We left early to get to Maryborough before lunch. We were expecting an easy entry into the rally site as the gates weren't supposed to open officially until Monday. In the event, the police had asked them to get several hundred vehicle off the road on Sunday so we had to queue for nearly an hour to get in. We were lucky to get a site on the edge of the rally but with only a short walk to the office, the location of my workplace, and the main hall.
I was able to get all the preparation for the weeks work done well before happy hour.
We were welcomed by many of our friends as we arrived and as I walked around the site.
I spent the day manning the Self-containment Scheme stand. We had another good day with over a dozen volunteers and nearly a hundred requests for inspection. I don't know if we will get everyone inspected at the rally. That depends on how much time the volunteers have available.
We had a typically good Highway Wanderers happy hour with lots of old friends and some new ones.
I spent most of the day working on the stand. After lunch we had the Chapter AGM and, in Vicki's absence, I took the Acting Secretary role.
Happy hour was entertained by two of our neighbours, both singing guitarists.
Another day of work on the stand.
Happy hour was a big gathering with Big John doing his Music Man thing.
In the evening, a friend was taken ill so I did a hospital transport. She was found to have reacted badly to a newly prescribed drug and needed to have her symptoms relieved before being released. I did another hospital transport trip to bring her back to the rally. The security people were very helpful with my trips through the gate.
We had a meeting of the National Rest Area and Environment Committee. We have a new director in charge so we might see some changes in how the activity develops.
Happy hour was happy.
The last day at the office. We had a pretty successful week with 14 new inspectors and 152 newly certified vehicles. My thanks to all the volunteers who have made this possible.
I met the new Club Director who will take oversight of our activity and am most heartened. I think we are coming out of the valley of the shadow of negative attitudes into the sunlit uplands of good positive stuff.
My day off. We went int Maryborough to shop and for a coffee. We shopped but couldn't find a decent coffee shop anywhere so we came back to the rally and bought coffee at my favourite coffee stall where the coffee always gets to score 4 1/2.
Another lovely happy hour with new and old friends.
They went to the club AGM but I stayed at home to do work.
In the afternoon we had a chapter farewell happy hour and barbecue. Jean had steak and cajun pototo scollops. I had a Guinness.
I made a brief presentation to the closing ceremony to thank the volunteer Self-containment Inspectors. We had one last coffee from the Bellissimo Coffee cart.