PRESIDENT’S REPORT JUNE-JULY 2023
As I write this report, it is the last week of May. June is the start of winter and traditionally regarded as the start of our cold and flu season which is something we all wish to avoid. Some of our members may be regarded as more fortunate than others because they have headed north for the winter or are planning to do so. I regard those more fortunate individuals as smarter and better organised than we who are left to contemplate the oncoming winter months.
We are very lucky that in Australia it is possible to travel north or south, east or west to find the most suitable climatic conditions as the seasons progress annually. I believe it works like this…. the money we save on our heating costs during winter at home will contribute to living somewhere up north for a few months. But it is not that simple. An issue that arises is the fact that the majority of the retired population of the southern states of Australia also head north for the same reason. Liz and I experienced this issue at Katherine N.T. last winter. We had booked a site at the caravan park and the park was filled to capacity. Early every morning there was a long line up of vehicles with caravans on tow outside the park gate. The majority of the vehicles had Victorian or New South Wales registration plates. They would be parked, waiting until midmorning for any residents of the park to leave. The park had a policy that it was optional to extend your stay. In other words, it is up you as to when you wish to leave. On some days no-one leaves! The solution to this issue for us was that we did plenty of bush camping as there are plenty of wide open spaces in the Territory and with our van we can live “off grid” for days.
Of course all this discussion about heading north has me thinking about when we could be leaving and the destination options. Before that happens we have our club AGM in July and that means it is time for our annual election of club office bearers for the next 12 months. All positions as per our Auto Torque magazine on page 3 will be declared vacant. Nomination forms are in this edition (June-July) for you to use. Please be open-minded about nominating to help our club. There are many opportunities to step up and be involved and to share the tasks of keeping our club operational and motivated into the future.
Our club’s submission to the South Australian government for a grant from the S.A. car club program was lodged in April. We have submitted further information to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport as requested and are waiting for their scheduled response in June.
Our annual presentation night is on Saturday June 17th at the Park Lane Restaurant. Please register your booking at the June monthly meeting. We look forward to seeing you there.
President Claude Minge.