Hema presentation and Q&A 18 Mar 2017 The Gala day was cancelled due to some sponsors unable to attend. However Hema were still keen to do something with the club so as that great song says “never let a chance go by”. It was decided to continue with the Hema presentation. Simon and Emily kindly opened their restaurant early for this to occur (a BIG THANKYOU to them both). So after a quick text message to the members to see who were interested in attending at the new venue. The replies came back thick and fast so within 30 minutes we had 22 people saying that they would come. This blew me away as when I first raised it at a club meeting there was only six members showing interest.
 
So Saturday rolled around and by now we had more showing interest. All up we had around 25 members attend. Simon and Emily had the coffee machine going flat out for a while. The members that attended came for various reasons: They own a HN7 (older device); They own a HX1 (new device) The club owns one as well; They had the app download onto a tablet; Or they were thinking of getting a device.
 
Graeme from HEMA spent the first session on the HN7 showing us how to plot routes, save and recall tracks and logs. We stopped for morning tea and for those that needed a top up of caffeine a coffee. The second session spoke about the new HX1 and the apps.  It was discovered that they are very similar in operation. But each has different benefits. Once again it was mainly about how to plot routes, save and recall tracks and logs.
 
I had some members mention to me that they learnt more in those couple of hours than they have the years they owned the device/ app. This was so true for me as well. I am now reasonably more confident in using the device for what it was intended.
 
There were lots of good questions and discussion throughout the presentation which allowed us to learn even more.
 
For those that attended I am sure that they went away with a better understanding of how to use a Hema product, I know I did. I understand that the club is trying to establish a way on how we can store the trips/ tracks/ routes that members have or do in the future so that they can be shared by all in the club.
 
So in closing thanks again for Simon and Emily without their support we would have had to quickly find a suitable venue. Thanks to all of the members that attended, Graeme was pleased and surprised to see so many there, it made the club look good.
 
See you out on tracks putting what we learnt into practice (if we haven’t forgotten it by then).
 
Cheers
 
Eddie

Click here to Trip report for Mt Mee night run on 11th February We grouped at Dayboro at 5:00pm, signed in and listened to our fabulous trip leader read the riot act and make sure all was good.  Tasks were assigned, Oswald was Sergeant of Arms, Ken  was our Tail End Charlie for the trip, Ray was appointed the honour of writing up the trip report (we all know who did it but don’t we), and Andrew Spencer assigned photographer for the evening.  We reached the air down point, and after everyone had let their tyres down ready for the drive we left at approximately 5:35 and headed off road. This trip is essentially timed to be held around this time of the year when there is a full moon.  This is so we can keep an eye out for the yowies and drop bears and once again they both eluded our convoy as we traversed the tracks through Mt Mee. There were 14 cars in all and we were joined later by our “Care Bear” Russell, the only bear we heard from or saw on the trip.  This took our number to 15. We reached “A Break” at 5:55 and it was still daylight.  Everybody had climbed “A Break” by 6:15 ready to continue onwards and upwards.  Next was a steep incline again travelling one at a time until we were all up the top.  Then we heard the call from “Care Bear” Russell to say he was looking for the convoy at 6:20.  At 6:30 our ever vigilant President Tiny asked trip leader Gary if he could pear off to find “Care Bear” Russell, which he did and by 6:45 both cars fell into place in the convoy. The hills were really great driving in the dark and it was really lovely to see the trees and canopy lit up with all the lights of the convoy.  We were all enjoying a lovely yet uneventful drive until …..  ooops spoke too soon, at 7.00pm as we rounded a sharp right turn to travel up a steep hill our ever faithful Patrol became lodged on a boulder protruding upwards on the edge of a large hole.   Ray had come to a halt with the rear diff sitting atop the boulder and the passenger rear wheel about 2 inches off the ground, which is why we were not able to move.  With lights from the car behind we found a few smaller rocks and placed them under the elevated rear wheel and Ray reversed back without any issues then chose a different line and this time his front drivers side wheel went up off the track as he navigated through the uneven terrain.  After that we were back on the tracks again.  This earnt Ray the title of Rocky. We wound our way through the tracks toward the lookout where we pulled up to have something to eat and stretch our legs at 7:30.  After all tummies were satisfied we pulled out and set off again at 8:00pm.  It was amazing from our position to see the lights of the convoy ahead of us as they wound there way though the bends up and down hills.  The trees and canopy were beautiful.  We were 4th car from Tail End Charlie Ken and had a great view of the cars in front of us.  It was a lovely night meandering through the tracks feeling like you were in a washing machine at times but it was worth it and is all part of the fun of off-roading.  Some passengers feel so good with the rocking motion of the cars on the tracks they somehow manage to fall asleep.   At around 9:15 “Care Bear” Russell found a nice little bog hole and lodged his wheels in the mud.  With Ben’s expert advice and information he managed to get himself out using a technique utilising his hand break in reverse.  Something I would like to learn more about.  After Russell went through everybody else behind went through uneventfully as we learnt from Russell’s little stop where not to go. We pulled into the Gantry at 9:30 and aired up, chatted for a while and left at 10:10.  Some people had already left as soon as they had aired up.  Some of us travelled to Hungry Jacks Kallangur where a last little nibble was enjoyed before dispersing to our homes after what was another great night run thank you Gary.
​Debbie Sullivan

With 12 days to organise such an event was a big ask,  but we got there in the end and it resulted in a great day for all those who attended.  A great effort was made by all, which led to the filling of a 30m3 hook bin and amongst the debris, we could possibly have rebuilt someone's 4WD with the amount of parts and panels found.   After feeding all the troops, some went for a play and others went home as I made a dash to empty the last 8x5 trailer of recyclables and tyres to the Tip   I would to thank DDU for there efforts, a shout out to the boys from Rum City for making the trip.   Thank you to HQ Plantations, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Council for there support. Looking forward to next year!