Australian CamperTrailers Group
2018 national get together
at Bungendore NSW

the week

workshops & activities

The workshops & events began from the Monday with members & invited guests hosting a number of workshops on a variety of subjects relating to camper trailers, travel & camping in general. Being an internet based group there are subjects where the information cannot be easily exchanged through typing & this is where the national meet gives the perfect opportunity for face to face workshops.

Workshops by members included Rob Sanderson's trailer wheel bearing practical demonstration showing members how to inspect & regrease their bearings, then reassemble everything. Kevin Phillips presented a technical workshop on tow weights & limits via a visual slideshow, explaining how easy it is to overload your camper trailer or caravan as well as your vehicle.

Jill Skinner with assistance from husband Gus & Sharon Wheatley showed how the popular Cobb Cooker can be used as an alternative for cooking a range of meals instead of using the traditional camp oven or pots & pans on a gas stove.

A ladies morning tea was hosted by Carol Sanderson where ladies introduced themselves over a cuppa & caught up with past acquaintances. Jane Tasker & Belinda Bryant had their spinning wheels on hand to demonstrate their craft. Carol also hosted a ladies pamper session later in the week.

David Cook hosted the popular camper trailer walkabout once again, where members gave a brief talk on what they liked about their camper trailer.  Kevin Phillips hosted a similar walkabout for caravans.

Rob & Carol Sanderson hosted a chat for members on the topic of tips for camping, cooking, trip ideas & travel. Much like the group works online, but with the advantage of face to face replies.

Carol hosted a card & craft workshop for kids assisted by Jenny McCarron & Diane Pridham. Phoebe Schumack ran a Finska competition also for the kids. 

Invited businesses asked to attend & host information workshops included Dale Papworth from Watts Communications in Queanbeyan. Dale looked at the new Australian made GME XRS UHF CB which uses bluetooth wireless technology enabled via a phone app which can create & share scan lists with instant access to the entire Australian and New Zealand registered analogue frequency database. Next he spoke about the Cel-Fi GO Mobile Repeater, an intelligent in-vehicle coverage solution for Telstra's Next G & 4GX networks, designed to dramatically boost voice quality & increase data speeds for moving vehicle applications. He also showed us the GME TX6160 & ICOM IC-41PRO UHF CB's.

Redarc's Cameron Moore assisted by Todd Simpson, presented a workshop explaining who Redarc are & gave an overview of the products that are manufactured in the Adelaide facility. The second workshop showed what was involved in setting up a reliable dual battery system in the vehicle or camper trailer, the best type of battery to use, how the battery charged & discharged.

Dave & Jan Cook with Dave & Joy Wilkinson hosted a trivia night in the showground kitchen pavilion. The popular event was well attended & once again a great success with plenty of friendly rivalry between the tables as teams sort the perpetual winners trophy donated by Jamie Hazelden of Jamie's Touring Solutions. Proceeds of the gold coin donation went to the Bungendore Rotary Club.

The auction night has now developed into its own night after starting as an idea during the bands break at the Nyngan national meet. Rob, Kevin & Jason provided an entertaining night as over seventy-two item groups which included some gloves, all donated by members & businesses were bid on. The $2965 proceeds were donated to the Bungendore Rotary Club.

A big thanks to Australian CamperTrailers Group members who bid & to those who generously donated items, including Dale Alford & Bernadette Donato, Andrew Dale, Stasia Everingham & Donna, Mervyn & Jane Tasker, George Mavros & Anne Drury, Terry & Sandy Agland, Shane & Kim Worth, Ted & Pat Barker,  Ian & Collette Garnham, Caroline & Roger Duck, Judi Tregonning, Richard & Belinda Bryant, Kevin & Karen Phillips, Keith & Jenny McCarron, Lloyd & Lyn Davies, Greg James, Keith & Carol Brown, Simon & Patrick Wakeling, Mal, Cyan & Kenya Lacey, Sean Mccombe, Col & Sharon Tidey and Gordon & Von Tindal.

