january 2015 tlccv magazine
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Registered by Australia Post PublicationNo. PP339119/00013 $5.00
Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc. A0005442cToyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc. A0005442c
Overland CruiseringOverland Cruisering
SPECIAL SUMMER EDITION
www.tlccv.com.au
< Mystical Haunted Stream
January 2015
< GreatAustralianBight &Nullarbor Plain
Inside
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB OF AUSTRALIA(VICTORIA) INC. A0005442CABN87301244383
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5
General Meetings: 7:30pm onthe 3rd Tuesday of each month at Mulgrave Country ClubWellington Road (corner JellsRoad), Wheelers HillMelways Ref 80 H1
Geelong Meetings: 7.30pm the1st Tuesday of each month &2nd Tuesday each November atthe Supper Room, GeelongWest Town Hall, 153 PakingtonSt. 3218. (Mel. 451 J2)
ENQUIRIES: Membership & General to:The SecretaryToyota Land Cruiser ClubPO Box 363, HAWTHORN 3122
Website:http:www.tlccv.com.au
MEMBERSHIP DETAILSJoining Fee: $280.00Membership: $145.00
REINSTATEMENT OF PASTMEMBERSIf a member rejoins the Clubwithin 5 years, a joining fee isnot applicable.If a member rejoins the Clubafter 5 years, they are requiredto pay the joining fee and under-take the Club’s DriverAwareness course.
RECOGNISED CLUB RADIOCHANNEL: 15 UHF
YARCK PROPERTYOur property is a registeredLand for Wildlife property and no inference is drawn in thepublication that the sign or registration has any other meaning.
Life Members: Graeme Wilson,John Whitney (Dec), Don Honey,Bill Dower, Alan Winch, BarrieMcCarthy, Harold Ross, SandraTanner, Brian Stewart, CharlesNorman, Ashley (Dec) & JudithWilliams, John Turbill, GarryCooper, Jan Chivers & KenHildebrand Honorary Members: Ross McClure,Clive Blakely, Reece DeJong Club Auditor: Chris Rumble
Main photo by Brian Tanner‘Otways Trip’
The opinions expressed in the articlesappearing in this magazine are notnecessarily those of the Editor or theToyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia(Victoria) Inc. The Editor reserves theright to delete where necessary anysection of any article, which has beensent for publication in the magazine.Acceptance of advertisements does not necessarily imply endorsement ofproducts or associated companies orindividuals by the Toyota Land CruiserClub of Australia (Victoria) Inc.
Club Information 1
Committee 2014-2015 2
President’s Report 3
Yarck Bushfire Plan 3
Over the Next Hill 5
News from Toyota 11
Calendar/Coming Events 13
December Christmas Meeting 14
Great Australian Bight Trip Pt 2. 17
Trading Post 25
Mystical Haunted Stream Trip 27
Driver Training 8-9 Nov. 2014 29
Driver Training 29-30 Nov. 2014 30
News from ARB 31
The ‘Bush Hut’ Project 33
Registered by Australia Post PublicationNo. PP339119/00013 $5.00
Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc. A0005442cToyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (Victoria) Inc. A0005442c
Overland CruiseringOverland Cruisering
SPECIAL SUMMER EDITION
www.tlccv.com.au
< Mystical Haunted Stream
January 2015
< GreatAustralianBight &Nullarbor Plain
Inside
T
V O L U M E 4 3 N o . 6C O N T E N T S
Overland Cruisering 1
Bilbunya Sand Dune
2 Overland Cruisering
MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTIONSAll articles, trip reports and other contributions are welcome for inclusion inthe magazine. They must be in thehands of the Editor by the first of themonth.Please send them to:The Editor, Overland Cruisering, PO Box 1778, Geelong 3220
or email: [email protected]
Members’ name and membership number must accompany all articlesand/or contributions.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES• Please submit articles as Worddocuments with no formatting.(No fancy formats as it will only have to beremoved in preparing for publication).In particular DO NOT embed pictures inyour documents• Images (photos) should besupplied as seperate JPEG files.The higher resolution the better. As a guideimages should be of 300 pixel per inch withimage files around 1-5MB fine.• If you have multiple images, please burn toa 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 theauthor if a self-addressed envelope isprovided.
TRADING POST• Note: if selling a vehicle in the TradingPost it is a Motor Car Trader Regulation(1988-22(4) legal requirement that a cashprice, registration number or engine numberare supplied.
ADVERTISING A TRIP• Note: All trips must be approved by theTrip Convenor before they can be gazettedin Overland Cruisering.
All contributions MUST BE received bythe 1st of the month.
ADVERTISERSPlease support those companies that adver-tise in our magazine. Let them know yousaw their advert in Overland Cruisering.
PresidentIan Ross
Vice President Adriano Denni [email protected]
SecretarySandra Tanner [email protected]
Assistant Secretary Ian wells
TreasurerAlan McMeekin
Assistant Treasurer Steve de Mamiel
CommitteeRussell Edwards [email protected]
CommitteeAdam Takacs [email protected]
Magazine EditorSandra Tanner:
AdvertisingSandra Tanner
Activities CoordinatorIan Ross
Driver TrainingJohn MIlls: [email protected]* Driver Training Course bookings* Awareness Course certificates
Yarck Management Brian Stewart [email protected]
Magazine DistributionRussell & Lesley Edwards
Trip ConvenorTony Middleditch
* Register a Member’s trip* Assistance in trip preparation
TechnicalBrett Dyson
• Club training courses co-ordinator
Special [email protected]
• Shows & special event co-ordinator
Membership Barbara Bryant [email protected]* Membership renewals, name badges,contact detail changes
LibrarianWendy Wilson [email protected]* Borrow DVDs & books* Contributions to the Library
FWDV DelegateTony Bryant
Webmaster
[email protected] Miles
Excursion Visits CoordinatorRussell Edwards
Marketing/Public Relations CoordinatorBrian Tanner
Emergency Response CoordinatorBruce Fullard
Raffles & SupperGabi & Grace Azzam Karen Wade
Club ShopGraham Cahill [email protected]
Sergeant-At-ArmsRussell Edwards [email protected]
Social CoordinatorHelen & Rebecca [email protected]* Book for participation in social events
Visitor GreetersCarol & Greg Edmunds
GEELONG BRANCHPresidentMatt McPhee [email protected]
Vice PresidentMatt Lilley
SecretaryJennie Harvie
SocialJudith Williams
2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5C O M M I T T E E
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.
4 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 3
P R E S I D E N T ’ S R E P O R TU P D AT E
Normally there is no magazine in January,however this year we have decided to pro-duce an electronic magazine only for thismonth. The normal monthly magazines forthe months of February to December eachyear will continue as normal.Recently the electronic on line version ofthe club survey was rolled out to the mem-bers. This will be followed up in a printedformat for members that do not haveaccess to the electronic version.Obviously what we are achieving to do isto get as much feedback as possible fromthe membership. Please make sure thatyou take a few moments to provide theclub with some valuable feedback.At this time of year many of our membershave been away on some wonderful trips.If you have been away perhaps you shouldconsider doing a Show and Tell for the clubas well as submitting a trip report for themagazine.
Over New Year I took a few days to go upto Yarck. A small group of us were thereenjoying the peace and quiet. As it workedout the 2nd of January was a Total FireBan day for the region. Per the club ruleswe vacated the property in the morningbefore the heat of the day set in. The CFAapp was providing valuable information onany fire activity in and around the area. Asusual a refresher of where the fire-fightingequipment was located was done. Yarckthough in general is looking really great,thanks to the huge amount of work con-ducted by the Management Committeeand the working bees. Whilst up there wesaw two koalas, a wallaby and an echidna.Just a further reminder again to everybodyto make sure that you have read the firesafety plan and obtained details of the fire-fighting equipment, and more importantlynote that no fires are allowed in the openat Yarck.
Another reminder that Cruiserkhana regis-tration forms are out so make sure youcompete if you can. If you are not compet-ing you can still participate by volunteeringfor a role. Make sure that you put up yourhand as this activity provides plenty ofpublicity for the club.That is all I have for now, so I look forwardto seeing you if you get to the meeting thismonth, and if not I hope to see you at onesoon. Take care out there in the heat!Ian Ross (1409)PRESIDENT
B U S H F I R E P L A NYA R C K
The Toyota Land Cruiser Club does notrecommend a “Stay and Defend” plan.Infrastructure on the property can bereplaced.FIRE DANGER PERIOD[November – May]It is members’ responsibility to listen toradio news reports each evening duringthe Fire Danger Period for advice on thepossibility of fires. Also be up to date withany declaration of Total Fire Ban Days.Yarck is in the NORTH CENTRAL FIREBAN DISTRICT - 149 Rennies Lane,GOBURIt is recommended that members leavethe property the day before a declaredTotal Fire Ban day or very early in themorning of a Total Fire Ban dayMembers should not go to the propertyduring any Total Fire Ban day.
EVACUATIONThose present will select one person fromtheir number to take charge,The issue of evacuation during an emer-gency must be addressed early in theplanning.Evacuation can be extremely dangerous
unless it takes place well in advance ofthe fire hazard entering the general areaof the camp. Roads may be blocked withfallen timber and visibility reduced by thicksmoke.Increased pressures on emergency serv-ices may make it difficult for them to ren-der assistance.Evacuation should only be done via themain access track to Rennies Lane andthe Gobur –Yarck Road.
