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Run report Sunday, 28 August, 2022

Goovigen Run.

By Jim Armstrong

Photos by Phil Henry and Jo Emmert

After a few non starts, delays like rain and a surprise 70th birthday party our scheduled August run was very well attended with 36 participants making their way to Goovigen for a delicious camp fire cooked roast meal of roast pork, beef and chicken with yummy potatoes, pumpkin and mixed beans and peas followed by ice cream and fruit salad.
 

It all started when the Yeppoon group met at the Oaks Service Station and travelled up to Rockhampton to meet up with the Rocky group who were waiting for us at the duckponds on the southern side of town.

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Jo and Kattie were busy distributing the day’s poker run cards on our arrival and soon all had their first round of cards. Our run brief was then held and new members Meredith and Ewen Sutherland who own a bright red BMW Z3 were introduced to rest of the contingent.
 

Run briefing over, we were soon on our way up the Capricorn Highway, out through Westwood turning off at the Burnett Highway and down to Dululu. We then turned onto the Leichhardt Highway to Wowan where we stopped in the little park for morning tea. As usual the ladies cooking was shared around but Henryka’s homemade rocky road was really something else. The lucky rusty door prizes were drawn and won by John and Henryka, Richard and Meredith and Ewen (our new members).
 

As planned, Gary and Robbie Galloway assumed the role of tour leader and had the convoy of MGs, BMWs, Jaguar, Valiant, Audi and a Hyundai all lined up following their Land Rover onto the Leichhardt Highway once more but not before yours truly, who had been delegated tail end Charlie, backed into a tree in the MGA on leaving the Wowan Botanical Gardens. Very little damage was done and we were again on our way down to the Rannes turn off and on to Goovigen.Poor old Goovigen, looks like a town that once prospered but now is virtually a ghost town with falling down shops and its boarded-up hotel but here we met up with Brian and Glennis, Clem and Jean, our Biloela members who joined us for lunch.

After a short photoshoot in Goovigen town we headed a short way out of town to where we were to have lunch at Golden Park Retreat. What an eyeopener, what a little oasis! Here a very neatly arranged selection of old vehicles, cars (mostly British), trucks and farm machinery all set out neatly in a park like manner amongst ponds, swimming pool and even a mini golf course. All this with the aroma of the campfire and roast meat cooking made a really pleasant setting for our lunch in the bush themed eating area.

Our arrival was just prior to lunch and so enabled our group to enjoy the magnificence of the setting and the day. Jo and Kattie conducted the final stage of the poker run and it was won by our tour leaders for the day Gary and Robbie Galloway.
 

The roast lunch was absolutely delicious and everybody seemed content to just sit and mingle for a while but as time marched on we started to leave to return to our respective homes. An excellent day out, thank you Robbie and Gary for organizing such an unknown gem out in the bush.
 

Those in attendance were;

Gary and Robbie Galloway

Jo and Katie Emmert

Paul and Clare Lynam

Phil Henry

Gordon Kelsey

John Rowe

Martin and Narelle Adams

Brian and Glenis Russell

Lyle and Pat Fielding

John Sheppard and Henryka Mitchell

Clem and Jean Hill

Gary Whight and Doris Lisle

Gurney Clamp

Richard Hughes

Phil White

Kev and Elaine Carr

Terry Dwyer and Anne Burbidge

Gary and Julie Kunst

Trevor Anderson and Glynis Benson

Meredith and Ewen Sutherland

Sandra and Myself

Run Report Sunday 17 July, 2022

By Jim Armstrong

Photos By Clare Lynam, Phil Henry, Sandra Armstrong  and Jo Emmert

One MGA Roadster, two MGB roadsters, one MGBGT, one MG TF(late model), One BMW Z3, A Hyundai Tucson and a Toyota Camper Van. This was the consist of our little convoy that left Rockhampton to parts unknown on our Mystery Tour.

It all started when the Yeppoon contingent gathered at the Oaks Service Station and headed up to Rockhampton where we met up with the Rockhampton group at the duckponds. Jo and Clare had already started dishing out the Gloria’s poker run cards and was right on to us on our arrival, which was good as it meant a brief stop before we could head off, but not before our drivers briefing.

Now if ever there was an information session that didn’t hand out information, this was it. Participants were second guessing where we might end up.

So off and up the road we go and you guessed it half of the little convoy caught the first red light so that meant the leaders had to pull off in sight of the tail enders after the big roundabout where the Bruce and Capricorn Highways meet. A quick call on the UHF to Gary Kunst who was tail end Charlie made sure the they all got around and then off we go to the vast unknown west of Rockhampton on to cop the same thing at Gracemere traffic lights. Another quick call to Gary and we were all good, that is until Clare traveling solo in her pristine BRG MGA caused a bit of a moment when she couldn’t disengage the cruise control that her husband, Paul had fitted. A bit of smoke from the brakes was reported as she desperately tried to stop, eventually managing to switch off of the offending cruise device.

