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March 2016
Overland Cruisering Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc.
A0005442c
Inside... < Swifts
< Yarck
< Avon River
Creek Trip
Working Bee
Adventure
www.tlccv.com.au
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. PP339119/00013 $5.00
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RV Storage Systems
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TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB OF AUSTRALIA (VICTORIA) INC. A0005442C ABN87301244383
MARCH CONTENTS
General Meetings: 7:30pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Mulgrave Country Club Wellington Road (corner Jells Road), Wheelers Hill Melways Ref 80 H1 Geelong Meetings: 7.30pm the 1st Tuesday of each month & 2nd Tuesday each November at the Supper Room, Geelong West Town Hall, 153 Pakington St. 3218. (Mel. 451 J2) ENQUIRIES: Membership & General to: The Secretary Toyota Land Cruiser Club PO Box 363, HAWTHORN 3122
Website: http:www.tlccv.com.au MEMBERSHIP DETAILS Joining Fee: $280.00 Membership: $155.00 REINSTATEMENT OF PAST MEMBERS If a member rejoins the Club within 5 years, a joining fee is not applicable. If a member rejoins the Club after 5 years, they are required to pay the joining fee and undertake the Club’s Driver Awareness course.
RECOGNISED CLUB RADIO CHANNEL: 15 UHF
2016
VOLUME 44
No.9
Club Information
1
Committee 2015-2016
2
President’s Report
3
Calendar
3
Over the Next Hill
5
Yarck Master Plan
9
Driver Awareness Feb 2015
11
Social: Mediterranean Hight
12
Avon River Adeventure Trip
17
Yarck Management Report
19
Driver Awareness Nov 2015
21
Swifts Creek Trip
24
Royal Fkying Doctor Service
26
News from ARB
27
Yarck Bushfire Plan
28
Member Directory
28
YARCK PROPERTY Our property is a registered Land for Wildlife property and no inference is drawn in the publication that the sign or registration has any other meaning. Life Members: Graeme Wilson, John Whitney (Dec), Don Honey, Bill Dower, Alan Winch, Barrie McCarthy, Harold Ross, Sandra Tanner, Brian Stewart, Charles Norman, Ashley (Dec) & Judith Williams, John Turbill, Garry Cooper, Jan Chivers & Ken Hildebrand Honorary Members: Ross McClure, Clive Blakely, Reece DeJong Club Auditor: Chris Rumble
The opinions expressed in the articles appearing in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc. The Editor reserves the right to delete where necessary any section of any article, which has been sent for publication in the magazine. Acceptance of advertisements does not necessarily imply endorsement of products or associated companies or individuals by the Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc.
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COMMITTEE President Laurie Miles president1@tlccv.com.au
2015 - 2016 Advertising Sandra Tanner
advertising@tlccv.com.au
Activities Coordinator activities@tlccv.com.au Matt Lilley Vice President Michael Martin president2@tlccv.com.au
Past President Ian Ross
Webmaster Laurie Miles
webmaster@tlccv.com.au
Excursion Visits Coordinator excursions@tlccv.com.au
Driver Training John MIlls: driverawareness@tlccv.com.au * Driver Training Course bookings * Awareness Course certificates Yarck Management yarckmanage@tlccv.com.au Brian Stewart
Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator Brian Tanner marketing@tlccv.com.au Emergency Response Coordinator tlccrg@tlccv.com.au
president3@tlccv.com.au Secretary Sandra Tanner secretary1@tlccv.com.au Assistant Secretary Ian wells secretary2@tlccv.com.au Treasurer Alan McMeekin treasurer1@tlccv.com.au
Magazine Distribution Gordon Chessum
Trip Convenor trips@tlccv.com.au Tony Middleditch * Register a Member’s trip * Assistance in trip preparation
Club Shop Graham Cahill
Technical Brett Dyson
Social Coordinator
technical@tlccv.com.au
Training Matt Lilley training@tlccv.com.au • Club training courses co-ordinator
Assistant Treasurer Barbra Bryant treasurer2@tlccv.com.au
Special Events Peter & Thea McLean
Committee Michael Schuettke committee1@tlccv.com.au
Membership Barbara Bryant membership@tlccv.com.au * Membership renewals, name badges, contact detail changes
Committee Liz Mills
Librarian Wendy Wilson library@tlccv.com.au * Borrow DVDs & books * Contributions to the Library
committee2@tlccv.com.au
Magazine Editor Sandra Tanner:
Raffles & Supper Gabi & Grace Azzam
clubshop@tlccv.com.au
Sergeant-At-Arms
social@tlccv.com.au * Book for participation in social events Visitor Greeters Carol & Greg Edmunds Cruiserkhana enquiries@cruiserkhana.com.au
events@tlccv.com.au • Shows & special event co-ordinator
FWDV Delegate Tony Bryant fwdvdelegate@tlccv.com.au editor1@tlccv.com.au
GEELONG BRANCH President Matt Lilley geelong@tlccv.com.au Vice President Matt McPhee
geelong2@tlccv.com.au
Secretary Jennie Harvie Social Alison Williams
alison4913@gmail.com
MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTIONS
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
TRADING POST
All articles, trip reports and other contributions are welcome for inclusion in the magazine. They must be in the hands of the Editor by the first of the month. Please send them to: The Editor, Overland Cruisering, PO Box 1778, Geelong 3220
• Please submit articles as Word documents with no formatting. (No fancy formats as it will only have to be removed in preparing for publication). In particular DO NOT embed pictures in your documents • Images (photos) should be supplied as seperate JPEG files. The higher resolution the better. As a guide images should be of 300 pixel per inch with image files around 1-5MB fine. • If you have multiple images, please burn to a CD and post to Editor rather than trying to email numerous images. • Articles can be posted with normal photos. They will be scanned and returned to the author if a self-addressed envelope is provided.
• Note: if selling a vehicle in the Trading Post it is a Motor Car Trader Regulation (1988-22(4) legal requirement that a cash price, registration number or engine number are supplied.
or email: editor1@tlccv.com.au
Members’ name and membership number must accompany all articles and/or contributions.
ADVERTISING A TRIP • Note: All trips must be approved by the Trip Convenor before they can be gazetted in Overland Cruisering.
All contributions MUST BE received by the 1st of the month.
ADVERTISERS Please support those companies that advertise in our magazine. Let them know you saw their advert in Overland Cruisering.
ARE YOUR MEMBERSHIP DETAILS CURRENT? If you have recently moved, please notify Barbara Bryant – Membership Officer – and provide your new address, telephone number(s) and (if altered) your email address as soon as possible. Please also remember to remove the Club sticker if you change or sell your four-wheel drive.
