A point to ponder me thinks......

I don't know about suuny "Poith" as this summer we haven't had too much of that, but I agree with your thoughts as it seems we are losing more and more of our outdoor pleasures but I am not sure what we can do about it.That is why every year I "break the law" by bush camping wherever I stop without anyone telling me I can't do this or can't camp here or whatever.I am usually well away from anyone and don't leave rubbish,don't leave gates open,don't burn down the place and so far has worked for me and long may it last.

Yes totally agree, what's the bloody ANFWDC doing, never hear a peep. The greenies are going to be the end of our freedom in this country. Maybe David could liase with the ANFWDC and push it on the website to increase awareness etc.

We need to have an active organisation with clout like the CMCA who has only been around for 20 yrs and currently has 45,000 members! It can lobby the authorities effectively with it's weight. It also provides buying power for discounts , insurance etc.
It is very well setup and organised.

Scrubby is a pimple and could easily be forgotten. The only thing I've ever seen in the media is Pat Callihan having a say once and like he has credibility with that bloody stupid magazine he craps on in, seriously he treats us all like beer swilling morons.

We need to setup a committee on this, who's in .......?
John

I always pop into a forum for some info, talk a little chit and then vanish in a puff of wild static.

So here is my static…listen really good people! All of your fun will continue to disappear…everything!!!! And you can do nothing about it!!! Why you ask…IT’S IS A BUSINESS!!!!! 4wd’ing is a growing business and business needs new customers. The more customers the more popular it becomes, more people get attracted because it is a “new thing” and in the process everything surrounding the upcoming trend gets turned into a commodity and get consumed. Unfortunately the surrounding commodity in 4wd’ing is the environment.

It is actually the BUSINESS of 4wd that will be your end. Don’t get bleep at the government, city dwellers, oil companies, your mother…who ever. IT”S THE PEOPLE WHO SELL YOU YOUR GEAR AND PRESS THE MAGS YOU READ! And you can do nothing about it…it is up to them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think about it!

Willem and Pneumatic make good points.

Destinations are becoming more crowded for a whole lot of reasons - including earlier retirement and "the big adventure".

But it's not just the closures etc. that get to me so much, it's the vitriolic criticism of 4X4 owners just because of our choice of vehicle.

Recently I read some research about 4X4 owners that cited most were men, most were self-employed, most were aggressive and most were over-weight.

I was bloody annoyed by the implied message that people who earn their own money, create jobs etc. somehow don't have a right to spend their money the way they wish ... but even more so I was annoyed by the fact that the research even existed in the first place.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of another group of vehicle owners singled out so vigorously ... what about luxury car drivers, motorheads, van drivers, wagon drivers, motorcyclists, bicycle riders? I would exepect that close examination of these groups would uncover equally undesirable attributes.

But no ... let's pick on 4X4 drivers ... they're an easy target and the media lap it up.

Yes the increase in off-road traffic is driven in part by the manufacturers of RVs etc., but these same companys aren't silly enough to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

And it's to these companys that we should be turning to to lobby for the protection of our rights.

The irrational zealots want to remove the right of ownership of a 4X4 from the average Australian - and no car company, accessory manufacturer or industry wholesaler or retailer should stand for such stupidity.

I'm all for taking care of the environment, but I'm dead against excessive government control brought about by the ignorant and vindictive few.

Now ... let me just get down off my soap box ...

Our government has recently spent millions on the "get off your arse" advertising camapaign. The one with the dancing couch. Wouldn't it be better if they spent that money on outdoor recreating and on supporting sporting clubs. In particular with insuarance and liabilty costs.

R.