[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
The Sheepyard Flat weekend this year proved yet another success. A total of 14 vans were in attendance with most arriving on the Wednesday or Thursday and departing Monday. The weather was generally wet with a couple of large downpours during the weekend. Tarps were erected so we could keep out of the rain and were also used for eating areas. Large fires were the order of the night and happy hours were most enjoyable.
Ron supplied a feed of fresh trout for each person and all were suitably impressed. Saturday night meal was well presented with casseroles and sweets and roast meat in the camp ovens. We all ate very well. Bob Gardner cooked damper in the camp oven and it was well received.
The 'Rat Award' was given to Rob and Jan Brett who drove all the way up to Sheepyard Flat just to bring the award, although they didn't bring their van. Most thought that was a great gesture so they were voted worthy recipients for 2009.
Ron and Ailsa would like to thank all who attended. Special mention to Bob Gardner for helping with the weekend and Archie for fixing everyone's electrical problems. To all who attended thanks for your support and attendance, it was typical of Avan people and their commitment to the Club. Numbers were not as high this year due to the recent fires and other commitments nevertheless a great time was had by all. Thanks for your support. See you at Sheepyard Flat next year.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
The owners of thirty-seven vans braved the very hot weather and traveled down the Great Ocean Road to Wye River. The Big 4 Caravan Park at Wye River was within walking distance of the General Store. Some folk went for coffee - some went for breakfast where they met Steve Bracks, who was also there. The beach was just across the road where a few cooled down with body surfing and splashed around. The hot wind swirled around the A'vans where it felt like someone had opened the oven door. Quite a few sat with their feet in the Wye River while some just lay back and read a book in their air conditioned vans.
Thursday evening it was good to hear laughter as they enjoyed a game of cards - "War Lords and Scumbags". Friday evening was a great night at the theatre where "The Man From Snowy River" was screened. Saturday night dinner was at the pub with the locals. Fortunately the cool change came and was enjoyed by the ones that could get a table and a meal. Others enjoyed a Barbie at the park.
The weekend was the hottest ever in Victoria and we were fortunate to have the beach, running water and plenty of shelter under the trees. Overall we all enjoyed a quiet time miles from anywhere and spent with the fellowship of our A'van friends.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
Ararat in November
It was fantastic to have 28 vans booked in at the Pyrenees Caravan Park. A very heavy fall of rain on Friday afternoon/evening was a very welcome sight after a long dry spell. The Recreation Room was filled to capacity for Happy Hour and new members to the club Cheryl Smith from Hamilton, George and Marg Ruscoe from Numurkah and John and Pauline McCutcheon from Warrandyte were welcomed. Greg and Joy Millington also made Ararat their base for the weekend after touring Australia for 9 months. Veronica Schwartz travelled from the Coorong after holidaying in the Flinders Ranges.
Thanks to David and Val Graham who organized a rowdy group into 2 teams for a game of "Scumbags and Warlords" on Friday night. A lot of fun! Others enjoyed a leisurely dinner in the lovely camp kitchen.
On Saturday morning a group of enthusiastic cyclists joined Rod on a bike ride out to Green Hill Lake, back into town, morning tea at the Bakery finishing with a few laps of the velodrome. Keep pedalling Cheryl! A large group of walkers with Maureen, left the Park and walked along the Cemetery Creek walking track to town, through the beautiful Alexandra Gardens to the main street where we split into groups for morning tea. A few boarded the new Transit bus, some walked and others shopped and had lunch before making their way back to the Park.
Farm visits were organized for Saturday afternoon. "Kooringa" was visited first where we saw the Reid's super fine wool shedded sheep enterprise and walked around the historic property. Next stop was "Linwood" where Rod and kelpie "Bob" brought a mob of sheep from paddock through to yards. In the wool shed members were keen to see shearing so Rod obliged. Afternoon tea in the wool shed was popular. It was very pleasing to have so many members venture out of town to the farms and be so interested in farming during these difficult dry years.
Happy Hour again before going to the RSL function room for Dinner, where we all enjoyed a lovely meal, everyone's company with a view of the beautiful rose gardens in the Town Hall square. At the dinner we welcomed new members to the club Colin and Marianne Easton who live in Ararat and hope to do some traveling with their A'van soon.
We would like to thank everyone for coming to Ararat and for so enthusiastically enjoying all the tourist attractions Ararat has to offer. Special thanks to the hard working executives of our club—the Smiths, Blencowes and Bromleys and to the Grahams and Duanes our state co-ordinators for supporting our weekend.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
The Queens Meadow Caravan Park was bursting at the seams when 30 vans attended what turned out to be a very enjoyable time in the very attractive town of Heathcote Victoria on the 3rd 4th and 5th of October.
The weather was perfect and even included some much needed rain on the Friday. With so much to do on this particular weekend members were kept on their toes with a large street market, a church fair, wine and food festival, art show and plenty of coffee shops. With great facilities at the caravan park members were able to provide and enjoy a casserole and sweets dinner on Saturday night, with a huge variety of lovely food consumed and washed down with plenty of good cheer. New members in Veronica Schwarz and Sam and Dianne Lockhart were made welcome and are sure to attend more events in the future.
After a very frosty start on Sunday morning and up an hour earlier than usual due to the onset of day light savings the open fire in the camp kitchen was a popular spot for coffee and a chat. Our numbers increased by two with the arrival of Brendon and Joan Smith on a day visit, they were made most welcome and later joined a group of 27 members for lunch at the Tooborac Hotel and Brewery. This brought to and end a great time at Heathcote. Bev and Don thank all those who attended for contributing so much and making the weekend a great success.