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U P D AT E
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
J
ust as we move into Autumn, our weather decides to heat up again, bringing some Total Fire Bans at Yarck. However, luckily it hasn’t affected the running of the DA weekends and the Maintenance & Construction weekends. This kind summer weather has allowed further work to be done on the bush hut and further concrete paving running down to the toilet block. The new water tank has arrived at Yarck, so hopefully it will be installed soon so that there is plenty of water for the running of CruiserKhana. CruiserKhana is just a month away, so if you aren’t participating or acting as a Marshall, then why not head up to Yarck and give some vocal support to the Club participants as they compete in the
2016 CALENDAR
March 19th & 20th March 25th – 28th April 9th & 10th April April April April
11th 12th 23rd – 25th 22nd – 27th
April 30th & 31st May 7th May 9th May 10th May 21st & 22nd May 28th & 29th June 13th ` June 14th June 25th & 26th July July July July
11th 12th 23rd & 24th 23rd & 24th
July 30th & 31st
exciting events. A day pass will only cost you $10, so keep 16th April free on your calendar so you can join in the fun and excitement. Our Membership renewals are due on 1st April. A copy of the renewal notice was inside the February magazine. For members who joined in the current membership year, they will receive their renewals separately. This applies to membership numbers 2742 to 2771. Most of you will have received an email recently about your access to our new membership database. Although the new system is not yet live, the email was auto generated. I am aware that some of you jumped online and tried to pay your 2016/2017 membership fees. Unfortunately, the payments component is
COMING TRIPS
Maintenance & Construction weekend Sandy Wyperfeld NP & Vic/SA Border trip C/K set-up with Maintenance & Construction w/e Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Mt Murray, Blue Rage and Mayford TLCC National Conference to Fraser Island DA Practical weekend Otways: Coast to Gellibrand day trip Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management – Public Holiday DA Theory Maintenance & Construction weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Little Desert – McDonald Highway Maintenance & Construction weekend Mt Skene South Side Snow Trip
still being set up, so please keep paying your fees via the old method until we advise you that the new system is fully live. This should happen very soon, so stay tuned. The Mediterranean night was recently held at Yarck. All the reports and pictures shown on our Facebook page show that this activity was a great success. A big thanks to the Azzams and their many helpers for preparing the food and organizing the entertainment.
Laurie Miles (1058) PRESIDENT
Prior to booking or setting any dates for an event, please check with the Activity Coordinator who will ensure that there are no clashes. Please email to the Activity Coordinator the proposed date, time, venue and overview of the event.
July 30th & 31st August 6th & 7th August 8th August 9th August 20th & 21st August 25th – Sept 11th August 27th & 28th September 3rd & 4th September 12th September 13th September 24th & 25th October 10th October 11th October 22nd & 23rd November November November November
5th & 6th 8th 14th 19th & 20th
November 26th & 27th December 12th December 13th
DA Practical weekend Lock Your Hubs Mt Skene Snow Trip Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Maintenance & Construction weekend Great Victoria & Gibson Deserts Excursion DA Practical weekend Otways Waterfalls Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Maintenance & Construction weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend DA Theory Yarck Management meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory
Note: Yarck Management meetings to be confirmed.
A great shot of the High Country by Marcel & Marlanne Van deb Bronk Overland Cruisering 3
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CALENDAR
INFORMATION FOR TRIP LEADERS • Trip leaders please note that under the Constitution, members may not take part in any club activities involving four-wheel driving unless they have completed the Driver Awareness
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COMING TRIPS
Course (Theory & Practical) and have filled in an Indemnity Form. • The Club Insurance Policy states that only Club Trips that are gazetted in the Club Magazine and the Club website are covered by the Club Public Liability Policy.
• All Club Trips gazetted in the Club Magazine must include a telephone number (or mobile) and/or an email address for the purpose of booking on a trip. • Members please note that telephone calls should not be made later than 8:30 pm.
Club trips are for club members only. Non members are not afforded insurance coverage by the club and may jeopardise our coverage. If you have any queries they may be raised with our Trip Coordinator, Tony Middleditch.
Members Please Note: All guests attending TLCCV trips must take out Temporary Membership. This includes children of members 18 years of age and older. If you have any queries contact our Trip Convenor, Tony Middleditch at trips@tlccv.com.au. All applications and pay-ments for Temporary Membership MUST be received by the Membership Officer NO LATER than 14 days prior to the trip. Facebook: Any trips advertised on Facebook that have not been approved by the Trip Convenor will not be recognised as an official Club trip and therefore not be covered by the Club insurance. Seasonal Road Closures from Parks Victoria: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/fire,-flood-and-other-closures/seasonal-road-closures2.
MARCH Date: Trip Leader:
SANDY WYPERFELD NP & VIC / SA BORDER TRACK (Easter weekend) - Waiting List Only Friday 25th - Monday 28th March. Laurie & Heidi Miles. Email: trips@zebra400.com
APRIL Date: Trip Leader:
TLCC NATIONAL CONFERENCE - Waiting List Only Friday 22nd - Wednesday 27th April, 2016 Michael Martin: Email: shuthonger@gmail.com
APRIL Date Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
MT MURRAY, BLUE RAGE AND MAYFORD - Waiting List Only Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th April, 2016 Myrtleford Rest Stop, Great Alpine Road, opposite the Post Office 8:30am for 9:00am departure 6 vehicles Medium Full tank ex Myrtleford 15 UHF Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & rear, shovel, air compressor for tyre inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread, including spare tyre. Camping equipment, water & supplies No trailers, dogs, cats or firearms. Bush camping on Saturday & Sunday night. Assume no amenities. Explore the Buckland Valley on the way to Mt Murray. If the weather permits, we will camp near the top of Mt Murray on the Saturday night. On Sunday we will check out the magical views from Blue Rag, then head down the steep descent to camp on the Dargo River at the old Mayford townsite. Monday will see us return to the Great Alpine Way at Mt St Bernard where the trip will conclude. James Clark: Email: james@brooklyncoldstorage.com.au
Overnight: Details:
Trip Leader: MAY Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
Trip Leader:
