Paul "Borstal" Ellis

There's not much about me I can tell you, as you've probably read my profile at Barney's Den. However, the nickname 'Borstal' was given to me by Craig & Gary during a 1986 walk in the Blue Mountains near Sydney (See photo "Borstal Boy Goes Bush" on main page) With the crewcut, stomach, knife and boots, they reckoned I looked like an escapee from a Borstal - which was a prison in England for juvenile delinquents - the nickname stuck for many years. The photo above was taken at the summit of Mt St Gwinear during the 2019 AAWT hike in Victoria.

Gary "Squeak" Williams

Gary Williams is co-founder of the Wombats. Together he and I formed the club in 1979 as a base to follow our shared interests. Eventually this was reduced to just bushwalking. Gary got his nickname due to a throat complaint that gave his vocal chords a permanent high pitched quality and the poor devil has been the butt of all our jokes over the years, but to his credit, he takes it all very well and gives plenty back. The photo above was taken during the 2012 weekend at Mittagong and shows him standing outside the historical Coke Tunnel on the side of Mount Alexandra.

Craig "Pete Bogg" Rayner

Craig Rayner is my bushwalking "Mentor". Many years ago he was responsible for getting the Wombats away from the car camping scene and into serious wilderness bushwalking. If there is an easy and a hard way to do something during a bushwalk, Craig would always take the latter option, with his usual cry of "Makes it more fun". Craig got his nickname after a cartoon we placed in our newsletter that featured him in a not too complimentary situation. Pete Bogg comes from the term "Peat Bog". Craig has recently got back into bushwalking after many years away. This picture was taken of Craig during a walk to Big Hole and Marble Arch in the Deua in 2016.

Dave "Turtle" Aldridge

Dave Aldridge has been one of my longest-serving friends. We met while working in the same office in 1975. Dave used to be a cub leader "Akela" and it was only natural he would take to bushwalking. He does prefer the one-day walks, though has joined us on several of the big treks, including the 1999 Budawangs trip. The nickname "Turtle" was given to him by his cub group and I believe it has something to do with his long neck and lack of hair. The photo above was taken during a one-day walk along the shoreline of Jervis Bay

Vicki "Vickster" Meaker

Vicki is my daughter. She has followed my love of bushwalking with some enthusiasm, and has now done quite a number of full-pack overnight walks after many years serving her apprenticeship of one day walks. She looks forward to going on many more, including wilderness trips, especially in the Budawangs and Royal National Park.  The nickname "Vickster" was given to her by a schoolfriend. The photo above was taken on the trip to Tianjara Camp in mid 2004.

Kynie "George" Evison

Kynie is a fellow member of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers, a previous 'President' of the club and one of my regular hiking companions. Apparently the nickname 'George' was given to her by her husband Chris due to it being Kynie's maiden name. The photograph was taken during the Wilsons Promontory 4 day hike

Peter Farrell & Jock Findlayson - "The Two Amigos"

Peter & Jock are also fellow members of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers. Peter often joins me for multi-day fullpack hikes, but Jock tends to prefer the one day walks these days. This old Scottish ex-miner has become a bit of a wimp when it comes to carrying a fully loaded rucksack. The club gave these two the nickname of 'Two Amigos' as they often join forces to lead club activities, most of which are extremely unforgettable events. The photograph above was taken during a day hike to McKenzie Station near Yalwal and Jock is showing Peter how to negotiate a route by following well placed coloured tapes

Gary "Gazza" Dowling

Gazza rarely joins us for walks these days. He still resides in Sydney and rarely gets the chance to visit The Borstal, let alone go on any bushwalks. However, many years ago the Wombats could not get on a walk without having the intrepid Gazza tagging along. Maybe he will return to bushwalking one day. The photo was taken several years ago during a walk at St Georges Basin

Pam Harcombe

Pam is another Shoalhaven Bushwalker who has joined me on the occasional multi-day fullpack walk and many one day hikes, and it's these latter walks that Pam really prefers and excels at the harder off-track and exploratory events. She has proved to be a capable leader of many club walks. The photograph above was taken near the top of a rock tor below the Little Forest Plateau cliff line in  October 2008

Brett & Karen "Beserk Twat & Deviant Star" Davis

I have tried to get Brett & Karen interested in joining the Wombats for a couple of years now and became successful in mid 2002. Both are busy committee members of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers and spend most of their spare recreation time bushwalking or indulging in other outdoor activities, even going as far as interstate and overseas. They also spent 3 years cycle touring around Australia during the mid 1990's. Brett has taken Craig's job of becoming my bushwalking 'guru' and has managed to talk me into areas my bad head for heights would normally never have allowed. Apart from being excellent bushwalkers, this pair are accomplished navigators and have an almost inexhaustible knowledge of Australian birdlife and the Southern night sky. The nicknames came from an anagram of Brett's name and Karen's maiden name. The photograph above is taken on the summit of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania during the mid 1990's.

