June 2013 tlccv magazine

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

INSIDE > TLCCV 40th Anniversary party > Wyperfield-Border Track > Cruiserkhana Debrief trip > Licola to Walhalla > Rubicon Trip

A0005442c

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. PP339119/00013 $5.00

June

2013

Guest 4WD service centre has been established since 1961 with extensive expe operating 4WD tours to some of Australia’s roughest and remotest areas. As well as general servicing and vehicle modifications, we pride ourselves on pre-trip preparation and suspension modifications to ensure customers have a trouble free 4WD adventure.

Extensive showroom

With decades and millions of kilometres of 4WD experience, we only stock the best quality accessories in our new showroom - at the best prices.

Services • 4WD service and tuning • Pre-trip inspection and advice • Suspension modification and kits • Transmission and diff repair • Pre-purchase inspection • Clutch and brake repair • 4WD tyres and wheel alignment • Dual and triple battery kits • Turbo & intercooler kits Products • Engel & Waeco 12 volt fridge freezers • Piranha off road distributors • ARB accessories • TJM accessories • Kaymar step bars and wheel carriers • Black widow storage systems • Cooper and BF Goodrich Tyres • Roof Racks • Rhino Racks • Long range fuel tanks • Electronic parking aids • Tyre repair kits • T-Van Camper trailer hire • Air compressors • 4WD maps and books • Shower units - hot and cold • Optima batteries • Lightforce, IPF, Cibie & Hella lights • HID head and drive lights • Recovery kits • 4WD tours • Safari snorkels • GME UHF radio and antennae • GPS and EPIRB • In car TV/DVD and Sat navigation

194 Grange Rd, Fairfield, Victoria 3078 Ph: (03) 9497 3899 Fax: (03) 9497 3155 email: info@guest4wd.com.au website: www.guest4wd.com.au

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

JUNE 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 Monday 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

V VOOL LUUMME E 4 41 1 .

1

Committee 2012-2013

2

President’s Report

3

Calendar/Coming Events

5

Cruiserkhana photos

7

Over the Next Hill

9

2013 Annual General Meeting

11

40 Anniversary Party

12

Wyperfield & Border Track Trip

19

Licola to Walhalla Trip

22

Toolangi Day Trip

23

Cruiserkhana Debrief Trip

25

Yarck Maintenance weekend

27

Driver Awareness - June

27

Membership

28

New from ARB

29

Rubicon Trip

30

Club Shop

32

EMERGENCY PHONE AT YARCK: 0419 379 419.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS Joining Fee: $280.00 Membership: $145.00

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.

RECOGNISED CLUB RADIO CHANNEL: 15 UHF

NNoo.. 15

Club Information

Website: http:www.tlccv.com.au

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.

2013

Life Members: Graeme Wilson, John Whitney, Don Honey, Bill Dower, Alan Winch, Barrie McCarthy, Harold Ross, Sandra Tanner, Brian Stewart, Charles Norman, Ashley & Judith Williams, John Turbill, Garry Cooper.

Honorary Members: Ross McClure, Clive Blakely.

Club Auditor: Chris Rumble

May cover40th Party Left: Life Members; Right Some original members

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

2012 - 2013

Vice President Ian Ross president1@tlccv.com.au

Driver Training John MIlls: driverawareness@tlccv.com.au * Driver Training Course bookings * Awareness Course certificates

Past President Peter Dwyer

Yarck Management Brian Stewart yarckmanage@tlccv.com.au

Secretary Sandra Tanner secretary1@tlccv.com.au

Assistant Secretary Alan McMeekin secretary2@tlccv.com.au

Trip Convenor trips@tlccv.com.au Tony Middleditch * Register a Member’s trip * Assistance in trip preparation Technical Bret Dyson

Assistant Treasurer Matt Parrott

events@tlccv.com.au Special Events Python Red (Paul) • Shows & special event co-ordinator

committee1@tlccv.com.au Committee Russell Edwards committee2@tlccv.com.au

editor1@tlccv.com.au

Magazine Editor Sandra Tanner:

advertising@tlccv.com.au

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

Emergency Response Coordinator Bruce Fullard tlccrg@tlccv.com.au Raffles & Supper Gabi & Grace Azzam Soraya Pickard Club Shop John & Liz Mills

clubshop@tlccv.com.au

Sergeant-At-Arms Russell Edwards finerprint@bigpond.com

Training Paul Hawdon training@tlccv.com.au • Club training courses co-ordinator

Committee Liz Mills

Public Relations/media Officer Garry Cooper pr@tlccv.com.au

technical@tlccv.com.au

Treasurer Marcus Kunath treasurer1@tlccv.com.au

treasurer2@tlccv.com.au

Advertising Peter Dwyer

Magazine Distribution Russell & Lesley Edwards finerprint@bigpond.com

Marketing Coordinator marketing@tlccv.com.au Brian Tanner

webmaster@tlccv.com.au

Excursion Visits Coordinator excursions@tlccv.com.au David Sheean

social@tlccv.com.au Social Coordinator John Nazloomain * Book for participation in social events Visitor Greeters Ian & Jenny Johnson Cruiserkhana enquiries@cruiserkhana.com.au

GEELONG BRANCH President Brian Tanner

geelong@tlccv.com.au

Secretary Sandra Tanner

secretary1@tlccv.com.au

Geelong Trips Matt McPhee

geelongtrips@tlccv.com.au

Social Judith Williams

activities@tlccv.com.au Activities Coordinator Ian Ross

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 (No documents with no formatting. 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.

A R E Y O U R M E M B E R S H I P D E TA I L S C U R R E N T ?

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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REPORT

PRESIDENT’S REPORTI PS

his month like most others, has been a busy one. The big event this month was the 40th anniversary picnic at Nortons Park. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to my attendance at a National Conference for my profession in Perth. From what I hear though it sounds like it was a really great day for all.

It is amazing when we look back and think that was a group of people that purchased what was then a relatively uncommon vehicle – a Toyota Land Cruiser. They got together and discovered that they all enjoyed doing the same thing – four-wheel driving. They loved their vehicles and using them so much that they decided to form a Club called the Toyota LandCruiser Club Vic Inc. I suspect that when they did this they had no idea what would happen to the Club in forty years. Sure, there have been lots of new vehicles that have come and gone since then, but the amazing thing is that the Club still exists and even more amazing than that is the fact that many of those founding members are still around today.

There is a saying that ‘from little acorns, big oaks grow’, well, so did the Toyota Land Cruiser Club grow from that little group of members with a passion for their vehicles and four-wheel driving to what today some forty years on is one of the biggest and most highly respected Clubs in Australia.

The Club is held together by the same passion and type of vehicles – well mostly!

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LETTERS

Our Club like many others had a small beginning, but today is stronger than ever.

