December 2024
Who’s Who for 2024/2025
Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged.
Chairman Keith Lyndsell keithlyndsell@gmail.com 09 405 5500
Vice Chairman Tom Deverall tadmadinparadise@gmail.com 0274735389
Secretary Naomi Mason vinomi88@gmail.com 09 408 1376
Treasurer Margaret Ilton
Margaret Deverall treasurerfnvccc@gmail.com 0221008119 0275442003
Northern Club Captain Margaret Deverall tadmadinparadise@gmail.com 0275442003
Southern Club Captain Steve Edwards steveedwards243@gmail.com
Ilton 4ed.focus@gmail.com 0221008119
Editor Margaret Ilton 4ed.focus@gmail.com 09 4068565
Committee: Winston Matthews, Murray Cormack, Keith Lyndsell, Tom Deverall, Naomi Mason, Steve Edwards, Margaret Deverall, Margaret Ilton.
The full list of the elected officers is circulated with the minutes of the 2024 Annual General Meeting
If you notice any required maintenance at any stage for the Clubrooms, please let Steve know about it.
Steve Edwards 09 401 6239
Next Club Meeting
Saturday 14th December
Lesson in Employee Relationship
Fred Gibbs was in his early 60’s, retired and had started a second career in catering.
Caffeine & Classics
3rd Sunday every month 9.30 to 12
Next date: Sunday 15 th November
Ka Uri Awanui
Monthly - 2nd Saturday 1.00 pm
Club Meeting @ Aurere Clubrooms
Monthly - 3rd Sunday
Repco Caffeine & Classics
Ka Uri Awanui 9.30 start
However, he just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 2, 3, 5 minutes late. However, he was a good worker, really clever, so the owner was in a quandary about how to deal with it. Finally, one day he called Fred into the office for a talk. Fred, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a top class job, but you being late so often is quite a worry.’
‘Yes, I realise that sir, and I am working on it.’ replied Fred.
‘I’m pleased to hear that, you are a team player. It’s odd though, you’re coming in late.
I know you’re retired from the Royal Navy. What did they say if you came in late there?’
‘They said, “Good morning, Admiral”
Calendar of Club Events 2024-2025
December
14th Saturday 10 am Morning tea with monthly meeting starting at 10.30.
Potluck Xmas lunch will follow the meeting at approx. 12.00.
January 2025
4 th Jan Taipa Show and Shine
18th Saturday Picnic
19th Repco Caffeine & Classics
February
8th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1 pm with Parts shed open at 2 pm.
16th Repco Caffeine & Classics
22nd Saturday Northern Captain’s Run
March
8th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1 pm with Parts shed open at 2 pm.
Southern Captain’s Run
16th Repco Caffeine & Classics
April
12th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1.00 pm
Parts shed open at 2 pm.
19th Saturday Brian Parker Rally
20th Repco Caffeine & Classics
May
11th Saturday 1.00 AGM Meeting with monthly meeting following AGM.
Parts shed open at 2pm.
12th Mother’s Day run
18th Repco Caffeine & Classics
Potluck Christmas Lunch
Our meeting will take place the same day as our Potluck Christmas lunch at the Clubrooms, on the 14h of December.
• Morning tea at 10 am with the meeting starting at 10.30.
• Our Potluck lunch will start as close to 12.00 as is manageable.
• The club is supplying a ham and potatoes.
• Please bring 1 dish per person. If there are 2 Members from the same home, a dish each please with 1 main & 1 dessert. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is no monthly meeting, planned run or Focus, in January.
The gathering for the month will be a Saturday picnic on the 18th January. Details of time and location will be decided at our next meeting and details of this will be in the minutes with an email being sent closer to the date, in January.
Club Clothing
Purchases of club clothing may be made at any time from DD Gold in Kerikeri or Kaitaia.
Please make your own orders and arrange with DD Gold for the payment and collection of your garments. Club Uniforms Refer to email for sizes and prices, please.
Chairman’s Report
November started with the Northland Branch's Far North Tour ending in the Paihia area.
I believe Murray and Gloria Cormack represented our Branch. I am not sure if any other members entered it.
Our November meeting was put back an hour to allow members to attend the Wheels of Mayhem at the Kaitaia showground.
