Oroua Downs School, 13–15 April 2018

This rally was a combined rally with Wairarapa CC, Wellington CC, and Wainuiomata CC. There were 19 vans on site by dinner time on Friday night. 4 from Wairarapa, 3 from Wellington, 1 from Wainuiomata and 11 from Heretaunga.

Looking Down the Grounds towards the Hall

As it was a school day we could not get access until all the children had departed for home. The last thing that is needed when there are family cars and buses taking the children home is a lot of caravanners cluttering up the roadway and access. It was about 3.30pm before we could start to settle in to camp. Friday evening was general mingling after a brain teaser of questions by the Rally family.

Saturday dawned a nice day and the notice board indicated a free morning after the obligatory morning tea. However after lunch was a different matter. we had a visit to Viv’s Kitchen organised for afternoon tea to sample her famous (in Sanson) cream horns.

 

Here is a photo from our 2016 visit – Just the same

Warning – If you don't like Cream you wont like these. Yum

The gang enjoying there cream treats.

It was good to hear from Derek Keatley our representative to the CCNZ Council regarding activities to date and the proposed venue for the next National Rally, which is looking like New Plymouth. We were asked about the need to have showers provided at a National Rally. The consensus was that they were not needed as most now have onboard showers but grey water disposal and fresh water would be necessary. Grey water pick up from portable tanks or by the provision of a temporary dumpstation (as not all have tote tanks) for grey water would be needed.

Saturday night Robin showed pictures of places they stayed while touring the South Island followed by Jim showing us photos of their trip through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Very interesting to see the utter devastation left after everyone was evacuated. We think they were very brave to even undertake such a journey, non the less very sobering and enlightening.

Most stayed for lunch on Sunday with all having departed by 2.00pm.

A very good rally and thanks to the club members from Wellington, Wairarapa, and Wainuiomata and of course Heretaunga for joining in.

NEXT RALLY: 18-20 MAY AT CARTERTON HOLIDAY PARK, BELVEDARE ROAD, CARTERTON

Pohangina School Reserve, 9–11 March 2018

12 vans were in attendance by Friday night. Of the vans it was a 50-50 split between motorhomes and caravans. An interesting first for the Heretaunga Caravan Club. It was really satisfying to see such as good turnout. Well done to all.

welcome to two new prospective members, the McIntosh’s and Taylors. You joined in fully all weekend and were great company. We hope you enjoyed our company just as much and will join us in many more rallies.

Some were late arriving as the last active foundation member, Peter McCawe was fare welled. His funeral was at 2.00pm on Friday 9 March 2018. Peter and Elaine are our longest serving members and in the 44 years since the inception of the club have managed to accumulate 465 rallies. Peter will be missed RIP.

The  Pohangina School Reserve is a magic place to have a rally. The grounds are nicely mown and the old school classroom is available for hire and was used extensively in the evenings.

The Vans parked along the old playing field

The Wylie’s were the Rally Family for this rally and they always be relied on to have a full programme and this weekend was no exception. Friday night we have a real brain teaser of a quiz. Unfortunately due to the late arrival of the funeral contingent only small number took part.

Saturday was given over to games outside and I can imagine the high jinx that evolved during the playing of these games. Saturday night was back inside playing card bingo.

One of the new members showed a new form of jump starter which included a air compressor. Dave was keen to see if it would charge his bait gun.

Discussing the merits of the compressor charging the bait gun.

The Winners are Grinners

Lorraine showed us her new caravan at this rally and I am sure that she will have many happy ventures in this new acquisition.

Lorraine’s new van, with Snowflake on guard.

Last one out close the gate.

A great rally thanks to all those who took part and we will see you at the next rally:

Oroura Downs School, Combined Rally, 13 – 15 April 2018

Peter R McCawe

This week it was with sadness that we said farewell to the last active foundation member of the Heretaunga Caravan Club.

Peter and his family were instigators along with others to the establishment of this Club. They have been active members for the 44 years that it has been functioning .Peter and Elaine attended 464 rallies in those 44 years and I sure that they would still be Rallying if they could.

REST IN PEACE PETER YOU ARE MISSED.

Brookfield Scout Park, Wainuiomata, 19-22 January 2018 CRC Regional Rally

17 x  RV's arrived from many parts of the North Island. Gisborne, Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, Tauranga, Wairarapa, Heretaunga and Wainuiomata.

We arrived Friday19, 2,00 pm and set up camp.




Cath & Selwyn enjoying the camp.

The official opening was held at 7.00pm in the hall.

Cath was the official Banner bearer for the opening.


Saturday was free for shopping or exploring the 200 acres of bush. There are many walking tracks to be taken. We had a competition to complete by Sunday night, which required finding answers to 25 questions. This required going to various places in the grounds and finding the answers. Mostly on information boards. They were spread from one end of the camp to the other, which meant we covered many k's. Great exercise.

Saturday evening we had a combined pot luck dessert followed by a card game which saw a new Wairarapa member win and he was crowned "King"



Looking down from where our flag was flying to where we were parked.

Sunday

After morning tea the CRC 2 yearly meeting was held. The following officers were elected.

New chairman -  Dave McMaster, Wairarapa.  The reason Dave was chosen, is that Wairarapa is hosting the next regional rally.

Secretary/Treasurer - Lynne Keatley.

Derek Keatley to remain the regional rep.

Discussion was had on keeping the money in the CRC bank account. The decision was made that it will stay as is. Discussion was also held as to whether CRC would continue.  The decision was unanimous to continue as it is.

