On April 14, 2018, saw the long-awaited book launch by NPWS and Access for All at "Cadgee" of the book, “Tracks in the Wilderness”. It was a wonderful success.
So much work had gone into getting everything perfect out at Cadgee that nothing could have gone wrong. The grass was mowed, the paddocks slashed, the caravan polished, firewood collected, the tents erected, the food ordered, the guests invited, the horses arrived, the river sparkled and the sun shone: quite hotly actually, so we appreciated those shade tents!
Guests, including the interviewees and their families, descendants of the pioneering settlers, friends, club members, horse riders and past and present staff from the NPWS, as well as the book’s authors and researchers, arrived throughout the morning and gathered around the camp fire for refreshments. A BBQ sizzle was provided for lunch and then the official part of the day began.
Cath and Rob arranged for the horses and riders to make a grand entrance leading pack horses and having descendants of the original settlers continuing the tradition of using the bridle tracks by riding through the paddocks to the ceremony under the big apple gum tree at the camp. Over 85 guests sat in the shade and the horses lined up quietly in the foreground behind the microphone and provided the perfect backdrop for the guest speakers.
Many congratulations and thanks were expressed by the Parks staff, to the oral history interviewer, as well as family members whose stories were used in the oral histories that were the basis for the book. Richard Tarlinton made a beautiful speech outlining his family history and called “for the National Parks to now maintain and encourage the use of the tracks for riders and bushwalkers and any other Australians”. He closed by hoping that we never forget the pioneering men and women who lived out in isolation and used the tracks for their livelihood and opened up this special part of the country.
Friends, family and descendants enjoy the launch of the book at Cadgee camp.
Afterwards guests lingered over a delicious afternoon tea, cakes, scones and cool drinks, the horses were put away and relaxing and reminiscing with friends around the camp and river was the order of the day. Garry Gowen and the Hart family stoked up the fires, mixed up secret ingredients for the stuffing, cooked acres of food in camp ovens and pots and entertained us with their experience and skills over the fire, along with lots of drinks and hilarity from all the reminiscing going on around the camp fire. A beautiful meal was then presented and carved and everyone sat down at the long tables under the camp shelter for dinner. Afterwards with the washing up done and the fire stoked up for warmth another memorable evening passed around the fire as gradually the camp settled to sleep.
For the guests staying, Sunday breakfast was provided by the Wanderas members and then Brian led a ride out for friends and some of the NPWS staff. Rob Mc Kinnon and his wife, Nea Ann, were both lucky enough to be lent Peter and Mary’s nice quiet horses that we had borrowed for them previously and the Acting Manager, Pam O’Brien rode Inca. We took them across the river many times and through parts of the old bridle tracks and even along the route of the original route to Melbourne before the highway was finished. Everyone had a nice ride and the horses all behaved well for the different riders. A quick wash in the river and a lunch of yummy leftovers was enjoyed by all and we then packed up and made our way back home after another successful and thoroughly enjoyable weekend at Cadgee.
