‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis Wheeler awoke with an elated spirit upon a sunny November morning in Sydney that had the makings of a particularly hot day in the hills.’  In his middle thirties, he felt he had a lot going for him; an enviable reputation in a leading engineers firm’  a happy marriage and family,’  a lovely home.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  He slipped out of bed and began routine exercises.’  He was tall with a strong, if wiry,’  physique and dark straight hair. Reliable in word, he was a man who could also be tough and stubborn in his dealings.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  A senior partner in his engineering firm, Dennis specialised in the design of steel and concrete spans. Increased traffic from Sidney over the hills to Bathhurst, some one hundred and fifty miles West of Sydney, necessitated a broader road and bridge over the ravine.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  There was, however, one draw-back ‘“ an important mountain peak in Aboriginal folklore, the Rockface of’  Butcha had to be demolished. A course of Aboriginal culture at Oxford, England before he emigrated had instilled in Dennis a sympathy towards Aboriginal culture and his conscience troubled him somewhat about the rock-face warrior. The site, however, was ideal for the three hundred and fifty foot new bridge span and his sense of the practical eased his conscience. Protests had been raised by some responsible Aboriginal leaders but so many of their people had become apathetic in their way of life and towards their traditions, demonstrations had not been well attended and forceful. Letters by these representatives to officials in high places had achieved nothing. That day Dennis planned a final reconnaissance before test drilling and blasting began at the site.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Once out of the city his pace was fast although the road at times became narrow and rough.’  Traffic was light, however, enabling Dennis to make better time than he had anticipated.’  He rounded the sharp bend just before the rock face and the bridge and glanced into the rear-view mirror.’  Carved by the strong westerly wind and rain into the great rock, the features of Butcha were easily distinguishable.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  According to Aboriginal legend, Butcha guarded the pass through the’  mountains. Some two hundred years before, the warrior had championed the Ugarapuls in a fight to the finish against the Baluchi’™s chosen champion. It had been a decisive victory.’  The man to man battle lasted from dawn to dusk.’  Finally, Butcha, though wounded and utterly exhausted, succeeded in dealing a death blow to the Baluchi champion. The battle, however, had been too much for even the powerful Butcha, and the day after the fight had himself died from exhaustion and wounds.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The figure in the rock was noticed for the first time only after the fight and the Ugarapul’™s swore that it was Butcha continuing to guard the pass. Butcha’™s memory became sacred to the Ugarapuls.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  A little beyond the bend began the span of the narrow bridge its high concrete arch contrasting sharply with the rocky landscape. Dennis slowed to a stop, stepped from his car and began walking towards the massive rock.’  As he approached it, four men, obviously Aboriginal, appeared from behind a large boulder at the side and raced towards him.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis stopped, somewhat perturbed.’  One, tall, well- proportioned and dressed in a summer suit, was also masked. The other three, heavily-built, wore jeans and loose fitting T shirts.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis’™ first impulse was to get back to his car but a threatening step forward by the three was enough to deter’  the thought.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The well dressed man began: ‘œMr Wheeler, we much regret this method of approach, but all our efforts, correspondence to the press and government to persuade you with words and demonstrations to understand the importance of’  Butcha to us has led nowhere.’  We feel forced now to a more dramatic way to convince you that Butcha must not be sacrificed as a site for the base for the new span.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Though the speaker was obviously well educated and, no doubt prominent among the Aboriginals, Dennis could not recall ever having met the man judging by his figure or voice. He looked about him for some means of escape. There was none.’  He was outnumbered and too disadvantaged.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou know the alternative would increase the cost by something over a million dollars?’’  Dennis played for time.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou must submit to us,’ continued the masked man disregarding Dennis’™ words.’  ‘œNo bodily harm will come to you if you do as we ask.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWhat is your intention?’’  Dennis’™ voice was strong and unafraid though he felt somewhat apprehensive.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  We shall be blindfolded and to a place down the valley.’  Someone there shall speak to you.’  What he has to say will’  take only some minutes then you shall be released.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou’™re breaking the law! This is tantamount to kidnapping. I’™ll do all I can to discover who you are, of course.’  This is serious and I shall make sure the police will do everything to find out who you are. This is outrageous.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Anger welled up in Dennis, his face becoming red and as firey as his temper. Embarrassed, indignant and angry, Dennis submitted to being blindfolded then led down the slope away from the road.’  He wondered whether he should not at least try to put up a fight but the descent was steep, the loose stones and rocks causing him to slither and stumble on the way down rather than walk.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  After some ten minutes they came to a stop.’  The sun was’  high and hot’  and in his summer suit Dennis was sweating profusely.’  He was kept waiting some minutes in silence. Just as his temper began rising again, he heard footsteps approaching.’  A cultured, bass voice stopped any further thoughts:’ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWe are here, Mr. Wheeler to impress upon you the importance of finding an alternative base for the bridge.’  Butcha must not be reduced to rubble. This will be another tragedy among the many our people have and are suffering, in particular for those who identify themselves with the Ugarapuls. Almost surely bad luck will come upon the workers on the bridge leading to many injuries ‘“ perhaps even deaths.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThe bridge will bring a better life to the people of the valley,’’  Denis ventured a reply.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The voice again: ‘œSo many Aboriginals are uneducated, Most still belong to a life based on basic necessities but a life, nevertheless. Their lives are still rooted in a tradition and folklore strange to your Western ways.’  That so many have no modern education does not mean that we are less smart or human than you. That we don’™t feel pain – spiritual as well as physical.’  Education, progress so called, can and must recognise this.’’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  That voice, Dennis thought, surely he new it? It certainly belonged to an important figure ‘“ perhaps even someone of distinction. Dennis struggled with his memory whether he could not place it. He could not.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The speaker continued: ‘œYes, Mr. Wheeler, tradition and folklore, too, have’  value.’  Your white ways and whisky have brought us Aboriginals not a better life at all but rather to our knees and still there seems to be no stopping your maligning and oppressing us to what – extinction?
