Eastern Suburbs Scale Modelling Club Flagstaff Hill Maritime Park ESSMC

.: Canberra Trip 2010 "Getting there and Treloar Centre"

As you’d be aware a few of us headed for Canberra for a 5 day trip on the 15th of April 2010. And may I say what I great time was had by all. The meeting point was at Peter McKinnon's home. “Be there by 12.00 pm were told as we strictly leaving at 12.30 pm” otherwise we would miss the trip, problem being Adrian and Ken didn't arrive with the bus until around 1.00 pm, after a bit of a s##t stir we all headed on our way.

Halfway up the Hume we stopped at a small country pub for some tucker, a great meal was had by all,The most memorable item on the menu for Bob was the dessert's. "Sticky date pudding with "WIPED" cream”. It was really great to see Bob rolling around on the floor in laughter after reading that. Bob being a deviate like myself, we both wondered how it was obtained! With a few hand gestures from myself he understood perfectly.

Soon we were back on the road, but in need of a toilet stop, we all got seated except for myself as I decided to grab a refreshment just as Adrian decided to drive away, And while I was walking back to my seat "beer in hand" Mr. Adrian Gower decided to back off the accelerator, well this sent me heading in reveres up the aisle. My first thought was s##t as I began to fall backwards, I quickly looked for something or someone to grab. My eyes spied on Peter McKinnon with that I grabbed him dear life, breaking his wine glass and spilling the "red" contents all over him and the bus." Luckily I wasn't effected and continued to enjoy the trip. While Pete mopped himself up.

We arrived at our destination at around 10:00 pm or so, and Ken headed for the Caravan Park office to grab our keys and settle the account. Only to find out Adolf Hitler and his crew wanted another $800.00 dollars or so for our stay, something not discussed with Ken at the time of booking, after a few choice words from Ken, about customer service and alike. We were given the keys to Auschwitz and proceeded to bunk down for the night. I must say Adrian and Pete looked lovely and warm sharing a double bed together even though they both clearly new it was actually 2 singles side by side. Ah young love.

(P.S. Adrian Pete wants his whip back.)

The next day we checked out a few local hobby shops, where a few bargains were spied upon by various club members and purchased. One of the shops was great, as the hobby store was located upstairs in a hardware shop, best of both worlds. From there we headed for the A.W.M. Treloar Technology Centre for a guided tour, for those of you unaware as I was. This is where the A.W.M store all their surplus items like planes, tanks, guns, trucks and more. They even have a restoration section. Our guides for the afternoon where Michael & Garth, both of which are fellow modelers, we signed in while Kim put on his Chinese safety boots. Mike & Garth showed us there current full scale models they where restoring.

One being an original German African corp Kubelwagen and the other a Dingo Armored Car. Both of which were coming up a treat. After inspecting both we headed into the realms of the building where the first thing you encounter is a V2 rocket & trailer amazing piece of engineering for its time. I tell you this place is huge and stores too much milataria for me to mention. After a couple of hours perusing around and working how to fit a Beaufort in my suitcase we said our goodbyes, headed for some dinner and a few ale’s the waited for the next day to arrive.

Saturday soon came around and we were on our way to the war memorial, a full day was spent looking around the various displays, we arrived at 9:30 in the morning and didn’t leave until 4:30 after the closing ceremony. The highlight for me was the world war one aerial display, I had seen the show a few times before this trip, but it still gives me a tingle in all the right places.

On Sunday we all headed up the coast for the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra, the museum has a fascinating insight into the history of Naval Aviation in our country. Located right next to the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross, the FAAM houses a large collection of military aircraft as well as military memorabilia and a couple of interactive displays. One of which proved Adrian is a better bus driver than he is a Blackhawk pilot. Must admit I felt a little sorry for Frank on this trip “Not one piece of armor in site. With that we left the Museum and had meal of Australia’s most expensive fish and chips before heading back inland thru the great dividing range, then passing through one of the most picturesque places I‘ve ever seen named Kangaroo Valley. We soon then hit the Hume Hwy and headed south again back to Canberra.

The night passed and it was time to go home, yes Monday had arrived and we were all on the road by 8.00 am, we headed for Albury and stopped at a local hobby shop, it had a great range of kits but all were a little on the expensive side for a tight wad like me. Rob however scored a nice and cheap 1/48 Revell Liberator for around $50.00 or so. We took off again and headed for McDonalds for lunch near Wangaratta from memory, where Peter McKinnon joined a couple of Muslims for prayer time under a gum tree. After Pete finished praying to Allah we hit the road and were back to base by 5.00 pm.

I had a great time with a great bunch of blokes, thank you to you all Lucky Phil