OTWAYS: COAST TO GELLIBRAND Saturday 7th May, 2016 (day trip) Opposite Bells Beach car park 9:30am for 10:00am SHARP departure 8 vehicles Easy to medium, but harder if wet. Full tank from Geelong 15 UHF (initially) Standard recovery equipment that includes closed front & rear recovery points, snatch strap with rated shackles, shovel, air compressor, genuine off road biased AT or better tyres with at least 50% tread - including the spare. N/A The trip will wind through the bush parallel to the coast before swinging inland over the ridge & down towards Forrest. We will then continue west over the next ridge & will aim to finish up in Gellibrand township around 4:30pm Graeme Innis: Email: geinnis@gmail.com
JULY Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel:
LITTLE DESERT - McDONALD HWAY Saturday 23rd July and Sunday 24th July, 2016 Goroke Accommodation Park (this will be base camp for the weekend - carfavans, trailers OK) 9:00am Saturday 8 vehicles Easy to medium Full tank from Horsham
Overnight: Details:
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CALENDAR
Radio: Equipment:
Overnight: Details: Trip Leader: JULY Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
Overnight: Details:
Trip Leader:
UHF 15 (initially) Standard recovery equipment that includes closed front & rear recovery points, snatch strap with rated shackles, shovel, air compressor, genuine off road biased AT or better tyres with at least 50% tread - including the spare, Maxx Trax or equivalent may be handy. Sand flag advisable (may be mandatory. TBC) Goroke Accommodation park - cost around $10 per night unpowered site. Saturday will be a full day travelling the McDonald Hwy and other tracks throug the Little Desert. Carry sufficient water and food for a couple of days just in case. Sunday will be an optional half day activity. Graeme Innis: Email: geinnis@gmail.com MT SKENE SOUTH SIDE SNOW TRIP Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st July, 2016 Licola General Store Saturday 30th July at 8:30am for 9:00am departure 8 vehicles Medium to dificult - depending on snow conditions Full tanks from Heyfield 15 UHF Genuine all/mud terrain tyres with minimum 50% tread (road biased tyres not acceptable), recovery points front & rear, full recovery equipment, suitable cold/wet weather clothes, UHF radio, compressor & tyre gauge, shovel, water & food, emergency sleeping bag. (Please note this FWDV require 2 snow chains) Bush camping Starting in Licola this trip will tackle Mt Skene from the lesser used southern side of the mountain avoiding the crowds on the opposite side. Come prepared to camp the night above the snow line as our final campsite will depend on snow conditions. The trip will finish in Licola. No pets, firearms or trailers. James Clark. Email: james@brooklyncoldstorage.com.au
DANDENONG 25 Frankston-Dandenong Rd FAWKNER 1074 Sydney Rd FRANKSTON 138 Beach St GEELONG 25 West Fyans St Newtown HOPPERS CROSSING Hoppers Crossing Homemakers Centre Shop 4, 428 Old Geelong Rd LILYDALE 43 Cave Hill Rd MENTONE B6, 27-29 Nepean Highway MILDURA 846 Fifteenth St SWAN HILL 10 Rutherford St WANTIRNA Cnr. Boronia Rd & Wantirna Rd WARRNAMBOOL 25 Walsh Rd 6 Overland Cruisering
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CALENDAR
AUGUST Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
Overnight: Details:
Trip Leaders:
JULY/AUGUST Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
Overnight: Details: \
Trip Leader:
LOCK YOUR HUBS MT SKENE SNOW TRIP Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th August, 2016 Opposite Jamieson Pub 7:00am (weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to beat the traffic this year!) 20 (2 groups of 10) 5 positions for new members Medium Full tanks from Mansfield (Alpine diesel for diesels) 15 UHF Genuine all/mud terrain tyres with minimum 50% tread (road biased tyres not acceptable), recovery points front & rear, full recovery equipment, suitable cold/wet weather clothes, UHF radio, compressor & tyre gauge, shovel, water & food, emergency sleeping bag. (Please note this FWDV require 2 snow chains) Hotel in Mansfield A large, exciting & family friendly weekend trip to Mt Skene to experience some of the best snow driving in Victoria. We will be based at Mansfield from where we will travel up to Mt Skene to drive in the snow, have some fun & then return to the Jamieson Brewery & socialise. New memberrs are encouraged to come along & vehicles will be split into two groups with two trips run concurrently to ensure that the large number of vehicles run smoothly. Simon Mustey & Sherry Salvesen: Email: simon@mustey.com Matthew & Sara Lilley CANNING STOCK ROUTE (CSR), ALICE SPRINGS TO BILLILUNA TO WILUNA Sunday 31st July to Friday 26th August, 2016 McDonnell Range Caravan Park, Alice Springs 8:30am Sunday 31st July, 2016 4 vehicles. No camper trailers. No pets. Isolated Outback tracks, heavy corrugations & sand dunes, limited services available. Diesel & petrol available. UHF and at least 2 satellite phones & EPIRBs in the convoy The vehicles shiould be well equipped & in good condition suitable for an extended period of remote Outback touring where there are limiteed services with fuel carrying capacity for 800kms of sandy desert travel, plus a reserve allowance, 2 spare wheels with good tread, a comprehensive set of tools & spares, (shock absorbers are a frequent failure), standard recovery equipment. Almost entirely bush camping & self catering - with 22 camp setups in 26 days. We will travel quickly from Alice Springs along the Tanami Track for 2 days to Billiluna on the northern end of the CSR, and then at a more leisurely pace head south for 11 days to Georgia Bore. Then we will make a westerly diversion for 5 days to the Karlamilyi National Park, and purchase fuel. After returning to the CSR, we will continue south for 9 days to Wiluna - the end of the CSR. A leisurely to moderate tour pace is anticipated averaging about 100kms per day while on the CSR, with 4 rest days over 27 days, and a total distance of 3200kms. Reference website URL - exploreoz.com Alan McMeekin: Email: gail@mcmeekin.org
FWDV - CLEAN UP THE BUSH NERRINA RECOVERY 2nd & 3rd April Location: Nerrina State Forest in Ballarat Activity: Removing illegally dumped rubbish, while enjoying a great drive After a great effort by the Clean Up the Bush Search Team and some very positive feedback from land managers, the dates for the Recovery Phase (removing the rubbish) have been confirmed. The weekend is sure to be a great one, with breakfasts, dinner and amenities provided (along with great company of course!). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fantastic chance to get out in the bush and remove that unsightly rubbish, with the fun of winching out the odd car body or two! If you would like more information or are interested in attending, please email Kate at FWDV Office on kwaller@fwdvictoria.org.au Kate Waller Project Officer Four Wheel Drive Victoria
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AUG - SEPT Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:
Overnight: Details:
Trip Leader: SEPTEMBER Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:
Trip Leader:
