Scotch College

Wanangatta to Mt Sterling: 50 years on

After reminiscing at an OSCA function, Keith Oliver (’55) and Doug Johnson (’56) decide to re-trace their steps from Wanangatta to Mt Sterling.

Words: Tim Johnson • Junior School staff

When Keith Oliver (’55) and Doug Johnson (’56) happened to meet at an OSCA function, they reminisced about an adventurous walk they had undertaken in January 1956, as members of 1st Hawthorn Senior Scout Group.

Together with Roger Jones (’55) and Geoff Paton (’55), Keith and Doug had walked up the Wanangatta Valley, over the Great Dividing Range at Mt Howitt and on to Mt Sterling.

‘What about doing it again?’ Keith and Doug asked each other. They contacted the others, and although Roger and Doug thought they could probably get fit enough to repeat it, after consideration Keith and Geoff decided the walk would really be a little too tough.

I’m Doug’s son and I’m now teaching Year 2 in the Junior School. I not only wanted to come, but I didn’t mind carrying the tent and a few extras! Roger, living in Brisbane, had a hill at the back of his house which he climbed twice a day for many weeks to get fit. Doug carried a pack containing bricks weighing 20kg on his regular 5km walk.

The hike took six days, and we covered about 106km. Along the way were numerous river crossings and some very steep sections, notably an absolute shocker – the Zeeka Creek track, which quickly rises a very steep 800 metres: a real test for the oldies.

At one point Roger became quite ill with gastroenteritis, but after a good night’s sleep he was able to continue the walk next morning.

Great support during the hike came from two friends, Kathy and Foster, who met us at Macalister Springs with very welcome steak and red wine; and from Keith Oliver, one of the original four hikers, who had declined the walk but kindly offered to meet us and drive us home.

You may be wondering why Dad and Roger decided to repeat such a strenuous hike at their age. Were the excruciatingly sore feet, multiple blisters and backache worth it for sedentary workers/retirees? Of course, their answer to this question is ‘yes’.

Apart from the sense of achievement, there is no other way to experience the magnificent beauty of our bush – the untouched stands of tall alpine ash, the clear unpolluted mountain streams, the rocky outcrops and the grassy saddles. Walking enables one to experience the bush at ground level – to feel part of it and its history rather than to invade it. There is nothing like it. For Dad and Roger, the memories and the sense of achievement live on. For me, the opportunity to share some of my father’s memories was an honour.