2006 Australian National Rally of

Mercedes-Benz Clubs in Canberra.

The following note was published in the May 2005 edition of the various Mercedes-Benz club magazines in Australia and New Zealand.

There is now less than a year to the Rally, starting Friday 14th April 2006. The Rally Committee hopes your enthusiasm towards attending has been building, and that we will see you in Canberra for the Easter holiday period. If you need encouragement, note that Canberra is a true tourists' delight, attracts local and overseas visitors, is relatively easy to reach from most states, has quality service, and the roads are great!

The first two Notices about the National Rally, published in club magazines in late 2004 and earlier this year, outlined the social and touring programs and explained that the Rally could not possibly include most of the 'national icons' that are routinely accessible to visitors to Canberra. This inability arises from, as much as anything, the sheer number of institutions available, but it also recognises that quite a few Rally participants may have recently seen some of these attractions during visits to the national capital. But the Rally organisers also recognise that other members may not have had such recent experience. Accordingly, arrangements have been put in place to facilitate longer stays in Canberra, either before or after the Rally, by participants who wish to take the opportunity. Details will be in the Invitation to Register in mid 2005.

This approach has allowed the organisers to plan a program with a difference, offering aspects not normally seen by most tourists to Canberra. Features that you will see of Canberra's pre‑ and post‑Federation times include Lanyon Homestead, a pastoral property on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River and which was the home of influential grazier families from the 1850's. You will also see Calthorpe's House, built in 1927 and surviving now to tell vividly of life in the early days of the Federal capital. Truly, a treasure house!

Mr. lan Stephenson, Director of ACT Historic Places in the Cultural Facilities Corporation has recently written "I am delighted that the Mercedes‑Benz Club has decided to include Lanyon Homestead and Calthorpe's House in its itinerary. It seems the perfect match ‑ a great make of car meets two great historic houses."

More modern themes will be on show to Rally participants at the Deep Space Communication Complex (Tracking Station) at Tidbinbilla where we will see how probes into deep space such as Mars Surveyor, Cassini, Galileo and Ulyssess have been monitored since the 1960's. The development of other bodies will be our focus at the Australian Institute of Sport where in a guided tour you may recognise some olympic faces and be able to gauge your own capabilities in interactive ways.

Possibly the highlight of the Rally will be the first of the two touring lunches, on Saturday when participants will enjoy a 'spit roast' in the gardens of Government House at Yarralumla, on the southern bank of Lake Burley Griffin. Government House is not normally open to the public, so we are grateful to the Governor‑General and his staff for agreeing to the Rally's access. Subject to the Governor‑General being at home for our visit, participants will be afforded a guided tour of the House as well as enjoying the grounds, and we have invited Major General Jeffery to join us informally for lunch. As he has an interest in classic cars, this may well be an opportunity for those with classics of the marque to offer him a drive and/or ride!

The second touring lunch, on Sunday, will be at Rond Terraces on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, a 'picture‑perfect' spot well known to those members of the Victoria and New South Wales clubs who frequent the annual ACT Concours d'Elegance. This will be the opportunity to display our cars to the public while we enjoy a light lunch before concluding the touring program in anticipation of the Gala Dinner later that evening.

Participants are assured of a Rally full of interest, offering quality and variety throughout. Look forward, please, to the Invitation to Register in coming months, giving you all the relevant details.

The Organising Committee of the NSW and ACT Clubs