Community News

Cutting the Cake – Inaugural members Lyn Payne, Deanna Mawhinney, Yvonne Tomlinson, Margaret Sherlock, Lyn McQueen, Marlene Watkins, Fred Payne, Rex Watkins, Lorraine Seale, Tim Seale and Don Tomlinson. Image: Contributed

20th Birthday celebrations for Clarence Valley Ramblers

Clarence Valley Ramblers Motorhome Chapter celebrated their 20th Birthday with an outing at Brooms Head where the first gathering was held back in February 1998. There were 54 vans attending this year including one tent and 72 members and 24 visitors enjoyed a fabulous four days by the sea. Many stories and reminiscing of past outings were discussed at either morning teas or happy hour in the afternoons. Brooms Head Bowling Club was excited with the booking of 70 people to enjoy a Chinese dinner and to try our luck on their Friday night raffles. The Club handled the orders admirably and two of our members were lucky winners of meat trays in the raffle. Saturday night was the big Birthday banquet with fresh prawns from Clarence River Fishermans Co-op and BBQ chickens from Brooms Head General Store accompanied with salads and followed by fruit salad and ice cream. It was a perfect night to sit under the stars dressed up in our finery, listening to the waves rolling in and enjoying one another’s company. Special guests for the evening were Bevan and Shirley Summerland, Bevan was the 2nd Chapter President back in the early days, and they both had a great time catching up with friends. Sunday morning was time for the cake cutting ceremony and what a cake, Carol Randall (our outgoing Secretary of 10 years) had gone to extreme lengths to make the 20th celebration cake very special. There were many gasps and a round of applause as the cake was unveiled, it was in the shape of a motorhome with Ma and Pa outside on the camping chairs enjoying a lunch of sandwiches and bananas. Across the top of the cake on the awning roll were the words ‘One of the Mob’ which is the Chapter slogan. The cake was made by Wendy Noel who is fast becoming famous for her outstanding efforts in cake decorating. The inaugural members in attendance – Lyn & Fred Payne, Yvonne & Don Tomlinson, Marlene & Rex Watkins, Lorraine & Tim Seale, Margaret Sherlock, Lyn McQueen, Deanna Mawhinney posed for a photo around the cake while Lyn & Fred Payne and Bevan Summerland had the honour of cutting the cake. Members headed home Sunday afternoon after what was a fabulous weekend of fun, laughter and cheer with many booking their site for next year. The Chapter’s next outing will be at Broadwater on private property right next to the beach again with hosts Ray & Pauline.