Sandra Kelley

Another ex-President of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers. Sandra and I have been walking together for many years within the club and over recent years Sandra has joined me for many multi-day fullpack walks including the Royal Coast Walk, Wilsons Promontory and the Budawangs. Kynie & Sandra can often be found doing the same walk on the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers program. The photograph above was taken on the summit of Mount Oberon in Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Max "Whatnot" Wharton

Max Wharton is a new member and another fellow tennis player who has taken a keen interest in bushwalking. Max is pictured here at the start of the Griffins Trail near Kangaroo Valley which was Max's first overnight walk as a Wombat Member. The nickname 'Whatnot' came about after my word processor's 'Spell Checker' queried Max's surname and gave Whatnot as a possible correction (Certainly better than the 'Cat Burglar' isn't it Max?)

Colin McCormack

Colin is one of those rarities in my bushwalking circle of friends in such that we first got in contact through this very website. As such I haven't had much chance to walk with Colin, but hopefully that will change in the near future. Colin lives in northern Sydney and does most of his hiking along the Great North Walk and Newnes areas.

Tony "ARSe" Simmonds

Another fellow member of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers. Tony leads many of the 'on-track' walks for the club but has joined me for the occasional private walk outside the club. The nickname 'ARSe' comes from the initials of his full name - Anthony Robert Simmonds. The photograph above was taken during a walk in Currambene State Forest where we discovered a marked trail with these SCUM signs. We later found out that S.C.U.M. stands for South Coast United Mountainbikers, not due to the fact that Tony is a scumbag.

Jim Graham

Jim is another member of the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers who, in his 60's is still getting out there on full pack multi day hikes. Jim is a keen explorer who loves to put the pace on with a light day pack. Luckily the heavier model keeps him at everyone else's speed. Jim is also a keen snow skier and often travel overseas to find the best slopes. This photograph was taken during a walk in the Budawangs while we were negotiating a mist covered Bibbenluke Ridge

Wayne Puckett

Wayne has now joined me on a couple of long distance walks. A fellow Canberra Bushwalkers member, he has proved himself quite capable on the trail with his car company ground sheets being in high demand. Wayne loves nothing more than to be able to stretch out the legs and walk the long distances. He is more than happy to be a 'Through' walker. This photograph was taken in the Budawangs at the campsite below the Corang Plateau conglomerate slope
 

Ian "Squizzy" Taylor

Ian is an old workmate who used to be a barman at my club in Belconnen and who took great interest in joining me for some hiking trips and car camps once he learned I was a keen bushwalker. He has quickly worked his way onto my emailing invitation list whenever I plan another outing and he has proved himself quite capable, despite his earlier reservations, in handling multi day hiking trips. The photo above was taken while resting on a rock rib on top of Mt Tarn in the Budawangs.

Julie & Sean Sunley

Sean and Julie are the creators of Canberra Bushwalking Club's popular Sub 24 Hour bushwalks. These guys always treat their walkers to some delicious home baked delights during their activities and both love to lead their walks from the back, giving those slower walkers a chance to enjoy the delights of club walking activities. They both love bushwalking, Car Camping, Bicycle touring and skiing. Photo taken during a skiing holiday in Colorado USA during Late 2019 to Early 2020

Jacqui Rosier

Jacqui is another Canerra Bushwalker who I met on one of Sean's Sub24 bushwalks a few years ago. Since then she has been able to tag along on many of the walks I have led in the past couple of years including part of the Hume And Hovell Walking Track. Vary rarely is Jacqui seen on a walk without her sunglasses, but more importantly she can always be seen with a smile on her face, no matter how awful the conditions. The photograph above was taken during the descent toThomas Boyd Trackhead on the HHWT.

Stephen Carter

Stephen is another fellow member of the Canberra Bushwalkers who I have walked with on several occasions over the years and now joins me for some of our more private walks. A former firefighter, Stephen now works for A.C.T. Health and like me is a very keen hiker/bushwalker, but also shares my fondness for popular music. He is also quite the accomplished bass guitar player. The photograph above was taken during a walk along the Canberra Centenary Trail just below One Tree Hill near Hall
 
 

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