A visiting caravan club injected more than $55,000 into the Narromine economy earlier this month and donated over $5,000 to community and sporting groups as part of an organised trip to the town.

About 90 vans and their mostly retired owners from across Australia descended upon Narromine in a coordinated week-long visit by the Trakmaster Off-Road Caravan Club.

The Narromine Showgrounds turned into a temporary tourist park between May 3-10 as the majority of vans set up home there. A number of other vans travelling with pets stayed at the nearby Rockwall Caravan Park so as not to disturb the racehorses training at the racetrack which is also located in the showgrounds.

Now in its 20th year, the not-for-profit club has over 300 of the sturdy, off-road “Trakkie” vans (and their owners) registered. Volunteers from within the club step forward to coordinate trips away enabling members to visit small rural and regional communities like Narromine. The club previously visited the region in 2017, staying in Warren.

The club brings with it a welcome boost to local businesses as its members spend money in the focus community. Local sporting and community groups also benefit through the club’s internal fundraising activities undertaken during the stay including raffles and sale of craft items.

Local not-for-profit groups to benefit from the Trakmaster visit included the Narromine Cancer Support Group, hospital auxillary, Melanoma Mission, and the Men's Shed. Sporting groups included the soccer, netball, swimming, rugby union and league clubs, and Little Athletics.

“What you see here is people getting out and enjoying life,” said Andrew Kilpatrick of the club that he and wife Trish have been members of for the past 14 years. Residents of Bribie Island, Queensland, the now-retired couple love attending trips away with the Trakmaster club and realise the value of their visit to small communities.

“People pooh-pooh grey nomads but we put lots of money into small towns like this that benefit from us shopping, going to the pubs and the local cafes while we’re here,” he said.

Trip coordinators Col and Kay Ward

Given the sheer volume of vans travelling in the Trakkie tours, visits like this take some coordination. They would not be possible without the support of the Councils and other organisations in the towns they visit.

Col and Kay Ward coordinated the Trakkie trip to Narromine. This reporter interviewed the couple in 2022 when they visited the town on a reconnaissance mission to organise activities and confirm the arrangements necessary to accommodate almost 100 vans.

Mrs Ward told the Western Plains App that the visit would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the Narromine Shire Council, Turf Club and Agricultural Show Society which provided ready access to facilities at the site.

“They could not have been more helpful. Everything has gone so well,” she said. “We’ve had so much support from the local townspeople.”

Mrs Ward praised the Narromine businesses and organisations that got behind the club’s visit.

The Trakkies toured Hamilton’s Pride and Mumble Peg farms, enjoyed Twilight Bowls and rounds of golf locally, attended a craft workshop with the Mudyigalang “Many Hands” Craft Group, some tackled the Narromine Wetlands Parkrun, and everyone gathered for the club’s fancy-dress Annual Gathering Dinner which was held at the United Services Memorial Club (USMC) on May 6.

The Ballhausen Room at the USMC was overrun with garden gnomes, scarecrows, Sunday gardeners, flower maidens, and bees and their keepers at the dinner. The most intriguing outfit was that of a self-proclaimed “combat veteran” hidden beneath full body camouflage, who for security reasons refused to reveal his identity.

New club members Graham and Carole Franks from Swansea, NSW, were enjoying their first fancy-dress dinner when they spoke to the Western Plains App.

“We’re having so much fun. There’s so much to do [on the trip]. The craft session [at Mudyigalang] was fantastic. They put on a big morning tea for us, too,” Mrs Franks said.

The Sunshine State was well represented on the trip, with its contingent nicknamed “Quakkies” (Queensland Trakkies).

Club members in fancy dress for their Annual Gathering Dinner on May 6

Quakkie Trish Kilpatrick reflected that club members were enjoying the opportunity to travel freely again following the removal of pandemic-related travel restrictions and border closures.

“The last few years [with the pandemic restrictions impacting travel] have been terrible. Some club members were caught out when borders closed,” she said.

Her husband Andrew said that not being able to tour during the pandemic restrictions meant that small towns keenly anticipating visits by the Trakmaster club were unable to enjoy the associated economic and social benefits.

“We didn’t call them ‘lockdowns’, we called them ‘lockups,” he said.

“It’s great to be able to catch up with old friends again and make new ones. The weather has been fantastic,” Mrs Kilpatrick said.

“We’re not looking forward to Monday though. It’s going to be minus-two degrees!” added Quakkie Roz Lomas from Maryborough.

Narromine Shire Mayor, Cr Craig Davies, reflected on the many benefits the Trakmaster visit has brought to the region.

“We were thrilled to have this group in town. Not only have they brought much welcome economic benefits to the shire, they have [also] brought a real sense of camaraderie,” Cr Davies said.

“The clubs and caterers will have done extremely well along with numerous other retail outlets such as fuel, tyres and groceries.”

Trakkies at dinner. Graham and Carol Franks (left) and Sandra and Richard Payne (right).

He says seeing local innovative industries like Mumblepeg and Hamilton’s Pride at work were important learning opportunities.

“The free-range chicken operation of Col and Bev Hamilton was an absolute eye opener for the whole group. Many admitted not having had a clue as to what free-range even meant. Wonderful information to take directly back to their communities,” CR Davies said.

“Council has naturally taken a very proactive approach to ensuring the group enjoys the Narromine experience.”

Cr Davies said that Narromine was strategically placed on the map, with the Mitchell and Newell Highways providing major inland routes for travellers like those in the Trakmaster club and many others in that demographic.

“I would expect to see more clubs and individuals turn up and enjoy this wonderful part of the world,” he said.