Australian CamperTrailers
national meet at Bardine
2011
introduction
The Australian CamperTrailers Group's
7th national meet was held at Camp
Cypress in Baradine, 45 kilometres north west
of Coonabarabran off the Newell Highway on the New South Wales
Northwest Slopes & Plains over the week from
Monday 26th to Friday 30th of September 2011. Baradine & in particular Camp
Cypress offers an excellent location to explore both the Piliga Forest & the
nearby Warrumbungles National Park.
The meet
attracted around 112 camper trailers, caravans & tents with over 250
people from as far a field as Western Australia. With this number we
really added to Bardine's population of 800 people who were only too
pleased to share their town with us all. The hospitality shown to
members of the CamperTrailers Group by the local Baradine community will
be held in our hearts for some time.
It was no
surprise having some
of the best rain makers in the country camped in the one spot when the heavens opened delivering around 40mm, much to the
delight of the local residents, although some of us campers ended up
with soggy ground underfoot. A big thanks to those who jumped in & helped move Ian
& Edythe to higher ground.
As the
temperature dropped after dark the smell of burning cypress timber
filled the air as well as plenty of laughter was heard from the many
campfires. Camp Cypress was able to supply us with enough wood to keep
everyone warm.
Driving down
the main street you could not help notice all the posters on the shop
windows welcoming the CamperTrailers Group to town. These were made by the kids
from the two local schools & depicted camper
trailers & camping scenes.
A big thanks
to Barry & Margaret Pierce who helped us during the busy influx over the weekend
with more than 100 camper trailers arriving on the Saturday & Sunday. While Marg helped Carol with admin
duties, Barry filled in by telling the new
arrivals a few bad jokes while Rob & Kev where out settling in the camper trailers that had previously arrived.
A huge thanks
goes to Gina from Camp Cypress who kept the amenities sparkling even
during the damp times when we could not help trample bark chips inside.
Carol presented her with a little gift for her kind efforts. Although often
working behind the scenes, Garnet the Camp Cypress caretaker was always
on hand & nothing was an effort.
sunday opening
Sunday
evening saw the start of the week with the grand opening in the old
showgrounds rustic pavilion. Group co-owner
Kevin Phillips welcomed members to the 7th national meet &
thanked the Camp Cypress committee for the effort that went into the
preparation before our arrival. He then went on to tell of the groups beginnings in September 2001 & how the
group has grown to over 6100 members with the present day
popularity of camper trailers.
The
Warrumbungle Shire Mayor, Cr Peter Shinton, welcomed the group to town & wished us all a pleasant
stay pointing out some of the local sights worth looking at. Neil
McDonald, Chairman of the Camp Cypress board also welcomed the group to
Baradine. National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Jon Whittall
looked forward to having us along for the three guided tours the
national parks where conducting over the week & explained what we could
see.
It just so
happened the following Friday was when the group was started some ten years
ago. Forth generation baker in Mudgee, Peter & Liza McDonald rallied to
the occasion with a huge mud cake decorated with the CamperTrailers
Groups logo. Rob, Kevin & Jason then cut the cake.
Group
co-owner Rob Sanderson went on
to outline the itinerary for the week with workshops held by members on
a variety of subjects relating to camper trailers & camping in general.
Being an internet based group there are subjects where the information
cannot be easily exchanged through typing & this is where face to face
workshops come into their own.
Group
co-owner Jason Cox outlined the communities involvement on Wednesday's
Baradine Day. It was an understatement to say the town was thrilled to
see us there. Activities included a cooked breakfast by the two local
schools, street stalls, barefoot lawn bowls, a baked dinner & a one man
band to finish the night off.
Joy and Dave Wilkinson hosted another
'Getting to Know You' session at the end of the opening while everyone
celebrated with a slice of
birthday mud
cake.
please click clippings to enlarge |
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Coonabarabran Times
Thursday, 29th September, 2011 |
Coonabarabran Times
Thursday, 6th October, 2011 |
Coona Times
13th October, 2011 |
itinerary
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MONDAY
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TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
Morning |
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8:00 Communal Area
Breakfast for charity cooked by the local community |
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9:00 Jamie’s Camper
Solar, 12volt & batteries
Jamie Hazelden
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9:00 Jamie’s Camper
DC-DC chargers
Jamie Hazelden |
in Baradine
street stalls
local community |
9:00 Car
Tours
Pilliga Scrub
National Parks
strictly 10 cars
per tour |
9:00 Communal Hut
coffee table trip book making from your
photos
Geoff Lane |
9:00 Communal
Kitchen
workshop for kids
Wendie Hume
|
9:00 Communal
Hut
Reptile keeping
Clancy Skinner
|
at Camp
Cypress
Pony rides
Baradine Pony Club |
9:00
Communal Hut
Camper design
Bob Sproston
|
|
11:00
Dave Cook's Camper
Camper Walkabout
Dave Cook |
11:00 Communal Area
Morning Tea |
11:00
Communal Area
Hardy's Vs Softy's
Bolle competition
George Mavros |
11:00 Rob &
Carol's Camper
Wheel bearing maintenance
Rob Sanderson
|
11:00
Communal Hut
Hitchmaster securing system
George Mavros |
|
|
12:00 Car
Tours
Pilliga Scrub
National Parks
strictly 10 cars
per tour |
11:00 Communal
Kitchen
Pamper session for ladies
Carol Sanderson
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Afternoon |
1:00
Communal Hut
Safari Can
Gary Roberson
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1:00 Communal
Hut
what to do with digital photos
Joy Wilkinson
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1:00 Baradine
Barefoot lawn bowls
Baradine Bowling Club
|
1:00 Kev's Camper
Lithium ion batteries
Kevin Phillips
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1:00
Dave Cook's Camper
Camper Walkabout
Dave Cook |
1:00
Communal Kitchen
Ladies craft & chat
Carol Sanderson
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1:00 Communal
Area
Compass Game for adults & kids
Matt Stone |
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|
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3:00 Jill's Camper
Cobb workshop
Jill Skinner
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3:00 Rob & Carol's
Camper
Dreampot workshop
Jenny Peisley
|
at Camp
Cypress
Horse & Sulky rides |
3:00 Communal Hut
Destination West Coast
Neil Morton
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4:00
Communal Area
Closing Event
Rob, Kevin & Jason
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5:00 Communal Area
Tame the toilet tent & Happy Hour |
5:00
Communal
Kitchen
Baked Dinner
Local Community |
5:00
Communal Area
Happy Hour
Audio Book Swap
Greg Carthew
Book Swap
Carolyn Davis
plus
Kids Lollie Hunt
Peter & Helen Hartwig
|
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Evening |
7:00
Communal
Kitchen
Trivia Night
Dave & Jan Cook
Dave & Joy Wilkinson
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7:00 Jamie’s Camper
what's new in LED lighting
Jamie Hazelden
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7:00
Communal Area
evenings entertainment
Bush Dance with Local Band
|
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Sunday opening
Getting to Know You
Dave & Joy Wilkinson
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CamperTrailers
tenth birthday |
Spirit of
the Group
a nice favour or gesture during the week
the one who best represents the group
perpetual trophy |
Baradine Blunders
dob in your mate
funniest or most embarrassing moment
during the week |
Camp
Cypress
Baradine
2011 |
raffle for
charity
Trimax deluxe universal wheel lock
laminated steel padlocks
details>>>>>
Alan & Amanda Haworth
|
introduction
attendees
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
photos
photos2
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