ULYSSES CLUB Inc

COFFS COAST BRANCH

NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2008

 

President Brian Platts6656 1648, brplatts@tpg.com.au

Vice President  Mike O’Rourke     6651 5610,                                        gutsup1951@yahoo.com.au          

Secretary -        Andrew Wright,   6656 9128, 0400 706 602    andreww.coffscoastulysses@bigpond.com

Treasurer –       Sandie Jones,       6651 4889, 0411 123 120, yumy2@optusnet.com.au

Quartermaster Keith Robotham  0412 693 057,      66564964         keithandjulie@optusnet.com.au

Editor  – Dave Barter 6655 1091, davidjbarter@optusnet.com

Web Master -    Chris Eddy, 6651 6355 eddytec@tpg.com.au

Publicity - Shirley Rose, 6651 4697, 0417 250688, shoseus@yahoo.com

Welfare –          Roger Bemmer      6651 7701,      0439 43 0769, rbemmer@supernerd.com.au

Ride – Ron Adams – 6653 1478,0421 343 947, ronkay@dodo.com.au

Ride – Dave Barter 6655 1091, davidjbarter@optusnet.com

Ride – Paul Otton 6658 6360, paul2wheels@hotmail.com

Ride –Chris Eddy, 66516355 sales@newportsystems.com.au

 

This newsletter is emailed to members who are registered with the club secretary along with the latest news and ride dates. Hard copies are handed out at Friday night drinks and some are left at Coffs Motorcycles just up the road from Bunnings. It is also on the Ulysses web site, Coffs branch.

       

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Pub with No Beer ride:

 

Our intrepid ride leader Michael pulled the plug on being ride leader at the 11th hour.  Subsequently I was promptly handed the ride kit bag with its assorted goodies (raffle books, scratchies vests and First Aid kit.) on arrival and something about volunteering to do it the day before. Don’t recall that part at all.

Anyway the weather was looking overcast with patches of nuisance drizzle on and off. Waiting 20 min for some riders that were apparently coming we left the Bailey centre - 10 bikes and headed south where we were to pick up Bernie and Dave who were joining us at Urunga. At Boambee servo saw 2 cruisers there with some riders waving at us as we went past. Returned the wave & continued on our merry way. As a constructive criticism anyone that is going to link up on a ride along the way please contact the ride leader listed prior to the ride so they don’t left behind trying to catch up. Got to Urunga and no sign of Dave or Bernie.

The skies cleared the further we traveled south. We continued down the highway and took the turn off to Smithtown/Gladstone.  As we turned into the backstreet at Gladstone to head down to the café, saw some bikes up ahead enter the street which turned out to be our Urunga pickups.

Having just started the Tony Ferguson weight loss program, I weakened at the smell of the Egg & Bacon Roll, already lost nearly 5kg in 2 weeks thought I deserved a treat. The toilet rooms at the café you couldn’t swing a mouse in let alone a cat and wanting to change into jeans from the wet weather pants. I did the next best thing and stripped the pants off in the garden area outside and was hitching the jeans up just as a family walked past. Our logo of ‘Growing old disgracefully’ just didn’t seem to be quite appropriate at that point.

After a leisurely stop, we headed off towards southwest rocks then came back onto the highway towards Macksville.

Not having been to Taylors Arm or the Pub with no Beer before I had tried to google it and found nothing that shows its location on the map. I set the general location on my navman and away we went. Turning at the Industrial area south of Macksville and looking for a signpost  I recall used to be there that said Taylors Arm. Sign missing and subsequently missed the intersection too continued merrily onwards and did not look at gps for about 1km at which time it recalculated to get us back onto the hwy.

Did you know that Upper Warrell Creek Rd loops back around and brings you back to the hwy south of Warrell Creek. Now that is a nice twisty bit of road albeit the surface was bumpy in a few places according to some of the other riders. (This has now been named as Mules Navman Route).

On returning to the highway again some of the cruisers were needing a fuel stop or it would have been the pub with no fuel too. Back into Macksville and fuelled up proceeded to Taylors Arm.

