Ms HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [5.46 p.m.]: In the centre of the Burrinjuck electorate is the township of Yass, which boasts a magnificent heritage as one of this country’s earliest settlements. Last week people from across southern New South Wales and beyond celebrated the 175th anniversary of Hume and Hovell’s famous expedition. The events last weekend attracted tremendous support and interest right across the Southern Tablelands. At the outset I must say that it was unfortunate that the Premier chose not to attend, having given his word at the beginning of the year that he would be present to celebrate this great Australian historic occasion.

A large group of people took part in the anniversary weekend by retracing part of the explorers’ walk. I acknowledge the outstanding
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efforts of many people who worked to ensure that the weekend celebrations were an outstanding success. Among those present with me at the start of the walk on Saturday were the chairman of the Hamilton Hume Foundation, Mr John Gelling, and foundation members; numerous friends and guides of Cooma Cottage; representatives of the Ngunnawal people; Yass Mayor, Mr Nic Carmody; Mr Eric Bell; National Trust Yass branch chairman, Mr John Armes; Donna Hume of the Hume Family Network; and members of the Yass State Emergency Services.

I place on record my congratulations to all of those involved in the events. We can be proud of our Australian history. Events such as the Hume and Hovell commemoration allow all of us to stand proud and tall as we consider the efforts of those who have gone before us and helped to give us the New South Wales and Australia we enjoy today. I am sure that the Premier would have enjoyed this walk. It was disappointing to all involved, including the hardworking organisers, that he pulled out without notice. However, I was pleased to launch the weekend and to lead the group of walkers who were privileged to retrace some of those famous steps.

The walk coincided with a live-to-air ABC radio broadcast from the former home of Hamilton Hume, Cooma Cottage at Yass, a wonderful historic site that is well worth a visit by all honourable members. It is open to the public all year round. I had my first school excursion to Cooma Cottage 26 years ago, at the age of about seven, from Berinba Public School at Yass. Over the past 26 years Cooma Cottage has changed remarkably, due in no small part to the efforts of Kim and Therese Nelson, who were the caretakers of Cooma Cottage for the bicentennial year of 1988. Those works have continued and Cooma Cottage is now one of the State’s finest public buildings.

The re-enactment walk on Saturday was somewhat short of the total distance covered by Hume and Hovell. The party walked for 24 kilometres along the historic route. In 16 weeks Hume and Hovell covered 1,000 kilometres, mostly on foot. At the time, 175 years ago, there was no knowledge of where the western rivers flowed or what lay between south-western New South Wales and the Southern Ocean. In 1824 Sir Thomas Brisbane sent Hamilton Hume and William Hovell to find out, and so began their epic journey. One might say that they were not the best of mates. Hume was Australian born, a bushie, a farmer with a spirit of the daring and the adventurous, not unlike many residents of Yass today.

On the other hand, Captain Hovell was a British naval officer and a man of great intelligence and enterprise. He was well at home on the ocean waves, but certainly not in the Australian bush. History records that they fought like the blazes throughout their trip, and even afterwards. To set them on their way the Government organised an austere package: six pack-saddles and muskets, a few blankets, a tent and a tarpaulin, at a total cost of £50. The two pioneers were sternly advised that they would have to account for each of the items allocated. Everything was to be returned at the end of the trip. When I made that statement at the launch of the walk it raised a bit of a giggle and comments such as "Some governments just do not change, do they?"

What an expedition it was! Leaving familiar country around Sydney, Hume and Hovell moved into an entirely new frontier, reaching the Yass plains after two weeks. By 19 October 1824 in their way stood the mighty Murrumbidgee River in full flow. After three days waiting for the river to fall they crossed not far from the site of today’s township of Yass by using one of their carts as a float. These were the first Europeans to sight the Australian Alps, the grand Snowy Mountains range. By mid-November of 1824 the two explorers had reached an uncharted river, which they called the Hume. It was renamed later by Charles Sturt as the Murray River. Anyone can now enjoy retracing the steps of Hume and Hovell along what has been developed as the Hume and Hovell walking track. I commend the excellent work over many years of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation in establishing this facility.