Early Years

Hanging Rock, North Jawbones, cold rides in the back of utility vehicles to the Sugarloaf. Early instructing at church camps in the Grand Canyon. My mentor, Harley Burke chatting away whilst we climbed. Oh what happiness those early years were. The joy of discovery, warm camp fires after a good day out. Mike March burning the jaffles and then melting the jaffle iron! Nick Reeves, Mike and I singing on the road to Arapiles. Eight new climbs in a day with Mike and our first grade 17.

​My first lead above grade 12; the Watchtower Crack. Nick loosing my father's camera down the cliff, then taking a 10m fall from the top pitch with me just having a waist belay back then. Nick cascading off Bridge of Sighs and Mike calling on the Almighty whilst leading Vampire Crack at Hanging Rock.  Episodes with bandits at Horsham. Balls Pyramid, wow, what an experience with Peter Watson and Kevin Lindorff. Those were great years and much of it without modern gear, ah yes, the leader must not fall. I remember my first fall off Androcles (16) at Werribee Gorge. 

Harley Burke

Harley was a wood merchant who had a large and encouraged my early climbing and provided transport. We did wonderful trips all around Victoria and sadly he passed away far too young from cancer. My favourite trips with him were to instruct scouts at Jawbones or Sugarloaf.

Peter Watson

A good sturdy mate who I climbed with and had more epics than you could poke a stick at. Buffalo, Ball's Pyramid, Blue Mountains, Wilpena Pound. Pushing the old FC holden more times than not. I still climb with him at Arapiles when he visits.

Glen Donohue

I climbed with Glen from around 1980 to 1995 and he was a great climbing partner. Totally reliable and when you are taking a winger that is everything. He had a great sense of humour and we shared a love of exploration. Our big trip to Federation Peak to climb the Blade Ridge only to get an Antarctic blizzard come through was just one of many trips away. Flinders Island was another. We pushed each other ability wise and climbed as much as we could.

Andrew Webb

A fun climber to be with and to bring the best out in people. His views often differed from mine but we laughed about that and got on with the climbing. Andrew, Glen and I had many epics but my only benightment with Andrew and Robert Knox at Rosea was the coldest I have ever been.  Always calm and thoughtful, he was a good climbing pal.

Mike March

I can't remember how I met Mike but it was about 1972 and he was keen after coming from caving. He had a car and we had exciting trips to the Grampians and Arapiles and we were always getting up to mischief exploring new cliffs often with Nick Reeves. Mike went on to set Australian long distance running records after climbing. 

Keith Egerton

Keith had a dry sense of humour, and was renowned for often saying little. He shared most weekends away with us and was great company and he was reliable in tough situations. He moved on to bigger adventures and his death in the mountains was a huge loss for all who knew him.

Roland and Anne Pauligk

What great company, and we had so many great weekends away. Arapiles, Grampians and interstate trips, often with Peter Canning too. Their pet birds were always around even up on the cliffs! We all had older cars then, and  pushed them hard on bush tracks. Read pushed!

Peter Canning

I climbed with Peter for four decades until he retired from climbing. A keen climber who was very capable and easy to get along with. We had many adventures over the years.

Others

Phillip Armstrong, Mike Wust, Kevin Lindorff, Glen Tempest and Lesley Roberts were other climbers I enjoyed climbing adventures with.
​Royal Arches in Yosemite Valley with Phillip was a major climbing highlight I will not forget for a long time. All were easy to get along with and enjoyed the adventures and mishaps we had along the way. 

A Final Few

I have been lucky over the years to have climbed with a few famous folk from overseas. In 1975 I drove Henry Barber to the Grampians and took photos of him climbing the hardest bit of rock to that date in Australia.

A 3 hour Werribee Gorge trip with Doug Scott was amazing in the early eighties. More recently I have had the good fortune to climb at Arapiles with Professor David Hopkins who is a qualified mountain guide with considerable experience. 

A few pics

Iain on FA of 1984 (18) at You Yangs in 1976

Iain Leading Huey (18) at Arapiles in 1986

Mike March and I on Cherry's Flake in 1973

Glen Donohue and Andrew Webb admiring my new friction boots!!

Keith Egerton leading a first ascent at Mt Oberon, Wilsons Promontory.

Harley Burke at North Jawbones in 1974

Peter Watson taking over to lead Little Thor (20) at Arapiles about 1976.