Also don't forget the convoy idea, another paste from Mick:
"We could RV Melbourne on Monday around lunchtime then over night at Yea, pushing thru to Rutherglen on the Tuesday. It would be a scenic , leisurely , drive. It would be a lot of fun."
The convoy would need plenty of uhf channel 10, its gold.
The convoy would need a series of pre-planned stops where stragglers could join up/catch up.
The initial formup could be on M80 fwy, the western side ring road, north of the calder fwy or road that heads to ballarrat. At a service centre/truckstop of course. Is there one there? Other ideas?