Newsletter, November 2010

CONTENTS >

• Editorial Comment
• Member Profile
• Club Nights > Guest Speaker coming
• Photo Competition Rules
• Big Beach Clean-up > We need you!

Welcome to new members:
Alison Aaron & Emily Gee

Download the printed version of the newsletter (6 pages, more photos) as a 0.4-megabyte PDF file. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader or similar program installed on your computer. Broadband connection preferable.)

EDITORIAL COMMENT > Follow The Leader

Springtime was somewhat soggy, so about one third of our tramps were cancelled – but take heart: summer is almost upon us, and with it, the sandflies, suncream and sunny tramping weather. Check out the new trip programme – there’s something there for all ages and stages of fitness.

Since attaching myself to the Committee, I’ve been privy to deep and meaningful discussions on all manner of tramping matters. One such subject dear to my heart is risk management, which the Committee is reviewing.

There have been reports of recent trips where members of the party have separated from the main group. Sometimes they are fitter and faster, and wish to move on at their own pace. Sometimes they have a personal agenda, perhaps to visit an historic relic, or bag a hut, or climb a peak. While the trip leader may reluctantly authorise this, it can put psychological pressure on him/her, as there a number of factors at play here.

Firstly, there’s safety in numbers. The fitter members of a group are the very ones needed most in the event of an emergency.

Secondly, more energy is expended by the leader, worrying and waiting for the missing members. He still feels the responsibility for everybody’s wellbeing, but can no longer monitor this if the party is split into two groups.

Thirdly, the leader usually carries important gear such as maps, GPS, PLB, first aid kit, contact phone numbers, etc., which other trampers may/may not carry.

Fourthly, tramping clubs thrive on the comradierie of suffering privation together, of sharing the good and the bad times, of helping each other out. This sense of togetherness and commitment to one another is somewhat broken when the party is split.

Lastly, the safety and social aspects of tramping in groups are the foundations of why we form and join clubs in the first place.

So … let’s stick together.

Raymond Salisbury > EDITOR
newsletter@maxnet.co.nz

MEMBER PROFILE > Barry James

1. Place of birth: Timaru.
2. Job: Mining Engineer & Organic Apple Orchardist. Currently selling apple & pear wine &photographs. Also voluntary work.
3. Been a member for: 4–5 years.
4. How I’ve benefited from NTC: Getting to places I otherwise would not get to. Also, the comradierie of club nights and club trips.
5. My best trip: Crossing the Tesi Lapcha Pass from Rolwalling valley to Mt Everest.  
6. My worst trip: Big blisters in small boots while walking in to climb Mt Cupola.
7. My scariest moment: Climbing exposed weetbix rock on the lower eastern face of Mt Travers.
8. My favourite tramping hut: The old hut at Lake Sylvester – my base while surveying and prospecting for gold during the 1960s.
9. What wild place would I put at the top of my‘bucket list?’ Mid-summer ascent of the highest peak on a full moon.

2010 CLUB NIGHTS > 7:30pm Nelson Intermediate School, Tipahi Street. Gold Coin.

Monday 6 December: Club Photo Competition> Guest Speaker: Don Pittham

Monday 7 February: Show & Tell

OVERDUE SUBSCRIPTIONS > Please pay!

A number of folk have lapsed membership ... remember to pay your subscription!

PHOTO COMPETITION RULES >

Date: Monday 6 December. Place: Nelson Intermediate School staffroom, Titipahi Street, Nelson. Time: 7.30pm. Guest Judge: Don Pittham

National Competition:
The club competition is aligned with the national competition. The winners from our club will have their photos sent off to Wellington. National winners will have their photos printed in the FMC Bulletin, and receive prizes.

Rolling Slideshow:

A rolling slideshow will also be held at the club night of pics people submit to Pat Holland by e-mail before 5 December. Images should be no larger than 1024 x 728 pixels. Mainly entries for the year, but could include other favourite images. Email: P.T.Holland@xtra.co.nz

Revised Format:
All photos need to meet the following criteria for judging by Don:
•  Prints must be 6 x 4 inches in size.
•  Photos are to have been taken within the past 12 months.
•  No manipulated photos (except for cropping & sharpening.)Exception is category 7 below
•  Person submitting the photo must be person who has set up the photo.
•  Entries are limited to three prints / per category / per person
•  First Place-getters from each category will receive a voucher. 1st, 2nd & 3rd get a certificate.
• On the back of the print put the category and the title of the picture.
• Do not include the name of the entrant.

Categories:
1. Landscape (no people)
This includes wide angle shots (which may even be predominantly sea or sky) or an ‘in your face’ close-up (a rock in a stream or part of a tree). What’s important is that the feel of the landscape which is being captured comes through in the image. It’s acceptable to include man-made structures (huts, power lines, sign posts, etc.) providing they add to the scene.

2. Hut or Camp Life (including portraits)

3. Above the bushline (people allowed)

4. Below the bushline (people allowed)

5. Nature flora & fauna (no people)
Informative, artistic images showing non-domestic flora and fauna (so no garden roses, cats or dogs). Geological or meteorological phenomena, (e.g. dramatic clouds, formations or details of rock strata are also acceptable if they are accurately titled). Ensure that the shot is as sharp as you can make it, that the subject is large in the picture and that the background is not intrusive. The ‘hand of man’ should be avoided – no fences, power lines, buildings, etc. Try to give an accepted common name, or a formal Latin name for the title.

6. Historic
Pre-1980, featuring an aspect of club life. Black & white encouraged but not essential.

7. Anything Goes (Not an FMC category – just NTC.)
Includes humour and manipulated images. Also, larger format prints, panoramics, and shots older than 12 months can be submitted here.

8. People’s Choice (Not an FMC category – just NTC.)
Attendees vote on their favourite amongst all the pictures on offer.

Winning photos from previous year’s competitions can be viewed on the Photo Galleries webpage.

BIG BEACH CLEAN UP > 20 November – Delaware Bay – 6.4 km – Easy

Jo Kay, Phone: 544 9666   

A big community spring clean of Tasman Bay beaches and other coastal areas between Marahau and Cable Bay is planned in time for summer, involving 50 beaches.

The Big Beach-Clean-up is a chance for us to come together as a community to clear rubbish from our beaches to make them safer, more attractive and enjoyable for ourselves, our visitors and wildlife.

I have registered the tramping club for Delaware Bay which is the 6.4km of estuary coastline at the back of Cable Bay around the south section of Peppin Is and the south side of the estuary around Bishop Peninsular. I hope we’ll be able to provide our target of 15+ volunteers to clean this coastline while enjoying each other’s company and the scenery.

The official time of the clean up is between 11 am and 3 pm with all rubbish to be delivered to the collection site at Tahunanui Park by 4pm followed by a sausage sizzle where we can sit back and relax knowing that we have contributed to helping our community and the environment. If the weather is disagreeable, it will be postponed till the next day, 21 November.