Eaglevale

Eaglevale.

Parks Victoria / Land Rover Owners Club of Gippsland Joint Works.

 

Event Dates.

Sunday the 18th of November to Wednesday the 21st of November.

 

Participants LROCG.

Lois Rose, Greg Rose (organiser for LROCG), Bob McKee, Annette

Fleming, Alan Harlow, Jan Parniak, John Kerr, Alan MacRae, Mal Trull, Sue

Howell, Ross Howell, Vivian Lee (Murray), Craig Murray, David Murray, Ian

Blake.

 

Participants Parks Victoria.

Vicki Jones (organiser for PV Dargo), Conor Wilson (Ranger Team

Leader Dargo), Mick and Gary (powerhouse workers from Sale). PV visitors, Jenny

and Sam.

 

Club members arrived at Eaglevale over a few hours on Sunday

afternoon. By dusk everyone was sitting around the campfire with the

Wonnangatta River gurgling away beside us. The afternoon’s main entertainment

was watching Alan, Jan and John put up their borrowed camper trailer.

 

Eaglevale is a flat grassy camping area within the Alpine National

Park. Eaglevale Track, which leads up to Cynthia Range and tracks to

Wonnangatta, is accessed from the camping flat. There is high clearance two

wheel drive access to Eaglevale and the only asset, prior to our work, was the

long drop toilet.

 

Our task was to build some assets at Eaglevale to formalise the

places for campfires and improve the visitor experience. Planning for the works

had taken over twelve months and included site visits for Greg, Lois and Vicki,

many emails, phone calls, office visits and a heritage inspection.

 

We awoke to a warm, sunny morning on Monday. There was time for a

leisurely breakfast as Vicki, Conor, Mick and Gary from Parks were not due

onsite until 9:00. Conor arrived first and after unhitching one of the three

trailers of gear, headed back to Dargo, with Mal and Greg to collect and load

up a second trailer. This highlighted the difficult logistics of these

activities as everything has to be brought in over long distances on narrow

roads. Mick and Gary arrived next closely followed by Vicki in one of the new

Mercedes g-wagons towing a third trailer.

 

Following the essential safety briefing work began.

 

Three concrete fire rings were to be constructed. Using the steel

outer form ring as a template the circular ring is marked out. The area is dug

out, bedding sand is spread, the outer and inner steel form rings are put in place,

steel reinforcing mesh is cut and placed in the ring, cement is mixed in the

cement mixer and shovelled into the ring, the final step is working the cement

to create a smooth surface that will last for many years. Once the cement is

dry the form rings are removed, not always easy, and soil is added to the

outside of the ring so there is not a trip hazard.

 

Three table and seat sets were to be assembled and installed. These

sets are constructed by Parks staff at Heyfield. Onsite they have to be assembled,

legs cut to size, holes for the legs dug, legs cemented into place, tops fitted

and the whole lot given another coat of very messy decking oil.

 

Our volunteers have become expert in the construction of these Park

assets. We have now installed them at Eaglevale, Talbotville, Horseyard Flat

and McMichaels Hut.

 

Hot and weary club members had most of the work finished by late

afternoon. Some went for a wallow in the river while others sat in the shade

with a well earned cool drink. A small brown snake had to be asked to leave the

camping area in the afternoon and with a bit of herding it headed into the long

grass.

 

A retired couple camped near one of the fire ring sites have been

“on the road” for four years, their only home being a Land Cruiser tray and a

swag. They had some great tales of their minimal gear travels.

 

The club provided Monday night’s dinner. A bar-b-que with a variety

of meats, plenty of salads, bread, sauces and a variety of desserts all

finished off with chocolates and a fumble around to find the Turkish Delights

in the dark.

 

While the dinner was being cooked Alan Harlow, Jan and John

disappeared and a short time later three beautiful mountain maidens appeared

and danced around the campfire tempting the rest of us with their sultry moves

and winning smiles. Conor bravely tried to ignore the tempting damsels but the

Irishman held a fascination for the three lovelies. Strange things occur in the

mountains.

 

After a troubled sleep interrupted by dreams of bearded women, we

woke up to another beautiful morning. As much of the work had been completed

and rain was forecast for late in the day it was decided to do a drive up and

down Billy Goat Bluff Track. Billy Goat Bluff is a double black diamond rated

track and has one of the longest and steepest climbs in the Alps. Conor lead

the way in the g-wagon, Vicki was tail end Charlie in the dual cab Land

Cruiser. Club cars were Craig driving his amazing Perentie, David in the yellow

V8 90, Bob driving his Discovery 4, Mal with his brand new very well set up red

Isuzu MUX and Greg in his Discovery 4. Other club members filled passenger

seats in the vehicles.

 

At the base of the track a new sign blade was fitted. Almost as soon

as we started the track we knew it was going to be a challenging drive. The dry

conditions had turned much of the steep surface to bulldust like powder, the

roll-overs (open culverts) were badly chewed up meaning it was essential to

pick a good line. As Vicki later observed, it was the first time she has used

both diff locks on a climb. The track surface improved after the helipad. The

best approach to the climb was to drive on the rocky sections where there was

much better traction. The views, through the dust, were stunning but we could

see the clouds building up. All our vehicles negotiated the ascent without any

drama. The return down Billy Goat was punctuated by stops for convoys of

vehicles from the ACT and NSW heading up.

 

Back at camp, after a quick lunch, work was completed with an eye to

the approaching storm clouds. Once the work was finished Ross got out his

vibrantly coloured Chinese kites and flew them above the campsite, no doubt

confusing the resident bird life. There was more swimming to wash off the work

grime. We were joined for afternoon tea by Park Rangers Jenny and Sam. They had

been in Wonnangatta Valley conducting a plant survey. Sam was delighted to see

the picnic tables he had built, with his improved design, in place beside the

river. Earlier in the day we had seen Adam from Parks looking for weeds to be

eradicated along waterways.

 

Dinner was a camp oven meal prepared by Vicki. A radio call from

Area Chief Ranger Mike Dower warned us of the approaching high winds,

thunderstorms and rain. Vicki’s stew served with damper rolls was delicious,

the dessert of golden syrup dumplings with custard or cream was superb. The

heavens opened just as the meal was finished causing an exodus to tents and

awnings. With the rain easing off we gathered around the campfire again only to

be driven back into shelter a little after nine.

 

The pack up on Wednesday morning was a wet affair as there had been

some very heavy rain during the early hours of the morning. Lots of gear to dry

out when we got home. Despite the rain everyone seemed to have a well earned

sleep. Vicki and Conor left first with two trailers leaving one for Bob and

Annette to tow back to Dargo. After the obligatory group photo we made our way

home. Some folk detoured to Dargo for a coffee and really tasty egg and bacon

pies made by the new store owners.

 

Our four days had been a great success. All the planning had paid

off. Eaglevale looks much better now this stage has been completed. Like our

work at Talbotville it will probably be a two stage project, working on the

area where we were camped, next time.

 

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and our fantastic friends at

Parks Victoria Foothills and Southern Alps team, Heyfield and Dargo. The dates

for our three activities with Parks Victoria in 2019 have already been set and

appear in the newsletter.

 

Greg Rose.