JUNE 2012
COMMITTEE DIRECTORY President Jim Donlan 6255 1371 50 Adair Street, SCULLIN ACT 2614 0468 653 780 jrdonlan@live.com Vice President Joe Slaats 6255 7872 10 Marrett Street AMAROO ACT 2914 0408 010 843 JSL45689@bigpond.net.au Secretary Heather Ferme 0439 885 907 21 Wakelin Circuit WESTON ACT 2611 PO Box 579, CURTIN ACT 2605 secretary@canberracaravanclub.org.au hjferme@yahoo.com.au Treasurer Darryl Poole 6292 8258 Unit11/5 Foxton Crescent, FADDEN ACT 2904 0409 901 033 rg.dgpoole@bigpond.com Rally Convenor Anne Brown 6294 3120 43 Russell Drysdale Crescent, CONDER ACT 2906 0488 064 888 billandannebrown@gmail.com Social Convenor Ray Swift 6288 2050 Fundraiser 34 Yiman Street WARAMANGA ACT 2611 0408 620 151 PO Box 3581 WESTON ACT 2611 rayandlynswift@grapevine.com.au Editor John Jenkin 6281 4195 68 Munro Street, CURTIN ACT 2605 0420 530 937 johnjenkin@grapevine.com.au Equipment Gordon Ferme 0416 055 904 Officer 21 Wakelin Circuit WESTON ACT 2611 hjferme@yahoo.com.au Membership Kathy Barrett 6278 6121 Secretary 19 Allen Place, HOLT ACT 2615 0409 369 335 kathyba2@bigpond.net.au Web Site Joe Vavra 6292 0505 Convenor 2 Badcoe Street, GOWRIE ACT 2904 0407 331 048 Joseph.vavra@bigpond.com Club Postal Address PO Box 579, CURTIN ACT 2605 Club Web Site www.canberracaravanclub.org.au ABN 14 097 926 587 For Internet Banking - St George Bank BSB: 112 908 Account No. 0505 84331 The Canberra Caravan Club was formed on 1 May 1972 and has continued to provide a means for the people of Canberra and surrounding district to enjoy their caravans.
July 2012 Reminders Birthdays Wedding Anniversaries Number of years in brackets Date Name Date Name Date Name Membership Anniversaries Number of years in brackets 4 Wilma Wood 30 Ray and Edna Edsor (57) 5 Barry and Margaret Booth (10) 7 Mark Chatillon 9 Mick and Karen Oates (12) 9 Andy Armstrong 11 Harry and Meip Allard (13) 13 Candy Bailey 13 Ron and Andy Armstrong (15) 13 Maureen Paine 13 Ron and Maureen Taylor (9) 14 Chris Chatillon 14 Waine and Betty Summerfield (10) 16 Peter Mifsud 17 Don Hardman 22 John Peers 24 Ingrid Hewlett 27 David Fleming Forthcoming Events July 2012 August 2012 8 CCC Monthly Meeting 12 CCC Monthly Meeting 21-22 Moruya Rally 18-19 Young Rally Rally Registrations to Date River Breeze Tourist Park 9 Princess Highway, Moruya Ferme, Rose, Buckley, Slaats, Armstrong, Lyons, Peers, Welsh, Donlan, Booth, Brown, Taylor, Kraft, Jarman/Pearson, Brady, Summerfield, Jenkin, Jarrett? Tourist Park 17 Edwards Street, Young Donlan, Hume, Welsh, Ferme, Dal Santo, Summerfield
WELLINGTON CAVES RALLY 17 to 21 May The Wellington Caves Caravan Park is one of those places, all too uncommon now, where the beauty of the countryside can be seen accompanied by noise only of birds and the comfort of a spacious, well equipped and well managed caravan park. The park is about five kilometres from Wellington, and the site of the first of our two rallies in the area. We found the park was well worth a stop for overnight or longer. There was plenty to do and see, and much choice of what and where to do it. Most of us arrived on Friday, some after a one night trip from home. There are several small towns on the way which offer pleasant overnight stops. Boorowa, Cowra, and Canowindra for example, are also places to experience the local coffee and fish and chips during travel breaks. We arrived from Boorowa to be welcomed by our rally marshal, Joe Slaats who had arrived just before us. Others joined us during the afternoon to settle in, then to meet the others as they arrived on Saturday. We were all very pleased, and surprised, to catch up with Henk and Ev Gageldonk, who stayed with us on their way to visit relations in Canberra. Good also to see Jim (Golfer) Donlan, looking well after his trip. The weather could not have been better cool, clear skies, and warm sunshine. Morning tea at the park picnic tables broke up just in time for lunch and, for most of us, a relaxed preparation for Happy Hour. Some went to neighbourhood attractions such as the on-site Cathedral and Gaden Caves and phosphate mine, Burrendong Dam and Arboretum in the State Park, Mt Arthur, or the shops and museums in Wellington. Joe was able to secure the conference room for club use for the weekend a very suitable room for our activities in the cold evenings. Sunday dawned bright, clear and cold. So the ABC weather report told us, so we relaxed under the blankets until breakfast was late and we were just in time for High Tea at Ten, with scones and jam provided by Erlynne. The few crumbs remaining went to the Apostle Birds noisy, combative, and obviously accustomed to the spoils of the picnic table. Head-dress was formal. Joe and Maureen Vavra wore their best Sunday bonnets, and won the unanimous approval of the judge! High tea and conversation continued into the afternoon and planning of the evening communal