| |
Welcome
Events Calendar
Recent Events
Contact Us
Late News
|
|
Devonport TAS
IFFR Fly In to Devonport October 26th – 31st 2007
Friday was rainy and misty in Devonport while Sydney and Newcastle experienced heavy and intense thunderstorms. Two aircraft cancelled out while the others arrived through the day and on Saturday until 35 members were present.
Some 30 were able to attend the Mayoral reception on Friday night, a friendly gathering with the council members and local dignitaries and we followed up with a counter meal and fellowship at Molly Malones Irish pub with members of the Rotary Club of Devonport.
Our bus driver, Peter was on hand at 8.30am Saturday for a departure to the Tamar Valley with morning tea at Frankford and a tour and lunch at the Sea Horse world which was very interesting. The last two aircraft had arrived during the morning and their crews were quickly shuttled to meet the rest of the party at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, the scene of the dramatic rescue in May 2006.
With everyone on board at last we headed for Anvers Chocolate factory for afternoon tea and sampling of the delicious chocolates before meeting with the Rotary Club of Devonport for dinner at the Gateway Hotel, with 80 persons in attendance. The fine session penalised most Rotarians fairly and unfairly before guest speaker Rosco Robbins, air traffic controller extraordinare, presented a very funny and informative insight into the world of aviation from the other side of the microphone.
After our normal Sunday morning meeting a marvellous lunch was provided by the Devonport Aero Club at the airport and two of our members departed in their Citation, which definitely added a touch of class to the front of the Aero Club building.
In a break with tradition it had been decided by the organisers that two days was too short a time to enjoy Tasmania so 31 members reboarded the bus for an extended tour to the West Coast of Tasmania. Arriving at Tall Timbers, Smithton the rainy weather was nullified by the warm welcome and the great food, with great opportunities for fellowship.
Monday morning saw us all on board the bus bound for the Arthur River, probably the last unspoiled river in Australia, for a magical day about the cruise boats “George Robinson” and “AR Reflections” . We ventured for miles up the river, feed the sea eagles, had a great commentary and a gourmet lunch on the banks of the river, with the feeling that we were the only people left on the planet.
Back at Smithton we had a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Smithton with about 70 in attendance including an exchange student and once again Mal had everyone contributing heavily to the fine session.
Tuesday morning saw us on the chairlift at Stanley, on the way to the top of the “Nut” where we walked off some of the excess from the previous days. Lunch in Stanley and shopping for souvenirs in the picturesque village had us a little late at the Dip Falls and “Big Tree”, arguably Tasmania’s largest tree but there was time for a team photo around the tree before our driver Peter managed to get us back to Devonport in time for a final fellowship dinner at the Gateway Hotel.
Most of us managed to get away from Tasmania in fine weather on Wednesday morning, bound for all parts of Australia, but some liked Tasmania so much that they stayed for a few more days. The extended tour appeared to be a great success with good opportunities for fellowship and a longer and more relaxed time to catch up with old friends and it is hoped that future Fly Ins may continue in the same way.
Please Visit www.iffr.org
Disclaimer - "The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians is a group dedicated to promoting aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service. This fellowship operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International."
|
|
Next Fly-in is Grafton NSW