2017 Annual Corowa Swim-In & Military Vehicle Gathering

[Keith Webb]

One of the 'unknown' blitzes was Mario's C60S, ex No6 Artillery Tractor, there were also two C60Ls and Cameron's F60S. The two F60Ls were Cab 12s.

[Jan Thompson]

News from the KVE Public Relations Officer
Many thanks to MLU members who attended the Corowa Swim-In in 2017.

The event is becoming more popular. The theme for 2018 is Year of the Land Rover. We looked at statistics comparing the number of Land Rovers in attendance since 2008. Will the Jeep numbers again succeed over the number of Land Rovers?? We know there have been many recent sales of Land Rovers through auction and privately so for those who own a Land Rover we hope to see it next year.
2008 23 Land Rovers to 58 Jeeps
2009 22 Land Rovers to 45 Jeeps
2010 24 Land Rovers to 180 Jeeps
2011 48 Land Rovers to 65 Jeeps
2012 19 Land Rovers to 66 Jeeps
2013 25 Land Rovers to 71 Jeeps
2014 32 Land Rovers to 74 Jeeps
2015 40 Land Rovers to 79 Jeeps
2016 30 Land Rovers to 81 Jeeps
2017 41 Land Rovers to 80 Jeeps

We are aiming to contact Land Rover Clubs to see if we can publicise the event to people who own military Land Rovers. We also encourage people with all types of military vehicles to attend every year.

Dates for future Swim-In events at Corowa:
2018: 12-18th March – Year of the Land Rover
2019: 11-18th March – Year of the Amphibian and Year of Prototype (this is also the 40th Year of the Swim-In)
2020: 9-16th March – Year of the Motorcycle (40th Anniversary of the Corowa Swim-In)
2021: 8-15th March – Year of the Jeep (celebrating 80 years of the Jeep).

To be kept up to date with swim-in news please make sure you are on our database. The easiest way is to send an email to: kveinc@optusnet.com.au or phone Jan on 0412 078096.

2017 post event report:
By 28th February we had 300 pre-registered participants. We successfully applied during the year to the Federation Council and received a Tourism event grant. Due to the amalgamation of the Corowa and Urana Shires to form the Federation Council we received a smaller amount this year due to the number of extra applicants. We also received a grant from the Corowa RSL which goes towards our parade.
By the end of the event we had 223 vehicles plus 6 bicycles. There were 14 carriers plus a FV432. There were 11 LP Carriers which included 2 x LP1 carriers and a British 3 inch Mortar Carrier Also attending were 2 Strickland Bren Tractors. With the International theme we had 17 trucks and 2 Farmall tractors. The oldest being a WW2 KB truck.

Participants all had Voting forms and nominated KVE members check the forms after 12 MD on Saturday.
Awards were given to:
1. Mal Mackay Memorial Award: This award will be given to an individual who appears to get the most enjoyment out of being at Corowa. John Mackie
2. Hard Luck award: Went to Deborah Birrell who had a brake problem in the DUKW on the way to Corowa and meant it had to be left half way
3. Breakdown Award: Wayne Lane. He was the only carrier going on the Thursday trip in the convoy to the offroad course and broke down half way and had to return to Ball Park
4. Longest distance driven in a military vehicle: Gary Schluter from WA.
5. Encouragement Award: Makere Beale made the trip from New Zealand with her father Rob. She arrived on the Wednesday afternoon and was very enthusiastic and helped on the site office and went 4WD on Thursday and arrived back driving a Land Rover
6. Vehicle - People’s Choice For your favourite vehicle attending this year. Fiat SPA TL37 Gun Tractor owned by Alan Blackwell
7. Carrier - People’s Choice: For your favourite Carrier attending this year.
2 awards were given to the carrier theme vehicles. The LP2 owned by Robin Mawson and driven by Chris Munford and the second award was given to Mark Young for his LP2A carrier
8. International - People’s Choice: For your favourite International vehicle attending this year.
2 awards were given to the International theme vehicles. The International F5 wrecker owned by Chris Watson and the WW2 KB International owned by Geoff Naylor.

There was a wide range of interesting amphibious vehicles with 5 GPA’s, a LARC 5 and a Alvis Stalwart. We were looking forward to the DUKW but due to a breakdown it failed to arrive.

There was a wide choice of opportunities for those who wanted to participate in activities. On Monday Alex McPherson organised a 4WD trip and on Thursday Glen Weltner organised another 4WD trip. Some people attended school visits, others went to Bandiana on the pre organised trip led by Mick Morrissey and there was a large turn out to see the Corowa Wool Store and REMLR organised an overnight trip to Blighty. There were also 2 off road locations close to Corowa which included the Racecourse back paddock and Maurice Wilson’s property. On the Friday night Deborah Birrell gave a very interesting talk on her experiences on the Kokoda Trail. Each year we have a guest who gives a talk and the Corowa Footy Club, across the road from Ball Park has been the ideal location as we can also have a meal at a reasonable charge and find out the last minute plans for the parade.

Due to another event occurring in Victoria at the same time there were a number of people who made contact with me as they were upset at being charged higher than normal room rates. We recommend pre-booking your accommodation from one year to the next and sometimes a deposit is required and if you can’t attend this deposit is usually refunded with adequate notice.

We commence organising our participant packs months prior to the event as we have to pre-order items such as caps, plaques, Special edition newsletters and stickers. We would appreciate people entering the event ASAP so we can get approximate numbers at least 2 months before the event. If you pre-register and are unable to attend we can either offer you a refund or put your entry towards the following year so please don’t hold back to the last minute and enter then as it may be too late.

We were very pleased with the number of attendees and the positive comments we received from both visitors and participants. Hope you have had time to read your Special Edition Newsletter and just remember to read it when it is handed to you as it had all the details of trips, meeting times and locations along with interesting articles. In the participant packs there are also Voting forms, an entry form for the following year, a sticker to advertise the following year and some vouchers for local businesses.

My full Corowa report will be in the June edition of the KVE news.

All the best for restorations for 2018 and beyond.

Jan Thompson-Creamer
KVE Secretary and Public Relations Officer

[hrpearce]

I have a new nbn connection and can add pictures again.
The new office
Group photo

[hrpearce]

My blitz was there this year, although it had a short run on a tilt tray.
This was our first Corowa without children.

[hrpearce]

I can upload photos again, half safe replica at Corowa.

[Jan Thompson]

Hi Robert
When are you going to upload the names on the KVE photo which was taken on the Saturday at lunchtime? There is only one person I couldn't identify but that could be a friend of Graham Meyers.

[hrpearce]

Jan, Howard is the one who can put numbers and names on photos not me.