dinner in the conference room. The adjacent camp kitchen is very well set up, and several members used the facilities for meal preparation. That night was cold, clear and dark, and the sky was full of stars. The Southern Cross stood vertical in the south, Mars was overhead, and Saturn was rising in the east. Venus was low on the north-western horizon on its way to its transit of the Sun on the 6 th June. Orion was setting in the west as Scorpius was rising in the east what a show for the changing of the seasons! There is no reality like the cold morning pack-up and go! Monday was the day for us to say goodbye to the group as they left for the second rally in Dubbo. We are enjoying a couple of extra days here before going to Cowra for other commitments three grand-daughters at the Cowra Eisteddfod! Thanks Joe and Mary, and thanks to all for your company! Dick and Anne Brady
DUBBO RALLY 21 to 25 May After a very pleasant weekend in Wellington, nine caravans proceeded to Dubbo on Monday 21st. We had all arrived before lunch at the very welcoming Westview Tourist Caravan Park. The park is set among lovely trees and the facilities were very adequate and clean. Joe and Maureen Vavra and Wilma and Peter Wood had adjoining sites. They positioned their awnings to meet together and provide a perfect venue for happy hours and subsequent get togethers. This proved a central sunny area for us all to start the day with a communal breakfast. We then all gravitated there everyday for morning teas, afternoon teas (with cake and yummy temptations) and sometimes lunch. The ladies compared their crafts and exchanged ideas over coffee, tea and a lot of lighthearted conversation. There was a variety of skills which included crochet, knitting and tapestry. Erlynne was inspired, and much to her surprise she created a crocheted tea-pot cosy, made overnight. On Tuesday after 8.30 brekky together, there was the usual visit to the shopping centres and sightseeing to fill in the day. Wednesday at 9.30am everyone headed off to the Dubbo Zoo. It was a perfect day to spend there. Some took their cars, others hired and shared motorised buggies. We all met for lunch in a central area to eat our packed lunches. The animals were all very cooperative so we had an excellent view of them all and zoo attendants gave us interesting and informative talks. On arrival back at the park we found Peter Schilling with his friend Chris all set up to spend the night. They were on their way to begin a ride around Australia and Dubbo was their first stop. They certainly were well rigged out with Peter's trailer on the back of his motor bike holding equipment and every necessity. The weather changed on Thursday morning just after breakfast. Luckily Peter and Chris had packed up before the onset of the rain but set off waving goodbye in heavy rain to reach their next stop at Moree. Every day several members went to meet and visit relatives and friends who lived in the Dubbo area. This consumed a lot of time for them with very happy times and reunions. It seems that half of those attending this rally had originated from this area. Friday the usual shopping and seeing the sights filled the day. We opted out of happy hour as we were preparing for dinner at the Westside Hotel. Joe Slaats, our Rally Marshal had booked us into the very popular bar and bistro. The meals were excellent. Sue and Peter Dal Santo joined us for dinner with their family. They had checked into the caravan park for one night but their stay was brief and they left after breakfast next morning. Saturday we packed up and left one by one to travel separate ways back to Canberra. Four vans went on via Parkes to spend the night at Cowra. Thankyou to everyone for being so involved in the social and communal side of this rally. It was a lot of happy times and friendly fun as we shared so much time together. Thanks to Joe also. Gail Welsh
COOTAMUNDRA RALLY 8 to 11 June With Waine Summerfield our Rally Co-ordinator, a total of 10 vans from the CCC left Canberra either on the Thursday or Friday of the Queen s birthday long weekend. We left behind a Canberra morning of -5 degrees and arrived in Cootamundra at around 13 to 15 degrees with a bright blue sky, no wind and delightful days. The mornings were frosty and chilly but over the whole three day weekend, the days cleared to be wonderful winter weather. During the Friday, most CCC members wandered the town of Coota, visiting either Don Bradman s birth home in Adams Street, the Memorial House on the same grounds, the Railway Station / Visitors Centre / Café, the Museum, the Art Centre or just the shopping strip for any bargains. At 4pm our Happy Hour began under the small tent with two delightful gas heaters warming the inside to a comfortable temperature. A jovial group then broke for dinner in their vans and returned at around 7pm for a hilarious