06/02/2025
The MRADMC has been conducting the Picnic At Hanging Rock car show, quite successfully, for the last 37 years - this year will be our 38th. Obviously, a lot has changed over that period of time, but we've always tried to improve on, 'something' every year. Last year we had a massive problem at the front gate which affected a lot of people & we are & will try anything within reason to make sure that doesn't happen again. Until now, we've suffered the slings & barbs of 'keyboard warriors' criticising us for what 'they' perceive the problem was & how to remedy it, & we have remained silent, until now. The problems we had last year were caused solely & wholly on patrons who, 'insisted' on paying cash to enter the event, despite us advertising that it was an online ticket purchase event, (one of those, 'changes' that have occured with venues over the years). We' as in the motor club, have not collected 'takings' for several years now, we hired a company to do that for us so that there is total transparency of numbers attending this event between us & the Macedon Ranges Shire. The company we employed has done a sterling job to date, but when they are confronted by patrons who insist on paying at the gate instead of just showing their pre-paid ticket, that causes unnecessary delays. The people employed on the gate don't have any cash floats on hand, they don't have access to eftpos machines, (apart from the fact that 'telephone reception is not the most reliable up there), why should they, it's a pre ticketed event. 'This' is why we have decided that this event, (like so many others in this modern age), is a pre-purchased ticketed event & no cash sales will be accepted. So why have we posted this now? Like any other social club, we are a NFP organisation in that any income we receive is poured back into the club & only the club for the benefit of its members. We are all volunteers. Apart from the snide comments that we get from time to time, (& choose to ignore), several of our members involved in the decision making process for PAHR have received abusive phone calls from members of the public which in any language is totally inappropriate & unacceptable. If you have a genuine query or suggestion on how you think we can do things better, we are always open to constructive meaningful dialogue, not abuse.
