Article written by Noel Gough and Bob Creelman
Last year we saw the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Snowy Scheme. For the really old and bold, those who worked on the scheme in the 1950’s and early 60’s, Major Clews was remembered in story and toasted by most groups who gathered to remember those colourful times. Major Clews, Army Officer, Surveyor and Bushman – independent of spirit and mind and one of the real fathers of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
The Major joined the SMHEA (as it was originally known, later to become the SMA) by transfer from the Army in January 1950. He was already “on the job” for the Commonwealth in 1949, so was one of the very first. His was the task of surveying in detail the geographic features so as to allow the design of the many civil structures that make up the Snowy Scheme. This was not an easy task in those days – horse and boots were the modes of transport, yet he traversed the ranges year after year in all weathers, the envy of young men half his age for his energy, vision for the enterprise, and competence in his chosen field.
Major Clew’s hut at Easter time this year. The rate of decay of this significant hut is accelerating.
He was celebrated in the military as an Army surveyor and was about to retire from the Army at the time he began on the Snowy, so for him this was another career. There is not enough space in a dozen of these newsletters to tell even a fraction of the stories about the Major, but a cold night, a bottle of red, a campfire with good company will always result in Noel Gough relating some of the best.
Serious cavitation from rising damp at the Base of the front wall
In the latter stages of his career he was at the Indi Camp near Geehi, and chose to retire there in 1958. He negotiated with the Snowy for a plot next to the Indi camp, and those who know the area can readily understand why he would want to be at that place – it is a very special place. With his own hands he built a mud-brick (pise) house in which he lived until his death in 1980, three months before his ninetieth birthday. His ashes were scattered in the garden of the hut. After his death the Army erected a Cairn beside the house in his memory. A group from the Army for a time maintained the house, now known to all as Major Clews Hut, but as time passed, they being old soldiers also faded away.
We now have a problem. The mud brick is cavitating badly at to base of the walls, and where recently the roof was damaged the tops of the walls are also decaying badly. The Doctors Hut work party did some repairs on the roof at Easter time – well done Jerry, Pauline and party – but a full restoration is necessary, as the rate of decay is accelerating.
The Land Rover Owners Club just happen to have a member who has expressed keen interest in the Hut as a Project because he has both experience and interest in mud huts, so the LROC and the Range Rover Clubs will look at taking Major Clews on as a Project in the Summer, another Old Geehi Hut effort. If you want to be involved, and are not a member of either of the Clubs, please do not be deterred, you will be made most welcome in our camp. If you want to be part of the effort please ring the Huts Maintenance Officer Noel Gough on 03 9370 0938 email ngough@melbpc.org.au or Bob Creelman on 02 9868 5276 email bobhelen@magna.com.au.
In the interim we will need some temporary repairs to hold the line because the rate of degeneration of the mud brick is accelerating. This is a very significant hut to those who worked on the Snowy Scheme, especially those who were in Surveying, Scientific Services and Field Construction. My father, Claude Creelman, was one of the first senior engineers in tunnelling and construction, and worked for a time with the Major. He had the deepest respect for Major Clews; as well I might add a few good stories that would add to Noel’s repertoire. The place is well worthy of restoration
An internal wall - very much the worst for wear. Eight months before this wall was in good shape, it is now going fast.
An autumn view from the Major’s front verandah – a fitting memorial to a great Australian.