Our Club members over the years have had many ideas, but perhaps the best of all was the decision to purchase our Club property at Yarck. Back then Yarck was pretty - much as I have been told – non spectacular bush land.

Our Club members invested blood, sweat and tears to build what today we are all very proud to call the Yarck Hilton and its surrounding tracks and facilities. I would be here all day if I was to go into every significant event in our Club’s history, so I will leave that to the past publications that are readily available. Rather it is fair to say that there have been a lot of joyous and also very sad occasions over the years. It is appropriate that on behalf of the members today we thank those people back then and over the years, for having the passion, forethought and commitment to make our Club and our property what they are today.

I would like to formally thank the founding members and the committees that have come and gone for continuing that vision and making the Club what it is today. But above all that we must all be grateful for one another and what we have all done over the years to keep our Club innovative and strong, our unity, passion and continued commitment will ensure that our Club is still around in another forty years. The question is what sort of vehicles will we all

be driving, perhaps they will drive or even fly us or as some others would like to think – teleport us!

Thank you to all the people that have worked so very hard to put the picnic event together.

Happy fortieth anniversary TLCCV! The last meeting was again well attended and the bistro was booked out again by our members. I remind you that if you are members, and go to the Mulgrave Country Club, you can order your meals and have them in the members dining area if necessary. At the meeting we were introduced to the Arkpac. This nifty product contains a battery and can be used to start your car, run your fridge, etc, charge your phone via a USB port, etc. etc. etc. A big thank you must go to Liz for organising their attendance. They donated one to the Club and also an Exide battery, which was auctioned off with all the proceeds going to the RFDS. Thank you to all that have made suggestions to me on ways to improve the meetings and what the Club does generally. I am always willing to listen. Please remember that elections are coming up and if you are interested in standing for a position on the Committee, please let us know.

That’s all for now, keep safe and see you out and about.

Ian Ross (1409) PRESIDENT

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

would like to express my heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to those who contributed to making the beautiful patchwork of the memorial garden in memory of Joy Thomas: Marion Harvey who provided the drive behind the idea, all the machine stitching and sourcing the paper and photo; Viv Gardner and Maria Denni for the hand stitching; Jan Chivers for collecting the gumnuts; Brad Schaffer for making the frame; and John Orton and Bernice Manley for contributing towards the words.

Thank you to Wendy Wilson for the lovely spoken words about Joy as she presented the plaque to Brian Stewart and Garry Cooper. Joy loved the Club, loved Yarck and the memorial garden in particular. She

CALL FOR TWO POSITIONS TO BE FILLED

I

Special Events Coordinator Meeter & Greeter

would most certainly be overwhelmed by the love and regard shown through the effort in remembering her in this way.

Sue Bland (772)

The above two positions are available and urgently require to be filled.

If you are interested in taking over one of the above, please contact: Special Events Coordinator, Python (Paul) Red on at events@tlccv.com.au Meeter & Greeters, Ian & Jenny Johnson

CRUISERKHANA SAFETY VESTS Marshals safety vests must be returned to the organisers as soon as possible so that they can be re-used in future years. Please return at a Club meeting if you have one.

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CALENDAR June 18th June 22nd June 22nd & 23rd June 29th & 30th July 6th & 7th July 9th July 16th July 20th & 21st July 27th & 28th August 11th – 21st August 10th – 31st August 13th August 16th – 18th August 20th

COMING TRIPS General Meeting Medieval Night at Yarck Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend at Yarck TLCCV Trip Leaders Course at Yarck Yarck Management – DA Theory 40th Birthday at Mulgrave Country Club Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend at Yarck Flinders & the Old Ghan Railway trip Madigan Line trip Yarck Management – DA Theory Tracks around Bright trip General Meeting and AGM

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.

August 24th & 25th Aug 31st & Sept 1st September 10th September 21st & 22nd September 28th & 29th October 8th October 19th & 20th October 20th October 26th & 27th November 12th November 23rd & 24th Nov. 30th & Dec. 1st

INTRODUCING THE 2013 TLCCV TRIP LEADERS COURSE Date: Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July.

(Can arrive Friday night) Where: Yarck Tired of trips not going where you want them to go?

Prefer the security of travelling with other TLCCV members with the benefit of insurance coverage?

Well, become a trip leader.

This course covers all aspects required to run a TLCCV trip. The Saturday morning session covers the official FWDV training notes that incorporate SR0DRV004A – Guide 4WD Tours.

Other aspects covered are convoy preparation, maintenance and mechanical issues, introduction to first aid, TLCCV forms and procedures.

Saturday is to be a full day and Sunday should finish after lunch. Trip leaders are on hand to discuss things “TRIPPY.” Contact: Tony Middleditch - TLCCV Trip Convenor for further details and booking.

Limited places available.

Mobile: 0418 543 536.

Email: trips@tlccv.com.au

Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend at Yarck Yarck Management – DA Theory Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend at Yarck Yarck Management – DA Theory Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend TLCCV Strategy & Planning day (Invitation Only) DA Practical weekend at Yarck Yarck Management – DA Theory Yarck Maintenance & Construction weekend DA Practical weekend at Yarck

CRUISERKHANA MERCHANDISE All Cruiserkhana merchandise will be on sale at General meetings or can be purchased by separate arrangement. Classy breathable Polo shirts and T-shirts at $35 each ($30 for kids sizes), hats at $18 and fantastic jackets at $50.

Limited stocks ready to sell.

Now is the time to get ready for Cruiserkhana 2014.

Further information at www.cruiserkhana.com.au

NEW TLCCV EMAIL ADDRESSES In future, please note that the Club email addresses have been altered to: tlccv.com.au. This change-over process will be phased out over a period of time, allowing members to become better acquainted with the new email addresses.

Please also note that if sending articles, etc for the magazine you now put: editor1@tlccv.com.au If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our webmaster of webmaster@tlccv.com.au

SHOW & TELL Enjoy reliving or experiencing a Club member’s trip The fun, driving exploits and camaraderie that a TLCCV trip brings.

Members would love to see other members slides or DVDs of their wonderful trips around Australia.

If you have been on a recent adventure and can put together a 10-15 minute presentation, please let me know. (I am willing to help you if required).

Liz Mills. Email: cruisers@bigpond.net.au

REQUEST FOR SHOW & TELL I am seeking Club members with slide shows or DVDs of 15 minutes duration to present at Club meetings.

Our members would love to see the wonderful trips and places you have visited on your travels.

Please contact Liz Mills if you have a presentation or any ideas by emailing: committee1@tlcv.org.au

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EVENTS

CRUISERKHANA

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Overland Cruisering 7

8 Overland Cruisering

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

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@tlcv.org.au or mobile 0418 543 536.

Seasonal Road Closures: Contact Parks Victoria on www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1process_content.cfm?main=9&page=2.

AUGUST MADIGAN LINE - Saturday 10th - Saturday 31st August Meeting Place/time: TBA Limit: 8 vehicles. No trailers. No pets.

