Tasmanian Field Naturalists' 
Club 
EASTER CAMP OUT, 1917 
By Clive E. Lord, Hon. Secretary. 
The Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club 
held its 13th annual Easter camp during 
the recent holidays. The ramping party 
numbered 33, which was not large when 
compared with some of the camps held 
before the war. It was none the less en¬ 
joyable. however, and ns a social func¬ 
tion a small camp is more enjoyable than 
a large one. The weather experienced 
during the camp was not of the best, but 
this was perhaps owing to the fact that 
the catnp was the 13tli Easter excursion 
organised by the club. There was only 
one day that was too rainy to allow ex¬ 
cursions into tiie bush, and fall advan¬ 
tage was taken of the remainder in or¬ 
der to explore the district and noteobjeets 
of interest. 
Last year an advance party left before 
the main body iu order to prepare the 
camp, and so sutcessful was the experi¬ 
ment that the same plan was adopted this 
year. On Wednesday morning, April -1, 
an advance party at nine members left 
Hobart by the s.s. Ueemere, taking with 
them tiie whole of the camp impedimenta. 
A smooth passage was experienced, and 
the party reached the beach at the en¬ 
trance to Wedge Bay shortly after noon. 
Boats were soon lowered away, and these, 
together with Mr. Wade’s boats, conveyed 
all the luggage atdio.-e. Bullock drays 
were waiting, and were loaded up. and 
the party set out for the camp site, which 
was about half-n-mile from the beach, 
alongside a fine running ereelf. While the 
location of the varioii.; tents was being 
decided upon by the club officials the 
ladies of the party prepared an ill fresco 
luncheon, which was partaken of under 
the shade of flip spreading gums, and was 
much enjoyed by all. Immediately after 
lunch a start was made with the erection 
of the lents. and this work was carried 
on until darkness fell. After a welcome 
meal, some members of the advance party 
gathered round the camp fire and made 
plans for completing th - camp the next 
day, while others went fishing in the bay, 
and were very successful. 
On Thursday morning early rising was 
the order of tile day, and the axes were 
swinging merrily soon after breakfast. 
A large shelter was erected for a dining 
tent, as well as sixteen smaller tents for 
the use of the members. The whole camp 
was in order by lunch time, and after 
doing justice to an excellent repast the 
members spent the afternoon in exploring 
the vicinity of the camp. 
At the entrance to the Bay stands 
Wedge Island. This island was first re¬ 
corded by Hayes, who caked it Queen Is¬ 
land. but Scott, in 1824, gave it the name 
of Wedge, and this is now the name by 
which it is generally known. Passing 
Hie island (lie sheltered waters of the 
Bay are entered, and at the eastern end 
the township of Nubeena is situated. Its 
position is not discernible from the main 
bay, as its buildings are ranged along the 
shores of a small and almost land-locked 
sheet of water known as Parson’s Bay, 
which really forms the head of Wedge 
Bay. On the south-western shores of the 
outer bay is a sheltered cot ?, where Air. 
.1. F. Wade has formed his home, while 
between this cove and a fine stretch of 
white sandy beach, Cripp’s Creek enters 
the sea. It was along tiie hanks of this 
creek at a distance of about lialf-a-mile 
from its mouth that the camp was pitch¬ 
ed in an ideal locality. Tiie ground rose 
sharply from the creek's bed, and then 
formed a fairly Hat area of land, covered 
with bracken and scrub in places, and oc¬ 
casional gurus and other giants of the 
forest. Around this arena were grouped 
sheltering hills Mount Spaulding was 
close to the camp in a south-westerly 
direction, while in the opposite view the 
summit of Mount Clark rose clear above 
the surrounding hills. 
After tea a large fire was set ablaze, 
anti preparations made to welcome the 
main party. The majority of the camp¬ 
ers left Hobart at 7 p.m. on Thursday 
evening, and reached tire camp about H 
p.m,, where they found supper awaiting 
them. After supper they were soon in¬ 
stalled in their new abodes. 