The generosity of the park management enabled us to clear $70.00 for the group's funds.
N.B. Despite the concentrated efforts and much appreciated efforts of those present number 25 was sadly relegated to second spot.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
The gathering at Bendigo was very enjoyable. We started off with Happy Hour for 27 vans. All were welcomed to the gathering, including new members Phil and Barbara Reid, Malcolm and Barbara Uren from South Australia and another couple from South Australia who were not members but had an A'van, Audrey and Ted Hancock. The Duanes, Oultons, De Clercq and Smiths were unable to attend and sent their apologies.
As it was a very cold night and no rec room people mostly enjoyed the comfort of their vans.
Saturday, we had morning tea then the rains came. Most enjoyed a wet Bendigo—some the woollen mills, the galleries, the pottery, the Talking Tram and the Botanic gardens. For Happy Hour we were given permission to use the games room. It was very small but very cosy. As usual the raffle was interesting and created a lot of fun. Many thanks to all who donated prizes.
Then it was off to the Botanical Hotel where it didn't take long to warm up at the beautiful fires. The meal was certainly an eye opener—the steaks were the biggest we had ever seen not to mention the ice creams; I received four large scoops with chocolate topping and sprinkles, but Robert came back with five scoops. A very enjoyable evening with lots of laughter and chatter.
On Sunday morning the park operators invited us all to a pancake breakfast in the camp kitchen. The pancakes were great and about forty-five people came for breakfast. Then it was off to the mini golf. Fifteen couples participated. It was a challenging course, several had holes in one while others were happy to get there in ten. Our newest members Barbara and Phil took the trophy home to Hamilton and Lance and Nerolie were the runners up.
A most enjoyable time was had by all and thanks go to Danny for organizing the weekend at Bendigo.
[See photos of gathg on Photographs page.]
Combined Victorian and Strzlecki Grop members met in the middle of July at Lake Wendouree Caravan Park (July a cold month i<n Ballarat but no rain - which we need). Forty-five members attended, some arriving early and some leaving late.
The weekend was very cool but this didn't seem to deter people to any degree at all from seeing the sights of the city.
Friday night happy hour with cards to follow.
Saturday evening happy hour and then a spit roast was delivered and served by a busy lady - was most enjoyable and she did a great job. The raffle is always popular. Thank you to the A'vanners who donated an interesting array of prizes. Four buckets of spuds grown in Bungaree by Jack; a woollen rug - several A'vanners contributed by knitting squares and this was won by Trish who used it to keep herself warm; a bottle of wine plus more exciting prizes - even a bag of lemons.
Mavis and Jack did a wonderful job but their A'van was hard to find??? Yes Jack found it warmer to go home each night.
Although there was no heating in the recreation room it soon warmed up at happy hour.
Sunday some left early, others shared morning tea and then went on their way.
Congratulations Mavis and Jack - a job well done.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
One hundred and five A'vanners with a few guests in fifty-four vans from Victoria travelled to Busselton for the annual meeting of the A'van Club of Australia. In all there were over two hundred vans from as far away as Queensland and Tasmania.
It was quite a social occasion where social interaction was high on the priority. A very full weekend was planned for us all and the venue chosen was excellent. The Victorian Games Team came second in the interstate challenge. Meetings, games, craft, instruction in caravanning, dances, music, entertainment, fine food and community breakfasts were only some of the activities that kept us busy.
The same committee was re-elected for another term and we are now looking forward to next year when we will be celebrating ten years of A'vanning.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
Wow—what a "hot" weekend. Weather is what I'm talking about, (39degreesC). The twenty-one vans that ventured out for the weekend found comfort by sitting in the Howqua River and cooling down. Evenings were very pleasant.
Ron caught trout and pan fried them. Enjoyed by those who were there on Thursday night. Friday was a day of total fire ban so people cooked in their vans.
Our Saturday night dinner of casserole and sweets, and beef done in camp ovens was a success as usual. Ron left the beef at home and was rescued by the Bretts going back to Mansfield. The R.A.T. award was won by the Bretts.
Our thanks to Ron and Ailsa Billington for making everyone welcome and ensuring they had a great time.
[See photos of gathering on Photographs page.]
Port Campbell Caravan Park situated on the Great Ocean Road.
It was pleasing to have 32 Avans attend, including some new members to our group.
Welcome to Bill & Rose Clark from Bendigo, Colin & Marilyn Ellis from Doncaster and Marty & Gerda De Clercq from Coldstream. A welcome too to Karen Anderson and Brian Linkhorn who were having their first experience with the Victorian Group.
Many members arrived a day or two early to have more time to set up camp, relax and chat. The weekend started well with Friday's Happy Hour where everyone renewed old and new acquaintances. After Saturday mornings short meeting many members attended the Information Centre for an informal presentation on the magnificent coast with emphasis on the story of the Loch Ard Gorge and 12 Apostles. Also many members did the scenic walk overlooking Port Campbell. During the day other members visited district attractions, including 2 cheese factories, a chocolate factory and picked strawberries at the local Berry Farm. Coffee and cake was also enjoyed at Princetown and the Timboon Distillery.
Saturday's Happy Hour included a raffle where many members won a prize (many thanks for donations of prizes). After this we walked to 12 Rocks Café & Bar for a very enjoyable meal together overlooking the beach and watching the setting sun.
On Sunday morning, our hosts for the weekend Clive & Maree Rayner, presented us with a pancake breakfast which we all enjoyed, together with more fellowship before preparing for our departure.