Standard: Difficult Fuel: Depending on vehicle & route, may need to carry additional fuel for extended desert travel. Estimates available, but details to be finalised nearer time of departure.

Radio: Various - 10, 15 & 40 UHF Equipment: Off-road tyres with ample tread, at least one additional spare, standard recovery equipment, compressor & tyre gauge, tyre repair equipment, vehicle spares & tools, sand flag, camping equipment, water & supplies. Further details at pre-trip meeting.

Overnight: Bush camping, with some caravan parks or similar before & after the crossing.

Details: This trip comprises a west to east crossing of the northern Simpson Desert, nominally following the route taken by Cecil Madigan in 1939, but as now limited by permit & access restrictions. In many places the track is ill-defined & travel will be hard & slow going. The travel duration for this trip is approximate. Depending on conditions, difficulties are expected to include soft sand, big dunes, spinifex, sand moguls, sharp stakes, “scratchadora” shrubs & possibly even mud if there has been any rain. Tyre damage is to be expected. Given the tough conditions & likely heavy workload for all participants, preference will be given to vehicles carrying more than one person. Note: A full day pre-trip meeting will be conducted on Saturday 6th July at which time trip participants will also be required to practice removing, repairing & replacing tyres.

Trip Leader: Don Bryant: dbryant@bigpond.net.au AUGUST Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment:

Overnight: Details:

Trip Leader: AUGUST Meeting Place: Time: Limit: Standard: Fuel: Radio: Equipment: Overnight: Details: Trip Leader:

FLINDERS & THE OLD GHAN RAILWAY - Sunday 11th August to Wednesday 21st August, 2013 Port Augusta, S.A 12:00 noon 6 vehicles. New members most welcome.

Easy to medium (if wet), some short tracks may require low range. Vehicles need to be set up for outback touring.

Full tanks Port Augusta. Minimum fuel range 700 km.

15 UHF All terrain tyres only with 50% tread or better, extra spare tyre (preferably a wheel) in addition to spare wheel, spare shock absorbers, standard recovery gear, compressor & tyre gauge, water (minimum 7 days) & supplies. Further details & a briefing will be provided prior to departure.

Primarily bush camping, basic facilities provided at park campgrounds.

This trip explores part of the north central section of the Flinders Ranges. It then follows the historic route of the Old Ghan railway to Alice Springs & includes many side trips: Lake Eyre, Dalhousie Springs, Lamberts Centre, Chambers Pillar & many other places of interest along the way. Note: No pets or firearms.

Ian Wells: Email : ianwells@acslink.net.au TRACKS AROUND BRIGHT - Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August, 2013 Bright Caravan Park, Cherry Avenue, Bright. Phone 5755 1141 to book your site/cabin.

Saturday trip starts at 9:00 a.m.

7 vehicles with 3 places for new members.

Medium to hard weather dependant. Could be some snow driving.

Full tanks from Bright. Suggest fill up on the Hume Hwy - cheaper than Bright.

15 UHF Standard recovery gear, MUST HAVE 50% tread on AT/mud tyres, snatch strap, shovel, on board compressor, chains if you have them.

Bright Caravan Park.

Arrive Friday night or Saturday morning ready for a 9:00 am start. Pack morning tea & lunch for both day drives.

Saturday evening dinner at one of Bright’s hotels. Sunday drive more of the same but different tracks.

Garry Cooper. Email: gac001@bigpond.com Overland Cruisering 9

PROXY VOTING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Incorporated will be held Tuesday 20th August, 2013 commencing at 7:30 pm.

As per the Rules of the Constitution: “…appoint another member as his proxy by notice given to the Secretary no later than 24 hours before the time of the meeting in respect of which the proxy is appointed.”

In practical terms with our meetings being held on Tuesday, proxies must be in the hand of the Secretary by 8:00 pm. on Monday 19th August, 2013.

APPENDIX 1: FORM OF APPOINTMENT OF PROXY I ………………………………………………………………………………. of …………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….….

Member No……………........................... being a member of the Toyota Landcruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Incorporated hereby appoint …………………………………………………………………… of…………………………………………………………………….…………………………………….…………... being a member of that incorporated Association, as my proxy to vote for me on my behalf at the Annual General meeting of the Association to be held on 20 August, 2013 and at any adjournment of that meeting.

My proxy is authorised to vote in favour of / against (delete as appropriate) the resolution (insert details).

Signed………………………………………………………………… Membership No. ……..................……….

Date ……………………………………...........

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SPECIAL EVENT

CLUB 40th ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Some of our earliest members

he promise of further inclement weather did not deter more than 125 members - past and present - gathering at Nortons Park for the first of our Club 40ths celebrations.

While I’m sure the chilly weather stopped a few from coming along, we had a great roll up of members - with undoubtedly one of the memorable things for so many newer members being to actually meet and set eyes on the past members that set the rudder for our great Club.

For many, our early life members are listed in the front of the club magazine, but to meet Graeme Wilson and his wife Barbara - member No. 1 and early personalities such as Ken Jackson (of Kaymar fame), Louise and Steve Latimer - yes ‘Latimers Hill “ was named after him, Paul and Stella Marshall and Alan and Merillyn Winch (Winches Pinch at Yarck) was the icing on the cake.

Other welcome guests included Georg and Conny Christiansen, Ruth Aspley, Ian and Leslie Dyson, Neil McPherson, Bob and Anne Travers, Ron Bell, Andy Anastasia and Rod McConchie.

There was also a good roll up of current members who we were also pleased to see mixed with the past members and compared notes on “then and how”.

Thanks are extended to Angelia and Lee who rose early and got along to the park to reserve the sheltered bbq area for our

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gathering. Also to Garry and other helpers for erecting (inside out!) a marque for the event.

The vehicles started rolling in from 10.30am and soon the carpark was brimming with four wheel drives. As only burecrats could do, Nortons Park is designed so that the carpark is miles from the picnic area, and the toilets a further mile in another direction. With chairs and picnic baskets in hand, and bennies and scarfs wrapped around heads, the members made the journey to our shelter.

Luckily the weather - while brisk - was fine all day, even with the sun coming out for long periods.

Everyone enjoyed getting together, and many members caught up with friends they hadn’t seen for over a decade. Out came the photo albums, old memorabilia and 40 years of memories.

Life member Sandra Tanner made a moving speech reflecting on our long history and how the club came into being.

Plenty of photos were taken and a great time was had by all. Happy birthday TLCC.

Life members present: L to R. Brian Stewart, Sandra Tanner, Alan Winch, Graeme Wilson, Garry Cooper, John Turbill, Charles Norman Overland Cruisering 11

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TRIPS

SANDS OF WYPERFIELD NP & VIC/SA BORDER TRACK

Easter, 2013 Trip Leaders: Participants:

Laurie & Heidi Miles Chris Smith Gerry Jarvis Tom, Tony (154) & Melanie (14) Lovass Martin Boland & David Fernandez Peter, Campbell (9), Kate (7) van Mourik & Fiona Cowl

he Sands of Lake Albacutya: After a long drive on Easter Thursday to Lake Hindmarsh CP, we started off Good Friday on a chilly but very promising day.

