Photo Gallery: March 2017 Run to Breakwater Battery Museum & Seascape Cafe
Our first meeting, held on Thursday 30th March, should have been advertised as the first meeting of the MH Car Club’s Rainmaker Register because a simple summary would be:
- THE WEATHER WAS JUST AWFUL
- NOT MANY MGs TURNED OUT
- LOTS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY CAME, AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MORNING INSPECTING THE BREAKWATER BATTERY MUSEUM AND A ‘ CUPPA’ OR TWO AT THE SEASCAPE CAFÉ!
And now for the longer version (well- we need to have content for each Opposite Lock, don’t we!)
The Weather
Unfortunately, 30th March was the day that ex-cyclone Debbie decided to batter the NSW coast, and the rain and winds on the Thursday morning were just awful!
I had the TF classic ready to go, but one look outside and I know it was a ‘driving a modern’ day for sure!
On arrival at the rendezvous it was just tipping down, but to my very pleasant surprise people in old Jags and MGs actually came out of the rain and mostly on time, plus lots of ‘moderns’. After a very satisfactory inspection of the Breakwater battery Museum next door, we actually had a very full Seascape Café with about 40+ people from both the MG and Jaguar Car Clubs happily chatting away and enjoying the inside ( cosy and warm) and braving the outside ( great view but still raining and cold!
The photos attached say it all the MG Car Club lot quickly grabbed the cosy inside of the Seascape cafe and were very content and, not surprisingly, were the last to leave!
Some quick impressions of the morning
- Admiration for the loyalty of those who turned put on a truly awful weather day to support – thanks very much to each one of you!
- The surprisingly large range of exhibits in the Breakwater Battery Museum. The Museum is located in the original WW2 Artillery HQ Complex overlooking the Harbour Defences, is staffed entirely by volunteers, and is well worth a visit but please check before coming- as it’s only open on a Sunday usually
- The outside area of the Battery area is both original – with the embrasures and pits from the original 6-inch guns plus tank traps guarding against an invasion force – but is also a surprisingly beautiful and unspoiled location looking out to sea
- The great location and efficient staff of the Seascape Café. The setting is quite beautiful with views looking out over the harbour entrance towards some of the five islands located just off Wollongong, and the staff were pleasant and efficient. The food was of a good quality, snack-type menu, and the staff dealt with a crowded café on a miserable day efficiently and cheerfully. (A small warning the Café is not well marked and the entrance is not obvious from the parking area, but just go up the stairs towards the Museum building and finally some signs to the café emerge!
- I would like to pay tribute to all those who chose to drive their older MGs and/or made a special effort to be there. If there were prizes, I would have awarded them to:- 1) local Illawarra MG Car Club Member Les Bryant- who actually drove his classic TF, and, 2) local member Claude Harris who was celebrating his 90th birthday and is still driving his very original MGTA! His far South Coast-based son drove up to make sure Claude could come to the Illawarra Register first meet! Well done guys!
Final Comments
Despite the foul weather, the first meeting of the Illawarra Register was definitely a success. We had approx. 20 MG Car Club members booked to come, and achieved nearly that number. Combined with the Jag Club members we had over 40 people happily chatting and enjoying the activities, and in my opinion it was a great start to our social events which give you the opportunity to both socialize and get out and enjoy a drive.
So, let’s hope the weather gods are kinder for our next Illawarra Register meeting!
Enjoy a gallery of photos from the run thanks to Ingo Weinberger below.
Images by Ingo Weinberger
Got something to say?