REFUGEThere are NO bushfire proof shelters onthe property.If a fire incident occurs and members can-not leave the property, then the Hut couldpossibly be used as a “safer place” to pro-vide protection from radiant heat. It shouldbe made as fire safe as is practical.Wet towels to be placed under doors toprevent embers entering.There is running water inside; there areknapsacks and fire extinguishers.Other equipment to have on hand shouldinclude.A battery operated am/fm radio and P2 fil-ter masks.UHF radios left on – mobile phones –torches – first aid kits – drinking fluids.Clothing - it is advisable to have longtrousers, long sleeved shirt and sturdyfootwear. Gloves and hat are also useful.The wearing of shorts, dresses, thongs orany synthetic fabrics is totally unsuitable.Be prepared for smoke and embers thatmay enter the building. After the fire fronthas passed check outside and extinguishany burning embers or fires around thehut.All vehicles should be parked on bareground, facing towards the exit with alldoors and windows closed and keys inthe ignition. DO NOT BLOCK OFF ANYACCESS TRACKS.Alarm, A distinctive alarm signal shouldbe used, a simple manual device such asthe triangle hanging in the tree outsidethe hut or the electronic device near theradios in the hut.Panic. This is something that can well bedone without. Anyone showing signs ofpanic should be kept under some form of
supervision, and provided with reassur-ance and prevented from doing anythingrash.
COMMUNICATION and CONTACTS• Phone: 1800 240 667 for Bushfireinformation.• 000 only to report a fire.• Alexandra Fire StationPhone 0357721855• Yarck Fire Captain Phone 0357734334.Mobile: 0439 656 913.• ABC radio AM band 774• Local Radio Station (Alexandra) UGFM106.9 (an official emergency broadcaster)• GPS coordinates (six figure grid) of theHilton.• Websites www.abc.net.au\emergency
www.cfa.vic.gov.au
A Bushfire Survival Kit is located on thenotice board behind the hut door.It is available for members to read andreturn it.
Overland Cruisering 5
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 [email protected]. All applications and pay-ments for Temporary Membership MUST be received by the Membership Officer NO LATER than 14 days prior to the trip.Facebook: Any trips advertised on Facebook that have not been approved by the Trip Convenor will not be recognised as an official Club trip and therefore not be covered by the Club insurance.Seasonal Road Closures: Contact Parks Victoria on http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/fire,-flood-and-other-closures/seasonal-road-closures2
JANUARYDate:Meeting Place:Time:Limit:Standard:Fuel:Radio:Equipment:
Overnight:Details:
Trip Leaders:
TANTALISING TINGARINGY - (Australia Day weekend)Saturday 24th - Monday 26th January, 2015Orbost Caravan ParkSaturday 8:30am8 vehiclesMedium to hard - depending on weather conditionsFull tank from OrbostUHF (initially channel 15)Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.Orbost Caravan Park on first night - bush camping on Saturday & Sunday night.Head north from Orbost to Mt Tingaringy, driving to the summit on the NSW border. Take in the views as we head down to McKillops Bridge via the Laurie Track. On Monday we will visit the Little River Gorge before heading home. No trailers, no dogs, no cats, no firearms permitted on this trip.Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
FEBRUARY MIRIMBAR MAGIC - 4WD, MTB & OziExplorer all in oneDate: Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th February, 2015Meeting Place: Mirimbah (30km east of Mansfield)Time: Saturday 9:00amLimit: 8 vehiclesStandard: Easy to mediumFuel: Full tank from MansfieldRadio: UHF (initially channel 15)Equipment: Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre
inflation, genuine off road tyres. Room to carry your MTB if riding. Plus bring your laptop or android tablet if youwant to play around with OziExplorer.
Overnight: Bush camping on Saturday night.Details: Come & enjoy a weekend with some great 4WDing & some MTBing for those fit members. We will be base camping
at Mirimbah (at the base of Mt Buller). Some of you may wish to sit around the campfire & listen to Laurie talk about the famous mapping software “OziExplorer.” We will be hitting the 4WD tracks as well, taking in the greatclimb up to Mt Stirling after visiting Howqua Gap hut plus some others. Heidi will also be heading off on her MTB toexplore the amazing MTB trails around Mt Buller. On Sunday we will 4WD to Lake William Hovell & return viaPineapple Flat. No dogs, no cats, no firearms. Trailers are welcome at our base camp at Mirimbah.
Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
FEBRUARY MT SUNDAY - AGAIN!Date: Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th February, 2015Meeting Place: Licola areaTime: 9:00amLimit: 6 vehiclesStandard: Difficult to very difficultFuel: Full tanks ex MansfieldRadio: 15 UHFEquipment: Raised suspension, winch, good quality 33+ inch off road tyres, front & rear diff locks required. Full recovery
equipment, compressor & tyre gauge, camping equipment, water & supplies. No trailers, pets or firearms.Overnight: Bush camping with no facilities.
C O M I N G T R I P SC A L E N D A R
INFORMATION FOR TRIPLEADERS• Trip leaders please note thatunder the Constitution, membersmay not take part in any clubactivities involving four-wheeldriving unless they have com-pleted the Driver Awareness
Course (Theory & Practical) andhave filled in an Indemnity Form.• The Club Insurance Policystates that only Club Trips thatare gazetted in the ClubMagazine and the Club websiteare covered by the Club PublicLiability Policy.
• All Club Trips gazetted in theClub Magazine must include atelephone number (or mobile)and/or an email address for thepurpose of booking on a trip.• Members please note that tele-phone calls should not be madelater than 8:30 pm.
Club trips are for club membersonly. Non members are not afforded insurance coverage bythe club and may jeopardise ourcoverage. If you have anyqueries they may be raised withour Trip Coordinator, Tony Middleditch.
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB OF VICTORIA
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUBTOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB
20152015CruiserKhanaCruiserKhana
20-22nd March 2015www.cruiserkhana.com.au
CruiserKhana is a skills based 4x4 event suitable for four-wheel drivers of all standards. No vehicle modificationsare necessary to be successful.
Full vehicle specification details are found on the website, butbasically are as required by the Cross Country DriversAssociation. Highly modified 4x4s are not permitted.
Applications are now invited for drivers in Standard andTouring Classes. Note each vehicle requires a driver andnavigator.
Major prizes - More than $10,000 worth of prizes will bedistributed across all categories, including individual and teamawards.
4x4 Club Teams ChallengeFour wheel drive clubs are invited to field a team(s) to competefor the CruiserKhana Perpetual Trophy. Teams consist of threevehicles from the same club.
Entry FeesWeekend (Includes camping and Saturday night 3-course dinner.)• Competitors: $115• Navigators $45• Non competitors $40* Children under 12 $30
Day visitor $10
• Hot and cold food and drinks available all weekend• Event held at Club property at Yarck ( 2 hrs north of Melb.)Enquiries:• Email - [email protected]• Phone - Neil on 0419 520 810
Entries close 14th February, 2015
PLUS
2 days of exciting 4x4 all terrain, all fun, family four wheel drive skill competitions
4x4 TEAM CHALLENGE
2 days of exciting 4x4 all terrain, all fun, family four wheel drive skill competitions
4x4 TEAM CHALLENGE
Major sponsors
Early Bird Special - Save 10% for entriesreceived before 31st December 2014
2
HELPERS STILL WANTED
Details:
Trip Leader:
Take an extended weekend break to explore the more challenging & scenic tracks in the High Country. Mt Sunday, Barkly River Jeep Tk, the Macalister & Caledonia rivers & other areas are on the itinerary. Finishing around Licola. Track & weather conditions will determine final route.Adam Takacs. Email: [email protected].
FEBRUARY SWIFTS CREEK EXPLORERDate: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd February, 2015Meeting Place: Swifts Creek Caravan ParkTime: Saturday 8:30amLimit: 8 vehiclesStandard: Medium to hard - depending on weather conditions Fuel: Full tank from BruthenRadio: UHF (initially channel 15)Equipment: Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre
inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.Overnight: Swifts Creek Caravan Park - fees apply.Details: Explore the exciting 4WD tracks around Swifts Creek including the famous TVGC track. No dogs, no cats, no
firearms permitted on this trip. Trailers are most welcome at our base camp at Swifts Creek Caravan Park.Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
MARCHDate:Meeting Place:Time:Limit:Standard:Fuel:Radio:Equipment:
Overnight:Details:
Trip Leaders:
MacFARLANE FLAT ADVENTURE - (Labour Day weekend)Saturday 7th - Monday 9th March, 2015Bruthen Caravan ParkSaturday 8:30am8 vehiclesMedium to hard - depending on weather conditionsFull tank from OrbostUHF (initially channel 15)Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.Caravan Park on Friday night (fees apply). Saturday & Sunday night bush camping.From Bruthen, we will head up to the NSW border & 4WD across the Ingeegoodbee Track & MacFarlanes Flat. After camping overnight on MacFarlanes Flat, we will 4WD to The Playgrounds at the base of Mt Cobberas No. 1. A short walk to the summit of Mt Cobberas No. 1 is possible. Overnight camping is possible at Native Dog Flat or Native Cat Flat. Monday will take us down through Hells Gate, exiting out of the 4WD tracks at Swifts Creek. No trailers, no dogs, no cats, no firearms permitted on this trip.Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
MARCH MT COBBLERDate: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd March, 2015Meeting Place: Mansfield BP Service Station, Mt Buller Road, MansfieldTime: 9:00amLimit: 6 vehicles - 2 places reserved for new members.Standard: MediumFuel: Full tank ex Mansfield.Radio: 15 UHFEquipment: Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & rear, shovel, air compressor for tyre
inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread, including spare tyre, camping equipment, water & supplies.No trailers, dogs, cats or firearms. Bring along a bag of firewood.
