Xmas Party 2007

	Best Written Report	Rob Edwards for the Sundown National Park trip
	Best Verbal Report	Daryl Hockridge for the April DAP
	Trip Leader of the Year	Errol Gordon
	Best Social Event	Graham Baldwin for Christmas at Moore Park
	Best Trip for the Year	Bill and Jen Parker for the Cape York Safari
	Hard Luck Award	Glen Cotterell for broken CV & brake lines
	Diamond Torque Award	Greg Conlon
	President’s Encouragement Award	John Veling
	Club Member of the Year	Jan Corbett

Congratulations to all the winners who received their awards at the Christmas Party.

Well folks, another year has come and gone. Once again we have celebrated our famous Club Christmas Party, held at the Island Reach Holiday Resort, Imbil. It just seems to get bigger and better each year. This year was our biggest yet with 154 adults and 17 children in attendance, and a total of 79 vehicles.

Each year the party seems to become longer and longer, with our intrepid Trip Leader, Don Williamson, arriving the Saturday before the big event, with other participants also arriving from Tuesday onwards. Some folks stayed on for one or two days after the party too.

A strange thing happened on our arrival on Thursday. It seems our President’s accommodation has grown somewhat over the past few months, and has transformed from a lowly camper trailer into - !!! surprise, surprise !!! – a Jayco caravan. Happy nanna vanning Eric and Helga.

I’ll give you one guess who went out driving on Friday to do a reccie for a trip on Saturday, and broke his vehicle. That’s right, Errol Gordon. But as we know Errol will not be stopped in his tracks. He arranged for replacement parts and with plenty of willing help was able to repair his vehicle in the bush and return to camp ready to lead the way for Saturday and Sunday’s trips.

We should spare a thought for Peter and Elaine Warren and friend, who after a hard day at work, set off for Imbil on Friday night with the Club trailer in tow, and according to Murphy’s Law, it blew a tyre. It was not an easy task, but they managed to find somewhere to buy spare tyres on the way just before they closed, and thankfully arrived safely with the trailer.

On Friday night a large contingent went to the Railway Hotel in Imbil for dinner. I think they were rather overwhelmed by us, as we had to climb the stairs and be seated on the upstairs balcony, overlooking the railway line, so we could all fit.

Most of the late starters arrived at various times on Saturday. Unfortunately a rather large downpour on Friday night made Saturday morning’s forest trips too dangerous to run, to many people’s disappointment.

We all began to anticipate Saturday night’s festivities. Tarp City appeared on Saturday morning, due to the inclement weather. We all sheltered very successfully under this cover for Saturday night’s celebrations. Thank-you to the many hands who helped to erect the tarps so we could have shelter from the wet weather.

Our celebrations commenced with happy hour which was provided by the Club and put together by Bev O’Hara. Thanks to Bev and her apprentices for all their hard work.

This year our evening included a cocktail party, with some hunky waiters concocting some interesting drinks with names such as Fluffy Duck, Midori Splice, Kamikaze, Sex on the Beach, Screaming Orgasm and Daiquiri.

Our Christmas Party this year was themed “Outback Formal”. Some of the costumes were very imaginative. After dinner the Club awarded prizes to those with the best costumes. The winner of the ladies’ award was Jen Parker, who wore a beautiful dark green formal gown. The winner of the gentlemen’s award was Greg Paulsen, for his very bright purple vest.

As you know, each and everyone of us who goes along to the Club Christmas Party, looks forward with much anticipation to the raffles after dinner on Saturday night. We all hope against hope to win a Club recipe book. Although the prizes were great and varied, many sighs of disappointment were heard when these much valued books failed to materialise. Oh well, maybe next year.

Sunday morning saw the usual Club breakfast. A veritable feast was had by all, including bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, toast, juice, tea and coffee. Thank you to all the cooks. After breakfast the Club awards were given out.

Santa Claus then arrived in the midst of much excitement with presents for all the children (and some a bit older) who have been good this year. After Santa Claus left to go back to the North Pole, the Club members posed for the obligatory Club photo.

It would not be a Club Christmas Party if Errol Gordon did not lead one of his famous trips, and not to be deterred by the wet weather, Errol lead a number of people on a medium trip after the morning events.

It seems our Club looks like a mini Jayco city now, with so many of our members joining the the Jayco owners ranks, and with whispers of others still to follow. Next year we think we should christen the different areas of the park with names, such as “Jayco City, Imbil Heights, Tarp City, etc.

Thank you to Don Williamson and David Young, the organisers of the weekend, and their many helpers, who made the weekend such an enjoyable experience.

On a final note – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Margaret and Sam Bullock. We were all sorry you could not be with us, and we were thinking of you. We hope to see you there next year.

Mitsubishi 4WD Club Christmas Party 24-25 November 2007