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Many traveled to our Irishtown Rally early in the week, others delayed their departure from home due to strong head winds and rain. Thursday evening saw many on the Rally site and others stopping over at Sulphur Creek with a few having fish and chips for their evening meal before heading off on the Friday Morning. It was a pleasant trip along the coast with a few heading off the highway into Stanley for lunch, before continuing on to Irishtown. |
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Genavene & Wendy booking in |
Note flowers outside long drops |
Bales of hay in front of long drops |
On arrival our hosts were to quickly complete the booking in process and we gathered to admire the wonderful job that Gary had done in completing the Long drops we were to use. To say they were above the normal standard is an understatement for even though we have utilised long drop toilets in the past none would measure up to the quality and design of these. Extremely well constructed complete with flowers and framed pictures and other decorations. We were all pretty amazed with the work that had gone into them by our Hosts Gary and Genavene. |
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| What a wonderful decor for a long drop | The second long drop complete with calendar and flowers |
After lunch we erected "Bee Haven" and then inspected our new purpose built trailer, it was nice not to have climb over equipment to get at something required. The trailer committee have done extremely well and more so Mick who has taken a personal interest in the project and also assisted in its construction. Then our Hosts invited us to have a look at the bush shower erected for us and indicated that booking a shower spot was a must. Our hosts were to maintain this humour over the long weekend. We are not aware of anyone making a booking, though the thought was original,we believe. |
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| Outside shower | Our beloved "Bee Haven" set up |
Then it was time for happy hour and we all gathered under our canopy where President Jim welcomed all and especially those from other chapters and our interstate Guests. Genavene then outlined the events planned for the weekend which made it pretty clear that we were going to be very well looked after with some special meals to be prepared and provided by our Hosts. For the rest of the evening we all relaxed and chewed the fat, so to speak, before going off to bed. Saturday dawned after a little rain during the night. The day was a little cloudy though the quietness of the surrounding countryside made it all peaceful and many were out walking their pets and others strolling up to the shop some two kilometers away. 10am arrived and it was time for members and guests to show off their craft wares, and what a collection; all types of craft was on display and it was amazing to see the quality and the work that has been applied over the various sections items. |
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The many exhibits in the morning's Hobby Exhibition
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Genavene then called on everyone at their motorhome handing them a trivia sheet to be completed it was called a butchers love letter and was very humorous to boot, of course a local firm in Smithton donated the prize. The time for lunch had arrived and before we knew it the 1-30pm Craft session was upon us, the purpose was to make Coasters and Pasta Angels. The ladies were certainly into the lesson for other than the teacher there was no other sound, that is until most had completed the items and then there was plenty of laughter and gaiety occurring right up until happy hour. We had one of the sponsors for the craft session come and donate a cask of wine, we thank the Rocky Cape Tavern for that prize. While this was all happening the men were gathered in groups talking others going walkabout up the high hill behind the Rally taking photo's. |
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Ladies hard at it in the Craft session |
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| Presenting prize donation | Our Rally site from top of hill |
Happy
hour arrived and new visitors were welcomed and visitor certificates
handed out to them, birthdays and anniversary's were also celebrated
with the usual gusto. Genavene then gave a short talk on the evenings
festivities that would start with a barbecue of sausages, hamburgers
and onions in the old shed to get away from the gusty wind. Consequently
the barbecue and fire pot was transferred plus the generator to give
light during the music night. |
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Happy Hour |
Graeme our lone Piper |
Alan,
Ross and Jim cooking up a storm |
Cooking was underway with the beautiful hamburgers, sausages and onion, there were plenty of people peeling and slicing the onions. Alan our Queensland visitor supplied the barbecue and cooked the onions to perfection. Ross and Jim cooked the hamburgers and sausages and in no time at all 70 people were fed and there was also seconds which helped finish off the last of the food. We were all thankful for the preparation of the food by our host Genavene and her merry helpers. Gary our other host was responsible for obtaining the meat which was of top quality. It was obvious that the food was enjoyed by all, judging by the contented laughter. |