Overnight: Bush camping on Saturday night. Pit toilet available.Details: Take in the superb views from Mt. No. 3, descend down Westons track to the King River, visit Pineapple Flat, King
Hut & Lake Cobbler. View Dandongadale Falls, Victoria’s highest single drop falls.After a night bush camping we will check out the views from the razorback, then continue on to cross the King Riveron our way to Lake William Hovell for lunch, with one little surprise after lunch,it will be time to air up & head homevia Tolmie & Mansfield.
Trip Leader: Brad Riddington: Email: [email protected]
APRIL Vic / SA BORDER TRACK - Easter weekendDate: Friday 3rd - Monday 6th April, 2015Meeting Place: Lake HindmarshTime: Friday 8:30amLimit: 8 vehiclesStandard: Medium - depending on weather conditionsFuel: 145Lt capacity - full tank from Horsham - refueling at Pinnaroo if required.Radio: UHF (initially channel 15)
C A L E N D A R
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Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................
Availability leading up to CK – Please circle Y/N I am available Jan 2015 maintenance w/e for CK Y/N I am available Feb 2015 maintenance w/e for CK Y/N I am available for w/end prior CK for setup at Yarck
Y/N I am available week before CK to assist At Yarck / Around Melbourne (please indicate)
Y/N
Please circle Y/N CruiserKhana Weekend – 20-22 March 2015
I am available daytime Friday for last minute set-up, collection of hire equipment
Y/N I am available Friday evening to assist with vehicle measurement/camping/night event
Y/N
I am available Saturday am Y/N I am available Saturday pm Y/N I am available Saturday evening Y/N I am available Sunday am Y/N I am available Sunday pm for presentations Y/N I am available Sunday pm to assist with cleanup Y/N I am available Monday to assist with return of hire equipment
Y/N I would be interested in attending debrief weekend to be held either April/May. Mix of social and useful work
Y/N
Names of Marshals: ..................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................Total No. of Marshals ...............................
@ $10 per head (cost of Saturday night meal - no charge for camping) $....................
No of spectators (in your vehicle)........... Cost of camping & meal @$40 per head $....................
Child under 12 @$15 per head (Under 5 free) $....................
Total Cost $....................
PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR CRUISERKHANA
Cash/Cheque payable to TOYOTA LAND CRUISER CLUB OF VICTORIA/Visa/M’card ONLY FOR AMOUNTS OF $100+
Card number: ............../................/................/...................... Expiry date: ......./............. CCV: ...............
Card in name of: ................................................................. Signature: .........................................................
VEHICLE/CAMPING INFORMATION FOR CRUISERKHANA
Vehicle type: ..................................................................... Vehicle Registration:...........................................
Camping requirements: Caravan/Camper trailer/Tent /Swag /No camping requirements (Please circle)
Tent/Camper/Caravan Size: ...............................................................................
Day of arrival: Friday evening / Saturday morning 7.30am / I am not able to arrive until later –
Please designate time so we can allocate an appropriate role ................................. (It is expected marshals will arrive no later than 12 noon Saturday, preferably earlier.)
Any further questions please email: [email protected]
CRUISERKHANA 2015 – 20-22 MARCH 2015
MARSHAL/VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
8 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 9
(Vic/SA Border Track - Easter weekend - continued)Equipment: Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre
inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.Overnight: Thurs. - Lake Hindmarsh CP (fees apply). Bush camping Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights.Details: Travel through the sandy Wyperfeld National Park via Lake Albacutya, circling the Big Desert via Ross Springs. We
will then travel through the ‘Disputed Country’ before crossing into SA & heading down the Vic/SA Border Track. Wewill experience the border sand dunes & some interesting bog holes, before finishing in Nhill. No trailers, no dogs,no cats, no firearms permitted on this trip.
Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
MAYDate:Meetng Place:Time:Limit:Standard:Fuel:Radio:Equipment:
Overnight:Details:
Trip Leader:
SIMPSON DESERT - EAST WEST CROSSINGSunday 10th May to Thursday 21st MayBroken Hill8.00 am6 vehicles - no trailers or petsMediumSufficient for 850km sand drivingUHFGenuine all terrain tyres with minimum 50% tread, 2nd spare (Casing acceptable if you have the equipment and experience to fit to a rim)Compressor and tyre pressure gaugeFull recovery equipment including snatch strap, shackles and shovelFood and water supplies for a minimum 7 daysPredominantly bush camping with no facilitiesWe will be crossing the Simpson Desert east to west, which is slighty more difficult than the more traditional west east route and for the most part will be sticking to the less used WAA line. The final route will depend on weather and track conditions. In addition to the actual crossing the itinerary will include the Dig Tree and other Bourke & Wills historic markers, Cullyamurra Waterhole, Innamincka, Coongie Lakes, Birdsville, Dalhousie Springs and various historical and geographic points of interest along the Oodnadatta Track.Desert Parks Pass required and compliance sand flag.Harry King: Mob: Email: [email protected]
JUNE SANDY WYPERFELD TRAILER TRIP - (Queens Birthday weekend)Date: Friday 6th - Monday 8th June, 2015Meeting Place: Lake HindmarshTime: Saturday 8:30amLimit: 6 vehiclesStandard: Medium - depending on weather conditionsFuel: 145Lt capacity - full tank from Horsham/RainbowRadio: UHF (initially channel 15)Equipment: Basic recovery gear including snatch strap, closed recovery points on front & back, shovel, air compressor for tyre
inflation, genuine off road tyres with at least 50% tread including spare tyre.Overnight: Friday - Lake Hindmarsh CP (fees apply) - bush camping Saturday & Sunday nights.Details: Travel through the sandy Wyperfeld National Park via Lake Albacutya. No dogs, no cats, no firearms permitted on
this trip. Trailers welcome on this trip.Trip Leaders: Laurie & Heidi Miles: Email: [email protected]
JUNEDate:Meeting Place:Time:Limit:Standard:Fuel:Radio:Equipment:
Details:
Trip Leader:
LOCK YOUR HUBS SIMPSON DESERTSaturday 27th June - Friday 10th July 2015Renmark, South Australia8am GMT+9.306 vehiclesMediumMinimum of 850km range 4WDing. 200L petrol; 150L diesel.Fixed UHF with handheld UHF recommendedGenuine all/mud terrain tyres with minimum 50% tread with 2nd spare tyre, closed recovery points front and rear, full recovery equipment. Food water supplies for a minimum of 7 days, compressor & tyre gauge, shovel. Overnight: Predominately bush camping with no facilitiesJoin us as we explore the Oodnadatta Track, the Simpson Desert & surrounding areas, finishing in Broken Hill. The itinerary will include Dalhousie Springs, Simpson Desert, Birdsville, Dig Tree &Camerons Corner. Track conditions may determine the final route.Simon Mustey & Sherry Salvesen: Email: [email protected]
C A L E N D A R
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Toyota has added an edgy new style tothe ruggedness of Australia's best-sell-ing four-wheel-drive with the additionof a special-edition model dubbedHiLux Black.The name says it all: HiLux Black isdecked out with a range of exterior andinterior treatments that are presentedin black to enhance its toughness andappeal.New for this version of the "unbreak-able" HiLux is the combination ofbrooding black side steps, sports barand leather-accented interior trimincluding the six-way adjustable power-operated driver's seat.Even the newly designed 17-inch alloywheels are painted black behind theirbrightly machined six-spoke facades.Prominent new front and rear bumpers,never previously offered in Australia,give the HiLux Black a lower, moreplanted stance - a powerful look accen-tuated by black extensions below thefog light surrounds.Maintaining the model's moody themeis a large black lower front grille thatfeatures a stylish red stripe along thebottom edge. LED daylight runninglamps are specified for the first time ona HiLux in Australia.Enthusiasts will appreciate the involve-ment of Toyota's global partner TRD forcosmetic enhancements with itsfamiliar logo appearing on the wheelcaps and the front bumper extension.With fewer than 1,000 being produced,the HiLux Black is based on the SR54x4 Double Cab pickup and attracts themaximum five-star safety rating.
According to Toyota Australia executivedirector sales and marketing TonyCramb, "People buy HiLux as a toughworkhorse, a family vehicle or as amixture of both, which means they areattracted by its renowned ruggednessand also its car-like comfort," he said."HiLux Black delivers the best of bothworlds. Its aggressive black featuresbuild on the unbreakable image ofHiLux while exuding a premium appear-ance because black is always in style." The special-edition model is poweredexclusively by Toyota's torquey 3.0-litrefour-cylinder turbo-diesel engine,mated to either a five-speed manual orautomatic transmission.The extensive feature list includes areversing camera and a satellite navi-gation* system with SUNA_ LiveTraffic# updates - all viewed on the 6.1-inch display audio screen.
Special-edition badges located dis-creetly on the front and rear bumpersfurther distinguish the HiLux Black.The colour choice is black and white -literally, as Toyota has chosen EclipseBlack and Glacier White as the onlyexterior paint options for the special-edition model.HiLux Black is priced from $53,240+ forthe manual version in white. Theoptional black paint is $550 extra.Automatic transmission is $2,750.
