ON PATROL No 4. The Magazine of the Nissan Patrol 4WD Club of NSW & ACT Inc. April 2014 1 Nissan Patrol 4WD Club General Meetings 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Veteran Car Club 134 Queens Road Five Dock NSW 2046 Club mail can be sent to: Nissan Patrol 4WD Club PO Box 249 FIVE DOCK NSW 2046 The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Nissan Patrol 4WD Club of NSW & ACT Inc. The Club and its officers do not expect nor invite any person to act or rely on any statement, opinion or advice. The Nissan Patrol 4WD Club website, www.nissanpatrolclub.org includes a "members only" area with access to details of upcoming trips and other news/information not meant for public consumption. To be issued a user name and password to access the website, please send an e-mail with your name and home phone number to [email protected]. Put "password required" in the subject area of the e-mail. After we have verified your details, you will receive an e-mail with your log-in information. C O N T E N T S About the Club 3 TR1 - There and Back Again 25 Committee Members 4 TR2 - Yerranderie 29 Editorial 5 TR3 - Barrington Tops 33 President’s Report 6 Bush Computer Terminology 37 2013 Club Awards 7 TR4 - March Working Bee 38 Get to Know... 11 TR5 - Committee Dinner 41 The Scoreboard 13 Tech Talk 42 Driver Training & Working Bees 14 DIY: Fire Starters 49 Club Calendar 15 Photo Competition 50 Trip Leaders & New Trips, Trip Bookings 20 Nature Lover 51 Trip Classification 21 Junior Patrollers 52 Radio Channels 22 Find-a-Word 53 Convoy Procedure 23 Club Noticeboard 54 4WDing Tips for Dummies 24 Camping Checklist 56 Front Cover: Ken S at November 2013 Driver Training. Great wheel spin. 2 NISSAN PATROL 4WD CLUB OF NSW & ACT INC. About the Club The Nissan Patrol 4WD Club was established in 1976 by a group of four-wheel drive enthusiasts from other clubs interested in pursuing common interests and activities in 4WD'ing, and also aiming to give the Nissan Patrol its own identity. Notwithstanding the club's name, the Club welcomes all types of four-wheel drives capable of completing our driver training course. In 2002, the Club fulfilled a long-held dream and purchased its own property of 94 hectares in the Windellama region near Goulburn. The land is used for Club activities such as bush camping, driver training and social activities. There is also a dam on the property which provides a reliable source of water for bush fire fighting. In May 2006, our initial idea of a large shelter/shed came into fruition and was finally completed. The shed acts as our bush classroom which allows us to easily host our Driver Training Courses. It is also the place where we have our Xmas In July, Easter and Club Anniversary weekends, and is available for free camping by members at any time. Front View Back View The club atmosphere is, and always has been, to have fun and develop long lasting friendships from a wide variety of people from all over Sydney and the countryside. The club holds regular driver training days for all members, trips from one day to several weeks' duration (such as outback trips) and a variety of social activities. Club trips are graded depending on the degree of difficulty to cater for all levels of four-wheel driving. On trips, the traditional “happy hour” and campfire provide a wonderful setting for swapping yarns, having a quiet drink and building solid friendships. We are strongly committed to “Access for All” (except ratbags) in our National Parks and State Forests, protecting the environment through responsible four-wheel driving and helping to 'Clean- Up Australia' by cleaning up our bushland. Since 1980, the Club has been hosting varying types of events for the general public to enjoy in their 4WD’s. In past years there were the annual Nissan Trials, which saw inter-club challenges testing the driving skills of both individuals and teams. In line with current community expectation and demand, the Club is running the Son of Trials Plus on the first weekend of November. These events offer standard road registered vehicle owners, from learner drivers through to experienced 4WD’ers, to participate in a number of challenging courses to fine tune their skills and the chance to win some fantastic prizes. 3 NISSAN PATROL 4WD CLUB OF NSW & ACT INC. PO Box 249 FIVE DOCK NSW 2046 Club website: www.nissanpatrolclub.org ISSN 1446-0718 2014-2015 COMMITTEE MEMBERS & OFFICE BEARERS COMMITTEE President Rollanda Vice President Scott Secretary Christopher Treasurer Cindy Membership Secretary Jonathan Trip Organiser Steven Training Co-Ordinator Chris Land Manager Kenneth Communications/Editor Tania Social Convener POSITION VACANT OFFICE BEARERS Trials Co-Ordinator Charles Assist Trials Co-ordinator POSITION VACANT Trials Secretary Rollanda Publicity Officer POSITION VACANT Webmaster Brett Purchasing Officer POSITION VACANT Technical Officer Iro Equipment Officer Ross Librarian Mark Sergeant-at-Arms POSITION VACANT Assistant Membership POSITION VACANT Assist Training