GREAT VICTORIA & GIBSON DESERTS EXCURSION Thursday 25th August (Eucla) - Sunday 11th September (Alice Springs) Eucla Roadhouse 8:15am on Thursday 25th August 8 vehicles - preferrably diesel (because of spinifex), preferably no trailers Moderate, with some potentially difficult sections Full tanks at Eucla, sufficient for 1200km 15 UHF Vehicle in sound mechanical condition. Good off-road tyres with ample tread, a second spare, standard recovery equipment, closed recovery hooks front & rear, compressor & tyre gauge, sand flag, shovel, basic tool kit, tyre repair kit, vehicle spares, camping equipment, water & supplies. Spray bottle & wire hook for spinifex fires. Further details at pre-trip meeting. Mainly bush camping with no facilities. Cabins optional where available. We travel north across the Nullarbor Plain to Forrest & then via various tracks across the Great Victoria Desert, also using portions of the Connie Sue Highway, Anne Beadell Highway, Hanns track (un-mapped section), & the Great Central Road to Warburton. From there it’s north up the Sandy Blight Junction Road and east on the Gary Junction Road to The Alice. Note that Hanns Track is potentially rough, overgrown with spinifex, & could stake tyres. Note also that some areas are subject to acquisition of permits to be organized by the Trip Leader. Don Bryant: Email: dbryant@bigpond.net.au OTWAYS WATERFALLS Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th September, 2016 Gellibrand Otway Tourist Park (this will be base camp for the weekend - caravans, trailers OK) Cabins also available 9:00am Saturday 8 vehicles Easy to medium Full tank from Colac (petrol only in Gellibrand) 15 UHF (initially) Standard recovery equipment that includes closed front & rear recovery points, snatch strap with rated shackles, shovel, air compressor, genuine off road biased AT or better tyres with at least 50% tread - including the spare. Gellibrand Otway Tourist Park (cost around $30 per night unpowered site). Exploring Otways bush roads & tracks & visiting a couple of waterfalls in the southern Otways. There will be some bush walking at the waterfalls including some steep sections & steps. Team BBQ or dinner at the pub on Saturday night, depending on weather and opinion. Graeme Innis: Email: geinnis@gmail.com
YA R C K M A S T E R P L A N Introduction The TLCCV Committee has instituted a number of processes during the last year to ensure that the Club’s limited funds are spent wisely. A key part of the process is the development of a Master Plan for Yarck so that all capital spending proposals are considered within a common framework rather than in isolation. Late last year a small volunteer sub-committee was formed after canvassing all members to participate in the development of the Master Plan. The sub-committee has met on a number of occasions and considered many issues regarding Yarck. The items listed below are those that have been discussed at length for either inclusion or exclusion in the Master Plan. The exclusions are listed in the section ‘Not Recommended.’ The recommended items include the proviso that as far as possible, developments should have multiple uses. This is particularly relevant for training room proposals. The entire Master Plan document is available on the website. 4 Overland Cruisering
Yarck – Purpose Aligned with TLCCV’s Vision the purpose of Yarck is to: • Provide a purpose built 4WD training facility, • Provide a meeting house for members to invest in new related outdoor skills, • Provide a meeting house for social and family friendly activities, • Enable members to camp almost year round for no extra fee, • Enable members to enjoy Yarck’s ‘bush feel’, • Leverage through differentiation, the property for marketing purposes.
o Bush hut completion. o CruiserKhana – to continue. o Fire Plan – additional track exit. Not Recommended • Hilton development/improvements • Toilet/showerblock(s) development/ improvements. • Forecourt development. • Camp/caravan site(s) development (other than maintenance). • Tracks (new). • Adventure area (for children). • Venue Hire. • Yarck land development and/or adjacent land acquisition.
Recommended o Yarck maintenance – business as usual within approved budget. o Storage facility – new equipment shed (or a container) for large items, e.g. tractor, BBQ’s, wood splitter. o Training Room – subject to completing feasibility studies. o Drop toilet facilities to be built at Whoopsy-Do (already happening). Overland Cruisering 9
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DRIVER TRAINING
TLCCV DA Weekend – February, 2016 Report by Marcus Foster & Lynne Chapman
W
e came, we saw, we definitely didn’t conquer…instead we learnt respect, patience, forethought and safety. Lynne and I had recently passed on our 10 year old Falcon, and bought a 2013 Prado for safer towing of our A-Van. We were persuaded by an enthusiastic TLCCV friend to join for the training and ultimately the camaraderie and support on trips, but were daunted by learning the language of 4WD and the cost of acquiring the basic gear. ARB, Jax Tyres and Pedders all now have a mortgage on our house! At Yarck, bright and early, we counted four instructors (John Mills, Simon Mustey, Ian Wells, Tony Bryant) and 14 students, gathered in the spacious and comfortable Hilton: Bill Bussau & Noelene Clahsen (100), Darren (150), Carol (200) &
F EIBPR U A R Y 2 0 1 6
Christian Buswell (120), Lynne Chapman and Marcus Foster (150), Sue and Lachlan Goodison (200), Stewart Southam (FJ 40), Gail and Alan McMeekin (150), Paul, Susan, Conner and Lachlan Griffin (Ford Ranger). Hope that’s correct – I photogrqphed the log book! The range of experience went from total innocent (us) to experienced drivers preparing for the advanced course. Keeping our spirts up with numerous lovely fattening goodies was Liz Mills, a camping and club legend. After some head-banging under the ramp, we drove slowly down to Caravan Park for the hill climbs and descents – a scary start. I was taken off to some narrow but grippy little slope, and got the hang of ‘driving through the brakes’ without much stress. Lynne scored the shaley, steep and rutted Whoopsey, where she elegantly backed down five times and cracked the summit of the other soooo steep track on the first try. She was pretty rattled by the time of the steep gravelly descent,
(extremely challenging for a beginner) and lost it in the last few metres, taking out the only pine post at Yarck! John took her off for some easier practice and she was back in the pack after lunch. Because of the mix of tyres, suspensions, transmissions across our vehicles, I couldn’t discern any trends in grip or agility. Ditto in the mud hole, where we were chosen to lead the charge to try out our spanking new Goodrich All Terrain KO2’s, the ones with the the bigger shoulder blocks. They didn’t help and we abandoned after four recoveries. Interestingly, Tony in his Troopy with two diff locks and with such confidence he didn’t even have an implausibly- named “Car Bra”, and much to our relief also took another four tries until he succeeded! It took Christian on P plates to get him out of the bog 3 times! We role-played (hammed, more like it) at equipment-bargaining and learnt sand recovery, hillside wheel-changing and convoy/radio protocols, all great skills for future trips, and drove many loops of Yarck putting it all together, snatching the occasional lovely view down to the valley. It was a warm and dry weekend – perfect conditions to drive and to stand around watching. Thank heavens it was not wet as the course was pretty challenging even when dry! That bottle of sparkling Shiraz didn’t even touch the sides on Saturday night. Many thanks to the four volunteer instructors, who devote so much time, and personal expense, into helping us drivers become better and safer off roaders. Also thanks to Liz for making us all feel welcome and providing informative tours of their impressive, luxury Goldstream offroad RV. Long live the Hilton! Long live the DA weekend.
An Apology From the Editor I would like to take this opportunity to apologize most sincerely to Paul ‘Tracks’ Hawdon for not including his trips – two of them. I have no defense or reason for this happening but to say that I simply forgot to include them. ‘Tracks’ please accept my most sincere apologies…… Ed.
