Newsletter – 24th August 2009

JUST OVER A WEEK TO GO!

Hi everyone,

Here at rally headquarters and the service park we may look like everything is under control but to be honest, there is still a lot to be done and we still need a few more helpers. However, we’re confident everything will be ready … and even though it is so hectic, that doesn’t stop us feeling excited that this is finally happening. Rally Australia is back!

Lots to tell you about but first things first: if this is the first newsletter you’ve received, please go straight to the website [www.rallyaustralia.com.au] and read the previous newsletters because each one has very important information in it.

OFFICIALS PRE-EVENT BRIEFING: COMPULSORY
When: Wednesday, September 2 at 1830 (6.30pm).
Where: Service Park, Number One Oval, in front of the Cudgen Leagues Club clubhouse, Kingscliff Sports Field, Wommin Bay Road, Kingscliff.
All officials MUST attend unless working at Scrutineering or checking recce on the Super Special Stage.

RENDEZVOUS POINTS
Most officials who will be working in the field will be given Rendezvous Points and a time to be there so you can meet up and travel with the rest of your team. In many cases it will take some time to drive from the Rendezvous Point to your point of operation for the rally. It will also take time for you to get from where you are staying to the Rendezvous Point.

Therefore it is critical that you allow yourself plenty of time to safely arrive at the Rendezvous Point WELL BEFORE your due time. This is because there could be considerable spectator traffic on the road and also there could be a lot of other officials arriving at the same Rendezvous Point at the same time.

The most important thing to remember is that if you are running late – or even if, when you get out of bed that morning you suspect you will be late – you MUST CALL the rally HQ hotline on 1800 15 45 15 and your team leader to advise us that there is a possibility you could be late.
Don’t be embarrassed. We all know that accidents happen or mistakes can be made, but don’t keep it to yourself. If there is a problem, let us know and we can work around it. Just turning up late without saying anything can cause an even bigger problem.

PUT THESE NUMBERS IN YOUR PHONE NOW!
Rally HQ hotline: 1800 15 45 15
Team leader: (your team leader’s number)
Also write these numbers on any written material you are carrying with you, so if you don’t have a phone, you have the numbers to allow someone else to contact us if necessary.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
Now that we have your attention, one of the requirements for the financial support we are receiving from the NSW Government via Events NSW is that the event must demonstrate it is bringing economic benefit to the region and the state.

During the rally and after (via email), you will be surveyed to determine how much money you have spent by being involved in the event.

We know many of you will have outlaid a lot of money to be involved and, for some, that involvement has also meant you making not one but many visits to the area for planning, preparation and training.

It is very important that you keep track of everything you have spent so it can be reported to the researchers. Don’t omit anything. We want to prove that this event really does bring great economic benefit to the region. So, please ensure that every dollar that you, your friends and your family have spent in relation to this rally gets recorded.

AND HERE’S A GOOD WAY TO SPEND IT!
Don’t forget to drop in at the Kyogle Bakery. Max is the boss and he is rally-ready!

He’s planning to be open 24/7 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and he’s installed a bigger new coffee machine and a bigger grill and put on extra staff, just to look after us.

So, if you’re up at 3am, or later, or earlier, and you need breakfast, lunch or a snack, Max is the man to contact. You can even ring through an order.

You’ll find Kyogle Bakery at 73 Summerland Way (Main St), Kyogle. Phone (02) 6632 1840.

BE PART OF THE ACTION
The role you play each day of the event is vitally important to the rally’s success, but you should also be able to stop and really enjoy what’s happening. So make sure you allow time (depending on what your duties involve) to attend the rally show and the super special stages.

Remember that your Officials Pass (which must be worn when on duty) also grants you unlimited access as a spectator to the Super Special Stage each evening if you are not on duty.

It will also grant access to one (1) remote spectator point on either Saturday or Sunday, if you are not on duty – so take advantage of your pass to ensure you see Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala and the rest of our international and local stars (see full entry list below) in action. You’ll never forget it!

SAFE AND SECURE
Something else that is important to consider when involved in an event like this is your own safety and wellbeing. While we obviously want our volunteers to be safe, happy and healthy ‘on the job’, it goes beyond that.