evening of bingo. Jim (Pres.) supplied us with our bingo cards and he was our bingo caller throughout the evening. It was very evident that he has had plenty of previous experience in calling the numbers. Prizes were distributed by Waine and even though they were in the shape of key rings, they looked like the original $5.00, $10.00 and $50.00 notes. Throwaway Cadburys chocolates were also a hit as prizes. There was lots of laughter and great fun was had by all. On Saturday, because we were situated very close to the town centre, CCC members went on various walks to the main shopping street. The Captains Walk (which is a pathway in a nearby park where a total of 42 cricket captains bronze busts are mounted on marble stands) was popular, and again the Railway Station Café or Bradman s birth house. Edna and Ray had a social game of lawn bowls with the locals. Members had been warned by Waine to read up on a supplied free visitors guide bag of goodies - as most of the questions for our Saturday night Trivia Quiz would relate to features on Coota itself or nearby country towns. The Happy Hour again began at 4pm and during this time we also included our Trivia Questions as all 20 CCC members were booked into the Central Hotel for a Saturday night dinner. Toasty heaters were not really needed during the quiz because of the sometimes heated discussions between participants and the Quiz Master Waine. Trivia was hilarious with copious discussions relating to the discrepancy of information coming from our provided visitor guide booklet versus the insisted answers provided by our Rally Co-ordinator. All calmed down, however, and again plenty of chockies were dispensed. Low total scores prevailed but we all tried our best. After our meal at the hotel, AFL, NRL and Union games were viewed on various screens inside the Central Hotel. Kathy Barrett (our resident Sydney Swans fanatic) nearly had a heart attack as Essendon came within one kick of snatching the lead away from her favourite Red & Whites. Sunday awoke to frosty conditions but it didn t stay long. Anne and Bill Brown shot off to Cowra to see Anne s mother. Nigel and Chris Colyer and Mark and Ingrid Hewlett drove over to Junee for the day (52ks away and a lovely 17 degree day). A lovely little country town of around 2,500 people and extremely clean (no graffiti sighted). We visited the liquorice and chocolate factory for morning tea (along with about 200 other people) and had a tour of the facilities. The four of us then went onto the old railway station for lunch. Junee is a lovely town and should be a great venue for the upcoming visit by CCC around 9th-12th March 2013. There is plenty to see and do for a 3 or 4 day visit including wandering the historic Haunted House for those who wish to have a stay-over during the night.
Other CCC members had a restful day, reading and chatting. Disc bowls commenced at 3pm (Men s was won by Waine Summerfield and Ingrid Hewlett won the women s). A great game was played by first-timer Dot who is Betty Summerfield s mother. She joined in wonderfully well and Dot became a highlight during the weekend. After bowls, we moved into the CCC tent for our final Happy Hour for the weekend heading off for our vans or bonfires at around 7.00pm. One very funny incident during the weekend was when Graham, Nigel and Mark were warming themselves early one morning near the bonfire when all guys heard the faint cries of marrk marrk marrk coming from, what all three of us thought, were black crows in nearby trees. Graham then tapped Mark H. on the shoulder and said I think someone is calling your name from the van. It then became very clear that it was Ingrid Hewlett who had inadvertently locked herself in the shower/toilet and, suffering claustrophobia, was calling out very loudly for hubby (Mark) to come and get her out of the cubicle. Saved by the crows!! All in all, a great, funny weekend was had by all CCC members (and Dot thoroughly enjoyed herself as well). Chris Colyer. RESIGNATION: Peter and Yvonne Davidson s resignation email. After 20 years in the club, we have decided not to rejoin as we very rarely attend rallies or meetings since we moved to the Central Coast. We have seen many changes over those years and have spent many enjoyable times together. We have made many good friends and have many funny and fond memories of rallies. We hope we will be able to keep in touch and join in the traditional happy hours when we meet along the road and in caravan parks. Please put this in the Gas Bottle so our many friends may read it. Happy travelling, Peter and Yvonne Davidson, Membership no 140. Editor s note: The President, Committee and members wish Peter and Yvonne the very best with their relocation to the Central Coast. We look forward to catching up whenever we cross paths and particularly at happy hours in caravan parks.
