News / Articles

In partnership with Parks Victoria, the seasonal road closures are now in effect across the state.To ensure tracks are available during the warmer months of the year, many roads and tracks are seasonally closed to vehicles. The information can be found at Parks Victoriahereand DEECAhere

FWDV will hold a club Presidents and Delegates meeting on Saturday, 14 June. This provides a unique opportunity for club Presidents to network together, and for FWDV to present current and future directions, understand club challenges, and what support may be required.

The National 4x4 Outdoors Show is 22-24 August 2025 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Thank you to those clubs who have registered to attend and exhibithere.

Welcome to the Ronin 4x4 Club and its members. After a number of years, the club has re-affiliated with FWDV again. The club is based in Lara.

Communication and digital continues to be one focus, with us seeing an increase of 49.4% in organic reach and a 122.7% increase in content interactions in the past six months on all platforms.

The association also saw a 40% increase in associate memberships in the past year. FWDV will continue to monitor industry trends and member feedback and strive to ensure value-added benefits are built upon. Look for further partner benefits to bereleased soon.

The Four Wheel Drive Victoria 50th birthday celebration weekend is in the planning phase, 'save the date' for the weekend 17-19 October 2025. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

As always, FWDV is committed to advocating access to the broad and collective network of tracks in Victoria and will continue to prioritize this as objective number one, both strategically and operationally.

CraigandTeam

What's on 2025

June:

14: Presidents and Delegates Meeting

27-29: Mildura Outdoor Show

https://www.outdoorlivingcaravanexpo.com.au/mildura/

July

August:

22-24: National 4x4 Outdoors Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds

https://4x4show.com.au/melbourne

October:

6: FWDV Annual General Meeting

17-19: FWDV 50th Anniversary

National 4x4 Outdoors Show

22-24 August 2025 - Melbourne Showgrounds

Viewhere

As part of being affiliated with Four Wheel Drive Victoria, clubs have an exciting opportunity to be part of the National 4x4 Outdoors Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

• Free club exhibition and allocated space to promote the club, membership, trips, or vehicle/s
• Complimentary three-day tickets for those members/volunteers managing the club's exhibition on-site
• If your club is attending, do you have a member who would like to take the stage and speak to the public about your club adventures.

Note for affiliated clubs who are not attending, there is an opportunity to provide club marketing material or brochures. These will be displayed to the public via FWDV. Please provide these to FWDV by Wednedsay 20 August.

Additionally, FWDV will promote all clubs via the 'Club Finder' featurehereon digital displays. If this requires updating please contact the office.

FWDV Afffiliation Fees 2025/2026 Due

As per rule 12 of the Victoria Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs Inc, the annual member subscription will be adjusted and increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate using the December quarter as released from the ABS, and rounded to the nearest dollar.

The Four Wheel Drive Victoria Board has determined that the affiliation per member fee for the new financial year 2025/26 will be $60.00.

The temporary membership fee will remain at $15.00 per member.

Next steps:

1) Determine the club's current and projected members up to 30 June 2026 and complete the template by downloading itHERE

2) Submit club member numbers, current committee, and member detailsHERE

3) FWDV will issue an invoice to the club.

4) Payments by clubs ideally to be received by FWDV by 30 June 2025. (existing club and member insurance for 2024/25 ceases 11:59pm 30 June 2025).

Thank you

FWDV Accredited Chainsaw Course

We are pleased to announce the next Accredited Chainsaw Course as per the following details.

The pricing for the chainsaw course for members is $495.00 per student (note general public are charged $950.00 each, therefore proving a great member benefit).

The course comprises 2 nationally recognised units of competency:

FWPCOT2254 Maintain Chainsaw. This unit addresses the following topics.

Plan and prepare for maintenance.Conduct chainsaw maintenance.

Complete maintenance records and clean up.

FWPCOT2273 - Trim and cut felled trees. This unit addresses the following topics.

Prepare for trimming and cutting

Visually assess felled trees

Plan cutting

Use chainsaw to trim and cut trees

Complete equipment maintenance

Safety is emphasized throughout the course and ensures that WHS requirements are demonstrated.