I PN E W S F R O M T O Y O TA
IN THE BLACK
Toyota Australia has expanded its top-selling HiLux range with a new variantspecifically developed for the mining sectorand for small to medium-size businessessuch as plumbers, electricians and buildingindustry contractors.The latest HiLux 4x4 SR Double Cabprovides customers with a more flexibleand more affordable workhorse suited totheir needs, combining the cab-chassisbody style for the first time in this gradewith a turbo-diesel engine and automatictransmission.Toyota in Japan developed the vehiclespecifically for Australia following feedbackfrom the local company about customerdemand for this specification.The cab-chassis body style is particularlysuited for industries needing customisedfit-outs that typically include storagelockers and toolboxes, the ability to carryadditional spare tyres and water or fueltanks, right through to full mine specifica-tion.The latest HiLux package retains theDouble-Cab's ability to transport fivepeople while meeting the growing driverpreference for the five-speed self-shifter incombination with the powerful and efficient3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.Lifting the number of HiLux variants to 23in Australia, the new SR Double Cabscores highly on business checklists with
its renowned 4x4 ability, rugged construc-tion, comfort and convenience features,and five-star safety credentials.Recommended retail price is from $43,740- a saving of $1,500 compared with theidentically equipped pick-up version.Toyota Australia executive director salesand marketing Tony Cramb said thedevelopment of the new HiLux variantdemonstrated the importance of Australiaand its customers to the global company."This new 4x4 HiLux package has beenuniquely developed to meet the demandsof workers in the harsh and remoteconditions experienced in Australia'smining and exploration industries," MrCramb said."Equally, those attributes make it a rugged,dependable and affordable choice forbusinesses and individuals around thecountry, many of whom spend largeamounts equipping their HiLux as a work-horse," he said."Our dealers are targeting an overallincrease in volume as a direct result of thenew variant, ensuring HiLux will continueits extensive record of sales leadership."HiLux has been Australia's best-sellingfour-wheel-drive vehicle since 2005 andnumber one in commercial-vehicle salessince 1998. Overall HiLux sales havetopped 820,000 since the first modelarrived in 1971.
Safety features in the new variant includesix airbags, stability and traction control,brake assist and electronic brakeforcedistribution.The common-rail turbo-diesel withelectronic direct injection and a variable-vane turbocharger is the most popularengine choice in the HiLux range.Mated to the auto gearbox, it developspeak torque of 360Nm from just 1400rpmall the way to 3200rpm. Maximum power is126kW at 3600rpm. It uses just 8.7 litres ofdiesel fuel to travel 100km.Standard convenience features in HiLuxSR Double Cab include 6.1-inch displayscreens with Bluetooth connectivity, andsteering-wheel controls for operating theaudio, multi-information display (MID), tele-phone and voice recognition.The MID shows current and average fueleconomy, average vehicle speed, cruisingrange, outside temperature, a compassand the time.The debut of the new variant coincides withthe release of three new exterior huesacross the HiLux range - Graphite, SilverSky and Eclipse Black. There are five othercolours available.Every new HiLux is covered by the capped-price Toyota Service Advantage at a maxi-mum of $170 per service.
N E W T O Y O TA H I L U X H E L P S B U S I N E S S - A U T O M AT I C A L LY !
I PN E W S F R O M T O Y O TA
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4 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 13
Prior to booking or setting any dates for an event, please check with theActivity Coordinator who will ensure that there are no clashes. Please emailto the Activity Coordinator the proposed date, time, venue and overview ofthe event.
C O M I N G T R I P SC A L E N D A R
January 24th – 26th Tantalising Tingaringy (Australia Dayw/end)
February 8th & 9th Mirimbar Magic – 4WD, MTB & OziExplorer all in one
February 10th Yarck Management and DA TheoryFebruary 21st & 22nd Maintenance & Construction
weekendFebruary 21st & 22nd Swifts Creek ExplorerFeb. 28th & March 1st DA Practical weekendMarch 7th – 9th MacFarlane Flat AdventureMarch 10th Yarck Management and DA TheoryMarch 14th & 15th Maintenance & Construction w/e &
CK set-upMarch 20th – 22nd TLCCV CRUISERKHANA 2015March 21st & 22nd Mt Cobbler tripMarch 28th & 29th DA Practical weekendApril 3rd – 6th Vic/SA Border Track (Easter w/end)April 14th Yarck Management and DA TheoryApril 25th & 26th Maintenance & Construction
weekendMay 2nd & 3rd DA Practical weekendMay 10-21 Simpson Desert - East West
crossingMay 12th Yarck Management and DA TheoryMay 23rd & 24th Maintenance & Construction
weekendMay 30th & 31st DA Practical weekendJune 6th – 8th Sandy Wyperfeld Trailer trip (Queens
B/day w/end)June 9th Yarck Management and DA TheoryJune 20th & 21st Maintenance & Construction
weekendJune 27th – July 10th Lock Your Hubs Simpson Desert tripJune 27th & 28th DA Practical weekendJuly 14th Yarck Management and DA TheoryJuly 25th & 26th Maintenance & Construction
weekendAugust 1st & 2nd DA Practical weekendAugust 11th Yarck Management and DA TheoryAugust 22nd & 23rd Maintenance & Construction
weekendAugust 29th & 30th DA Practical weekendSeptember 8th Yarck Management and DA TheorySeptember 19th & 20th Maintenance & Construction
weekendSeptember 26th & 27th DA Practical weekendOctober 13th Yarck Management and DA TheoryOctober 24th & 25th Maintenance & Construction
weekendNovember 7th & 8th DA Practical weekendNovember 10th Yarck Management and DA TheoryNovember 21st & 22nd Monster Maintenance &
Construction w/eNovember 28th & 29th DA Practical weekendDecember 8th Yarck Management
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D E C E M B E R C H R I S T M A S M E E T I N GT L C C V
J A N U A R YROBE, 2013
Enjoy some fun as we face the challengesof soft sand and ever moving sand duneson South Australia’s magnificent beaches.This member DVD will spur you on to joina future Club trip.
PLUS
YARCK WILDLIFE ASSESSMENTEnjoy seeing the wildlife we have on ourbeautiful yarck property.Colin Low has positioned two cameras tocapture the fun and games that go duringthe day and night.
F E B R U A R YWhatever you get up to in the ‘great out-doors,’ from four-wheel driving through theHigh Country or taking an extended tripacross the deserts of Australia or maybe acruise on your boat and anything inbetween, Fleximake have the products
that will help make your journey moreenjoyable. Fleximake produce bladders forwater, diesel and petrol in a range ofsizes to suit your vehicle.These products are made in Australia anduse the finest 100% Australian made PVCfabric. I’m sure this Show & Tell will be ofinterest to many members, so join us onTuesday 17th February for this interestingpresentation.Liz MillsShow & Tell Coordinator
S H O W & T E L L 2 0 1 5
Photos courtesy of John Nazloomian
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TLCCV Geelong Branch ChristmasPartySunday 14th December, 2014
Attendees: Judith & Alison Williams;Kelvin & Yvonne Connors; Sandra & BrianTanner; Mark, Kerrie & James Ker-David;Robert & Lynell Dungen and their two chil-dren; Matt & Emma, Josh & Abby McPhee;Veronica, Graeme, Robert, Bryan &Neshren Innis; Meryla & Tony Lawler, ScottFabbian & Susan Galeotti; Bill Miller & FranKettle; Greg Fleet; Jennie Harvie; Angela &Leigh Di Lallo
What a fantastic day. Splendid weather,great company and beautiful garden with apool to splash about in.The McPhee children took to the water likedolphins, and with much persuasion so didNeshren. A couple of the big kids – Gregand Graeme - also enjoyed the pool.BBQ lunch was enjoyed by all with somegreat conversations in a wonderfullyrelaxed atmosphere with good friends.A special thank you to Judith Williams forinviting us to hold the party at her home.Jennie Harvie (202)
I PT R I P S G E E L O N G B R A N C H X M A S P A R T Y
Part A: Great AustralianBight(Continued)
Wylie Scarp to Israelite Bay - 6thOctober: We awoke to clear skies afterthe rain that sent us to bed. On the beach,we initially turned east and ploughedthrough the soft sand for 8kms to PointCulver at the western end of the BaxterCliffs where we had our first bogging forthe day. Turning west, we continued ourtravels fairly high up the beach as the tidewas still coming in. The stunning BilbunyaDunes reared up in front of us. They aresupposedly the highest dunes in Australia.We spent time climbing them on foot,which was fairly easy as last night’s rain
had firmed the surface. The vista spread infront of us was a photographer’s dream.Back on the beach again, the tide was stillcoming in making driving challengingeither on the water’s edge or in the driersand above high tide line. Occasionalheavy rain squalls also added to thedifficulties by reducing visibility. Severalexits from the beach were noted approxi-mately 4 - 7kms apart, in case we had toabort to the Telegraph Tk. We stopped forlunch at Wattle Camp, one of the camp-sites used when the Telegraph Line wasbeing built. It is now a small area for camp-ing with a water hole known as KennedysWell. There was clear access inland to theTelegraph Tk, which was running parallel tothe beach. A sign indicated 54kms east toPoint Culver and 52kms west to Israelite
Bay. The tide was further out when we gotback onto the beach, but we still needed toavoid the water. After another 10kms or sothe seaweed was becoming too thick forbeach travel so we unfortunately had tofind an exit and head inland to a well-usedfishermen’s track just over the first dune.Eventually it joined the Telegraph Tk andprovided an easy run into Israelite Bay. Wechecked out the grave sites (one of theoriginal postmasters and a linesman), theremains of the jetty, and the telegraphstation that seems to have had somerestoration work done on it since some ofus were here last. We subsequentlysettled into a treed campsite. Today wehad seen lots of pied oyster catchers andterns, pelicans and a pod of whales, but noseals or penguins.I
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I PT R I P S P A R T 2 . G R E AT A U S T R A L I A N B I G H T / N U L L A R B O R P L A I N
October 2014Trip Leader: Don BRYANT 100 SeriesParticipants: Harry KING 100 Series
John / Nicki LEE 100 SeriesDavid / Sue HOOKE TroopyMalcolm / Adele KINGSTON LC 76Laurie / Linda WILSON HiluxTony / Maryla LAWLER Troopy
Ground Charlie: Dinah BRYANT
Travelling west from Eucla
Far left: Wileura Rockhole,Toolina Cove.
