Page 15 - history_booklet

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PART 4

2005 - 2008

Written and Compiled by
Barbara Rutherford
March 2009

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As this is the year of the Club’s 60 Birthday in May 2009, it has prompted the updating
of the History Booklet.

Membership remains steady with older members no longer being able to tow vans and
therefore not attending rallies being replaced by a continuous influx of new members into
the Club. However, rather than miss out on the rallies altogether, some of the older
members have either changed to non-tow vehicles (i.e. motor homes) or come along and
stay in a nearby hotel or caravan park cabin.

Attendance at rallies peaked during these years with a few rallies recorded as having 80
vans in attendance. It was becoming necessary for the Committee to book sites that could
accommodate our large numbers. But these numbers have gradually dropped back and,
whilst we still have large rallies on occasion, particularly birthday and Christmas rallies,
the average attendance at a rally is around 53 vans.

It is not always possible at some venues for every van to be hooked up to power and water.
In these instances, members with medical problems are given priority. Other members
voluntarily go without power or are offered a cheaper rate on their camp fees.

At the end of 2004, several members attended the National Rally at Lucindale in South
Australia and then again at the end of 2007, a contingent went down to the National Rally
in Forbes, New South Wales. A triennial meeting of State Associations was held in Forbes
and the timing of National Rallies was discussed at length. Sanity finally prevailed and
host States will now be allowed to choose their own suitable time of the year to hold the
rally. The dates for the next National Rally in Elmore, Victoria had already been set but
Queensland will be the host for the 2013 National Rally which will be held in September -
a much cooler time to be visiting Queensland, a less busy time on the roads and it won’t
interfere with members wanting to be with family at Christmas/New Year.

In 2005, the Club was fortunate to gain a grant from the Government’s Community
Gambling Fund which was used to purchase a laptop and printer for the Secretary. Club’s
funds were used, at the same time, to purchase laptops and printers for the Editor and
Treasurer as well. Club email accounts were also set-up. This was a giant leap forward
for the Club - especially for the Office Bearers who were using their own private computing
equipment and email accounts prior to this. It meant that records could now be kept
electronically and easily passed-on once there was a change in Committee.

Then, in early 2008, the Club took another step further into technology by putting up its
own page as part of the CCCQ Web Site - http://caravanclubsqld.googlepages.com

The decision to dispose of our marquee was made in 2008. It was becoming a burden to