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SOCIAL
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M E D I T E R R A N E AI NP N I G H T A T Y A R C K
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TRIPS
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A V O N R I V E R A D V E N ITPU R E - F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6
Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles Convoy: Marcel & Marianne Van den Bronk David & Eamon (7) Tessoriero and Stuart & Jack (7) Ogilvy Mary Phillips John & Lachlan (17) Klopstock Robert & Alison Duff Nick & Connor (5) Diplaris and Dennis Winning Gordon Chessum
M
Zebra
80 Series TD
MnM
Pajero NX TD
Jeep Jumbo Kloppy Duffs Dippa Toxic
usic at Huggetts Crossing: With the excitement of another Club trip, we all met at Huggetts Lane camping area on the Avon River. So, was it a good decision to arrive on Friday night? Upon arriving, we were greeted with multiple music festivals by two neighbouring camps. Sleeping was a little difficult with the competing music continuing until 2:30am. Many bleary eyed members woke next morning ready to tackle the day on
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Grand Cherokee Petrol 200 Series TD 100 Series TD 79 Series TD Ford Ranger TD Troopy TD
minimum sleep. Not surprisingly at our departure, our neighbours were very quiet. Day one saw us leave at 9:00am and climb out of the camp area and head up to Lower Block track where we descended into the valley. The track was in good condition and all vehicles proceeded to make numerous crossings of Ben Cruachan Creek, which was very shallow. We also crossed the Avon River, which was deeper but did not require any preparation
before crossing, as the water levels were not high. At one point between river crossings we followed the track along the river flat at the foot of the hill. This part of the track was wet with deep ruts, which could be bypassed, but there were three oncoming vehicles (one Ford Ranger) which was well and truly stuck. The Ranger winched himself out then went into another series of deep ruts becoming stuck again; again putting his winch into action.
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Having looked at how the oncoming Ranger went through, Duffs fired up his V8 Ute and powered through the mud and water with that noise that only a V8 can deliver. Next Kloppy in his 100 series blasted through the bog holes and came out the other side without getting stuck. After seeing how the Ranger in the other convoy struggled through the bog hole, Dippa decided to show us how it should be done in his Ranger, and blasted through non-stop to emerge dripping in mud and water. However, he didn’t come out unscathed, as he managed to get some mud into the bead of his front tyre. The next crossing of Ben Cruachan creek was indeed handy to wash off a lot of the newly acquired mud and review Dippa’s leaking tyre. From this point we climbed up over de Moulin Knob and continued to climb and descend into adjoining watersheds to arrive at our overnight camp on the Avon River at the base of the Avon Wilderness. Camp was set up and the kids were keen to get down to the river for a paddle and play as they had been in the back seats all the way. Being a hot day, everyone including the kids, went down to the Avon River and had a refreshing swim followed by happy hour before our campfire dinner. Many of us hit the sack straight after dinner after the previous night when many struggled to get much sleep. Nick Dipralis (2740) 4WDing near the Avon Wilderness: After a better night’s sleep, we woke up refreshed and ready for the challenges that lay ahead. The motley crew of different types of 4x4 headed out for an adventure. The crew included Toyotas ranging from 80 series, 100 series, 200 series, 79 series, a Troopy, a Ford Ranger, a mighty Pajero ( one of the best set ups I have seen) and the one and only lonely Jeep Grand Cherokee. The day consisted of multiple climbs and river crossings just south of the Avon wilderness throughout the day. Each climb gave the group the opportunity to test their trucks and skills. One of the great benefits of climbing hills is always the great view at the top of the climb. The whole group enjoyed some spectacular views of the Avon wilderness and especially the views from the top of Ben Cruachan and McMillan lookout. The highlight of the day was when the legendary 79 Series decided to conquer the last bog hole at end of the trip. We were all airing up when Duffs decided to try out a bog hole close by. All seemed to be
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going well, however Rob under estimated the deep entry to the bog hole. This resulted in him having little momentum, and Duffs ended up getting stuck right in the middle. As soon as this happened the call went out for a snatch and the most unlikely 4x4 responded - the Jeep Grand Cherokee!! Rob was advised that the Jeep would be recovering him. His only comment was: “Oh no, not a Jeep!” Dave was a little nervous about the snatch owning up that he hadn’t had a lot of experience with recovering other vehicles. However, Dave’s Jeep easily recovered the 79 Series from the bog whole. Dave believes that this will be the one and only time that his Jeep Grand Cherokee will
ever recover a 79 Series! It appears that the Jeep was given the chance to carry out the recovery only because of the great sense of humour of the fellow Club members! After the trip there were three boys under 8 and one 17 year old that will have great memories of going off-road with their Dads on an adventure filled weekend. As members, we need to spread the word how family friendly our Club is, and how the Club can create great memories for young kids. A big thanks to Laurie and Heidi for arranging a memorable trip. Dave Tesoriero (2720)
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YA R C K
MAINTENANCE & CONSTRUCTION WEEKEND
19th & 20th February, 2016
T
his was a great start to the year. The troops certainly rallied for the concrete pour on the Friday. By the time concrete arrived at 3:00pm there would have been at least 10 members with willing hands and gum booted feet. The boxing had been finalized and mesh put in place. Alan Dalton had “volunteered” to take charge and keep things moving, which he did. By beer-o’clock job done and a relaxing well-earned happy hour was enjoyed at the front of the Hilton as the sun was setting. Evening meals were prepared and many stories told – some may have even been true. A highlight of the night was without a doubt entertainment supplied by Peter Hepworth and Ruby, enough said! More troops arrived during the evening and early Saturday, some could only stay for the day, but the luckier ones got to enjoy another social night. Jobs were allocated after breakfast; these included: • Five fellas to remove trees from the Terip Terip boundary fence line in preparation for fence repairs next month. They put in a great effort as it is difficult to negotiate the terrain on that boundary. • Peter Burchall headed to the bush hut with a team to get the cladding on the external walls using old sheets of iron. This was completed on Saturday so Sunday’s target was to get the remaining verandah posts in place and put the beams up. A top team effort. And it really is looking good. • There were a number of members working around the Hilton area, some were checking the sound system and making necessary repairs, technical stuff. Some of the girls were checking the first aid kits
