November 2020 Official Newsletter of the Victorian Four Wheel Drive Club Inc Photo provided by Registration No M Griffiths A0002184F NOTICE BOARD Enter via front or back entrance VFWDC General Meeting Venue The club meets on the first WEDNESDAY of each month at 8:00pm. With the following exceptions; No meeting in January. November meeting is held at a selected location. November’s General Meeting will be held ONLINE on Wednesday 11th November, 2020 at 8.00 pm. Log in via the app Zoom or dial in using your phone. Please check your emails for further information to log into the meeting. Special Guest Speaker this month Tim Chivers from REDARC Electronics - Australian-made automotive electronics, accessories and equipment Club Room Blue and Gold Room Club Noble 46-56 Moodemere Street Noble Park Aberfeldy Track In association with Westland Gippsland Relic, Mining and Heritage Protection Inc , the club maintains a section of the Aberfeldy Track with working bees throughout the year. View the club calendar for the next upcoming working bee. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 2020-2021 President Sally Higgs [email protected] Vice President Callum Brown [email protected] Secretary TBA [email protected] Treasurer Ly Ho [email protected] General Committee Trip Coordinator Des Whall [email protected] Magazine Editor Mary Griffiths [email protected] Association Delegate David Bruinsma [email protected] General Committee Callum Brown Jeff Griffiths Support Positions to Committee Web Manager Ben Whitworth [email protected] Training officer Phillip Griffith Training officer Ashley Martin Merchandise Des Whall [email protected] Catering Ann Crockett Club Details Registered Name Victorian Four Wheel Drive Club Registration No A002184F Correspondence PO Box 778 Dandenong VIC 3174 Email [email protected] Website www.vfwdc.com The Victorian Four Wheel Drive Club is an affiliated club of Four Wheel Drive Victoria - www.fwdvictoria.org.au PRESIDENT’S REPORT Hi Everyone It is amazing at how quick each month passes even though we are limited in our movement. October saw Tristan and I saying farewell to our Land Rover Discovery 2A as we finally made the decision to sell it. We bought our Discovery 3 this time last year and now it is almost fully ready for adventures, we figured it was time to part with our old girl. I was actually quite sad as I watched her drive off down the street from our place for the last time. All the memories of the amazing trips we did in her came flooding back. It made me reflect on the opportunities we have had to explore this amazing country in our vehicles seeing sights, experienc- ing things that many others don’t get to experience and getting a pile of stories to tell around the fire and the dinner table at home. The vehicle is our tool to achieve this but it is the people that really makes the trips special. We have a great club with a range of members in it that all contribute to the fabric of our experiences and memories. Things are definitely easing with the COVID-19 restrictions so we will be looking closely on how soon we can restart club trips and events. Because while it has been nice catching up on Zoom each month nothing beats face to face. Our annual membership renewal season is now over, if you have not yet renewed please do so as soon as possible as we will be updating access to all our platforms and mailing lists to current financial memberships only. I would hate for you to miss out on all the great things we have going on. Also please contact one of the committee if you are having some financial challenges with paying your membership this year and we will have a chat on what we are able to do. Access to Facebook, trips platform and mailing lists will be updated at the end of November. I am excited to announce that we have managed to secure a couple of great speakers for our November and December meetings. For November we are going to be hearing from Tim at Redarc, and he will be chatting to us all about battery management systems that are manufactured right here in Australia. December will see Steve from Hema Maps talking to us about new Hema products that have just been released. These will be done via Zoom so if you want to get onto it and don’t know how then please let Ben or myself know and we will help you out. I am really looking forward to these presentations. Take care everyone and will see you all soon out on the tracks! Sally CLUB MERCHANDISE Spring has sprung! T-Shirts, Vests, Light jackets—plenty of stock available. Order now ready for your next trip. PRICES Club SS Polo Shirt $30.00 Club Wide-Brim Hat $5.00 Club SS Shirt 40th Anniversary $10.00 Club Sandwich Peak Hat $5.00 Club Polar Fleece Jacket (Full Zip) $30.00 Club Woollen Pom Pom Beanie $20.00 Club Fleece Hoodie $30.00 Club Cable Knit Scarf $20.00 Club SS