MEET THE LOCALS.THIS IS LANDCRUISER COUNTRY.
Long days. Harsh environments. Extreme weather. You could say it’s pretty tough out here, butthe locals wouldn’t have it any other way. In the face of extreme adversity the LandCruiser 200,LandCruiser 70 Double Cab, FJ Cruiser and Prado are built to thrive. Whatever the outback throws at them, it’s just another day in paradise. This is LandCruiser Country.
toyota.com.au
sraelite Bay to Duke of Orleans Bay -7th October: It was very cold overnightand very crisp in the morning, but a clearsunny day awaited us. On departure theconvoy was greeted by a kangaroo on thetrack. Recent rain had left the track withquite a few puddles and muddy patches.There was a good view of the salt lake onthe left, containing quite a lot of water. Thetrack was wetter as we made our wayaround the edge of the lake, but improvedfurther on.When the track left the lake it becamesandy and the vegetation changed. Thebanksias were very prolific along with avariety of small wildflowers. At morning teathe ladies had a great time photographingwildflowers (including little orchids) andsome of the men even joined in the hunt.The track continued as before, sometimeswith boggy patches, sometimes sandy andsometimes corrugated. Later there weresmall hills to the left and right. One sandysection near Mount Baring was lined withmuch larger banksias than we had seenearlier, and there were many grass trees.We took the road into Cape Arid NationalPark stopping for lunch on the beach atYokinup Bay. It was a fantastic lunch venuewith four whales to observe – two adultsand two calves. After lunch we drove backto Merivale Road and continued west, nowwith cultivated land on both sides. A littlelater, we turned south again, on DanielsRoad. As we approached the coast thevegetation changed to small shrubs. Afterchecking out several tracks (not without theleader getting stuck in a tight gorge of softsand), we eventually found the correctaccess track for a drive along a beautifulfirm, sandy beach in what we think wasOrleans Bay. To avoid a creek we had totake a steep, winding, sandy climb off thebeach. This was enjoyed by all, thoughone of the group required two attempts toclear one dune. We exited onto the bitu-men and drove to a headland overlookingthe very beautiful Wharton Beach. Downon the beach we drove on firm, smoothsand then over some small dunes, andonto another beach in Victoria Harbour.We turned at the end of this beach andretraced our track back to the bitumen and
to Orleans Bay Caravan Park to camp forthe night.Duke of Orleans Bay to Esperance - 8thOctober: At 7 30am the group gatheredaround the office to feed on egg and baconsandwiches for breakfast. We departedshortly after the girls found and pho-tographed elusive Rock Parrots near oneof the upper cabins. The weather wasclear, and as we travelled down OrleansBay Rd a large number of roos were to beseen on both sides of the road.We returned to the gravel on Merivale andthen Dunn Rock Roads where we enteredCape Le Grand NP. At the end of DunnRock Road, we turned onto the beach inRossiter Bay for a lovely smooth drivealong the beach. Towards the westernend, the beach narrowed and became a lit-tle boggy, but led to a well-marked exit. Wethen drove over the headland on a gravelroad to Lucky Bay where we enjoyed
coffee and Magnum Ice creams boughtfrom a Beach Caravan Coffee Shoppe,complete with umbrella and chairs.From here we followed the bitumen roadpast Frenchman Peak and down to CapeLe Grande Beach. It was a relatively easybeach drive to Wylie Head where we foundvarious parties of people enjoying thebeach. With the tide in, the drive fromWylie Head to Esperance was along sandvery thick and soft. We finally arrived atEsperance under a clear sky with a mildbreeze at 12.30pm.Esperance - 9th – 11th October: Thenext couple of days were spent essentiallyas rest days, providing opportunity to havecars washed and serviced, get minorproblems dealt with, re-stock supplies, andtake in a little local sightseeing. On the11th we drove north to Coolgardie andKalgoorlie where we did more sight-seeing.
Seaweed Commences
Airing Down for the Beach Run to Esperance
Seaweed getting taller
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Part B: Nullarbor Plain
Kalgoorlie to Rawlinna - 12th October:The day started badly with Tony discover-ing a second punctured tyre – in additionto one he had at the end of the previousday. This being a Sunday, there were notyre repair shops open. So, despite every-one else being ready to make an earlystart on the next leg of the trip, “the boys”in true Club spirit rallied around providingmuch advice and expertise to repair tyreand tubes and get the vehicle back on 4sets of good rubber. The only other alter-native – to remain in Kalgoorlie until thefollowing day when tyre shops would beopen again and then attempt a catch upfurther down the track – was rejected.Technical conversations continuedthroughout the repair, regarding the disad-vantages of split rim over tubeless tyres,and this was becoming more and moreapparent as the trip progressed with thecontinuing problems Tony was having withhis split rim tyres.Repairs finally completed, the convoymoved off from Kalgoorlie at 10:00am forRawlinna. Tyre pressures were reduced alittle as soon as we were off the black top,in preparation for the rough road aheadclosely following the Indian Pacific Railwayline. We were flanked on either side byextensive patches of wildflowers, deepmauve in colour. Mulla mullas were also inabundance. It was a very pretty woodlandlandscape. We arrived at the east end ofthe old Blamey siding just in time to see afreight train go by, the driver obviously hav-ing fun attempting to deafen us with hishorn. We continued alongside the line,later sighting another goods train alsoincorporating two passenger carriages.We eventually stopped for lunch approxi-mately one third of the distance we need-ed to cover to get to Rawlina as planned.Traveling on, we continued to stop at vari-ous sidings to explore whatever buildingsremained. Coonana siding had an airstripand there were signs of an indigenouscommunity nearby. Zanthus siding wasquite a big complex with extensive solarpanels in working condition.
We were into cattle country by this timeand passed several grids with signsindicating cattle likely to be near the road.Interestingly, we passed a road to the leftleading to a rail crossing complete withtraffic signs, coming to it just in time to seeyet another train go by hauling carriageswith cars atop. It had been a long day, andwe started looking for a suitable camp spotnear the railway line at around 4:15pm,having covered a total of 295km of harddriving for the day.Rawlinna to Madura - 13th October:We departed our camp adjacent to the
railway line at 7:30am (having beenawakened several times overnight bypassing trains), and continued on towardsRawlinna. The track once again ranparallel to the railway line and was inexcellent condition allowing us to averagebetween 60 & 70 kph. At Rawlinna westopped to have a look around theabandoned siding and several old build-ings, including a school, which were nolonger in use. The track south fromRawlinna was not signed, and was not oneof the more obvious roads out of town. Itwas through a station gate with ‘no entry’signs but it matched our GPS route and itwas subsequently proven correct by othersigns along the way. It was a fairly roughstation track through a vast tract of opentree-less plain (Nullarbor) on which wewere able to manage speeds of onlybetween 20 & 30 kph. Quite a fewkangaroos were spotted along the way.Approximately 15 km before Cocklebiddywe turned West onto a little used trackwhich intersected with an even less used,hardly visible, track down to theCocklebiddy Cave. After spending half anhour exploring the entrance to the cave,we made our way south to the highwayand headed for Madura where we spentthe night.
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Rawlinna Siding
Zanthus Siding
Old Eyre Highway
Madura to Koonalda Homestead - 14thOctober: It was a great sunny start to theday again. Tony managed to secure areplacement spare tyre from an old trailerbehind the road house. Once on our way,the first 80+ km were on the ‘black top’.The track Don initially proposed to take togo north through Mundrabilla Station to the‘Old Coach Road’ was fenced off and over-grown. This left only the option of drivingthrough the homestead itself, but the trackwas marked "no unauthorized entry". WithTelstra mobile coverage Don used theinternet to determine a number for thehomestead and called to ask permission.The owner was very helpful, explaining thatpermission would not be granted due to arisk of both fire and weed spreading.She also explained that naming of the ‘OldCoach Road’ was a fallacy in that there
was no history of coaches using that track.She kindly offered that if we went on anoth-er 34km to the Mundrabilla Roadhouse, wecould use another station track from behindthe roadhouse through their property to getto the track we wanted. They had no stockcurrently on this eastern side of their sta-tion.After arriving at Mundrabilla Roadhouse,we took a quick 'Magnum' stop and wereon our way again. As we now had permis-sion to travel, we pressed on through aclosed gate. Climbing the escarpment,track conditions were good as we travelledthrough Kuthala Pass and onto theHampton Tablelands. This proved to be avery pleasant drive. Evidence of theSouthern Hairy Nosed Wombat surround-ed us as we travelled, with very largediggings across the landscape. Many very
happy roos were also sighted during themorning.We turned east near Wileura Rockholewhere we joined the ‘Old Coach Road’.After a short photo stop for a camel, it wason to Tookana Rockhole for lunch. A smallherd of perhaps a dozen camels was spot-ted on a ridge against the skyline. Wedetoured to Abrakurrie Cave then contin-ued east to join the old Eyre Highway inSouth Australia. We made another detourto the Koomooloobooka Cave before pro-ceeding on to the abandoned KoonaldaHomestead where we visited the KoonaldaCave. These are amazing places and wellworth the journey into this remote area.The homestead was the perfect location toend our day, with excellent camping underthe cover of trees. Happy hour wasenjoyed in the historic old shearing shed,where a raffle to support the RFDS washeld. Dinner for two – to be cooked byHarry – was won by Laurie. As the temper-ature dropped, another welcome RFDSfundraiser was conducted by Nicki and Sue– gluhwein for all.
