Star Torque Issue 244 Winter 2016

National Rally 2016
Secrets of the Sudney Opera House
All aboard
Drinks on deck
Starship Sydney
Opera House tour, Sunday March 13, 2016 –
Simon Strauss
The Sydney Opera House is simply a marvel and icon.
The tour provided access to various parts of the
building that you would have to attend many functions to
see otherwise. It seemed a little strange to have our guide
speaking with a South American accent, but he imparted
the information to all effectively. This was a “must do”
for visitors to Sydney and the tour hit the mark very well.
Farewell Rally Dinner aboard MV Starship
Sydney - Evian Delfabbro
It was a quintessential early autumn evening. The sun
was retiring and casting a golden hue from the west,
down along the Parramatta River and spilling into Port
Jackson.
A glamorous crowd made their way to King Street Wharf,
dock number Five and dressed to the nines on Sunday
evening, March 13, 2016. Some couples wore tuxedoes
and gowns, others came in fun cocktail dresses and suits.
All Rally-goers sparkled and soaked up the spectacular
views from the balconies and decks of the MV Starship
Sydney, catching up with old friends from previous rallies
and new connections.
Pre-dinner drinks and appetisers were served from
the upper lounge as we passed a new and very shiny
Barangaroo development, quite contrasting against the
humble, almost miniature sandstone cottages of the
historic Rocks precinct we had frequented just hours
earlier. We headed East underneath the great engineering
triumph, the Sydney harbour bridge, which united a city
through the Great Depression.
Paul Sun and his band the Swinging Good Time, took
to the stage as guests took their seats in the large dining
room on the first deck. Set with twenty-five tables, the
dining deck was anything but a mess - decorated with
white and black linen, white and black feathered centrepieces
and large Mercedes-Benz logos hanging from the
ceiling and walls. In time, a colourful montage of images
from earlier events including Rally attendees and brilliant
Mercedes-Benz models on show would come to life on
elevated screens.
Welcome speeches commenced with a familiar MC
for the night, Vince Thompson. It was a pleasure to
welcome Ray Williams, MP and Parliamentary Secretary
to the NSW Premier on board, who gave an entertaining
welcome on behalf of the State and was considered
enough to leave politics aside for the night to embrace the
spirit of the event, being a uniting of local, interstate and
international Mercedes-Benz devotees.
Rally president Simon Strauss thanked everyone and
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