U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No. 236 Hike Report by Geoff A group of ten people met at Bunnings Delacombe on a very pleasant morning and from there we drove to the Ross Creek area,  parking on Doctors Road.  Our walk led us on a forest track to State Forest Dam which we approached along a water race. We followed many more water races snaking along until we came to the dam wall of the imaginatively named, Big Dam.  We could not see any water in the dam as the large area is completely covered with lush green, riparian grasses. We walked along the dam wall before returning to our track, again following another water race which took is through some challenging scrub.  Much of the complex water diversion works were excavated under the control of Thomas Boden, in the late 19th century, all so important to the gold mining operations through this area. Some of the four wheel drive tracks we came upon, although showing little signs of recent use provided easier walking as we headed to Hard Hills Dam. We were reli

 U3A Hike No. 235 Hike Report by Chris T his walk on a warming day was the last before a significant birthday of Joan’s.   All the best for this looming event Joan. We commenced from Sawpit Road and crossed through the Forestry School.   Two of the well regarded educators there were Ed Semmens and Ron Hately.  Ed Semmens was a renowned botanist, a community leader and an archivist who contributed greatly to the Creswick Museum.  Ron Hately was a gifted teacher and ecologist. His work “The Victorian Bush - it’s original and natural condition” is most readable and still available.   Other past lecturers and students contribute greatly to our community, including our own U3A.   The main function of the site is now Melbourne University’s Mathematical Research Institute. Next we passed the Hammon Park Trailhead which is being refurbished to include a cyclocross “pump” track and a nature play area. It will serve as the hub the Creswick Trails Project - 60km of purpose built mountain bike tra