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to see what needed to be replaced. • Jan had a team doing the evergreen items – re-staking and watering plants, a tidy up at the Memorial Garden, removing cobwebs from toilets and cleaning toilets and showers as well as cleaning in the hut. These are all ongoing items everyone should be doing when at Yarck. • Boxing was removed from concrete and prepared for the next stage; this included preparation to extend the path at the top of the steps. Mark continued with the bricks on the drain outlet. • The CruiserKhana team were checking on events and some earth works were done on the mud challenge (or is it the dust challenge), also planning for the night drive was under way. • Ken was into equipment maintenance and the guys assisting him were able to produce a template for brackets to modify and improve the use of the bucket on the tractor. These are currently being manufactured. • Our local bobcat man, Greg, was on site to do some of the heavy work, this included removing old sleepers from the tank site and preparing it for the replacement tank with improved access. The plan is to have it back in service prior to the CK. It was great to see Ted Gray back, and I know he appreciated the extra effort put in by a number of members, Dulcie, Jan & Ken and Mark to get him there and home again. Members present were: Gabi Azzam – Alan Dalton & Brenda Daniels – Ian McCartney – Peter Hepworth – Trajco Vilarov – Brian Stewart – Gary Holt – Peter & Margaret Korn – Neil Chambers – Michael & Megan Bourke – Jan Chivers & Ken Hildebrand – Phil & Shirley Ryan – Peter Burchall – Roger Brydon – Greg Edmunds – Dulcie Watts – Ted Gray – Eamonn King – Mark Emerson – Colin Low – Leeanda Berryman & Greg West – Bill Motschall – Paul Langenberg. This was a very productive weekend that was enjoyed by all. Be part of the next one on the 18th, 19th & 20th March. See you all there. Brian Stewart (340) YARCK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
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DRIVER TRAINING LCCV Driver Awareness – 28th & 29th November, 2015 Oh, What a Feeling………….Toyota!!!!! For a couple of complete novices to the world of 4WD, we had a fantastic and incredibly informative weekend getting to know our car and not only what it is capable of, but what WE were capable of. We found the course very comprehensive – ably lead by our fantastic course instructors, John Mills, Tony Bryant, Ian Wells and Matt Lilley. Not a moment was wasted guiding us through the Awareness course. Every aspect was covered, from vehicle maintenance to the necessary skills required when driving a 4WD off road. It was obvious that the other team members, Andrew McKerlie, Bradley Tate, Sue Young, Matthew Bright and John Riley and Mark Emerson who was doing the Advanced course, also relished the chance to drive through this terrific property and not only learn but also share valuable knowledge with each other. As a woman, I must say I really felt empowered driving our car through conditions I would never have imagined myself being capable of, but given the confidence by our instructors, I did it and it felt great! Driving around the property it became very apparent that many people over a long
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N OI P VEMBER 2015 period of time have p0ut many hours into creating the wonderful facilities that we experienced. Judging by the building and the maintenance required, they continue to do so, thank you, the Club is terrific and appears very well supported by mem-
bers and might we add very welcoming to all. Thanks once again for your leadership and guidance. With apologies for the late arrival of this report. Ian & Janet Lee (2750)
APRIL - SHOW & TELL PIRANHA With over 25 years in the 4WD industry, Piranha is proudly 100% Australian owned. A premier manufacturer and distributor of highly specialized products, dual battery management systems, and a complete range of accessories for your 4WD A presentation not to be missed from the Piranha representative. Liz Mills Show & Tell Coordinator
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TRIPS
Page 15
SWIFTS CREEK I PA D V E N T U R E
February, 2016 Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles Convoy: Michael & Megan Bourke Chris & Greg Burr John & Dianne Chenoweth Malcolm & Adele Kingston Peter & Margaret Korn
Zebra
80 Series TD
Eagle 1 Wiskey Girl Chenny Kirrama Elmo
Prado 150 Series TD Ford Ranger TD 79 Series TD 76 Series TD Prado 90 Series TD
Heading for the famous TVGC Track: We arrived at Swifts Creek to a lovely sunny afternoon. Vehicle by vehicle we made our way to the caravan park, where we met up with everyone as they arrived after visiting the local shop and paying for our accommodation for the weekend. What a great spot to camp, right by the Tambo River. Everyone set up their camp sites for the night and while we were having happy hour Laurie & Heidi arrived. All had arrived except for John & Dianne who were delayed by over 4 hours due to a car fire in the tunnel in Melbourne, causing them to arrive in the dark, with everyone in bed for the night. Morning arrived and everyone was keen to get going. After Laurie’s short!!! briefing, Heidi was eager to get all of us motivated, so we headed off down Nunniong Road and across the Tambo River to air down. It was now time to hit the tracks. Our first attempt was the TVGC Track, slow going with a lot of loose stones and very steep, especially for the last couple hundred metres. While we were climbing our way to the top, Heidi had her drone out filming every move we made. We all did a great job with Heidi capturing some great footage. We turned left onto Mt Stawell Track, then right onto Commins Track. We stopped for a quick cuppa in amongst the clouds, with everyone talking about the TVGC Track and Heidi getting footage of us coming up TVGC. After our break we climbed the steep Hammond Break and then left along Windy Ridge Road. Some of the most awesome views according to Laurie, if only we could’ve seen them all, as we were covered intermittently in cloud cover. We descended McKenzies Track crossing the creek three times before stopping for lunch. It was now time to climb back up McKenzies Track before a left onto Upper
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Little River Road. With some relatively easy 4WDing so far, we came across Telegraph Track. This proved to be a challenge for one of the group. Chenny did forget to engage their lockers, but once engaged no worries, straight up and over those rocks. Off again and it was up to the Mt Nugong Fire Tower with some fantastic views with lots of photos. Heading back to the Nunniong Road, we made our way down to Bentley Plains campsite to visit Moscow Villa. Not quite what you expect as a bush hut. It even has a wooden floor and can still be used today to camp overnight. A great story to be told written and framed inside of how this hut was built there. It is a shame how people have damaged and defaced the hut with graffiti, as it is such a beautiful place that everyone can use. Heidi was outside and had her drone flying around taking some more footage while Michael took a great photo of our group outside the hut. After collecting some firewood for the Saturday night campfire, we headed off down the tracks towards the Washington Winch. Absolutely amazing that all the cables and pulleys are still attached among the trees from the boiler and winch machine. After reading the information boards of how this equipment actually worked, it just showed how dangerous this type of work was.
