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Christmas Party - November '08
Link to ....... Debbie's Christmas Party Trips photos
“The hills were
alive with the sound of” Mitsubishis (and other vehicles) on the weekend of
29-30 November 2008, around the Island Reach Caravan Park at Imbil, and in the
Amamoor and Kandanga areas. Our Club’s Christmas Party began as early as the
previous Monday for some, with most arriving on the Friday. This year we were
treated to the sight of green grass, ferocious ants, the usual heat and
humidity, and thankfully, NO STORMS, over the weekend. Friday night is always a
casual evening. Some ventured to the Imbil Bowls Club for a meal while others
enjoyed catching up with friends not seen for some time.
The theme for
the Saturday this year was “Silly Hats and Masks” which set people’s
imagination to work. Social Secretary, Allan Puckridge, manned the registration
benches, adorned in his colourful red/green jester’s hat. There may have been
an ulterior motive in the word “jester”, for Allan kindly issued each of the 26
kids with water pistols, and a coloured laminated photo of the Committee members
– ostensibly taken recently for the AGM changeover. Little did we realise,
Allan!!
Errol Gordon
and his band of enthusiasts organised the usual Medium and Hard trips for
Saturday morning. Only three Mitsubishis conquered the first hill at
Amamoor on the hard trip, with Mike Farrell taking out the “hard luck award” for
his diff lock problems. Bush mechanic Errol came to the rescue.
The Medium Trip
(bordering on Hard, some might say) to the Kandanga Fire Tower area, led by
President Eric, was a good test of skills, and many had to draw on their
experience as they traversed the hoop and bunya pine forests and frequent
whooboys.
Lucia Townsend
kindly led the Ladies Trip in the direction of the bigger and better Eumundi
Markets.
The Scenic
afternoon trip, around Borumba Dam and Lookout, was such that Jane Marks coined
a new phrase for the club, describing herself as “Dust End Charlie”!
Those committee
members who ventured out on the all day hard trip or afternoon trips were
deprived of a good soaking, when good fun was had by all after lunch, with the
kids and their water pistols given free rein for a period. Wet through, we then
proceeded to a game of Christmas cricket, with the scotch thistles and bull ants
creating an interesting dance for those at the crease.
By 5pm Saturday
several weird apparitions could be seen converging under the huge Club tarpaulin
marquee for a Happy Hour with a difference. Many members showed great
initiative with their colourful hats and masks. We were even graced with the
presence of the King and Queen of Imbil (aka Eric and Helga) in their regal
headgear. Thanks must be given to the O’Hara family and Bev’s willing band of
helpers who served a great variety of pre dinner nibbles. “M” Hughston took out
the prize for the best lady’s hat with her very realistic paper mache Christmas
turkey, modelled on top of an Akubra. Adrian McDonnell’s black head scarf,
complete with miniature 4WD vehicles and tracks, was voted Best Male Hat. The
O’Hara family won the group prize for their effort in creating a map of
Australia with their masks.
As darkness
fell, over 100 adults and 26 children sat down communally, to prepared dinners,
be it of a Christmas or easy nature, with some choosing to cook in groups. This
proved a less stressful way than trying to cater for, and serve the whole camp,
with the same menu. The barrage of insects necessitated candlelight dining,
with electricity being used only to see who won the various raffle prizes.
Thanks go to our sponsors, Mitsubishi Motors for the numerous items including a
fishing rod and reel won by Garry Broadhurst, and a reel won by El Presidente.
Other sponsors offered a weekend at The Springs 4WD Park near Warwick, provided
by owners Iain and Toni, and Elle Bache products from the Thatchers. A big hand
for all our sponsors please. Amazingly, by 9.30pm the communal area was almost
deserted. Where did everyone go this year? Too much wining and dining, fresh
air and driver concentration, earlier in the day?????
Sunday morning
dawned hot, bright and sunny and the usual pilgrimage to the camp kitchen could
be seen. Early risers gathered utensils to prepare the “Big Club Breakfast”
organised by Don Williamson, which has become a tradition at our Christmas Party
weekend. Bacon and sausages were again purchased from the local butcher and had
that fresh country flavour. By 8am the long line of hungry campers were ready
to devour eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, baked beans followed by tea/coffee
and toast as fast as the workers could produce them.
Next on the
programme was the Presentation of Annual Awards, with the inauguration this
year of the “Mitsi’s”, co-ordinated by Jen and Bill Parker. What a beauty
the “Club Member of the Year” trophy, won by Alan Rowe, turned out to be. Bill
went to great pains to find and mount an NP gear stick on a suitable base and
painstakingly coated it in gold paint. At the Mitsi’s each year the main trophy
will be individually created. See the November magazine for the names of all
the various winners in each category.
No time to
dawdle after the red “carpet” presentation, applause and photographing of
winners by Greg Conlon, for the Annual Club Photo needed to be completed, and
Santa Claus was coming to town. What a hot morning it was for our jovial Santa,
with both little and “big kids at heart” receiving their goodies before he drove
off, naturally in a Mitsubishi Triton.
Mid morning
Sunday of the Christmas Party weekend one can sometimes feel an anticlimax, as
the cleanup begins in earnest, followed by the pull down and pack up of all that
is need to ensure a successful weekend.
Those who can
try to fit in just one more trip that day while others just take it easy and
stay an extra night. If YOU missed it this year, make a note in your diary for
28/29 Nov 2009. The date is already booked for Imbil. It’s the one
occasion when club members really come out in force. One of our foundation
members has already suggested a possible theme for next year’s SATURDAY NIGHT
FESTIVITIES, and that is, To Come Dressed as Something that Begins with the
Same Letter as Your Name, be it first or surname. Sounds good to me.
Thanks to many
of our members who contributed so much of their time, and effort, to make our
party together another successful activity of FRIENDSHIP, FOUR WHEEL DRIVING,
FUN AND FOOD.
There’s a lot
of hard yakka that goes on behind the scenes to make our annual weekend what it
is. This particular event in the Club calendar is only as good as you choose to
make it. At this or any other club activity, do something different – say hello
to someone you don’t know, and broaden your network of friends in the Club.
Happy New Year to you all.
Mary Metcalfe
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