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News Events July 2021
Enter your 4x4 in the Custom Plates Show ‘N’ Shine Competition
After a successful debut in Brisbane, Melbourne enthusiasts now have the opportunity to showcase their 4x4 at the National 4x4 Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo, at the Custom Plates Show ‘N’ Shine, from 20 to 22 August.
Local entries are invited to showcase their vehicle, whether it be old or new, a battle-hardened offroader, a practical work rig or a weekend show pony, with the call for entries now open via 4x4show.com.au/melbourne until 23 July.
Shortlisted nominations will be given the opportunity to display their 4x4 at the event, with the winners in each category receiving $250 in cash, as well as other prizes and trophies, with the best in show from both Saturday and Sunday receiving a $495 Custom Plates gift voucher.
Categories include the Rough & Tumble, focusing on functionality and offroad capabilities, emphasising aspects such as body armour and roll cages, The Tough Tradie, which is dedicated to multi-purpose capabilities such as canopies, storage and towbars, and the Terrific Tourer, which focuses on good towing loads, fuel efficiency and strength.
Jon Perry, Event Director, said they are excited to announce VicRoads Custom Plates as a sponsor of Show ‘N’ Shine.
“While the event draws together the very best displays for the offroad aftermarket, the Custom Plates Show ‘N’ Shine aspect showcases a massive array of street-legal modifications from some very creative owners that is sure to excite the crowds,” he said.
Alongside the competition, other events include displays from the country’s top outdoor lifestyle brands, performances and activities, entertaining visitors and allowing them the opportunity to test out the latest and greatest machinery over a variety of terrain types.
Hema Maps will be exhibiting this year at the Expo and can be found at stall 415.
Victoria Now Has New National Parks and Reserves
Victoria’s central west will have 65,106 hectares of new national parks to protect the area’s unique environment as well as to give locals and tourists alike more outdoor experiences.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, said the national parks and reserves will protect habitat for rare and threatened species and will increase recreation and tourism in the region.
“These changes will improve how we manage and care for our precious natural environment, and will ensure these areas can be used for recreation for generations to come,” she said.
The new parks will be formed by linking already existing forests, parks and reserves, with the largest bringing together Lerderderg State Park and much of the current Wombat State Forest to create a new national park covering more than 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.
Existing nature and bushland reserves will be expanded by a further 7560 hectares, with some parks in regional areas being expanded by 27,735 hectares.
The new national parks will provide Victorians access to more locations to camp, four-wheel drive and horse-ride across the central west.
The change from state forests to national parks, however, means activities like recreational shooting, gold prospecting and firewood collecting will no longer be allowed.
The announcement builds on a further 186,000 hectares already protected from timber harvesting issued in November 2019 and when logging of native forests ends in 2030, a further 1.8 million hectares of forest is set to be protected.
“We’re listening to the communities that use and care for these areas and balancing the needs of public land users, industry and the environment,” D’Ambrosio said.
New Quantum Physics Water Filtration System
Australian company The Thirsty Nomad has designed a water purifier that uses quantum physics to destroy 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses in water, including E. coli, a first for the Australian caravan market.
According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, there should be no E. coli in healthy drinking water and despite the specification of 0 colony-forming units (cfu) of E. coli in 100ML of water, existing filters on the market currently have no scientifically proven method to ensure this.
The Thirsty Nomad Founder and Executive Director, Tory Shenstone, said there is a lack of understanding in the caravan sector about microbiologically safe water.
“We could see that caravanners, such as retirees with compromised immune systems and young families, were being left vulnerable to harmful pathogens in water, by filters that only did half the job.”
Unlike most filters on the market, which comprise loose granular-activated carbon filters, the Thirsty Nomad uses Quantum Disinfection™, a patented technology that requires no chemicals or power.
The ceramic-based filter destroys bacteria using nanoparticles, which facilitate a dense electron exchange, with the result being water with no heavy metals, viruses or bacteria.
The technology has been tested by NATA-accredited independent laboratory Symbio Laboratories and has been eight years in the making, and while at the higher end of the water filter sector, the Thirsty Nomad says the technology offers durability, strength, quality and longevity.
Prices start at $130 and more information about the technology can be found at thethirstynomad.com.au.
AutoPacific Group Purchases Cruisemaster
The all terrain towing tech company will become part of AutoPacific Group's international vehicle accessories and towing solutions network
In news that will affect almost any Australian interested in camper trailers or offroad caravans, Cruisemaster has announced today that as of 1 July it has joined AutoPacific Group's international network of towing and vehicle accessory manufacturers and retailers.
As Cruisemaster said, “AutoPacific Group originated in 1951 in South Melbourne. Eric Hayman who founded the business has links to this day with the Caravan industry that we are all very passionate about. It is this link and many more that make this step natural for the future of Cruisemaster. Going forward, Cruisemaster will maintain its unique identity. Chris Goddard will step aside and hand the Leadership of Cruisemaster to Andrew Goddard.
“Going forward the new ownership structure will allow Cruisemaster to fundamentally grow, and importantly offer the resources to continue to develop high quality products and remain as the leader in all terrain towing technology.
“Together Cruisemaster and AutoPacific look forward to the next very exciting chapter.”
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