GROONGAL 2003
This event is the highlight of the Antipodean Chipmunk owner’s year. It is held, most years, on the second weekend in November.
Where is Groongal? Groongal is a large sheep station located on the banks of the Murrimbidgee River some 27 nm south west of Griffith, NSW. It is thus more or less centrally located to all the SE states, though the distances do remain significant, e.g. from Melbourne it’s 200 nm, Adelaide 350 nm, Sydney 280 nm and Brisbane 590 nm. The other great advantage is that the event remains entirely “in house”; it has a private airfield and can accommodate all visitors in the shearer’s camp, adjacent to the airfield.
The event is hosted by Mr. Rob Merrylees and his family (Rob was for many years a Chipmunk owner), with some assistance from the Antique Aircraft Association of Australia. In addition, many of the trophies are donated by the DHC-1 Chipmunk Club.
While the accommodation and facilities are distinctly basic, all is clean and adequate. All minor meals are in the shearer’s mess (with its walls festooned with Chipmunk memorabilia) while the evening dinner is held on the lawn of Groongal Homestead itself, a very picturesque spot indeed overlooking the river.
It is simply great fun. Two days with people sharing a love of Chipmunks, lots of humour, good conversation and great food. There are awards given for the Best Chipmunk. Most interesting Arrival, Longest Distance Flown etc. This is not particularly serious, with all prizes usually accompanied by great ribaldry.
I have attached photos (in two postings) of the 2003 Groongal, the first event I managed to attend – for the previous 14 years I had been living overseas, plus my own Chipmunk only flew again in this year. It was held in fine and hot conditions producing an excellent attendance; 11 Chipmunks and 8 “Honorary Chipmunks”.
Captions:
1. Groongal Homestead, a 140 year-old building with distinct “Tara” overtones….
2. The shearer’s camp adjacent to the strip – the large shearing shed, used as overflow accommodation, is out of picture to the right.
3. Despite having come the greatest distance (610 nm), I was the first to land. VH-MMS looks oddly forlorn, alone in a huge paddock.
4. The Chipmunk line-up – there are (despite only 10 fins visible) 11 aircraft here. The front aircraft is VH-RTW (C1-0498, ex WG424, VH-RVZ).
5. VH-PUW (C1-0572, ex WK555, G-BDRM).