While most of us were looking at the winch, Laurie met up with another couple parked in the car park and comment was made that he was drumming up some new memberships, as they were driving a Prado. Shame they were from NSW. They told Laurie we were the first people they had seen in hours. From here we made our way back towards camp and once on the bitumen slowly drove back to base camp so we didn’t need to air up. Time for happy hour. We chattered and compared our experiences of the day, each climb and descent. After dinner we ended the day with a campfire in the undercover area until late. What a great day, and so looking forward to Sunday. It came to our attention on Sunday morning that Eagle 1 had a visitor through the night in their van - a Bat. I believe there were screams, the Bat flying around the van with precision not hitting anything and a bit of towel throwing to entice the unwelcome visitor to leave. Mike was not sure how it got in nor how long it had been there. Well done Mike for your bravery so Meagan could get back to sleep amid all this excitement. Chris & Greg Burr (2738)
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TVGC track revisited: It had been a quiet night for all at Swifts Creek campsite, with just the sound of the babbling river next to our tents. After a quick morning briefing, we rolled out at 9:00am, headed up the Great Alpine Road again and veered right onto Bindi Road after passing through Tongio. Bindi Road is a beautiful touring route, snaking along the Tambo Valley with extensive, picturesque river flats, home to numerous farms, plantations, paddocks, and rustic dwelling places. Shortly after the Nunniong Rd turnoff (where we drove the day before), we turned left onto Lees Track and were immediately confronted with a steep, rocky climb. After just ten minutes we came up against our first fallen tree for the day. It didn’t take long (20 mins) for Heidi and her chainsaw to turn this large fallen tree into several smaller pieces so we could continue. Soon, we were climbing high up through 1000m and driving through some low lying clouds. The misty effect on this heavily wooded, seemingly old-growth forest was almost primeval and certainly very pretty. The highest point was 1224M but any views of the surroundings were lost in the clouds. The intention was to turn onto Spring Hill Track but this was unexpectedly closed (in spite of Laurie’s detailed research with the local DELWP office). So we stopped for morning tea along a clearing while Laurie & Heidi worked out some alternative tracks. Around 11:00am we turned onto Mt Cook Track (a new track to our trip leaders) which appeared on the map as a dead end track. However Laurie’s map showed it as a through track so we ventured down this very interesting rutted track. After some
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great 4Wding, we soon exited Mt Cook Track and turned into Splitters Range Track. Having already squeezed through a number of tracks with scratchy bushes on both sides, a radio discussion started about Eagle 1, which had been outfitted with innovative fridge-magnet “armour”. Everyone was keen to learn how well these were protecting Eagle 1’s panels from scratches. We heard how Michael had bought the rolled up magnet material, traced out patterns on butcher’s paper for each panel, tailored the sheets and stuck them onto every side surface of the car. It seemed they had even withstood a 100kmh home journey on a previous trip,
without separating from the car, so they seemed an ingenious way to keep car panels looking new. On top of that, the magnet’s white colour perfectly matched Eagle 1’s white so they were practically invisible. After turning right onto Scrubby Creek Track, we rattled downhill again, then along a ridge followed by a further steep descent with lots of ruts and rocks. Eagle 1 again made the grade with Michael happily reporting his Downhill-Assist controlled his vehicle well, meaning he only had to steer. We crossed Scrubby Creek and then Minute Creek before doing another steep rocky climb back up to 1000M affording us better views this time. It appeared to be doing a big loop as we passed a telephone tower we had passed earlier. We stopped for lunch at 12:20pm in a nice area with lots of big, old trees and re-started just after 1:00pm. Next we found ourselves back on the Lees Track, heading steeply downhill this time, and able to take in the views of the lovely Tambo Valley below. Shortly before 2:00pm we hit Bindi Road again and crossed to the southern side of the valley along Nunniong Road, then turned right onto the Commins track. A much more scrubby area, we passed a beehive collection, drove over several ant colonies and climbed the moderately rutted track before turning into Mt Stawell Track. After a right turn at Mt Hopeless Track turnoff, it was our last climb of the day to the top of the TVGC track. Yes, it was time to see the TVGC Track (Tambo Valley Golf Course Track) from the other end, only this time we descended this ultra-steep and rocky track, one by one. Soon we were back on Nunniong Rd, before re-joining the Great Alpine Road and heading back to camp at 13:15pm. After a quick debrief and document handover, it was time to air-up the tyres again, and break camp for those heading off. All agreed it had been another wonderful trip, with great 4WDing experience for everyone. The added bonus of Heidi’s quad-copter capturing some of the most interesting challenges means we’ll have the chance to re-live some of those thrills at the next TLCCV meeting. Thanks to Laurie and Heidi for arranging everything perfectly and to Malcolm and Adele, the tail end Charlie team. Day 1: 88 km – Day 2: 96km Margaret & Peter Korn (2277)
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OF INTEREST The Royal Flying Doctor Service (By Bob Brennan, long-time Outback traveler and happy Prado owner, who writes about the Outback in a blog (dazzlerplus.wordpress.com), and also in a free bi-monthly email newsletter: email brennan@bba.com.au to subscribe)
I
n the 200th post to the above acknowledged Blog, it seems appropriate that such a milestone should be marked by talking about a development which has made life in the Outback a practical proposition for the majority of the people who live and work there. Its importance to Outback life cannot be overestimated. On the 17th May, 1928, a single-engine, fabric-covered biplane took off from Cloncurry in western Queensland to answer a call for medical help – sent by hand-cranked wireless – from the remote town of Julia Creek. What subsequently became the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has now been providing a “mantle of safety” for people living and travelling in remote areas of Australia for more than 87 years. The RFDS currently operates over 60 aircraft, which fly a total of more than 27
million kilometres a year. RFDS medical staff sees an average of 800 patients a day, and they perform an average of more than 100 medical evacuations by air every day of the year. The Rev. John Flynn, founder of the RFDS, started his Outback ministry at Beltana (near Leigh Creek in South Australia) in 1911, and soon came to understand the rigors and privations of Outback life. He rapidly became committed to the vision of providing better communications and medical help for those in remote areas, and in 1912 persuaded the Presbyterian Church to establish the Australian Inland Mission (AIM). Flynn was the first superintendent. Flynn saw great potential in the emerging field of wireless communication. He enlisted the help of Alf Tregear, who developed the hand-cranked wireless, and then in 1927 the famous pedal wireless (as in the picture). Morse code and later voice messages started to break down the extreme isolation of Outback dwellers, as these remarkable machines were installed in remote locations, and urgent calls for help got through in minutes rather than hours or days. The simultaneous developments in aircraft technology meant that sick or injured people and skilled medical personnel
TLCCV FUND RAISING The annual great value Entertainment Books are now available to Club Members. Offering great savings over a multitude of eateries and other products, we encourage you to purchase a copy now. (They also make great gifts!) Just fill in the Order Form below or speak to Angela Di Lallo for more information. Remember - the Club gets a percentage of each sale.
