ALL ROADS lead to Barcaldine in May when an ambitious touring club plans to break the Guinness World Record for the longest line of motorhomes, caravans, campervans and fifth-wheelers.
RV owners from across Australia are encouraged to pack up, hitch up and head to the central western Queensland town for a good time and what is certain to be a world record-breaking event.
Organised by the Australian Motorhoming Lions Club, in partnership with Barcaldine Regional Council, the five-day event from May 23-27 will also raise funds for local charities.
The current world record was set on June 22, 2003, when 672 camping vehicles took part in a parade in Canelli, Italy.
Lions club president Len Waddington said the Aussies hope to smash this record by recording a parade of at least 1000 RVs along the long and almost straight Aramac-Barcaldine Road. And registrations to date indicate the Italian record is on very shaky ground indeed.
As if that's not enough, there will also be an attempt to break the record for the longest connected image made of LED rope lights. The record currently sits at 655 metres, and Len is confident that will be "blown out of the water".
The rope light attempt will take place on the evening of May 25, while the longest line of camping vehicles attempt will take place the following morning.
Len said the event was an exciting opportunity for Australian RVers to show the world what they can do.
But it's not all about showing off, although bragging rights are always nice. It's about helping outback communities that have been doing it tough.
That's one of the reasons Barcaldine was chosen for the event - which has been widely embraced by the local council and community.
As its name suggest, the Lions club is a travelling one. Its members help Lions clubs in their efforts to raise funds for their local communities.
In Barcaldine's case, it was a community struggling through drought with no service clubs. Enter the travelling Lions and an event guaranteed to bring much-needed funds to the district.
Challenge
Helping that cause along is the Barcaldine Regional Challenge.
For every $5 spent in Barcaldine, Aramac, Jericho, Alpha or Muttaburra, customers will be entitled to one ticket in a prize draw (five towns, six draws of $500).
Spend $50 in Alpha, Jericho, Aramac and Muttaburra and you will go into the $500 draw for teach town. Spend $100 in Barcaldine to go in the $500 draw for that town.
Those who spend the correct amount in all five towns will go in the draw for the bonus $500.
It's not that hard to qualify: a couple of breakfasts or pub meals, a fuel top-up, caravan park fees, groceries and something from the butcher, baker or pharmacy and you're in.
To make it easy to get around, campers can hop on a courtesy bus into town.
A fun social program has also been organised, including walk-up entertainment, daily entertainment from Dally Croft's Outa Tamworth Band and special guests, a darts competition, lawn bowls - even a decorated RV competition.
Registration is only $20 per person. So load up and set the sat nav for Barcaldine to do your bit to help boost the spirits and coffers of some bush communities doing it tough.
To find out more, phone 0418-902-004 or click HERE