Co-Ordinator Christiaan Assistant Land Manager Stephen Assistant Editor Iro Assist Social Convener Colleen Auditor POSITION VACANT Please contact the President if you would like to join the Committee and have a part in the running of YOUR Club. 4 From the Editors Here we are again, but the roles have been reversed - well, in name only. You don't realise how true the above pictures are. I would like to tweak a few pages - add some bits, drop some others - but it all depends on your input. On the new membership/renewal form, there is a section for those who would like to be sent a printed version of the Magazine. When the renewals close at the end of June, and if all goes well, print and mail out will be ready for the July Magazine. Please, tell me what you want in this Magazine. Tell me what you like and don't like. All ideas will be seriously considered. MEET OUR NEW TEAM MEMBER Name: Ruby Age: Nearly 3 years old. (that's about 26 in dog years). Breed: Miniature Fox Terrier Loves: Her mum (follows me like a shadow) Rides in the car Camping (but not allowed at Club Land). Wearing her Club shirt Hobbies: Sniffing out garden lizards Chasing flies Catching cockroaches Her Job: Early warning system as someone enters the property. Sits beside mum and keeps her calm while she is swearing at the computer. Keep On Patrolling! Tania, Iro & Ruby Next magazine due 8 JULY 2014 All articles for the next magazine MUST be sent in a Microsoft Word format and forwarded to [email protected] or mailed to The Editor, NPC, PO Box 249, Five Dock NSW 2046 by 24 June 2014. 5 The Report from Madam President Hi all, Thank you for electing me President for another term, it is an honour and a privilege to represent you for another year. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the committee members who have stepped down and to welcome the new faces onto the Committee. After many years as Trip Organiser and a year as Vice-President, Mark C has taken the position of Librarian. I am sure that he will bring the same enthusiasm to this role as his previous ones. After an absence of a few years, Scott D returns to the Committee as Vice President. Scott had held the position of Land Manager a few years ago. I am sure that he will bring his dry wit and cool head to bear. Cindy M has also returned to the committee as Treasurer. She was previously Secretary. Stephen (Harry) B has taken on the position of Assistant Land Manager. Many members who have attended the movie weekends would have enjoyed his communal dinners. There is more to the role than being a great cook, but Harry is very keen and I am sure that he will be a great asset and support to Ken. Membership numbers are increasing, which is a great thing. To this end we need more trips on the Calendar. Day trips or weekend trips are in short supply at the moment. There are many places just a short drive from Sydney that would make a great weekend away. The photography weekend is still planned for later this year, as is a first aid weekend. The next social event at the Land is the June long weekend. This is going to be another great social event as we have a large bonfire planned for Saturday evening and a dinner- dance at the Hall on the Sunday. Chris B will send out more details soon, so please put the dates down (June 7-9) in your diary. Renewals for the 2014-2015 year are now open and the process has now been automated. It has never been easier to renew either online or at the subsequent general meetings. See you at the next meeting. Regards, Rollanda 6 CLUB AWARDS Presented on 12 February 2014 President's Award Brett Tania Committee Member of the Year Ken Steven Club Member of the Year Worn-out Wallet Stephen Roelof 7 Trip Leader of the Year Trip Report of the Year Cindy Iro Appreciation Awards Jean-Pierre Marcel Steve Iro Michael Chris & Ruth Murray & Family Appreciation Certificates to Members Richard Colleen Antonio 8 Appreciation Certificates to Sponsors Chris Hole & Superior Offroad 4WD Mark Pullan & National Tyre Wholesalers Travis & 4WD Action Magazine Elizabeth, Thierry & Ray's Outdoors Gordon & Opposite Lock, Rockdale Tony & Sutherland Shire Off Road 9 10 11 THE SCOREBOARD NRL FOOTY TIPPING COMPETITION PLACE YOUR Name points TEAM 1 Tania 74 2 John 74 3 Trevor 70 4 Iro 68 5 Romayne 68 6 Chris 64 7 Mark 62 8 Tony 58 9 Margaret 58 10 Eddie 58 11 Susan 58 12 Ken 58 13 David 58 14 Fiona 56 15 David 56 16 Harry 54 17 Matthew 54 18 Belinda 50 19 Peter 50 20 Steven 48 Nrl Table 12 Canterbury Bulldogs 8 St George Illawarra Dragons 12 Manly Sea Eagles 8 Melbourne Storm 12 Gold Coast Titans 8 Parramatta Eels 10 Wests Tigers 6 North Queensland Cowboys 8 Sydney Roosters 6 New Zealand Warriors 8 Brisbane Broncos 6 Canberra Raiders 8 South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 Newcastle Knights 8 Penrith Panthers 4 Cronulla Sharks As at 27 April 2014 12 DRIVER TRAINING With Chris Driver Training Co-ordinator The Nissan Patrol 4WD Club provides free driver training to its members, which is included in your membership fee.