The morning took in some challenging sand driving as we circled around Lake Albacutya. With lots of interesting ‘woopsies’ to shake you up on the western side of the lake it was a good warm-up for what was to come our way over the Easter long weekend.

One small issue on the Lake Albacutya sand dune run was that Merlin managed to rearrange their front number plate I a ‘woopsie.’ Luckily it managed to stay hanging on.

After leaving the edge of Lake Albacutya we headed west along the southern edge of Wyperfeld NP. However, it was time to leave the wheat fields to our south, and head north along Milmed Rock Track right up through the middle of the sandy NP. With sand dunes starting to increase in size, we decided to venture down to Hermies Garden. Having not been in here

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14 Overland Cruisering

Zebra Chris Gerry Gee Billygoat Zilla Merlin

before, Laurie & Heidi were interested to go down the short diversion to the Gardens. Based at the edge of some steep sand dunes, we decided that this was a good spot to stop for lunch.

The afternoon saw some more challenging sand driving made harder by the hot sand with one dune requiring all vehicles to air down even further. A couple of dunes required some of our convoy to have 2 or 3 tries, before successfully climbing up the soft dunes.

After a great day of sand driving, we bush camped at Milmed Swamp. Many good yarns were shared as we individually cooked our dinner over the lovely campfire.

Chris Smith (2209) Heading in to the sandy Big Desert¨ After a relatively mild night and a beautiful sunrise, everyone packed up and was ready to go when Merlin discovered a completely dead battery. Needless to say everyone gathered around with various tools, gadgets, opinions and ideas, but thanks to Chris, the battery was charged

80 Series TD 100 Series TD 80 Series Petrol 60 Series Diesel 80 Series Petrol Prado 120 TD

and the convoy was off.

As we headed down the track, Laurie told us we would be stopping at Milmed Rock and to be ready for a challenging climb.

Chris changed his shoes to sturdy boots in anticipation, only to be surprised, along with the rest of us, at the level of challenge required to get to the top.

We approached several big dunes. On the first big dune, Zebra made it up, but only on their second try. It was now time for the second and third drivers – they did well and got up on their first attempt.

Pete in Merlin thought he’d make the trip worthwhile and finally made it up on the fifth attempt to a round of applause from the group at the top.

Before stopping for morning tea at Big Billy, we hit the clay road for a bit of relief from the sandy bumps. Campbell and Kate in Merlin particularly appreciated this as they had gone very quiet and had started to feel and look a bit green.

We were now in the Big Desert State Forest. After a bumpy ride on the sandy tracks up to Big Bucket, we headed on to

the Ross Springs dunes. After lunch we had great fun in the Ross Dune playground. Heidi took the lead and didn’t make it up the first time and only then realised she still had the handbrake on!

After that, there was no stopping her and in a plum of black exhaust, conquered the dune. The others followed with gusto, particularly Martin who roared to the top with power to spare. Gerry decided to take the challenge of the second run and made it up on the second go.

Chris hadn’t heard Laurie’s comments about the sharp right turn at the top of the Ross Springs dune, and ended up nose first in some trees while negotiating the downhill section from the dune. Again everyone gathered to consider what approach to take. Heidi eventually performed a perfect snatch extraction and a short time later we were on our way again.

The afternoon took us across the top of the Big Desert State Forest along the Firebreak Track.

The rest of the day saw some small dunes.

It was time to pull up stakes at Blue Gums and relax around another great campfire.

The evening saw more interesting chatter about the day’s driving plus the added bonus of watching the children toast their marshmallows over the fire. We soon were off to bed in anticipation of the Easter Bilby.

Peter van Mourik and Fiona Cowl (2588) Heading down the Vic/SA Border Track: After a slightly damp night at the Blue Gums campground, we headed off towards the state border via the ‘disputed territory.’

As we were pulling out of the camping area Dave in Zilla pointed out that there appeared to be a grave in one of the corpse of trees. As no one had mentioned any supernatural occurrences, we didn’t investigate this time – but those of nervous disposition may like to pitch their tent carefully on future visits!

Firebreak Track – running along the north edge of the Big Desert State Forest – has extensive views of the starkly contrasting naturally vegetated wilderness area to the south with the grassed pasture land to the north. The convoy stopped along the trail for Heidi to hone her zombie slaying skills (chop up some firewood with her chainsaw). While we were stationary a staggering 0.1% of the country’s FJ Cruisers passed us in convoy. Yes, they were all from the FJ Cruiser Club.

Another quick stop was taken to photograph the SA sign claiming the “correct” location of the Vic/SA border. The general consensus was that if the South Australians want those 3km, they could pay to move the fence!

Overland Cruisering 15

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A swift stop for morning tea at Scorpion Springs was accompanied by coffee sharing bro-love between Martin and Tom. This spurred Heidi into getting the convoy on the go again. Either that or she can smell the rain in the air as a heavy squall came through the rest area just as the last car doors were being closed.

The rains kept the dust down on the rather bumpy run down towards Hensley Trig Lookout from where many longing looks back towards the motherland were taken.

A few members of our convoy nipped across the border just to get that Victorian feeling under their feet once more.

With Gums campsite just after the lookout, Zebra decided it was a good place to stop for lunch. The break allowed Laurie to demonstrate his tinkering skills by getting Billygoat’s driving lights back in action (it was a blown fuse). It’s not known if the extra drain on the battery affected the 60’s performance, but Billygoat took the chicken tracks around the day’s main features – two very large, very steep and very sandy dunes. Although to be fair Tom, he did give the first one a reasonable try.

Chris had to be snatched out of the second dune after digging himself in only metres from the top, but Merlin’s discovery of an extra 50mm of lift seemed to improve their confidence on the big dunes. Zilla needed two runs after over-cooking a corner and nearly running out of the ruts, but some timely advice from Laurie and Heidi on gear selection and driving techniques saw them safely over.

After a bumpy run along the Border Track down to Red Bluff, we arrived at our campsite and catching up with the convoy from the FJ Club. We gave the pyromaniacs plenty of time to get a good size blaze going. The warm campfire was enjoyed by most as the crew cooked their dinner over the fire.

Martin Boland (2573)

Completing the Border Track: The final day of our trip was Easter Monday. Being 1st April, some thought about playing some tricks, but the thought of some more sand driving steered our thoughts back to four-wheel driving.

After a cool night, we left Red Bluff Reserve and continued further south along the Border Track. Along the track there was one monster dune left to climb.

Everyone made it to the top – April fool!

Billygoat sneaked around the dune by taking the chicken track.

