The founders of the Troopy Adventures Facebook page have also played a huge part in raising thousands of dollars for charity over the past few years.

Troopy Adventures and the Troopcarriers of Australia have hosted the Winter Ramble, a charity campout for for Troopcarrier drivers, each year since 2014.

Their first event was a summertime gathering called the “Show and Shlurp’, which included a canned food drive.

The following year the Winter Ramble was born, and the crew has been “freezin’ for a reason” for a mid-July weekend every year since – experiencing temperatures as low as minus-eight degrees.

After outgrowing its original location near Gloucester, the ramble moved to Coorongooba Campground in Wollemi National Park in 2015.

In 2016, the event raised almost $5000 for Southern Cross Kids Camps (an organisation that supports children who have been subjected to abuse, neglect or domestic violence).

In 2017, the ramble organisers turned their attention to leading mental health research organisation, the Black Dog Institute.

Cal says they decided to support the Black Dog Institute due to a few members of the Troopcarrier community taking their own lives.

The ramble doesn’t just raise funds, but also awareness of mental health, and creates a sense of community that could provide great benefits for people who may be struggling.

“The event has grown pretty organically through like-minded people who enjoy the camping, travelling and outdoors lifestyle,” Cal said.

“And it’s that sort of lifestyle and feeling of belonging to a community I believe that can cure anxiety and depression in a lot of blokes.”

Last year’s Winter Ramble attracted a record number of Troopies (194) and raised more than $15,000 for the Black Dog Institute.

The 2018 edition – held from July 13 to 15 – was attended by about 300 people in 165 trucks, including visitors from Japan, and raised $18,500.

Father-of-two Dan says the ramble is a really family-friendly event, with a family camp zone and the main ‘party’ area around a huge bonfire.

The bulk of the funds are raised through a raffle and auction.

“This is always good for a laugh and a bit of banter – 300 people encircled around a Troopy bidding like mad,” Dan said.

This year’s auction even fetched $55 for a bag of lettuce (or ‘vegan bacon’, as Dan calls it).

“Basically, it’s a fun weekend of light-hearted activities to raise a few bucks for people doing it a bit tough,” Dan said.

Find out more about the Black Dog Institute’s work at www.blackdoginstitute.org.au.