Andrew & Kathleen, the 2 Tony’s, Eric, Rod, James, Ross, Peter, Bernie, Kerrianne, Hans, Harry, Dave, Geoff (aka redback spider) my wife Karyn and of course Shirley for making it a memorable day out and to Shirley for being Tail end Charlie

 

Ross Francis

                                 

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  FOR   SALE

Rob's Guzzi is for sale.  Red Moto Guzzi 1200 Norge, 16,000 kms. Reg
03/09. Panniers & Top Box, heated hand grips, adjustable screen,
ABS brakes and improved suspension. $22,000. Contact Rob Kerswell ph
6568 1695 <lougab@westnet.com.au>                                                                                                                                                         

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On my 60th birthday, I got a gift certificate from my wife. The certificate paid for a visit to a shaman living on a nearby reservation who was rumored to have a wonderful cure for erectile dysfunction.

After being persuaded, I drove to the reservation, handed my ticket to the shaman, and wondered what I was in for. The old man slowly, methodically produced a potion, handed it to me, and with a grip on my shoulder, warned, 'This is powerful medicine and it must be respected. You take only a teaspoonful and then say '1-2-3.' When you do that, you will be more manly than you have ever been in your life, and you will be able to perform as long as you want.'

I was encouraged. As he walked away, I turned and asked, 'How do I stop the medicine from working?'

'Your partner must say '1-2-3-4,' the shaman responded. 'But when she does, the medicine will not work again until the next full moon. '

I was eager to see if it worked. I went home, showered, shaved, took a spoonful of the medicine, and then invited Cara to join me in the bedroom. When she came in, I took off my clothes and said, '1-2-3!' Immediately, I was the manliest of men.

Cara was excited and began throwing off her clothes. And then she asked, 'What was the 1-2-3 for?'

And that, boys and girls, is why we should never end our sentences with a preposition.

      

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CHRISTMAS   PARTY  29th November

This e-mail to  members is to gauge support for the Christmas party at Woolgoolga Caravan Park on the 29th November as suggested at the last quarterly meeting.

At present all 14 cabins are still vacant & as is the camp & caravan sites.

Ray Williams said the sites should not be a problem but the cabins could be if not booked early.

Link to Caravan Park is as follows www.woolgoolgabeachcaravanpark.com.au for tariffs & layout of cabins.

Also there are two other Caravan Parks in Woolgoolga; theses are the Lakeside Caravan Park & Sunset Caravan Park.

There is a motel directly opposite the caravan park The Beach Motel 78 Beach St Woolgoolga, NSW 2456, 6654 1333 with two others a short distance away.

We are trying to get the surf club as a bad weather venue.

Shirley has booked the caterer for the 29th November same one as last year.

Cheers

 Brian Platts

         

****************************************                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           RIDE  CALLENDER                                                                      August 2008

2nd            Saturday Gloria Jean coffee 10:00am. Then lunch at Golden Dog, Glenreagh

3rd        Picnic at Brooms Head, 9:00am, Harry Bulloch, 6651 1072

9th        BBQ at Woolgoolga Caravan Park, 4:30pm. Our host, our past President – Ray Williams. 66549421

15th      Friday Drinks Night Coffs Ex-Services Club. 7:00pm, dinner after.

17th            Nymboida Loop, anti clockwise, 9:00am, Wayne Brown, 6653 6871

20th            Wednesday ride, 9:00am Bailey Centre

31st      South West Rocks for lunch at Country Club, 9:00am, Dave Barter, 6655 1091

 

September 2008

6th                    Saturday Gloria Jean coffee 10:00am Then “Rusty Iron Rally” at Macksville.

8th        Ride Calendar meeting 7pm Coffs RSL, all welcome for your ideas

14th            Memorial Service, in memory of those who have ‘Ridden On’. Beacon Hill, 8:00am, then to Ulong RSL for lunch. Bernie Higoe 6655 2268

17th            Wednesday ride, 9:00am Bailey Centre

19th      Friday Drinks Night Coffs Ex-Services Club. 7:00pm, dinner after.

