Huts rebuilding program connects mountain families
Media release - Wednesday, April 2 2008
Like many historians Graham Scully was devastated by the 2003 fires. A Canberra resident and member of the Kosciuszko Huts Association since the 1980s Graham had lived through a number of battles to preserve the huts, but the actual destruction of 19 of the high country huts in the massive fire presented another new challenge.
"Our members were devastated and very depressed, however it increased our determination to have a huts rebuilding program included in the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management review that was due.
"Often out of a crisis comes a real change and the new Kosciuszko Plan of Management, plus changes in heritage conventions and the huts conservation strategy – when they were released - were welcomed as they set a blueprint for the future conservation of the huts."
Graham says his first encounter with the huts was in the late 1980s when ski-touring up in the mountains during a blizzard.
"The blizzard was so strong it was impossible to pitch tents so we packed up and sheltered in Seamans Hut. In the huts there were some leaflets about the huts and the Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) and I thought I had to help this organisation.
"In the hut's logbook the tragedy associated with the building of the hut was mentioned. I'd heard the story of Laurie Seaman and Evan Hayes before but being in the hut the story of the two men who’d lost their lives in 1929 descending the summit really resonated.
"Laurie Seaman was found huddled behind a large rock 19 paces behind the hut which was built in his memory. He'd died of hypothermia while waiting for his mate to descend, but of course Evan Hayes never made it either.
"I did history at university and became interested in who built the huts and who used them. I then joined KHA and became a committee member in 1988. I found it an organisation of fantastic people."
Graham said he then began his own research into the history of the high country and the huts, inspired by KHA members such as Klaus Hueneke who in 1995 placed four volumes of Kosciuszko Oral History in the National Library.
"I started in the Snowy Plains area and have never left. The area is so rich with stories and history."
He said some of the highlights of his research had been marking the graves of a number of children.
"In 1988 an old fellow Harold Hedger wanted to mark the grave of a little girl who had died in the 1880s of appendicitis, the child’s father had been a shepherd. It was one of Harold’s last acts before he too died and we got approval to mark the grave.
"Since then there have been four other graves, two children and two gold miners and it’s been only through the knowledge of stockmen in the area that this has been able to happen.
"I find the people who have worked in the mountains really genuine people, they are not overloaded with information like I am, at night they sit around and they talk about their families and mates and tell stories about dogs and different characters.
"Their memories of those early times are incredible."
Graham said through the huts rebuilding program the National Parks and Wildlife Service is welcoming families back to the region.
"The connection has been restored. People feel so positive now with the new plan of management and the huts conservation strategy."
He said still on his personal wish list is the restoration of Boltons Hut on the Finn River, which has been destroyed twice now and which isn’t part of the current rebuilding program.
Researching the history of the area also remains a passion and Graham said he's always happy to talk to people from the mountains about their recollections and families. Graham with Jim Hart heads up the KHA's history sub-group which is working away collecting history not only on huts but on the community attached to hut sites. This also includes identifying trails used by Indigenous and early pioneers though Kosciuszko and Namadgi National Parks.
The new Delanys Hut will be opened this weekend on Saturday 5th April. This is the 3rd hut to be rebuilt with two others Geehi and Old Geehi reconstructed soon after the fires. Over 180 people attended the opening of Patons Hut last weekend. Anyone wishing to attend the opening of Delanys Hut can contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service office at Tumut on 69477000.
Media inquiries: Tonia Liosatos