Hitting off this year with a bang! Old mates and new friends reunited in Wagga Wagga for the official Welcome Day of the 2009 Great Escape. All arrived safely – but not without a few hitches. A few ran out of petrol and one of our new recruits passed only 11 of the 12 check points in scrutineering! With a few trips to the local petrol station and one maxed out credit card later, we all passed scrutineering and made it into town for the annual street parade down the main street.

A few special guests this year graced us with their presence – Batman and Robin, Hawaiian surfers, Mermaids and truckies! Mr Hooker bear (LJ Hooker is national sponsor of Cystic Fibrosis in Australia) had the ride of his life on board “Car 351”, or more appropriately “Truck 351” – Juggernaut, which blew smoke and threw lollies to the locals.

With the parade over, the welcome dinner followed. The Wagga Wagga RSL club was the venue for our wacky group (hopefully they didn’t regret it!). CEO Terry Stewart and Road Boss Jamie Lawson opened the evening, not only with a great introduction to the Great Escape and welcome to new and old entrants, but with a lively auction. Auction items donated including two fantastic artworks painted by a Junee Jail inmate and donated by GEO Group Australia Car 790 – In-Car-Seration. There were 8 fantastic survival packs given by Car 18 –The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 2 and a one of a kind framed collage of the 2008 rally made by Teresa Carlson, Car 65 - The Jewel of the North, which will call Ararat home after being won by “The Kenny’s” Car 2.

With the costumes and the pranks packed away (at least for now!), the atmosphere is one of comradery and anticipation for what lies ahead. We are looking forward to an early breakfast, courtesy of Murrumbidgee Rotary. An early start to the rally. We flag off tomorrow at 8.30am heading for Hillston and who knows what adventures along the way! 

Mr Hooker Bear gets ready for the street parade

New Entrants from Car 10 – Hang Ten at the Welcome Dinner