{"id":13949,"date":"2022-05-19T15:57:07","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T05:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.askroz.com.au\/blog\/?p=13949"},"modified":"2022-05-19T19:26:56","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T09:26:56","slug":"rename-echo-point-to-frustration-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.askroz.com.au\/blog\/rename-echo-point-to-frustration-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Rename Echo Point to Frustration Point"},"content":{"rendered":"

Echo Point is probably the most visited attraction in the Blue Mountains yet few people have ever heard an actual echo from this location. There are in fact a number of Blue Mountains locations named for and associated with echoes. The traditional method to test for an echo was to shout Coo-ee and wait.<\/p>\n

\"Rename<\/a><\/p>\n

In 1993 the Sydney Morning Herald\u2019s Column 8 asked whether \u2018Echo Point\u2019 was a misnomer. The article charged that when a Herald colleague recently let out a hearty Cooee at Echo Point, the only response received was suspicion from all present.<\/p>\n

Coo-ee was among the first Aboriginal\u00a0words taken into English by the First Fleeters, it comes from the Dharug word \u2018guu-wii\u2019, literally \u201ccome here\u201d, but the Europeans noted early in\u00a0the piece that the Dharug used it\u00a0as a shrill call to communicate over long distances.<\/p>\n

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John Low, of Springwood Library, said that the echoless Echo Point controversy is not new, the debate\u2019s last occurrence was in December, 1987.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He produced letters published in the Gazette during that time, showing numerous responses to a tourist\u2019s complaint in a Sydney newspaper regarding a distinct lack of echo at the point.<\/span><\/div>\n
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In the Blue Mountains Gazette of December 12, 1987, local tourist coach operator, John Cronshaw, Blue Mountains Explorer Bus likened an echo to a rainbow, which is visible only when certain physical circumstances occur. Mr Cronshaw wrote that the two most important factors at Echo Point are wind velocity and background noise.<\/span><\/div>\n
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\u2018The lack of background noise is crucial,\u2019 wrote Mr Cronshaw. \u2018Perhaps the BMTA should rename Echo Point to Frustration Point, and while they are doing that, change the name of the Blue Mountains to that of the Blue Valleys.\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n
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ROYAL VISIT<\/strong><\/div>\n
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\"The<\/a>

The Royal Visit to the Blue Mountains 1954<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As I recall, Labor Premier Joe Cahill \u2026when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Echo Point during their first Australian tour. Cahill\u2019s itinerary for the royals was to steer them to Labor-held electorates or, if they weren\u2019t held by Labor, to send one of his ministers as official greeter.<\/p>\n

Thus it was that on a perfect day, as the Queen and her party stepped off the special train at Katoomba station, they were greeted not by the mayor and his town clerk but by Education Minister Clive Evatt.<\/p>\n

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The mayor had lodged a protest when it was learned that Evatt would be the official greeter, but to no avail. Evatt then introduced the mayor and town clerk, wearing their robes of office. The official party then went by car to Echo Point, which was packed with thousands of schoolchildren and adults waving small Union Jacks.<\/p>\n

A few paces behind the party walked Gordon Short, a senior photographer for\u00a0The Sydney Morning Herald.\u00a0<\/em>The late \u2018Shortie\u2019 was the pool photographer for the day and I am indebted to him for this story.<\/p>\n

As the party walked towards Echo Point, Evatt told the Queen: \u2018Your Majesty, this area is noted for its echo. That is why it is called Echo Point.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Not really,\u2019 interjected the town clerk. \u2018It is a bit of a misnomer, really. The echo here is not very good, actually.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Rubbish,\u2019 said Evatt and let off a loud \u2018Cooee\u2019.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

His effort raised no response from Echo Point. He let go another \u2018Cooee\u2019.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Shortie, a few paces behind the royal party, decided to help out. After a studied pause, he replied to Evatt\u2019s effort with a\u00a0sotto voce \u2018Cooee\u2019.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018There, did you hear that?\u2019 he asked everyone.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Queen and the Duke looked at each other and grinned. Evatt let another one go and Shortie obliged after a studied delay. Evatt could not contain himself. He Cooeed another four or five times and Shortie obliged on each occasion. Evatt was beside himself- and so were the other members of the party.\u201d\u00a0Sun-Herald 15\/3\/1998<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Full story<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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