Victoria Police Four Wheel Drive Club Newsletter Presidents Message July 2007 President's Report - July 2007 Hi Fellow Members, I would like to welcome Craig Triffett, Silvana Tridico, Ben Penrose and Christy Gordon to the club, I am sure you will enjoy being members, especially with a few more trips going onto the trip calendar. Annual General Meeting On the 1st of August is our AGM and the following positions Upcoming Trips: are up for re-election: A.G.M. — 1st August President (must be a Police employee) Treasurer (must be a Police employee) Swap Meet—12th Equipment Officer August Training Coordinator Birdsville Races Trip — Activities Coordinator 26th August — 9th Ordinary Committee Member September Social Sub-Committee Members (number to be determined by AGM) Please think about whether you feel you want to increase your current level of In This Issue contribution to the club, if you do then perhaps a Committee position is the way to do that. President’s Report 1 Training In April and June, the club’s Training Unit conducted Proficiency Driving Your Committee 2 Courses with Paul Kirkbride, Silvana Tridico, Jack Dalrymple, Craig Triffett, Lynette Taylor and Stuart Schulze all qualifying. Congratulations to all of you. From the Editor 3 The Chainsaw Training Course in May had to be cancelled due to insufficient numbers and has been rescheduled for 22-23 September at Warburton. If you Trip Reports 4 interested in attending this course you have to register with Cameron Sanderson, his email address is on the club website. Swap Meet Notice 6 At the moment the Winch Recovery Course in July has two members booked in and the Intermediate Driving Course in August has only one member registered Upcoming Training 9 to attend. If you are interested in attending either of these courses, please Courses contact Cameron Sanderson. Club Calender 11 If we don’t get any more members interested in the Intermediate Driving Course it will have be cancelled and held at a later date. Discounts Available At: 12 Club Trips There are a couple of new trips on the calendar, which you should have received Sponsors 13 notification of or you can check out the details on the club website. See you soon Wayne Morgan President Mobile 0417-054-108 Email [email protected] VP4WDC Newsletter Page 2 July 2007 OUR COMMITTEE President - Wayne Morgan [email protected] W: 9247 6769 M: 0417 054 108 Vice President - Marcus Nash [email protected] W: N/A M: 0410 249 183 Secretary - Rob Garside [email protected] Treasurer - Barbara Tabaka [email protected] W: 9247 6239 M: 0402 990 486 Equipment Officer - Marc Drew Activity Co-ordinator - Ron Levett [email protected] W: N/A M: 0412 480 917 Training Co-ordinator - Cameron Sanderson [email protected] M: 0414 765 662 Public Relations Officer - Steve Aicher [email protected] W: 9665 4348 M: 0411 082 434 Ordinary Committee Member - Gary May [email protected] W: 9661 8106 M: 0415 400 101 Changing Address or other Contact Details!! Please advise Club Secretary or President. VP4WDC Newsletter Page 3 July 2007 From the Editor Finally an edition of the club newsletter appears. My apologies for the tardiness of this issue. Hopefully now that a few more trips and events are appearing on our calendar I will have something to publish. Keep an eye on the club web site for updated trips and info etc. Hope to see you on the tracks!! Steve Aicher—Public Relations Officer Please Note—the MFB has changed its email addresses. The old addresses used [email protected].,gov.au. The new addresses use [email protected]. Please amend your email address book for any MFB club members!! VP4WDC Newsletter Page 4 July 2007 Trip Reports Annual Club Dinner A small turnout for this year’s annual dinner but once more a great night. Thanks to Branco and the social committee for the great organization. The club awards made were: Club RFDS Award (most fines) - Marcus Nash Club Member of the Year - Marcus Nash Steve Aicher VP4WDC Newsletter Page 5 July 2007 The questions below about Australia, are from potential visitors/ tourists. They were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, How do the plants grow? (UK). A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you've been drinking. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden) A: So it's true what they say about Swedes. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA) A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA) A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? ( UK) A: You are a British politician, right? Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA) A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA) A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking un- derneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France) A: No, WE don't stink. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA) A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy) A: Yes, gay nightclubs. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France) A: Only at Christmas. Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA) A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first VP4WDC Newsletter Page 6 July 2007 From the Email Charity 4x4 Swap Meet and Monster Auction Sunday 12th August 2007 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Held at Mt Cottrell Bowls Club Mt Cottrell Road, Melton (Melway Map 343 J12) Entry: Gold Coin Donation All proceeds from this event will support cancer treatment for Geoff Lake. This charity fundraiser includes:- • Four Wheel Drive Swap Meet • Car Boot Sale • Monster Auction of some great items (commences @ 1:30pm) • Sausage Sizzle and Food / Drink Stalls • Jumping Castle for the kids • Plus a whole lot more ... For site/stall bookings or other enquiries contact Leigh Woodberry on 0412 146 100 or by email. VP4WDC Newsletter Page 7 July 2007 They are not behind there!! They are not over there!! They are not under there!! And they are definitely not in there!! What are we looking for? MEMBERSHIP FEES—NOW DUE!! Payments to Club Treasurer. VP4WDC Newsletter Page 8 July 2007 Photos of Woodspoint Trip to Woodspoint coming soon!! Keep watch of club calendar!! For Sale Hi everyone, We are selling our Landcruiser. If you know anyone interested, please give either Dan or myself a buzz. Dan 0402 033 357 Wendy 0402 033 356 2001 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER HDJ100R DIESEL TURBO 5 SPEED MANUAL VP4WDC Newsletter Page 9 July 2007 Upcoming Training Courses APRIL Proficiency 4WD Training Friday 27-Saturday 28 City and Bayswater North $50 (Vic 4WD Certificate) Course MAY Saturday 19-Sunday 20 Chainsaw Training Course Warburton $50 (Accredited Certificate) JUNE Friday 22 Proficiency 4WD Training City and Bayswater North $50 (Vic 4WD Certificate) Saturday 23 Course JULY To be announced, depending Sunday 29 Winch Training Course where $20 (V.P. 4WD Certificate) most course participants live AUGUST To be announced, depending Intermediate 4WD Training Sunday 19 where $50 (V P 4WD Certificate) Course most course participants live SEPTEMBER To be First Aid Level 2 Training To be announced $50 (Accredited Certificate) announced Course (family welcome) Chainsaw Training Course Saturday 22—Sunday 23 Warburton $50 (Accredited Certificate) (Rescheduled) OCTOBER Proficiency 4WD Training Friday 19-Saturday 20 City and Bayswater North $50 (Vic 4WD Certificate) Course NOVEMBER Friday 16 Trip Leader Training Course City $20 (V.P.