Now hobnails are a kind of boot cleat popular in the pre-WWII era.  They were nailed onto the leather sole of boots to minimise slipping.  Did the first bushwalkers through the canyon wear boots or were they from YMCA Hobnails Bushwalking Club?

From 1952 to 1970 the Hobnails were a club of young men 17 – 21 years of age with a strong reputation.  This club was just one of a strong group of bushwalking clubs in the YMCA during 1950s / 1960s where boys could progress into bushwalking as they grew older.

Young Pioneers included boys 12 – 14 years of age.  These boys could then progress to the Venturers (not Scouts) as they grew to 17 years old.  When my younger brother joined the Venturers in 1969, they were down to just three members and were officially folded up a few years later.  From 18 years of age young men and women (note) could join the YMCA Ramblers.

The YMCA Ramblers were the longest lived of these clubs.  Formed in November 1938 by Harry Black and three others it lost two members in WWII.  At their AGM of 1978 the Ramblers left the YMCA but had a final BBQ at Neilson Park on 23 November 2003.

The Ramblers always had a tense relationship with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).  Not every member had a tent, so they were often shared including ‘co-tenting’.

‘Old’ Hobnails were meant to progress to the Ramblers except that they mostly didn’t instead going to the Kameruka Bushwalking Club (KBC).   From 1946 to 1988 the KBC were renowned for doing tough and exploratory bushwalks.

So, what did hobnails look like?  Dunlop Volleys sandshoes were all the go for the Hobnails bushwalkers.  I can remember an ex-Hobnail telling me that he could not recognise a hobnail (boot cleat) when he was shown one.

You can find club badges for the Hobnails, Ramblers and KBC among many others at the Bushwalking NSW website club badges page.

Keith Maxwell – Honorary Historian BNSW.

 

Splendour Rock book

By on 29 December, 2022 in Bushwalking history

Did you know that there are four other memorials in the immediate area of the plaque at Splendour Rock in the Wild Dog Mountains.  A detailed, fully researched book by Michael Keats and Keith Maxwell is now with the printer.  For any bushwalker with even a passing interest in Splendour Rock this will become a go to reference.

Splendour Rock honours thirteen (13) bushwalkers from clubs who died on active service during WWII. While Splendour Rock has been described as ‘God’s Balcony’ with its views of the Southern Blue Mountains it was not the first choice of a site for a memorial.

The book answers so many questions such as, who were the thirteen (13) young men, how did they die and what did they contribute to bushwalking?  How have they since been remembered?  Who cast the Splendour Rock plaque and when / how was it installed and then dedicated?  Who were the bushwalkers who served and returned?  How were they supplied comforts from home?  What is the story behind the other four memorials.

A great read and a great reference not to be missed.  Watch out for a book launch early in 2023.

Keith Maxwell.

BNSW Honorary Historian.