President’s Report

Mackay Area Group

WITH WARMER WEATHER IN THE SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY NOW, I HOPE OUR MEMBERS THERE ARE OUT ENJOYING THEIR BIKES WITH NO RESTRICTIONS OR ICE HANGING FROM THEIR MIRRORS. MEANWHILE OUR NORTHERN MEMBERS WILL BE RESTRICTING THEIR RIDES TO EARLY MORNINGS AND THE OCCASIONAL NIGHT RIDES DUE TO THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

In late July 2021 Cheryl and I travelled up to Mackay before coming back to Rockhampton, Yeppoon and 1770 before turning inland through to the northern Burnett region and on to the Darling Downs. One of the highlights of this trip was catching up with Peter & Helen Douglas in Mackay. Peter is the area rep for the region and our host for the visit. Along with seeing many of the beautiful attractions in the area we got to attend a BBQ Ride with the Mackay group to Cape Hillsborough about 45 minutes north of the city. About twenty people attended the ride and soon the BBQ was fired up in a beautiful park adjoining the beach. It was a great day and we both enjoyed meeting so many of the Mackay members. Top people. Thank you all again for your hospitality. Another arm of our big VJMC family.

For many years now we have struggled to get members in Tasmania however since Tony our National Secretary moved to Tassie from Victoria he has done some great work down there and our numbers are rapidly growing in the Apple Isle. I would like to welcome all our new members in Tassie and thank our new area reps down there. Well done to our new area reps Malcolm Innes-Wayling in Northern Tasmania and Barry Fitzgerald in Southern Tasmania. Along with Tony in the North Western area we now have Tassie covered and look forward to good things happening down there. With borders having been closed long periods and various covid restrictions resulting in the postponement of the 2021 VJMC National Rally in Bendigo last October meant disappointment to those who had arranged holidays for the Rally. With this in mind discussions were held with Peter Douglas in Mackay and Phil Heggie, Brian Gainsford and myself on putting together a weekend get together for the Queensland members. With the success of the Biggenden Bash earlier in the year we investigated the possibility of meeting in Monto about 500klms north west of Brisbane and about 580klms south west of Mackay. Interest in the event grew and soon we had over 40 bikes and sixty six people logging there intended attendance in with Phil who was elected to be the coordinator for the Monto Muster. The available accommodation in Monto handled the numbers well with Albert Hotel easily catering for us in their huge outdoor covered area. Members attended from the Gold Coast to Mackay and various places in between.

Cheryl and I would like to send all our members our best wishes for 2022 and I would also like to pass on the good wishes from the National Committee members too.

Ride safe. John McNair