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Ruts and Ridges FWDV News Feb 26

Ian Fletcher | Published on 2/9/2026

Ridge and Ruts - February 2026 edition

FWDV Update - Operations Manager Report

The new year is here already and Four Wheel Drive Victoria have been flat out. We've already moved office, see the below article for details, been assisting out in fire affected towns, with an extra focus around the Fawcett region and our now ready to gear up and see plenty of our clubs at the Victorian 4WD Show on the 15^thof Feb, down at Lardner Park.

As detailed further in Ridge and Ruts, our training calendar for the start of 2026 has been released. So if yourself or someone you know is in need of training please have a look and see if dates work for you. Furthermore, if your club is interested in chainsaw training, let us know in the office, we can have a chat about it and set something up.

Please RSVP below for our first President and Delegates day of 2026, we look forward to seeing all there. This will be the first of our planned meetings with clubs, however if you wish to have a FWDV representative at a club meeting don't hesitate to ask. It is always an honour and privilege to attend your club meetings and speak directly to your members.

We look forward to seeing you all out on tracks in the coming weeks as we move through this period of fire danger and get back out to the bush we all love!

Presidents and Delegates Meeting

Please note that the Presidents and Delegates meeting will be taking place at the Manningham Hotel on Sunday 22nd February 2026 from 10am to 12 noon.

Presidents and Delegates please RSVP here:RSVP

FWDV Fire Recovery Work around Alexandra

On Saturday 31st January 2026 Four Wheel Drive Victoria worked with over 15 volunteers assisting with the recent Longwood fires around the Fawcett community (near Alexandra). Great effort from everyone on a hot day.

FWDV are looking at continuing these works each weekend whilst the Alexandra community require the assistance. Get involved and assist us by providing your details and skillset on:Fire Assistance Volunteer Information - Four Wheel Drive Victoria - revolutioniseSPORT

Next volunteer day is planned for Saturday 7th February 2026, meeting at Fawcett Hall at 8am. Why not make one of the volunteers days a club trip, just let us know. If you are planning on attending on the 7th Feb, please RSVP here:Fire Assistance Volunteer Information - Four Wheel Drive Victoria - revolutioniseSPORT

If you require any other information, please feel free to contact Daniel onoperations@fwdvictoria.org.auor contact the FWDV office.

New office address

We have a new temporary office address, you can now find us at:

9/653 Mountain Hwy

Bayswater VIC 3153

Please note that the above address is also the postal address. Other details remain the same along with the Office phone number: 8872 7300

What's On:

Please continue to use the What's On Calendar that can be accessed via the FWDV website. Coming events for 2026:

https://4wdvictoria.org.au/index.php

4wd Courses with FWDV

We have our 4wd courses scheduled for the first half of 2026. If any of your members are interested in 4wd training they can enrol directly online.

TheProficiency Courseis a non-accredited course. This means that you still receive a high level of training, but you are not assessed. To view course outline and course dates:click here

Accredited 3 Unit Courses
Note all sessions must be attended.

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

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

For more information regarding our Accredited 4wd courses, clickhere

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

Use the link here to find upcoming accredited courses:4wd training

For 4wd Training FAQ's:click here

Please select that you are a club member to obtain your discount when enrolling into a course.

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Trackwatch Magazine

The Summer edition of the Trackwatch Magazine is available for you to read online.

Does your club have a special event coming up or have recently celebrated one? Been on any exciting club trips lately? What about volunteering projects your club is involved in?Or maybe you have fresh ideas you’d like to see featured in Trackwatch?

Share your stories and photos with us.You can email the office at:office@fwdvictoria.org.auor send them directlyhere

Victorian 4wd Show

Fast approaching is the Victorian 4wd Show taking place on Sunday 15th February 2026. Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria proudly bring you the Victorian 4wd Show at Lardner Park, Warragul. FWDV will be there with a stand along with some of our other affiliated clubs, make sure that you pop in and say hi to the team. For more detailsclick here

FWDV Club Training Audit

Four Wheel Drive Victoria is continuing their review and audit of club training.

Daniel will continute to contact clubs who have a Driver Training Unit. This is being completed to ensure FWDV are always constantly improving in what we deliver and making sure that clubs are able to deliver a high standard of training to their members.

Please keep an eye out for Daniel's email. If you're club hasn't been contacted as yet they will be soon.

If your club has other training requests from FWDV please let us know and this will also form part of the review.

New Campfire Regulations - Consveration Regulator

As summer continues, so do patrols at campgrounds across Victoria.

While it’s the traditional time of year for family camping and night-time campfire fun, it’s also the time of year when an escaped campfire can turn into a devastating bushfire within minutes.

That’s why Conservation Regulator patrols are out in parks and forests, enforcing Victoria’scampfire safety ruleswhich include keeping campfires supervised at all times, and fully extinguish them with water before leaving.

Patrols are also continuing to educate campers about recent changes to the campfire safety rules - including one important change: it’s now prohibited to dig a trench to construct a campfire.

Anyone wanting to light a campfire in national parks must use one of the purpose-built fireplaces provided, while in State forests they also have the option of using a portable firepit.

Addtional note:Please remember not all camping areas are open as yet due to the recent and current fires across Victoria. Please ensure that you check areas that you are planning on visiting prior to travelling and please stay away from affected areas.

Sites to check:Parks Victoria,VicEmergency,CFAandMore to Explore

Club Anniversary's

Do you have a Club Anniversary or special event coming up? Please let us know here at FWDV as we would love to share your anniversary or special event with our 4wd community.

You can either leave your details onlinehereor send your information tooffice@fwdvictoria.org.au

Club Members can be Emailed Directly

If your club members would like to be added to our email listing to be emailed items such as Ridge and Ruts or advised when Trackwatch has been released please let us know. We are more then happy to add your club members to our Revolutionise Sport database for emails to be sent directly to them. If at any point the club member no longer wants to receive emails they can simply unsubscribe. Please send your lists to the FWDV office atoffice@fwdvictoria.org.au

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

Get involved and continue the great effort to support Lifeblood.

For more details

Follow us on social media!

Our Partners

Contact Us

Eoffice@fwdvictoria.org.au
P+61 3 8872 7300
A6/27 Thornton Cresent, Mitcham
Whttps://www.4wdvictoria.org.au/

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