Gundabooka National Park, NSW, 6th-11th September 2009

This background article on the 2009 AWSRG Workshop by Andrew Skeoch appears in the current issue of AudioWings.
Updated information on catering arrangements, final costs and booking added 29/01/2009.

After researching suggested venues for next year's gathering, which involved Howard Plowright and I on a week-long expedition to outback NSW recently, our proposal for a 'Back'o'Bourke' nature sound experience has been put to the committee and accepted.

Our gathering for 2009 will be held at Gundabooka National Park, about an hour's drive southwest of Bourke in central northern NSW. It is a remote, arid-zone park, encompassing extensive plains of mixed mallee, mulga and belah forest. At its centre is an impressive synclinal geological feature with rocky escarpments and secluded gorges.

We will be based at the shearer's quarters of old 'Belah' station (30º 33' 26.92"S, 145º 35' 39.55"E), now offered by the Dept. of Environment for the hire of guests. Facilities are basic, but quite enough for our needs with a little adaptation to local conditions. The quarters are a typical, rustic, tin-roof building and there are extensive opportunities for camping/vanning in surrounding mulga woodlands.

One of the advantages of Gundabooka is that it is on the edge of the outback. The kind of landscapes, birdlife and recording opportunities available here are a taste of what can be found further west. There are a range of habitats across the park, including extensive stands of mallee and mulga, stately belah trees, grasslands and woodlands. Birdlife can be quite prolific, with a rich dawn chorus, and a broad mix of dry-country species such as Splendid Fairy Wrens, Red-capped Robins, Emus, Chats, Spotted Bowerbird, Crested Bellbirds etc. It would depend on the rainfall, but there are several gorges and creek lines, and we heard a few frog species calling, including green and desert tree frogs. Huge Red Kangaroos frequent the mulga.

Much of this can be encountered simply by walking around the shearer's quarters, but relatively short drives can take one into varying habitats, such as mulga, open woodlands and stone/creekline/gorge country. If one wanted to take in areas surrounding the park, such as the Darling River and adjacent plains country, there would be many more species possible, including wetland/riverine species.

The park is pretty free of any noise pollution. There is a public camping area, but no one visited the days we stayed there. Depending upon where you are, one may occasionally hear some passing road noise in the far distance, but we didn't find it a problem. And only on one occasion did I notice a light plane flying overhead.

Accommodation options

There are the 12 single beds in 6 rooms in the shearer's quarters. These are basic, but clean and the beds look comfortable enough. Depending upon the demand for indoor accommodation, rooms can be shared or single. Please note that if you want to stay in these rooms you will NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN LINEN AND PILLOWS. As rooms are limited in number, they will be allocated on a first come/first served basis, so if you are sure you will want indoor accommodation, please advise Andrew as soon as you are able.

Camping can be done in the mulga woodlands that surround the building. There are extensive areas to park vehicles in and to tuck oneself away in the scrub. Shade is not that dense, as mulga trees are a bit thinly-foliaged, but at the time of year we'll be there, should be fine. There is 240V power to the building, and we envisage running extension cables out to anyone requiring power for campervans.

Catering

Considering that Gundabooka is a remote area, we are lucky to have been recommended a local woman who has a stellar reputation for catering in the Bourke area. Samantha lives on a property only about 50km away, which is right next door in that part of the country. She is very personable, friendly, adaptable...and apparently a wizzo cook!

We have negotiated an arrangement whereby Samantha will visit once daily to prepare a fully-catered evening meal. She will also bring fresh supplies that we can use to make our own breakfasts, lunches and refreshments. These will supplement some basic supplies the group will purchase prior to the workshop.

Breakfast: As members may be returning from recording, breakfast can be a 'make it yourself when ready' affair. The group will purchase items such as cereals, spreads, teas and coffee, and Samantha will keep us stocked with fresh bread, milk, yoghurts etc as required.

