Check out Channel 7 Tonight

This is the You Tube link in the article

The track shown is in poor repair for two reasons.

1. The land owner, SF or NPWS have not done any work in the track for years, The road needs drainage and regular maintenance.

2. Bloody 4WD drivers out on the tracks while the tracks are still wet and muddy.

In dry weather the use of the track is fine, Just blame the Land owner for poor maintenance AND not policing the use during wet weather.

The use of tracks in wet weather DOES need more policing by clubs and individuals

Dunedigger

R yes the youtube phenomenon

One day someone will unwitingly post a video of someone doing something stupid in a sensitive area and all hell will break loose.
The world is getting much smaller with technology.
There are now eyes in the bush!

Although this is a beat up, one day it might your favourite little spot put in the spotlight so look after it.

Didn't see the story but doesn't surprise me about channel 7. Happens all of the time.

Last week they had headlines of "Sudanese gangs terrorise supermarket". The footage they showed as 'proof' were all white people, no Africans at all!!

Shame most people get their so-called 'news' fed to them by these commercial station fools.

Barnesy

Friend of mine rang the news paper in the morning and Fully explained how it is - with such terms as WOMBAT HOLES and such - Also informed them that the 4x4 club he is with often has Clean up days and Tree plantings in various national parks ....

the news papers reply was that they had NO IDEA about all those things 4x4 drivers do and the terminology we use. Makes you wonder how a "reporter" gets a job for a news paper when they ONLY research half of the story ..

Boc

There is one way to at least try and help voice your opinion, and that is don't purchase the papers, don't watch those Tripe TV programs.

I personally refuse to watch or read anything that comes from these media outlets. All they are interested in is sensationalism to try and help flog a crap product.

The unfortunate thing is that there is a large majority of individuals in the wider community who cannot think for themselves and quite happily just believe the vomit they are force fed by these unscrupulous organisations, and form their opinions accordingly.

Firstly I'm not familiar with using this forum however I posted in another topic on this already.


How would you feel if you were out on a club trip driving responsibley, you later see your vehicle shown on the front page of a paper then on the TV and you're being label a reckless hoon who was driving illegally and ruining wombat habitat?

I think it is important that we don't assume what the media portrays as actual fact.

I've attached the link to the Outerlimits 4x4 thread regarding this news article and the people involved in the video.

http://carl.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?t=122843&start=0

Just to clarify, the You Tube video shown involved Club Members on a Club Trip, in no way were they "Hooning" nor were they driving unauthorised or recklessly through Appin.
The video footage dug up by theMacArthur Chronicle is over 9 months old (News must be REAL slow at the moment!)

The video was labelled 'Wombat Holes".
Those who understand four wheel driving terms know this does not imply an actual Wombat Burrow, it simply is a term for a series of dips in a track. In no way are these 'Wombat Holes' shown in the video an existing or previous animal habitat.

If you look at the facts from the OL thread it is quite obvious the story holds absolutely no credit and the article is an insult to responsible four wheel drivers everywhere including the boys and girls in the you tube video.

If they can turn a responsible club day out into a blatant lie and in turn stimulate a media beat up on all four wheel drivers- what chance does any one in Australia have of pursuing any hobby involving and respectful use of the Australian outdoors. It starts with us the four wheel drive community, it won't be long before the media finds a way to twist the truth on water sports, cyclists, trail bikes etc.

The thread holds information on how you can help fight back against such spine-less discrimination against the Four Wheel Drive Community and ensure the media doesn't pursue this avenue of story telling in future.

So in order to provide some balance to the situation why don't one of the clubs, or the individuals concerned contact the programme and ask for some time to show what 4WD clubs do and how they look after the contryside, not ruin it?

There are lots of good constructive actions that the sport takes (as witnessed by the various stories on these forums) - lets get them out there!

It's all well and good pontificating on these things, and being critical - if you want the sport to be shown in a fair light then you will need to force the issue and put yourselves in the spotlight in a responsible manner.

Even though it is exaggerated, we aren't all exactly squeaky clean, you only have to look at the damage done at Huggetts Crossing or the 'circle work' at Merrington's or more recently O'Toole's.
(All in Victoria)