Entering Maralinga
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Koonalda to Maralinga - 15th October:This morning was very cold with heavydew outside and condensation within thetents. Koonalda Station, where wecamped, was originally leased by theGurney family from 1938 to 1988. Survivalwas only possible because water could bepumped from an underground lake acces-sible in Koonalda Cave into above-groundstorage tanks. Historic pumping equip-ment still remains in the caves today.Sleepers from the Trans Australian Railwaynear Cook were used in the construction ofthe outer walls of the buildings and fences,with some of the doors and windows beingrecycled from the old Telegraph Station atEucla. It was South Australia’s most west-ern pastoral property for 50 years until1989 when it became part of the NullarborNational Park.After checking out the partly restoredhouse and shearing shed, we headed eastalong the old Eyre Highway, still in fairlygood condition although vegetation is slow-ly encroaching on it. We kept an eye openfor sinkholes beside the road but failed tofind some that were marked on our maps.The old highway meets up with the newhighway at the Nullarbor Roadhousebefore continuing northeast to the Ivy Tank
ruins. Only the chimney, concrete slabs,rusting cars and the largest pile of rustingbeer cans remain in memory of this oldservice station. A visit to Ivy Tank wasespecially reminiscent for Don and theLees as theyhad inde-p e n d e n t l yvisited herebefore thenew highwaywas built.We werebeing over-whelmed bye n o r m o u sand persist-ent bushflies whenTony noticedanother flattyre. In orderto avoid fur-ther delay tothe convoyby undertak-ing repairs inthis fly infest-ed spot,David kindly
loaned Tony one of his spare tyres and weheaded off in an attempt to maintain ourtravel schedule for the day.From Ivy Tank we travelled north 100 kmson a rough and rocky track to Watson on
the railway line,stopping atD i sappo in tmen tCave for lunch.This cave was notat all disappointingas noises wereheard inside thecave, probablycoming from dingopups. We alsofound paintings ofhands on the roof ofthe cave. Watson,now an abandonedsiding on the TransAustralian Railwayline, was one of theearly sidings andsettlements. It hasnow been bull-dozed by the “rail-ways”, thusdestroying some ofAustralia’s history.This has happenedto most of the oldfettler’s buildings atsidings that dottedthe railway lineacross theNullarbor, somenamed after ex-prime ministers, eg
Curtin and Hughes.After a look around Watson, we continuedNE through welcome bushland – after thebareness of the Nullabor – to the MaralingaRestricted area where Don had obtainedpermission for us to enter via a lockedgate, and camp pending our guided tourthe next day. This area is in the throes ofbeing set up as a tourist precinct andConsultants and a TV crew happened to bepresent during our visit. We were inter-viewed by a SA TV channel, interested toknow why we were visiting and whether wehad any concerns regarding the atomicwaste buried on site. The site manager,Robin Matthews, was very helpful andkeen to make us comfortable in what willbe a large campground amidst casuarinatrees, in the former Maralinga village. Hewent to great lengths to have hot showersand toilets operating for our visit.
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Maralinga Aerodrome
Maralinga MuseumMaralinga Atomic Test Site
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Maralinga Tour - 16th October: Robintook us on a guided tour of Maralinga. Hehas an amazing breadth of knowledgeabout the history of the area, both pre- andpost-atomic testing. The tour began atSheoak Ridge, which was the original sitechosen for the village. Len Beadell hadinitially chosen this site, but later decidedthe top of the hill was more suitable. Robindescribed the ingenious system of collect-ing rain water from the aircraft parkingapron. This concrete area provides 4.2hectares of catchment feeding into chan-nels which carry water to an earth dam.From here the water is pumped to an inter-mediate holding tank and from there totanks in the village. With so few people
now living at Maralinga, Robin has beenable to sell water to various mining groupsto supplement operational costs for therange.One of the highlights of the tour was a visitto the air strip itself, which is unique in thatit is the only NASA certified landing strip inthe southern hemisphere capable of beingutilised as an emergency landing facilityfor the space shuttle. Not one of the groupfailed to take the opportunity to try out the2.4 kilometre dash down the runway andback.The group then viewed ground zero forseveral of the test sites. The last sched-uled blast was cancelled after the signingof the test ban treaty ending the Cold War.
However, many more dangerous non-explosive experiments were conducted fora number of years, and these wereresponsible for most of the contamination.There were two attempts to clean up thesesites by the British, the first before they leftand then another in the late sixties, neitherof which was totally successful in remov-ing all of the radioactive materials. ThiessBrothers were engaged by the Australiangovernment in 1994 to decontaminate thearea and completed this task successfullyin 2001, scraping and burying the contam-inated soil in vast pits along with the doz-ers and graders used for the job. Ongoingmonitoring is undertaken every year toensure there are no further risks ofradioactive contamination. The tour tookin the pit area as well as monumentsmarking each of the individual blasts.At the completion of testing, the landswere returned to the Yalata people.Maralinga to Goog’s Lake - 17thOctober: The day began with a visit to theoriginal village hospital, now Robin’s homeand the site of his museum containingvarious photographs and memorabiliafrom the test period. We spent an hourrummaging through his albums. Then itwas time to leave. Robin drove with us tothe gate where we made our finalfarewells. We drove south – not to Watson– but to Ooldea, another abandonedsiding on the railway line, and at one timehome to Daisy Bates, who spent some 40years of her life taking an interest in the
Happy Hour at Goog's Lake
aboriginal people. There issupposedly a memorial to hersomewhere to the east of sidingbut we did not attempt to find it.We continued south to the EyreHighway and made our way toPenong where we stopped forfuel and lunch.Suitably replenished we head-ed further east, avoided enter-ing Ceduna, and started northagain on Goog’s Track. Withsand flags fitted and tyres aireddown, we drove part way up thetrack to Goog’s Lake. Beforereaching the lake, we stoppedbriefly at the grave sites ofGoog and his eldest son,Martin ‘Dinger’ Denton.Respect is often paid to Googby hammering a coin into anearby tree and leaving a canof beer beside his grave.We arrived reasonably early atGoog’s Lake, a dry salt lakewith a very pleasant campingarea, made camp, and settledin for an early happy hour. TheLees enjoyed the company of aslithery visitor who escapedsmartly back into the bush.Goog’s Lake to Woomera -18th October: Goog’s Lakewas a perfect camp spot. Weenjoyed a beautiful view acrossthe salt lake, a fabulous sunriseand lush woodland. On leavingGoog’s Lake we turned northtowards Mt Finke. The sanddunes loomed ahead, anddriving over them becameincreasingly more challengingas they became steeper withmore scalloping. More concentration andeffort was required. The wildflowersbordering the roadside, particularly themulla mulla, golden grevillea and quan-dong, were a treat to behold. We enteredYellabinna Regional Reserve to be greetedwith white grevillea in abundance,especially on the crests of the sand dunes.As the dunes became steeper andrequired a lengthier run up, the decisionwas made to reduce tyre pressure evenfurther. When Mt Finke came into viewthere was some discussion as to theviability of doing a walk. However, giventhe midday heat, time constraints and thedistance yet to be travelled, it was decidedto keep moving.After passing the Mt Finke turn off the land-scape changed drastically from lush wood-land to arid salt plain. There was littleshade when we came to looking for a stopfor lunch. As by then we had left thedunes, we re-inflated our tyres. Anotherrail crossing saw us off Goog’s track andonto a track paralleling the railway linewhere we were able to increase speed to75kph. After several more crossings westopped at the almost abandoned miningsettlement of Tarcoola where the Ghan rail-way line departs the Indian Pacific route
and heads north for AliceSprings and Darwin. Webriefly explored the ruins ofwhat appeared to have beena pub and a school beforecrossing the rail line yetagain, just in time to watchanother train passing through.We passed Wilgena Stationhomestead situated in themidst of a vast saltbush plain,and crossed a salt lakesurrounded by sand dunes.We had a short stop at thetiny mining settlement ofKingoonya where the localswere celebrating their localcricket match at the pub.After yet another rail crossing,the sixth for the day, wereached the bitumen hard topof the Stuart Highway, wherewe turned and headed forWoomera, hot showers andgood food at the ELDO hotel,thus ending what had been afantastic adventure with greatfellow travellers. The nextmorning – our trip over – weseparated and independentlymade our own way home.P.S. Together with one or twodonations, we raised $419 forthe RFDS via our variousfundraising functions.
