Full Text:
Lockwood, K. (2007). Arapiles: A million mountains: Natimuk,
Victoria: Skink Press
165 pages. ISBN: 9780975805725 (hbk)
You may wonder why a review of this book would be included in an
outdoor education journal. Apart from my personal biases about Mt
Arapiles and the love affair I have with this place--this book is a
great example of what 'good' outdoor environmental education
might look like. Most keen climbers from other countries will have heard
of Mt Arapiles and the Grampians in Australia. Most keen climbers within
Australia will have made the trek to what is arguable one of the best
cliffs in the world, and certainly one of the best cliffs in the world
for guiding or instructing. This is why people develop such a strong
'sense of place' with this lump of rock in the middle of the
Wimmera plains, in Western Victoria. Keith Lockwood is one such person
that has developed an enduring relationship with this amazing place.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Lockwood is in every sense a local at Mt Arapiles and he was one of
the climbers that participated in its development as a climbing site.
His 'local' status is reinforced in the book by his extensive
research and knowledge of the mountain's natural history, cultural
history, and art work featuring this place. What I especially liked
about the book is that it is not just about climbing. In fact, only one
chapter (albeit a long one) is specifically about climbing at Mt
Arapiles.
The first chapter, introduces some of the natural history of the
mount including a summary of how it was formed. If you are looking for a
detailed geological history, then you may be disappointed. Lockwood
avoids detailed and complex geological analysis and uses pictures and
some user-friendly text to summarise the accepted views on how Mt
Arapiles came to be. Chapter two, provides a short history of the
indigenous people, the Djurid Bulag, who are understood to first inhabit
the place some 5000 years ago. It is fitting that Lockwood acknowledges
these first inhabitants of the mount--a fact that appeared to be lost on
some of the early white settlers in the area. The history of
non-indigenous settlement, which started with the mountain's
'discovery' by Major Mitchell in 1836, is described in
chapters three and four. Lockwood uses a range of historical documents,
photos, artwork, and stories to place Mt Arapiles in a social context.
Chapter five is devoted to the non-human inhabitants of Mt Arapiles
and there are some excellent photographs of the local flora and fauna.
Lockwood acknowledges some of the conservation and land management
issues concerning the mount as well as outlining strategies that have
been used, both past and present, to protect the mount's ecological
diversity. Chapter six features input from University of Ballarat
scholar Trevor Tagliabue who describes some of the artwork that has been
inspired by the mount from: the rock art of the first inhabitants;
landscapes in watercolour, oil, and chromolithograph; and performing
arts, theatre and dance.
Chapter seven provides the reader with 61 pages of climbing
history, classic photos, accounts of significant ascents, biographies of
some key visiting climbers and local climbers, and descriptions of 13
classic routes across a range of grades. The eighth and final chapter
encourages readers to absorb the magic, beauty and spirit that makes Mt
Arapilies special.
This book can easily serve a number of purposes. It can sit on your
coffee table and offer potential readers inspiration when needed. It is
also a great source of information for potential visitors of all
interests. Finally, it is a great textbook for instructors and outdoor
leaders who want to have a fuller understanding of Mt Arapiles to share
with their participants/students. I think most readers will find this
tome a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf or coffee table.
About the reviewer
Glyn Thomas is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Excellence in
Outdoor Environmental Education at La Trobe University, Victoria,
Australia. He is an active climber and instructor over the last 17 years
and has the pleasure of teaching his students to become climbing
instructors at Mt Arapiles. Email: g.thomas@latrobe.edu.au
Reviewed by Glyn Thomas
La Trobe University, Bendigo