Campers at Stonyford Creek, Federation Weekend, March 1949.
Horst Eisfolder

Do it yourself: maps

During the war maps, such as they were, were severely restricted. But the bushwalking fraternity made the most of resources available. Among our ranks were several draughtsmen coming from Fishermen's Bend Aircraft Corporation. Stuart Brookes, Norm Richards and company took an interest in mapping and the MBW added a lot to the sum of knowledge in those early days. The Scouts had a Jamboree in 1935 and Bill Waters (not an MBW member but from the Men's Club -Melbourne Amateur Walking and Touring Club) did a lot of mapping for this. He was a very capable walker, a modest bloke with a sterling character. The Club acquired the maps and brought them up to date. In 1945 the King and Howqua Rivers were 'straightened up' using prismatic compasses. Eventually National Mapping brought out grids.

Prismatic compasses were a great help; with them everything speeded up. They were genuine war surplus; the leaders often carried them, even though they were heavy.

The Split, 1948

As the weekend walks became harder and more adventurous, a feeling developed among some members of the Club that they wanted to cast off from the 'cream hunters', the rambling day walkers. Some wanted it