DRAFT Canberra Caravan Club Rally Calendar 2012/13 DATE Town/Location Address/Caravan Park Appr Dist Site Costs NOTE Pets 8-Jul N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 21-22 July MORUYA Riverbreeze Tourist Park 9 Princes H'way Ph 4474 2370 175 $30 and deposit required Christmas in July of $30 by beginning of July 12-Aug N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 18-19 Aug YOUNG Tourist Park 17 Edwards St YOUNG Ph 6382 2190 (Belinda) 160 around $30 (not over) Caravan park has big camp kitchen and fire pit area (wood supplied or bring your own) 9-Sep N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 15-16 Sept TEMORA Aviation Caravan Park Tenests St (at airport) Ph 0418 780 251 29 Sept-1st Oct TUROSS HEAD Tuross Lakeside Tourist Park 211 Hector McWilliam Dr Ph 4473 8181 208 $25/night Aviation Show 194 $32/night Camp Kitchen & Games Room 10% discount for 5 or more available vans DEPOSIT REQUIRED 14-Oct N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 20-21 Oct CAPTAINS FLAT The Oval 60 N/C however donation Community garage sale would be good if power required 11-Nov N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 16-19 Nov GUNDAGAI Gundagai Tourist park 1 Nangus Rd Ph 6944 1620 162 $30 per site or $35 ensuite Snake Gully Races 2-Dec N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 7-9 Dec COWRA Cowra Van Pk 2 Lachlan St 187 $29.70 includes discount Christmas Party Cowra Ph 6340 2110 29-31 Dec BOOROWA Brial St Boorowa 113 New Year Ph 6385 3658 13-Jan N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A No
25-28 Jan TUMUT Riverglade Caravan Park Snowy Mtns H'way Ph 6947 2528 DRAFT Canberra Caravan Club Rally Calendar 2012/13 194 $26.10 includes discount Australia Day W/E Games & Auction 30 sites prebooked 10-Feb N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 16-17 Feb ULLADULLA Ulladulla Holiday Village 300 Kings Point Dr Ulladulla Ph 4454 4261 23-24 Feb WEE JASPER Billy Grace Reserve Ph 6227 9626 198 $28/night Tennis, squash, basketball, swimming, spas, and sauna all available on site 109 Bush Rally $5 p/p, p/n 3-Mar N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 9-12 Mar JUNEE TBC Junee Caravan Park Ph 6924 1316 29 Mar - 1 Apr CROOKWELL Crookwell Caravan Park 0408 250 652 John 225 More details to follow Joint Rally with NE Victoria Canberra Day Weekend TBC 112 Easter Weekend confirmed 14-Apr N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 23-26 Apr MITTAGONG Mittagong Caravan Park Cnr Old Hume H'way & Beatrice 175 $26 (includes discount) ANZAC / Caravan Show Syd St. Ph 4871 1574 5-May N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A AGM/CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 18-19 May SHOALHAVEN HEADS Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Park 224 $33 (includes discount) No 49 McIntosh Street Ph 4448 7178 2-Jun N/A Southern Cross Club, Woden N/A N/A CCC Monthly Meeting N/A 9-11 June FORBES Forbes River Meadows Car n Park Cnr Newell Hwy & River Rd Forbes Ph 6852 2694 279 $25 Queen's B'day LWE The Rally Calendar above is almost final. For many of the changes since the previous month see the June meeting minutes. The joint rally with the NE Victoria Caravan Club to Junee on 9 to 12 March 2013 still requires final confirmation. Queries or comments about the calendar should be referred to the club s Rally Convenor, Anne Brown.
