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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. Too long to quote here, you will find it in any good poetry anthology such as the Albatross Book of Verse. 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.
The History of Ulysses DATE NUMBERS COMMENTSMid 1983 - Beginnings of club6 Dec 1983 5 Club inauguration with general meeting, following December 83 issue of Bike Australia magazine with article by The Bear and logo 7 Feb 1984 11 AGM #1End Feb 1984 25 May 1984 41 Sep 1984 75+ Dec 1984 100+ Ol’ number 1 puts newsletter out as Riding On 9 Feb 1985 - AGM #2 at Tumut - 79 members attendJul 1985 - Bike Australia rally attended by 38 UlyssiansSep 1985 250+ Dec 1985 300+ 18 Feb 1986 - AGM #3 at Tenterfield - 120 attend26 Apr 1986 500+ Membership goes onto computerEnd 1986 700+ 28 Mar 1987 800 AGM #4, with 9 branches in 5 statesEnd 1987 1300 New Zealand members form a branch Apr? 1988 1500 AGM #5 End 1989 2000 (plus 900 in NZ) 1990 2600 Oct 1991 3000+ 23 Mar 1992 - AGM #9 at Jindabyne – 830 members attendEnd 1992 4000 16 branches and groups End 1993 5000- 30 Apr 1994 - AGM # 11 at Alice Springs – 400 to meeting, 1200 for evening meal, 750 bikes in paradeMid 1994 5700 10 branches and 14 groupsEnd 1994 6300 End 1995 8000- Mar 1997 - AGM #14 at Wagga Wagga – 2500 registered End 1998 13,000 2560 new members in the year End 1999 13,517 New members joining at rate of 7 or 8 per day 1 Apr 2000 - AGM #17 at Nuriootpa SA – 3300 for evening meals, 803 members for actual meetingEnd 2000 15,000+ (Financial members) End 2001 17,000+ (Financial members) nearly 100 groups & branches 23 Mar 2002 - AGM #19 at Mt Gambier – 4000 for evening meals, 1000 bikes on the ride Mar 2003 21,374 AGM #20 at Mudgee – 4842 attended (31,668 memberships issued) End Oct 2004 24,920 Secretary’s report (38,396 memberships issued)(excerpt from Ol' No 1 's Book)
Ulysses Club Inc. Annual General Meetings
The Lake Macquarie Branch has been around for nearly as long as the National Ulysses Club itself, starting just after the Ulysses Club’s AGM at Nambucca Heads in 1988, and many of the original members of the group are still actively riding and telling tall tales of bravado
Founding members included,
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 back then, the decisions for the following ride was made during breaks on the ride of the day.
The original Newcastle group split into the Lake Macquarie, Lower Hunter and Central Coast Branches of today.
Meeting places for our branch over the years have included Morisset RSL Club, Toronto Workers Club, and the current venue of Club Macquarie, originally the Sulphide Welfare Club, right next to the railway station.
Septuagenarian motorcyclist, Andy Grennan (our Branch Patron), started mid week rides on a Wednesday, which later moved to Thursday's and you then had the task of keeping Ron Quinn in sight.
I remember looking at the feathered edges of Ron’s rear tyre and wondering whether he scraped the heads off his BMW let alone the foot pegs!
Lake Macquarie Ulysses Branch has been directed by, John Downes, Cliff Pallister, Ralph Hughes and Charlie Hughes. Our current leader is Terry Sharp.
We have many interesting characters in our group, ex dirt and track racers, motorcycle mechanics and, as with Charlie Hughes, an original member of the "Wild One’s" (Spot Mob) motorcycle club, that used to cruise the streets from Wallsend and beyond in the mid 1950’s.
The Lake Macquarie Ulysses Branch members own and ride a wide variety of motorcycles, so there is always something interesting to look at.
So, if you have an interest in motorbikes and little to do on the third Saturday night every month, come along to Club Macquarie at Cockle Creek, Boolaroo (next to the railway station) and meet some of the Hunter's friendly motorcyclists and Ulysses members Ian Parks
Lake Macquarie
There are long sun drenched golden surfing beaches, a vast blue saltwater lake, four times the size of Sydney Harbour and beautiful green majestic mountain backdrop. Lake Macquarie is the first port of call when visiting the Hunter, the largest coastal Lake in Australia A full run-down of accommodation, maps and how to get here is available from
Last Updated 17-Jun-2008 |