After everyone eventually had made it up, Heidi had another go at climbing the steep due from the other side. She finally succeeded on her second attempt. After that there were some very large bog holes in the track. Most of our convoy had a turn at driving through them. It made some great photos. It was great fun.

Soon we arrived at the end of the Border Track. It was a good time to take a morning tea break, as all cars aired up and said their goodbyes.

Our convoy continued as a group to Nhill where the trip officially ended and everyone went their own way. A great last day.

Tony Lovass (15) (2359)

Overland Cruisering 19

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TRIPS

THE (NOT) LICOLA TO WALHALLA TRIP 6th – 8th April, 2013 Trip Leader: Adam, Olivia, Amelia, Owen & Angus Takacs Participants: Garry & Sara Sonnberger Peter, Karen & Sasha Crump Chris Smith Brad & Harry Miller Ray & Joan Wells

Day 1 – Saturday: Bushfires around Walhalla closed the tracks which were planned on the Chromite Mine to Walhalla Wander, so Adam re-organized the trip to Briagalong to Licola Wander, taking in Billy Goat Bluff, the Pinnacles, Mt Wellington and the Sentinels.

After dropping tyre pressure, we started from the Quarries Reserve four kilometres north of Briagalong where we had camped on the Friday night.

We travelled through Culloden past the Blue Pools campsite, where we would have camped if it had not been previously occupied. On the alternative road to Dargo, along Gladstone Creek – beautiful country with many creek crossings past McKinnon’s Outlook – across Link Rd onto Branch Track crossing Pie High Creek – over some reasonably challenging tracks – some bottoms got scraped, then from Toggle Link Track right into Left Hand Track right onto Lloyd Knob Link Creek Track, then left onto Lees Creek where we passed a deer hunter’s camp. (There was evidence of some success with a hoof hanging out of the sack).

We then went left onto Freestone Creek Track, left onto Budge Track, left onto Reedy Creek Track then one kilometre later right onto Black Range Track, left at Castleburn Creek Track we proceeded along the Castleburn Creek, then right onto Scrubby Creek Track.

Adam had done some considerable reconnoitring the previous day to plan the route with several tracks closed. At 1:45 pm tyre pressures were checked and lowered as we had all gained 4-6 psi. After a short stop to collect firewood, we crossed over the Wonnangatta River turned left on Crooked River road and we were at our Black Snake campground by 3:30, which was fully grassed on the Wonnangatta River with a swimming hole right alongside.

Lovely weather all day, and a great campfire for the evening truly lovely end to a great day.

All our thanks to Adam and Olivia for all the extra work involved in re-routing this trip.

Joan & Ray Wells (1742) Day 2 – Sunday: Woke to a crisp and beautiful day at Black Snake campground on the Wonnangatta River. The first challenge of the day was Billy Goat Bluff track, very rocky and steep. All vehicles got up with very few problems. Halfway up Ray’s truck was leaking diesel and after a few anxious moments it was found that a fuel line hose had popped off. At the top were the Pinnacles at 1445 metres with just awesome views. Then onto the Moroka Hut, which was a short walk from the track in a little glen by the river.

Overland Cruisering 21

The next target was the Sentinels at 1521 metres and after a great drive over Mt Wellington and within a stone’s throw of our target, the heavens opened up making it pointless continuing. After slipping and sliding down the mountain, we saw a break in the weather and decided to camp the night at Tamboritha Saddle. That is except the Sonnbergers, who had been swagging it, and without a tent did not fancy the possibility of rain on the swag. Overall a great day’s driving where the diff locks got a good workout.

Chris Smith (2209) Day 3 – Monday: After a peaceful and dry night’s sleep, we were all woken up by a large and very noisy thunderstorm passing very close to us just on daylight. It was decided that due to track closures from the fires earlier in the year, uncertain weather conditions for the day ahead, and having only one exit open from the Chromite Mine, we would call it a day for the trip. We headed home after breakfast, dropping down to the Wellington River, where we aired up and said our goodbyes.

As previously mentioned, due to the track closures we did not actually travel along any of the original trips tracks. When the tracks reopen the original trip will be re-run, which will hopefully be later this year.

22 Overland Cruisering

TRIPS Trip Leader: Participants:

T O O L A N G I D AY T R I P Hari Maragos Aaron Hester Wally Spinks Fred Farrugia James Kennedy Steele Perkins Gabi & Grace Azzam John Nazloomian, Karen Wade & Ebony Nazloomian-Wade Greg Williams & Nina Everett Chris, Georgina & Jasmine Bradbury

Trip Leader’s note/disclaimer: When I delegated the task of the all-important trip report to the kids (ahem: young ladies!), I never expected something so amazing, colourful and imaginative. It shows that either we are getting older or life is getting faster!

OK, so we all met at this place, Yarraglen or whatever. Then the old people had a chat about some tracks and stuff, and soon we started driving. Like, in the cars!! OMG! (Oh my God!) But, (sigh) we got sucked in to write this report thingy which we really didn’t wanna do. But whatever. I just took a chill pill, kept calm and carried on.

We turned off the main road and it was bumpy like wot?! And then the oldies were doing the tyres or something – Idk (I don’t know). Oh yeah, and then this person decided to be funny on the CB radios and was saying things like ‘tail end Charlie has turned the corner’ – this was every time they turned a corner. Like sooooo not funny. OMG. How long do they wanna take to turn a corner? It’s probably been like 3 hours – I swear we saw Santa fly over the car! So being slightly bored, I decided to crank up the tunes on my iphone. WOOO party!!

So finally we started driving – but get this – we stopped after only 10 metres and then, the oldies started walking up the track. So they just left us in the car. ‘Come, it’ll be fun’ they said.

Hey, we started driving again. This time, we went up Rocky Track that was like a 300 metre climb or whatever. Now this is not what I signed up for! I mean seriously!

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Here we are just waiting at the bottom of the track for our call to 4WD up. I hope we have some progress, pronto!~ Right so the trip leader couldn’t even get half way up the track so everyone had to like reverse and stuff. What a life drainer. Gosh! All this fuss, idk. Then someone says we’re gonna go on the chicken track instead of Rocky Track. Like, who do they think we are – chickens? But we didn’t even see any chickens on the track.

And now just like an hour into this, they’re thinking of aborting the trip already?? Like seriously? WOW, old people these days!

So we went up the start of the ‘chicken track’ which isn’t so ‘chicken.’ It’s all part of the experience apparently. And btw (by the way), there weren’t even any chickens so we don’t get excited when someone suggests you take the chicken track.

Let me tell you, the top of the hill isn’t as exciting as you would think either. There were trees – like gr8 (great). And I’m not gonna babble and moan about the trees but seriously I think there are a bit too many trees. I think it’s a bit unnecessary like, hey, trees over there, and there and oh look, another tree!

