Toyota LandCruiser Club - Victoria - November 2016 - Overland Cruisering

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November 2016

Overland Cruisering Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc.

A0005442c

Inside... < Great Victoria & Gibson

< Mt Skene snow Trip

Deserts

< Shows - Geelong & Leisurefest

www.tlccv.com.au

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. PP100004900 $5.00

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TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB OF AUSTRALIA (VICTORIA) INC. A0005442C ABN87301244383

NOVEMBER 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 45

No.5

Club Information

1

Committee 2016-2017

2

President’s Report

3

Club Calendar

5

Over the Next Hill

7

Coming Events

10

Yarck Maintenance weekend

12

TLCCV Christmas Party

13

Great Victoria & Gibson Deserts

15

Leisurefest 2016

30

Mt Skene Snow Trip

31

News from ARB

33

Geelong Show

34

Member Directory

36

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

Vice President Ph. 0408 568 060 Michael Martin president2@tlccv.com.au Secretary Barbara Bryant 0 secretary1@tlccv.com.au Assistant Secretary Ian wells 0 secretary2@tlccv.com.au

2016 - 2017 Activities Coordinator Matt Lilley activities@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

Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator Brian Tanner marketing@tlccv.com.au

Yarck Management 0 Brian Stewart yarckmanage@tlccv.com.au Magazine Distribution Gordon Chessum

Raffles & Supper Ian Ross

Trip Convenor trips@tlccv.com.au Michael Schuettke * Register a Member’s trip * Assistance in trip preparation

Club Shop Graham Cahill

Technical Treasurer Alan McMeekin 0 treasurer1@tlccv.com.au Assistant Treasurer Kevin Rogers 0 treasurer2@tlccv.com.au Committee Greg West committee1@tlccv.com.au Committee Judy Spence 0 committee2@tlccv.com.au

Magazine Editor Sandra Tanner: Advertising Sandra Tanner

0 editor1@tlccv.com.au 0 advertising@tlccv.com.au

Community Response Coordinator Mac Redfern tlccrg@tlccv.com.au

clubshop@tlccv.com.au

Social Coordinator Angela Di Lallo

social@tlccv.com.au

technical@tlccv.com.au * Book for participation in social events Visitor Greeters Carol & Greg Edmunds

Education Liz Mills education@tlccv.com.au • Club educational courses co-ordinator

Cruiserkhana Neil Chambers enquiries@cruiserkhana.com.au

Special Events Sandra Tanner events@tlccv.com.au • Shows & special event co-ordinator

GEELONG BRANCH

Membership 0 Barbara Bryant membership@tlccv.com.au * Membership renewals, name badges, contact detail changes Librarian Wendy Wilson library@tlccv.com.au * Borrow DVDs & books * Contributions to the Library FWDV Delegate Tony Bryant Webmaster Laurie Miles

0 fwdvdelegate@tlccv.com.au webmaster@tlccv.com.au

President Matt Lilley

Vice President Matt McPhee

geelong@tlccv.com.au

geelong2@tlccv.com.au

Secretary Sandra Tanner Treasurer Jennie Harvey 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

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

ummer is fast approaching. Most of the High Country tracks re-opened this month after a very cold and wet winter. A few tracks have not re-opened yet due to track damage from the winter weather. So make sure you check Parks Vic website for more details: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/closures/ seasonal-road-closures2 With Christmas approaching, you will see that our annual Christmas party is being run on Sunday 11th December. Please ring or drop an email to Brad & Melody Schaffer if you plan on attending this great fun day. Every year, the kids have loads of fun playing in the park. The Christmas Pub night is happening later this month, so if you would like to join many other members, please let Angela know ASAP. Geelong is also holding its annual Christmas breakup. This year it is at Lake Fyans (close to the Grampians). Graeme Innis will be running a day trip through the Grampians, so if you can make it please contact Alison Williams ASAP. Details are in the magazine and on the club website.

S

YA R C K

suited for our Club’s needs. Whilst it has many different features, the feedback from our admin team is that Wild Apricot is still the better fit for our Club. I have asked the team to look at the data, which is stored for each member. You will note that some fields are not editable by you. Hopefully as they work together, they will find some resolutions to move forward.

Finally, don’t forget that our Monster Working Bee is next weekend. Everyone is welcome to come along. The more volunteers we get, the quicker we can move in to social time and enjoy the free sausage sizzle on the Saturday night.

Don’t forget to let Brian Stewart at yarckmanage@tlccv.com.au know you are coming along.

Laurie Miles (1058) PRESIDENT

MAINTENANCE & CONSTRUCTION WEEKEND

October, 2016 t was a very cold and wet Saturday with the following 20 very willing members in attendance: Peter Hepworth – Gabi Azzam – Jan Chivers – Ken Hildebrand – Eamonn King - Rob Leversha – Gary Holt – Brian Stewart – Neil Chambers – Rob Pascoe – Garry Cooper – Ted Gray – David & Suzy Roks – Tony Bryant – Colin Low - Michael Bourke – Trajco Vilarov – Brett Walker Damien Vanslambrouck The priority was to remove the large tree from the Whoopsey area. John and Liz had overcome a mammoth task to clear enough for access for the previous weekend event. The team got into it cutting and stacking the timber and burning all the foliage.

Other jobs tackled included clearing of under track drains, brush cutting grass around the Hilton and toilet. pruning and burning of grevillea garden waste.

Work continued with shelving to the container and a roof over that included a covered area at the entry.

All the Hilton guttering was cleared and the water collection pipe system flushed out with the overnight rains. Water was pumped to the header tanks.

The remaining rafters were cut for the Bush Hut. Once again we had great social evenings by the fire. New members David & Suzy Roks enjoyed their first weekend helping out. It was great to see Ted Gray back again (thanks Greg).

The weather on Sunday was good, it

I

Our Social committee would like to trial tea and coffee after our monthly meetings in the same room as our meeting. The trial will be starting in 2017. They have negotiated a discounted price of $1 per cup, so watch out for this new trial in 2017.

Our December meeting at Mulgrave will be short so that all members can socialise at the end of the meeting. There will be drinks available to all members from the bar, plus Sandra will be organizing Lions Christmas cakes to eat and sell. Make sure you do not miss this great Christmas meeting.

If you can help out with some voluntary work, then Dulcie is running her Jordan Valley Loop cemetery clean up just north of Walhalla. Please contact Dulcie if you can help out.

We have been developing our membership database. At times, it gives us some frustration. A team has been set up to administer the database. Thanks to Rob Logie and Michael Bourke for helping out.

We are always looking at ways to improve, so recently we reviewed another database

allowed us to tidy up, pack up and get tents dry.

It was a top effort by everyone.

Don’t forget the Monster Maintenance & Construction weekend 19th & 20th November.

Bring your drinks and nibbles; there will be a BBQ sausage sizzle on the Saturday evening. Bring along your best or worst hat for a good laugh.

Brian Stewart (340) YARCK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

LETTERS Email Received from Peter Hepworth It was great to be up at Yarck for the Maintenance and Construction weekend just gone. It had been many months since I was up there due to travel, etc.

