The rally started well with morning tea at Piawanning.

The venue looked good and we may look at it as a weekend site in the future.

Monday night was at Lake Ninan, near Wongan Hills. This is an excellent location and the sunset was stunning.

Tea was a jaffle night, however unfortunately we could not have a fire as fires are banned at the   lake. The gas burners performed well and the meal was excellent.

Tuesday we set off for Beacon, arriving around 10:00am. On the way we stopped and had a look at Bencubbin. Many had a coffee and looked at the items on display in the main street.

At Beacon we had a brunch breakfast in the very new camp kitchen at the caravan park. This is a great facility and once again everyone ate too much.

The rest of the day was spent either lazing around or exploring the town, depending on people's preference.

A bonus was the gift vouchers supplied by the Shire for staying at the park, which people put to good use. The museum was also open and several people explored that. Overall a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Wednesday we headed to Nungarin Military Museum and Mangowine Homestead.

First port of call was the museum, where most people spent several hours exploring. A very interesting and huge place.

Lunch for some was at the local cafe, which served excellent food. Then off to explore and stay the night at Mangowine Homestead.

Thursday we travelled to Westonia. Here we stayed for 2 nights and explored the town, museum and Tavern for tea.,

On Friday morning we had a cooked breakfast, where again everyone ate more than they should have. Isn't that what holidays are about?

Saturday morning saw us packing up and beginning the return trip to our homes.

So enided our Roving Rally. From reports all enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to another one next year.

The weekend started in fine form with half the members arriving Thursday and the balance on  Friday.

John and Lil were able to attend, but they had to book at Cataby for 2 nights and Moora for one night.

Interestingly the only accommodation available in Dandaragan would only rent a full service with breakfast, lunch and dinner and wanted over $400 per night. Obviously John and Lil did not take up this option.

We were also pleased to have John and Lynda from NZ attend again. You may remember they attend whenever they are in WA and fit right in.

The weather was great, with days in the high 20’s and plenty of sunshine.

Now for a couple of downsides to our weekend.

1. The Shire of Dandaragan have a new computer system they are using and so we can only stay for 3 nights, and not 4 as we had booked in November 2023.

2. With only 5 powered sites, several members were suddenly on unpowered sites, even though they booked and believed they were getting powered sites.

The park hosts, and all the townspeople we spoke to, cannot understand the Shire’s attitude and several were going to talk to them about it. This didn’t help us though.

Friday night was a steak meal at the Country Club and Saturday Lunch was a BBQ (BYO meat) and shared salads and sweets, with the meat cooked by our super chef’s Warrick and Juva.

At both meals most of us ate too much.

On Friday disc bowls was played and an unusual and very rare event occurred.

Two very experienced players were playing and the score was 12 to 0.

On Saturday two teams of two were playing, of which one member in each team was very experienced, and the score was 18 to 0.

You don’t see that very often and one person in particular is not discussing it very much. I suppose I will have to be very careful at Moodiarup now. Sorry S******.

Most of us spent Saturday afternoon“resting” from the lunch.

The chocolate wheel was great entertainment at happy hour, and as darkness fell everyone retired to their vans to wear off the balance of lunch.

Sunday, after morning tea, those who were staying adjourned to Shirley and Peters brewery for a roast beef roll for lunch and to spend the night.

Topsy and Arie called in and spent the day with us. Great to see them.

Once again Shirley and Peter turned on a fine afternoons entertainment (lawn bowls in shed) and meal and refreshments.

Thanks Peter (who cooked the beef) and Shirley who managed everything else.

Monday morning, those who were going, started on the roving rally. First stop Lake Ninan for a quite afternoon and jaffle tea.

Members started to arrive on Thursday at the Hall which had been set up in Party mode with flashing fairy lights, the hall backs onto the State Equestrian Centre, unfortunately no events were happening this weekend. There is a marvellous Mural on the entry side of the hall with ‘poppies’ made from corrugated iron petals and centres created from big old bearings.

The remainder of members arrived Friday bringing more items for the weekend ‘Bring and Buy’ tables, 3 members no longer have Vans but drove down by car. Happy Hour started at 4pm with sessions of the ‘chocolate wheel’ and continuing disc bowls.

Special thanks to the 5 people who provided Soup for the Friday Dinner and Leanne and Rosalie for sprinkling and grilling the cheesy buns to go with the soup.

Saturday was bright and dry and some members walked along the local road to have a look at some restored and partly restored classic cars.

During the day the ‘Bring and Buy’ was in action to raise funds for the Chapter., thanks to everybody who provided items and to those who bought them.

Happy hour was very popular again but disc bowls continued uninterrupted until lack of light stopped play!

The shared dinner went down well with a good and varied selection of dishes made festive by the balloons and flashing fairy lights

Sunday was also bright and sunny which gave those persons heading home a pleasant drive, unfortunately the scribe had become sick and had to leave also.

Next meeting is at Boyup Brook CMCA site 8th to 10th August.