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œCast your mind back, Mr. Wheeler to the time when as a young man in university you learned values other than the amassing of wealth. The importance of tradition. Traditions of Oxford, itself, where you were educated.’  Did these not add to your stature?’ ‘  Such things are not to be evaluated in Dollars. These too are treasures but belong in the spirit and the soul.’  So think again, Mr Wheeler when your blindfold is removed.’  Look up. From this point you will see clearly the face of Butcha and remember that we Aboriginals are human too ‘“ with spiritual values that belong to our other world.’  Sadly our voice is not heard, but yours, Mr. Wheeler, is and also respected. Our cause, taken up by you, will be considered an act for the good of all – white as well as Aboriginal.’  That is all I have to say, Mr Wheeler except that I regret this rough and unseemly course of action I decided upon ‘“ the discomfort to which you have been put. But after all so called democratic choices failed, we felt we had no alternative but some action to bring our point home. I leave you to ponder upon what I have said and the importance of our message to you.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis heard a shuffling of feet as the speaker left, the sound of his steps moving up the steep slope. Again Dennis tried to recall where he had heard that voice but again could not think of where or when.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The blindfold which caused Dennis such discomfort was now removed.’  He turned to see who had done so.’  It was one of the three who had led him down into the valley. The well dressed masked man had gone, it seems, together with ‘œThe Voice’.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œLeave me alone.’  Go!’’  Dennis’™ tone was emphatic and not without hurt.’ ‘  Wordlessly the three began up the slope.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis looked up. Above him at a tangent appeared the strong features of’  Butcha.’  From where he stood they were particularly clear, bold and striking. Suddenly he felt that he was looking at a real face ‘“ a face that had in it strength and character. For some minutes he looked, fascinated, before he began making his way, too, back up the slope.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  In the comfort of his car, the air-conditioner cooling his inflamed mood, Dennis began to review the events of the past hour.’  In the mirror he could make out the warrior’™s head.’  ‘˜Was there an alternative? The man with the bass voice was plainly no ordinary person.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Suddenly it came to him ‘“ of course! Oxford! His lecturer on Aboriginal culture. Of course! Would the man stoop to such an act? If desperate enough, he thought ‘“ and indeed it seems he had become so.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis got out of the car and began reconnoitring, his thoughts racing.’ ‘  He, his generation and so many non-caring, non-thinking whites that preceded him had played a strong roll in the present plight of the Aboriginals. He also thought how intertwined all humanity was in a race which seemed to be leading only to some tragic end.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  His high-school motto came to him. ‘˜To the Uttermost,’™ It had always implied to him the best in man and great effort in all things.’  But now, upon further thought, it should apply to matters of moral value also.’  There was an importance to history an importance to tradition, spiritual as well as historical.’ ‘  Wasn’™t Butcha’˜s act symbolic for man just as for the Aboriginal? Dennis’™ thoughts raced as he walked further examining at the same time the topography.
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‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Calmed and back in the familiar surroundings of his home Dennis sat late into the night at his desk writing.’  But it was the opening of his report that had special significance, the body of it just a means to achieve an end.’  It began:’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘˜In a reconsideration, Tradition and folklore are important historically and spiritually to all societies – in particular to the Aboriginal culture. The’  preservation of the Butcha rock face with its impressive lines and folklore tale is important not just to the Ugarapuls but, surely, to all we Australians. The Rockface and its tale may well become a great attraction to many.’  At my last visit to the site before test drilling, I found that the rock can be preserved for a relatively small additional cost.’  A short tunnel would lead to an alternate base . . . ‘˜
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dennis suddenly smiled as he continued writing and wondered whether Butcha, was, just perhaps, smiling too.