about 80 % of the Leyland ’ s route in four weeks compared with their 111 days . Graeme Walsh and my sister Rhelmae , a retired teacher and bird watcher and brother-in-law , Vince a lawyer , assisted in the trip leading and managing our mobile village . Jim Parker was the Tail End Charlie and provided the fire drum for the evening meeting focal point .
The highlight of this trip was having Mike and Margie Leyland travel with us and listening to Mike ’ s commentary at various places . A number of people Mike and Mal Leyland met on their original trip just happened to meet us along the way ! The outback grapevine is a wonderful thing . Mike and Margie invited the group to dinner at their home on the return journey from Byron Bay to Melbourne . Dinner at their Wangi Wangi home was another wonderful experience , and I was able to view Mike ’ s diary from the 1966 trip . This special trip is one of our most memorable and other members have similarly commented . A DVD was released commercially including film of this trip and the original trip in 1966 . A great group of people shared the adventure with us and helped each other out with some repairs including replacing bearings and springs along the way in extremely remote parts of Australia . A reunion of trip people the next year included a talk by Mike at a crowded LROCV club meeting .
Our membership of Four-Wheel Drive Victoria ’ s ( FWDV ) Regional Representatives program for Parks Victoria and DELWP - Far East Gippsland has included attending bi-annual regional weekend meetings with FWDV , Parks Victoria and DELWP for around 17 years .
Through this involvement we have organised 16 Annual Far East Gippsland Track Clearing weekends to the Snowy River , Alpine and Errinundra National Parks in conjunction with the Pajero and Range Rover Clubs for Parks Victoria . Combining great 4W driving with amazing scenery and working with Parks Victoria Rangers to clear the tracks and open the gates , this weekend has become a favourite event in October for many . A strong relationship with the Park Rangers has developed over the years and we learn a great deal working with them in the bush . In recent times the local and remote Tubbut community has provided a meal for the group , assisting in community engagement for Parks Victoria .
As part of the Regional Reps network , Prue and I provided field work for the production of the DELWP ( then DSE ) Far East Gippsland Back Roads Tours Guide ( 1 st published in 2008 ), travelling all the 10 tour routes over 9 days of leave in January , checking odometer reading , providing feedback and recommendations on the route and places of interest and classifying the tracks with DSE and FWDV personnel . This Guide is still provided online and in print at Tourist Information Centres . Assistance was also provided on the production of the High-Country Back Road Tour Guide . We have since run many trips in these areas .
Our interest in the bush and my scientific background has led us to attend scientific and bushfire conferences and meet people involved in conservation and environmental issues . This has enriched our bush experience .
Trips are still being run with recent trips including a weekend in the Otways , day trip to Mt Stirling , Mt Buller and Mt No . 3 , a weekend trip to Mt Wellington and the Pinnacles and day trips welcoming new members in the bush behind Marysville . Day trips to the bush in Toolangi , Murrindindi , Eildon and Rubicon are popular on the trip calendar . Trips to Wonnangatta , the Simpson Desert , Mansfield Bush Huts , the Grampians and the Victorian Deserts are amongst those planned for this year . We also enjoy attending trips run by other trip leaders including LROCV members Ellen-Jane Browne in South Gippsland and James Lawson in the Central Highlands and the High Country . A time to relax and enjoy the scenery and learn from other leaders .
Over the years Jim Parker has been a great support , offering me a seat when I didn ’ t own a 4WD and then sharing our vehicles depending on the trip destination . Jim started to drive for me as I was busy with running the trip , navigating , offering commentary over the radio , noting the flora and fauna along the way and photographing and videoing the tracks and bush . Prue took over the driving duties in 2002 and continues to encourage women to enjoy the driving experience . Prue is heavily involved in organising and running trips having been involved in 140 trips .
Over the years we have travelled with so many friendly club members and their families and this keeps us interested in sharing the bush with club friends and new members on club trips . Our 4WD network includes a number of people from other clubs and it is always pleasing to meet trip participants in random places and share stories of past adventures . I have been honoured to be awarded the Club Person of the Year award 10 times since 2000 ( including twice with Prue and