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| Click here for enlargement of the above photo |
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| With daylight saving time now a reality in Tasmania
a few of us headed off to our Rally scheduled for Derby located in the
north east of the State on Thursday afternoon with the main group of
members arriving on the Friday. |
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Yellow Canopy Erected |
Motorhome's settling in for the weekend |
The purpose of our rally
in Derby was to join in the festivities of the annual Derby River Derby
which attracts all sorts of flotation devices used in the madcap events
run on the river on the Saturday. On Friday morning we experienced a foggy
morning and in the afternoon many of us went walkabout around the village
and experienced the rebirth of the town with many old original buildings
restored or in the process of being restored.The tour through the historic
Tin Mine Centre with its working display, discovering the rich past of
Derby was a true experience and many of us came away with a greater appreciation
of the hardships endured in the past and the efforts of many of the local
residents ensuring that the township went through a period of rebirth
that attracts many visitors today. |
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Fog down the Valley and River |
Fog over Town and Rally |
At the Friday happy hour
our host and committee person Liz welcomed all; especially those who have
returned after wintering in the northern part of Australia and wished
Madge, Stuart, Vicki and Brian a happy birthday, as usual there are few
secrets amongst chapter members as those who had birthdays recently found
out. Liz welcomed Stuart & Leonie and Gary a solo who were first timers
who joined the Chapter. Friday evening the majority of us adjourned to
the one of the hotels for a counter tea, in true laid back country fashion
the meal, though excellent took considerable time to be delivered to our
table, though on a positive side it gave us all an opportunity to meet
many locals and competitors for Saturday's madcap river derby. By this
time the towns population had exploded to over one thousand who used tents,
caravans plus all accommodation was booked out for the weekend |
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Friday Happy Hour under the Canopy |
Happy Hour Saturday along with our
Auswide guests |
A few members noticed
during the night that the town was alive to many parties with the usual
laughter and singing so we were to wonder how these people would feel
in the morning if in the river derby, for the the first races were to
be underway at 9-45 am. Saturday dawned and a beautiful sunny day was
to be the order of the day, we strolled up to the market place and woodchop
arena and were to see the many flotation devices that had been entered.
The ingenuity that had been employed was amazing even the professional
entry from the armed forces was something that we had not expected. |
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Chapter Members soaking up the sun
watching events |
Junior competitors struggling on the
River |
As expected the junior
events were without incident with little abuse, which couldn't be said
for the senior events who took their race on the river seriously. They
pelted each other with water and took all sorts of actions legal or non
legal to gain an advantage over others especially through the rapids,
though it would true to say that they watched out for each others safety. |
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Paddling on a calmer section of the
River |
Mayhem in the Rapids |
Competitors were pelted
with eggs, flour, water bombs and different coloured dyes from spectators
that lined the banks and as the river was at least a metre lower for this
time of the year it meant that the river was running slower than usual.
This made it easy for spectators to bomb, hurl insults and generally enjoy
yahooing entrants especially in the rapids. |
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Bedlam in the rapids |
Large does not mean an easy passage
through the rapids |
The River Derby finished
late on Saturday afternoon after trophy presentations, after our happy
hour it was noticeable how quiet the town was with many competitors heading
for home and no doubt those remaining, feeling the effects of partying
the previous evening plus the strenuous time on the river taking its toll,
having an early night in their camps. |
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Armed Forces entrant |
Privateer with a lot of thought to
construction with tractor tubes |
Sunday, we woke to a
fine day after rain during the evening and after breakfast we dismantled
the Chapter's yellow canopy and re-packed the trailer, then said our farewells.
Some members were staying over another evening others heading home to
go to work and a few heading off to St Helens for the blessing of the
fishing fleet and to ride on the fishing boats around the bay after the
blessing, all in all a very good rally with plenty of entertainment. |
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October |
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