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Even though we have
been transported to and from walks by picnic van for many many
years, we used to have more public transport trips - Athol Schafer
used to read Edgar Alan Poe horror stories aloud to while away the
time. One walk we were to meet on the Spencer Street Railway
platform for the trip to Woodend. We stood around for a long while
waiting for John Brownlie the leader. When he didn't turn up Robin
Mitchell suggested that we proceed to the train. We all boarded and
took up seats and as we moved off some of the party looked out of
the window and there was Brownlie in another train going the
opposite way. Further along the way another look out of the window
and there was our illustrious leader on a pushbike pedalling like
fury - he had commandeered some kid's bike to catch up with the
train. He finally was united with his party and had the job of
returning the bike after the walk. Another walk saw Nick Cole
frantically pedalling along-side the train which he had missed. He
never did catch up with the party. Rex and Sue Filson |
constructed to reduce this problem and there is no longer such a delay.
September brought a ban on smoking on all transport hired by MBW. Neither
was alcohol to be carried on Club trips unless such trip were deemed a
social occasion. The conservation movement began a push to stop
subdivision of 48,000 acres in the Little Desert. This ultimately brought
about the creation of the Little Desert National Park and established the
political power of the developing Green Movement.
A rumour that the Club room at 161 Flinders
Lane might soon become unavailable surfaced mid-year 1969. A subcommittee
of Rex Filson, Robin Mitchell, Liz Shaw and myself was formed to look for
new premises. The need became pressing when the Club received short notice
to quit. While the subcommittee looked at various prospects, including
buying our own premises, the Club went back to its old Club room at Room
110, VRI building. The problem was finally solved by joining with the
MAWTC to rent the Club room in Hosier Lane at the rear of the Forum
Theatre. As there was only one meeting room and the MAWTC met on Fridays,
the change to Wednesday night meetings, decided hack in 1967, was finally
implemented.
Club membership remained steady for much of
the decade, hovering around 125 members with an increase to about 170 in
the last couple of years. During the 1960s many walking areas were opened
up by forestry roads. This development, combined with more members
acquiring cars, made weekend walking possible in areas hitherto accessible
only on extended walks. |
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