AANT has been around since 1963 and has more than 20,000 members.
Some of those members have been with us almost as long as we’ve been around. Now we want to celebrate some AANT members who’ve been with us for more than 50 years.
June Tomlinson
How long have you been an AANT member?
I would say since about 1970.
Why did you first join as a member?
I had joined the auto club in Sydney and bought my first car, which was a Mini. My father was an AANT member and insisted I join when I moved here to the NT. I drove to the NT in my Mini by myself.
What’s your most memorable moment on the road with AANT?
AANT has helped me that many times with flat batteries and tyres, it’s hard to pick just one event. I just know they’re so reliable and will always be there.
What’s your favourite thing about the NT?
It’s the casual lifestyle and the people – they’re so friendly. In Sydney, you could be walking, and someone could bump you and they wouldn’t look back to see if you were on the ground. I married here in the NT. My husband was transferred here by the Navy… the Territory is a great place to bring up children there are many activities they can be involved in either through a school environment, family activities like camping and fishing or visiting attractions like Kakadu and of course sport.
Margaret Clinch
How long have you been an AANT member?
I’m not sure of the date of joining, but I was previously a member of the NRMA (NSW). For AANT, I guess it was about 1973.
Why did you first join as a member?
Originally, I had a tiny blue Hillman Imp light weight car with an engine in the boot. It came up to Darwin on a transport lorry when I came here from Sydney. Being an English car, it did not favour the hot Darwin climate. I enjoyed driving on the weekend and finding new places around Darwin and Katherine.
What’s your most memorable moment on the road with AANT?
I regularly depend on the convenient AANT new battery service for my white mature age Mazda 121, which has been helped by several rangers. This car now has a bypass switch to avoid battery leakage. So, last year, with me having forgotten to turn the switch the night before, the AANT patrol started the car and then followed me in the AANT van, a kilometre or two safely to my repair garage for recharging and a check-up.
What’s your favourite thing about the NT?
My favourite thing in the NT is the personal freedom, the great green open spaces so close to the bush and the beautiful ocean with brilliant sunsets. There’s also a lack of crowds jostling each other.
Brian Price
How long have you been an AANT member?
I’m not certain as to how long I have been a member, as I joined the RAA in South Australia before moving to Darwin around Easter in 1972. I had been a member with RAA from about 1963, as I was employed with a company as an Area Manager which required a lot of driving in the company car. My father suggested I join the RAA as a safety move. It could have been a couple of years earlier as my father was a member for many years and he had me join as soon as possible. I transferred to AANT very soon after arriving in Darwin.
Why did you first join as a member?
My employment had me driving throughout the length and breadth of South Australia and then the Northern Territory. My father knew that, as a member of the RAA, I would have quality protection wherever I drove in South Australia and later in the NT.
What’s your most memorable moment on the road with AANT?
I had engine failure south of Tennant Creek one day and had to pull over on the side of the Stuart Highway. A police patrol car came by and saw my predicament and towed me in to Tennant Creek to the local auto repair workshop who was also the local AANT agent. He got me going overnight and I made it to my appointment in Alice Springs the following day.
What’s your favourite thing about the NT?
I have been in the NT for just more than 50 years and I have no real intention of leaving, as the NT is full of people who enjoy life and are always ready to help you out if you need help. After Cyclone Tracey, I was transferred to Alice Springs for 10 years and then back to Darwin in 1984, so I have had the opportunity of experiencing the outback lifestyle at both ends of the NT. I have now retired to live the balance of my life in Australia’s Top End.
