Janowen Hills Weekend
06th May 2026
By Kim Willett
Janowen Hills Members Weekend
Friday 24/04/26
Danno and I met up with Scotty at Blacksoil and followed him out through Ma Ma Creek on a beautiful scenic drive to Janowen Hills at Goomburra. A nice little added treat for us as we hadn’t been that way before.
We arrived around 11am and set up our camp area. We made a quick lunch and then did a tag along with Scotty and Grizz for a reccie of the track ready for Saturdays drive. While we were in a creek run we came upon a large tree across the track. Scotty then produced the smallest hand saw ever, that gave us all a great laugh, and proceeded to cut into the tree. Grizz then used his winch to break the tree( not where Scotty cut) and we were able to move it out of the way.
Saturday 25/04/26
Gareth had his hands full today with a very large group of new members doing their inductions. Scotty was our trip leader for the other club members for the day. We had 8 vehicles that morning and we left around 9am to wheel on some medium/hard tracks. We did a big loop around and went off to some harder side tracks. One of those was a massive downhill with step offs and large rocks that turned into a creek run. The 80 has a few new pin stripes on the roof and sides. We then stopped and had a little fun in the play pen before heading back to camp for lunch.
Back out again for another drive with a smaller group of 4 cars. We went to a little uphill wombat hole challenge lead by Scotty, then Danno went up with no problems for the 80’s. Young Leigh then had a go in his unlocked single cab Hilux. He gave it a great crack and got hung up half way. Robbie came to the rescue and gave him a winch for a couple of metres and then he was able to finish the rest of the challenge. We gave Leigh drive of the day(unofficially). We also watched Robbie, in the black FJ, do some very technical wheeling. We then met up with the rest of the members for some play on the hills.
4 o’clock-Happy Hour
There seemed to be an extra effort put into the snacks by everyone on this trip. So many yummy dishes to choose from. Matt put in a great effort collecting firewood for our communal fire and big shout out to Grizz who kept the fire well stoked all weekend. Great yarns around the fire and big smiles on all of the new members faces so I think they enjoyed themselves.
Sunday 26/04/26
We went out for an early drive before pack up, with about 8 cars. We went out through the creek crossing and then onto large wombat hole area. We did a technical drop in and out of a dry creek bed for those that wanted to play with a good drive from one of the new inductees, Lachlan. We headed up to the lookouts as a few had not been up there. Time to pack up and head home.
Fantastic weekend thanks to the trip leader Scott Morris. No bad breakages for anyone apart from a side step on Dale’s Mazda, a mudflap from Scott’s 80 and a side mirror from Lachlan’s Patrol.
Written by: Kim Willett
Trip Leader: Scott Morris
