MG Motoring 2016 | Page 31

November 2016 wiches, jelly tarts, and little cream cakes provided by the Country Woman’s Association ladies. The run took us in a roundabout route of some 35 Kms through picturesque scenery along some sealed back roads ending at an old hall way out in a rural backwater- Downside Hall built in 1926. This gave us all the feeling to go with our old cars of bye-gone days, a basic galvanised iron clad hall, which I am sure could have told lots of stories! The drive back to Wagga was still in misty rain but no problems with any of the cars except a beautiful black TC has an oil leak and was been attended to by several knowledgeable “T” Type mechanics who were helping. That evening was the GOF Dinner held this year at Mecure Hotel, quite close to our Motel. The theme was to dress in the era of your car, optional. The Wagga MG Club always arrange for busses to drop off and pick up as part of the package, to ensure those who wish can have a few drinks if desired. The MC for the night was Daryl Ross, the Club’s President and he kept the evening going between the serving of some absolutely lovely food. The Mecure staff worked very efficiently in serving & clearing the tables. The Beef in a red wine sauce was awesome! And I know I should have not had the rich sweets but! You know how it is!! Too late!! Daryl called out my name and I had the opportunity to have a few minutes talk to invite all the MG owners to come to Adelaide at Easter in 2017 for the MG National Meeting. The Alf Luckman award this year went to Darryl and Jane Purvis who won the award for the MG travelling 1329 klms to Wagga from Deception Bay Qld driving their white Magnette., we came in second having driven some 870 kms to Wagga. This award was handed to Daryl by Dot Luckman, I might have mentioned that we met the Luckmans in their Y Type on our first National Meeting on the Wharf prior to boarding the Princess to go over to Tasmania in 1996. During our meals there was some very courageous Wagga Club members who unbeknown to us all enjoying ourselves were nowhere near the Mecure Hotel! They were down at the Wagga Beach parking area rescuing all the trophies and other Club regalia from the rising flood waters! The Murrumbidgee River has risen above the Levies and the whole parking area was waist deep in flood water. Given that the temperature was down about 8 or 9 degrees I am sure that they needed a hot shower afterwards, anyway they did rescue all the gear which was stored in a little hut used by the Wagga Club at the time of GOF. The next morning was the actual Gathering which included a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs plus toast and cups of tea. We were supposed to all Gather at the Wagga Beach car park and when we got there we saw that there was no way that we could get anywhere near the parking area, all closed off and water completely covered this huge area and the water was rushing down the river having picked up water from further upstream, it would be several days before this area could become reusable. 29