Nissan Beyond Hotham - Trip Leaders

Our wonderful trip leaders are the heart and soul of Nissan Beyond Hotham. Incredibly experienced and knowledgeable in 4WDing and the Victorian High Country area, they are carefully hand picked by our Track Master Gavin Moody. Our trip leaders volunteer their time to show you their ‘back yard' and for the pure love they have for 4WDing in this beautiful part of north east Victoria. In fact, they don't see Nissan Beyond Hotham as “work” and relish any opportunity to get their vehicle kitted up and ready to roll out to show you the best 4WDing experience ever!

Below are our trip leaders from 2012, we expect to see them all back again in 2013 for more 4WD adventures, tales and yarns!

		Gavin Moody Nissan Patrol tray Track master for Beyond Hotham Born and bred in the bush 25 years of organising and conducting trips in the high country Over 30 years 4x4 experience Plant Manager with the Mt Hotham Resort Management Board Extensive knowledge in the mining history of the high country

		Nicole Epema Nissan Navara STX twin cab Village master Beyond Hotham Operations Manager with the Mt Hotham Resort Management Board 25 years snow driving and recreational 4x4 experience SES Deputy controller with qualifications in road rescue and 4x4 Interests include local history

		Geoffrey M Boulton Land Rover Discovery Over 25 years full time professional experience in the 4WD industry including: Managing and operating a 4WD accessories store. Leading organised tours in the Blue Mountains, Victorian High Country, Simpson Desert, Gulf & Cape York and across the Kimberley. Designing, conducting and assessing a wide range of nationally accredited 4WD & related courses. Currently contracted to the Australian Army managing their electronics training.

		Graeme Price 80 Series Landcruiser Over 25 years of recreational 4WDing experience: Organised and lead numerous Catered 4WD trips for local charity organizations. Has taken trips into the Simpson, Flinders Ranges, The Red Centre, across the Plenty & Donahue Hwys… and too many others to mention in our surrounding high country. Loves his 4WDing, fishing, camping, the missus & kids. I own & operate my own business in the quarrying ind.

		Doug Incoll Senior Sergeant of Police Victoria Police member for 33 years: Based at Bright (8 yrs) and is in charge of the Alpine stations (inc. Falls Creek and Mt Hotham). 31 years of extensive 4WD experience. Has knowledge of and experienced most of the 4WD tracks in Victoria (particularly the High Country). Has coordinated and managed countless search and rescue operations.

		Brian Vowles Landrover Discovery 3 Born and bred on a farm, Brian has been driving all sorts of vehicles and machinery from the tender age of 6. With a passionate love of exploring and the outdoors, 4WD’ing has been a primary means of achieving this goal (mostly in Landover’s, starting with a SWB Series 11 soft-top). In his early 20’s Brian became involved with the construction of the Tanderra Ski Lodge at Mt Hotham, and has now been involved with Mt Hotham for over 40 years. He believes that the alpine wilderness surrounding Mt Hotham is one of the most unique and beautiful areas in Australia that offers wonderful adventures for all types of adventurers in both summer and winter.

		Steven Gribble Toyota Landcruiser tray Extensive knowledge in mining history of the high country. Local born and bred 25years of exploring the high country mine sites 25 years driving 4x4 Senior plant operator for the Mt Hotham Resort Management Bush Mechanic Passion includes the high country

		John Flemming Nissan Navara New to four wheel diving since 2006 Member of City West four wheel drive club Completed Basic Driving Training Enjoyed Beyond Hotham 2010 so much I am back for more.

		Garry Doyle Nissan Patrol GU National Training Manager for Nissan Australia Was taught to drive 4WD in the army in 1971 and has owned 4WD vehicles since 1982. The last two have been Nissans. He is a qualified 4WD instructor and trip leader and conducts training internally for Nissan Staff. Has designed, developed and assessed 4WD courses. Currently developing a “How to 4WD DVD” with Pat Callinan designed to cover the accreditation requirements.

		Howard Blegg Nissan GQ Patrol Purchased first 4WD 1962 Belonged to 4WD Clubs last 30 Years Organised and led trips into the Simpson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Great Australian Bight, Kimberly region and Victorian High Country. Active in the Bairnsdale 4WD club

		Graham Harris Toyota Landcruiser tray 2008, 09, 10, 11 and 2012 Beyond Hotham Trip leader Driving instructor & leading fire-fighter- driver 1 MFB (retired) 25 years 4x4 club membership, trip co-ordinator and committee member Organised and led over 100 4wd day and overnight trips (many in the Victorian high country and as far as the Flinders rangers and Cape York ) Passions include 4wding; Victorian and NSW high country, hut photography, safe 4x4 techniques, on and off road motorcycling.

		Andy Keily Toyota Landcruiser Tray Andy has been in the automotive industry for 20 years and has been 4x4 driving for 15 of those years, the last 10 here in the high country. Has been a member of the Beyond Hotham team since its beginning in 2008. Employed with the Mt Hotham Resort Management Board as an over-snow and plant mechanic.

		Trevor Taylor Nissan Navara Tray Having grown up on a farm and my father having a spot mill started driving tractors and 4WD from the age of 8. This included hay carting, stock work, dragging logs so spent a lot of time in the bush. With my keen interest for nature bush walking, caving, camping, snow skiing and exploring old mines always getting there by 4wd as well as many searches with the SES. My vocation lead me onto mining and Antarctica where l also used 4wds. I also race in the Finke Desert Race each year to keep my desert skills up to speed .

		Ian Carter LWB Landcruiser Ian was born in Auckland New Zealand 63 years ago. He moved to Australia in 1967 and has been here ever since. After leaving school Ian began his working life learning to become a butcher. From here he moved into the mining game and worked for Utah Mining building a tunnel for the Hydro scheme on the South Island . After moving to Australia he has worked at Mt Isa in Queensland , Rosebery and Queenstown in Tasmania as a hard rock underground miner. Then at Muswellbrook and Liddell Collieries in NSW again as a hard rock miner, all for a total of twenty three years. Using percussion drills for all these years caused Ian to develop Reynaud's Disease in his hands resulting in him having to give up this employment. Since then he has become more interested in golf, camping, and in particular gold detecting. In 1969 Ian and Jan purchased their first 4x4, a Series 11 Land Rover. On to today where he now has a more modern LWB Landcruiser. The first trips away were hair raising to say the least. Jan remembers well going out for fire wood and Ian having to prop the side of the Land Rover with a spar to keep it from rolling down a hill. By trial and error (many errors), he learnt that 4x4's can't go everywhere nor do everything.

		Ross Gorel Nissan Patrol Tray SES Member for 10 years. Completed 4WD Training Courses. (Basic & Advanced). 20 years of recreational 4WDing experience. 12 years Bairnsdale 4WD Club member and past President. Organized and led trips into Simpson Desert and Flinders Ranges , Kimberly, Cape York and Gulf, and Victorian High Country.

		Paul O’Riley Jeep Cherokee 3 years with Nissan Beyond Hotham Qualified Motor Mechanic, now mostly bus and coach. 3 years Army Reserve, Qualified on most vehicles with tyres 4x4 and 6x6 truck. Recovery mechanic 6x6 heavy tow truck driving instruction. CFA Firefighter 25 years. Driver all 4x4 vehicles and driver trainer. Owner small bus & coach business.