How Medowie drives
A rural town that grew
Medowie was a small rural town until a property boom in the 1980s. It sits in the middle of Port Stephens, between Raymond Terrace and the bay, and like most of Greater Newcastle, getting anywhere means the car.
Kangaroos and wallabies
Medowie still shares its roads with kangaroos and wallabies. Wildlife is most active early in the morning, at dusk and at night, so slow down then. If one jumps out and you can't avoid it, brake in a straight line rather than swerving. After a hit, have the radiator, lights and steering checked before a long drive.
Close to the base
Medowie is home to many of the people stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown, which shares its airfield with Newcastle Airport. If a posting brought your car here on another state's plates, NSW needs a blue slip before it'll register it.
Stockton Beach, close by
Four-wheel drives with a permit can get onto Stockton Beach at Lavis Lane in Williamtown. After a day on the sand, hose the salt off underneath, and mention the beach driving when the mechanic calls about the next service.
Mobile mechanic or a workshop?
| Job | Mobile mechanic at your place | Workshop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logbook or general service | Usually yes | Yes | |
| Flat battery or a no-start | Yes, the classic call-out | If it can be driven or towed there | |
| Brake pads | Often | Yes | |
| Clutch, gearbox or engine work | No, it needs a hoist | Yes | |
| Pink slip | Mobile AIS providers can | AIS stations only |
Pink slips and blue slips in Medowie
Medowie cars are on NSW rego, so most light vehicles over 5 years old need a pink slip each year from an AIS station. A mobile AIS provider can do it where the car's parked; the inspection fee is the same, but ask about a call-out charge first.
A car arriving from interstate needs a blue slip instead, which checks its identity and design standards as well as safety, and lasts 42 days. Pink slip or blue slip explains which one you need, and pink slips around Newcastle covers the local side.
What we'd do
We'd use a mobile mechanic for the routine work and save the trip to a workshop for the jobs that need a hoist. If you've just been posted here, we'd get the blue slip done early, since the car can't go on NSW rego without it.