Lunch: Similarly, Samantha will leave us with enough fresh supplies the night before for us to put together the following day's lunch. She has suggested breads, salads, cold meats, maybe a few cooked chickens... We will need to organise a daily roster to organise and tidy up.

Evening meal: In the past, our evening meals have been an enjoyable part of our gatherings, so we've concentrated our efforts there. Samantha will prepare a fully-catered meal each evening, beginning Sunday night. There is a BBQ outside, and a large fridge and stove/oven in a reasonably big kitchen, so she should be able to look after us in some style and with a good diversity of options.

Refreshments: The group will provide teas, coffee, biscuits and so on. There is a large urn in the kitchen. Samantha has suggested she may be able to provide cakes on some days.

Note: If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise on booking.

Presentations

Gayle Johnson is preparing the speaker's program. Unfortunately, we've had a disappointment in that Cheryl Tipp, from the British Library, who was scheduled to be with us as a keynote speaker, has advised that she is now unable to attend due to a hectic pile-up of commitments. She hopes to join us in 2011. So members are encouraged to follow other contacts you may have.

Needeless to say, if you would like to give a talk, you are strongly encouraged to get in touch with Gayle and put yourself in the program. We will have the data projector which Howard has purchased for the group, and I shall be bringing my audio setup; amp and speakers. As I said there is 240v, and enough power outlets. People may wish to bring their own laptops, and I may well have my Mac there.

Costs

• Accommodated indoors (sharing 2 person room): AU$395
• Accommodated indoors (single occupancy, if we have space): AU$445
• Camping: AU$370

Fees are for the 5 days, per person, and cover accommodation, venue and facility hire, and full catering. Other expenses, such as travel and personal requirements will of course have to be covered by members. Indoor accommodation, especially single occupancy preferences, are on a first come, first served basis.

Practicalities

Water

This will be something we will need to plan carefully. There are rain water tanks, but water is limited. Also, the septic system is limited, and we won't wish to have it overflow as a result of using it for the week! So, we need to limit the amount of water we use. The lads will be encouraged to water the local bush, and showers will need to be quick affairs. If you are driving in, please consider bringing extra containers of water with you. As there are only 2 toilets, we may also need to hire a portaloo ($300/week) from Bourke and tow it in ourselves.

Weather

As September progresses, the temperatures get hotter, and we were warned that by October, 40∫ daytime temps were possible. Hence our move to schedule the gathering a little earlier in the year than our usual early October timeslot. Whilst weather can be quite variable at this time of year, we can expect warm days (not overly hot, but be prepared), and cool to even downright cold desert nights. Light clothes with some layers for cold nights and appropriate warm bedding seems advisable. Also, it can be quite glarey, with a high UV factor, so bring sunglasses and avoid sunburn with long-sleeve shirts etc.

Getting there

Gundabooka National Park is about an hour's drive SW of Bourke. If driving, it is bitumen all the way until the access road into the park, off the Kidman Way which links Cobar with Bourke. The access road is a west turn from the Kidman Way, about 110km north of Cobar, or 49km south of Bourke. The internal park roads are good dirt, a little bumpy and rough in places, but easily 2WD manageable.

The 'Belah' homestead is about 33km west along the park access track (not 39km as signposted near the entrance). There is a turnoff to the north, which leads about 500m to the old homestead, now a field ranger station, with the shearer's quarters a turn off on the left.

Please note that since publication of the original article Air Link Airways has canceled it's service to Bourke (effective December 19th, 2008). Alternatively, there is a rail line from Sydney to Dubbo, connecting to a bus service on to Bourke. I'm sure we can arrange pick ups from Bourke out to the park. Members may also be able to arrange to pool transport if driving out.

Bookings

Please contact Andrew Skeoch as soon as you are clear you would like to attend. We will endeavour to meet everyone's accommodation preferences, but the sooner you book, the better. Please also advise any dietary requirements.

Andrew Skeoch