Leader: Jenny Donoghoe

Lane Cove Valley: Turramurra to Beecroft

17 April 2019

An 80 leaders walk

Leader Jenny pointing out the carved caricature of Sir Bertram Stevens on Conscript Pass (S. Sim)

Photos top Bill Donoghoe

Morning tea at Twin Creeks Reserve

Sir Bertram Pickles (aka Mike)

Heading down to Twin Creeks

Photos of fun-gi and the fun-guy: Lynn Dabbs

Photos below: Steven Sim

John took a pose

Bill setting up a group photo

We were "invaded" by WEA Ramblers at City View Lookout

Participants:

Jenny Donoghoe, Bill Donoghoe, Jon Hestelow, Mike Pickles, Jeanette Ibrahim, John Hungerford, Steven Sim, Soo Lee Chen, Chris Edwards, Jenny Putt, Christine Loh, Lynn Dabbs, Charo Hogan, Jennie Kelso

Walk description:

Sheldon Forest, Twin Creeks Reserve, Lane Cove NP including Lorna Pass and City View Lookout. Firetrails, bush tracks, some street walking, minor creek crossings, and short steep sections. Map: Walking Tracks of the Lane Cove Valley

Report:

After a short walk along the Pacific Highway and Warragal Road we came to the local scout hall where we entered Sheldon Forest. Sheldon Forest is a fragment of bushland located in a narrow valley between Turramurra and Pymble. It is one of the few remnants of Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest that has not been cleared. Upon entering Sheldon Forest you immediately sense that you have moved away from the busyness of the city and into the tranquillity of the bush.

We descended gently along a track, followed by a few steps and a ladder, before we were headed along Avondale Creek. Here, in the cool shaded gullies, we noted the rich green ferns, native climbers and coachwoods. I love this section of bush.

After a creek crossing and a turn to the left we were on a very pleasant little loop track. The shapely angophoras, various mosses and colourful fungi kept the photographers busy. The stone piers of an old bridge were pointed out as well as the stone steps leading up to the homes. This track was well worth the diversion.

After a quick side trip to Mimosa Oval we proceeded through local parks and along a couple of suburban streets until we came to Twin Creeks Reserve. This section of the reserve is quite weedy so I was happy to traverse this area quickly. We headed north to Mitchell Crescent Reserve and made our way along the ridgetop. Here the bush is much healthier and diverse with banksias, hakeas and casuarinas along with scribbly gums and bloodwoods. It was at this point that I made the very popular decision to have morning tea.

We returned to the fire trail and headed west. Before too long we made a short steep descent along a track towards a creek and a magnificent stand of turpentines. We soon crossed The Comenarra Parkway and into Bradley Reserve. A short slog along a fire trail before we turned off and proceeded through a lovely dense section of casuarinas, peas and caustis. Cautiously we descended to the Lane Cove River. It was at this point that my fellow walkers became aware that they were on very familiar ground, the connections between tracks and fire trails were realised.

Heading north once again we followed the Great North Walk to Conscript Pass and then Lorna Pass. Conscript Pass is a set of stone steps constructed as part of a Depression era works program. Along the way we passed two engravings: the first being a caricature of Sir Bertram Stevens the then Premier of NSW and the other reads “Conscript Pass” along with initials and numbers. Lorna Pass is named after Lorna Brandt, a local who raised funds for employment schemes during the 1930s.

Upon reaching the top we headed south to City View Lookout for lunch. How the city’s skyline has altered over the years.

Not too far from the lookout we took a track back down to the Lane Cove River. We retraced our steps for a short distance and then followed Devlins Creek to Byles Creek. Byles Creek, of course, is named after Marie Byles who in 1939, along with Paddy Pallin, founded the Bush Club. Walking beside Byles Creek was a fitting way to finish my 80 leaders walk. A little street walking to finish up then onto coffee for the enjoyable “debrief”.

I always say that bushwalking is my Mindfulness experience and today was no exception. Thank you to all who supported me on my first Bush Club walk as a leader.