Several of our members were at the show with their vehicles on display.
Those attending got to see a good turnout of interesting cars and bikes.
Northern Club Captain’s Report
Once again, the end of the year looms. As we have been away and Keith has covered both Northern and Southern Captain's news, I’ll just close this year wishing everyone an awesome Xmas and New Year.
For those of us from the far, far north, I’m sure there will soon be many of us taking a drive over the Gorge to see the changes or just because we can!!
luck lunch. The Club will provide ham and
If 2 from the same house please bring 1
I believe our planned run over the Mangamukas before it opens will not be allowed to take place.
If the road does open as planned, on the 20th, I am thinking of driving the Rover over to Kaitaia and back (just to hold up the boy racers in their moderns!).
Merry Christmas.
Keith
It will be great to have that open before the festive season.
I would think many living on SHW 10 are also waiting for it to open, so they can get their ‘normal’ back.
And then there are the folk in the West who have done so many extra k’s for all this time, every time they have left home.
So, get lots of motoring in and stay safe.
Merry Christmas and happy motoring.
Margaret Deverall
Very warm wishes and special thoughts to our members who have had health and/or family upheavals this year.
We hope you have those ‘near and dear’ in touch or with you, during the festive period.
If you are on your own, please call a Club Member.
We are here for each other.
Repco Caffeine n Classics
The November meet was smaller than usual with everyone there, getting a spot prize.
It was but yet another fantastic Awanui morning for those out driving.
Omnium gatherum…
The First Motor Trip to the Far North
By G E Alderton
We experimented for a time and found that by putting a lever under the engine from the floor of the car and pressing this with a foot, the engine could be humoured to start.
That was alright as a makeshift but it was impossible to go very far as the machine was now in a very sorry plight. A good jar would cause the engine to tumble out altogether.
We decided to run to Totora North, Whangaroa where they build ships and oil launches and undergo repairs. It was only about 10 miles away and for a and drawn by bullocks the road could not be found fault with but for a steam car with a scorched boiler and a suspended engine, it afforded little attraction. However, it was “Totara North now, or bust now,’ and we got underway again. A.C. driving and I had my foot on the lever adjusting the engine. Between times we further discussed the merits of a steam car. It would have made an interesting recording for a phonograph.
The track we had to go over was very narrow, and in places between Sais and Totora North, it seemed impossible that the car could take such steep and stoney grades.
We reached Totara North at two o’clock, Saturday afternoon.
The whole place was shut up – it was the half-holiday – and all the men were away fishing.
This was very exasperating after our herculean efforts to reach the place, the more so because we knew the proprietor
(Mr Lane) would on no account allow his men to work on Sunday morning if the work was not done by midnight. We, however, had to get out of that place that night, somehow.
Mr Lane was very courteous and promised us as soon as the engineers returned they would repair the machine. They did not return till after 6 o'clock and when they examined the car they found that the engine would have to be taken right out and fitted to a new iron frame to take the place of the wooden one burnt. That meant an all-night job and Mr Lane would not hear of the men working into Sunday morning.
AC's diplomacy was equal to the occasion. He suggested that the men should work to midnight so that there should be as little to do as possible on Monday morning. That was agreed to and most people, myself included, returned to rest at an early hour.
The machine was repaired and punted over the harbour just after daybreak, and though I told A.C. I thought I heard the men working all night he merely remarked, “Rats!”
We had breakfast at Whangaroa, took a photo of the hotel and started for Ohaeawai where we would lunch. Going around the beach track from Whangaroa to Kaeo, we passed under miles of beautiful pohutukawa trees which at Christmas time are one blaze of flower. There is nothing finer than this site in the colony. We also had an opportunity of viewing the peerless scenery of the harbour- by many considered unequalled in New Zealand. Of its class, it is not excelled, but we have in New Zealand such a variety of scenery that it would be idle to class any particular kind as best.
We have just come along on the level and passed through the pretty little village of Kaeo, at the head of an alluvial flat and I have now had to ascend the steepest hill in the north- Kukuparaire. To be continued…
Fred Courtney’s Northland Special
And more photos from the Wheels of Mayhem
We remember fondly Our 2024 Year
