The Ulysses Club is an Australian Social Club that caters for the needs of the 'more mature' motorcycle rider. The club has been established since December, 1983 and is the largest club of it's kind in the southern hemisphere.

How it all began

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. The original suggestion for a club for over 50's motorcyclists was put forward in a letter by Stephen Dearnley published in the August 1983 issue of Bike Australia. This drew two significant responses: one from Rob Hill, a reader at Albion Park NSW, who suggested the present name and motto for the club: the other from Peter Thoeming, then the editor of Bike Australia who sketched the logo and offered support from his magazine if Stephen could get the club off the ground. This was done at an inaugural meeting in Sydney on 6th December, 1983 when the five people present approved a basic constitution and the Ulysses Club was duly formed.

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

Why Ulysses ?

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

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not;
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is save
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
to whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,--
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfill
This labor, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail;
There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me,--
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads,-- you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honor and his toil.
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,-
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

What Does it do ?

It publishes a quarterly newsletter, Riding On, which contains information about forthcoming events, provides a forum for members' news and views and carries articles on topics of interest to members of the club.

The club has grown to over 120 branches spread throughout Australia, and continues to grow. Those branches arrange rides and social functions for the club members in their location. By joining the club, a member can choose to attend any branch, branch ride or function of their choice. As well, there are sister clubs in New Zealand and South Africa, and fledgling branches of the club in Canada, Germany, and hopefully in the near future the U.S.A. and U.K.

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, Friday and Saturday night social events, a church service and of course the official meetings and ceremonies.

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 ?

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 $20, and 3 year membership is mandatory, currently at $60. This we feel gives a considerable incentive to long term survival ! (overseas members incur additional charges.)

How Do I join ?

Contact any Lake Macquarie Committee member and you will be provided with the necessary  membership application form - please note that membership fees are on a 3 yearly basis.

Lake Macquarie Branch

The Lake Macquarie Branch has been around for nearly as long as the National Ulysses Club itself, starting in April 1988, just after the Ulysses Club’s AGM at Nambucca Heads. Many of the original members of the group are still actively riding and telling tall tales of bravado.

Founding members included,
John Downes,
Arthur Charlton,
Ian Burnett,
Gordon Collins,
John Young
and Bob Grunsell.

From the depths of John Lydiard’s memory the first meeting was a barbeque at John Downes house.  The first ride was to Lake St. Clair near Singleton, and as there were no meetings backs then, the decisions for the following ride was made during breaks on the ride of the day.  The Branch revisited this ride in April 2008 with John Lydiard leading the ride as on the first ride in 1988.

Branch Logo

If you look at our logo you can see items representative of the Lake Macquarie area, a Power Station, an old mine poppet with a winding house and Lake Macquarie with sailing boats under a setting sun in the reflection of the outline of a British Cafe Racer bike’s head light.  It has been around for a long time so take time to look and enjoy. 

Drawn by John Lydiard, 1988 

The original Lake Macquarie Branch gave rise to the Central Coast, Newcastle/Lower Hunter, Upper Hunter, Hunter Coalfield, Port Stephens and Gloucester Branches of today.

The branch meets every third Saturday of the month at Club Macquarie, Argenton right next to the Cockle Creek railway station. Meeting places for our branch over the years have included Morisset RSL Club and Toronto Workers Club.

                                                               Club Macquarie

Lake Macquarie Ulysses Branch has been directed by, John Downes, Cliff Pallister, Ralph Hughes, Charlie Hughes and Terry Sharp. Our current leader is Trevor Cook (Cookie).

The Lake Macquarie Branch members own and ride a wide variety of motorcycles, we also have many interesting characters in our group, from ex dirt and track racers, motorcycle mechanics and builders to musicians, so there is always someone interesting to talk to.

Andy Grennan  (pictured) and June as our Branch Patron, keep everyone’s feet on the ground with continuing advice and guidance for members.

So, if you have an interest in motorbikes and little to do on the third Saturday night every month, come along to Club Macquarie, Argenton (next to the Cockle Creek railway station) and meet some of the Hunter's friendly motorcyclists and Ulysses members.

*********************

Lake Macquarie

BLUE GHOSTS OF THE LAKE

The trees arched over the highway, swayed by the howling wind,

A full moon broke the blackness, shadows creeping from within,

Out of the haunting bleakness, flashing over purple hills,

Blue Ghosts of the Lake came riding, riding Blue Ghost of the Lake came riding.

Roaring on mighty wheels,

Through the wild hills the roar swept on, drawn to the urban storm,

The goal was to cross five bridges and return to the lake by dawn,

The task was grim for the ride leader, wearing boots that felt like lead,

Blue Ghosts of the Lake came riding, riding Blue Ghost of the Lake came riding.

Courage mixed with dread.

Then, shimmering moonlight waters, were reflecting twinkling lights,

A great bridge for the riders to conquer, then melt into the night,

Over the bridge they rumble and clatter, with yowls to chill the heart,

Blue Ghosts of the Lake came riding, riding Blue Ghost of the Lake came riding.

An awesome juggernaut,

Again they faced another bridge, braced for the challenge were they,

Their mechanical beasts conquered each bridge, though Hell should bar the way,

At the Cross they screamed to a halt and saw Harry’s black haired daughter,

Blue Ghosts of the Lake came riding, riding Blue Ghost of the Lake came riding.

Machines sat around Harry’s Café de Wheels, pie and mash peas devoured,

Harry and Clover had seen it before, strange riders were not to be feared,

Dressed to kill in leopard print gear, Clover his sultry daughter,

Clover herself commended their guests, placing red lips on their leather,

Blue Ghosts of the Lake had been riding, riding Blue Ghost of the Lake had been riding, riding through Hell and wild weather.

The bikes again did roar, at dawn by the lakeside shore,

From the city glow through the dark of night, the cycles sang their loud refrain,

Till they came once more to their familiar shore,

The Lake, and their beasts… do idle once again.

Irene Green with Apologies to Alfred Noyes “the Highwayman”.  

Last Updated  26-Jun-2010