INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF MOTORCYCLING ROTARIANS November 2011 Edition President’s Report During the last week in October I and four Ballarat East Rotacyclists, Alan, Jim, Franz, and Noel, set off for the Gloucester AGM planning to spend two nights on the road, two nights of Gloucester, and two nights on the return journey. Passing through Daylesford we were joined by Bruce Bavin and Tony Moyle who, with some minor deviations, shared our journey to Gloucester. I used the very informative Australia Motorcycle Atlas to plan our trip, stopping at Wagga and Windsor, and including several of the famous NSW motorcycling roads: Bells Line of Road: very steep, very winding, very foggy, then Putty Road: 160 km of magic road in magic scenery, then Bucketts Way to Gloucester. But one of our party suggested a shortcut from the Putty Road to Bucketts Way - very winding and the roughest bitumen I have ever experienced. But the scenery was extraordinary and the journey was worth the discomfort and we arrived in Gloucester late afternoon on Friday. Early into Bells Line of Road a sidecar mount broke and Tony and I very gingerly returned down the escarpment to Lithgow where I was able to have it welded. Tony and I then had an uncomfortable 80 km journey to Windsor in very damp thick fog. On Friday evening some 40 or so Members and guests enjoyed a great get-together and barbecue at the home of Brian and Heather Beesley, and on Saturday the majority of riders went on a mystery journey which included a fabulous fish lunch at Forster. Unfortunately I missed this ride due to the need to make adjustments to the safety of my sidecar and Franz had to have the belt of the Harley adjusted. Later that day the AGM was held in the Roadies Cafe which proprietor Mark had made exclusively available to us and which has a strong motorcycling theme, including a number of interesting bikes. I was privileged to be elected again as your President, and changes to the Board are shown at the end of this Newsletter. The AGM was followed by a very pleasant meal and lots of good fellowship. Sunday commenced with a slap up breakfast at the Beesley home and we departed for the return journey around 9:30 am. We were all very impressed with the friendliness of the Gloucester people and their willingness to assist us. On the return journey Bruce and Tony went their separate ways and our party took the Bucketts Way almost to Newcastle, then northwest up the Golden Highway to Sandy Hollow, and south via Bylong Valley Way to Bathurst. This is a lesser-known motorcycling road but very spectacular and quite dramatic in places. Next morning, Monday, we headed to Mount Panorama to try the circuit before continuing down to Wagga, however on the first corner out of Pit Straight a sidecar mount broke again - fortunately not at the top of the mountain. When the team had completed the circuit we again gingerly returned to Bathurst where I had the sidecar fitting properly repaired by Sean Kelly of SRK Sidecars, and Sean also properly readjusted the belt on the Harley. A stopover at Wagga on Monday night, and an easy 510 km run to Ballarat on Tuesday completed a wonderful 2800 km journey. (Tony did a round trip of 4800 km !) Fellowship is our mission, and excellent fellowship was the outcome both on the journey and at the AGM. I look forward to seeing you on the road somewhere, Robin MORE ON THE 2011 AGM From President Robin Just a few thoughts to expand on the very brief comments in my Report on the first page of this Newsletter. We were blessed with fine weather throughout the lead up to, during, and after the AGM, making the journey to and from Gloucester very enjoyable, and substantially adding to the atmosphere of the welcome barbecue at the home of DGE Brian Beesley. On arrival on Friday afternoon some of the Members established themselves at the local caravan park, the remainder spreading around the various accommodation options in the township, and we all either walked, rode or drove to Brian and Heather's home where we were treated to a great variety of finger food, drinks, and a large range of barbecued meats and salads. Although most of the AGM participants were present, Brian indicated that he was still expecting some latecomers which included Carron Bourke who arrived about 8:30 PM having Lindsay, Kevin & Peter being made welcome at DGE Brian & Heather Beesley home travelled all day from Phillip Island. The atmosphere was very convivial however as most had ridden