Walk the Journey

 

Accompanied by local guides,many people took the opportunity to traverse the original Cox’s Road (1814) between Mt York and Glenroy. They walked in the footsteps of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson as they descended Mt York into the beautifully scenic Hartley Valley

Six walks undertaken in May and June of 2013 were a great success, thanks to those instrumental in planning and guiding these walks:

Ramsay and Susie Moodie, Ian Campbell, John Facchina, Duncan Wass

and those who allowed the walkers to pass over their private lands:

Dennis Plink, Connie Adams, Dick and Yvonne Austen, Rosemary and Brad Barber.

 

Click on the image below to join the walk virtually via Diane Green’s SmugMug gallery. These photos were taken on Thursday 30th May 

More images of the walk taken on Sunday 26th May by Matthew Woodhead can be viewed by clicking on the photo below: 

 

 

Many thanks to our supporters, and a special thank you to the owners of the Hartley Vale property and the Austen family of  “Karingal” for their generous support of this event.

also: 

The Hartley Saddlery www.thehartleysaddlery.com.au

Adam’s Shed Landmark Hartley 02 6355 2096

BTW Communications www.btw.com.au

Restoration Online www.restorationonline.com.au

Madjestic Tours www.madjestictours.com.au

Lithgow Valley Springs  sales@lithgowvalleysprings.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some views of Walking the Cox’s Road taken by David Hirsch 

 

Comments from Participants

 

We just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the Bicentennial Celebrations and to thank you and the 1813 Committee of the Progress Association for the excellent work in bringing it all together.

We saw the Governor opening the art gallery and the walk up to the Hartley Tor and we were very impressed with the Moment in Time exhibit.  We put our names down to get the book, which is a particularly good idea.  Of course we were at the flypast as well and we also took in the opening of the Crossings Room at Mt Victoria train station.

The highlight of the whole thing, though, was the walk along Cox’s Road which we did on 9 June.  The weather was perfect, the company was pleasant and the commentary was very enlightening.  We know how much work our neighbour Ian Campbell put into this and hope the he gets the recognition due to him for all of his efforts.  After Chris Bird he would appear to be the new “elder” of Hartley.  He is a font of knowledge about the area and his commitment to the community is extraordinary.  It was terrific to hear the stories of his tough life growing up here in the 40s and 50s.  It makes us all appreciate how easy we have it!

We understand that thanks are also in order to Dick Austen who allowed the walkers access across his land.  And of course a big thank you also goes to Ramsay and Susie Moodie for their excellent organisation and commentary during the walk.  They are real pillars of the community.

We bought our place here in Hartley (opposite Ian and Judy Campbell’s house, next to the old bridge) four years ago.  It’s the best thing we’ve ever done.  We really love it up here and we have been made to feel very welcome in the community.  It really is an extraordinary part of the country full of exceptional people.

Kind regards,

DAVID HIRSCH and DONNA O’CONNOR