Yesterday, 20 experienced 4WD SES volunteers from across the 7 Units (including 4 from Rivers Unit), plus 1 staff member, took to the Brindabella Mountains to polish up on their advanced 4WD skills, including 4WD recovery. For over 6 hours, snaking along in one long and well-spaced convoy, the 10 vehicles were put through their paces up and down a variety of challenging bush tracks, some of which were very steep and inhospitable! The group encountered many narrow, rocky tracks cleaved by deep ruts, high dirt humps half way up steep slopes, soft edges and loose surfaces. Quite a few of the vehicles (not to mention the drivers!) were pushed to their limits. It is perhaps a testament to the skill of SES drivers, but at the end of the day, the only casualty of the activity was a mud flap of the Rivers Hi-Lux.

 

Knowing how to four-wheel-drive and do it well is a necessary skill for SES Units to have, as we never know what or where our next job will be. The ACTSES offers competency-based driver training (4WD, driving with trailers etc) to the SES volunteer Units about 3 – 4 times a year. Rivers Unit has approximately 8 formally qualified drivers, who are able to handle trailers, wet conditions and all manner of 4WD scenarios.