One of the themes of “Mountains Mishaps” is that outdoor adventures in the local area are usually quite safe from human interference. I have found only two instances where a female bushwalker was attacked by a person unknown to them.
On reviewing newspapers for my next book, “Fires in the Mist” I have found that some offences committed by people seem to gain in popularity, then go out of fashion and are not seen again, or at least, are not reported. One such crime is public nudity. In 1985, the Gazette reports that at 3.45pm 2 September police chased a naked man along the Cliff top walk at Katoomba, after sightseeers complained about his behaviour. He was Stuart Grant Robinson, 33, then living at Warialda Street, Katoomba.
He was charged with having conducted himself in such a manner that would be regarded by reasonable people as being offensive, fined $200 and given a two- year good behaviour bond. Complaints about him had been recorded at the police station over the previous four weeks but he had escaped his pursuers. Police caught him near the anchorweight for the Scenic Skyway, from where he could be seen by Passengers on the Scenic Skyway.
Robinson said “I get a kick out standing naked in front of people”.