The idea behind this website came from the unfortunate demise of the 4WDlinks website which had served a lot of us well for a lot of years. As a result I didn’t have anywhere to upload pictures to contribute to the forums that I am a member of.
Taking it one step further, I thought it’d be a good idea to have all of it at the one location and from there I can provide links as necessary.
My background is a bit varied from the norm of society. I started volunteer firefighting back in 1995 in Tasmania with a brigade at a little place called Primrose Sands. From there I have been fortunate enough to have worked alongside fellow volunteers in the Hawkesbury HQ brigade (Windsor, NSW); Katherine Bush Fire Brigade (Katherine, NT); Burra Rural Fire Brigade (just outside of Queenbeyan, NSW); Forest Hill Rural Fire Brigade (Wagga Wagga, NSW); Thurgoonah Rural Fire Brigade (Albury, NSW); Black River Rural Fire Brigade (Townsville, QLD); Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Brigade (Perth, WA); and Cressy Fire Brigade (TAS).
To say that I have met some of the best people a bloke would ever want to meet would be an understatement. I would highly recommend the Tasmanian Fire Service, NT Bushfire Council; NSW Rural Fire Service; WA Fire and Rescue; and the QLD Rural Fire arm of QFRS without any hesitation to anyone interested.
Work wise I am fortunate enough to have more opportunities than I could poke a stick at. I started of from 95-00 as a Baker/Pastrycook. Finding opportunities in Tasmania hard to come by (and still not having grown up enough) I joined the RAAF as a Heavy Diesel Mechanic. I spent 12 great years in various locations before deciding to return to Tasmania (I remained an Active Reservist). Unfortunately the career options were not available so I spent 12 months in Perth as a Workshop Supervisor for BGC Transport. Returning back to Tasmania to drive semi’s and b-doubles, I ended up making the decision to work for the NSW Rural Fire Service full-time.
I would thoroughly recommend anyone interested in the ADF to take the plunge and get into it. It is more rewarding than you’d believe – and if nothing else it gets a damn good trade under your belt.
So where does touring come into all of the above? Well that’s the common theme with all of it (defence, family and fire-fighting). 4WDing and touring has given me so many good times over the years that I’d be lost without it now. I find that spending time with the family is easier said than done with normal day-to-day commitments.
However when you pack up the car and head out – well that’s damn good quality time that you’d normally never get. Add to the fact that the kids are out in the bush/beach/away from the city – well that’s just an added bonus. School might provide the theory of things like the early explorers – but there’s nothing like getting out there and showing them the history. It sticks in their minds better than any textbook ever will.
Anyway, that’s enough about that. I trust that you’ll find this website informative and I hope for those that have never been out there that it gives you motivation to get out and enjoy this country. For those that already do get out there, I hope that there’s information on here that will help you on your way.
Cheers
Chris