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could be brought together rapidly. Flynn’s dream had become reality, and 87 years on the RFDS still provides a critical medical service to people in remote situations across the continent. You have to search hard to find someone in the Outback who is not an enthusiastic supporter of the Flying Doctor. With prompting, they can often tell the story of a sick child, a car or tractor accident, heart attack or snake bite, where the Flying Doctor saved the day. Some will give a graphic account of commandeering all available vehicles to shine their headlights on the nearest landing strip to help the Flying Doctor touch down at night. A lesser-known service provided by the RFDS is the “medical chest.” Over 3500 RFDS medical chests containing an extensive range of numbered drugs and medical supplies are located at remote locations across Australia. Following a remote medical consultation a patient may for example be advised to take two Number 15 pills. One station manager was told to give his wife a Number 9 tablet from the medical chest. Later he told the doctor: “We’d run out of Number 9s, but I gave her one Number 6 and one Number 3 and she came good right away!”
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PRODUCTS
OME HIGH PERFORMANCE BYPASS SHOCK ARB’s revolutionary new suspension system from OME… BP–51 high performance shock absorbers, brings racing technology to everyday applications. BP-51 (bypass 51mm diameter bore) shock absorbers feature revolutionary, patent pending technology developed to deliver unparalleled on and off road performance. Developed and tested extensively in some of Australia’s most rugged environments, these big bore, position sensitive bypass shock absorbers with remote reservoir are designed to be fitted without any need for vehicle modification, combining considerable ride comfort around town with significant amounts of end-zone damping for exceptional chassis control and handling off road. In addition to the velocity sensitive damping used in most shock absorbers, where the faster the piston moves, the higher the level of damping is generated, BP-51 shock absorbers also generate damping dependent on the position of the piston within the shock absorber’s body via their bypass design. This results in an ability for the shock absorber to provide the best of both worlds, with a comfortable and compliant ride during normal driving and a more controlled ride over challenging terrain. With greater levels of damping generated at each end of the stroke, the piston slows as it approaches full compression and extension, preventing harsh topping out against the bump stop and allowing larger bumps and corrugations to be absorbed more easily. Further to this, damping performance is easily adjustable across a wide range in both rebound and compression, allowing 24 Overland Cruisering
the user to alter the vehicle’s ride performance to cater for different road conditions and vehicle loading scenarios. The body, reservoir and components are all made from aircraft grade (6061 T6) aluminium, with a type 3, 40 micron hard anodised finish, ensuring exceptional heat dissipation and resistance to corrosion and stone damage. Designed, developed and tested entirely by ARB’s team of Old Man Emu Ride Engineers, all BP-51 shock absorbers are manufactured in-house by ARB. In order to achieve this, significant investment has been made in state of the art machinery and hard anodising equipment, allowing ARB total control of the manufacturing process to ensure the highest possible quality. Initial applications to suit Toyota 200 Series and HiLux 2005+ are available with other applications to follow. Key Features • Bypass technology with remote reservoir • Vehicle specific applications • Independently adjustable for both rebound and compression • Hard anodised, aircraft grade (6061 T6) aluminium body, reservoir and components • Adjustable spring preload/ride height adjustment • High pressure nitrogen reservoir with aluminium, anodised floating piston • 19mm hard chromed ground shaft with impact resistant, replaceable shaft guard • Dash 6 high temperature Teflon® hose with high flow fittings • Large Teflon® lined spherical bearings on coil over applications • Designed, developed and manufactured by ARB.
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BUSHFIRE PLAN
The Toyota Land Cruiser Club does not recommend a “Stay and Defend” plan. Infrastructure on the property can be replaced. FIRE DANGER PERIOD [November – May] It is members’ responsibility to listen to radio news reports each evening during the Fire Danger Period for advice on the possibility of fires. Also be up to date with any declaration of Total Fire Ban Days. Yarck is in the NORTH CENTRAL FIRE BAN DISTRICT-149 Rennies Lane, GOBUR It is recommended that members leave the property the day before a declared Total Fire Ban day or very early in the morning of a Total Fire Ban day Members should not go to the property during any Total Fire Ban day. EVACUATION Those present will select one person from their number to take charge, The issue of evacuation during an emergency must be addressed early in the planning. Evacuation can be extremely dangerous unless it takes place well in advance of the fire hazard entering the general area of the camp. Roads may be blocked with fallen timber and visibility reduced by thick smoke. Increased pressures on emergency services may make it difficult for them to render assistance.
Evacuation should only be done via the main access track to Rennies Lane and the Gobur –Yarck Road. REFUGE There are NO bushfire proof shelters on the property. If a fire incident occurs and members cannot leave the property, then the Hut could possibly be used as a “safer place” to provide protection from radiant heat. It should be made as fire safe as is practical. Wet towels to be placed under doors to prevent embers entering. There is running water inside; there are knapsacks and fire extinguishers. Other equipment to have on hand should include. A battery operated am/fm radio and P2 filter masks. UHF radios left on – mobile phones – torches – first aid kits – drinking fluids. Clothing - it is advisable to have long trousers, long sleeved shirt and sturdy footwear. Gloves and hat are also useful. The wearing of shorts, dresses, thongs or any synthetic fabrics is totally unsuitable. Be prepared for smoke and embers that may enter the building. After the fire front has passed check outside and extinguish any burning embers or fires around the hut. All vehicles should be parked on bare ground, facing towards the exit with all doors and windows closed and keys in
the ignition. DO NOT BLOCK OFF ANY ACCESS TRACKS. Alarm, A distinctive alarm signal should be used, a simple manual device such as the triangle hanging in the tree outside the hut or the electronic device near the radios in the hut. Panic. This is something that can well be done without. Anyone showing signs of panic should be kept under some form of supervision, and provided with reassurance and prevented from doing anything rash. COMMUNICATION and CONTACTS • Phone: 1800 240 667 for Bushfire information. • 000 only to report a fire. • Alexandra Fire Station Phone 0357721855 • Yarck Fire Captain Phone 0357734334. Mobile: 0439 656 913. • ABC radio AM band 774 • Local Radio Station (Alexandra) UGFM 106.9 (an official emergency broadcaster) • GPS coordinates (six figure grid) of the Hilton. • Websites www.abc.net.au\emergency www.cfa.vic.gov.au A Bushfire Survival Kit is located on the notice board behind the hut door. It is available for members to read and return it.
MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTORY
miles.ppm@bigpond.com
ELTHAM TIMBER & HARDWARE P/L
ROB DEYLEN (1622) MANAGING DIRECTOR Mobile: 0409 305 534 1175 - 1181 Main Road, Eltham Vic. 3095 Phone: 9439 5533 (All Hours) Fax: 9431 1762
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Couragia FX On Road
Couragia XUV Touring
New super tensile steel belts 15% stronger than ‘high tensile steel’ higher impact strength and puncture resistance. Improved wet and dry traction and handling on the highway, while also improving cut-n-chip resistance in harsher rocky and gravel terrain. ArmorTek3 shields chances of sidewall damage is greatly reduced. Guaranteed to last up to 80,000 kms.
March 16
14/3/16
12:17 PM
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