History

A Brief History of the South Side 4WD Group

In the early years of four wheel driving in Western Australia, there existed primarily the "Landrover Owners Club" and then in 1971 "The Fourwheel Drive Club of W.A." was formed. Four wheel drive owners all over Western Australia were eligible to join and the membership grew extensively year after year.

Some members of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA" who lived in scattered areas of the south side of the Swan River found that to attend meetings became difficult because of the distance they needed to travel. The extent to which membership numbers were increasing was also a concern to these members, as cliques and factions were forming and the overall management of the club was becoming more difficult because of the sheer numbers. An idea was formed to request the committee of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA" to consider forming an affiliated branch of the club on the south side of Perth.

The initial meeting to discuss the formation of the "Southside Four Wheel Drive Club", as it was originally to be named, was held in a shed in Jim Davies back yard on the 17th June 1981. The following are those that attended this initial meeting and, other than Jim Bullock, were the founding members of the group:

Doug Bartlett

Bill Bullock

Barry Hamilton

Jim Davies

Peter Birch

Dave Gould

Neville Hamilton

Kevin Wallace

Jim Bullock (Visitor)

After a few beers, all the attendees were elected to the committee and Jim Davies was elected as the first President of the Group.

Items that were discussed and generally agreed on at the initial meeting were:

• Limit membership to twenty-five members.

• Memberships open to four wheel drive owners, irrespective of their residential address.

• All nominations for membership approved at the discretion of the committee.

• General meetings to be held on alternate dates to meetings of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA".

• Committee meetings held on the Monday prior to the general meeting.

• Membership fees start at $15 per member. (Fees to be reviewed at later date).

• Code of ethics of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA" to be used as a guide.

• One trip organised per member, per annum.

• "Southside Four Wheel Drive Club" affiliated with the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA".

At this initial meeting the group agreed to write to the executive committee of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA" to outline their proposal, have nomination forms printed and meet again on the 6th July.

On receipt of the letter the executive committee agreed to meet with Jim Davies, Bill Bullock and Barry Hamilton as representatives of the group, to discuss the proposal. The reaction of the committee at this meeting was negative to the move and the proposal was denied emphatically. This result and attitude to the proposal was disappointing to the three petitioners and the other members and, because at this time there was also a growing concern by this group at what was considered to be an ever increasing over-regulation and fund raising focus of the "Fourwheel Drive Club of WA", the group decided to go it alone as a separate club, non-affiliated with the former.

The "Southside Four Wheel Drive Group" was thus formed at the inaugural meeting held on 23rd July 1981 at Wattle Grove Hall off Welshpool Road. Approximately a year later the Group moved the meetings to the Bill Cole Centre in High Road Riverton. The first "run" was held on the 26th July 1981, from south of Yanchep through to Bullsbrook.

The original membership ceiling was twenty-five, purposely small to minimise the possibility of factions forming, have comfortable numbers on trips and be generally easier to manage with a minimum of fuss.

The objective of the original members, was to form a four wheel drive club with a relaxed, laid back, friendly, family atmosphere, with minimal regulations, that participated in regular four wheel drive trips. The members were to be treated with respect, with the responsibility of safety, recovery gear, environmental issues and friendly co-operation in the hands of each member, without having to regulate to make it happen.

It was also unanimously decided by the original members that any funds raised during the course of any year would be channelled back into the club for club activities such as the children’s Christmas party, rather than accumulating excessive funds that sat in a bank account.

These principles still exist today, and rightly so, as this has become the culture of the Southside Four Wheel Drive Group that has developed through the years. All members old and new must cherish this culture and any proposal put forward by any member or considered by any committee in the future, that impacts on this culture must be carefully considered.

Since the formation of the "Southside Four Wheel Drive Group", other clubs have since been formed in Western Australia and it was the Southside Four Wheel Drive Group, through Jim Davies’ foresight, that recognised the need and was responsible for initiating the formation of "The Association of 4WD Clubs" in Western Australia. Barry Hamilton, one of our founding members, actually designed the Association’s logo and won the logo competition prize for his effort.

Southside were also responsible for initiating the acquisition of a seat on the "Offroad Advisory Committee".

Today the Southside Four Wheel Drive Group is a healthy, friendly club, upholding the original objectives of our founders and active in promoting four wheel driving, caring for the environment and participating in regular four wheel drive activities.

Our founding members children now have families of their own and are active members in their own right and continue the tradition of family oriented and friendly interaction.

A special thanks to Jim Davies, for the foresight in developing the group from humble beginnings and to the original founding members who have so ably contributed to the development of the Group, not only in the early years but also on an ongoing basis. Various committee members over the years have worked tirelessly to help in making this Group the best in Western Australia and also deserve thanks for their efforts.

Kevin Roney compiled this narrative outlining the history of the Southside Four Wheel Drive Group, with the invaluable assistance of Jim Davies, Bill Bullock and Barry Hamilton. Jim’s, Bill’s and Barry’s combined recollections and Bill’s penchant for holding onto past records, have provided us with this insight into the Group’s beginnings, original objectives and developing culture and we thank them sincerely for their contribution.