b'answers to questions like what feral with a stop at Happy Jacks Naturalanimals can be found in the park? Reserve free camp, at Lockwood onApparently, some animals can drive road A790. It does experience heavycars. The park was full by the evening truck traffic so the noise is quite highof Easter Saturday, but we still felt like and while there is plenty of flatwe were alone.As the numbers ground, we would not recommend it ifdropped over the next few days our sound sleep is a priority. The nextneed to host reduced and we were morning, we headed home via theable to do the walks and drives I FWDV office in Mitcham to drop offwas in short supply and Hamish mentioned earlier which improved our our Camp Host box. Parking a 9m vanrecommended a return in October/ ability to relate to camper information in a city street is not easy, so weSeptember when the flowers are in requests.With Hamish and Kelly double parked while Wayne ran outbloom and vegetation growth is checking in each day and sharing and picked up the box. Thank you,abundant. their experiences with us we felt very Wayne, that certainly reduced thecomfortable in our role. stress.We arrived home around 1pmDuring our stay we enjoyed over 100 On Easter Tuesday we packed up with plenty of time to clean out theinteractions and had multiple conver- our campsite and cleaned up the van before happy hour once againsations with campers seeking clarifi- hosting material and headed back to beckoned.cation on things to do and places to Rainbow to meet with Hamish for a With the interactions and adventuresgo.We were also able to direct fami- debrief, vanilla slice and coffee. we experienced over the week, welies with children to Kelly, a local Hamish is a great guy and typical of can confidently recommend campranger holding junior ranger programs the rangers working for PV who are hosting and look forward to our nextin the visitors centre. Kelly is a great passionate about their work. adventure out there somewhere.communicator, and the program We again broke up our trip home Tonee & Alanprovided some interesting (funny)Don Little 4WD FarewellThe friendship with Land Roversbegan with a "Fire-engine red"Discovery. Flowers and a bottle ofwine complemented the sale. The carwas good, but the friendshipsdeveloped from that purchase werelifelong.The association with the Land Rover South Australia for the Land RoverOwners Club of Gippsland allowed Jamboree one year. Poor StephenDon to understand what the Land had to put up with "4 snorers accord-Rover was capable of. Over the next ing to Shirl. The Cooma Land Rovertwenty years, Shirl and Don joined the Victoria. The wildflowers were prolific celebrations eluded them with theteam to exciting places. Discovering that year. A carpet of color across the Discovery breaking down one yearour own backyardGippsland, and alps. Don and Shirl enjoyed three near Cann River. the wonders that were on offer. Blue Rag Range trips with the last one There were many other memorableRon Cook led the first trip into the being a Gastronomist delight. Don trips. The Deddick trail, Little RiverGippsland wilderness. Greg Rose led tried food combinations he\'d never camps which we nicknamed:"Flythem down the path, literally, down eaten before. Central "due to the mass of flies thatBilly Goat Bluff Track. Taking in the The trio of good food, good company joined us for roast pork one evening.breathtaking views across the valleys and great locations always prevail The Christmas and Melbourne Cupfrom lookouts, trig points and ridges. with this 4WD club. A memorable weekends scattered across Victoria,A memorable trip was run by early trip to the Omeo region at the and beyond. Travels to Colac Colac,Stephen Dempsey in January 2000. Blue Duck Inn still brings a smile to Mallacoota, Walkerville,Little Annie,The usual clearing of No.21 track with Shirl\'s face as they shared a room where the largest hamburgers werehandsaw to clear fallen trees to with Dot and Ron Prince. Ron devoured. A weekend at BuchanMitchell\'s flat. We developed a suggested to Don and Shirl to take Caves that turned out to be one con-respect for the road drain "whoops, the double bed and Dot and Ron take tinuous coffee, cake and talk days.that would catch the sliding car in the bunk beds as he was "Younger Many cuppa\'s and yarns were spentslippery conditions when clay roads than Don. Ron jumped on the top around fires, pub tables and along theturned to slides. The party explored bunk. This relationship blossomed into water\'s edge. All trips were fondlyThe Howqua Hills track, Tunnel Bend a deep and lasting friendship remembered, there was never a tripand the old-world charms of Fry\'s Hut, between the couples that Shirl and that Don said he didnt enjoy. Upper Jamison Hut and the Howqua Don cherished.Don will be missed from the fireside,Valley splendors. The exciting days The membership to the LROC- the level-headed talker at meetingscoming to an end listening to yarns Gippsland allowed friends to meet in and his quiet strength he presented toaround the campfires at night. different corners of Australia. Don and those around him. In March that year was Don\'s first Shirl joined Alan McCrae, Ian Blake Farewell, Don.Blue Rag Range trip into the roof of and his son Stephen to Blinman,TRACKWATCHJUNE 2021 9'