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Many Thanks to the following businesses for supporting our club:
SuperCheap Auto
Innisfail: 4061 4788
Earlville: 4033 0600
Manunda: 4053 6912
Smithfield: 4038 1588
Cape
York Automotive
2 Federation Street
Cairns. Qld. 4870
Ph. (07) 4051 3360
Pedders Suspension
Cairns
cairns@pedders.com.au
Billabong Motel
Townsville
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By Jaylea
A BIG thanks to Julian and staff at the Smithfield store, who made us feel very welcomed when we arrived on Saturday morning to set up.
Although the heat was hard to cope with, we all got through the BBQ.
A good turn out of cars was seen at this BBQ, with a little shuffling around being done to get everyone in.
An enormous thanks to Cookie for taking over the BBQ duties while Neil was away.......there were no complaints so you did well.
Thanks to Andrew who dropped by and also gave us some Cold Rock Ice Cream vouchers to give out.......the kids were impressed.
A huge thanks has to go to Travis who joined us for the day and spent most our time there with us. Although he is not a member his support for this event was superb........Thanks Travis.
Dean was out there again trying his hardest to sell more raffle tickets and as always........he did his job well.
I don't have actual figures at the moment of the amount of funds raised at this event but I do know that after expenses it was around $300.00 Once I have the exact amount I will post it for everyone's information.
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped out on the day........whether it was for an hour or the whole time that we were there, you attendance was greatly appreciated.
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by Brian Bailey
At about the time I came into contact with Cameron and Julian (Smithfield SuperCheap Auto) I was chasing information on the Turtle Ice range.
After several phone calls I passed on to them the information that I had obtained and a friendship was formed.
Over the ensuing months, I suggested to Cam, who by this stage had been promoted to manager at the Manunda SuperCheap store, that we should run a promo day.
It just happened that a regional meeting of store managers was happening the morning I called in to see Cam and we ran our idea past the area manager.
His response was positive and said he would come back to us.
We got his approval and planning then started for the day.
We were very aware that we had little room to set up our display and we thought that only three cars would be enough.
On the day there were seven cars used.
Our club members put up their cars and Neil planned the food and drink,
Jaylea and Dean organized the Marquee and club gear and we were ready.
When you organise a day like this you hope for the best and plan for the worst.
We had no idea what this day would bring but hope reigns supreme.
The day was fine and hot and we were off and running
Dean Parked the cars with his customary attention to detail, as we prepared the BBQ and drinks and before we knew it the first Christmas raffle book had been sold and drinks and sausage sandwiches were moving.
Cam had organized a couple of raffle prizes and if a customer produced a NQPFC Christmas raffle ticket they were treated to a discount so it was a good incentive to buy them before they went in to the store not when they came out.
Dean took control of raffle sales and did a roaring trade in them.
All in all the NQPFC had a productive day and raised many hundreds of dollars for the club coffers.
I had a wedding to do later in the afternoon and had to leave early.
I got an SMS from a very excited Cam telling me that with still an hour to trade the store was having its biggest Saturday ever.
I called into the Smithfield store and Julian told me that the Manunda store had had its biggest Saturday ever and came within a couple of hundred dollars of the Earlville store and that the area management was over the moon with the result.
As a result of this, we have been invited to run promo days for all Super Cheap Auto stores - Earlville, Smithfield and Manunda.
All the store managers are looking forward to our next visit and all going to plan we can expect the bank account to continue to see the dollars roll in.
The store managers are pushing for SuperCheap promo gear including a Marquee for our use as well as theirs and anything else that will assist both their stores and our club.
So I would like to welcome the SuperCheap Auto group to the best motoring club in North Queensland.
We anticipate that this will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship.
If you are shopping at any of the SuperCheap stores, ask the manager for a club discount, but you will have to have an up to date NQPFC Membership card to get it.
See all of you at the Smithfield SuperCheap Store on Saturday the 6th of December to do it all again.
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We started out our cruise from the Fruit Bat at Aeroglen then headed up to Mareeba to meet up with our Tablelands and Townsville members.
After a short break it was time to head off to Cooktown with stops along the way at Mt Molloy, lookouts, Palmer River Roadhouse (to say g'day to John's parents) & Black Mountain.
Arriving in Cooktown it was time to settle into our accommodation and relax before a few of us took off for a drive around Cooktown.
A couple of cars headed up to Windy Hill Lookout but only Beau, Niki, Deb, Shaz, Dean, myself & the Cookies made it to the top for the spectacular view.
The rest made it half way up to the lower lookout and would go no further.
After cruising around it was decided to head to the Soveriegn for a few drinks, where we met up with Ronelle & Brett from the All Ford Club for a chat.
Then it was time to feed some hungry travellers......so back to our accommodation where dinner was started.
Neil & Darren managed to cook up a great meal of steak, sausages, salad, home made coleslaw and potato salad. I provided dessert of Boston Mudcake and a Strawberry Torte to top it off and not one person was left hungry.
During dinner we announced the winner of our Poker Run, Harold & Helen and Harold was gracious enough to donate his winnings back to the club....
