The Tasmanian Combined Chapter's Rally at Port Sorell is where Chapter members were heading for our February Rally.
In 1805 the area was called Burgess; in 1821 it was renamed Port Sorell. It was renowned as the busiest Port on the North West Coast of Tasmania, during these early days there was significant harvesting of wattle bark to feed the growing tanning industry, as well, the burning of sea shells on the nearby islands to make lime for use in buildings, many of which still proudly stand.
Today Port Sorell, nearby Shearwater and Hawley are vibrant progressive community's that swell in numbers during the summer and holiday periods and with the scout camp "Camp Boomerang" the area is able to easily cope with large groups such as ours.
As a means of understanding the Combined Rally concept we need to cast our thoughts back to 1993 wherein the Island Wanderers became the the twelfth Chapter of the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia, over the coming years the Chapter grew at such a rate that it became a mammoth task to conduct rally's due to the number of Motorhome's involved.
As a means of solving the problem; further Chapters evolved namely the Blue Gum Rovers and the Van Demons which reduced the pressure on the Island Wanderers Rally's. It was decided during the formation of Chapter's to hold a Combined Chapter Rally every year with a different Chapter taking responsibility to plan and conduct that Rally.
So it was the Van Demons Chapter who conducted the 2005 Combined Chapters Rally aptly named "Back to Basics" at Camp Boomerang at Port Sorell and as usual the best laid plans go astray when Nature decides to become unruly. With Cyclonic winds, devastation was wreaked over most of the State bringing down power lines, Gum and other trees galore plus houses losing their roofs.
Port Sorell bore the brunt and those organising the Rally indicated the Wednesday night prior to the Rally commencing was terrifying with high wind, rain and the crashing to earth of trees; together with Motorhome's taking a pounding from the wind. The Thursday being the start of the Combined Rally saw many not venturing out onto the highways due to the conditions, the organising committee not deterred by the weather pressed on regardless to bring about a successful Rally.

Saturday afternoon was blustery with intermittent rain though not enough to stop the disc bowls competition. Saturday evening was set aside for the Chapter Skits and being held in the open air upon a semi trailer the organising committee felt that the event should be postponed due to the weather until the Sunday evening.
This created some problems for those that had to leave on the Sunday to return to work, luckily the weather picked up and the Skits went ahead on the Saturday evening. Even the "Boat People" took part and with singing, poetry and short comical acts. Our hosts the Van Demons had a complete choir which must have included near all their members, their songs were very entertaining and gave the opportunity for the onlookers to participate. There is no doubt that the evening was a complete success with everyone hanging on until the completion of the entertainment.

Sunday arrived with our club Chaplain Clarry conducting a church service, The finals of the Disc Bowls was underway which ended in a tie between the Blue Gum Rovers and Van Demons. Normally the tie would mean that the current champions would retain the shield, however the Blue Gums allowed the Van Demons to hold the shield for the current year, to much applause.