Bob Crombie, founder of the Wallumarra Track, led this OFF walk to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wallumarra Track in the Royal National Park. The track showcases the huge range of biodiversity in the Royal from heath and swamp land, to tall forests and a rain forest along the pretty Bola Creek.
Thank you Bob for sharing your extensive knowledge of the plant and animal life, and geology of the area with 20 OFF members and friends. Lovely to have Zhi Soon MP, Member for Banks on the walk. Thank you to Catherine Reynolds who organised the series of commemorative walks with Friends of the Royal National Park and Australian Plants Society Sutherland Group
We all learnt a little of how to be “bewildered”, opening up to the natural world and all that it offers. The Dharawal people have a particular connection to the cabbage tree palms of this area. Wallumarra means “to educate” or “protect”.
Note: information from Bob Crombie is that the name of the track is correctly spelt Wallumarra (despite being spelt Walumarra on the track signs), as this is the original name given in 1975 by NPWS Superintendent Ken Ayers.
PROMO
Fifty years ago a new special ‘Education Trail’ was created in the Royal National Park, the Wallumarra Track. Walumarra means “education” or “to protect”, and was chosen as a mark of respect for Aboriginal people and their connection to the park. The track was created by NPWS ranger naturalist Bob Crombie to take students to see a diversity of landscapes. This walk is one of a series of walks to celebrate the beauty of the track, and to value the continuing importance of environmental education.
Meet at 9:30am at carpark on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive at southern end of Lady Carrington Drive (Forest Path) so we can car pool to the beginning of the Walumarra Track for 10am start. Numbers limited. Bookings essential via OFF email oatleyff@gmail.com. Bring lunch, snacks, water, hat, appropriate shoes. Approximatley 5km one-way.