On the show this week we start with a couple we met in Campbell Town Tasmania at the CMCA Rally. Its a culmination of all the different chapters in Tasmania.
This is an annual event that attracts motorhomes, caravans and 5th wheelers. CMCA is Australia’s largest RV club.
Ken and Vi are members of the Blue Gum Rovers chapter. They have regular catch ups where they get together, have fun, drinks, craft and play disc bowls. Disc Bowls is predominantly an outdoor game played on grass, however it can be played indoors on carpet or imitation grass as well. Disc Bowls is like Lawn Bowls (using Discs instead of Bowls), the game can be played by all ages and is commonly played by people travelling in Motorhomes, Caravans and RV’s. However, in saying that we have had several enquiries and sales from Aged Care Facilities. The younger generation are also beginning to show interest in the game. There are several Disc Bowls Tournaments which are held annually throughout Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania using these new Disc Bowls.
For this event Ken is the rally manager, so he does a lot of the organising and setting up, he also has others helping him, like maintenance, secretary and treasurer. Also your parking spot and the mapping out of the area, so when you arrive you are given a sign and a number for your parking area. It all runs very smoothly.
Also Ken organises guest speakers, there is a market, an evening bush dance, bingo, a dinner and sausage sizzle. Its a great way of meeting new people and joining in other events. https://www.cmca.net.au
Check out the website, there are many benefits in joining, like cheap camp grounds around Australia, catchups with different chapters in each state that you can go along to, a monthly magazine that can be viewed on line,
On this weeks show we for the first time attended the CMCA Rally. It was unusual how we decided to attend. We were parked up at a campground and had a knock on the van door. Upon answering we chatted to some fellow 5th wheelers who were asking us how we thought this spot to camp was like. The conversation continued and they mentioned were we going along to the rally. We did not even know it was on.
Well firstly we had only joined prior to this trip, because on doing some research discovered we could get discount and also cheaper camping fees in certain places. They mentioned there was a rally coming up at Campbell Town so after getting a few details we enquired and thought why not go along, it was for 5 days and a cost of $90 for both of us, camping fees and activities thrown in, also a chance to meet other travellers and also 5th Wheeler travellers.
Wandering round the event we ran into Lyn and Jan, first aiders and volunteers at the event. Very important considering that many in attendance were on the other side of 50, us included. Both Lyn and Jan we paramedics for the ambulance. Friends they knew were volunteers and decided to do the same. They attended a National Rally which had over 1000 plus vans, roughly 1800 people. Jan has had her first aid certificate for 50 years.
They don’t get a lot of injuries but have many falls and scrapes. They jokingly talk about some of there call outs. Carry there UHF radio with them even to bed.
Lyn is fulltime on the road, travelling round with her dog. Visiting many places and uses a lot of free camps.
Another volunteer we met at the rally is Rhonda who is the rally secretary at this event. This is Rhonda’s first time doing the roll of secretary. Rhonda is President of the Dalrympl Drifters Chapter and been a member for 12 years. Rhonda and her partner have a motor home and also head over to the mainland to travel. There motor home is 21 ft. The role is busy for the first few days and then settles down and also has a team that works with her. Her teams include the rubbish removal, cleaning the toilets, parking officers and then there is the admin side. Most of Rhonda’s chapter have motor homes but they all get together once a month and find a location and join in.
The Wanderer is a magazine that the CMCA publish once a month, full of information, RV parks and the rallys throughout Australia that you can attend. Its available either online and also you can get it hard copy. Rhonda loves reading the magazine.