We got up the top of the track and turned left onto Victoria road. To be honest I thought we were already in Victoria, but whatever. And they’re trying to say we’re at the top. Umm, sorry but no, we can obviously see land next to us and it’s higher than us??? Old people logic. Hmmm!

Wee Creek Track – what a lovely and exciting name for a track. I mean, who thinks of these outrageous names? Where’s the logic in a name like that? Are we supposed to like wee or something? No thank you!

And this ‘tail end Charlie’ person decides to return to the radio and tell us he’s now also on Wee Creek Track as well. Like, so not funny.

We come to this little steep ledge thingo and crawl down it. But like when we were going down we felt like we were standing up ‘coz it was so steep. Like it was insane bro!! We kept going and then get this, we bellied out. But ‘coz we are who we are, we got out. OK so we continued down the hill and in a matter of 5 minutes we get stuck – twice! Then we had to be pulled out.

Hmmm, solid effort. Everybody had to be directed down the rutty bit, ‘coz like it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

The next part was about 100 metres including a small river/creek crossing thing.

We finally stopped for morning tea, thank god! The three of us decided to walk half way up the treacherous hill and watch the many dirt bikes go up. Fully sick mate!

The dirt bikes took a while ‘coz it was like very steep and slippery ‘coz there was so much rocks and stuff. So then our group started making their way up. Woo. Well that was an eventful hour. There were wheels going up in the air and spinning round. It was fully sick maaaaate!

We were now driving on this like bumpy dirt road – it was like totally boring compared to everything we had just experienced. Gosh!

Where’s the fun in this? Hey another weird name award goes to Spraggs Rd – and then it goes to Blowhard Rd – two ‘normalish’ tracks that we drove on along with Silvia Creek Rd. We came up to Naringal road and stopped for lunch. Wow, I can’t believe it’s only 12 o’clock – I’m usually still asleep at this time!

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Overland Cruisering 23

We had lunch next to the Black Spur pub or whatever. Well it started to get boring after we finished lunch ‘coz the old people just talked or whatever. So the three of us went for a wonder next to the creek. The challenge was set for us to cross one of the logs, so Jasmine went across, no worries mate. When she came back, she decided to do a few twirls on the way. Funniest thing happened when she screamed and fell backwards into the creek and then like just stood there in shock! We laughed so much! It was such a YOLO (you only live once) moment!

So we started heading back to the car and went driving on Firebreak Track where there were lots of holes with water in them, and some mud and stuff. Anyway we kept moving only to see more (yay) bog holes.

A few more ‘chicken’ tracks were discovered but we still didn’t see any chickens to our utter disappointment.

We ended up pulling into this little round area thing and pretty much used it for a playground. There were three tracks on a very steep hill that were pretty much muddy slippery slides for cars and we had some fun with those until..wait for it..a Discovery tried to go up one of the steep slides and got stuck. Yeah then get this, he had to use his winch to get outta it. LOL (laugh out loud)! So like it was 4:00pm and we left the playground with muddy slides and went back to the pub to pump up our tyres!

Overall it was a great day – everybody enjoyed themselves and each took home a nice lot of mud – beautiful. Hari was a amazing trip leader guy who helped us all the way. Yeah it was like so gr8 – I’m gonna never forget it.

Xoxo Gossipgirls!

TRIPS

CRUISERKHANA DEBRIEF W’END

4th & 5th May, 2013 Well, the photos say it all. What a fantastic weekend. The 4th & 5th May saw about 40 avid Cruiserkhana marshals and helpers head for a debrief at Rutherglen.

Sergeant-at-Arms, Russell Edwards and wife, Lesley have a small house there and with a lot of local knowledge, what a weekend they had planned for us.

Friday night I arrived to find happy hour in full swing in Annie McGennisken’s cabin with the Club members from the caravan park having a great time. Ian Ross, the Wilsons, the McCartneys, Neil Chambers, Annie and late arrivals, Wayne & Sherry partied on and somehow Ellen McCartney managed to feed most of us with a never ending BBQ. The weather gods were kind to us and Saturday morning started off bright and early in the sunshine outside the McGennisken cabin with a very useful debrief session outlining the weekend’s itinerary and discussing the feedback from participants regarding various events.

After about an hour we upped stumps and one enormous convoy chuffed off to Renaissance Chocolates for morning tea.

There was a very interesting talk by their chocolatier and coffee and scones and then it was time for a further debrief in the sunshine. About this stage I started to get writer’s cramp with many of the eventual 22 pages of notes being written. Just as I thought my hand was about to go on strike, we all hopped back in our vehicles and made the short hop to the Buffalo Brewery at Boorhaman. Lunch had been preordered and we all tucked into enormous portions and sampled some of their boutique beers.

Totes written by Ebony WadeNazloomian, Georgia and Jasmine Bradbury.

Overland Cruisering 25

Suitably refreshed, we adjourned to the Brewery beer garden and had another intensive debrief session before calling it a day and heading to Jones Winery to sample some of their wares. We ran into some Range Rover Club members and there was some earnest in depth discussion on who should have won Cruiserkhana – they were absolutely astounded on learning they were in the middle of the debrief – muttered things like we were doing it in style and working hard! Of course by this stage the debrief had run out of steam and as the agenda was mostly finished, went home to happy hour before most of us – yes you guessed it – ended up at the pub for dinner. I think we almost booked the place out!

Russell & Lesley kindly asked the crew around for breakfast on the Sunday. Five dozen eggs and a side of bacon later and some very astounded neighbours at 9:00 am on a Sunday morning, we settled in for our last debrief session. It was over reasonably quickly and the fines master swung into action.

Usually the edict is what goes on the trip stays on the trip, but in this case there are a few things worth mentioning. Annie and Neil had a detailed discussion on Friday night regarding who would go on top and underneath, but of course they were talking about bunk beds! Club stalwart, Garry Cooper missed all of the hard work on Saturday morning and arrived smack, bang on lunchtime. Some excuse about his electric leg not working (the mind boggles), but it was on his caravan, and he had stayed the Friday night at Yarck. Similarly Gunther, Mina, Robert Karcut, Andrea and Bocky arrived for breakfast on the Sunday so late they had to cook their own – something about bush camping on the Murray

26 Overland Cruisering

and a very, very late night! And Russell needs to give Bocky some change out of that $25. Over $200 was raised for the Rutherglen CFA so there were lots of the usual stupid things done and said.

Many thanks to all that attended, it was a great social weekend and we obtained much useful feedback to further improve the event next year. Sometimes it is hard to capture all that detail at Cruiserkhana so it was a very worthwhile exercise.

A special thank you must go to El Presidente, Ian Ross, Secretary, Sandra Tanner and Committee person Russell Edwards for taking the time to attend and

hopefully the Executive Committee will get a great insight into how the event works.

