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Classic caravanners’ rally: “We don’t bother
with Sky dishes and showers”
Classic caravans from all over New Zealand descended
on Geraldine in early june for a rally at Geraldine Kiwi
holiday Park.
Local resident eamon Barrett, president of the Classic
Caravan Club, organised the event.
“It’s the seventh year we have held a rally, and we always
hold it in Geraldine on Queen’s Birthday weekend. As far
as I know we are the only vintage caravan club in New
Zealand.”
eamon explains that to be classed as a “classic”, a caravan
has to have been built before 1970. “After 1970 they became
wider and bigger, but they have no soul; just a white box on
wheels but with all the mod cons.”
All the caravans at the rally are still fully functional and
used by their owners to go on holidays. “We don’t bother
with Sky dishes and showers.”
The oldest caravan on show was a 1937 english caravan
car cruiser owned by Graham holloban from Christchurch.
“It is the only pre-World War II caravan known to be in
existence.”
One of the highlights of the rally was a 1926 International
Truck built by the late john Britten and loaned by the
Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery Museum. john Britten
was a New Zealand mechanical engineer who designed the
Britten V1000 motorcycle. The bike won the Battle of the
Twins in Daytona in the United States and set a number of
world speed records.
A Geraldine mother and daughter team, Gretchen Gould
and Barbara Gregan, made their debut at the rally with their
recently restored 1948 Bermuda food van. “We believe there
is nothing like it in New Zealand.” The van is fully functional
and the pair plan to sell food at many shows and festivals
in the district.
jo Bates
2
More floral
art success
Last month members of the Geraldine Floral Art Group
attended the National Conference and AGM which was held
in Nelson. Three ladies from the Geraldine group received
awards for having their work published in the Floral Art
Diary 2013.
Lynda Leary and Ruth Orange received one acceptance
each, and Gislinde Folkerts, president of the Geraldine Floral
Art Group, received three acceptances, one of them being
the special award for ‘Most Innovative Design’.
Lindsay Nelson
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eamon Barrett in his 1960 classic caravan. “I feel I am the custodian, I could never sell it. It will end up in a museum when I’ve
finished with it.” Photo: jo Bates.
Winchester Rural School
Young Country magazine, a rural magazine which is
aimed at the 10+ age group) recently paid Winchester
Rural School a visit and set up some exciting games for their
Agri-challenge event. events included the old favourite
Sack Race event, Toss the Possum (a fake possum was
procured for this event), the ever-popular egg and spoon/
spatula race and the hilarious wine gums in icing sugar
race (which is reported to have produced quite a number
of pale faces).
The children were noisily and enthusiastically supported
by other students dressed in their house colours waving
banners and singing team chants. The winning team was
presented with kids’ prize packs, beanies and copies of the
Young Country magazine. Supplied
The GeRALDINe NeWS, ThURSDAY 14 jUNe 2012