AROUND-OZ MOTORHOMES

The Wedding at a Rally!

Many things happen at a CMCA rally, but a wedding??? Several weeks before the CMCA Quercus Park rally, I was approached by CMCA friend, Kay Small, who asked would I mind taking photos at Margaret and Ivan’s wedding during the rally. “No problem!” was the immediate response. All the arrangements would be worked out when we got to the rally site. Time passed and motorhomes from all directions descended on the rally site to enjoy the nine days of friendship. The date and time were set – 3 pm on Sunday, the last day of the rally March 21.

All the normal rally activities kept us busy in the preceding days – then all of a sudden it was Saturday – the day before Margaret and Ivan’s reaffirmation of their vows taken 49 years ago.

The CMCA extended family is something you have to experience to know how deep is the caring and sharing. For this reason, limiting the numbers to attend was really a heartache for the intending couple. The Best man and Matron of Honour had chosen themselves – George Day, who with wife Jan, have been travelling companions with Margaret and Ivan for many thousands of miles – and – Vi Newman who has been Margaret’s (nickname Dutchy’s) best girlfriend for many years.

They settled on invitations for about 15 couples – all fellow CMCA members. The official Club chaplain Clarry Prior was asked to conduct the ceremony. The Rally Co-ordinator (Don Mackrill) had been got onside very early in the piece and allocated the RACT Building especially for the event.

Sunday morning was a hive of furious activity. Vi and some of the ladies from the Rally catering section prepared the platters. Camper Kenny (Newman) helped George to arrange the liquid refreshments. Julie Anne from the Tandarra Motel at Triabunna had excelled with the most beautiful wedding cake. Kay Small and Robyn Proctor obtained flowers from a local garden at Westbury. I raided my patchwork fabric supplies in the motorhome and found the perfect dusky purple to cover the chairs on which the bride and groom would sit. Robyn produced lace tablecloths and a variety of vases and candles to decorate the tables. By lunchtime, a transformation had overtaken what was, up till then, a general-purpose room.

So, 3 pm soon came around – the guests were assembled, the groom nervously awaiting the arrival of his beloved and the best man doing the rounds to assure everyone that all was now in order. Ivan actually wore long pants for the first time many of those present could EVER remember. True to tradition, Margaret arrived ten minutes late, accompanied by Vi, as a proud Matron of Honour.

To be honest, it was hard to tell who was more nervous – Ivan or Margaret – both were shaking so much – was it excitement or was it panic? It didn’t matter, when they looked at each other, it was the look of two people very much in love.

Pastor Clarry excelled himself. His treasured, yet simple, words of wisdom epitomized the warmth and love exuding from Ivan and Margaret. There were the usual tears which ladies always cry at weddings – no matter how young or old the bride and groom – but this time those tough old guys also were wet eyed. They tried to tell us there was a lot of dust around the grounds, but we girls knew better – they were just softies at heart. When Clarry and wife Jeane gave a strong melodic rendition of “Perhaps Love”, the sentiment in the room was electric.

Ivan and Margaret were, in fact, married 49 years ago in Holland at a registry office, with just two witnesses. It was at the end of the World War II and everything in Europe was rationed. As a result, there was no opportunity for festivities to be enjoyed by these two young people so much in love.

Their re-affirmation of their marriage vows in front of their motorhoming friends was something really special and we felt privileged to be chosen as part of their special group of extended family.

Speeches flowed as easily as the tears, with wishes of love and happiness for another 49 years. To younger people, maybe it is hard to imaging two people in their 60’s causing so much emotion amongst a group of their peers. In today’s world, romance and love do not always have a “use by date”. If you have the right partner and soul mate, there is no deadline on your relationship.

The RACT Building had to revert to being the evening restaurant by 5 pm, so we all adjourned out under the tall gum trees. This was probably even more fitting – most motorhomers are not herd animals – they are most at home when they are out with nature.

The setting of the sun closed the celebrations, even though the warmth of friendship continued. The closing ceremonies of the rally were due that night, which meant a temporary “au revoire” to many friends who would leave the next morning to continue their travels to places near and far. We will all meet again at the next rally in the spring.

In the meantime – all I can say is thank goodness for digital cameras - the 295 photos I took in those few hours need to be sorted, put to CD rom and get printed, as a present to Ivan and Margaret, a memento of a very special day, when they re-affirmed precious words spoken all those years ago - “I do”!

Chrissy Eustace