EUROBODALLA ULYSSES BRANCH

WHO ARE WE?

                   THE ULYSSES CLUB

     EUROBODALLA BRANCH

The Ulysses Club for older motorcyclists, the largest organization of it's kind in Australia, is now a familiar part of this country's riding scene. A club for over 50's motorcyclists although over 40’s can join as junior members.    

Our oldest still actively riding branch member is a young 85.

The Ulysses Club  started in Sydney in December 1983 and the 25^th Anniversary was celebrated by approximately 3700 members at the 2008 AGM held in Townsville QLD.

From that tenuous beginning it has never looked back and the club now boasts a large and extensive network of members in excess of 30,000 throughout Australia.

The name Ulysses comes from a poem of the same title by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It tells how the great Greek hero Ulysses, now middle-aged and           At the Illawara Fly     May 2009

securely in charge of his kingdom of Ithaca, is getting bored with things around him and longs to go adventuring again with his shipmates of old. It describes very well indeed the sort of person who still has enough spark to go on riding into middle and later years.

The club has grown to over 120 branches spread throughout Australia, and continues to grow.  The Eurobodalla Branch was formed in February 2003 and has brought together a large group of people from many different backgrounds but with the common enjoyment of riding and talking about motorbikes amongst many other topics. Regular Saturday morning social get togethers, Wednesday & Sunday rides, functions and weekends away are arranged for the club members in the Eurobodalla region. By joining the Ulysses Club, you can freely join our branch.

Each year, club members from all around Australia, as well as some from overseas, travel to the designated location for the Annual General Meeting, an event that has grown from a campover, meeting and meal of the early days, to a major event spanning over a week, and incorporating involvement by the major motorcycle manufacturers and suppliers putting on trade displays and test rides of the latest machinery, a Grand Parade through the town or city, several nights of various entertainment. The 2007 AGM at Coffs harbour saw a record attendance 6500 members. The 2011 AGM 2011 was recently hosted by the Newcastle Lower Hunter Branch at Newcastle the 2012 AGM will be held in Mildura, 2013 will be at Maryborough on the Fraser Coast and Alice Springs was recently selected to host the 2014 AGM.

Throughout the year, members raise the club banner at rallies and events around the country as a focal point where members and their friends can join in good companionship. Our "Old Man" logo, which has been preserved from it's original hand drawn form as our registered trademark, is recognizable throughout the country and club members wear it with pride.

What are its aims

·  To provide ways in which older motorcyclists can get together for companionship and

   mutual support.

·   To show by example that motorcycling can be an enjoyable and practical activity for riders of  all ages.

·  To draw the attention of public and private institutions to the needs and views of older riders.

Who can join

Any lady or gentleman who is over the age of 40, and who holds a current motorcycle licence, or who is a regular partner of such a person, and over 40, is eligible to join. Until you reach the grand old age of 50, you will be a "junior" member, but with full membership rights and privileges. It's just that you might have to help some of the "seniors" off their machines sometime!

There is a joining fee of $30, and 3 year membership is mandatory, currently at $90. This gives a considerable incentive to long term survival!  You can join by downloading a membership form from our HOME page.

28 August 2008 - Updated 19 April 2011

Some sections were borrowed from the national Ulysses Club website