b"!TSept 2022 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 18/09/20229:36 pmPage 19 Club Spotlight Joe the group continued the clean-up and was fascinated by the story ofhim moving his house 6 kilometres byhand winch from near the ThompsonRiver to just outside Mountain Townso he could converse with theoccasional traveller.The group returned to MeringtonsFlat camp ground. The next day itwas along Walhalla Road to intoDonnellys Creek Road to Codes Flat where an ancient orchard still grows Ttoday after having been planted in the 1800s.The same family has lived atCodes Flat for over 50 years. Further down Donnelly Creek Roadis Smoko Point, so named afterIdlers 4WD Club soldiers, who were new recruits Ttrained in the area from 1939 to 1945.During their training, they crossed theAberfeldy Aberfeldy River before a steep climb ( Kitty Canes 22 stone to their first resting point where theywould smoke their cigarettes. Some carved their names into the nearbyTrack Cleanup slate. The signage was cleaned andthe vegetation cleared. The memorial which includes some the carved slate - May 2022 - was in good condition and needed no repairs. There are ruins next to the river below Smoko Point, a very pretty spotThe Trip Leaders were Geoff Pontin maintain many historic sites along thealongside the river. The area wasand Maree Wells, with participants Aberfeldy Track with the Idlers twice aSteve McNaughton, Andrea and Ieuan year undertaking the clean up to help quite overgrown and required a bit ofThomas, David Gibson, Robert continue the stories and history of the time to clear using brush cutters.Neumann, Stephen and Fiona gold rush era. Next stop Toombon Mine, one of thelargest mines in West Gippsland andHomans, Paul Scrivener and Rod The group was keen to do thethe deepest outside of Walhalla,Cheetham.voluntary work and also learn aboutwhich produced over 50,844 ouncesThe trip started at the BP truck stop the history of the gold rush era. Tat Officer on Monday 2nd May before Cast Iron Point, so named as it was of gold won from 61,888 tons of ore.heading to Rawson to pick up equip- the collection point for old miningment and onto Meringtons Flat and machinery, which was sent tocamping until Thursday 5th May.Melbourne to beThe crushed and melted T sThe activities to be completed were down to make instruments of war forthe clean up around historic sites on use for World War 1, was the firstKitty Canes 22 stonethe Aberfeldy Track, in particular the stop. The signage was cleaned and ( interpretative signage and sites the vegetation around it cleared. The associated with West Gippsland Relic, view of the Thompson Dam was Smoko PointMining and Heritage Protection Inc., amazing.which was created to protect, restore The same activities were completedand rediscover many of the historical at Kitty Canes grave and the site ofsites in the goldmining area between her hotel.Kitty Canes 22 stone (140 Walhalla and Jamieson, and to go kg) weight posed a problem for thefour wheel driving in Victoria'smag- packhorses that were to carry her to nificent High Country.TAberf y ry. It wasthe eldcemete The Idlers as well as some other decided she be laid to rest here, a 4WD Clubs have arrangements with short distance from her shanty.! Orchard at Codes FlatWest Gippsland Relic, Mining and Further up the Walhalla Road at the Heritage Protection Inc. to clean and house site of Joe Knapping, Holy T Toombon Mine Site The Ts T Kitty Canes 22 stone( T 17TRACKWATCHSEPTEMBER 2022 F!TThe s F"