I have been an NPA member for a number of years and find the Journal very informative. One thing I would like to see included in each Journal is the name and contact details of the appropriate politicians who should be lobbied on certain issues. Personally I would be more inclined to write if I never had the recurring thought, "I wonder if I’m sending this to the correct person/address etc".

If full details of the Premier or the Environment Minister were included, I believe the number of people that would write stating their support/objections would increase substantially. Alternatively, and probably an even better way, is to have pro forma letters included in the Journal, where it is only a matter for the member to insert their address and sign it.

As I’m getting older, I’m finding my interest in conservation and the desire to voice my concerns (in whatever small way) to politicians is increasing, and is something I believe NPA should promote. Hopefully a more vocal membership of not only NPA but other clubs will make politicians take notice, and in turn make them realise that there are votes in being environmentally responsible over the full term of their tenure and not simply at election time.

We generally try to include contact details where it is clear some action is appropriate. Obviously, we have not been doing a good enough job and we will try to do better! As for publishing a pro forma letter, space in the Journal is always very tight and we simply do not have the room to do this. Ed

The article in your June issue on NPA’s national parks policies (see page 11) expresses support for Aboriginal communities to puruse traditional hunting and gathering in national parks. This conflicts with the NPA’s management principle that national parks "should be reserved for their own sake, not for any human-centric reason."

The NPWS could give special consent for traditional hunting and gathering. This would mean it could be done on foot with boomerangs and spears, and unless endangered species were hunted or gathered, damage would be limited, but Aborigines would no doubt want to use 4WDs and guns, as they do in the Northern Territory. Taking guns into parks is contrary to NPWS regulations, as is damage to native flora and off-road use of vehicles.

I write to commend the people at Carlons Farm (Packsaddlers), who came to our aid when our little group of bushwalkers got into difficulties recently. The young lady whom we managed to contact by mobile phone was most helpful and mobilised other members of the family to guide us to safety. Apparently, they are frequently called upon to assist in this way.

Many thanks to all concerned.

We refer to the increase in membership fees which was brought to the attention of members at the recent meeting of this Branch (see also "Your NPA", June NPJ). The members present were generally horrified at the very steep increase and, although it is appreciated that there are a lot of administration costs, we had members at the last meeting threatening to resign as they could not afford to pay the increase in fees, especially the Pensioner members. When it was pointed out to them that they can ask for relief from the increase, they very strongly felt that it would be very degrading to do this and would, therefore, resign.

As we do not want to lose these valuable

members, this Branch feels that the increase should be reviewed and, if not feasible, to, at least, have no increase in the concession fee.

It was also suggested at the last meeting that, perhaps, the Journal be published quarterly instead of bimonthly which would save a lot of expense for printing, postage etc.

Membership fees had not been reviewed for some time before the recent increase. The concession fee was kept below the general CPI increase, to acknowledge the difficulties less well-off members' experience.

Roger Lembit, NPA President

I was saddened to read Noel Plumb’s brief farewell note in the June edition of the Journal. There was no indication in previous editions that Noel was standing down in his role as Executive Officer.

In my opinion, in his three years plus in the role, Noel was a courageous and proactive spokesman for the natural environment. I shall miss his concise and informative messages from the Executive Officer. He brought a new level of journalistic professionalism to those segments. Likewise, the articles he penned for the Journal showed Noel’s ability to get to the crux of complex matters, such as proposed legislative changes, and to explain the details in simple terms.

To me, Noel was an articulate and effective advocate for NPA. He is a compelling orator who confidently handled brief radio and television grabs, and conveyed a clear and uncomplicated message. Like Judy Messer and Jeff Angel, Noel was one of the few spokespersons in the environment movement whose face and voice were instantly recognisable.

He was not a professional NGO administrator, but brought to the job years of grassroots experience, in both forest campaigns and the fight against the M2 tollway. In his role as EO, Noel was very politically astute and was able to use wide-ranging contacts in the environment movement and in politics. Among Noel’s recent credits is his part in saving the Goonoo and Pilliga woodlands from the Lithgow silicon plant.

As a member of NPA, I wish Noel all the best, and encourage him not to lose heart in his battle for more conservation of the natural environment and less needless consumerism. I hope that he will be able to use his considerable skills in a professional role elsewhere in the environment movement.

It was unfortunate that the NPA Executive did not also insert a brief note in the June edition thanking Noel for his commitment and wishing him all the best for the future.

Please see "Your NPA" this issue, page 4. Ed.

They're a Funny Lot

Bushwalkers are a funny lot, a fact you can't ignore;
If there are choices to debate,
They'll pick the one that starts out late
And gets them home by four.

A circle's formed before a walk, the leader starts to tell
What lies ahead, what steps to mount,
I find some people cannot count
And give their name as well.

When walking roads, they fail to use the footpaths on the beat;
Instead they plod along, no doubt,
And only move when comes the shout,
"Car coming down the street!"

A few of them dash through the day, they don't take time to see
The banksias and bottlebrush,
Grevillea shrubs missed in the rush,
And that's a tragedy.

They pass through forests in their haste and never mind the ferns!
Echidnas, lorikeets and snakes,
Tall waterfalls and peaceful lakes
Don't count in their concerns.

Now, what about the ones who always walk right at the fore?
They mostly are quite lightly built
And push the leader to the hilt;
It should be banned by law!

On summer days in stifling heat, so few of us are stayers;
As everyone begins to wane,
The ones who mostly do complain
Are wearing many layers!

Whenever there's a downward slope, the cautious will slow up;
Then very soon along the way,
A thinking walker's bound to say,
"What goes down must go up".

If there's a side track on a walk to somewhere really nice,
Someone will say, "Been there before"
And I'll reply, "I think that you're
Allowed to see it twice".

Some walkers seem to love their food and you can hear them munch;
At morning tea they'll eat bread rolls
And after that you hear their calls,
"When are we having lunch?"

When after lunch their limbs are stiff, they must be on the move;
In perfect sunshine or in rain,
They rush to catch the early train;
What do they have to prove?

So there you go, my dear, kind friends, my gripes are overdue;
On this bushwalk I'm glad you came,
The only ones who share no blame
Are ME and MAYBE you!