Opinion: Shout-outs during these COVID times

AS Victoria continues in lockdown, any plans to get out for adventures this year have gone out the window. Yes, the 4X4 Australia office is in Melbourne and we are now very restricted in what we can do.

Usually at this time of year we’d be out travelling in the Red Centre, exploring the deserts or hitting the snowy tracks in the alps. In August last year, we escaped the winter for a trip to The Territory, including Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks. Still, a quick getaway I would recommend to anyone if you are able to travel, but there will be no such adventures for us in 2020.

You might have noticed fewer pages in the magazine and not so many travel features of late due to these events. Just dreaming of travel had us conjuring thoughts of our favourite desert trips and we’ve compiled a handful of them for you to consider this month.

We’re lucky enough to have been able to continue producing the magazine at a restricted level during these tough times, and I feel for the many who might have lost their jobs or their businesses to the pandemic. For them, not being able to travel would come from a more serious situation than just being told you’re not allowed to.

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We’re lucky to have a dedicated team of writers and photographers who have offered to continue supplying their services during the tough times and keep supplying material to us. We truly appreciate it.

Also a special big thank you to the team at the Melbourne 4x4 Training & Proving Ground who have continued to allow us access to their property so we can test and photograph cars in an isolated and COVID-safe facility close to Melbourne. Without this help we wouldn’t be able to continue to do what we’re doing.

The 4x4 Proving Ground is not a public 4x4 park, so you can’t just go in there and drive your 4x4. It is used by manufacturers and training providers, and if you are ever thinking of some professional 4x4 driver training you should look them up on the web.

We shot September’s cover car at the facility, and Scott’s Troop Carrier is the best of its breed. Truly an amazing vehicle and it will be interesting to see how it progresses as he continues to equip it for when he, like us, is allowed to get out and about.