Onwards we travelled until Duringa where smoko was called.  As usual, the ladies all bought out their fine sweet cuisine and were all chatting away still trying to guess where we were going. The only clue that was given here was to make sure that we had enough fuel for the next leg of around 250km with limited fuel stations in between. This prompted suggestions from the crew that had us going in all points of the compass.

None the wiser, we were all fuelled up and, on the road once more turning left down the Bauhinia Downs Road, to calls of Worri, (short for Woorabinda a well-known indigenous settlement in that area) over the uhf. “Maybe” was the only reply over the uhf. Some 85klms later we turned in to Woorabinda to a very pleasant surprise, the town was very modern and neat, a credit to the community. Naturally, the MGS and the little BMW attracted a lot of smiles and waves from the kids in the town. We didn’t stop but headed off instead to Baralaba famous for several well know NRL players and State of Origin players that prompted many comments to Jo (a staunch Blues supporter) only to receive, “I am sorry, you are breaking up, crackle, crackle”. Soon we were coming into the township and the banter was what everybody was going to have to eat at the pub as it was nearly 12:00 noon. To everybody’s surprise we just drove on through. Gary Wright the driver of the campervan (whose 2500 Triumph was off the road) lost sight of us and turned towards Moura causing a call from Gary Kunst for directions and so he rounded Gary Whight up and headed towards Myella Farm stay where again it was speculated that we were going to stop for lunch, but no, we kept driving. Into Goovigen, same story then on towards Jambin, same story once more but by now call of “are we nearly there yet?” over the uhf. Eventually, we pulled into Biloela to the newly refurbished Biloela Hotel to the relief of everybody who by now were famished and had full bladders.  

When we waked inside our Biloela chapter members, Clem and Jean Hill were waiting for us. What a pleasant surprise! The food was excellent and quickly served but while we were waiting Jo conducted the Poker run which was won by Gary Whight and Doris who won a STP cap and a Castrol t shirt. Gary K won the lucky door prize a bag of chocolates which he donated back.

After filling up with fuel again, Clem and Jean took us on a guided tour to Lake Callide and some of the local farming country. We said good bye to Clem and Jean before heading off again this time to only one of three possible destinations. After passing through Banana, it became evident that we were headed to Theodore was the sun was by now casting long shadows over the road. We made Theodore at about 4:30pm and as we were driving past the local showgrounds where numerous grey nomads had made camp, Gary Kunst noticed a few of his caravanning friends from Geelong, so after booking into our Motel he went back to visit.

After we had all settled in, happy hour commenced and we all enjoyed a well-earned cold drink with a selection of dips, cheese platters, gherkins and some home-made Kabana. The sun had well and truly set when we headed into the Hotels’ lounge and had a scrumptious evening meal. After our meal it was back around to the Motel awning for a cleansing ale or something stronger for some.

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Sunday morning soon came around and with everybody well rested, it was time to continue our “mystery run” with suggestions as to where we were going once again being raised. First stop was only a short drive down to the junction of Castle Creek and the Dawson River, another grey nomad favourite camp site, where an interesting sign had been erected showing the flood heights over the history of Theodore. Most were amazed to see how high the flood waters were in the 2011 flood when the whole town was evacuated. From here we drove down along the road adjacent to Castle Creek past a property that would keep the American Pickers busy for ten years or so.

As we were leaving, we encountered a short but very corrugated gravel section of road and this is when Jo called over the uhf to say that she had lost second gear in Paddy, her trusty MGB roadster. The first safe bit of road where we could pull over was at the turn off to Moura so we all pulled over to see what was the problem with Paddy. Tools and help came from everybody and soon it was evident that we might be here for a little while so out came all the goodies and impromptu smoko began for most except for Gary K, Kevin Carr, Phil Henry and Ian Carleton and myself after Gary K had discovered that the slave cylinder return spring had broken. The ground was fairly soft and several jacks were tried until finally Ian Carleton’s jack from his Hyundai did the trick. Gary had his especially made safety stand and that was placed under the car in order he could get safely under and execute the necessary repairs. After a quick test run Paddy was declared safe to continue, much to the relief of Jo who had spent most of her time there picking up rubbish for proper disposal. 

So, we all packed up and headed off to Moura via the Moura Theodore Road, River Drive and Saleyards Road to the Dawson River Picnic grounds where it was originally planned to have smoko. The grounds were also well occupied by the grey nomads. Time was marching on and so we headed off after a short time to Banana Hotel for lunch via Dawson Mine’s viewing area.

Unfortunately, Rosemary Carleton was feeling quite unwell on leaving the viewing area, so Ian took Rosemary back to Moura Hospital where she was thoroughly examined by the local doctors and nursing staff. This where we bade farewell to them both. On contacting Ian some time afterwards, Ian explained that she was released from Hospital around 3:30pm and all was well. (They got safely home to Yeppoon by about 6:45pm.)