These weekends are such fun and very satisfying, to meet new members, chat with others whilst making a valued contribution in putting something back into the club.

The property was looking terrific. It was very pleasing to see many improvement and works that your committee had arranged and put in place in just a few short months.

It is a credit to your committee and the volunteer members devoting their time and effort in making this such a premier facility for all to enjoy.

Well done all.

Cheers, Peter Hepworth (2454)

Christmas Pub night Eltham Hotel Saturday 26th November PLEASE NOTE: Closing date is 4 days before to be fair to the venue.

No late bookings accepted by Social Secretary Angela Di Lallo, Social Secretary Email: social@tlccv.com.au Overland Cruisering 3

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2016 CALENDAR November 15th November 19th & 20th November 26th November 26th November 26th & 27th December 12th December 13th December 20th 2017: January 9th January 14th & 15th January, 17th January 21st & 22nd February February February February February February

4th & 5th 13th 14th 18th & 19th 21st 25th & 26th

February 25th & 26th March 4th & 5th March 13th March 14th March 21st April 1st & 2nd April, 9th April 10th April 11th April, 18th April 23rd & 22nd April 29th & 30th May, 5th – 7th May 8th May 9th May 16th

TRAINING

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.

COMING TRIPS

May 21st & 22nd

General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend Grampians Day Trip Pub Night at Eltham Pub DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting

May 27th & 28th June 12th June 13th June 20th June 24th & 25th

Yarck Management meeting The Murrindindi Meander out of Yarck General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend Jordan Valley Loop working bee Yarck Management meeting DA Theory First Aid Course at Rowville General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend Tarra Valley Rainforest weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting DA Practical weekend Werribee Park Social Day Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Chainsaw Course at Yarck Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting

July July July July July

1st & 2nd 10th 11th 18th 22nd & 23rd

July 29th & 30th August 8th August 14th August 15th August 19th & 20th August 26th & 27th September 11th September 12th September 19th September 23rd & 24th October October October October October

7th & 8th 9th 10th 17th 21st & 22nd

October 28th & 29th November 13th November 14th November 21st November 25th & 26th December 2nd & 3rd December 11th December 19th

Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting and AGM Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend DA Theory Yarck Management meeting General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting DA Theory General Meeting Maintenance & Construction w/end DA Practical weekend Yarck Management meeting General Meeting

F I R S T AII PD C O U R S E

18th & 19th February 2017 Designer First Aid Solutions Delivering nationally recognised First Aid Training This course is a great opportunity to learn or update your emergency skills 2 Days Training - First Aid Certificate - First Aid Book CPR Face Shield - Prizes & Gifts Lunch provided on day 1 BYO lunch day 2 - $130 Address: 2 Taylors Lane, Rowville RSVP : Liz Mills Email: education@tlccv.com.au • $50 deposit to secure your place: treasurer1@tlccv.com.au • Balance payable by 27th January • Non Certificate: 10% discount • $50 NON refundable if place cancelled within 2 weeks of course Overland Cruisering 5

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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 trips@tlccv.com.au. All applications and payments 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: Contact Parks Victoria on http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/closures/seasonal-road-closures2

NOVEMBER Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:

Trip Leader: NOV/DEC Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:

Note: Trip Leader: DECEMBER Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:

Trip Leader:

GRAMPIANS DAY TRIP (GEELONG BRANCH CHRISTMAS BREAKUP WEEKEND) Saturday 26th November, 2016 Lake Fyans Holiday Park (Grampians area) 8:45 am for 9:00 am departure 10 vehicles Easy to medium, but harder if wet Full tank from Ararat UHF (initially Ch 15) Standard recovery equipment that includes closed front & rear recovery points, snatch strap with rated shackles, shovel, air compressor, off road AT or better tyres with at least 50% tread - including the spare.

Staying Friday & Saturday night at Lake Fyans Holiday Park The trip will explore some bush roads & tracks in the Grampians & take in a few local tourist sites. The trip is in conjunction with the Geelong Branch Christmas breakup weekend at Lake Fyans. Cabins, powered & unpowered sites available - see www.lakefyansholidaypark.com.au for more details. BBQ at the park on Saturday night.

Graeme Innis: Email: geinnis@gmail.com WONNANGATTA REVISITED Wednesday 30th November - Sunday 4th December Porepunkah 12:00 noon 5 vehicles Medium Full tanks Porepunkah 15 UHF All terrain tyres only with 50% tread or better, tools, standard recovery gear, compressor & tyre gauge.

Bush camping (4 nights) This exciting High Country trip follows the Buckland River where we will make camp. Next day we take in the spectacular views from Mt Murray before heading down along the Humphrey River for another overnight camp.

Next day we will enter the magnificent Wonnangatta Valley where we will camp for two days before exiting via the Cynthia Range track to Dargo.

Prefeerence given to new members and/or members with young children (I will have 6 & 9 year olds in tow).

No pets, firearms or trailers permitted on this trip.

Ian Wells: Email: ianwells@acslink.net.au ABERFELDY ADVENTURE Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th December, 2016 Rawson Saturday 8:30 am 8 vehicles Medium to difficult Full tank from Moe UHF (initially channel 15) Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.

Bush camping on Saturday night.

Explore the exciting 4WD tracks near the Aberfeldy River, including a visit to O’Tooles Flat, plus take in the views as we descend the famous 12 switchbacks on Trigg Track, just north of the old mining town of Walhalla.

No trailers, dogs, cats or firearms permitted on this trip.

Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: trips@zebra400.com Overland Cruisering 7

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ADVANCE NOTICE

JORDAN VALLEY LOOP WORKING BEE - REGION G Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February, 2017 For full details see ‘Over The Next Hill’ 8 Overland Cruisering

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CALENDAR

2017 JANUARY 2017 Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:

Trip Leaders: FEBRUARY Date: Details: Time: Meeting Place: Overnight: Fuel: Equipment: Radio: Standard: PLEASE NOTE: Trip Leader:

THE MURRINDINDI MEANDER Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, 2016 Yarck Hilton 8.30am departure 7 vehicles Easy/Medium Full tank UHF Standard recovery equipment. Tyres - All terrain with 50% minimum tread Camping/van/trailer at the Yarck Hilton Saturday: Travelling on forest roads/4WD tracks in and around the Murrindini area visiting points of interest and returning to the Hilton for the evening.

Sunday: Depart 9am for another day in the Murrindini area returning to Yarck in the afternoon with the choice of heading for home or staying overnight.

Barry and Viv Gardner: Email: tripsbazandviv@optusnet.com.au JORDAN VALLEY LOOP WORKING BEE - REGION G Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February, 2017 Working bee cleaning up the historical sites in and around Jericho cemetery and township and along the Walhalla/Woods Point Road. Explore some tracks Sunday morning if all work is completed.

Please arrive Friday night or Saturday morning by 9am, up the track where Wiliam Creighton is buried. Its one of our historical sites betwen Jericho Track and Victor Spur Track.

Bush camp above the lone grave of William Creighton Bush camping (no toilet) up the track where thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a grassy flat area above the grave of Creighton, past Matlock between Jericho Track and the Victor Spur Track.