Reversible Vest—double embroidery $50.00 Club Neoprene Stubby Holder 10.00 Club Drivers Jacket $60.00 Club Coth Badges 120mm $8.00 Club Trekka Jacket $85.00 VFWDC Windscreen Sticker Sml $6.00 Club Bucket Hat $5.00 VFWDC Windscreen Sticker Lge $8.00 We encourage all members to purchase a Club Polo shirt. Email your order to [email protected]. Please ensure you advise size required. CLUB CALENDAR AT A GLANCE November 30th – 3rd Nov Fri-Tues Melbourne Cup Weekend CANCELLED CANCELLED Dartmouth Dam 30th – 3rd Nov Fri-Tues Melbourne Cup Weekend CANCELLED CANCELLED Beachport SA * 11th Nov Wed General Meeting — Online Via Zoom Special Guest Speaker or Phone Tim Chivers from 8.00pm REDARC Electronics 13th—15th Fri—Sun Night Drive—Howqua Track Des Whall 0412 170 139 16th Mon Committee Meeting 19th—22nd Thurs-Sun Mt Wellington (long weekend Des Whall Trip to be Licola / Dargo Area confirmed December 2nd Wed General Meeting Via Zoom or Phone 8.00pm 5th-16th Sat-Wed Davies Plains Des Whall 0412 170 139 January 2021 7th Wed No General Meeting 18th Mon Committee Meeting 23rd—26th Australia Day Weekend Des Whall 0412 170 139 Nunniong Plains February 12th—14th Fri-Sun Mitchell and Avon Rivers Des Whall 0412 170 139 Something goofy happened to someone on a trip? Nominate them for the next “Good on ya” trophy! Send a quick summary to [email protected] IMPORTANT General Meeting Wednesday 11th November, 2020 held ONLINE at 8.00pm Special Guest Speaker Tim Chivers REDARC Electronics Australian-made automotive electronics, accessories and equipment. Log in via the app Zoom or dial in using your phone. Please check your emails for further information to log into the meeting. TRADING POST Members can advertise any four wheel drive or camping related items they wish to sell or buy. Just email the Editor, [email protected], with the following: 1. Description of the item 2. Price 3. Contact details 4. Photos (highly recommended) WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SELL? MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 7th October 2020 Online Virtual Meeting via Zoom Meeting Opened 20.05 Hours Treasurer's Report—September 2020 Attendees: As per report published in magazine Sally & Tristan, Ben & Megan, Bayani, Ly Ho, September 2020 Stuart & Maree, Joe Spicuzza, Stephen Pitcher, Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report Michael Hosseini, Caroline Jones, Andrew Hooper Accepted by Joe Seconded by Stephen Apologies Membership renewals 35 Brett Buchanan, David and Caroline Bruinsma, New members 0 Ian & Audrey Rhodes, Shane Bullmore and Jenni Grant, Callum Brown Association Delegate News/Updates Minutes from previous month No news or communications Minutes from previous general meeting COVID-19 August 2020 Current status Minutes were read by members. Stage 4 Lockdown until 26/10 Roadmap to Matters arising from those minutes easing restrictions will be delivered on No matters arising from previous minutes Sunday Acceptance of Minutes Trips Accepted by Ben Whitworth Seconded by Ly Ho 4WD Platform 4WDTRIP – 28 registered Correspondence Have emailed Kelvin about Sally’s Trip not Incoming correspondence September: published after authorizing – no response Jackaroo Club magazine No club trips run last month due to COVID- 19 restrictions Email from Geoff Peck from Austravelsafetynet – HF Radio Communica- tions Network who has mailed pamphlets Upcoming trips: but haven’t arrived, still at Post Office Date TBC The Great Escape – Trip leader Email from Rudi acknowledging cancellation Stuart – 6 vehicles/Trip full with 3 on of maintenance trip scheduled 17-18/10 waiting list Track Watch delivery Oct 30 – Nov 3 Melbourne Cup Weekend – Beachport – Trip leader Sally Potential new member email – Michael Carr 1 participant known of at moment, trip not published Outgoing correspondence September: Oct 30 – Nov 3 Melbourne Cup Weekend – Des sent out trip cancellation emails and Dartmouth Dam – Trip leader Jeff trip update spreadsheet 9 vehicles / trip full Nov 13-15 - Howqua Track night drive – Trip leader Des - 7 vehicles/1 spot left Dec 5-16 - Davies Plains – Trip leader - 2 vehicles Jan 22-26 Australia Day Weekend - Ulupna Beach on the Murray – Trip leader David - 3 vehicles Feb 13-14 – Avon River – Trip leader Des – 8 vehicles going General Business Merchandise stock has been collected from Club Noble Michael asked whether trips were published in magazine as he is having difficulties with his email Meeting closed 20:24 Hours Next meeting 11/11/2020 TREASURER’S REPORT DESTINATION Howqua Track Night Drive LEADER/CONTACT NO. NAME: Des Whall MOBILE: 0412 170 139 DATE Friday November 13 to Sunday November 15, 2020 MEETING PLACE / TIME 5.00—5.30 pm GRADE WET: Medium / Hard DRY: Medium TRIP ACTIVITY DETAILS Plans are to meet up Friday night at McDonalds Lilydale at 5.00—5.30 departure.