WOLSELEY CAR CLUBS NATIONAL RALLIES

Queensland was again in the spotlight when TOOWOOMBA was the centre of the 11th National rally in May 2001 where the Garden City lived up to its name.

2001 11th NATIONAL RALLY TOOWOOMBA QLD.

Sunday 13th May 2001. On arrival in the Garden City, Wolseley people settled into their accommodation and gathered at the Southern Hotel for a welcoming dinner and rekindle friendships from Bright.

Monday 14 th May 2001. Setting out from Nell Robinson Park adjacent to all the accommodation we proceeded west on the Warrego Highway passing the Airport to Gowrie T/O and Kingsthorpe to Goombudgee viewing the beautiful Darling Downs. After a comfort stop we proceeded to Acland where the local school greeted us at the morning tea stop. We were late but the kids didn't seem restless, luckily, and the home made" cakes, sand­wiches, and tea coffee from the P & C were very welcome. Just near Acland we planted a grove of trees which we haven't seen or visited yet, but Claire and I are "gunner" go back. We visited the Muntapa rail tunnel at the top of the Great Divide and looked around the quaint town of Craw's Nest before lunching beside the very picturesque Cressbrook dam before returning to town.

Tuesday 15 th May 2001. Leaving from the park we headed east down the range through Murphy's Creek, Helidon (famous for its health spas) and on to Gatton where morning tea was enjoyed at pretty Apex Park. Then it was up the range to Clifton and Nobby for lunch, but the hotel didn't have our booking. What a wonderful job the staff of Rudd's Pub did to feed and entertain nearly 100 people on a moments notice. Nobby was exciting as we saw where Steele Rudd wrote some of his Dad & Dave stories and it was here Sister Kenny of polio treatment fame lived for a time and is buried in Nobby cemetary. We then visited Preston Wines on the Toowoomba escarpment with wonderful views before returning to town for dinner.

Wednesday 16 th May 2001. We did a short drive to the Katoomba Point for more scenic outlooks and finished in the famous Queens Park for display and judging while visiting Cobb & Co Museum and a free afternoon & night.

Thursday 17 th May 2001. Off to the Jondaryan Wool Shed via the Cecil Plains Road where the early history of the area was played out before your very eyes. The making of cart wheels, working dogs doing their stuff, the feel of traveling in a dray (all day must have been hell!), & a traditional morning tea, to mention a few. Then it was on to the Australian Army Aviation and Air Museum at Oakey on the Warrego Highway. The interesting museum displayed old and new aircraft and the flimsiness of some of the exhibits was remarkable. Lunch was enjoyed in the sergeant's mess before returning to Toowoomba for the Presentation Dinner at the Southern Hotel.

Friday 18 th May 2001. Once again the farewell breakfast was enough to send everybody on their way home satisifed. This feast was supplied by the D.D. V.& V. Car Club in their excellent club rooms adjacent to the airport. So a wait for two years till the next time at Muswellbrook NSW.

Keith.