I’m sharing this commentary by climber Keith Bell who arguably has more credibility than most who have been involved in the current hysteria around the climbing restrictions at Dyurrite/Mount Arapiles. Keith’s observations mirror my own and I am sure many others whose voices have been drowned out by the shrill voices of those who claim to represent Australian climbers. They don’t represent me nor many of my contemporaries and I, like others, find their most recent appeals to the political fringe — a cohort of climate deniers, environmental vandals and obstructionists to First Nations legal rights — insulting and offensive. They are assert a mistaken belief that climbers are somehow ‘special’ with rights of access that transcend Australian law. What arrogance! Here’s what Keith had to say…
The Arapiles Declaration
Some Thoughts
In recent years there has been a tendency to transpose the artificial and synthetic surroundings of the climbing gyms onto the living, natural rock. Associated with this process has been grid bolting and the widespread use of chalk on our beautifully hued rock. This process was always going to be eventually noticed by land managers, First Nations Peoples and others.
And so, enter the ban on Gariwerd by Parks Victoria, its literature on the matter always quickly referring to the detrimental effects on the rock and environment by the placing of Bolts and the use of Chalk.
How did climbers respond? We came up with all manner of excuses, reasons and deflections why we should keep on doing exactly what we were doing. We manned the parapet, threw grenades, fired the occasional mortar round but were blitzed by the heavy artillery that any government department is armed with.
It seemed to me we were represented by the ‘bolt and chalk’ brigade with a few other representatives who were rude, officious, and abrasive – and that is to their fellow climbers.
So along comes the ban on Dyuritte.
Same climbers, same representatives but at least they have been joined by more reasonable folk. Petitions, letters to Parliamentarians and papers, radio, TV, meetings - all the standard fare.
Then they, ‘the ironclad committee’ come up with a real brain wave – the ultimate strike weapon.
Let’s go nuclear!
And who better to enlist in this endeavour, than the Federal LNP opposition.
So now we have the Arapiles Declaration, they did not even have the decency and respect to use the First Nations name. Alarmingly, the climbers involved did not care to run it past their fellow climbers before proceeding down this path.
On the two Facebook post that I have seen so far there has been great jubilation, back-slapping, congratulations and acceptance by fellow climbers.
But this is a toxic and radioactive document. While Arapiles is mentioned the wide-ranging ambit of this manifesto is to neuter, reject or repeal Mabo and First Nations Legislation.
The LNP after scuppering the gentle request of the Voice is now going after the above in the guise of helping climbers.
This is a disgraceful document with disgraceful intent. I want nothing whatsoever to do with it. I’m sure that there are other fair-minded and reasonable climbers who are also likewise offended by this brazen, political opportunism.
We have 60 years of history at the crag, First Nations People have millennia. Their love of country is great – ours is fleeting. There are already climbers stating that they are going to leave if they cannot climb.
Perhaps at the start of this we climbers could have got off our high horses and negotiated on the obvious things that we need to do to ameliorate the bolt and chalk situation. I think that this is only the start of such interludes – we had better learn to get this right.
Finally, be careful what you wish for if you support this document. You might well find that your favourite crag is destined to be mined or quarried.
