Rosevale Rally 2009

The community of Rosevale in Northern Tasmania is where our hosts Kevin & Gwen welcomed us for our November Rally. The area was settled in the early 1800's where a thriving farming community was established. The area obtained its name in recognition of the fine work the head teacher Mr Rose of the local school had undertaken, thus the name Rosevale, today there are many small farm blocks that our now utilised as home sites as people re-locate from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Our hosts had obtained the use of the Rosevale community hall and grounds for the chapter for the weekend rally, The original hall was burnt down and the rebuilt hall is approaching its 60th anniversary. The hall today is used for many purposes including ball room dancing that it is renowned for, this weekend the Chapter will be raising funds for the Heart Foundation appeal.


Kevin preparing bowls rink	Setting up site for Rally

A few of us arrived on the thursday afternoon and found Kevin & Gwen busily getting the site ready for chapter members on the Friday, considering that a disc bowls carnival was to be held Kevin was busy mowing the grass to ensure that the rinks were suitable for the event. We were to have a happy hour where all and sundry was discussed before we retired into our motorhome's for our evening meal, we gathered again in the receding sun light before retiring for the night.
Friday
The early risers found the sunny conditions excellent and our hosts had a fire going and the billy boiling to welcome members as they arrived this morning. We were to erect our beloved "Bee Haven" with plenty of helpers, it was the central place for catching up with friends again. Peter was to use his level to ensure that all poles were aligned correctly and there was much chiaking if one of the poles did not align, all in good humour of course.
Gwen & Dick were to register members as they arrived during the day and they were parked up and quickly headed towards the tea and coffee making facilities. Members were also to guess how many jelly beans where in the jar plus take away a sheet of paper containing acronyms of popular nursery rhymes to fill in. Both would result in a prize to the winners.


Setting up morning tea	Peter checking poles	Enjoying sunny day

We were blessed with warm sunny weather and this was welcomed as members gathered and renewed friendships. After lunch the darts competition commenced and the many and varied way of throwing darts bought on much laughter. Those counting the score were to stand well back from the board not wanting to be used as a pin cushion. We were to have three throws each and then the scores were totalled to find the winners.
You would have to say that those enjoying the sunshine were quick to offer an opinion on how to throw the darts and of course the comments were greeted with laughter or heckling took place if standing over the line whilst throwing.


Darts Competition	Wendy winner of Ladies Darts	Peter winner of Men's Darts

The eventual winners were Wendy in the ladies section and Peter in the men's section, it has been some years since our last dart's competition and it was well enjoyed by members and spectators alike. Our hosts Kevin and Gwen were to present the winners with prizes for their endeavors.
A balloon competition was held where we had two teams of mixed participants, wherein you had to carry a balloon in between your knee's over a distance and drop it in a bucket and then pass it on to the next competitor. Well, what can you say with some waddling along and others in strange positions which evoked peals of laughter. At times one team would be well ahead then dropped the balloon thus having to start again. The hecklers were in fine form which bought forth more laughter.
Everyone was a winner with our hosts handing out confectionary to all that participated plus spectators and hecklers.
Before we knew it was happy hour and President Jim welcomed all plus the interstate visitors and Graeme and Ellen who have been interstate touring for the past few years. Jim was to make the analogy between our interstate visitors whose member number was N684 and Wendy whose member number is T63074.
The chapter is now nearing full strength of numbers with just Don and Lorraine to return later this month.


Balloon race in full flight	Gathered around firepot	Bob on Keyboard

Many were to cook their evening meal and take advantage of the late sunny afternoon by eating outdoors in groups or under the yellow tarp. Before we knew it darkness arrived and the firepot was stoked where we all gathered around and enjoyed the music by Bob on keyboard and John on his guitar, they both play different types of music which is great and the two styles were enjoyed by all. The day has been full on so members started drifting off to bed around 10pm looking forward to rest.