Hopefully we can do a similar thing next year and have another fantastic weekend mixed up with a lot of useful hard work. If you didn’t come to this year’s debrief, don’t miss next years. I am sure it will be bigger and better. However don’t forget we will need even more volunteers in 2014 and you can’t enjoy the debrief if you don’t do the work.

Angela Di Lallo (225) On behalf of the Cruiserkhana sub committee

YA R C K

MI AP ISN T E N A N C E A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N W E E K E N D

25th & 26th May, 2013 small but enthusiastic group of TLCCV members attended the Maintenance and Construction weekend for the month of May. Those members were: Tony Swinden, Bill Motschall, Peter Hemming, Peter Burchall, Angela Di Lallo, Annie McGennisken, Chris & Colin Low, Dulcie Watts, Garry Cooper and Trajco Vilarov.

As winter is upon us now the main aim of the weekend was to stock up the wood pile so members visiting Yarck would have a warming fire to back up to. As it happened, the weekend before was the scheduled Chain Saw course and that had provided plenty of wood that had been cut to manageable sizes. The task before us was to transport this wood from the area just below the tractor cage to the wood pile and split it.

Transporting the logs did not take as long as some thought, but the sight of the pile of logs to be split made some of us think that a motorised log splitter would make life a lot easier. What we didn’t take into consideration was the determination of Tony

A

TRIPS

Angela and Annie in the meantime were busy in the Hilton, sorting, editing and documenting photos and the many pages of information gathered from the recent Cruiserkhana event.

After a very productive day the team retired to the Hilton to partake of happy hour and then cook their dinners. It was decided at the last Yarck Management meeting to revert back to Versalites to light the Hilton and toilets, so with this in mind on Sunday, Tony and Garry tested and fitted new globes to the lights and placed them at the back veranda, over the sink, around the fire and in the ladies toilets. Lights to be replaced still are the central light in the Hilton and the one in the men’s toilet. Brad Schaffer is continuing with his work to repair the path lights to the toilets.

Even though the numbers were few the group that attended achieved a tremendous amount of worthwhile work. All members should be thankful for the dedicated bunch that manages this wonderful resource that we have at Yarck.

Garry Cooper (349) YARCK MANAGEMENT MEMBER

DRIVER AWARENESS WEEKEND - JUNE 2013

Practical Driver Awareness at TLCCV Yarck 1st & 2nd June, 2013 e arrived late Friday afternoon at the Yarck TLCCV property where we were met by John and Simon in the Yarck Hilton. The fire was going and we managed to set up our tent just before it was too dark to see.

I’ve never been in charge of driving in 4WD mode before, but I was confident that our instructors wouldn’t put me in a situation we couldn’t handle.

Whilst we had a fairly balmy Friday evening, the weather forecast wasn’t too flash. Indeed, it started raining later that night and it didn’t stop till late Saturday. I was very happy that our tent stayed dry inside despite the pretty heavy soaking it got. However, the rain was nosy enough to keep me awake all night!

But the excitement of learning 4WD on the very well established and maintained tracks around the Yarck property gave me the energy I needed for day 1.

We were 10 participants, of which some were a ‘4WD driver virgin’ like me and others had more experience under their belts.

Vehicles ranged from XX-YY I can’t thank our instructors John, Simon, Peter H and ‘trainee instructor’ Martin enough for giving up their time and sharing with us their wealth of knowledge and experience coupled with lots of patience to

W

Swinden to split the logs ourselves.

Three log splitters were produced and between Tony, Peter Hemming and Bill splitting and Garry, Peter Burchall and Trajco stacking, we had the lot split and stacked by 4:00 pm. We all marvelled at the strength and ability of Bill to raise the splitter and log above his head and bring it down with great force. Great work men, and those involved have had the advantage of that wood warming us twice.

Whilst all this was going on Colin was arranging for some gravel to be brought from Alexandra by truck and dumped near the site of the new Bush Hut. Whilst in Alexandra Colin purchased 40 litres of fuel as we have discovered that the Yarck store no longer has petrol or diesel for sale. This situation will not change until the store is sold and the new owners may decide to restock the tanks.

Tasks undertaken during the afternoon involved Colin and Chris getting stuck into trimming and cleaning up the Grevillea garden, Dulcie doing another magnificent job of cleaning all the toilets, and then cleaning up the broken glass from her favourite camping spot now named the “Eyrie.”

teach us all about safe and yet fun fourwheel driving. Their ability to assess and amend the initial plan to suit the wet weather and hence track conditions was quite evident too.

Taking a longer way around, we made it to the Bus Stop and learnt to put the theory of driving and stop and start, up and down slippery hills into practice. We went up and down Latimer’s track, gone through the bog hole, did a water crossing, and drove along Bulldozer track and Bridge track, crossing the (Colin) Low Bridge.

Saturday night didn’t provide for a good sleep either as strong winds made a lot of noise and we were hoping no branch would come down on us. But again the prospect of learning more on Sunday morning gave me the lift to complete the program. The rain had stopped Saturday evening and the wind had gone strong all night, which dried the property to some degree. Everyone learnt on the sandpit how to bog the vehicle and get pulled out as well as recovering another vehicle. We then had the opportunity to drive around the various tracks around the property.

Big thanks also to all the volunteering working bees that made the property what it is. I was very impressed with the way all facilities are set up. All very well thought through, practical and in great condition.

It was quite amazing how much one can learn from the instructors and other participants in such a short time. I’m definitely

more confident in driving various 4WD terrain and hope for my partner and I to do some trips in the not too distant future.

Safe and happy 4WDing to all.

Kirsten

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Overland Cruisering 27

NEWS

MEMBERSHIP

NEW MEMBERS 2637 J Raymond Colban & Dianne Barry 2638 J Rocky & Marie Ann Rowland 2640 J Lawrence Thoms & Michelle Boulle 2641 J James & Lynete Stephens 2642 C Ash Jacobs 2643 S Tracy Hammill

28/04/2013 2339 J Gordon Peters 3/05/2013 878 J Robert Crawford 18/05/2013 1549 S Chris Friday 8/05/2013 2448 J Craig Pickard 12/05/2013

LAPSED MEMBERS – DELETE 2566 J Wayne & Karen Saunders 1/02/2013 2568 J Jeremy & Erika Fitzwater 1/02/2013 2570 S Mark De Fazio 1/03/2013 REMOVED & TYPE CHANGES 2517 J Peter Gogoll 4/04/2013 1980 J John Walter 4/04/2013 2301 J Russell Weekley 15/04/2013 1985 J Graeme Robertson

28 Overland Cruisering

eNews – Are you receiving your copy of TLCC Weekend Wrap?

If you aren’t receiving your copy of Weekend Wrap, then make sure you include your email address on your membership renewal form. Alternatively you can send an email to the Membership Officer (Barb) at membership@tlcv.org.au with your updated details.

Weekend Wrap is produced by Laurie Miles (1058) and Garry Cooper (1219).

