Mt Warning - Peach's Australia December 1975

"Greetings from the Morning of Australia"

The final episode of Peach's Australia in 1975 was titled "The Morning of Australia". The summit and glorious views from and to Mt Warning were featured. In the opening moments, Bill is seen walking up the last few steps of the track onto a grassy knoll on the summit on what must have been a very quiet day (or perhaps there was heavy use of hairspray!). There are no lookouts as yet and the vegetation is quite sparse in contrast to the current state (see below) where low trees have taken over.

Peach's Australia Broadcast December 9, 1975

Since 1975 the summit has been visited by about 3-4 million visitors. The footage and comparison to the current state of the track demonstrates how little environmental impact those visitors have had. In fact it looks lusher now than it did nearly half a century ago.

The short clip above from the episode obtained from the ABC is published under fair dealing provisions of the copyright ACT.

Some screenshots below and a 2020 view.

Mt Warning Summit 1975

Grassy Knoll at the summit of Mt Warning, 1975

Mt Warning Summit view 2020 - source

Episode Description December 1975

In their "Wollumbin National Park Closure – Communications and Engagement Plan" NPWS claim "Current generations of Aboriginal Elders and community representatives see it as their responsibility to ensure sacred sites are protected and the traditional Lore and associated cultural protocols are upheld by all people. Desecration, litter and toileting, particularly around the Summit is causing unacceptable physical and cultural impacts and damage."

Looking at the 1975 and 2020 images that show the summit looking in great condition I'm calling BS on claims about "Desecration, litter and toileting, particularly around the Summit". It is increasingly clear both NPWS and the Wollumbin Consultative Group spend very little time in the park and alot of time making things up.

Just about everything NSW NPWS say about Mt Warning is a lie.

(Looking at the pristine state of Bill's White shirt and considering the 4.4km walk to get there the normal method, I suspect the helicopter likely dropped him and camera man off on top.)

Comments

Mt Warning closure - 4 years of lies and misinformation

Mt Warning closure - 4 years of lies and misinformation March 30 (Easter Saturday) marks the 4-year anniversary of the "temporary" closure of the Mt Warning summit track. Some thoughts and rambled musings below. I spoke with Ben Fordham about the anniversary on the Ben Fordham Breakfast show on 2GB. Ben's response a classic: "If you want to climb, just climb it!" Link to that interview HERE . 4 year anniversary of bureaucratic madness We know the exact date of the closure thanks to bushwalker: Tertia Starr Maynard, who posted a photo of a note left on her windscreen by NPWS rangers to the reopen Facebook page . It was dated and read “NPWS advises Wollumbin National Park is closing from today due to covid19. Gate is not locked but please close behind you as you exit. Thanks NPWS.” Photo by T Maynard - the last walkers out. In the 4 years since, after other parks were reopened, Mt Warning remained closed and the reason for the temporary closure morphed to in...

BOMBSHELL DOCUMENT LEAK - WCG MEETING MINUTES 2011-2024

WCG MEETING MINUTES 2011-2024 We have been given access to minutes of meetings of the Wollumbin Consultative Group between 2011 and 2024. On the basis of the minutes it is clear the time for an independent public inquiry into management of Mt Warning National Park and the entire NSW Parks estate is long overdue. Documents are made available as a matter of deep public interest in current management practices in our National Parks. What is happening at Mt Warning will be occurring in other Parks across NSW as NPWS continue to push for and develop handback and lease agreements of our public parks. In our view these plans are divisive: they prevent public involvement in managing public land, they will add considerable cost to managing our parks, and they will result in further irrational bans and limits on public access. NPWS: "Custodians are looking at ways to progress handback at the June meeting. We envisage it will take 10-15 years for handback across the whole state."...

17th death on the Rock

17th death on the Rock ABC report that a 76 year old Japanese man collapsed on the steep part of the climb and despite first aid, was not able to be revived. The elderly Japanese man likely died as a result of heart complications, probably brought on by existing (perhaps unknown) medical conditions and over exerting himself. He appears to have died revelling in the opportunity life provides. RIP Brother of the Rock. Our thoughts with his family and the first attenders who did their best to treat him. It's sad, but life goes on, and so should the climb. His death marks the 17th death ON the Rock since 26 May 1962 when 16 year old school boy Brian Strieff, on a school excursion with Carey Grammar, wondered off the main path in heavy fog on the way down and fell to his death. ABC's report indicate it is the 37th death, but these figures from Parks Australia have not been substantiated. It seems that many of the deaths Parks Australia claim to have occurred ON the Rock occurr...

Right to Climb

Search This Blog