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Enjoying the meal |
Bob & Evelyn tuning up |
Laughter galore at the tables |
There was no doubt that the old hay shed was sheltering us from the cold southerly wind, even our fire pot which was blazing away was throwing a lot of heat for those gathered around it. Bob and Evelyn selected the music for the night and it wasn't long before people were up on the gravel and rock floor dancing away. There were many rocks that had to be removed from the dance floor though this only added to the atmosphere and the fun that was being had by all. Many were to go off to their vans around 9pm and others continued to dance. Then to give Bob a break Genavene had us in stitches with her joke telling along with Graeme and others. Then the dancing continued until after 10-30pm and then our lone Piper Graeme gave us few tunes and then piped us off to bed. What a wonderful full on day it had been. |
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Dancing the night away |
Members placing their ticket on turf for cow pat lotto-Jean presented with prize and award |
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Sunday morning arrived, with a cool evening behind us, it was great to see the sunshine and no wind, what a bonus. We were mixing and laughter was aplenty, with the committee meeting behind us it was time for seeking out a spot for our Cow Pat Lotto. A strange game wherein you place a piece of numbered paper on the ground and a cow is let into the enclosure and who ever has the cow drop a cow pat on their number is the winner. There is much laughter waiting for the event to happen. Then it was off to our General Meeting and among the many matters dealt with it was our new trailer that took pride of place, Our trailer sub committee Graeme, Don and Michael were given an acclamation for the work carried out especially Michael who has overseen the construction personally. When the meeting concluded we found the cow had done the right thing and our winner was Jean who won a cask of wine donated by the Rocky Cape Tavern along with a winners certificate. Two of our runners up also were given prizes for receiving a slight splash from the cow pat. |
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Runner's up in cow pat final |
Counting Annette's items |
Annette receiving her prize from Genavene |
After lunch we came together to see who could pack the most useful items into a match box, by the amount of hands going up it meant that you had to at least have over a hundred items to win. Annette was able to pack 118 different items into her match box and was the eventual winner. Many were to read out the articles in their match box and it was hilarious and interesting to see what had been gathered and packed. Then there were prizes for the most unusual items in contestants match box, prizes went to Eddie, Karen, Beth, Wendy and Liz. There was much acclamation for the Judge Budgie, hosts and the prize winners. |
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A few of the winners in the most unusual items in the match box |
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The sun was shining brightly with still no wind which made it very warm indeed, a few of the ladies were to go with Genavene off the rally site to prepare the ingredients for the barbecue tea, on their return President Jim on behalf of the Chapter members and visitors thanked both Gary and Genavene for such a wonderful Rally. The amount of work that they had put into the rally had been occurring over the past six months with a lot of local business's in Smithton donating the many raffle and other prizes. There was much acclamation and Rick lead a hearty rendition for they are "Jolly Good Fellows" Then Genavene called on those who completed the "Butchers Love Letter" and on reading out the answers Liz was the eventual winner. Rather than except the prize Liz elected to place it back in the contest due to her winning a prize in the match box competition. |
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| Evening meal | Catching the late afternoon sun after meal |
Then our evening barbecue consisting of brook run Tuna Patties (oh yeah!) and sausages and hamburgers were cooked by Ross and Jim, when cooked Graeme piped to members and visitors to inform us our evening meal was ready. There was plenty for everyone and even seconds and thirds were in order. It was obvious that every one enjoyed themselves for groups sat around in the late afternoon sun refusing more offers of food. It was obvious that everyone has had a full on weekend to date so it became as no surprise to see members and visitors heading off to their motorhomes. Though there was plenty of laughter and noise late into the night. Monday morning many were to say their farewell's for they had to return home to go to work, others deciding to head out to travel the many roads and take in the many wonderful tourist sites in the area. Those remaining for a further evening were to get together for an evening meal of hamburgers and those special fish patties before retiring for the night. Tuesday morning and the Rally site was completely clear at 10 am. Many were to head off down the Western Explorer and explore the West Coast down as far as Strahan. We thank both Gary and Genavene for such a wonderful and memorable Rally and look forward to their hosting another Rally early next year at Rocky Cape. |
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