General News
17 April, 2026
Barry's Corner: Bush compass
Many people find the Mallee bushland as confusing and too much of the sameness, even from a higher vantage point but especially from ground observations.
I admit the bush areas can be rather daunting but to get the best out of a visit to the Parks and forests is to familiarise yourself with the country.
Then go and buy a compass. This will give vital details about directions.
The next thing to consider is a GPS which is a handheld device focused on giving clear and accurate information to the user.
There is a need to use the “kangaroo compass” which is entirely a natural process making use of kangaroo laziness.
In the warmer times of the season the roos find a shady tree and rest up for the day.
In the early morning the shade is best on the west side of the tree, once the sun moves around late morning the shade is better a quarter turn to the left, then later in the day, the heat of the sun shifts around to the west.
We know these movements because there are scratches in the dirt where the roo flicks sand over itself when flies become bothersome so the indentations are clearly aligned.
Here's how the compass works. Align the trunk of the callitrus or dense acacia with the indents opposite the single scratching.
The clear, unused area is generally pointing to the north.
This is nearly always correct but it should be a good guide rather than absolute.
It will be a useful guide in a cross-country walk. It can be risky to rely on battery driven devices or some useful devices like a GPS because recharging needs serious consideration.
is merely a stump.
So, one needs to approach cautiously. Walking in the deep Mallee is a great experience because the plants and biodiversity is scattered and subtle.
Some of the fire tracks can make walking a lot easier but sometimes the heavy and deep sand can take its toll.
I have a mate who is an experienced walker who will get foot blisters when he steps onto sand.