August 9, 2012
Goomeri is officially an RV Friendly Town … in fact, according to the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia website, it’s the only RV Friendly town in the South Burnett.
It acquired its status about 12 months ago after a town meeting was called and residents voted to support an application by the Gympie Regional Council.
The town then had to prove that it could cater for all types of vans, and had attractions nearby that would draw people.
Goomeri Show Society secretary Berta Flude says the decision to apply for the RV Friendly Town status has paid off.
Since then there have been three caravan rallies held at the Goomeri Showgrounds – with a total of about 200 vans – and facilities at the showgrounds have been upgraded to include a grey water and sewage dump point.
The latest group planning a rally at Goomeri is the Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Club which will be stopping at the showgrounds from September 4-12 with between 12 and 20 vans.
It’s the first time this club has decided to stay at Goomeri and they’re looking forward to their stay.
Rally organisers Cec and Margaret Ward, from Mt Coolum, visited Goomeri on Thursday to make the final arrangements.
The rally will be officially opened by former Kilkivan Shire councillor Margaret Angel and all participants will be given a “Welcome To Goomeri” pack.
They’ve got a jam-packed program to look forward to, including a fancy dress dinner (Goomeri Show Society will be doing the catering), a visit to Boonara Homestead for morning tea, wine tasting at Moffatdale Ridge, morning tea at Bjelke-Petersen Dam, a whipcracking demonstration, and gold-pouring at the Prophet Mine.
Cec said the rally organisers always kept track of all money spent in the town by participants.
“At the end of the rally, we let the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Centre know how much money we have actually spent,” he said.
Recent tallies include stays at Kenilworth (21 vans) $12,000; Boonah (12 vans) $8500 and Toowoomba (61 vans) $87,000.
Cec said a rally – even a small one – takes about six months to plan.
The Goomeri Show Society is using the profits from the rallies to upgrade facilities at the showgrounds.
Showers in the main toilet block are going to be upgraded and a new shower block is planned for the top of the property.
Berta is hoping to attract even more rallies to the town – the showgrounds could fit up to 300 vans – and has started up a database so she can assist club organisers and send them through timely information.
Before Goomeri achieved its RV Friendly status, only one or two caravans would visit every week (except over Pumpkin Festival weekend when the showgrounds were packed).
“Now we host rallies,” Berta said. “It’s a boost to the local economy. The more rallies, the better.”
