SWEERS HOSTS THE 2009 OUTBACK AIR RACE!

It all started last year with an email from Peter Peebles way over in Perth, WA - could we accommodate 40 or 50 people and about 20 aircraft travelling from Broome to Airlie Beach on August 30 & 31? We did some Googling - turns out the Outback Air Race is a pretty big group of businessmen and women and interested individuals, who get together every couple of years to take part in a fun time-trialled event with some serious fundraising behind it - all in aid of the worthy Royal Flying Doctor Service. And what started as "40 or 50 people" turned into 59 people and 22 aircraft including one helicopter!

We rose to the challenge, counted all the crockery and spoons, ordered in some more, talked a few friends into visiting as helpers on the weekend, then Lyn & Lee started baking! They spent a week or more cooking & freezing bread, soup and desserts, as we are normally only catering for 20-30 people so we really had to plan ahead to make this work. Mick organised campsites around the cabins, mowing acres of grass, as we only have 28 beds, so half the group would be camping. Tex got to work on the airstrip, levelling off one side to be used for parking, as the parking area usually holds a maximum of 9 aircraft. (We squeezed about 15 in on the big weekend!) The rest were neatly backed tail to trees along the first 150m alongside the airstrip. Mick also organised the fridges and coolroom so as to have a smooth assembly line of beers and softdrinks from warm store to cool to thirst-quenching cold! Our helpers Don, Kerry and Awesome made sure the rooms were ready, garbage bins handy everywhere and plenty of toilet paper in the loos! (just as important as the food and drink!) Visiting yachties Josene & Wayne, on 'Alacrity' also pitched in to lend a hand!

By the time the first aircraft flew overhead, we felt we were as ready as could be, even Charlie & Lilly dogs were spruced and ready to greet the new arrivals. First in were regular visitors to Sweers, Glen Grams & Alan Blake - along with their friends John & Jeanette Starr in Jeanette's R44 helicopter. Gramsey & Blakey had brought a handheld VHF radio and they took charge of Air Traffic Control, talking the aircraft in (with some amusing instructions!) while Tex and the guys sorted out the parking.

Meanwhile, back at the lodge, Lyn & Lee cut cakes and slices - we turned the BBQ area into a Tea & Coffee kiosk, which worked out really well (some regulars who vacate their rooms early to leave late pm know it as the 'Departure Lounge'!) and the kitchen crew were able to concentrate on getting dinner ready. The new arrivals set up their tents and soon the place was looking quite cosy! There were lots of interesting characters among the visitors, including a couple celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary! They met on the SS United States, so we had to make them a 'ship' cake replica, and Lyn, Lee & Kerry had lots of fun decorating that! Tony was MC and did an excellent job of entertaining everyone that night, we all thought his outfit was very fetching...

Next morning, everyone was up early, and in spite of the wind, some guests did go on a fishing charter with skipper Mick in MV Salomon, while others took out dinghies. Some enjoyed the beach, walking and the guys were kept busy in the utes running history tours. Later in the afternoon, the Bentinck Island Aboriginal artists came across and presented an exhibition of their work, and several people bought some of this unique artwork which is becoming very collectable.

Then there was a special horseracing event - the 'World's Wackiest Horse Race' (we'd have to agree - but it was brilliant!) with fabulous fashions on the field - the ladies are to be congratulated for the fabulous hats and outfits they managed to bring all the way from Broome! And the little 'hobby horses' were fantastic, as was the cleverly written Race Program. (Click HERE to read the funny listings on the Race Program - and click HERE to see the cover of the program.)

The whole event was very well organised (apart from some confusion with room allocation...) and the final night BBQ was entertaining for everyone, guests and resort staff alike. Yachtie Josie also treated us to a beautiful rendition of one of her Bush Poems. Yachtie Wayne even won a prize for the Wackiest Hat - a beanie handknit by Lee! Team Kiwi had borrowed some magnificent hats from Team Non-Negotiable and the colours were so suited to Charlie & Lilly we had to get a photo of that...

Next morning, after another Big Brekky, the teams began to leave, but not before Lyn & Lee were treated to a ride in Jeanette's chopper, to get some aerial photos of the aircraft parking area (some of the 22 had already left when the photos were taken, but it gives you some idea of the crowd!). Lilly gave us all a heart attack when an aircraft started up without warning and she decided to round it up...

So everything went pretty well, and everyone had a good time, and only one set of toilets backed up, which was pretty good, considering! Special thanks to all our helpers: Don, Derry, Awesome, Josene, Wayne, Gramsey & Blakey, and to all the Outback Air Race participants, who were all really helpful in bringing cups/plates to the sink etc, it was a pleasure to be a part of this event and we look forward to seeing some of you back this way again one day.

Oh - and who won the race? Team Isis! - that is husband & wife Peter & Rebekah Mayer along with Rebekah's dad Ron Hannaford, in their Cessna Cardinal C177RG. They were followed in second place by Team U2-Yahoo = Gina Noblett & Neil Maxfield, in their Mooney M20J, and in third place was last year's winners, the effervescent Team Kiwi = Huib Volker, Rob Mackley & Paula Jackson, in their very snazzy Mooney Ovation. While the final tally won't be known for a week or so, it looks like racers raised $200,000 for the RFDS! Well done, everyone! There are no losers in this race!

For more info visit www.outbackairrace.com.au

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