Corowa 2009 -'Year of the Amphibian & Year of the Blitz 2'

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

I remain impressed with the quality of the discourse on even difficult subjects such as this. All or you are a credit to not only yourselves but us as a group, and I thank you.

I will remind all principle players that when the time is right and the proper question(s) formulated, there is a polling option in this software, and I encourage its use where applicable; while this 'applicability' is ultimately mine to decide, and any given poll remaining just a sampling of opinion, it can be useful nonetheless. The final responsibility rests, of course, with those who take the lion's share of the load in organising the event every year, and I shan't stand in their way.

Keep it coming, ladies & gentlemen... all suggestions and comments will be given due consideration. This is the way it's supposed to work!

[Lang]

My two bob's worth on the airport vs downtown.

I understand there is a possibility of losing the old assembly point with new roadworks but a transfer around the corner into the area where the loading ramp is provides even more area close to the caravan park.

I don't agree the line up is any sort of shambles as alluded to above. Everyone moves across in their own time and the pre-parade atmosphere is like the last day at school before the holidays. It is really the only time you can actually move around talking to every vehicle owner in a tight spot. I believe that half hour before the parade all parked in a loose pack does a great deal for team spirit and a feeling of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

The move off always happens smoothly and people filter out in a polite order to create the big snake up the main street.

I, like many others, had serious misgivings about splitting the camps between the park and the airport. Having seen it in operation I can now say it is an experiment that worked extremely well. The "them and us" situation never happened. The tracked vehicles could move around a little which could not happen at the park. There was a continuous cross-pollination of vehicles travelling in both directions with functions at both camps attended by large numbers from the other. Everyone streamed out of both camps to join the day runs.

We have just got too big for our original settlement and created a suburb in the larger city.

The swap meet is much more easily accessed and even those opposed to the airport must admit the stalls were jammed on top of each other back in town while there is unlimited space for expansion now. It also avoids the bad blood and wild drive to sprint back from the airport to get the "bargains" which destroys the big display. Was it not wonderful seeing almost every vehicle left on display for hours, not only for us but the townspeople while the owners wandered in a relaxed manner over to the adjoining swap meet?

As far as too hot. I think there are too many Victorians complaining (although Melbourne exceeds those temperatures often during summer). For heaven's sake you live in AUSTRALIA. 40 degrees is not going to melt you and moving 5 kilometres away into town is not going to drop the temperature by one degree. The Canadians survive in freezing temperatures by dressing appropriately. Put on a hat and get on with life in conditions that people in 90% of Australia expect and live with through much of the summer.

Lang

[Lang]

Just a couple more thoughts on Corowa.

The airport base encouraged the attendance of several warbirds (and our morning Spitfire wake-up call). These aircraft would not come just to fly over a camp 5 kilometres away, they came because they were present at a visible event at the airfield. I understand there are several more owners of interesting aircraft looking at coming next year.

Camping at the airport will not become compulsory due to lack of space in the forseeable future. There is plenty of space at Ball Park (even with the semi-trailers there is lots of space for many more attendees). It only becomes more crowded on the last couple of days anyhow and the extra people are not there for a holiday but to have a full-on military vehicle weekend.

People gather for varying periods of up to 10 days. This is more than adequate to cater for the needs and enjoyment of individual families. With many runs and plenty of swimming or shady tree time the wife and kids can be immersed in military vehicles to the limit of their attention span. The 'next generation" training can reach saturation point during the stay.

I think as many kids as possible should come along on the day runs and everyone should enjoy their company at the various museums, historic sights and scenic spots.

Despite family orientation this is first and foremost a military vehicle enthusiasts event. I do not believe the requirements of family members who are not excited about the prospect of a few hours hanging around the trucks (either in or out of the sun) should even be taken into consideration for the short period of the parade and swap meet.

The parade and swap is the serious military vehicle highlight for the hundreds of people - most without children and many without wives - who have spent thousands of dollars and travelled from all over Australia and even overseas. This is their moment in the sunshine, it is the big kids time. If the little kids want to come along for the ride that is great but they should not create extra work, changes to the program and route or any loss of activity for the big kids.

If participants can't keep their wives and kids interested, happy or comfortable or make alternative arrangements to keep them occupied for a couple of hours in a week's festivities it is not up to others to do so.

Lang

[hrpearce]

I had a look at Corowa in 07 and did a three day dry run in a torago this year, I thoroughly enjoyed both. As for the heat this year what would you prefer talking with like minded nutters or out carting hay or sheering sheep. The swap meet is the moor atractive option. I survived it with two rugrats in tow, we had fun and the drink sellers made a profit.

[Ian Pullen]

Lang. You hit the nail on the head with the use of the area near the loading ramp and old club rooms as a starting point for the future street parades. There should be enough room there to group vehicles in makes/models etc and send them off together.

Anyway, food for thought.

I also agree (not surprisingly) with your thoughts as per the Saturday at the Airfield. We are getting more interest from the Warbird fraternity, and one way to keep the numbers increasing is the use of the Airfield.

We will be having armoured vehicles again, this will be at the Airfield as well as it is the safest place to run them for the reasons stated in previous posts. If all comes to plan next year there should be some pretty impressive armour driving around on the Saturday. If that doesn't keep kids interested, nothing will.

Rusty, I don't wish to go into the politics of such an event and the headaches organising it all, so I won't and there is still a committee position with your name on it if you so desire. I will however ask about the suggestion I put up earlier. Would that suffice to cater for families?

I will also remind everyone that we asked for interested participants to help the committee as well in the first post.

As for shade at the swap meet. BYO. They do at Bendigo, and that is the largest swapmeet in the country. I don't seem to remember too much grass there either.

There is a bigger (and growing) picture here.

[Ian Pullen]

Guys,
I have already mentioned that we will be having armour again at the Airfield next year. This is re-inforced already with (written confirmed) entries and a number of gentlemen who have given me verbal confirmation as well.

If this plays out as we are planning there should be some serious toys again to look at next year. Now that we have had one run at the Airfield behind us, we are a little wiser and more organised.

I will ask anyone who may have armour tucked away somewhere and who may be contemplating bringing it, to start thinking about saving up the sheckles in a tin and get the toys out to play next year.

This goes for Carriers too.

The run out to the property for the tracked vehicles will be on again too.

Isn't this the reason we have it????????

[BSHEVLIN]

IAN i will be bringing my carrier & / ferret since i have my own truck now

if i can get leave !!!!!
i will be back in Darwin next year with the tank regiment.