This was a hospital that the Newman Government was vowing to close a few years ago, the local community fought hard to keep it open. Well done by the Moura community!

By now the group had settled into a good meal at the Banana Hotel which had only been recently refurbished. Jo drew the Sunday Lucky door prize and completed the Glorias Poker run for Sunday which was won by Gary K who won a nice little Six Pack esky and a stubby cooler donated by Wayne and Megan, our Gympie members, while Sandra won the rusty door prize, a bag of Picnic chocolate bars.

After lunch it was declared that mystery tour was now completed and all made their way home but not before stopping at the Dululu Citrus Farm for a bag or two of fruit.

In total we covered around 850klms over the two days and mostly in the Banana Shire. Clare’s dad used to refer to the major rivers in the area as the three D’s, the Don, the Dawson and the Dee. We crossed all three over the two days. Most of the crew admitted they were tired but all said how much they enjoyed it and oddly enough despite being long term inhabitants of Central Queensland some even said they visited places they had never been before.

Participants were:

Clare Lynam- BRG MGA Roadster

Jo Emmert- Red MGB Roadster

Gary Kunst- Primrose Roadster

Kevin and Yvonne Carr – Metallic green BMW Z3

Phil Henry- Black TF MG Roadster

Ian and Rosemary Carleton- White Hyundai Tuscon

Gary Whight and Doris Lisle- Metallic Blue Toyota Camper Van (factory built)

Sandra and Myself- BRG  MGB V8

MGCC of Qld. Inc. Capricorn Chapter

Chapter Coordinator: Jim Armstrong 0417 544 222

Assistant Coordinator: Clare Lynam 0437362335

Run Committee: Jo Emmert and Phil Henry

Run Report - Sunday, 10 April, 2022

The thoughts on everybody’s minds involved in the days outing on Sunday was “rain, rain, go away, come again another day” and despite a couple of cars pulling out, 15 cars and 24 people turned out for an interesting and enjoyable day.

It all started when the Rockhampton group assembled at the Government buildings on Norman Road whilst the Yeppoon group assembled at the Oaks servo and met up at the Cawarrel turnoff at Dairy Inn Road. Here we learnt that a large gum tree had fallen over the road near Rockhampton and one of our group had a near miss when coming upon it. Never mind it all ended well.

Jo and her friend Kim were busy organising the poker run for the day while everyone said their hellos. Then it was off to Cawarrel where Glynn Blair had organised for Ross and Mrs Robinson to open their shed and allow us to have a look inside. Well, what a surprise! Inside was chock a bloc full of antique and modern racing cars along with memorabilia that would be the envy of any motoring museum. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves but needless to say it was impressive.

Who would have thought? Ross told us that from Monday, it was all being relocated to his new home at Emu Park although the new shed was slightly smaller and so a couple of his cars, a 1927 Chev truck and a 1947 Hudson Teraplane were up for sale. We look forward to seeing Ross’s new shed when he is organised.

All too soon it was time to go and so Gary Kunst and Clare Lynam did a reckie around Cawarrel to see if they could find some undercover picnic tables for smoko.

Gary soon rang back and we were all set up for smoko but not before a few of the ladies had discovered a book market going on in a hall near the town’s public toilets. Needless to say, some came away with real bargain priced books. When Jo opened up her boot, it was discovered that the Easter Bunny had come early and everyone there was treated to some chocolate easter eggs.

Very thoughtful of him or her maybe. Jo and Kim distributed more cards and drew the lucky door prizes for the day. Gary and Doris won the first draw a box of favourites that was donated by Supercheap Yeppoon after our recent display down there and Robbie and Gary won the second draw. In normal tradition, we were all treated to chocolates.

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Next stage of our day’s activities was a trip to the Joskeleigh South Sea Islanders Museum where a small but interesting display was set up to commemorate the near slave treatments of the South Sea Islanders in the early days when they were bought to Australia to work in the sugar industry for little or no pay. There was a sugar mill and plantations at Joskeleigh and another at Fairnborough, which are long since gone. A quick visit to the cemetery and then on to Keppel Sands for lunch.

Our table was a long table set up for us but due our numbers increasing at the last minute we overflowed on another table nearby. Lunch was once more, delicious and again huge servings. Jo and Kim distributed the final cards in Gloria’s poker run and the winners were Gary and Doris. Time marched on and soon we all said our good byes and returned to our homes. Another very well attended and enjoyable day.

Jim Armstrong

Photos by Clare Lynam and Phil Henry

Those in attendance were:

Clare Lynam

Phil Henry

Gary Kunst

Paul Davey

Glyn Blair

John Rowe

Gary Whight and Doris

George and Lyn Ganter

Brian and Glenis Russel

Laurie Chetter and his Mate

Robbie and Gary Galloway

Michelle and Rick Taylor

Jo Emmert and her friend Kim

Sandra and myself