21st            Quarterly breakfast at 8:00am, Sawtell RSL, then meeting at 9:00am followed lunch at Brushgrove Pub. Bernie Higoe 6655 2268

 

October 2008

Mid North Coast NSW Branch is turning 20 and we would like to invite all our friends to help us celebrate at Valla Beach in October this year.                                                                                                      

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                                     ROLL   CALL     

  

 

Don Cameron, rides a BMW R1100RT and a Harley. Don is the regional manager for Startrek Express, lives in Coffs, comes from Sydney and has been a member for 4 years.

 

                                 

 

Kerrieanne Holani, Lives at Sandy beach and is a primary school teacher, loves playing sport and is into healthy eating but loves a whisky. Kerrieanne was a hard worker at our AGM organising the bands and  weddings etc. She usually rides pillion with Bernie ph 66560779.

 

                                                 

 

Keith Robotham, our club Quartermaster ph 66564964 rides a Triumph American, lives at Saphire and is another hard worker for our club.

                                                                                                 

Ross Taylor, rides a Honda Black Widow, lives at Bonville and is an optical dispenser for Russel and Jones Optometry. Ph 66534645

 

 

.                                                                                              

 

Ross Fife, rides Phill Johstons old Goldwing. Lives at  Park beach ph 66513012

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 RIDE  REPORT    Brooms Head  3rd  August 4, 2008                                                                    

As Harry was away Michael took the ride 26 people turned up on 24 bikes and I asked is it the sunny day? Is it the ride destination? Is it the distance? And was told yes all of the above. We rode through Nana Glen to Grafton for coffee and then had a squirt to Lawrence, over the ferry and along the river to MacLean where Bernie took a wrong turn and I followed of course. But it was the first visit to Brooms Head for a lot of riders so we did a lap of the sights and the headland (no whales today). We had a pleasant picnic by the beach and got to know one another. On the return ride we went down the highway and some of us deviated through Tucabia and most stopped for coffee at the Shell Servo. I followed Ross Taylor on his Black Widow and found it to noisy behind him but a great note when along side. I now have photographic proof that Keith Blessings Goldwing has a reverse gear

 

.      

 On the way into Broomes head Keith had a roo jump in front of him and he just missed it nearly running over the tail with Rod and Allison following at a safe distance all was well. On the way out Ross Francis narrowly avoided a roo so it is a timely reminder to be aware of wild life. I thought it was the wrong time of the day for roos but Ross says anytime at all.     David  Barter  

                                                                                                                       

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                                FOR   SALE.

  Triumph Speedmaster 04, Blue tank 16,000 kms, Good condition $11,000 ring Alex Kinning 0438665326 from Toormina.                                                                                                                                                            ******************************                                                                                        

CLUB  MEETING    DATES                                                      

Meeting Times &  Dates for 2008 / 2009

Month

Executive

Ride

Quarterly

Coffs Coast AGM

July

23rd

 

 

 

August

 

 

 

 

September

8th

8th

21st

 

October

 

 

 

 

November

 

 

 

 

December

8th

8th

14th

 

2009

 

 

 

 

January

 

 

 

 

February

 

 

 

 

March

16th

16th

22nd

 

April

 

 

 

 

May

4th

 

 

 

June

8th

8th

21st

21st

                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Minutes of Executive Meeting

Date: 23rd July 2008

Venue: The Coffs Harbour Ex Services club.

Time : 7.00pm.

Open: 7:03pm

Apologies: Roger Bemmer, Chris Eddy

Present: Shirley Rose, Sandie Jones, Keith Robotham, Dave Barter, Mick O’Rourke, Brian Platts, Andrew Wright

Minutes Of last Executive Meeting: Read and accepted, moved Shirley, seconded Keith

Business Arising: Nil

Correspondence: Per agenda for next quarterly meeting

President’s report: Brian – Thank you all for coming along tonight. Thanks to the mew members of the committee & again thanks to the outgoing members for all their work on behalf of the branch members. As you are aware from Shirley’s précis from the extended Natcom meeting at the Townsville AGM. Natcom has asked that all branches hold their meetings in accordance to the constitution. So that means Bi monthly meetings not informal meetings at coffee or drinks nights, but a proper meeting with minutes to be submitted to Natcom. By all means the members at coffee/drinks can bring to any of the elected branch members any problems &/or suggestions that they might have. We bring those to the next meeting and if required hold a vote of members at a quarterly meeting. Andrew & I will put together a calendar of dates and times and send them out in due course.