John on Guitar	Secret men's business?	Gum boot throwing

Saturday
Another beautiful morning with full sunshine which saw us standing around chewing the fat, so to speak, before our hosts again had us enjoying the programme they had prepared for the day. First there was the gum boot throwing competition which saw gumboots go in all directions and again to much laughter, the safest place was well back behind the throwers and then you had to be on your guard.
Jean was to win the ladies gum boot throwing section again having won the event earlier this year and Karen the runner up. In the men's section Peter was the winner with Geoff the runner up.
Marlene was to conduct our choir preparing for the singing of Christmas Carols at our Christmas dinner next month at the Cressy Rally and were to hear no cat calls so they must have been O.K!


Winners & Runner ups	Chapter Choir	Graeme in casting competition

After morning tea our hosts conducted a fishing line casting competition which bought out the fishing enthusiasts to show us their skills, the longest cast was won by Peter and Bob won the closest to the bucket section. There is no doubt that we have plenty of fishermen both fresh water and saltwater that are very skillful. We all adjourned to rest and have lunch prior to the disc bowls competition.


Preparing for bowls	Checking for winning disc's

After lunch we were to play in the disc bowls competition which lasted over three hours, there was plenty of cheering and urging from the sidelines you would have thought that we were playing for sheep stations. The day was really warm with non players seeking the shade to watch the elimination games and then finally the grand final which was won by Geoff, John and Liz with the runners up being John, Brian and Lynn.
The afternoon was so warm that we retired to whatever shade we could find before we had our happy hour, President Jim read out the birthdays and anniversary's and the usual birthday song was sung with much gusto. President Jim then presented our hosts with a cheque for $200 from the chapter to assist in their fund raising for the Heart Foundation.


Our Piper Graeme	Happy hour	Winners disc bowls

Kevin then conducted a chocolate wheel with many great prizes available, in all there were six spins and a further $200 was raised, all of the prizes were of excellent value. Before we knew it our meal time had arrived.


Runners up disc bowls	Kevin spins chocolate wheel	Enjoying our barbecue tea

Kevin, Ross and Jim were our barbecue chefs for the evening and though the day was hot they were to cook sausages, hamburgers and onions for 70 people and there was enough cooked for seconds. We were quickly fed and we sat out under "Bee Haven" and had our meal and enjoyed each others company. As darkness fell the camp fire was lit and many were to sit around it until late into the night. Bob was to entertain us with his key board, the music was excellent and many were to remark how well he plays and the vast improvement in his repertoire over the past year or so. Then many started heading for bed given the busy schedule our hosts set for us today.


Walk for heart foundation under way		Morning tea with locals in hall

Sunday
Another fine sunny day greeted us and members were enjoying the beautiful sunshine and it was notable that many were showing the signs of sunburn, after breakfast we gathered by the hall along with people from the local community and then all set out on our walk for the Heart Foundation some two kilometre's out and return. Needless to say we were stretched out like browns cows, so to speak, enjoying the locals company.
When we returned we were treated to a scrumptious country style morning tea that had all us tucking into the food without hesitation, the ladies requested a gold coin donation, again for the heart foundation, there was so much food that we could not consume it all.
Peter on behalf of the chapter was to thank those that had provided the excellent morning tea and wished them well in there endeavors to raise funds and for making us all feel welcome in their community. In all $500 was raised on the weekend for the Heart Foundation.
Then it was time to dismantle our beloved "Bee Haven" and stack it away in the Chapter trailer along with all our other gear, as usual many hands made the task easy and soon there was only an empty space where we had our entertainment area.
Lunch time arrived and we finished off the remainder of the sausages and hamburgers plus onions whilst sitting in the shade of the sheds, then it was time to say farewell and travel to our destinations again with a few electing to stay on overnight before getting back on the road.
What could you say, our hosts Kevin & Gwen had exceeded our expectations and had conducted a rally with so much entertainment that many of us indicated that we would need to go home to rest.
Our next rally is our Christmas Rally to be held at Cressy with Peter & Veronica our hosts.