long distances the party broke up around 10 PM. On Saturday most of the Rotacyclists met at the Beesley home, leaving at around 9:30 AM for a run to the south and east of Gloucester which finished at the coastal town of Forster where the participants were treated to a slap-up lunch of a wide variety of seafood, returning in time a short rest and change of clothes before the AGM which was scheduled for 5 PM. The AGM convened at a restaurant called Roadies Cafe which was totally decorated with motorcycling memorabilia including no less than three complete and restored motorcycles. The atmosphere and decor was totally suited to our needs. The proprietor Mark had closed the restaurant to the public and he and his staff provided us with refreshments whilst they prepared for the evening meal, and we proceeded with our meeting. The business of the AGM was conducted over the next hour or so (you have all been provided with the Minutes) and at the conclusion Mark supplied a wide variety of food for an evening meal. The atmosphere was very relaxed and Roadies Café: Restored Norton only slightly disturbed by some hoon trail bike riders rapping up and down the main street. The entire complement of Rotacyclists cheered loudly when said hoons were rounded up by the police. In a sequel to the decisions taken at the AGM regarding our Logos and Roadies Café: Restored In- lapel Pins, it has been found that the provision of a computer program for the Logo to each Member is impractical due to costs incurred in obtaining individual service, and we are reverting to providing you with an order form for clothing including the logo. You are all in the process of receiving an invoice for Annual Subs which includes an option to purchase the Pins and I am pleased to advise that we will have these in stock in approximately 2 weeks and will then post them out. On Sunday morning it was back to Brian and Heather's house for a very substantial 8 AM breakfast before most of us departed on our return journey. On behalf of all in attendance I'm pleased to offer our profound thanks to Brian and Heather for their wonderful hospitality. Our AGM's are not large lavish affairs, rather they are small, convenient, and convivial; totally in keeping with the aims of our Fellowship, and Gloucester was no exception. HAPPY SNAPS FROM 2011 AGM, GLOUCESTER, NSW The Three Wise Monkeys Anyone for a Snag or Hamburger Who is this ! Darth Vader ?? Darth Vader Unmasked !! I’m Hungry ? OK Welcome to Gloucester, what a friendly lot ! Like my new hair Style Why is Roy Ferguson being held by Security ? This sausage will put a smile on your face Come on ? lets get on with the AGM !! Rotary Club of Gawler Light Motorcycle Expo Report Introduction by President Robin: In mid 2011 New IFMR Member (now Secretary) Claus Weber decided that a Motorcycle Expo/Swap Meet/ Ride would be a good idea as a fund raiser for his Club and the following is his report on this very successful event held on 20th Nov. I was on the Board as Membership Director and like all clubs we were looking for new avenues to raise funds and I noticed somewhere that a motorcycle show was being run by a Rotary Club in Victoria. South Australia has not had a Motorcycle Show for a number of years, so I opened my big mouth at a Board meeting - most of the Board thought that I had lost the plot as no-one else in the club had a motorcycle. I originally started planning a Swap Meet, because I worked as a mechanic in one of the larger motorcycle shops in the mid 80’s where I still have a lot of contacts, but the Swap Meet grew into Trade Displays and Show and Shine, so the Motorcycle Expo came alive. The President of the Motorcycle Traders Association is also a Rotarian and Past President, and after a long discussion with him on the do’s and don’ts I started planning, selecting a committee, and allocating tasks for everybody. Motorcycle distributors will not come to Adelaide as we are too small, but I went to all the motorcycle shops and spoke with them, and by keeping the cost to a minimum for the business’s we eventually ended up with 15 trade displays. Our Swap Meet section of the Expo was open to anything with 2 wheels, any age, any brand, and I was really impressed by the quality of parts and bikes that the vendors brought to the Swap Meet. There was a Kawasaki triple 350 for sale, but I was too busy and it was sold before I got back to it. Show and Shine Trophies were donated by the traders who also chose the finalists and presented the prizes.