The committee is still meeting monthly with an average attendance of 10. There have also been several meetings conducted with other groups e.g. NPWS. Discussions have continued to be positive, more about this further in this newsletter. Many thanks to those of you who have continued to offer your tireless support and travel many kilometres to keep the flag flying. The committee now truly believe we maybe actually taking some positive direction toward our aims & objectives. This is particularly evident with recent request for maps and information of old trails and places of heritage value for our families, friends & future generations.

HERITAGE

Our committee has gathered a large selection of maps and information on tracks & campsites near and far.

At our last meeting the committee decided to put out a series of booklets on Heritage Trails &. campsites. We have started files on numerous Tacks in different areas. The files commenced are:

• Gilberts Gap, Con's Gap. Grigg' Gap, Tilly Anne's Gap ….. these are on tracks in the Sassafras to Milton area.

• The Shoebridge Track, Wyambene and Araluen/Moruya pack track.

• W.D. Tarlington track, George Rankin pack track, Yowrie to Belowra via The Junctions, SW Sate track,

• Bendethra to Pidgeon Gully, the Zig Zag, Belowra to Bendethra, Aulla Creek to Woolla Creek, Cudgee to Moodong Creek. Fairfield to Alpine, The Jump Up.

• Wog Wog track, Miners Track Budawang to Brimbamella, Coorang to Sally's Creek, Charley's Forest to Clyde River via Currockbilly.

If you can contribute, even in a small way, we would be grateful to receive your Information. A lot of small history events can build into a worthwhile historical record. The cost of compiling & printing any information is expensive. We will need to have a small charge on these publications in order to recover costs.

THE NPWS

An extraordinary event took place in recent weeks....

The NPWS rangers and some Access For All committee members actually worked together to clear and tidy up the Com Trail. We arc hoping this is a positive sign for both sides to co-operate and support each other in keeping our heritage alive & well in the bush. The report on the Access of South East Escarpment within the NPWS parks is out. Please take time to read it and have your say on this report. A copy is available from the NPWS at Narooma. If Access for All can help you with your thoughts or you have some constructive comments, let us use your ideas. Our past Access For ALL submission on this report was not included in the recent Escarpment report...while we seem to advance in some areas with the NPWS we go back a step or two with others...ever get the feeling someone is trying to be the big boss!! How they forget we pay to keep them employed,

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT

The committee has experienced a good year with the management of our small budget. The sale of our calendars has been a great success. Many thanks to our sponsors. If anyone can help with the sale of the calendars left or would like to purchase one, please contact a Committee member.

At our last meeting 5/2/05 , our treasurer reported a surplus of $3561.27. This is after all expenses have been paid for our calendar, monies received from raffles and memberships. Our memberships continue to rise steadily. Thank you to all who support us, new applications come in at almost every meeting. Remember if you know of someone wishing to become a member they must be nominated by a member of Access For All before it can be passed by the committee. We try to attend as may events as possible to put forward member's views. The Eurobodalla Show in January and the Braidwood Show in March were two enjoyable days. Many thanks to Gary Gowen & Reg Webb for man handling the tent!

OUR WEBSITE

We continue to apologise for this site. Jeanette Hindmarsh & Joan Webb are diligently attending web site classes and hope to have something new on the site within the next few weeks. Thankyou to the Communication Technology Centre in Braidwood and Veronica McClure for her continued assistance.

 UPCOMING EVENTS

EASTER. SCHOOL HOLIDAYS & ANZAC LONG WEEK-END

Enjoy them driving, riding, walking or bike riding through the bush & camping at your favourite camp site.

Remember if you are in a National Park, it is your National Park so treat it with the same respect you have for something of your own which you value and wish to keep.

• COMMITTEE CONTACTS

Access for All Fax: (02) 48464014

Chairman: Neil Waddell (02) 4846 4056

Secretary: Garry Gowen 041 6268 964

Treasurer: Terry Hart (02) 4842 2710

Asst Treasurer: Jenette Hindmarsh (02) 4847 1115

Membership Recorder: Joan Webb (02) 4842 8047

AFA Inc. LOCKED BAG 10 BRAIDWOOD NSW 2622

E-Mail address – jinden@braidwood.net.au

Website-http://www.accessforall.asn.au

LATE INTERESTING INFORMATION

NPWS: In recent weeks the Monga National Park has been increased and a large area on the north coast as well. In the north west of the state, the long awaited outcome of the Brigalow South Bioregion assessment has still not been released by the government. We feel for these people whom this will affect. These communities have had their whole life put on hold for over 2 years, waiting for the bureaucrats to reach a decision!! How many thousands of hectares of Park will come out of this? What happened to the Regional Forest Agreement? How much are all these Parks costing the community? It now appears there is a strong push for more wilderness areas in the south east. We were told after the last round that this would be the final call for wilderness HOW CAN WE BELIEVE ANYONE??

Access for All had another meeting with senior NPWS staff on 15th March. The meeting covered a number of issues including access, management and the role we can play in improving joint co-operation.