Items for Weekend Wrap can be sent to info@tlcv.org.au.

DID YOU KNOW? On the TLCC web forum, via your personal settings, you can subscribe to any changes made to particular forums in your watch list? This can be set to provide an instant automatic update when new trips are submitted.

Example: TLC Victoria Official Club Trips Forum Select the “Watch Forum” button located just above the trips list.

Select your notification method.

Can be edited via TLCC Forum / Your Control Panel / Forums / manage Watched Forum.

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All ARB Adventure Lights come with a comprehensive 2 year warranty and are available at selected ARB stores and stockists throughout the country.

For more information or details of the stockist nearest you, head to www.arb.com.au.

ARB HIGH INTENSITY LED DRIVING LIGHTS ARBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s driving light range has been strengthened with the availability of the new High Intensity LED lights.

Available as a spot or flood light the lights feature 32 LEDs with 50,000+ hour lifespan. They produce a white light, and do not require a warm up time.

Offering 10 degree full width spread for the spot light and 20 degree full width spread for the flood light, the intensity range features an extremely strong high pressure cast aluminium body with a virtually

indestructible polycarbonate lens.

Submersible to three metres, the lights are dust and waterproof.

The high intensity lights feature a patented multi-position stainless steel mounting bracket.

For full details on these new lights refer to last months edition of Overland Cruisering.

Overland Cruisering 29

TRIPS

Trip Leader: Participants:

RUBICION - MARCH 2013 Tony and Lachlan Middleditch. 80 Series.

CAT Michael Martin. 200 Series.

TARDES Ian, James and Cameron Ross. 100 Series EZCAPE Thomas Henning & Michelle Sweidan. 79 Series. CAMEL 1 Chris Bradbury and Helen Gormlie. Gus & Max. DISCOVERY Nina Everett & Greg Willians, Jessica & Silvia.

DISCOVERY Daryl Hansen. 200 Series.

CRASH

t was an early start when we all met at Buxton Pub (open for breakfast) where there were seven 4WDs waiting to go and have a bit of fun and also looking forward to what was going to be an interesting day exploring the Rubicon Historic area. Our convoy was led by Tony (Cat) who kept us amused with his "light" humour on the radio.

Our first stop was at Keppel Hut where we had morning tea and everyone chatted and got to know each other. We also got to see the devastation caused by the Black Saturday bush fires, which whilst driving through some of the tracks was quite eerie nonetheless. The first challenge was a short rutted climb on McFadyen Track just out from Keppel Hut. As conditions were very dry, all of our convoy traversed this with ease. Another example of how dry things were was further along the track

I

30 Overland Cruisering

with a large bog hole and swampy area being bone dry (first time in my memory Tony).

We continued north on McFadyen Track to Tom Burns Track where we â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crossed the Rubicon (and ate blackberries) before

coming to a stop at the Siphon Trestle Bridge which was part of the wooden tramway that connected the sawmills to the edge of the forest. Continuing on, we visited the Royston dam before heading down to lunch at Rubicon - the first Victorian hydro-electric power scheme, where the kids were able to stretch their legs and run around also eating apples from an apple tree, which they found to be exciting. We all made it through a 'massive' water crossing where luckily no one needed to be winched out! (The Disco's were ready in waiting to help those out just in case)!

Michael Martin in Tardes led the convoy where we headed up and down many tracks which one, Herbs Road, took us to Morris Lookout on the Royston Range which provided us with stunning views of the surrounding areas including the townships of Thornton and Lake Eildon. Further south on the Royston range we had a typical ridge top forest drive with climbs, descents, logging coups and DUST! Winding down from the Royston Range via Hobin Gap Track we made the Snobs Creek Rd and our final stop at Snobs Creek Falls which offered spectacular views as they drop more than 100 metres over a series of rocky outcrops. Simply beautiful to watch.

As this was my first TLCCV trip, I must say it was one of the nicest trips I have done as there were so many beautiful attractions along the way, not to mention all who came along as well made it a very fun and relaxing day trip.

Thank you to Tony for organising a very fun and relaxing day trip which we all enjoyed.

And on that note most participants said they would rather be driving a Discovery!!

Nina and Greg (2595) Some Rubicon Power Station Facts.

Completed in 1929, became operational in 1928.

Consists of 4 hydro power stations.

Royston 0.8 MW, Rubicon Falls 0.3 MW, Rubicon via two turbines - 9.2 MW, Lower Rubicon 2.7 MW. Total 13 MW This hydro system involves both the Royston and Rubicon rivers. The Royston dam is the highest point where the Royston river is diverted from the Royston valley via 2 kilometres of aqueduct and 550 metres of penstock to the Royston turbine..

From the Royston, the aqueduct continues from where it used to power a sawmill and joins with a second aqueduct from the output of the Rubicon Falls turbine; the combined flow then feeding the Rubicon turbines via a 1.3 kilometre penstock that has a fall of some 443 metres. The Lower Rubicon turbine operates via the output of the Rubicon Station.

The Rubicon Power Station System operates via remote control and has largely done so since its creation.

The Rubicon Pelton wheel was replaced by a more powerful unit in 1954.

Prior to privatisation, was the oldest operational public owned hydro scheme in

Australia.

There are many open camping spots and 2WD access around the Rubicon Power Station.

Other Points of Interest are Morris Lookout and Snobs Creek Falls. For the more adventurous, the summit of Mt. Torbreck (1516m) provides stunning views on a good day.(Note: 1 hour each way of steep, rocky, ascent approximately 360 metres over 2 kilometres). Logging activity is numerous throughout this area.

miles.ppm@bigpond.com

Overland Cruisering 31

CLUB SHOP

ITEMS FOR SALE

Badges Metal Bearings Universal Bearing Sets Sockets Books Hema spiral bound 4WD Atlas Flag poles & Fittings - 4x4 Lighting LED camp light Filters/Funnels Mr Filter fuel filter small Mr Filter fuel filter medium Recovery Gear Bow shackles 3.5 ton Bow shackles 4.75 ton Recovery bridle - 4x4 Cable dampener – ARB Jack base plates Leather Gloves Recovery Hook

Recovery Points - front 100/200 - front 120 Series - front 150 Series Other recovery points available to order Shovel Combo – 4x4 Snatch strap – ARB 8 ton Wheels/Tyres/Diffs Diff breather kits Ezy deflator – ARB Tyre repair kits Sundries First Aid Kits Fire Extinguisher - 1.5kg Rear Wheel Rubbish Bags TLCV Stubby Holders Windscreen Repair Kits Lots of other fantastic items in stock so come and say hello to the team.

Australian Building Permits Marie Walker Tel. 9572 8000

Club Shop times: 7:00pm until half an hour after close of meetings. Stock items sell for below RRP. Prices may vary from time to time.

NOTES

Fire Response weekend

32 Overland Cruisering

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