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Goog's Track
FOR SALESuit 2000 Prado 95 Series:• Springs & shock absorbers. $50.00• Metal rim with new tyre 6-stud, 16 inch.$50.00• Tradesman roof rack with mesh 2.2m x1.3m. Cost $1,450. Sell for $500.00Or take the lot for $500.00
FOR SALE2004 Toyota Land Cruiser GXL V8 dualfuel, 5-sp auto, 8 seat wagon, 4x4 con-stant, 198,000km, excellent condition, bull
bar, a/c, p/s, 6-stack CD player, tinted win-dows, dual battery, UHF radio, spotlights,dual air bags rear, tow bar, BF GoodrichA/T tyres, full service history. Reg. No.ICU 4PN. $24,000, neg.Contact: Slawko Kulyk or Rebecca(2270)
Mobile: 0417 354 014Mobile: 0409 351 504
T R A D I N G P O S T
ELTHAM TIMBER& HARDWARE P/L
ROB DEYLEN (1622)MANAGING DIRECTORMobile: 0409 305 534
1175 - 1181 Main Road, Eltham Vic. 3095Phone: 9439 5533 (All Hours) Fax: 9431 1762
4 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 27
Heading up the Haunted Stream:After an initial meet and greet at theBruthen Caravan Park, where most
of the group spent Friday night, our convoyproceeded along the Great Alpine Rd tothe start of the Haunted Stream trackwhere we would air down and receive ourbriefing for the day ahead.Lots of blue sky and sunshine let everyoneknow it was going to be a warm day. Whilstwe were stopped Heidi, decked out in all ofher MTB gear, took the opportunity to get ahead start on her mountain bike.As we entered the forest, the track nar-rowed and we waited in anticipation for thefirst of our 54 crossings of the HauntedStream. This occurred just before we
stopped for a morning tea break at Stirling.The track was becoming steeper and theday warmer, so whilst we were having achat and a drink in the shade, Heidi tookthe opportunity to head off once again onher mountain bike.What followed next was the remainder ofthe creek crossings. Thanks to Laurie wehad some idea what number we were up toas he called them out over the radio. Thecrossings themselves were quite variedwith some having very challengingapproaches and departures, whilst the bot-toms remained fairly solid, although quiterocky in spots. Several of the exits weredefinitely rated as difficult and to the creditof all drivers in our group, everybody made
it through, not only unscathed but on theirfirst attempt.Fortunately for us, Heidi was still out fronton her bike and was relaying back some ofthe obscured obstacles – such as a MiniMinor sized hole on the side of the track,which would not have been spotted until itwas too late.
I PT R I P S M Y S T I C A L H A U N T E D S T R E A M
November, 2014Trip Leaders:
Laurie & Heidi Miles Zebra 80 Series TDParticipants:
Peter, Karen & Sasha (13) CrumpAnd Renae Walker (13) Manky 80 Series DieselGordon Chessum Toxic 78 Troopy TDJoe & Tania Kirby Smokey 79 Series TDJohn Poelwyk & Julie Ross Big John Troopy TDAndrew Shiells & Cameron Bereton Noddy 80 Series TDMarianne & Marcel Van den Bronk MnM Pajero TD
One of the benefits of not being the firstvehicle of the convoy is the ability toobserve what is, or rather isn’t a good line.This was especially true when Laurie acci-dently kissed a tree with his rear flarewhilst trying to avoid a bog hole. After abrief stop to remove the broken flare wewere on the move again.Lunch stop was just after the 54th crossingat Dawson City – quite a large campingarea with plenty of room for us to spreadout.After lunch we travelled along BoomerangSpur Rd and McDonalds Rd, whichallowed us to take in some spectacularviews – especially from the helipad.Another brief stop saw Heidi grab thechainsaw as we loaded up some firewood.Our destination for the night was Cams TopPlace, which is located on the WentworthRiver. We ended up at the second camp-ing area. Whilst the first camping area was
larger, the stench of a decomposing deerrendered it unusable for our group.Thanks go to Marcel and Heidi for chop-ping the firewood and taking care of thefire. We all enjoyed the obligatory happyhour around the fire and the conversationswhich followed into the evening.Andrew Shiells (1692)Taking in the views across the Dargovalley: Waking to the piercing songs of themagnificent bird life in this beautiful valley,we stretched our weary bodies after a longSaturday meandering along the HauntedStream.Cams Top Place campsite we had chosen,
28 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 27
was lush with vegetation, and surroundedby the High Country hills, gave it anamphitheatre atmosphere. The freshnessof the Wentworth River could be heardrushing nearby.After breakfast and a battery jump start(sorry Marianne, Marcel and the Pajero),we made our way along numerous tracksand roads in numerous ratios and gears,tackling all of Murdering Spurs offerings,and viewed some of the stunning scenerythe High Country has to offer.Upon reaching the Birregun Road, westarted our descent to the Dargo River,down Stock Route Track. The views of theDargo valley were spectacular, as we gotsee the tracks on the other side of thevalley, which we would encounter later.
The sunshine was with us and gettingwarmer as the morning progressed, anddecided the Dargo River crossing was a
refreshing place to have morning tea.After a short drive down the Dargo Road,we arrived at Harrison's Cutting, where wecooled ourselves off with a paddle exceptSasha and Renae, the younger and morebrave of our group, decided the water wasnice enough to go swimming.Harrison's cut is a 50 metre gold diversioncut along the Dargo River, excavated inthe 1880s.More exciting climbs along MathesonTrack and descents along Mount EwenRoad (unfortunately Farm Track is stillclosed) had us arriving at Jimmy Iverson’scamping area on the Dargo River for lunchand the completion of a challenging andenjoyable weekend.Joe & Tania Kirby (2668)
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I PT R I P S N O V E M B E R D R I V E R A W A R E N E S S
Driver Awareness- 8th & 9th November,2014
Participants: Dinah & Colin Kosky, FrankDe Smaele and Corine Pepping, Ian &Claudia Mak, Angela Tonge and BradKnight, Chrissy Beech, Nilla Boindo,Michael & Megan Bourke, Vince & AnnetteThorne, Denis & Brad Riddlington.DA Theory Team: John Mills, SimonMustey, Jeff Gazzard, Michael Martin, TonyBryant, Geoff DumaresqDA Practical Team: John Mills, SimonMustey, Jeff Gazzard, Heather Cale,Michael Martin, Tony Bryant, GeoffDumaresq, Ian Wells
It all started when someone said; “So youdrive a Toorak Tractor?” Since those fatalwords were uttered it’s been my mission
to prove them wrong.It started with joining the club, then doingthe theory session, then the practicalweekend - the first 2 were a doodle thethird, well that’s a different kettle of fish!! The Theory Night: It was a very coseynight; we got to know each other by sittingon each other’s laps - the room was verysmall! We listened to the DA team whopresented us with lots and lots ofinformation, some made sense, and muchdid not. For me it was like a whole newvocabulary - differentials, LSD’s (LimitedSlip Differential), wind-up, ABS and manymore. There were words I did know like
wheel, tyres, up and down, descents andmany more that feature in my everyday life.By the end of the session I kind of knewwhat these things were and what they didor didn’t do, but I think it will be a whilebefore I fully understand the workings of acar. Overall it was an informative night anda great way to meet other new members ofthe club.The Practical Weekend: We arrived Fridaynight and set up our camp site, had dinnerand then went to the Hilton to socialise.The DA team were very welcoming intro-ducing themselves and the rest of theparticipants to everyone and everyone(except me- I confess I forgot mine!) worename badges, which helped enormously.John announced that the Hilton would beshutting at 10:00pm as everyone neededto be up early the next morning - thank godhe did as I think left to our own devices itwould have been a late night!Saturday: It started with a look under thebonnet and then under the actual car - myfirst time! I mean I have looked under thebonnet before to put water in the wind-screen thing but other than that I am a truenovice. Actually, if I think back, I think I didcheck the oil once! It was great for me tohave such experienced people talking usthrough the workings and under the car - Isaw a differential! Yes, I know they reallyaren’t that exciting. We then moved to havea talk about winches, tree trunk protectors,equalizer straps, the use of dampers and
Simon’s favourite toy, the high lift jack,which sounded like a recipe for disaster!Next the real fun started - the driving. Firstit was Whoopsy-Do. It looked really steepand scary but we all made it and someeven did the voluntary one - not me, waytoo scary! It was back for lunch then wedrove to Garvey’s Gully in convoy. Simonsaid; ‘Let’s get out and have a look.” So wedid and he and Heather talked us throughruts and how to deal with them - you willhear more than once “ruts are your friends”and “you’ll never find a rut leading into atree”. But apparently these ruts weren’t ourfriends, because they were too big. Thenext thing Simon went down the hill in hiscar. Great we thought, he makes it look soeasy. But then he asked who was first,ladies first of course – Noooooooo, wewere all thinking, he said we were justgoing to look! So we all went down oneway or another and up the other side. Itwas a challenge, one car bounced down,one car stalled on the hill, another gotstuck but everyone made it and I think itgave us all a lot of confidence. It was thentime for Latimers - a doodle in comparison;I may go as far as saying I enjoyed thatone! Then the water - another doodle and fun.Finally my car didn’t resemble a ToorakTractor, it was covered in mud!After afternoon tea we went for a ‘night-time’ drive (it was not even dusky), thattook us all over the property and gave us
(the non-drivers) a great view of the sur-rounding countryside. Then back to theHilton for dinner, drinks, more drinks andeventually bedtime.Sunday: It started with a talk from the DAteam on the different tyres available andtheir pros and cons, the protocols of camp-ing, club trips, different methods of commu-nication and finally, John talked us throughthe protocols of going to the toilet in thebush - it’s more complicated than youmight think if you care about the environ-ment! It was then time for another drive,this time on a track called ‘Up and Downs’apparently at one time the access to theproperty - thank god it isn’t now. The rutson Up and Downs are definitely not yourfriend, they could swallow a whole car!Then we recovered each other from thesand. This was funny as we had to pretendwe didn’t know each other and role play thewhole scenario. Again I learnt a lot, likewhere my recovery points were and how toconnect the snatch strap. Finally it wasback to the Hilton for “question andanswer” time - definitely the easiest part ofthe day- it was open book!The weekend was fantastic, the instructorsare amazing - not only do they give up theirentire weekend, they are extremely knowl-edgeable and very, very patient. Rutsmight not be your friends on the tracks atYarck but the instructors definitely are! So do I still have a Toorak Tractor? Yes andNo. I have to drive it to work on the motor-ways, but we do have plans to go off roadvery soon.