Vice President’s Report: Mike - Nil

Treasurer’s Report: Sandie - $4,470-64 balance in account.

Webmaster Report: Chris - Nil

Quartermaster’s Report: Keith – Problem with small orders being placed just after an order and cheque has been sent in. We should publish cut off dates in newsletter/e-mail list. Maybe the first of each month. In come cases can add stock order to make placing order worthwhile. Is stock level sufficient? – Yes. Members ordering through the branch save on freight cost.

Publicity Report: Shirley – Notice of rides are now back in the papers, people have seen them and gone on the rides.

Newsletter Report: Dave – John Bambey is willing to help, his knowledge of computers will be welcomed. Shirley requested that the newsletter ‘mug shots’ be collated into an alphabetical database.

General business:

Branch get together / overnighter local members only at a close venue to i.e. Scotts head scouts camp. I believe it has all camping facilities and a bunkhouse. Branch to pay site cost. BYO food and grog. Brian to check cost for next calendar meeting.

Drinks / Meal nights, Brian has talked to the president of the Ex Services Club as a courtesy due to their large sponsorship of our AGM 2008. He presented a list of our requirements and was tabled at their board meeting last week & we should have a response soon. We need a quiet place for meetings; meal quality for Friday drinks/dinner; noise that we generate; $6-50 for breakfast – to be checked out.

Christmas Party: 29th November 2008 at Woolgoolga Caravan Park. We will need a few helpers to put up the shelter (Andrew providing a large tarp which normally covers fertilizer – so should be able to cope with the bullshit underneath). Shirley has booked the Golden Roast and she will confirm that they will travel to Woolgoolga. Members need to book their cabins/sites promptly. Branch to subsidize cost of meal – quarterly meeting will need to vote on this. 

Member Survey: Brian would like to organize a survey to gauge what members want from our branch. What rides, BBQs, problems? Andrew to supply e-mail list to Brian.

Coffs Capers: At Townsville AGM
Brian had a lot of inquires about the Coffs Capers, would like to start the ball rolling for next year. Suggested timing is Oct/Nov 2009. Use service clubs to provide meals and have all functions at the venue. Brian to check service clubs prices.

Observations run – discuss at next calendar meeting, old trophy still available. Oops fines on rides – proceeds to UCARF.

Saturday Coffee venue:  On 23/9/07 at Sawtell RSL quarterly meeting, it was suggested that some Saturdays we patronize the coffee shop at Moonee, decided that it would be to confusing as everyone knows the current arrangement and we get some ‘Southerners’ attending. This decision was by general consensus not vote. We should put to formal vote at next quarterly meeting. Suggestion that we make the coffee shop at Moonee a lunch destination after Saturday coffee.

Snowy Ride 8th November 2008 – calendar meeting.

Inter branch get together on Ride days? Check other branches calendars.

Advance ride course update: Flyers and booking forms have been distributed by hand and e-mail. Wheel Skills will keep us updated as to bookings. Around 12 have asked to be put on list.

Advance rider rebate from NATCOM, how much & how to claim. Andrew to check on procedure.

Ladies Rides: Shirley to see if there is enough interest to start them up again.

Annette Fisher working bee: Wayne Brown co-ordinating.

Ride calendar: Paul Otton spoke to Andrew about the need to plan our overnight trips further ahead, so suitable dates and accommodation can be taken to calendar meetings.  He is checking out Gloucester for an overnighter on 11-12th October.

Overnight bookings: John Howley e-mailed Andrew with this suggestion - Perhaps members might be advised that it is necessary to book with the ride organiser for overnighters.  In any case they should ensure that they have arranged accommodation. Andrew to make sure that this is made plain in the ride calendar.

First aid course: Shirley to check out refreshers.

Shirley approached by Helen Houston about branch support for a ‘walk for parkinsons’ in Sydney. Told that we are only a social group, but it might be worth contacting individual members.

New ride committee given ‘ride suggestions’ list

Sandie – Ride leaders to fill in the book (that will be in the ride money bag) with date, amount received etc.