All organisations and indeed all persons involved in motor sport in any capacity, be they drivers, co-drivers, team members, officials, the media, organisers, promoters and motorsport contractors owe obligations and have responsibilities under the relevant Occupational Health and Safety Act in each state of Australia.

It is an obligation under law for all organisations to satisfy the requirement of the various OH&S Acts and duty of care responsibilities and to demonstrate that they have safe systems of operation in place which provides evidence that the workplace is as far as practicable, without risks to the health and safety of all persons attending the event.

This obligation applies not only to persons involved with the organisation of all events held under the sanction of a permit issued by CAMS, but also to CAMS itself.

One really important aspect of health and safety is making sure you are functioning properly by being properly hydrated. How do you tell? The clearer your urine, the more hydrated you are.

Based on this concept, CAMS has developed a hydration awareness program Clear to Steer, aimed at increasing education and awareness on dehydration and heat illness.

Basically, if you aren’t properly hydrated, you are at risk of various types of heat-related illness, or worse. But even before you get to that stage, you can be making mistakes that can put you and others at risk.

Please, in the interests of your own safety and that of the people you will be working with, take time to read the official CAMS occupational health and safety information on the CAMS website. See the link below: http://cams.com.au/en/Safety/OHS%20Policy.aspx

ENTRIES FOR THE 2009 REPCO RALLY AUSTRALIA

Driver Co-Driver Car

Sebastien Loeb / Daniel Elena (Citroen C4)
Dani Sordo / Marc Marti (Citroen C4)
Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Focus RS)
Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (Ford Focus RS)
Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin (Ford Focus RS)
Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud (Ford Focus RS)
Conrad Rautenbach / Daniel Barritt (Citroen C4)
Federico Villagra / Jorge Perez Companc (Ford Focus RS)
Sebastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (Citroen C4)
Khalid Al Qassimi / Michael Orr (Ford Focus RS)
Martin Prokop / Jan Tomanek (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Bernardo Sousa / Jorge Carvalho (Fiat Grande Punto)
Toshi Arai / Glenn Macneall (Subaru Imp WRX STI)
Gianluca Linari / Andrea Cecchi (Subaru Imp WRX STI)
Armindo Araujo / Miguel Ramalho (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Mark Tapper / Jeff Judd (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Stewart Taylor / Warwick Searle (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Chaodong Liu / Anthony McLoughlin (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Eyvind Brynildsen / Denis Giraudet (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Richard Mason / Sara Mason (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Brendan Reeves / Rhianon Smyth (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Steven Shepheard / John McCarthy (Mitsu Lancer EVO X)
Nathan Quinn / David Green (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Cody Crocker / Ben Atkinson (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Neal Bates / Coral Taylor (Toyota Corolla S2000)
Glen Raymond / Matt Raymond (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Hayden Paddon / John Kennard ( Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Eli Evans / Glen Weston (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Suguru Kawana / Pongkasem Jitkasem (Sub Impreza WRX)
Glenn Brinkman / Harvey Smith (Mitsu Lancer EVO IV)
Stewart Reid / Mark Stacey (Toyota Corolla S2000)
Brett Kipling / Bernie Webb (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Matthew Selley / Claire Ryan (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Han Han / Qiang Sun (Mitsu Lancer EVO IX)
Charlie Drake / Eoin Moynihan (Sub Impreza WRX)
Marius Swart / Gerard McConkey (VW Polo Super 2000)
Stephen Tonna / Lorelle Tonna (Mitsu Lancer EVO V)
Michael Kahlfuss / Ronald Bauer (Mitsu Lancer EVO VIII)
Ben Cullen / Mathew Cullen (Mitsu Lancer EVO VI)
Trevor Taylor / Jason Timmins (Mitsu Lancer EVO X)
Richard Houghton / Andrew Houghton (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Tony Quinn / Naomi Tillett (Sub Impreza WRX STI)
Mark Butcher / James Heinrich (Sub Impreza WRX)
John Goasdoue / Scott Beckwith (Mitsu Lancer EVO VI)
Michael Patton / Mark Haybittle (Sub Impreza WRX)