Full tank from Warburton or Marysville or Moe. Standard recovery gear. Good off road tyres.

Food and drinks. All the usual gardening equipment required to maintain the historical sites.

Ch15 UHF Easy to moderate depending on the weather Detailed email to follow those who wish to attend closer to the weekend Dulcie Watts - Email: dulciew@bigpond.net.au

TARRA VALLEY RAINFOREST WEEKEND TRIP Saturday 25th/ Sunday 26th February, 2017 IGA Liquor, 12 Anderson Street, Leongatha 9.00 am 8 vehicles - No vans, trailers or pets Easy Full tank UHF Standard recovery gear and camping gear Camping at Fernholme Creek Park on the Tarra River. (They have cabins) Travelling on forest roads through the Strezlecki Ranges, arriving at base camp Saturday afternoon.

Sunday will be doing leisurely walks that are available in the park. Fern Gully, Suspension Bridge, etc. befor heading home via the freeway.

Trip Leaders: Barry and Viv Gardner: Email: tripsbazandviv@optusnet.com.au FEBRUARY Date: Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details:

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COMING EVENTS

VISIT TO BATTERY WORLD GEELONG Wednesday 23rd November, 2016 Battery World Geelong is moving to new premises in Waurn Ponds (5 minutes off the Geelong Ring Road), next to the Waurn Ponds Pub) The new establishment will have displays of the many interesting products that Battery World supplies.

There will be expert information, product displays and no doubt some TLCCV specials!

Commencing at 7.00 pm Dinner available prior at adjoining Waurn Ponds Hotel

All members are invited Please advise Sandra Tanner if you are attending.

Email: editor1@tlccv.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 10 Overland Cruisering

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COMING EVENTS

GEELONG BRANCH CHRISTMAS BREAKUP AT LAKE FYANS IN THE GRAMPIANS 25th, 26th & 27th November, 2016 Melbourne members are invited to join the Geelong Branch members for a weekend full of fun, friendship some four wheel driving and touring the beautiful surrounds of the Grampians.

Saturday a 4WD trip will be run by Graeme Innis. See Over the Next Hill.

Alternatively there are plenty of wildflowers, photography, Abroiginal rock art, waterfalls, wineries, and the Halls Gap Zoo to name a few sights.

Saturday night a BBQ meal will be provided. Members are requested to supply nibbles, happy hour treats and dessert.

Please book your own accommodation and let Alison know that you are coming for catering purposes.

A very family oriented weekend and dogs permitted with prior approval when booking. The Grampians is a National Park so dogs are not permitted on the day trip.

Please let Lake Fyans Park know you are with TLCCV when you book (10% cheaper rate if booking on line).

Contact: Alison Williams - Email: alison4913@gmail.com

TRAINING

C H A I N S AI PW C O U R S E

CHAINSAW COURSE 5th - 7th May, 2017 Arrive no later than 7pm, Friday 5th May at Yarck property.

STEVE MCWIGGAN from SURE TRAC TRAINING - 0425 775 327 So you thought you knew everything about chainsaws?

Members who have done this course discovered that they didn't.

Gain new skills and up to date know how.

Nationally recognised certificates are required by 4WDV, TLCCV & Parks Victoria COST: $.210 pp RSVP: Liz Mills at education@tlccv.com.au $50 deposit to secure your place to treasurer@tlccv.com.au Balance payable by Friday 21st April - no later $50 NON refundable with cancellation within 2 weeks of course.

This annual course will fill quickly so apply now. Must have personal safety gear & Australian Standard Chain Saw

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COMING EVENTS

” R E T S N O M “ L A U & N E C AN N A N E G T N N I I K R MA O W N O I T C U R T D S N N E K CO E E W E E B 19th & 20th NOVEMBER, 2016 To be held at Yarck, the “Monster” working bee is being organized for members to assist in preparing our beautiful property for the summer months and the ensuing CruiserKhana.

We need as many members as possible to come for the weekend, or even for a day. There is a host of tasks that require our attention for the safety of our members and the property.

BYO tools, trailers, safety gear and the usual food and liquid requirements.

Saturday night a BBQ will be provided.

For catering purposes, please reply ASAP if you will be attending, by advising Brian Stewart at a meeting or emailing Brian at: yarckmanage@tlccv.com.au

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SPECIAL EVENT

2 0 1 6 T L C C V FI AP M I LY C H R I S T M A S P A R T Y

Y T R A P S A M T S I R H s C d i Y k L I r o M f A t F s u 6 j 1 t 0 o 2 n V C e C m L o T c l e w s r e b m e All m

Sunday 11th December, 2016 Venue: Nortons Park, Nortons Lane, Wantirna South (Mel. Ref. 72 A2) Starts 11:30 am – BYO Lunch, drinks, chairs & table • Fun and games will be provided • Santa arrives at 1:30 pm SHARP with presents for the kids Value of each present $20.00 ($10.00 of that is paid by the members in advance).

• Presents are for children 15-years and under.

Organisers: Brad & Melody Schaffer Email: bradschaffer26@yahoo.com.au PLEASE RING TO CONFIRM PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO Melody: 0403 811 460 FORMS TO BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 22nd NOVEMBER, 2016

PLEASE COMPLETE FORM AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT TO: Melody Schaffer, 9 Paul Street, Cheltenham, 3192 Cheques made payable to TLCCV.

Name……………………………………………………… Membership No .............………………..

Contact phone no: …………………………………………………………........................………….

Boy / Girl

Child’s Name

Age

………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… ………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………...… ………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………… *Member to contribute $10.00 per child.

TOTAL PAYMENT $

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G R E A T V I C T O R I A AINPD G I B S O N D E S E R T S

August/September, 2016 Trip Leaders: Participants:

Don / Dinah Bryant Harry King John / Nicki Lee Tony / Maryla Lawler David / Sue Hooke John / Joye Pinnis Marion Paton Ground Charlie: Margaret Bryant

O

ur trip was to comprise a zig-zag course across the Great Victoria Desert north of Forrest, some portions of the Connie Sue and Anne Beadell Highways, refueling stops in Laverton and Warburton, a run up the Sandy Blight Junction Road, and a drive across the Gary Junction Road to finish in Alice Springs. Along the way we planned to retrace a portion of the route taken by explorer Frank Hann.

Hann originally lived and worked in Queensland before travelling to WA, exploring much of the Kimberley and Pilbara areas before making camp some 15km east of Laverton where he lived with aboriginal friend Talbot. From there he and Talbot explored areas to

200 Series 100 Series 100 Series Troopy Troopy Prado Prado the east, traveling as far as Oodnadatta in SA. He is credited with naming more geographical features in WA than any other explorer. He kept detailed diaries, many of which still survive. On the basis of these, author Ian Elliot (and others) retraced Hann’s route, locating most of the features he named and the various trees he blazed along the way (where these still survive). Elliot published a booklet, “Hanns Track”, in which he recorded the GPS locations of these features. The route we intended to follow did not appear on any of our maps; but a track does exist because of 4WD vehicles that drive it following the GPS locations published by Elliot.

