Click here for enlargement of the above photo

George Town has an unique history and is touted as being the oldest Town in Australia (1804) Only the cities of Sydney and Hobart are older. In fact John Batman sailed from George Town to settle Melbourne, Australia. Reminders of the history of George Town are visible in such buildings as The Grove and The Watchhouse. Click on the George Town link which will take you to the historical society page, the full history is at the bottom of the society page.
This period is of special significance to the local community of George Town for this is their Bicentennial Year, in view of this Chapter Members elected to turn the Rally into a two week event to take in all the wonderful programmed events that the township had arranged to celebrate this important mile stone.
Our hosts Don & Sue were on hand to welcome us with a hot drink and we witnessed the local council installing the shower block for our Rally, our members came in over the period with some stopping for the full programme others leaving their Motorhome and returning to work and coming back each weekend.
Early Arrivals
Rally site setup
The events programmed for the bicentennial were plentiful and involved the participation of town residents and in turn there were large visitor numbers involved in the celebrations over the entire period.
Most of us elected to take in the Heritage walk of two kilometres, our guide Peter was excellent with his knowledge and narration which had us all enthralled for the entire journey. We strolled down to the site of the first landing place and first settlement at Outer Cove and then on to take in the many places of interest that are dotted throughout the Heritage walk and finally back to the Watch House to view the history and memorabilia from those past days since the establishment of the town.
Outer Cove first landing and settlement established
Restored Watch House from the 1840's
George Town being an industrial town had not in its early days recognised the need, like many other areas in Australia, to preserve its old buildings, though there were a few buildings from the 1840's that had survived which Peter was able to give the history, not only on the buildings also on the original owners.
Late 1800's Architecture
"The Grove" 1800's
Over the period we were to have many excellent happy hours with many electing in the evening under our yellow tent to play cards or wile away the time listening to the guitar playing of our members. Who can forget the card games especially the cribbage where participants accused each other of bending the rules of the game to suit themselves, there was much laughter from members and urging to stop bending the rules and get on with the game.
Due to the size of our rally we were invited to speak on the local FM Community Radio and outline the rally and speak of the life of a Motorhomer. Our President Ian and Mungo completed the task and from there on we were to have many people look over our motorhome's and seek knowledge of life on the road, there is no doubt, the increased interest is a result of our Quercus Park Rally.
Mungo and our President Ian on the local FM Station
Jim being congratulated by Rally Host Don at the Services Dinner

The township was to benefit from our rally due to our empty cupboards policy on the purchasing of goods and food stuffs at the place of the Rally.
Our Rally could be likened to a small town and was recognised as such by the Shire Council who arranged the cleaning of the ablution block and collection of rubbish on a daily basis also donating a load of wood for our fire at night for warmth and to boil the billy.
Many dined out each evening at the many eateries, restaurants and RSL club, the local butcher without approach donated enough sausages and hamburgers for a Chapter barbecue and when we went to buy more he again donated the short fall, this was the type of welcome our members were receiving when shopping in the town, they were easily recognisable by their CMCA Membership cards. The butcher? Main Street Meats and Deli - located in Macqaurie Street George Town, next to the Mobil Service Station.
So if in the area please stop and purchase your meat and deli requirements there. The barbecue was excellent washed down with twelve bottles of Chardonnay donated by the Tamar Ridge Vineyard. Later on those cribbage players were at it again leading to peels of laughter from onlookers, goodness knows who was winning.
Uncle Dick & Jim cooking and Singing
A few of the members enjoying the Barbecue
It is impossible to list in this happenings page of all that occurred during the fortnight other than to say that Chapter members were grumbling that they would have to go home for a rest there was so much to see and do, another highlight was the Senior's afternoon concert where several of our members recited poetry and sang whilst many of our members served afternoon tea during the concert which was for the senior citizens of George Town. Who can forget the Christmas Parade where we were invited to have a selection of our Motorhome's in the procession also that bandaged person in an historic wheelchair from the 1940's pushed by two of our lovely (men) nurses complete with their hairy legs.
Island Wanderers getting ready for Christmas parade
Fire Service Chevrolet Truck in Christmas Parade
Our rally was coming to an end and even though this was the case the tempo of the celebrations did not, with many members going out to Low Head visiting the Maritime Museum and then on the the light house to see if they could spot the "Lady Nelson" sailing along the coast. Others decided to visit the local vineyards and have a tipple of the many wines on offer, others lazed about and awaited the bed race. The hospital bed race up the main street of George Town is a major fundraiser for the local hospital auxiliary and there were a great deal of spectators who lined the street urging the hospital bed participants to go faster plus hurling all sorts of cheek at the participants. The Island Wanderers Chapter had an entrant in the race with Audrey the bed jockey who had to hang on with dear life, there are not many who use a hospital bed complete with a crash helmet, unfortunately we were eliminated in the early rounds though we would swear that our team actually slowed to a walk to let the other team beat them over the line. Maybe they had learnt their lesson from last year?
Chapter team awaiting start of Hospital Bed Race
Notice that our team have stopped to a walk to allow other team to win?

We had experienced some heavy winds out of the north west which did not bode well for the "Lady Nelson" to arrive to assist in the celebrations of the town, the ship is a replica of the original "Lady Nelson" that accompanied the "H.M.S.Buffalo" which bought the first settlers and convicts to Outer Cove now named George Town. Many of our members had booked on the Saturday evening sailing which unfortunately did not eventuate due to the ship being weather bound on the East Coast of Tasmania.
With the weather changing the "Lady Nelson" was able to sail into George Town on the Sunday morning, so those of us that did not have to return to work stopped over to sail on the Sunday evening.

"Lady Nelson"
Island Wanderers members sailing on "Lady Nelson"
It was a most enjoyable time on the "Lady Nelson"cruising on the river and at times the crew were able to set the sails which was an experience that many of us will not forget. So it was our rally, that was most enjoyable with plenty of entertainment was coming to an end. We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the excellent ongoing work our organising hosts Don & Sue carried out on our behalf, we must also thank the George Town Council and the people of George Town for the excellent reception and on going assistance. When we pulled out of George Town it was with sadness that we said our farewells and turned for home.
Brian a Crewman on the Lady Nelson & Island Wanderer
Sails set on the Lady Nelson
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