You're a champ Harold, thank you.
We also sang Happy Birthday to Helen who celebrated her birthday on Monday.
After cleaning up after dinner most of us settled down for a few drinks and a chat about the cruise so far (well some had a few, some had a few more).
A few pranks were played - our resident Harry Butler (E.J.) scared the buggers out of 2 members with his spider.
We are still trying to decide who ran faster Dean or me but a lot of you said Dean was definately quicker.
Beau had an attack of raiding the fridge but Niki was able to knock that out of him.
Most of us headed off to bed at a reasonable hour but there was a few who were still up until around 2.30am, talking and drinking (but behaving).
After some sleep we were up again between 7am - 8am.
Many were anxiously waiting for breakfast which our resident cook (squeaker) refused to start cooking until 20 minutes after he had his first coffee.
Once he got going though it was a breakfast worth waiting for.
Neil, Cookie & Mick cooked up bacon, eggs, hash browns, baked beans & tomatoes.
Definately plenty to feed a hungry brood (some with hang overs).
After cleaning up it was time to check out and head off into town for all the pics with a few Cooktown landmarks......
Sadly, we said good-bye to Harold & Helen and The Kanakas Family who had to head back to Townsville & Ingham.
After a few more pics it was decided to head to the Lion's Den for a tourists look.
At this stage we also parted company with half of our members who didn't want to go down the dirt road and headed off home ahead of us.
For those of us left, we ventured out to the Lion's Den for a drink and a look around. It was well worth driving down that dirt road.
We got some great pics of everyone out the front and a few of the sights around the Pub.
The only downfall was that we couldn't stay longer.
It was time to head off again, so back in the cars and back down the dirt road and we headed for the Palmer River Roadhouse again for what we thought would be a quick food/beverage stop.
Unfortunately none of us were prepared for what was about to happen.
We were all ready to hit the road again when it was discovered that a set of keys were missing.
After a search around it was realized that the keys were in the boot and huge sighs were made.
Mick had the patience to stand there with wire and steadily try to get to the door button in the middle of the console with no luck.
So then it was suggested to attempt to get the wire to the boot button on the dash, again with no luck.
The dreaded decision by Deb was made "SMASH THE 1/4 PANEL", she said. Mick didn't have to be asked twice.....he got to smash a window and be allowed to do it.
The door was opened, the boot was opened and there in all their glory, sitting on top of the esky was the missing set of keys.
After a quick patch up of the window it was time to head home but not without a quick stop at Mt Molloy.
On the last leg of our Cooktown Adventure now and heading home it was off to Mareeba then on down the Kuranda Range and back home.
For what most of us thought would be a late afternoon home turned into evening.....but we all made it home safely including our southern members.
In all, it was an awesome cruise that I am sure everyone who attended enjoyed and would do it again.
I personally would like to thank a few people for their efforts this week-end and that would be to:
Neil & Kerrie, for organising the meals.
Neil, Cookie & Mick, for the great effort in cooking the meals.
Dean, for helping to sort the accommodation.
Harold & Helen, for coming up from Townsville.
And last but not least to Manolie, Leslie & Family for coming up from Ingham.
Thank you everyone for making this an absolutely great cruise, just by coming along you contributed to the fun, laughs & sighs of the trip.
A Tale of Security and Mateship by En4cer
After you guys left who took off early some us
were not so fortunate to have a smooth journey home as we all went to
the Lions Den and watched Neils car (Squeaker) get dirty again and
Sharen get bitten by a wasp.
We took off again and went for lunch at
the Palmer River Roadhouse.
 When we went to take off from there I could
not find my keys..
My partner in crime Sharen, went to the boot last,
who was by now getting very merry catching up on all the drinking she
missed out on the night before as she piked out at 8pm not like the
writer and friends who managed a 2.30am bedtime.
Both of us scurrying
through our bags my heart starting to beat faster with that dreaded
thought,becoming closer every passing second to the reality of NO!!!
NOT IN THE BOOT, PLEASE, PLEASE NO..
But yep, in the boot they were and
the car all locked.
First we tried every key & remote control, then
the guys wanted to have ago with a thick piece of wire. It was like
watching astronauts do precision repairs in space but the wire tip
would get onto the door release or the boot release buttons and we all
frustratingly watched the buttons depress but just not enough.
While
this was going on I rang breakdown service and was disappointed to be
told that there was a surcharge of $320 bills, Gold membership got
me nothing.
 I tried calling home to speak to Col to run it by him and
if needed transfer money into my account but no answer.
I couldn't ring
his mobile because there is no mob service out there.
I told the group
numerous times that they should get going as it was my problem and
didn't want it to ruin their day nor cause them to get home late plus a
wee frustrational tension was brewing in the air.
But NO, those
beautiful people just would not give up nor leave us there.
Talk about
Aussie spirit.
Finally I got in contact with Col who backed up my
thought I had earlier to smash the rear 1/4 window..
Thank you guys I'm
so grateful for your determination, patience and support you are all
champions who are a pleasure to hit the open road with.
And by the way
don't let Sharen tell you it was that wasp sting that caused her to do
that..
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