25th August: We left Eucla at 8.30am

sharp W.A. time and turned left for a short distance on the highway - all looking out for the Nullabor Nymph before heading off right to Forrest with the warnings of several Eucla staff saying it would take us 8 hours due to overnight rain. Luckily for us the rain clouds were only on the coast and our drive was uneventful and saw us arriving in Eucla at 1.30 pm. On the way Dave spotted a 1939 Desoto which Harry quickly declared bore a striking resemblance to the paintwork on Dave’s With Don’s waypoints as truck. guidance we found a rock hole and whilst we were all wondering how deep the water was, Sue put all the guessing to rest by measuring the depth with a stick - very shallow.

The landscape was true Nullarbor, a treeless plain; but what a wonderful big open sky. There was little wildlife, 2 wedge tail eagles, kangaroos and a lone camel; but lots of white and yellow wildflowers. An old ‘OWEN’ car made it a little further than the Desoto at 38km.

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Forrest: What a wonderful oasis in the

desert this was; it even has Telstra connectivity.

The managers were a very amenable young couple and 6 of us chose to stay in the houses (yes house) with dinner and breakfast provided. The fact that Kim was a chef made dinner quite memorable. For everyone else, the campsite was sheltered, with a great fireplace with firewood provided. Toilet and bathroom facilities were in one of the houses. The managers gave us a tour of the aerodrome (an accredited emergency airport), the original siding for the Trans Australia rail line, and a museum housing Meteorological equipment left when the Met departed in 1995. After dark they also took us to the centre of the runway to study the stars.

Forrest was a truly memorable camping spot.

26th August: We assembled outside the caretaker’s house at 8.30am and were escorted to the diesel pump to top up our tanks. This was followed by the obligatory team photo beneath the steel eagle at the front gate. Guided by the Manager, we were shown the track north along the eastern boundary of the aerodrome, and finally departed Forrest at 9.15am. The track, which had a sandy clay base with some exposed rocks, was surprisingly good given that it didn't appear to have been used for some time. For the first 70kms it was typical undulating Nullarbor plain devoid of any trees with the vegetation ranging from sparse low saltbush type cover to

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two foot high grass. As we neared the Great Victoria Desert Conservation Park, trees began to appear as did the wildflowers, which became more and more abundant the deeper we went into the park – mainly white and sometimes yellow daisies with numerous patches of Sturt’s Desert Pea. Further up the track we spotted a dingo in close proximity to several rabbit warrens and also came across a number of camel carcasses which we assumed had been shot given their proximity to the track. We were later lucky enough to see a number of live camels fairly close up.

Shortly after entering the Great Victoria Desert Conservation Park we turned west and approximately 70km later set up camp for the night in a stand of trees

about half a kilometre off the track. We had travelled 159km over the day and despite quite a lot of exposed sharp rocks we experienced only one puncture, which we managed to plug without removing the wheel.

27th August: The day dawned clear and sunny but light cloud and a stiff wind soon followed. We left our excellent campsite, on the side of a small hill, among trees, at 8:00am. The country was generally open saltbush with scattered large areas of wildflowers, mainly white or yellow but also some purple and all interspersed with garden beds of Sturt’s Desert Pea with their distinctive red and black colours. The track was good and the country changed to more open grassland allowing speeds up to 50 kph. We stopped to inspect an active bore with a large tank. A large outlet pipe suggested that water was being carted somewhere by somebody!

Anyway the masses of zebra finches appreciated the adjacent pool.

Otherwise the only wildlife we saw was the occasional eagle high in the sky.

Heading west, we left the Great Victoria Desert Nature Reserve and a short time later turned north on to a track beside the Yuranna Aboriginal Reserve. More trees and scrub lined the track now; but open patches continued and remained full of white and yellow wildflowers with abundant Desert Pea. This proved to be a great spot for morning tea. The wind increased with the resultant dust requiring slower speeds and more distance between vehicles. We re-entered the Desert Reserve briefly and turned west to avoid entering the Tjuntjuntjarra Aboriginal Community (a closed community). This track wound through much denser scrub than previously and the tree height increased.

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After stopping for lunch, a further stop was required to secure Demon’s rooftop tent after its cover was torn by an overhanging branch. Shortly after this mishap, another stop was required to plug Don’s front passenger tyre, which had suffered a sidewall stake, but in a different site to the one on the previous day. Mobile again, the country opened up to more grassy plain with more sparsely scattered trees. Near Lake Colville - with more acacia scrub - we stopped about 3:00pm to set up camp.

28th August: In the early morning, rain passed us by just after sunrise. The wind was building but it was sunny as we prepared to depart. Before we left we discovered camel rubs close by surrounded by mauve eremophila inhabited by many orb spiders. Trackside, there were tall mulga, eremophila and saltbush stretching to an unnamed lake.

We drove across this dry, grass-covered lake, guided by our GPS, the track indistinct. We climbed away from the lake area through small rocky gullies onto a grass plain covered with lovely specimens of Sturt’s Desert Pea. (None of us had ever seen such large masses of these distinctive flowers in our many years of 4WDing.) We also found more dead camels from a previous cull.

Our stop for morning tea was amongst the cassias. A huge eagle nest and 4 large clear plastic containers were spotted beside the track. When we eventually reached the graded Aboriginal Business Road from the Tjuntjuntjara Community, we decided to turn west on this as our proposed track north looked too indistinct and potentially slow. 25k later we turned north onto the Connie Sue Hwy (CSH).

We passed only a single vehicle on the CSH as we traversed areas of black oak, youngijana, mallee, marble gums and spinifex.

The convoy was briefly stopped after lunch by a lone camel and later by a group of 12 camels that was determined 4 Overland Cruisering

to stay on the road. They lead us down the road for about 5km, with our trip leader slowly accelerating, trying to clear them from our path. One by one they peeled off into the scrub, the last travelling faster than 20kph by the time it moved away. The CSH was well graded but the vegetation was starting to encroach. From the Neales Breakaway track (which is now blocked) to the junction with the Anne Beadell Highway (ABH) the surface is comfortable but with low corrugations. Some 25 km before the ABH, we stopped to collect firewood, as collection within the Neale

Junction Nature Reserve is not permitted. In this area the Crimson Grass Leaved Hakea was prolific. There was also some Orange Honeysuckle Grevillea and a small patch of White Spider-flower Grevillea.

After inspecting Len Beadell’s marker at the road junction (and recording our transit in the visitor book) we turned west along the ABH. We camped at the Neale Junction campsite and enjoyed a fireside dinner complete with RFDS fundraiser dessert.

29th August: We woke to a lovely sunny day. There had been no rain as we had taken wet weather precautions overnight to scare it away. We continued west along the Anne Beadell Highway, very corrugated in many places. Passing along swales between the sand dunes, the scenery was beautiful, interesting and changing, going from grasses to spinifex plains, shrubs and trees. There were lots of beautiful wild flowers, many of which were in huge swathes, white, pink, blue, mauve, purple, yellow, and the red of Sturt's Desert Pea. We took lunch at Bishop Riley’s Pulpit.