CANBERRA CARAVAN CLUB INC. Minutes of meeting held on 3 June 2012 at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden President Jim Donlan opened the meeting and warmly welcomed everyone on a cold Canberra evening. Visitors were Lance and Barbara Court, Ken Stidworthy and Anne Dowling, and Dorothy and Harry Kraft. Sue Lyons and Michael Beard have recently had surgery and were wished well in their recoveries. The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated in the Gas Bottle. Moved Hugh Taylor, seconded Andrew Bray, that the minutes be accepted. Carried. There was no business arising. Secretary, Heather Ferme, read out a list of correspondence. Moved Heather Ferme, seconded David Fleming, that the correspondence be accepted. Carried. Treasurer Darryl Poole was an apology. Heather is acting Treasurer but was unable to prepare a Treasurer s Report due to computer problems. Membership Secretary Kathy Barrett was an apology. Heather read out Kathy's report: Membership fees of $60 are due. Anyone with an email address and who has not paid would have received an email from Kathy asking for payment. Kathy will contact those with still outstanding fees after this meeting. Kathy will not be at a meeting until September, however, she will leave the database in the trusty hands of our Web Convenor Joe Vavra. Any urgent changes can be made by Joe, or an email can be sent to Kathy and she will make the changes on her return. Those people awaiting membership should email Kathy when they have attended the required number of rallies and meetings and Kathy will forward the relevant papers for completion. Rally Convenor Anne Brown: I hope everyone has had a chance to look at and think about the proposed rally calendar for 2012-13 published in the last Gas Bottle. If you have any positive suggestions or objections, we'd be pleased to hear about them. It will be necessary to check the calendar from time to time throughout the year as sometimes the caravan parks and other details mentioned may have had to be changed for various reasons. One such change is the date I had for the long weekend in October. I was a week out and it should be from 29 September to 1 October. Another is the change of the caravan park at Tuross Heads also in October. The updated calendar as far as we can schedule will be in this month's Gas Bottle again and on the CCC website. The next rally is to Cootamundra from 8 June. To date we have 11 vans going and Waine Summerfield is the rally marshal. There is a Christmas in July Rally at the Moruya Riverbreeze Tourist Park. So far nine vans are going and two memberships are booked into cabins. Lots of special things, including Christmas dinner and other surprises, have been organised by the two rally marshals, Heather and President Jim. There is still time to put your names on the rally sheet for this weekend. It should be lots of fun. Following that, in August, I have made a booking for approximately 10 vans at Young. Rally sheets for all the above rallies are on the table.
Skipping ahead a few months to October, we are planning a rally to Tuross Heads. Bookings there, even at that time of the year, are fairly scarce and we really need to see your interest in this weekend as of tonight. They are holding approximately 10 sites for us but, until we have secured them with a deposit, they are open to others to obtain. So, the message is: put your names on the rally sheet now and organise your deposit of $32 asap. The park will not guarantee any site that has not been secured with a deposit. As I mentioned earlier, the venue of Tuross Lakeside Tourist Park is not the park that is in the current draft calendar. The other park mentioned in the calendar did not meet with our requirements as a caravan club so we had to look elsewhere. And, not forgetting Gundagai in November. This will be a great rally organised by Harry Allard. Already 21 members have shown intentions of being there and there is still room for more at this stage. Website Convenor Joe Vavra: Joe mentioned that the constitution is on the website both in the members and visitors areas. The draft rally calendar is also on the website. John Peers is desperately seeking photos for uploading to the website. If anyone has any, please send them to John along with a caption of where they were taken, what rally it was and who is in the photo. 2013 National Rally: Members asked whether vans were travelling to Rockhampton early and whether sites needed to be booked. It was also suggested that members share their itineraries and dates of travel. Perhaps Darryl can have a look at this on his return. 2016 National Rally: Heather reminded members to submit their designs or ideas for logos and t-shirts to Ray Swift, Bob Dal Santo or her within the next month or two. It is expected that members will have a chance to vote on their preferred design later in the year. Social Convenor: Ray Swift was an apology. Heather read out Ray's report: Greetings from a wet Cobar. The anniversary dinner made a slight profit mainly because the Southern Cross Club waived the room hire fee. The Christmas Rally and party is now booked. The dinner will cost $35 (an increase of $5) and payments can now be made to the Treasurer. All payments will need to be made by the November meeting. The NSW Association's last meeting was held at EPIC and was a bit of a non-event. Since the meeting, I have been informed of the death of Ces Taylor, who was known to many members of our club. Ces was a member of the Lake Macquarie Club and a past president of the association. Equipment Officer: Gordon Ferme is the new Equipment Officer. However he had no report as he does not yet have any of the equipment. General Business: Members asked when registrations for the 2013 National Rally would close. It was thought that registrations would need to be with the Rockhampton committee at least a month before the rally. Waine said that he would be taking the small tent to Cootamundra, when he found it. The TAFE puts out a quarterly booklet on courses available. The next reversing course is 16 June. Angry Lotto first prize to Gail Welsh and second prize to Stewart Westwood. $54.00 went to Kitty. Thank you to Edna for handling Angry Lotto. Sue Schilling will look after it next month. Next meeting is to be held on 8 July 2012 at 7.30 pm at the Southern Cross Club, Woden.