Keith – Publicize e-mail list on National and branch websites

Mike – A reminder to be in newsletter about not wearing rockers on jackets and vests

Brian – Should we have some sort of ‘welcome pack’ for new members? Shirley and Andrew have been providing newsletters and info to new members when they introduce themselves.

Meeting closed at 9:15pm                                                                                                                                                                                                

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                                                                                                            UPCOMMING  DATES 

Advanced rider training course 15th  16th November at Armidale. Andrew has details half of the cost is redeemable from Natcom. 

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Here are the details for the 27th Thunder Rally, at
Nundle, held to benefit the Spinal Unit, Moorong. Please inform your
fellow riders they are all very welcome. We will have a blues man
playing on the Saturday evening, 'Merewether Fats'. Kind regards, & ride
safe, 'Aunty' Mal 0404 002 427   .  In October sometime.                  

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Boot Hill Ride

  We are raising money for Telstra Child Flight.
Entry will be $20 (covers patch) and donation.
The ride will leave from Moonee Tavern (10k’s North of Coffs Harbour) at
9:00am, then onto Grafton to pick up more riders then to Glenn Inness,
onto Inverell for lunch and pick up riders from out West. After lunch
onto Gravesend.
At Gravesend there will be camping at the pub. Tea and breakfast the
following day will be BBQ at a reasonable price.
There will be plenty of raffles to help with raising money or simply
donate if you wish.
We hope to make this an annual event. Next year the ride will be on
October Long Weekend.

If you can't make the start of the ride feel free to meet us at
Gravesend. If you can get a ruff idea of numbers please let me know so I
can order patches and cater for food. Actual numbers must be in by the
22.8.08   Regards Rambo ( Geoff)                                                                                                                                                  

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Mid North Coast Branch.Aniversary celebrations.

  Valla Beach   25th and 26th October $38.50 a head, Show and shine, Sat night roast and live band. Sunday Bar be que breakfast. Andrew has more details.                                                                                                                                                                                           

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Alstonville Brewery Ride

Left in sunshine, cool air, up the back way to Grafton and Maclean to Ferry Park for Morning tea. We have additional faces that have joined us and I’m thinking where are we to put them tonight. And I left the crystal ball in its “protection envelope” on the kitchen bench, (I’m screwed). Some have just come for the ride North and then to the grandkids, okay this is good, don’t panic yet, To Woodburn and NW to Tucki Tucki Rd and then up to Alphadale to the Macadamia place for lunch. Good plan, I’m tail end Charlie and around the corner and there is a mass of bikes all just waiting for me. Interesting roads around here, the just do not follow the map, so into auto pilot and head for Lismore and there’s Tucki Rd, just where it was supposed to be (?) and Lunch. Planned all along.  $12 a head, salad and lots of wholesome food, converted some more ladies to the Ulysses cause and to the Motel. And we have gained two Harley riders? All’s good, so walk to the Brewery, interesting place, information freely given on the techniques in brewing the good stuff. Got to chew some grain they use for the different flavours, learnt about cold filtering. First taste was a Raspberry flavoured  brew, hmm not my style however six brews tried, don’t know if I would be a regular here but they are obviously doing some thing right. All up $10 well spent so back to the pub for dinner and prepare for the 1st Rugby Tri Nations match against the Springboks. Breakfast next morning down to Shelley Beach next to Ballina, difficulty in finding the place (next to the Life Saving building at Shelley Beach) why don’t they advertise it ? after being there a few minutes, watching the whales, dolphins, board riders, warm sunlight, calm seas, clean sand, we understood, as the 26 of us trooped out the hordes were still pouring in, it became obvious they don’t want any more there. To the Crystal Castle via Byron Bay and some went to Myocom, (Judi forced me left back on to the Hwy so I had to do it all again and go the right way this time). Had not been here before, the range of crystal is amazing (some of the prices came in this category also) but the layout, scenery and concept were excellent. Great road back down the hill to Lismore (all road here lead to Lismore), lots of properties here for sale (broken dreams??) and lunch at Casino. Then home. A good run and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. This area opens up more possibilities for future rides, will have to look at that and then there’s the one to the Opal fields – Lightning Ridge (?) but would need three days for that. J& I enjoyed taking you for a ride and look forward to doing it all again.