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LEGENDS ARE MADE OUT HERE

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Here, where there are fifty shades of dust, two hundred types of mud, and dirt that gives soap nightmares.

And this place right here, they know it better than the back of their own hands.

These legends aren’t carved from marble. They’re the ones that carve up hills, through rivers and over rocks.

You can always rely on a legend. When you’re up a creek or up to your neck in it, they’ll be there.

No favour too big or small.

A Houdini hen, a pig stuck in muck or a stubborn mule. They’ll have their sleeves rolled up ready.

No questions. No boundaries.

No worries.

Legends step up, step in and step on it, until every last cow comes home.

This is LandCruiser Country.

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Once in the Yeo Lake Nature Reserve, we turned north onto a track skirting around the Yeo Lakes. The track had not been used in quite some time, and occasionally was difficult to follow.

There were lots of twists and turns, interesting scenery with overhanging trees and lots of ‘scratchadooras’!

Crossing over one of the lakes, one vehicle became bogged but managed to get out. Another followed, went off the track and became bogged in the very sticky, smelly clay. After a lot of assistance from the group with shovels and Max Trax – tied together with rope – and with retrieving boots from the mud when they became stuck, the vehicle was finally freed. The Max Trax required a lot of further digging to remove them as they were completely buried in the mud.

Thank goodness for the rope tied onto them. The remaining vehicles safely took a detour around the lake. Another vehicle which had made it across the lake, became bogged at the exit.

Winching failed, so the Max Trax and shovels were employed again. We exited across country to the track and continued on to Yeo Homestead where we were the only ones camping. Being just on sundown when we arrived, we lit the fire with wood we had previously collected, set up camp, had a late happy hour, dinner and chocolate around the

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fire. Three people camped on the verandah of the homestead. A great day had by all.

30th August: Clear sunny morning.

8.20am start after squirrelling away our precious collected wood in anticipation of our return here for our communal dinner tomorrow night. We drove west along the Anne Beadell Highway – rough, rocky and corrugated in parts – before turning north on Point Sunday Road, a road not as well used so more conducive to comfortable driving. We took a break for coffee and cake on reaching the Great Central Road, which is now an excellent gravel highway.

(The Information Centre at Laverton later informed me that there had been generous funding for this road, by both State and Federal Governments.) We continued on past Cosmo Newberry Settlement before stopping at The Giles Breakaways, with their stunning scenery of multi-coloured rocks and stunted pines resembling bonsai. We proceed-

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ed into Laverton on the black top (no rattles for a change) and booked into the caravan park. Quick refuel of diesel and food, cleansing of clothes and bodies, then off to the pub for a well-deserved change from bush cooking. Today we had seen lovely Desert Fringe Myrtles, Grass Leaf Hakea, Brilliant Hopbush, wattles, cassias, and swathes of pretty white Snowflake flowers on the road verges. Spring and rain in the deserts of Australia produces a wonderland of wildflowers. Such a treat to be out here.

31st August: We made an 8:00am start out of town to Hann’s camp circa 1903, a bush setting with lots of relics lying about. The track out provided a chance of a photo shoot as the trucks went over a washout. Back on the Anne Beadell Highway, 2 vehicles went back to Laverton to meet the 10:00am delivery from Kalgoorlie hoping for a previously ordered tyre and air-conditioning fan.

The freight arrived minus the tyre; but the fan was quickly fitted.

Meanwhile, Harry led the other 5 vehicles east along the Anne Beadell Highway back to Yeo station. There were lots of cattle grids, some being rated (on our scale of 1 to 5) as a 4, deteriorating in places to a 3. Morning tea was taken at Durand Gnamma Hole a few hundred metres off the road.

Close to Laverton the Anne Beadell was in good condition due to new mining activity in the area and a new airstrip near Yamarna. The last 25km on the ABH into the nature reserve was quite rough … not to be tackled in the wet.

En route we saw emus and lots of flowers.

Our day of 28°C with few clouds closed in towards evening, as much preparation was going on for our community meal. Don and Tony sealed the leaks in the roof of the homestead verandah and provided lighting; and this was where we set up tables to seat the 12 of us for our meal. Just as we sat down with our plates full, the skies opened. Yes, rain in the desert; but we were dry.

Using 4 camp ovens buried in coals from our campfire, we enjoyed the following: Nibbles Roast leg of lamb Roast beef Sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, peas Gravy, mint sauce and mustard.

Dessert of ginger chocolate slice, fruitcake mini Tim Tams Wine, followed by Port and Tokay.

A most enjoyable meal and evening!

1st September: We departed Yeo Homestead at 8.00am and headed back towards Bishop Riley's Pulpit, this time on the ABH. Just after the Pulpit, we picked up the start of the Hann Track.

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The track was mostly in very good condition, probably due to the fact that it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a lot of use. . After stopping trackside for morning tea, we turned off towards Lily Rock Hole. A short walk up the gorge and after clambering up some rocks we arrived at the very aptly named Lily Rock Hole, which was full of water and largely covered by lily like plants. Just below the rock hole we came across a rock overhang on the walls of which were several

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excellent examples of Aboriginal art work.

We then continued on to Sunday Surprise Rocks where we stopped for lunch and examined several gnamma holes in the rocks. From there we continued on to Winterbottom Rocks and after setting up camp explored the surrounding ridge for more gnamma holes.

We had covered 129km over the day and only one vehicle experienced a puncture (a stick through the side

wall) which we were fortunately able to plug without removing the wheel from the vehicle. As a point of interest, all three punctures experienced on the trip this far have been in the front left tyre.

2nd September: We departed camp at Winterbottom Rocks at 8:00am with weather clear and warm. The track was rough and wound through scrub and trees slowing our speed, but allowing more time to appreciate the interspersed expanses of yellow

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wildflowers. After an hour we came to Amy’s Rockhole which was on top of a low rocky escarpment where the track continued marked by small stone cairns.

The rock hole contained little water but was marked by its surrounding bullrushes and green weed.

More importantly, we searched for a large dead mulga tree, blazed by Hann with a large ‘H’. This was eventually found beside what was probably the original track but was

now marked by some very deep wheel tracks and the site of a significant bog recovery in the fairly recent past! Continuing on the rocky track, we arrived at Bob’s Rockhole about an hour later. This was a small opening at the base of a low rock ledge and when probed with a stick revealed a little water and a lot of wasps! Morning tea was taken here before we continued, noting a London Bridge type rock formation along with a variety of others in the

Millar Range.

After a further 45 minutes another Hann waterhole with some Aboriginal art was found. Continuing northeast we were surprised to find the country opening to grassy plains and the track running between two lakes. The one on the right was dry with a terra cotta coloured crust, while on the left, the lake was full of pink water! Abundant bird life was noted, including a group of emus in the shallows. The track continued

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through grassy plains and the yellow and purple wildflowers were widespread. Towards the north end of the Saunders Range we looked in vain for a cave containing Aboriginal petroglyphs, before setting up camp at Saunders Point at 3:00pm.

3rd September: The morning was sunny and not so cold. We found two very small wet waterholes described in the Hann Track book close to camp.