I PT R I P S N O V. D R I V E R A W A R E N E S S
Driver Awareness weekend – 29th &30th November, 2014
Friday night arriving at Yarck, setting upcamp then getting together in theYarck Hilton with the other DA partici-
pants was fun.Bright and early wake, thanks to the lovelykookaburras!! Met at the Hilton for abriefing, then out onto Whoopsy- Do tracklearning how to ride our brakes, was anawesome session, then back to the Hiltonfor morning tea.After morning tea it was out on the trackslearning again just how our cars handle thetracks.We then went to Garvey’s Gully to learnhow to use the ruts going down and uphills! With the trainer beside us. I had neverdone his type of driving before so I found itwas great and scary at the same time.Next we tackled the bog hole; thanks toDavid McAlister for offering to go first. Weall got through fairly easily. Next we wentto the water crossing, which after recentrain was very high, and only 3 cars opted togo through. All 3 did really well even get-ting out of the crossing on the other side. Abig well done to Helen for giving it a go. Ittook 3 attempts to get out but she nevergave up.After a quick break we then did a twilightdrive, left the property and drove down
Terip road and came into the propertythrough the back gate down bulldozer trackwith the narrow tree on either side of thetrack. Back to the Hilton for dinner and awell-deserved rest!Bright and early Sunday a quick briefingagain then on to snatch strap recovery.Great experience as I had never done itbefore. After a quick morning tea we thenexplored more of the property, this timewith the instructors in their own vehicles atthe front and rear. Again learning how todrive in a convoy waiting on the driverbehind you to catch up and wait to knowwhich way to turn.Back at the Hilton a question and answersession. Simon explained the differentways to communicate when out in the bushor outback. Geoff explained the differenttypes of tyres. Tony letting us know how tonominate for trips and to be prepared foranything.Will definitely be looking forward to our firsttrip. A big thank you to John, Heather, GeoffSimon, Ian, Tony for giving up their week-end to train us.Now we just have to fight over who will bedriving!!David & Michelle – Prado
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P R O D U C T S
A R B A D D S S L E E P I N G B A G T O G R O W I N G T O U R I N G R A N G E
The ultimate camping accessory noadventurer can live without has finallyhit the shelves at ARB. After extensiveresearch and development, ARB hasdesigned a sleeping bag with featuresthat set it apart from the competition.Ideal for indoor and outdoor use duringthe colder seasons, the ARB sleepingbag is the perfect companion for theadventurous soul.
The ARB sleeping bag – now avail-able in stores – was designed withwarmth, comfort and durability in mind.Manufactured with anti-bacterial and fire-retardant treatments, the ARB sleepingbag is also machine washable. Weighingas little as 2.9kg, the sleeping bag is com-pact, lightweight and will even retain itsability to insulate when damp or wet.Perfect for adult 4WDers of all shapes andsizes, the sleeping bag boasts the luxuri-ous size of a king single (200cm x 100cm x100cm) offering plenty of room to move,
keeping you warm and rested-up duringyour adventure.Manufactured from the highestquality materials, ARB hasensured their sleep-ing bag willbe yourbest
f r iendon a coldand drearynight.
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To ensure its comfort rating of -5°C, thesleeping bag is filled with high qualityinvista Dupont Thermolite Quallo 7 holefill. Holding all of this together is a 100%cotton brushed flannelette inner lining,treated with Sanitized® anti-bacterialtreatment for maximum hygiene protectionand longevity. The nylon outer shell notonly displays a sleek black and stonedesign with ARB topographic print, butalso has fire-retardant treatment toCPAI-75 standards foradded protec-tion.
Madewith gen-uine YKKzippers, a sin-gle continuousmain zipper withadded Velcro closureensures you keepsnuggly-warm during thenight.The unique design of the ARB
s l e e p i n gbag makes joining two
to make a double, simple and easy. There’sno need for a left and right hand model asfully unzipping two bags and laying oneon top of the other means that the joiningzipper runs around the outer edge, not upthe middle between theoccupants.
This allowseach occupant
to exit the sleepingbag via a side zipper,
so that the other occupantcan stay snug and warm. When the secondsleeping bag is placed on top, the hood/pillow can be easily removed from thetop bag and zipped to the bottom bag tocomplete your tailor-made sleeping setup.Providing ultimate head support andcomfort, the semi- circular hooded sectionincludes a pocket to insert a standardsized pillow and can also be removed forconvenience. Designed for maximum
security, two handy stash pockets areprovided to keep your valuable items closeand safe but also so they don’t get lost inthe bottom of your bedding. Perfect forpersonal items such as mobile phones,wallets or even a small torch, there is oneon either side of the main zipper.
The generously-sized rectangular stuffsack allows room for the sleep-
ing bag to be foldedbefore being
p l a c e d
i nt h e
sack, asopposed to
‘stuffing’ whichis often very
difficult with tradition-al stuff sacks. A draw cord
and compression straps allowthe stuff sack to be com-
pressed to a much smaller size.And finally, when fully packed, the
entire shebang takes the shape of arectangle, so it can be easily storedbetween the fridge and the fishing tacklebox, ready for your next adventure.
www.arb.com.au
I PYA R C K T H E ‘ B U S H H U T ’ P R O J E C T
4 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 33
THE BUSH HUT PROGRESS
Peter Burchill, Eamon King, PaulLangenberg and I worked on the hut con-struction for 2 days in between theChristmas and New Year.We managed to get the end walls doneand one end of the roof barge ends (theround flashing bit). Pete was very happywith the progress we made so he made achicken and vege pie in his camp oventhat night for a reward, and it did tasteyummy.As you can see, the hut is looking morelike a hut every time we do something now- a bit of trimming with the axe by the fel-las to make things fit. It really does lookpretty shmick!The other walls will be roofing iron andwe’ll start soon on the verandah, whichwill be all around, (lots of bush poles).Volunteers are very welcome, no experi-ence is necessary.Colin Low (264)
TThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeeccttTThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeecctt
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TThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeeccttTThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeecctt
4 Overland Cruisering Overland Cruisering 35
TThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeeccttTThhee BBuusshh HHuutt
PPrroojjeecctt
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I PN E W S F R O M T O Y O TA
Australia's leading automotive brandToyota has delivered its customers ahappy New Year gift by bringing forwardsubstantial price cuts stemming fromplanned tax reductions on vehiclesimported from Japan.Toyota's executive director sales andmarketing Tony Cramb said the companycut its prices from January 1 - at least twoweeks ahead of the official reductions invehicle import duty negotiated as part ofthe Australia-Japan free-trade agreement."Toyota decided to act from the start of2015 by lowering prices for customersimmediately, rather than waiting for theduty reductions that will start flowing fromJanuary 15," Mr Cramb said."Prices came down from the start of theyear by around $800 on our mostaffordable Yaris range while some of ourmore expensive models have attractedreductions as high as $7,630," he said."Based on 2014 sales figures, this move is
expected to result in lower prices for wellover 100,000 Toyota vehicles in the comingyear - or more than half Toyota's annualsales in Australia."The landmark deal, known officially as theJapan-Australia Economic PartnershipAgreement, will ultimately slash the dutypaid on vehicles imported to Australia fromfive per cent to zero.
Toyota's biggest-selling models affected bythe changes are the LandCruiser family -200 and 70 Series, Prado and FJ Cruiser -RAV4, Corolla hatch and Yaris.Camry and Aurion are not includedbecause they are built locally. Australiaalready has free-trade agreements withThailand (the production source for HiLuxand Corolla sedan) and the United States(Kluger).Mr Cramb said cutting prices in advance ofthe duty reductions is a clear signal ofToyota's determination to improve all
aspects of its business in the interests ofcustomers."Toyota and our dealers are in the processof implementing once-in-a-generationchanges to our culture and operations."We want to build our brand and sales byensuring we provide the best possible cus-tomer experience - and this aggressivemove on price is part of Toyota's renewedcommitment to the people who buy ourvehicles."Toyota knows that true leadership involvesmuch more than being the best-sellingautomotive brand in Australia for each ofthe past 12 years."We are focused on building on a reputa-tion that has seen Toyota repeatedlynamed Australia's most trusted automotivecompany and has made us part of a glob-al company rated as the world's most valu-able automotive brand," Mr Cramb said.
T O Y O TA D E L I V E R S P R I C E C U T S
N E W SSIMPSON DESERT AND REMOTETRACKS SUMMER CLOSURE
The Simpson desert and four PublicAccess Routes located in the SouthAustralian outback will be closed over the
hottest months of the year to ensure thesafety of visitors and emergencypersonnel.The closures apply from Sunday 30thNovember 2014 to Sunday 15th March2015 and affect the Simpson Desert
Conservation Park and RegionalReserves, Perdirka, Halligan Bay,Warburton Crossing and WalkersCrossing.Details: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/aridlands/news
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