An influx of campervans and motorhomes have made their way to Cohuna for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Solos Network rally, which officially kicked off on Friday.
More than 250 club members have converged on the town, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.
CMCA Solos Network assistant manager Lynne Rees said the rallies aimed to benefit local communities.
By midday Friday, the Solos Network rally had already injected more than $2500 into the town.
“Comparing previous rallies, we easily expect to inject $100,000,” Ms Rees said.
“We always collect our dockets that we receive in the town, because it is nice to know just how much you’re supporting local communities,” she said.
The group will hold a number of raffles throughout the rally, and these profits will also benefit the local community.
“Those profits will also be given to the Cohuna Fire Brigade and the Gannawarra Giving Account, which was advised to us by the Cohuna and District Progress Association,” Ms Rees said.
“We always make a point of supporting small communities, and Cohuna is an absolutley beautiful town, with even more beautiful people in it.
“The community has been so welcoming and supportive here, donating for the raffle or in any way, shape or form they can.”
The Solos Network is a chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, which provides a support network for solo travellers.
Marie Collison is one of the founding members of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Solos Network.
She said the success of the event could be attributed to the fact “everyone needs friendship and someone to talk to”.
Being part of the group to help get the Solo Network off the ground, an idea founded in 1997 by Margaret Quinn, Ms Collison said she thought it was ” a brilliant idea” to cater for solo travellers.
“Travelling alone is quite different to travelling with a partner or a friend, and so I think it’s important to have a separate event where solo travellers didn’t feel like the odd one out,” she said.
“There’s different interests and a different socialisation need, so we created our own.
“It’s a fantastic event and I love travelling around Australia making new friends and seeing old friends.”
Ms Rees said the Solos Network allowed members to travel together and get to know others with similar travel plans.
She said for some members, the idea of travelling alone could be quite daunting but the solos network aimed to eliminate that.
“Our rallies are also about the spirit of the supportive camaraderie you create, in the network and in the community,” Ms Rees said.
“Meeting like-minded people while travelling around Australia is a pretty special thing.”
CMCA Solos Network events coordinator Angela Watson said the event took more than 12 months to organise.
“Our schedules are quite detailed, and we always create day and night events that will see our ralliers having lots of fun, and be part of the community as well,” she said.
“There’s always something to do, whether it be dancing, playing sport, having our opening market day, having a fashion parade or our dog parade, going shopping or experiencing the local wetland tours, there is always something happening, and it takes a lot of work coordinating all of it.”
Ms Watson said she had a soft spot for Cohuna which would always hold a special place in her heart with family ties to the town.