Sunday tea was a combined BBQ cooked by Wainuiomata and eaten by the rest of us. Very nice too.

Later that same evening, we gathered around a 'Camp Fire', sang songs, played games and roasted marshmallows on the camp fire.

Selwyn carried out the banner at the end.

Monday morning we gathered for morning tea and then it was time for the official closing of the rally.  A good time was had by all and we were sorry to be heading home after such an enjoyable event.  The venue was superb.  Ideal for such gatherings.



Whanganui River Top10 Holiday Park–22-25 September 2017

There were 8 vans in attendance over the course of the weekend, some left early and some arrived later. But it was a very good turnout none the less. This is a camp we last visited at Easter 2002 so it has been a long time between drinks (15 Years). The camp at that time was known as the Aramoho Holiday Park and before that the Aramoho Motor Camp.

For those who may be interested the members attending in 2002 were: Benton, Canvin, Kilmartin, McCawe, Chippindale, and Parker/Alloway. Oh the memories.

We were grateful for the hard standing after all the rain that has been about.

It was good to see Pamela and Don back amongst us once again. To celebrate the event they went out and bought a new van for us all to ogle over.

It looks a treat doesn't it.

The rally family organized a visit to an historic church on the Saturday. St Paul Anglican Memorial Church,Putiki, Whanganui was a real treat. What a lovely building. The church is still holding regular services and we were requested not to take photos inside  so you will have to take our word that it was stunning inside, with ornate carving and woven panels. It is worth a visit if you are ever in Whanganui. There is a cost involved to visit and tickets are arranged through the Isite.

St Pauls Anglican Memorial Church, Whanganui

We returned to camp and awaited the evenings entertainment of the election results – riveting stuff. Sunday we went to Durie Hill to visit the only underground lift in NZ and the WW1 memorial tower. Some chose to walk up the stairs while the rest took the antique lift.

240m tunnel to the lift

WW1 Memorial Tower

The lift was opened in August 1919 for the new home owners of Durie Hill so that they could get down the hill to work in the city. Click here to find out more about the lift.

Looking upstream towards the camp from the top of the tower.

Sunday night we had a film courtesy of Selwyn and his projector. The film chosen was Mama Mia so all the females were able to swoon over Pierce Brosman, Colin Firth etc, while the males just yawned. The music was good though.

Another great rally, thank you to the Canvins (Rally Family) for a well researched rally. Organizing an Election for the weekend must have taken some doing.

See you at the next rally which is the Wellington CC joint rally in Marton for the “Shemozzle” in Hunterville. Last weekend 28-30 October.

Himatangi Holiday Park 7–9 July 2017

This rally we had 8 vans in attendance, one of which is a prospective new member. Welcome to Dave & Jennie and their furry friend “Mason”.

Some of the Vans in Attendance.

The rally was at the Himatangi Holiday Park which is a favourite of the club. The place is always clean and tidy and the proprietors are most friendly and accommodating.

At this rally we met “Mason” for the first time and he is very frisky but he is still very young. He is the apple of Dave’s eye.

Here he is relegated to the tow bar of the ute.

Not to be out done our regular attendee “Honey” is being made a fuss of.

This rally was dominated by the final test in the Lions Tour, which was a very unsatisfactory draw, but exciting none the less. We had a evening meal at the Himatangi Cossie Club, which now seems well past its electrical difficulties, which have plagued us previously.

Here are some of the gang waiting for the rugby test to start, little knowing the frustration to come. There was one missing from the photo, Val, also watched the game with us but was missing when the photo was taken, the handbag was not Bill’s – mind he probably filled it indirectly. The remainder of those attending who did not watch the rugby opted to view a film “The Queen” . This was well received. the comment was that it was better than the the prevoius film shown on Friday night. So at least the ladies were happy with their evening.

Another good rally in the winter. See you at the next Rally

CARNIVAL PARK, PAHIATUA  11 – 13 August 2017

Manawatu Caravan Club 2-5 June 2017

We had 7 vans in attendance for this rally which was also our AGM. In addition to the families rallying our founding Life Members Peter & Elaine and members Don & Pamela were with us this weekend.

An Indication of nicely groomed grounds

The Manawatu Caravan Club have lovely laid out grounds which are maintained to a high standard.  They always make us feel welcome and offer us the use of their hall for our AGM and evening entertainment. If they have something on themselves we are invited to attend these as well.  They have a great philosophy which can be summed up by the following plaque in the hall.

The AGM went off with out a hitch and the following members were elected:

President: Selwyn Fisk

Vice President: Derek Canvin

Sercretary: Cath Fisk

Treasurer: Val Solomon

Web Master: Robin Benton

Committee: Dianne Richmond, Barry Richmond

The usual events took place with the early arrivals have fish & chips from Mr Grumpys chippy and on Friday night a meal at the local bowling club, which are always well patronized.  Jenny conducted a quizz on the Saturday night on Royalty which brought howls of derision from the non-royals amongst us. If nothing else it brought a lot of laughs and whiled away a good hour.

Sunday was to be a film night but due to an unfortunate event in the early hours of the morning, this was not to be so we amused ourselves, which we find very easy to achieve.

Lorraine had a very special birthday (congratulations Loraine) at around the time of the rally and she was congratulated by the President with a card.

Lorraine receiving her card

See you at the next rally which is at the Himatangi Holiday Park on 7-9 July 2017.

Please note that there is a change to the current Rally Schedule. The September Rally is now at the Wanganui Top 10 Holiday Park. See latest edition of the rally schedule sent out recently.