06/05/2026. Flax Clearing Day. Combined. Leaders: John Gardiner and Graham Thurlow
With a few slightly contradictory weather forecasts for the day, seventeen Taieri Recreational Tramping Club (TRTC) members, met with five Green Hut Track Group (GHTG) volunteers at Memorial Park car park.
After the initial meet n greet, which included a welcome to perspective new member, Richard, we were soon travelling, in a convoy of eight cars, on the Whare Flat Road. Six Brush Cutters (Machines), some with “cutting head” options for grass or flax, were used during the day. Five being manned by GHTG friends, the other by TRTC’s Graham Thurlow.
With somewhat complicated logistics involved, we essentially split into two main groups. For the purpose of explanation, I will call them; team one and team two:-
Team one, consisted of four Machines in total, with two of the Machines working downhill on Smithy’s track,
having walked uphill to start from the McQuilkans/Smithy’s junction. Another two machines started at the bottom of Smithy’s track, working uphill.
These teams all meeting, with the completion of Smithy’s track clearing. Six TRTC members contributed by bush clearing with hand tools, cutting and raking. Team one enjoyed lunch at the Smithy’s/ McQuilkans junction as the rain began. Well done team one!
Team two, consisted of two Machines, and started from Swampy Summit, working down Swine Spur track. Eleven TRTC members involved in flax clearing, particularly near the summit, and again with hand tools, bush clearing, cutting and raking, behind the Machines, as they descended on Swine Spur track.
The hope being to get Swine Spur completed to the Possum Busters track junction. A huge effort saw Swine Spur track completed by a good 90% down to “the bog” (about two thirds down) before the weather changed. At least one weather forecast for the day was right, because at about 12.00 noon the rain, which could be seen coming from the South, hours before, finally arrived. This curtailed our efforts for the day, and it was a case of getting back to the cars, and heading home.
This is the first time the TRTC and the GHTG have combined on a track clearing day of this nature. From TRTC members , and their perspective as track users generally, a big thank-you to the GHTG for not only this day’s efforts , but all their efforts, in track clearing throughout the region. In the little band I was with, speaking to our GHTG Machine operator, he expressed the “kick” he got out of seeing people using the tracks he’s helped clear, and the frequent appreciation conveyed to him by track users. I’m sure the day proved to be mutually beneficial, on many levels, to both groups. all who participated deserving of a big thank-you.
John Gardiner
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.