b'In the spirit of reconciliation, we Phone 03 8872 7300T he Four Wheel acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.FROM FWDVCEOFOUR WHEEL DRIVE VICTORIA Drive Victoria 50th The peak representative body for all Anniversary Event, held Victorian four wheel drivers since 1975 from 17 to 19 October in Merrijig, was a Victoria Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs Inc. huge success. A special thank you to those who put Level 1, 6/27 Thornton Cres, Mitcham, VIC 3132 it all together, including volunteers too, as well as to Email office@fwdvictoria.org.au the clubs and members who attended and helped Website www.4wdvictoria.org.au make the celebration possible. We appreciated ARB ABN 40 891 301 368, ASSN A0013539S, RTO 21605 for being the major sponsor of the event, Mansfield Print Post PP 100005076 Shire Council for being the host partner and all the BOARD OF MANAGEMENTother partners, vendors and suppliers too.EXECUTIVE Four Wheel Drive Victoria recently secured multi-President Simon van den Berg year government funding for four years. $100k Vice President Gordon Porter per year, equaling to $400k, which ensures special Secretary Robyn Burke projects can be planned out each year and up until Treasurer Evan Wellard FY 2029. Next steps, KPIs and consulting will occur GENERAL COMMITTEE in early 2026 on this, including which objectives and Gareth Milloy, Eric Bishop, Carl Costolloe and deliverables are to occur within the scope of this.Fred de Gooyer. The clubs and members continue to do TRACKWATCH outstanding volunteer work out in the community, Editors Four Wheel Drive Victoria team especially around track clearing projects, wildlife Email office@fwdvictoria.org.au working bees, hut rebuilding, land managers Individual Contributors Frank Amato, Heath Glass,assistance and more. The work does not go Gordon Porter, Robyn Burke, Bruce Shelley, Prueunnoticed and has a broad reach.Hasler, David Butterworth and Robin Purchase.The Victorian Government has released the 2026 Copy Deadline next issue Eminent Panel for Community Engagement 15th February 2026 for Autumn 2026 issue (EPCE) and the Great Outdoors Taskforce (GOT) 15th May 2026 for Winter 2026 issue final reports and has provided a response to their 15th August 2026 for Spring 2026 issue recommendations. The Victorian Government is 15th November 2026 for Summer 2026 issue investing $30 million in its initial response to the Advertising ceo@fwdvictoria.org.au Recommendations through 4 key actionsDesign and Artwork by Jaz Effect Design 1.Protecting our environmentCover picture: 50th Anniversary celebration. 2.Resetting the management framework for Photo by Franko Amato state forestsAll material appearing in Trackwatch magazine is copyright.3.Working together for healthy forestsReproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without4.Driving recreation and tourism investments prior written consent. Freelance contributions and submissionsin regional economies.are welcome by this magazine. No responsibility is acceptedYou can find the Governments Response and the for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, etc. The opinionslatest news from GOT and EPCE via their website.expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of FourOn Wednesday, 19 November, the Parks and Wheel Drive Victoria. All statements made, although based on information believed to be reliable and accurate, cannot bePublic Land Legislation Amendment Bill passed guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any article or advertisement. Advertisers agree to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material. TRACKWATCH|Summer 2025 3'