Thursday 21 June 2012

Member’s Report – Narooma Weekend

NATIONAL HERITAGE MOTORING WEEKEND
ACT TRIUMPHS AT NAROOMA OYSTER FESTIVAL

Anthony Ockwell

ON FRIDAY 4 MAY, twelve members of our Club journeyed east to celebrate the Narooma Oyster Festival.  The forward contingent, comprising Brian and Jan Tink (Stag), Rick and Diane Wade (Stag), Trevor and Betsy Lloyd (2000 Sedan) and Anthony and Susan Ockwell (Stag) met at Bungendore at 10:00 for a leisurely cruise to the coast.  Morning tea was enjoyed at the Braidwood Bakery which allowed time to regroup before heading down the Clyde.

With a petrol stop at Bateman’s Bay and casual look at Mogo, where we were joined by Bob and Janet Temperly in their TR3A.  We dropped into Tuross for lunch at the boat house overlooking the lake.  The superb afternoon autumn sun shone gently across the Lake as we sat at the café and chatted over a very relaxing lunch.  Bob and Janet returned to Batemans Bay while the rest of us continued onto Narooma.  We arrived at the Motel around 4:30 and were made to feel very welcome again by the owners Michael and Rochelle.




Cars lined up at Tuross

We adjourned to the Narooma Golf Club for dinner, where we were joined by Daryl and Jill Mouser following their later departure from Canberra.  With some quick footwork by Festival organisers at the Golf Club, we were asked to show the Triumphs at the Festival the next day.



Lunch - Boathouse Café, Tuross Heads

Judith and Tony Dorrell joined the team after dinner to make up the full contingent for the weekend.  Saturday was abuzz with early activity as we dropped the cars at the main gate to the Festival.

We then proceeded to the local fish market to stock up with a range of fresh seafood for what would be a memorable BBQ dinner that evening.  The weather was just perfect for the Festival as we wandered around the stalls, enjoying the atmosphere.  The food options were plentiful, but oysters were the order of the day.  The pace of the day was very relaxed, with the mood taking us as we went – coffee here, shops for some, just sitting and enjoying each other’s company for anyone who wished to join in.


Our cars at the main entrance.

We collected our cars around 4:00pm and were bowled over by the appreciation expressed by the organisers for contributing to the day.  The cars commanded much interest and apparently added to the day’s activities.

For dinner, we converted Ockwell’s room to a café for the evening with preparations taking place both outside (BBQ – thanks to Trevor and Rick for their cooking; Tony, Daryl, Brian and Anthony gave solid support to the chefs) and inside (great salads and side-dishes prepared by the ladies).  Overall, great teamwork delivered an outstanding evening.

Sunday dawned another magnificent south coast day. Breakfast had been arranged at the Beach café overlooking Narooma Surf Beach. Again, another very casual occasion with good conversation and great company.



Oyster Festival Group – enjoying the Oyster Festival

The return home took us via Central Tilba, Bemboka, Nimmitabel, and Cooma. Central Tilba became the focal point for cheese, a few craft purchases, etc, before heading onto Cobargo for a few more craft and leather shops.  The trip from Cobargo up Brown Mountain to Nimmitabel shows off some wonderful scenery; a late lunch stop was made at Nimmitabel before returning home.



Chefs in Action – Trevor and Rick preparing the seafood gourmet


Breakfast El Presidente – President enjoying a relaxing breakfast preparing his next report for the magazine


Breakfast – Group at Beach Cafe, Narooma

Overall, it was a very enjoyable weekend, helped by great weather, wonderful company and an incident free trip.  The local Festival organisers, motel owners, the Golf Club and the Beach Café all extended a very warm “return” welcome building on our visit last year.  In all respects, the Club was greeted with open arms and appreciated for the support given to the Festival and the local community.

We have been asked to make it again in 2013, and the effort is certainly rewarded.

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