Back on the track after COVID punctured 4WD club’s pace

“COVID knocked us around,” long-term member Ian Chapple said.

“We had 50 family members in the past and we’re back to about 35 family members now, so we're in the process of trying to get numbers back up again.

“We're family-oriented and ideally we'd like to get kids back into the club. If the kids are happy then Mum and Dad are happy.”

The club was recently at the Great Outdoor and 4 x 4 Expo in Shepparton running a recruitment drive.

Mr Chapple said the club had a diverse membership, in age, background and level of expertise.

“Our oldest member is 92 years old, and he's as sharp as a tack,” Mr Chapple said.

“The club started in about 1976 and over that period of time, the membership has varied.

“Anybody with limited knowledge, if they want to learn something, we’ll teach you. We have training days, you can have one-on-ones or if there’s a group, we’ll take you out into the bush, in a bush group environment.”

The club’s base is the old Tatura East Primary School, where it holds meetings on the first Wednesday of every month.

The club also organises adventures into the High Country, for day trips or for camping, and even further afield.

“Sometimes we'll head north up into the sand country or sandy places you can go in Victoria and we'll spend two, three, four days,” Mr Chapple said.

“We also get access to some places that are closed off during the winter. We get a key to the gate and the club can go on to these tracks in (state) parks, and we do an inspection of the track.”

Mr Chapple said the club was an ideal introduction to a lifestyle that could take people to beautiful locations while making new friends.

“The thing I really like about camping and four-wheel driving is you get out there with a group of people and it doesn't matter who they are,” he said.

“Everyone's equal. You can be a doctor or lawyer, but no-one knows unless they actually tell you, but you can talk backwards and forwards as if you're good mates.”