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 best mate, Peter Watson. 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.

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. 

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!

Others

Glen Donohue and Andrew Webb were two other top blokes I climbed with for many years through the eighties and early nineties. We had many enjoyable laughs and epics including a trip to Federation Peak in Tassie and my only benightment with Andrew and Robert Knox at Mt Rosea.

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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!!

Harley Burke at North Jawbones in 1974