Australia Day 2017
12 February 2017 / Story by Brendan Barr, Photos by Brendan Barr & Bryan Shedden
Click here for Brendan's photos
Click here for Vicki Legge's photos
A seemingly small yellow MX-5 stood solitary guard over our designated gathering point at Cordeaux Dam for the annual "all club" get together for Australia Day. In true Aussie style, he was, of course, towing a barbecue; beer and snags were in the boot. All that was needed was for the troops to arrive!
Right on time, in streamed a multitude of cars from Illawarra, RPM, Sydney and Canberra Chapters, carrying more than 80 revellers in total, roaring to the tune of …
Australians all let us MX-5,
For we are fast and free.
We’ve big fat tyres,
And engines that purr,
Our hope is 'all tops down.'
(You know the tune ….)
People set up tables and began the talk. Who had modified what? Who had upgraded to an ND? Anyone with an RF? How do you stuff an east-west engine north-south in an MX-5? (Tell us Phil!) Who went on which run? And so on, there seemed and endless stream of banter wherever one wandered.
The most difficult questions were posed to this photographer by the single youngster (there were more last year….) ‘When’s the three-legged race? When’s the egg-and-spoon race? When’s the sack race?’ ‘There aren’t any this year,’ came the devastating reply.
The photographer looked into the crestfallen youngster’s eyes ….. ‘but we’re having a friendly game of cricket!’ Luckily this was just the ticket and he quickly joined in.
Many runs were smashed, catches taken, run outs claimed, family jewels rearranged, a bit of body line, Kim took a tumble, then we all hit Paul’s much appreciated BBQ to finish off with a great meal and more chat before heading home after another successful day.
