Chapter Members travelled to the North East tip of Tasmania for our March Rally being conducted at the Rushy Lagoon property shearing shed, however a few of us elected to go a few days earlier and spend time at the Petal Point campgrounds some eleven kilometers away from our Rally Site.
At this time of the year the campgrounds are nearly deserted so it wasn't difficult finding a campsite and putting on the kettle before having a stroll along the excellent beach and settle in for the night by the campfire.
The following morning we all decided to venture out onto the road and walk to the Cape Portland Property to view the old graveyard dating back to the early eighteen hundreds, we made our way past flocks of sheep and many Cape Barren geese that were feeding on the rich pastures; no doubt much to the chagrin of the farmer. Our tour leader became lost a few times though eventually we found what we were looking for when guided by the lone Macrocarpa pine that stands by the graveyard.

Thursday arrived and we set out from Petal Point to the Rushy Lagoon property to set up for our March Rally and to attend the Waterways Trailblazers and Traditional Campers Hoe Down being held in the 20 stand Shearing Shed.
The Rushy Lagoon Property located in the north east of Tasmania consists of 22,000 hectares of freehold land and 5000 hectares of lease ground, of the total approximately 15,000 hectares is laid down to pasture.
There are 3000 cows milked daily through three forty side herringbone and one by sixty bale rotary dairies, 1000 hectares of pasture is grown under 19 irrigation centre pivots. The pivots are capable putting 1,750,000 litre's of water per hour on the pastures which is pumped from large storage dams.
The property calve 3000 beef cows and sell the resultant calves off as weaners at 8 months, there is also 2000 dairy heifers and Friesian bulls (for bull beef) There are 36000 merino sheep for wool and around 6000 older ewes mated to terminal sire rams for fat lambs. The shearing is split with pre lamb ewes shorn in May and wethers shorn in November. The average wool micron is 21.
The property also grows 500 hectares of barley and triticale per year, which is sold on usually to piggeries and dairies, Rushy Lagoon do not supplement feed their dairy cows with grain.
There are 26 houses on the entire property with 10 of these being dairy houses and 5 rented out as weekenders. Rushy Lagoon has a full time staff of 14 permanents and employ up to 5casuals during the year, in addition the Dairies employ their own labour, which generally is 1permanent and two casuals per dairy. The permanent population of Rushy Lagoon is 42. ( We thank both Rodney and Jackie Moore Managers of Rushy Lagoon for this information and allowing our Chapter to hold its rally on the Rushy Lagoon property)

As the night progressed lights were dimmed and the dancing intensified with a good time being had by all with the Licensed Bar doing a roaring trade. The Hoe Down went until well after midnight with very few of our members going off to bed, it was certainly a good time had by all in the wool shed.

After the Hoe Down many opted to kick on around the camp fire and at about 4am a Chapter Member head butted the wood pile stating when erect again "I must have stepped in a hole" to much laughter and derision he was informed there were no holes just to much alcohol! Though it must be said he went out on the 6 kilometer walk at 8 am still denying wrongdoing whilst sweating profusely.
Sunday saw many of us sitting down by the early morning fire discussing the Hoe Down and it would be true to say that everyone enjoyed the dancing and music. It was the general consensus of those present especially our interstate C.M.C.A. members that the night was an overwhelming success, one was heard to exclaim "We have danced on many different types of floors around Australia, though never on a shearing shed wooden floor it was tremendous" in view of the response the committee of the Chapter is to review next March's scheduled Rally with a view to returning for the Hoe Down next year.
So it was the Rally had come to a conclusion and many departed after saying their farewells many indicating they would be at the next Rally scheduled for Bridport, other Chapter members bid farewell for they were departing for Mainland Australia for the National Rally's or touring the north of the county for the Tasmanian winter.
A group of us decided to spend the Easter Break in this corner of the world and returned to Petal Point to further relax and explore the area.

Those that stayed set about enjoying the longer break with walks along the beach each morning and checking out the local interest points on both sides of the headland. At Dusk Denis dragged the deep end of the beach net out and when pulled in we had more than enough fish to feed the entire camp for two big meals.
Those that hadn't seen the Calcified wood and shells wandered off explore and others went onto the old convict built ruins of the original farmhouse. Then it was off to Musselroe Bay Camp Grounds for the Easter break, which was great with plenty to see and do and then on the Monday some of us left for home and others leaving Tuesday to explore around the Bay of Fires Campgrounds. The lateness of the posting of this page on the Chapter Web Site was due to the Webmaster being part of the fortnight camp out and Rally for which he and his good lady make no apology other than to say "It was bloody enjoyable mate even if it was a little cool in the evenings"