Businesses donating goods included Redarc Electronics & Bungendore's Wild Rose Organics.

A few afternoon rain showers cancelled the scheduled barefoot bowling at the Bungendore Bowling Club, however the clubs Chinese Restaurant proved to be very popular with over one-hundred people attending the evening.

wednesday community day

Wednesday is usually set aside as the host town community day. To start the day breakfast was cooked by the Bungendore Rotary Club with bacon, sausages & eggs with coffee or tea.   

At mid morning the annual soft floor (softies) V's hard floor (tin billycans) camper trailer boles competition was played for the Nyngan Cup trophy hosted by George Mavros. Spectators lined the showground stands, cheering each and every shot, sometimes accompanied by spectacular mexican waves. After strenuous struggles on both sides the winning team for the softies were Jim & Joanne Roche defeating Kathleen & Courtney Beckwith representing the hardies.

Two bus coaches took eighty members to Floriade, a floral display of more than a million bulbs & annuals alongside Lake Burley Griffin in Commonwealth Park, Canberra. It has earned the title of the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

closing ceremony

Friday afternoon saw the closing ceremony held in the showground kitchen pavilion. Kevin Phillips thanked everyone for their attendance, the fantastic time we had over the week, the friendships formed & the positive feeling of the event. He went on to thank the Bungendore Showground, especially caretakers Ken & Ann and Ross & Joanne, as well as members who had helped out during the week, volunteering to maintain the amenities, cutting & carting firewood or just jumping in when it was necessary to get things done.

Rotary Club Present Garry Cook thanked the Australian CamperTrailers Group for choosing Bungendore as the venue of the national meet. Garry accepted a certificate of appreciation from Rob.

Garry Cook drew the winning tickets of the raffle held over the week with the $630 proceeds going to the Bungendore Rotary Club. Third prize of a fire blanket & extinguisher donated by Jason & Sue was won by Beery. Second prize of a Towsafe ball weight scale donated by Steve Nicholson from Intertrade Holdings Pty Ltd was won by Robyn Jenkinson and first prize of an ARB air compressor donated by ARB Queanbeyan was won by Mark Pegham.

Rob Sanderson then thanked those who had presented workshops or activities during the week & personally gave each a certificate of appreciation. 

Spirit of the Group Award is awarded to a person who is brought to the attention of the CamperTrailers Group co-owners for a good hearted deed or generosity helping others during the week long meet. This year the award was presented to George Mavros who bid on a number of items during the auction night & then gave the item to the person he was bidding against. Rob presented George with the perpetual trophy which was made & donated by Neil Morton.

Spirit of the Group	Bungendore Bloopers award

The Bungendore Bloopers award is for the funniest or most embarrassing moment over the week. This year the honour goes to our own Kevin Phillips. Caretaker Ken had warned us to be aware there could be tiger snakes around. Kev & his neighbour had cut several large blocks from a tree & stored them in one of the sheds. When the last bit of wood was moved a rabbit jumped from behind & Kev jumped sky high. Jason presented Kev with the award.   

Rob told the story of how members Lindsay & Sandra had taken home a large firewood log from the 2012 Wellington national meet & then took it along to the members Flinders South Australian week long meet hosted by Mike Fretwell in May 2013.  After the log was burnt, affectionately known as 'Big Bertha', it was decided the ashes should be taken to the Batlow national meet where it would be presented to the Groups co-owners at the opening ceremony. In the meantime Phil Reid had turned an 'ashes' replica urn on his lathe to hold the remains. Since then ashes from the national meets have been added. Rob then went to the ashes of the Bungendore campfires & realised he had forgot to collect some. This was done later.

Redarc had donated a number of stubby coolers which were given as lucky door prizes.

Kevin then announced the Australian CamperTrailers Groups 15th national meet will be held over the week from Monday 30th September to Friday 4th October 2019 at Bonalbo located on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

With that Kevin declared the 14th national meet closed & hoped to see everyone again next year.

See you all next year at Bonalbo

Rob, Kevin & Jason

write up by Rob