We drove back out of the range on a rocky track to broad swales covered with spinifex, mulga, desert heath myrtle, flame and honeysuckle grevillea and cassia. The track was easy with a firm sandy base but we observed that it becomes boggy when wet (evidenced by the cut up condition of sections of track in some areas). Due to lack of use, it has become slightly overgrown in places. On the right of the track amid a group of mulga and mallee, Hann's currently dry "Dinner Gnamma Hole" (his favourite midday stop on his journeys this way) was discovered by Nicki on a pebbly area. Our next stop was at Wallaby Rocks which we enjoyed

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exploring. No wallabies were found, but a perentie caused plenty of interest.

Occasional rocky outcrops and creeks were traversed today, especially in the region of Point Waulfe. We proceeded across plains with masses of desert and yellow heath myrtle.

Our lunch stop, at a large pale clay pan revealed many camel rubs, some freshly used. In this area of regeneration after fire there are more sand hibiscus, parakeelya, mulla mulla, puffballs, small spinifex, cassia, eucalypts and poplars.

Towards the CSH we crossed several low sand ridges and arrived at a spectacular breakaway, Point Lilian South. Here we parked and walked into

the gorges behind where we found the described cypress pines but not the rock hole or gallery. Our camping area was about 1km back on the track.

Desert lantern flowers were observed on the escarpment. Our fireside happy hour was enlivened by Harry's RFDS Breakfast Omelet Raffle, which was won by Dinah and Marion. The Slipper Moon was briefly visible before setting, leaving a brilliantly dark starry sky to end the day.

4th September: Having reached the eastern end of the ‘unmapped’ section of Hann’s Track, we turned north onto the Connie Sue Highway. We passed by the Hann breakaways – Yapupaara, rock that glows red when the sun strikes it.

Further on, we passed Point Sandercock, Cooper Hills and Cooper Creek - named after Edward Cooper of Laverton. We visited Ryan's Bluff, an impressive formation, then Woods Gnamma hole and Woods Pass and on to Hann's Tabletop Hill. We drove to Henning Tank and found the opening in the bank of a rocky channel. There are indents of Aboriginal grinding in the rock alongside the hole. We also found an old mulga tree with the initials DC over 1931- very difficult to read - made by Doug Cable when he and his brothers were looking for sandalwood here. We continued to Harkness Gorge, a spectacular, large formation; then to Mackenzie Gorge which has a car park beside the road where you can look out over the head of the Gorge.

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About 20km before Warburton, one car lost power and after much deliberation it was decided the switch for swapping fuel tanks wasn't working, leaving the truck locked to a now empty tank.

However, by emptying a jerry can of fuel into that tank, we were able to press on to Warburton. We camped at the campground which is securely enclosed, with security lights on all night. The gate is opened and closed on entry and exit.

The ablution block was clean and modern. The camp kitchen had all that you would require. That evening the community nearby was enjoying a concert and although we were unable to attend, the music was varied and interesting.

We also met some of the musicians in the camp kitchen later and found they were from different areas around Tennant Creek.

5th September: Don gave us three options for our route today – take the Great Central Road to Warakurna, the abandoned section of the Gunbarrel Highway to Warakurna, or a trip to Surveyor Generals Corner, for all of which Don had acquired permits for us to travel. We decided on the latter.

We departed Warburton Roadhouse at 10.40am after refueling (diesel $2.60/ltr) – noting the sign that prohibits photography of the roadhouse. We also took the opportunity to visit the Art Gallery for a short viewing. The dot painting I liked was huge but not for sale, luckily.

Another painting was of what to me looked like a hair follicle.

We traveled along the Warburton Jamieson Road south of the Warburton Range, a good road though quite dusty as expected, at a comfortable 80 kph. passed through Jamieson We (Mantamaru) at 126 km, through the Barrow, Blackstone and Jamieson Ranges, and bypassed the Blackstone (Papulankutja) community at 196 km.

There were many wrecked and abandoned vehicles beside the road. We didn’t count them but a few days before, we had counted over 100 on the Great Central Road. At 241 km we took a private track to Wingellina (Irrunytju) a closed community, to collect our guide for a visit to Surveyor Generals Corner.

(Since March 2003 access to this area has been restricted following a decision by the Irrunytju (Wingellina) community, the traditional owners of the land in this area.) We collected our guide Stanley and drove out to the ‘Corner’, paying our entry fee of $100 per vehicle, which included camping.

Surveyor Generals Corner is where the state boundaries of WA, SA & NT meet at a single point, or do they? There are two concrete pillars erected to mark Surveyor Generals Corner.

[Per Wikipedia, there is a dogleg in the 28 Overland Cruisering

WA border. The point at which all states meet is known as Surveyor Generals Corner. This is at the easternmost point of a 127 metre section of the WA border with the NT, which runs east-west along the 26th parallel to meet the western boundary of SA. In 1922 an agreement was signed between the Prime Minister and the Premiers of SA and WA setting the border along the 129th meridian east longitude and defined the boundary by lines drawn north and south through the centre of the Deakin Obelisk and the Kimberley Obelisk, both in WA. A survey in 1963 showed that these lines do not meet exactly where they reach the 26th parallel south. In 1968 two monuments were erected at the junction of the boundaries approx 127metres apart running east-west along the 26th parallel south. The most easterly monument was named Surveyor Generals Corner at the suggestion of the Director of National Mapping. It was not named after a single Surveyor-General as there were a number of them present.]

There is no cleared camping area provided at the corner, but after some negotiation with Stanley, we selected an area beside the track which was quite acceptable, and it was here we set up camp for the night.

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6th September: We left our bush camp near Wingellina at 7:45 am WA time -- those up early reporting a beautiful red sunrise. Was this to be the ‘shepherds warning’? We hoped to top up our fuel, but the store wasn’t open due to a community meeting which was taking place to resolve a local community dispute. After waiting some time we headed off without fuel. One vehicle started the day blowing smoke, but this settled, put down to changing fuel tanks. We drove north along the Giles Mulga Park Road – part of the original Gunbarrel Highway. It was beautiful countryside with mountain ranges in the distance. We passed Mt Aloysius (1000mt high). Our botanical experts helped along the way by identifying flowers and trees – tomato leaved Hibiscus, Holly Grevillia, ghost gums and desert oaks.

The roads linking the various aboriginal communities were all very well maintained, and the convoy was able to travel up to 85kph, but separated over a large distance due to dust. Our morning tea stop was taken at a Len Beadell marker near where the Giles Mulga Park Road met the Great Central Road.

Huge grey clouds and rain showers could be seen on distant hills. We thought we were in for it, but successfully avoided any rain. We turned up the Sandy Blight Junction Rd and lunched at Bungabiddy Rockhole (Panchupin) a short distance from the road. This gorge is surrounded by red rock hills

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and the rock holes were full of water – very picturesque and quite a spiritual place. It would also be a great camping spot, but we continued on our northern journey, travelling a further hundred kilometres up the Sandy Blight Road (not graded) and camped off the track amongst sand hills surrounded by desert oaks.

