Community Display | Port Lincoln SA

Friday: 16 May

Community Display @ Port Lincoln Foreshore SA

Port Lincoln Display: An Early Start and Rainy Encounters

Pre-Dawn Departure
It was an early start for the team this morning, organized in two shifts. Kevin and I departed as the advance party with Bubsie in tow, while the remaining vehicle teams would follow later with the vans.

We set out just before daybreak at 6:10 AM, staying vigilant for wildlife during the twilight hours, though we only observed some unfortunate roadside casualties. Our journey included a brief stop at the Cowell silos for photography.

Journey to Port Lincoln
A refueling stop in Tumby Bay provided an opportunity to share materials with the service station staff. We also made a quick detour to capture images of the silo art as we rejoined the Lincoln Highway.

We reached Port Lincoln around 9:50 AM, where Norm Pope joined us to guide Kevin through navigating onto the Foreshore grassed area designated for our display. Val Pope and other volunteers were already establishing the refreshment area, which I assisted with.

Display Setup and Visitor Engagement
As we positioned the Bubsie trailer, we noticed a couple observing with interest—they had been traveling behind our trailer the previous day approaching Whyalla. They watched as we unloaded Bubsie, and Kevin offered the gentleman a ride to the gazebo position, which we expedited setting up as rain began to fall. Other visitors quickly gathered, and in conversation with the first couple, we discovered potential future encounters during our journey, as our itineraries would intersect in Esperance and potentially again in Ballarat in December.

The intermittent rain necessitated wiping down the vehicle and repositioning our display materials to protect them. Despite the showers, visitors continued to engage with the exhibition, enjoying the refreshments and conversations about the historic vehicle. Many appreciated receiving copies of “The Overlander.”

Unexpected Circumstances
Originally, the event was planned to include participation from a local car club with multiple vehicles. Unfortunately, they were unable to attend due to the funeral of a valued member taking place simultaneously. We extend our sympathies for the loss of this individual, who was described as exceptionally generous in spirit.

Afternoon Activities and Evening Preparation
At 2:00 PM, we concluded the display and loaded Bubsie onto the trailer, with Sean Walker, the local coordinator, taking the opportunity to experience a ride in the historic vehicle. Following a refueling stop—where we had a surprising encounter with Gary Cooper from the Cooranbong area—we proceeded to our weekend accommodation at the Pope residence.

After establishing our vans, Warren returned to town for additional supplies while we processed photographs from the day’s activities and had dinner. We participated in a planning call with Roger Millist OAM regarding next week’s Western Australia segment of our journey.

The evening concluded with a team meeting in the Raams’ van, followed by discussions with Warren regarding tomorrow’s presentation materials.