COHUNA’s football oval will turn into a large recreational vehicle (RV) site later this month when close to 200 motorhomes roll into town for the Campervan Motorhome Club of Australia’s (CMCA) Solos Network Rally.
The recreational vehicles will converge on the Cohuna Recreation Reserve between February 26 and March 7, with many attendees visiting Cohuna for the first time.
Solo Network president Dave Applegate, based in Queensland, said more than 300 RVs were expected but “COVID cancelled quite a few”.
Asked why they returning to northern Victoria, Mr Applegate noted the Murray River, Gunbower Creek and the Cohuna “folk”.
“It’s just a really nice part of the world,” he said.
“The Cohuna folk are very welcoming and all that nature has to offer is there.
“It’s not usual that we go back to a town so quickly, in fact we go once and never go back.
“But because of COVID and some areas weren’t available, we thought let’s go back and do Cohuna again.”
Mr Applegate said attendees would be travelling to the southern state from as far away as Cairns.
“Not sure about Western Australia because of the recent border closure extension, but certainly South Australia and lots from Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales from the main populated states.”
The Solos Network hold two rallies per year, with the second rally for 2022 planned for Western Australia later in the year to coincide with its 25th anniversary.
“We are a group that deals with people who travel on their own for whatever reason,” Mr Applegate said.
“Majority go for the friendliness but also safety and security of travelling, especially the ladies are well looked after on the road.
“Although they are competent there is often a job that can be just a little too tricky.”
Retired and standing in his driveway with his RV in full site, Mr Applegate said he had been “motorhoming” for about a decade.
“I will head off on the road in a week’s time and arrive in the last week of February,” he said.
“It’s humid up here as well, so it will feel just like home the whole trip down.”
Events organised for attendees include on-site seminars, workshops, dances classes – line and bushing dancing – and “lots of cards”.
Offsite, they will enjoy tours, cruises on the Gunbower Creek, a visit to Koondrook Men’s Shed, high tea and a dinner dance at the Memorial Hall.
Gannawarra Shire Council chief executive officer Tom O’Reilly said it would be one of the biggest events the area had hosted since Cohuna last hosted the event in November 2019
“The rally’s return to the Gannawarra could not have come at a better time, with attendees to provide a significant financial boost to Cohuna’s traders and community groups as the area continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
To accommodate the influx of participants, the Cohuna reserve’s main oval and associated buildings will be closed to the public throughout the duration of the event. Residents will still be able to access the reserve’s second oval during this period.
People who would generally walk their dogs through the reserve will need to use alternative locations such as the Cohuna Ski Run and Gilrule Park – areas where dogs must be kept on leash – for the duration of the rally.
Council economic development manager Roger Griffiths said it was a “fantastic opportunity to promote not just Cohuna but the whole of the Gannawarra”.
“These people are staying in Cohuna, spending money in Cohuna and having a fantastic time visiting towns and locations.
“The fact they are coming back time and time again shows they love visiting.
“They absolutely do some back independently for holidays – some by houses here, end up being regular visitors.”
Mr Griffiths said the RV rest area, located adjacent to the creek, was still occupied regularly but had been “knocked around” by COVID.
“RV travelling is a popular adventure for a lot of people,” he said.
“If you aren’t catering for them they will travel elsewhere where they are looked after.”
The Solos Network was established in 1997, to foster a culture of sharing, encouragement, and support so that lone travellers might continue to enjoy their traveling lifestyle even though they may have suddenly found themselves facing life under radically different circumstances.
There are about a thousand Solos across Australia.
