Never Truly Lost
By Paddy Pallin
UNSW Press, 1996. 224pp., $19.95
Reviewed by Flora Graham
"Paddymade" light-weight camping gear and equipment for walkers is known and used worldwide, and Paddy Pallin himself was well known and respected by bushwalkers for his friendly advice and encouragement whenever it was sought.
In this book, Pallin tells the story of his life, from his childhood on the north-east coast of England, where his parents took their family of seven children for walks and picnics in the surrounding countryside. He also became interested in the Scouting movement, and learned the joy of camping.
After a few years of unrewarding jobs in his home town and in London, he decided to emigrate to Australia and arrived in 1926, followed a few years later by his English sweetheart. They established themselves in Sydney, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Soon after his bride's arrival, Pallin took her on a canoe trip down the Shoalhaven River with its many hazardous rapids and rocky portages. She must have had "true British courage" to survive and even enjoy it! Raising a family in the ensuing years put an end to such adventures for her.
In his weekends Pallin would go walking in the rugged country accessible by train from Sydney, and met many members of early bushwalking clubs being formed at that time. His considerable skill in navigation and his keen observations led him safely through many awkward situations in inclement weather conditions when reliable maps were not available.
When, in 1930, he lost his job in an insurance company because of the Great Depression, he decided to try making equipment from lightweight materials that would be suitable for walkers to carry on their extended walking trips. After some early setbacks, including a fire which destroyed his premises and his stock, the business flourished; it is still being carried on by his son.
As well as walking and canoeing, Pallin learned to ski at age 54, and the book tells of many adventures in all weather conditions where his skills in navigation were taxed to the limit. But, as he says in the title, he was "never truly lost".
The book includes several maps of the areas he walked and skied on, which would be of interest to past and present bushwalkers and ski tourers.