Right to Climb

Article in The Times by Bernard Lagan  21 December Tourists are flocking to Uluru before a climbing ban comes into place in nine months’ time. The red rock monolith in central Australia, formerly known as Ayers Rock, will be protected by sacred aboriginal site laws and anyone attempting the climb will be liable to fines of up to £33,660 and two years in jail. However, the impending ban has triggered legal action by outdoor adventure groups and threats to stage an illegal mass climb in protest. There has also been a marked increase in the number of people visiting the site as the deadline draws nearer. Up to 500 people are making the climb every day — up from 50 to 140 a day — despite appeals to respect the wishes of the local Anangu Aboriginal… Subscription required to read on.

A Christmas tale from another era.... Published in The Observer Saturday December 11, 1926 "Look, Liechardt! Look!" cried big George Conwell, "there is something like a mountain floating in that distant mirage. Buck up, man, keep your legs for a few miles; there's water there! Cheer up! Hang on for a few more hours, and we are through." But the explorer was down, in the terrible test of endurance which left in its wake dying horses, perishing goats, dead cattle, and the dray which had long been abandoned in the great spinifex desert. As the horses dropped from sheer exhaustion and thirst, so did the men one by one. The blackmen looked on in wonder, too mystified to understand who were these white-skinned strangers who rode on four-legged monsters and penetrated into their territory, utterly ignorant of its terrible void and scarcity of water. True, the blacks had not attacked the party, and the whites had not shot a savage. The blackmen knew the desert...

We have received quite a bit of correspondence from past climbers and people who lived and worked around Ayers Rock. This story is from long term Red Centre resident David Hewitt. Thankyou David! A Climbers Tale from David Hewitt, Alice Springs  For years now I have been advocating for continuation of climbing the Rock because Anangu had no concerns about it up to about 1991. I have been visiting Ayers Rock since 1965 - Bob Gregory was the head ranger at the time and three years later Derek Roff took over. He was a wonderful man who developed a very fine relationship and excellent communication with traditional owners. We knew Tiger Tjalkaliri , his brother Peter Bulla, Tony Tjanuwa, Paddy Uluru , Mintjinyiri and Nipper Winmati, and amongst the women, Barbara Nipper, Judy Trigger, Judy Brumby, Topsy Walter, Nellie Patterson and others. In the 20 years from 1964 when we first met some of these people at Amata, none of them ever raised objections to climbing the Rock. Nor...

A Guide to Climbing Ayers Rock launched in Melbourne 5 December 2018.  The book was officially released on Wednesday evening at Il Gambero in Lygon St Carlton with the assistance of Quadrant 's online Editor Roger Franklin. Thankyou Roger for your support. Only 323 left to climb before madness takes its toll. Photo credit Allan Kerr Copy of Marc's speech below: see also Those who would steal Ayers Rock  at Quadrant A Guide to Climbing Ayers Rock It’s been surprising how difficult it has been to generate wider interest in the closure of an innocent outdoor activity that remains on the bucket list of many visitors to the red centre. Australian’s are pretty much asleep at the wheel on this and when they finally wake up, I think they will be surprised to find how much of life’s small pleasures they have been locked out of. By then of course, as we will likely see with the Climb up Ayers Rock, it will be too late to change anything. This book was born out of a...

Climbing the Rock Compiled from the thoughts of Macgregor Primary School Students after the climb August 2, 1990. From Canberra Times Sunday December 9, 1990. P32. Trove link:  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122329198 Climbing the Rock We're climbing the rock today — How do I feel? Scared, nervous Butterflies in the tummy, Can't wait, excited. I feel small How in the world am I going to do it? Anticipation. Let's go! Slowly carefully, edging towards the top. Try not to look down. Slipping, heart pounding Glance at the view. Stop to rest Hold on tight to the chain. Very steep, tiring. A long way down — Don't fall off. Turn back? No, climb onwards. Getting tough. Stop for a rest. Chat to people going down. Great views from here. The top of the chain at last. The steep stretch over Phew! So far so good. On towards the top No chain to grip. Follow the painted lines Easier walking after the c...