Community News

Grey nomads strike again

The Ramblers once again played host to RV people from all over the eastern states of Australia to help celebrate the Jacaranda Festival. Thirty-six volunteers from our chapter had a ball while helping our visitors to have a great time. The Clarence Valley was highlighted with tours from Glenugie, Lawrence and the Lower Clarence being fully subscribed.

We would like to thank the CVC for their generous financial support of our rally as well as the local businesses. This allows us to offer our visitors a wonderful program, incorporating the Jacaranda Festival and advertising the Clarence Valley.

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful Halloween night with the Jacaranda Party at the Jacaranda RV Rally. Ken, Mavis and Carla contributed to the fantastic back drops and flying ghosts and witches that decorated the area. Volunteers worked tirelessly to assemble the decorations which set the mood for the night. Costumes went wild with the oldies as they got into the swing of the night. Dinner was served to everyone and then the dancing began. Music by ‘Tangle’ kept all up on their feet and having a marvellous time.

Tours, entertainment and enjoying a much-revamped Jacaranda Festival kept our interstate visitors very busy for the seven days. Garden tours and a visit to the ostrich farm were new venues for our tours. The foodies and the cruise tours still proved to be the most popular. The vintage cars and other vehicles were the favourite at the ostrich farm and the BBQ lunch was fantastic. Our gardens really showed how to put on a show in extreme conditions – and they were so varied.

The Lake Macquarie Ramblers took the prize for board games, being engrossed each day in bush rummy. Once again there was a large contingency of this chapter at our rally.

The camp oven demo day was a huge success with the cooking area moved to near the front gate. There were so many watching that we had to get seating for them. The visitors enjoyed the scones for morning tea and the volunteers all had a marvellous baked dinner that night, and with dessert too.

Our volunteers were highly praised for their efforts over the duration of the rally. Some had to leave early succumbing to bronchitis and other chest afflictions, but in true volunteer spirit, those remaining willingly took the roster positions left vacant by the sick.         

On the last Sunday our volunteers and guests enjoy a hearty breakfast before cleaning up and heading home.

A job well done by everyone.

Nearly half of our visitors have signed up for next year, and all the volunteers are more than willing to help Nola out in her first year as coordinator.

Lorraine Seale