Experience of a lifetime

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THREE EXPLORE BY GEMLIFE MOTORHOMES WERE HIRED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS CAMEL RACING IN THE SMALL OUTBACK TOWN OF TARA IN QUEENSLAND. THE EXPERIENCE HAS SEEN THREE GEMLIFE BRIBIE ISLAND COUPLES RETURN WITH A PASSION TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.

Robyn and Frank Colbran, their in-laws Jane and Scott Bruce, and longtime friends Johanna and Ralph Gunness said it was the first time all three couples had set out on a journey together and they were even more delighted to find another six couples from GemLife Bribie Island at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races when they arrived.

“We knew all the others and they brought friends and relatives as well so there ended up being about ten couples from Bribie, and it was fabulous.”

She said not everything went to plan for the more than 3500 campers and caravanners who had booked sites at the local showground.

“They had to reorganise where people were staying because the grounds were too wet and soggy, and we ended up on another site about a kilometre away. There was no electricity or water, but we had everything we needed in the GemLife motorhome, including an annexe to sit under for our regular get-togethers.”

Ralph and Johanna said enjoying the company of others around an open fire was one of the highlights of their trip as were the camel and yabby races, which they had never seen before.

“We took marshmallows to roast on the fire but forgot about them as we were so intrigued with the conversations and stories about our individual experiences at the Tara festival,” said Ralph.

Robyn said the camel races were “pretty cool” and she backed a winner in Blinx, although her other camel failed to gain a place.

“I think he’s still running but the race was hilarious and didn’t go for long. Then, after each race, we watched six to eight yabbies race – strange but fun to watch – and afterwards they were sold at auction.”

She said the town came alive with fabulous entertainment, shows, street performers, races and so much more with everything reaching a crescendo each night with fireworks. There was also a lot of unusual food and memorabilia on offer including camel pies and stuffed camel toys big enough to ride.

The GemLife motorhomes proved a big hit with our GemLife resident explorers as well as with those they encountered on their trip.

“It was quite cold at Tara, but we were warm and snuggly in our RVs and having solar power was fabulous. They were also so comfortable to drive, and certainly sparked many conversations with strangers who were keen to see inside,” said Robyn.

“We would definitely go back to Tara again, and we also loved travelling together in convoy in the beautiful GemLife motorhomes. It was the experience of a lifetime.”