Our 2007 Christmas picnic/walk was great fun. The day was a bit dreary but the 30 attendees enjoyed each other's company and the location, Putney Park, was perfect.

For our first event in 2008, 22 members met at Dee Why and walked south along Curl Curl Beach and around the headland for lunch at Freshwater. It was a beautiful day and several of the group enjoyed a few swims along the way.

The February walk saw 10 intrepid members brave the wild Sydney weather for a (normally picturesque) walk from Circular Quay to Waverton. This walk provides great harbour views and gives you access into areas of Sydney only possible by foot. We had first hand evidence of the health of Sydney Harbour when, at Blues Point, we watched a fisherman hook a beautiful 1 metre Kingfish. It was so heavy he could not get it out of the water and up onto the sea-wall.

BROKEN DAM HUT

Prior to1998, skiers attempting the famous Kiandra to Kosciusko ski traverse would aim for Broken Dam Hut to spend their first night out. Unfortunately in 1998 it was lost to fire. Since that time the Kosciusko Huts Association (KHA) has lobbied for it to be rebuilt. One of KHA's driving forces for the rebuild was our very own Rex Cox. I'm pleased to report that during 2007 the hut was rebuilt and the official opening ceremony was held on 15th December, 2007. On the morning of the opening Rex was lost for words (a rare event !) when the NPWS asked him to cut the official ribbon.

In the 2003 fires, a total of 19 huts were either destroyed or severely damaged Broken Dam is the first of seven huts scheduled for rebuilding as part of the NPWS Historic Huts Management Plan. The others are -

• Delaney's
• Paton's
• Brook's
• O'Keefe's
• Pretty Plain
• Boobee.

Delaney's should also be completed soon.