Annual Report: Pajero Club 2020
We can say with some confidence that the Pajero Club has never had a year that splits so clearly into two
halves. Until early 2020 we had strong attendances at our meetings, many new members including new trip
leaders and a set of outstanding training courses. From March 2020 it has been off, then on, then off again as
Covid-19 restrictions come into force. Through all this the Members have been very supportive, have backed
the Committee decisions, and been most understanding when we cancel meetings, courses and trips. Behind
the scene the Committee and sub-committees have been working harder than ever to keep in touch, ensure we
all support one another, and finalise a whole series of improvements for the Club.
Much of the program for the Pajero year arises from the Committee’s February Strategy meetings as our
opportunity to identify the big issues for the Club and make plans to tackle them—but not all at once. We set
a goal for 2020 to position the Club for the future; and, from that resolve, we ask the question “Is there a better
way: how can we improve?”. Members have been most responsive to the need for change and then putting
their efforts towards making improvements happen.
The financial position of the Club is sound despite Covid-19 and some years of running a deficit. We took
immediate action in early 2020 to reduce our expenditure, to communicate regularly with members, and
monitor the implementation of Wild Apricot carefully especially given its critical role during membership
renewal. The budget has tightened a little to ensure our recurrent expenditure does not get ahead of our income
and so that we stay within the legal purposes of the Club. We have moved to a full double-entry, accrual
accounting system with more appropriate software, and the longer-term benefits including cost saving on
software will become apparent when the Club returns to regular meetings and trips.
The monthly meeting structure has retained the mid-evening break for socialising, shop sales, supper and to
make trip arrangements. External talks are being kept to 5-15 minutes in length on the basis that members who
are interested have avenues for further questions during supper. We have avoided any public fund-raising
campaigns by the Club however worthy the cause; and in their place, we have encouraged more engagement
to support our regional communities through visits, special trips and working bees. Larger member name
badges were introduced as a trial for some meetings, and they are now being phased in over time. As I write
this report in lockdown, we can only wear our larger badges around our homes. Once the Club meetings resume
the larger printing will seem an inspired decision as we stand 1.5 m apart to maintain social distancing.
Club trips were very active through 2019 covering Victorian high country, desert, sand dunes and simply
touring. Farther afield longer trips covered every State including the iconic central Australian must-do
ventures, and we even had a trip across USA. Many trips were fully subscribed, and several members took
matters into their own hands to lead their first and subsequent trips to their locations of choice. All training
has been very well received and remains a real strength of the Pajero Club. The new Skills weekend is popular,
the first Advanced course was held for some years and in early 2020 a chain saw course was run through
FWDV. Bushfires will always be a feature of the Victorian summers but their impact increases as many more
people venture into the forests and new houses support the tree-change movement. We cannot stop thousands
of years of summer fires but we can prepare by knowing the rules, organising our vehicles, understanding the
weather conditions, knowing our escape route options and accepting that we might be switching to plan B, or
even having to cancel trips.
Biosecurity has become an important issue in regional Australia as the nation continues to safeguard our
agricultural industry and its enviable reputation in the world economy. Covid-19 has recently shown us how
small outbreaks can rapidly become global. In the Pajero Club we need to be aware of the potential for our
vehicles to spread weeds and disease between Victoria, Cape York and the Simpson Desert, just as examples,
and we are encouraging thorough vehicle washing as we leave these areas and return to the bitumen.
Our Exceed magazine remains an important medium for communication with members and everyone can
choose an electronic version and hard copy. We are realising that the hard copy can be a powerful agent for
raising interest in joining our Club amongst non-members if we use the copies effectively at shows, with
visitors and colleagues, at work and in showrooms.