44TH NATIONAL RALLY, WOLLONGONG, FRIDAY, 29TH MARCH

The function was held at the rally headquarters at the Novotel North Beach Hotel in Wollongong.
Ann and Rod Force, Jenni and Des and Cleve and I had arrived in Wollongong the previous day after departing on the Spirit the previous Sunday 24th March. We were staying at the Quest Wollongong which was approx 4 city blocks away from the rally headquarters.

On the Friday, which was Good Friday, we walked in the early afternoon to the rally headquarters for Registration where we presented ourselves at the registration desk, and then received our rally bags which contained some important information regarding the rally plus brochures, some suncream and our tags which highlighted the various functions/events we had requested and would attend.

After registering we sat around with other Tassie registrants and enjoyed hot cross buns and coffee.
We left mid afternoon and walked back to our accommodation.

At 6.45pm we hopped in a taxi which took us to the rally headquarters for the evening Cocktail Party.
This event was held out on the Novotel’s terrace – when we arrived there was a good crowd of Jaguar member’s from all states. Tasmania was well represented… The evening started with a welcome by Bob Adby, Rally Director and the President of the Jaguar Car Club of Australia (NSW), Laurie Arthur and also a representative from Jaguar Australia. Unfortunately it was very hard to hear these welcome speeches.

It was a good time to meet and greet other members. A bunch of us women from Tassie sat at a large round table and grabbed the occasional canapé if they managed to reach us away from the entry doors and drink at the same time having a good old chat about what had happened until then….

At approx 10pm we headed backed to our accommodation in a taxi and before retiring we went into Gail, Dale, Rod and Anne’s apartment which was next door to our apartment that we shared with Des and Jenni.
Leon & Heather and Mark & Hazel were also staying at Quest Wollongong in the next apartment and they joined us and we had a good old natter on our journey so far and we did some more nibbling and drinkies until bedtime.

The following day was the Friendly Concours’ and Display Day. During the Saturday most of the women would also be attending the Fashion Parade organized by the Rally ladies and also doing a bit of shopping of course….

 – Jill Hobbs