Dates & Times:

Theory – Thursday evening 26th June 2025(approx 4 hours)

Time – 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start

Location – FWDV Office - 6/27 Thornton Cres, Mitcham

Practical – Saturday 28th& Sunday 29th June2025 (2 full days)

Time – 8:00am for a 8:30am start to approx. 4pm

Location:Pakenham – exact location point TBC

Pre Course:

• Please use manual enrolment form attached below and return to the FWDV office.
• Note on the form which FWDV club you are a member of and whether or not you have your own chainsaw and if it is electric or petrol.
• Ensure all fields are completed including USI number (to find or create a USI please go tohttps://www.usi.gov.au/)
• Participants will be provided with a Learner Guide to download and read and a Theory workbook to download, print and attempt the answers prior to the course. Hard copy Learner Guides will be handed out at the Theory session.

Personal requirements:

Camping - available on site

BYO chair, camping gear and food & beverages.

Clothing to suit weather conditions including hat.

If you feel unwell prior to the course, please DO NOT ATTEND THE COURSE and notify our Office as soon as possible.

Chainsaw Practical:

• Each participant MUST HAVE OWN PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUPMENT (PPE) Helmet, Ear muffs, Visor, Safety chaps or trousers, Hi-Vis safety vest, Steel cap/solid boots and Leather gloves. NOTE: failure to comply with PPE gear will exclude you from participating in the course.
• Your chainsaw must be operational, in good working order, comply with Australian Safety Standards and you are required to bring the specific operation manual
• 5 Litres fresh fuel (unleaded, not E10)
• Bar Oil (if using own chainsaw)
• Mixing Oil (if using own chainsaw) – please do not mix prior to the course
• Plastic wedge/s (150mm or 200mm)
• Small stump vice
• Chainsaw sharpening kit (ensure file matches chain pitch)

Please note the attached ‘Student Equipment Requirements to Participate’ document.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Enrolment Form

Student Equipment Requirements to Participate

RTO 21605

FWDV Proficiency and Accredited 4wd Courses

Proficiency Course in June 2025

Theory:17th June 2025, evening session via Teams
Practical:21st June 2025, all day at the Toolangi Training Ground

The course covers the following topcs:

• Basic understanding of four wheel drive vehicles and their technical aspects
• Four wheel drive techniques
• Recovery techniques
• Driving in a range of terrain
• Water crossings

Please note both sessions must be attended.

Participants wil be presented a Certificate of Particiapation.
Club member: $255.00
Non club member: $440.00

Accredited 3 Unit Course in July 2025
Theory:15th July 2025, evening session online via Teams
Practical:19th and 20th July 2025, both days at our Toolangi Training Ground

All sessions must be attended.

This is an accredited course which combines the following 3 units of competency.

• FWPCOT3325 - Operate a 4wd on unselaed roads
• FWPCOT3326 - Recover four wheel drive vehicles
• FWPCOT3329 - Perform complex 4x4 operations

The course covers the following topics:

• Basic understanding of four wheel drive vehicles and their technical aspects
• Four wheel drive techniques
• Recovery techniques including:
  • Winching with an electric winch
  • Using a hand operated winch
  • Recovery with traction aids
  • Kinetic recovery
• Driving in a range of terrain
• Water crossings

Candidates who are assessed competent in the unit requirements will be awarded a statement of attainment.

Club member: $495.00
Non club member: $950.00

To learn about the difference between an accredited and non accredited course please view our student handbook byclicking here.

For more information please see the FWDV website:Click here
RTO 21605

Trackwatch - Autumn 2025 Edition

Please see below the digital version of Autumn 2025 'Trackwatch' via the FWDV website.

View ithere

For clubs yet to submit the number of hard copies required for members, please clickhere

(One submission per club)

'Victorian Four Wheel Drive Centre' (Rowville) and the 'Four Wheel Drive Victoria Training Ground' (Toolangi) - Update

The VFWDC is currently at the pre-application submisson status with Knox City Council. A Traffic Impact Assessment stage with proposals from organisations is in progress to then submit the report as part of the process. The Property Management Committee (PMC) is due to meet in June to work through the next steps.

The Four Wheel Drive Victoria Training Ground is at a staged phase and in-planning to make an all year round location due to weather impacts, Murrrindindi Shire and DEECA are also enagaged in the process and required approvals. FWDV will continue to deliver training on-site and will review the next steps for stakeholder access post-winter.

Club Anniversaries

If your club has recently had a special anniversary we would love to see any pictures or add an article to Trackwatch to help celebrate. Please get in contact with the team.

Hut Maintenance from Wangaratta 4x4 Club