6th September: We departed our camp in the vicinity of the elusive Lake Hopkins just before 8.00am and continued up the Sandy Bight Junction Track. It was mainly sand based (at times hard-packed and at other times loose) with occasional stony stretches and the usual washouts. The vegetation varied between Mulga scrub, Desert Oaks and Spinifex plains. There were lots of wildflowers to be seen but not as prolific as we had experienced in the Great Victoria Desert Conservation Park.

Approximately 40km after leaving camp, we turned off onto a side track leading up to the top of Sir Frederick Range. It had been graded by Len Beadell to gain a view of the surrounding country. The track, which was quite steep in places and covered in loose rocks, proved to be quite difficult to negotiate and a couple

of the vehicles were unable to make it up the last two particularly steep stages.

Those that did were rewarded with a magnificent 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside.

Returning to the main track we continued north, stopping for lunch at a bore which, in addition to being a potentially great campsite, had a hand operated pump for water. Being too early to camp for the night, we decided to continue on, eventually stopping for the night around 15 km short of Kintore.

7th September: This was our last day, and with two vehicles needing mechanical attention before garages closed in Alice Springs and others needing fuel in Kintore, we split the convoy in two – Don leading one half and Harry the other. It was otherwise an uneventful day, and we all made it safely to our accommodation for the night.

Alice Springs: With all bodies and trucks cleaned and serviceable, we met once more for a BBQ at one of the caravan parks and had our last meal together before we each headed off in different directions the following day. As a result of our various fundraisers and a few donations, we accumulated $300 to pass on to the club to give to the RFDS. The general consensus was that the trip was fantastic. Thanks to all for participating.

WANTED A member(s) to assist the Marketing Sub Committee in promoting & marketing our Club.

We are looking for someone skilled in social media, with some media experience desirable (but not essential).

• Need to be available to attend regular meetings • Social media and IT experience desirable • Having a family perspective useful.

If you can assist, contact Brian Tanner Marketing Co Ordinator marketing@tlccv.com.au

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SHOWS

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L E I S IUPR E F E S T

espite extremely gusty conditions for the whole weekend, TLCCV’s Leisurefest display held its own (literally) as a professional presentation on the Four Wheel Drive Victoria stand at Sandown. Many thanks go to the build crew (Bill Black, Garry Cooper, Greg Edmunds and Steve Spence) who resorted to creative tactics to hold down our marquee and its contents. With bags of cement, roofing nails, rope, water weights and a boat, we held our ground for the 4 day show!!

Visitors were impressed by the knowledge of the 30 volunteer members who “manned” the stand explaining the

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benefits of club membership. As a result, around 50 invitations to our October meeting were given to visitors who expressed serious interest in joining the club. The invitations were effective with almost 20 visitors attending the October 18th meeting. Already, six new memberships (12 members) have been signed up directly due to our presence at Leisurefest.

Our display featured new banners (designed by Brian Tanner) which focused on marketing our benefits via the message that TLCCV offers “Expertise, Adventure and Fun”. A new AV package (produced by Laurie Miles)

included footage of Yarck, club trips, educational and social events. Visitors were most impressed by the club property and its facilities. The TLCCV Driver Awareness course was a hot topic and clearly represents superior value in content, skilled instructors and time on 4WD tracks.

While our website and electronic media have a greater reach than the shows, visitors appreciated the opportunity to chat with members for that personal insight into how the club works for them – and it’s different for every member.

Thanks to volunteers Ian Wells, Peter Hepworth, Ian and Ellen McCartney, Marion Paton, Jenny Poon, Bill Black, Barbara Bryant, Robert Fairweather, Trajco Vilarov, John & Liz Mills, Greg & Carol Edmunds, Slawko & Rebecca Kulyk, Kim & Rob Leversha, Lyn & Michael Johannessen, David McAlister, Michelle Dodkins and Duncan and Sarah Stadler. Thanks to Sandra Tanner for her support and to Pete & Thea McLean for their preparation.

Many thanks to the tear down crew, (Lyn and Michael Johannessen and Trajco Vilarov). Under Lyn’s efficient direction, they braved gale force winds and a wildly flapping marquee to have us safely packed and off site before dark.

We mounted an impressive effort over the four days and gained some really valuable feedback.

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M T S K EI N E

This was our first club trip, two adults, two kids. All were looking forward to the experience – camper trailer left at home and all the lightweight hiking gear brought out to easily fit in the Prado!

Day 1 – Friday: We left Melbourne midafternoon, easy drive out of the city, down the Princes Hwy, through the back of Morwell, through Yallourn. Awesome views of the chimney stacks!

Headed straight for our accommodation in Heyfield at the Railway Hotel where we met up with Matt Parrott (FJ Cruiser), Marcus & Betty Kunath (Hilux) and Matt & Taylah Knight (105 Series).

The accommodation was clean and tidy, recently renovated and perfectly adequate for an overnight stop.

After some refreshments we walked to the Commercial Hotel for dinner. Meals were large! All had a few drinks and then a few more with the publican in the bar afterwards. Nice bloke, used to work at the paper mill in Fairfield and ex teacher. A man who clearly loves his job!

Watched the footy for a while, then headed back with kids getting a bit tired.

Geelong beat the doggies by 25 points… who would have thought…

Day 2 – Saturday: All were up early – group was meeting in Licola for an 8:30 am start. The Heyfield bakery provided decent coffee, pies and pastries.

Beautiful morning drive through to Licola with fog filled valleys and brilliant

sunshine.

Everybody arrived in Licola on time, and trip leader James Clark provided an excellent briefing. Unsure off the amount of snow, the plan was to attempt to drive over Mt Skene and then camp off the mountain on the other side.

At Licola the Railway Hotel crew were joined by four other vehicles.

• James Clark – Trip Leader (79 Series) • Rob Duff (79 Series) • Matt Bright (79 Series) • John Klopstok (100 Series) The convoy set off quickly and aired down together, just prior to meeting the first of the deer hunters… my passenger seat companion Anna, aka wife, was VERY happy to see all the guns.

Driving that morning was lovely.

Patches of snow as we climbed, contrasting beautifully with the ferns in the open forest.

Morning tea was in nice snow, perfect for the kids to play! Nice to have a chat with the other drivers, checking out their vehicles and set-ups; always interesting to see the different approaches that people have, touring vehicles, rock climbers, towing rigs, etc.

Shortly after we started Marcus had warning lights in his Hilux. With a bit of assistance and knowledge from the group, water was drained from his fuel filter and we were all off again. One the way up to the summit Matt Knight had a few sticks stuck in his rear wheels but

easily removed.

The drive to the summit was excellent with plenty of snow and tracks already made by earlier drivers. After that gorgeous morning, once up higher, low cloud had come in, so views were rather restricted.

It was rather blustery on top, so after a quick stop we started to head off the other side. All cars had mud tyres except me – at this stage I fitted chains to the front wheels which worked a treat.

Just off the side of the mountain we hit some deeper snow that had Matt Parrott and Matt Knight in some bother.

