Pajero Club: President’s Report
January 2020
We spent 2019 focussing on our three priorities of ensuring everyone is welcome in the Pajero Club,
providing a busy program of 4-wheel drive trips for everyone, and offering value to those attending
Club meetings. These priorities will be retained into 2020; and here in this report I want to focus on
the 4-wheel drive trips priority.
There has been a marked increase in the number of trips and the attendance which is a very good sign
and credit to our trip leaders. We have seen many trips advertised as open and then sometime later
becoming trip full and of course this is a two-edged sword. It is great that so many trips are attractive
to many members, but it is frustrating that keen people may miss out.
The solution is simple! If you want to go somewhere then lead a trip. Suddenly the 4-wheel drive world
becomes your oyster. What limitations does the Club insist upon—in fact very few. Everything needs
to be legal and safe, and we want all participants to enjoy the experience be it a one-day trip or around
Australia. So, as the leader, make sure your own vehicle is in good shape, and that you are prepared
to spend some time planning beforehand.
Let us look at some of the reasons for not leading a trip. Nobody will register for my trip (you are
probably wrong on this one), I don’t know where we can go, we might get lost, there may be a vehicle
breakdown in the convoy, I may not remember the tasks of the trip leader.
Keep it simple. Talk to other Club members especially if they have trucks on their badges, talk to our
Trip & Social leader (Ed Reddick) or anyone on the committee, read the notes available for trip leaders.
Choose somewhere relatively easy to start with—there is no compulsion to even engage 4- wheel
drive. Think who in the group might make a good assistant and Charlie. Regularly ask how people are
managing especially if there are less experienced drivers. If you are setting off on a trip to central
Australia, then consider a shakedown overnight trip around central Victoria first where participants
get to know one another, and field test their vehicle and camping equipment.
Make it easy for everyone on the trip to know everyone else by providing the names and contact
details beforehand rather than just keeping the list of names for the leader.
And be flexible. Things happen. Tracks become impassable if a large tree falls; bridges can be washed
away; fires might keep you out of an area; rain may make a track too difficult. Explain the situation to
the group, ask for ideas from everyone, be prepared to revise the plans. Some of the great memories
come from the unexpected moments.
Wishing you all a happy and successful 2020.
Neil Phillips 1744.
[email protected]