OCTOBER 19TH TO 25TH OCTOBER

AT THE SHEARING SHED, GAP ROAD, COWES, PHILLIP ISLAND

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

             WIMA AUSTRALIA  INTERNATIONAL RALLY              

Wima members from 13 different countries attended the International Rally held at Phillip Island Victoria.  Many members came from Japan, Germany, Finland, Estonia, New  Zealand, Switzerland a couple from the Netherlands, Great Britain one from Sweden and the USA and a visitor from India as well as many Australian members.

On the first day of the Rally the member registered and the Welcome dinner was held with silver service and excellent food provided by the Shearing Shed staff. On the second night some members from overseas and local members provided some entertainment.  The Japanese girls put on a very lively song and dance routine.

Over the coming week members rode to Cranbourne to the Australian Garden, to the wild life park at Healesville and to the scenic Wilsons Promontory  There were also local places to visit like the Koala Park and Churchill Farm at Phillip Island.

 One of the highlights of the week was the visit to the Penguin Centre on the shores of Phillip Island where we watched groups of small penguins return to their nests on shore after a day out in the ocean. They did not seem to be afraid of all the spectators and bright lights.

The Presidents Meeting was held on the Friday and Claudia Fehrer was elected President for the next year with Asa Ohqvist as Vice President.  After the meeting the representatives from each country attended a special dinner at a restaurant in Cowes.

Sunday morning it was time to say goodbye to everyone. Some overseas members continued to tour around the area and even into South Australia and NSW.  Wima Rallies are held in a different country each year in Europe but have only been held in the Asia Pacific area every 5 years the last one being in Japan in 2010.

THERE IS ALSO A WRITE UP OF THE RALLY ON THE WIMA WORLD WEB SITE BY ASA OHQVIST.