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Lunch stop was in an established picnic area with lots of snow and plenty of space for all the vehicles. Sheltered from the wind, it was a great place to make a snowman.

After lunch it wasn’t too long before we were out of the snow and back onto the Jameson – Licola Rd. We didn’t pass too many vehicles; the standout was the Falcon station wagon stuck on a corner spinning wheels. Driver was in full camo, as was his friend, in an FJ Cruiser but without any recovery gear! Unsure how they recovered but the next day they were gone.

James led us to a great campsite at Wrens Flat. Lots of room and not too wet. Matt Bright and co. got to work on the chainsaw and splitter, providing us with loads of firewood. Beautifully cut and stacked, with plenty for the next campers.

Inspection of accommodation was fascinating with a wide array of choices; rooftop tents, awnings, awnings with walls, ultralight tents and swags. There is no correct answer!

Shared snacks with a few drinks and then on to dinner. Amazing variation - pizzas, slow roasted lamb, pasta, steak, etc. some cooking on the fire, others on gas.

The sensational fire ensured that the laughs continued well into the evening.

This was our first trip and we really enjoyed meeting some new people and seeing the various vehicle and camping setups.

Day 3 – Sunday: Plenty of rain overnight made the camp rather juicy in the morning but all were awake and ready for a 9:00 am departure.

Plan for the day was to head back over the top of Mt Skene back to Licola; there was some discussion about heading out to Jameson, but consensus was that it would take much longer, and probably heavy traffic out of Mansfield.

Not much traffic driving up the mountain, had morning tea in the same spot as lunch on the Saturday. Snow was a bit slushy from the overnight rain but hardened up as we gained elevation.

Coming up through the deeper snow I lost momentum (A/T, no chains) and needed some assistance from James Clark to get through. Some aggressive throttle from Matt Parrott resulted in him getting stuck along with Matt Knight…. final two vehicles also needed some help.

The first three vehicles waited on the summit in the sunshine!

Disappointing to see some off-track circle work from other parties on the summit.

This can only result in restrictions for sensible drivers.

Coming off the mountain, we took a small diversion through the top part of the Barkly River Jeep track, through deep snow.

James cut a nice track for the following vehicles. Through the second section I lost momentum again and required assistance – probably should have put the chains on.

From there we all just enjoyed the drive 32 Overland Cruisering

down to Licola, passing some aggressive young Patrol drivers on the way.

Arriving at Licola around 1:00 pm, we had loads of sunshine, final goodbyes and slightly soggy pies before we all headed back home.

As a first trip this was very enjoyable.

Plenty of snow, no vehicle issues, all members adequately prepared and great to meet some other club members.

A final thought… it was often mentioned around the campfire that TLCCV is many things to many people – club property, social activities, magazine, trips, Facebook, etc. As a relatively new member, this diversity of ‘value’ is a great thing to see.

Peter Lee (2650)

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NEWS FROM ARB

ARB’S OFF ROAD ICONS TOUR A J O U R N E Y O F 4 X 4 C E L E B R AT I O N Australia’s leader in 4x4 accessory manufacturing, ARB 4x4 Accessories, has chosen four of the most iconic 4wds from the past 40 years and has taken them on an 11-day, 2,500km, epic journey across the Simpson Desert, all in celebration of their 40 year anniversary.

The journey consisted of the four chosen Icons; Toyota 40 Series, Nissan GQ Patrol, 5th generation Toyota HiLux and Land Rover Defender, a few modern day counterparts, four ARB staff, a support crew and seven journalists from around the world.

Commencing in Alice Springs and finishing at Eldee Station near Silverton, ARB Marketing Communications Manager, Sam Boden, said the trip was chosen not only to celebrate ARB’s 40th birthday, but also to highlight the range of products that ARB still manufactures for early model 4WDs. “Since the milestone exploration by Tony Brown in 1975, which led to the origin of ARB 4X4 Accessories, we have been privileged to experience first hand the evolution of the four wheel drive industry, at the heart of which has been the evolution of our rugged off road vehicles.”

“We wanted to generate some nostalgia for the iconic older vehicles that gave birth to the adventurous off road lifestyle

that so many of us enjoy today, as well as highlighting how far we’ve come in regards to innovation, engineering and state-of-the-art manufacturing in order to keep pace with modern vehicle design and technology” he said. Trip planner, Mark Lowry, said the route was structured to take both the drivers and the vehicles through some of the most iconic Australian Outback locations, stringing together the likes of the Old Ghan Railway, Mount Dare, Dalhousie Springs, Poepple Corner, Birdsville, Cordillo Downs, Innamincka, Cameron Corner and more.“The start of the trip is tough and will push the Icons and their drivers to their limits, with days 1 to 6 taking us south from Alice Springs along the Old Ghan Railway line, stopping at Chambers Pillar, Mt. Dare and Dalhousie Springs before a zig zag trek through the Simpson Desert battling through to Big Red,” he said.

“Days 7 to 9 we head south along the Cordillo Downs road, stopping at Australia’s largest sheering shed on our way to Innamincka, Coongie Lakes and the Burke & Wills Dig Tree. Weather permitting the Strzelecki track will give the Icons a workout running south through Bollards Lagoon to the Corner Store at Cameron Corner where the

borders of QLD, NSW & SA meet.”

“Crossing the border into NSW we turn east in days 10 and 11 toward Tibooburra & Milparinka, stopping at Mt. Poole & Depot Glen on our final leg down to Packsaddle and Broken Hill. Our trip will finish at Eldee Station near Silverton just in time for the opening stages of the Outback Challenge. ”Mark said the most interesting parts of the trip would be seeing how drivers who are used to today’s modern 4x4s adapt to and handle the older vehicles with less power, manual gear boxes, and far stiffer chassis as they steer them across the 2,500km of desert. “These four icons aren’t just old school technology, they are four 20-40 year old vehicles with largely unknown histories and high odometer readings,” he said. “Some of the cars needed a little more pre-trip love than others. We’ve had some great work performed by our ARB staff from around Australia in getting these cars ready. Each car is fitted with genuine ARB accessories that are still manufactured today to support the huge number of retro vehicles still servicing their owners.”Can these old jiggers keep pace with their modern day counterparts? Will they last the distance? Which will be crowned king of the desert?

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SHOWS

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G E E L O NI PG S H O W

In October the Geelong Branch manned a display at the 4-day Geelong Show.

The length of the show saw some great participation by a few members that virtually attended for all the days - great job guys.

Members spoke to many interested showgoers, obtaining strong interest from at least 18 people.

So far 3 have joined the Geelong Branch and another couple are looking very positive.

A great result from alot of effort. Once again the TLCCV brand has been put on display, with many four wheel drive owners interested in our activities.

Brian Tanner (607)

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GEELONG

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B U N N I NI P GS BBQ

Geelong Branch members recently ran a bbq at the Waurn Ponds Bunnings Hardware store. Along with selling more than 40 loaves of bread with snags, the members also picked up a number of interested four wheel drivers that may join our club. One guy was so keen, he went home and drove back to show us his 4WD. Once again, many thanks to all the members that contributed their time and skills throughout the day.

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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

NOTES

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