COROWA 1994
15th Annual Corowa Rally
15-20th March 1994
Vehicle list:
1 DUKW
6 GPA’s
1 Studebaker 2 ½ ton GS
1 Bedford QL 4X4 GS\1 FWD 6X6 GS
3 Chev Blitz’s
1 Chev Blitz Gun Tractor with Limber and 25 Pounder
4 Dodge Weapons Carriers
1 Dodge 4X2 2-ton CL
12 Jeeps
6 Land Rovers
1 White Scout Car M3 AOP
1 Paratroop Folding Bicycle
Trailers Various
1 Contraption (refer to Ian Styles purchase in story)
Once again it was time to head for Corowa and this year it was for
the fifteenth time. This location has remained the same because of its
perfection for our activities on land and water, is convenient for
members of clubs of four states: NSW, Vic Qld and Sth Australia made it
as well as from the ACT. Some arrived early in the week and the rest
moved in as their various commitments allowed.
A small contingent left Sydney early Monday 15th consisting of Dave in
his Landy with Workshop Trailer. Ian and Darlene with kids in their
Dodge with trailer in tow and Tony Buckingham with his Landy on his very
first club rally. They moved out from the crossroads area at 0900 and
some difficulties soon appeared as Ian’s Dodge developed overheating
problems and boiled every few kilometers. Mittagong was reached and a
friendly workshop discovered and by 1430 everyone was on the way again,
enabling then to reach Junee by tea time.
After an overnight stay in the hotel at Junee the group went to inspect
the now disused railway round-house which, according to Ian, was the
last complete round-house built in Australia. The caretaker kindly
oallowed everyone to poke around and Ian collected a few little
souvenirs. A day of gently motoring followed and the small party puled
into the Caravan Park at Corowa lat that afternoon.
Wednesday and Thursday were spent in the traditional past-time of
‘ratting’ the local junkyards of Corowa and Albury/Wodonga. When not
doing this the rest of the time was spent meting up with those arriving
during this time and renewing old acquaintances.
On Friday glen Stone led a mystery trip of discovery tp Eldorado,
Beechworth, and Chiltern. The first stop was the large gold mining
dredge at Eldorado and after having a good look over the dredge we went
through the small township and stopped at a local museum which wasn’t
open but had a large number of outdoor machinery exhibits. The lunch
stop was at Beechworth with that town’s famous bakery/sandwich shop,
interesting old pubs and antique and junk shops. This is the town where
they have new Bren Gun Carrier track right across the forecourt of one
of the town’s old service stations. The majority of the contingent then
went on to Chiltern. Dave, who had stayed back at the caravan park, was
interviewed for radio 3SR (Shepparton) with his five minutes of fame
being well presented. Also back at the caravan park some members of the
Corowa RSL along with the local press and the manager of the Corowa
Tourist Trust did some interviews and photo’s down at the lagoon area
using some of the vehicles. The veterans were taken out on the river in
the GPA’s and DUKW and thought the experience was excellent. The Friday
finished off with dinner at the Wahgunyah Hotel and then back to Keith’s
camp area for films, conversation and laughs.
The usual Saturday procession through Corowa was set for 1000 and with
the convoy sorted out in ‘Column of blob’ as Dave put it. The convoy
moved through Corowa shops and then out through Rutherglen for a photo
stop along a quiet ad straight road. The vehicles caused a lot of
attention as they moved along in convoy; especially Ian styles
‘contraption’ which could be best described as an earthmoving, side
dumping (tipping), tracked trailer designed to be towed behind a
Bulldozer and weighing in a something of the order of 10 tons. We have
been told that the job of getting it out of the Upton’s yard was a real
struggle. After the procession and the photo session the traditional
swap meet was held back at the caravan park to the delight of the avid
military vehicle collectors.
The afternoon was taken up with water activities using the DUKW, the
GPA’s and the flying fox set up over the top of the lagoon by Ian and
his Dodge, and helped by Mark, Tony and Dave. It was a beautiful sunny
day for cruising on the Murray River on the Amphib vehicles and the
Queensland contingent, led by Peter Fraser livened things up first with
a outboard on the rear of a Jeep trailer, which has been registered as a
boat in its own right, and then waterskiing behind the DUKW – great fun
was had by all.
As usual, the Saturday night was the ‘dinner night’ out at Glen and Lyn
Stone’s property at Rutherglen. We had organised a dance and dress-up
night along with the usual raffles and prizes. Lyn had organised a cheap
and lovely meal with some local ladies doing the catering and as well
she had organised a dozen bottles of wine to be raffled off – well done
Lyn.
Dave conducted the prize giving with prizes going to:
Glen Stone for his restoration of his FWD
John Wilson for coming the furthest with a GPA.
Ian Ratcliffe for having the greatest struggle to get to Corowa.
Mike Cecil for getting married the next weekend .
Reg Butler’s grandson Mitch, also got a prize for also getting married
shortly.
Tony Buckingham won a compass as it was his first time there and didn’t
know his way around.
Fancy dress prizes went to:
Matthew Ratcliffe won an Easter egg for best Junior dress (3 years old)
Glen Dore for his Russian uniform.
Col Anderson for his RAAF uniform.
Prizes for all of the above were donated by Keith Adam, Dave Brown, Mike
Cecil, Hugh Thompson and Allan McAlister.
Sunday was ‘pack up and go’ day for most people and as there was a
blackout within the caravan park the management put on a free breakfast
barbeque; nice of them. The trip home was uneventful aside for Ian
Ratcliffe buying two Dodge utes and Tony losing his Landy canopy when
the top ripped out just as it started raining. A great time again as is
always the way with Corowa. The weather was just perfect and it’s on
again next year. Let’s see you there.
Jan Thompson
