Christmas Party and Summer Camp 2011 at Lake Conjola

Sunday 4 - Thursday 8 December 2011
Led by Charles and Julie, Dennis and Nancy, with a lot of help from the Social Committee

Words by Karen M : Photos by Noel, Lesley, Ron and Mike

CHRISTMAS PARTY

This year Batemans Bay Bushwalkers celebrated our Christmas lunch at the Lake Conjola Community Hall, a spacious, modern, well appointed venue next to the Island View Caravan Park where the ensuing Summer Camp was to be held.

Members arrived in various modes of Christmas attire and enjoyed a festive lunch of roast pork, veges and salad, with Christmas pudding to follow. Congratulations again to our Social Committee for the wonderul room and table decorations, brainteasers, quizzes and catering arrangements. It was especially enjoyable to catch up with folk who for one reason or another, haven't been able to do much walking during the year. Great to see you all again.


Sandra and Ian Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Margaret, Jeanette and Helen Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Chief organiser Jean Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo


Lora, John, Jan and Jeanette Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Jan and Kay Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Jeanette, Lyn and Lyn's new best friend Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo


Ron and Dennis Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Nancy, Val, Pat and Karl Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Mary, Mike, Bob, Jill and Stan Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo


Charles and Barry Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Geoff, Elizabeth, Carol and Leigh Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Susan, Alex and Denise Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

SUMMER CAMP, LAKE CONJOLA

Around 62 members enjoyed this year's Summer Camp based at Island View Caravan Park on the shore of Lake Conjola. There was something for everyone - from new adventurous walks, to kayaking, treasure hunts, dinners, fossils, and a fun farewell concert. Our sincere thanks to everyone involved in the organisation - a cast of many talented and capable folk.

Day 1 saw three walking groups head out to tackle the local walks around Lake Conjola, Conjola Beach, Narawallee Nature Reserve and Narrawallee Inlet.

In the evening Mollymook Geologist Phil Smart arrived at camp with his boxes of fossils to preview the Gondwana Coast Fossil Walk he and his colleagues would lead on the rock platforms of Ulladulla Harbour in a couple of days' time.


Nancy's group negotiates the puddles on their first walk Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Ann and Helen Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Margaret, Nancy, Ainslie and Mike Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Day 2 dawned overcast and drizzly, which gave the camp and walk leaders a few headaches as they decided whether to proceed with the day's outdoor activities.

In the end Nancy braved the elements with a group of paddlers and guided us into Berringer Lake, and then down to the entrance of Lake Conjola, which was then closed to the ocean. The rain stopped shortly after we set out, and the paddle turned out to be a great success.

The walking group which headed into Granite Falls encountered some slippery access roads, and wisely decided to change their walk to accommodate the wet conditions.

The easy walkers drove into Ulladulla where it poured down, so people ended up exploring the town, had lunch and then did their walk in the afternoon when the rain cleared.

Back at camp, Charles' Treasure Hunt got everyone out walking the streets of the tiny hamlet of Lake Conjola, finding clues along the route to the ultimate prize. Darryl at the local shop was roped into handing out the final clue to teams who came in and bought icecreams from him. In the evening we drove the short distance to the Conjola Bowling Club to enjoy dinner catered by the Club.


Nancy's paddlers Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Barbara in camp Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Rodney, Leigh, Carol, Karen and Bob at the Bowling Club Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Day 3 and 2 groups drove into Ulladulla to explore Warden Head with its many spectacular lookouts and rock platforms. After meeting for lunch at Ulladulla Harbour the 2 groups then headed off with the Gondwana Coast Fossil walk leaders, Phil Smart and 3 of his colleagues, to find some fossils.

We weren't disappointed as you can see from the photos, and the Gondwana guys were very generous with their time and answered all of our questions on the fascinating geological history of this area.


Phil and John, aka Australia and New Zealand, pulling apart (geologically speaking) Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Crinoid or sea lily fossil Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Shell fossils Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Day 4 and no rest for Batemans Bay Bushwalkers. Despite the decidedly dodgy weather, everyone was up for their respective walks.

Dennis and Nancy's group walked to Coles Creek Aboriginal Cave on fire trails through varied forest and creek gullies. There Dennis broke out his aboriginal artefacts, and complete with indigenous mood music produced from Nancy's backpack, gave his group a dissertation on the indigenous people of the area.

Jill and John's group headed to Little Forest Plateau where they visited several lookouts over the spectacular Budawang landscape before slogging their way back to the cars through some very heavy rain.

Ainslie and Mike's group also walked on Little Forest Plateau on a new, semi-exploratory walk, first to Mt Budawang Lookout, and then to Beehive Pass where they descended through some tricky terrain to a series of wonderful rock overhangs festooned with stalactites underneath the plateau.

They also encountered rain on the way back, sloshing along the submerged track past late Spring wildflowers.


Dennis' group in Coles Creek Aboriginal Cave Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Mary and Betty at Beehive Pass Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Karen in rock overhang under Little Forest Plateau Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Although the last evening of camp, the fun was not yet over, with a barbecue dinner supplied by local Milton purveyors, cooked by volunteers, and ferried to the Community Hall, where more surprises awaited. A cast of world renown entertainers assembled by our very own showbiz entrepreneur Lyn, wowed the crowd with their stunning costumes and fabulous music.

Liberace and his Mum, Winifred Atwell and her sister Connie, the Andrews Sisters, Whoopie Goldberg the singing sister, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis all graced our modest stage to perform some of their famous hits.


Jan sings up a storm as Whoopie the Singing Sister Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The Andrews Sisters, Helen Jill, Ainslie & Claudia Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The whole ensemble welcomes Elvis (Bob) to the stage Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Thank you again to Charles, Julie, Dennis and Nancy for finding the wonderful Lake Conjola venue, and organising a succession of memorable activities over the 5 days of camp. Well done also to the Social Committee, walk leaders, concertmeister Lyn, performers, and everyone else who contributed to the outstanding success of the 2011 Summer Camp.

END