It will be a great trip but perhaps a bit daunting for some of our members, both for the distance and the not inconsiderable cost. Kate and I will be taking our bikes which doubles the petrol cost not to mention the tyre/oil changes etc. I did try to suggest to Kate that she might like to ride pillion but that went down like the proverbial lead balloon. I was then told that we would be riding both directions as well, rather than one way on the Indian pacific. I suppose the upside is that I don’t have to share my panniers and she gets to carry her own sleeping bag, air mattress and chair.

We will be camping on the way so I look forward to the same kind of fellowship that we found on the Alice Springs trip in 1994, where every camping ground was full of Ulyssians. The past year has been a very important one for the Club and the coming year looks to be equally interesting. During the year two very important changes occurred, the introduction of the Rider Training Program and the introduction of Riding Online, which has put Riding On onto the internet and made it interactive.

The Rider Training Program has now attracted over 180 members and the feedback so far has, almost all, been about how good the program is. I was fortunate to attend it for a second time recently at a session put on especially for the media. Jeremy Bowdlers editorial in the January issue of Two Wheels is well worth reading if you are hesitant in joining the program. Courses are already filling up for the future all over the country.

Riding Online will become an increasingly important means of communication with members as time passes and the internet grows in usage and popularity. At present, not only can you read and download sections of the magazine, you can join the Club, purchase gear and advertise unwanted riding gear or the spares you have for the bike you no longer own. There is also a bulletin board for the use of members to make announcements and I suppose, obituaries. If you’re on the net, or even if you aren’t, it’s worth a visit to the site. Ask your grandson to show you how. For the first time this year, we have also listed and advertised Club merchandise in Riding On and this has been reflected in an increase in sales and Club revenue.

On a sad note, I have to tell you that both our National Secretary and our National Treasurer will not be standing for re election this year, in fact, by the time you read this, Ted Richards will have been resident in Britain for nearly two months. Ted has given great service to the Club as National Secretary in the three years he has held the position, one which requires an immense amount of time, anything up to and approaching a full time job. Ted will be missed, but we have been fortunate indeed to have Brian Hopkins step in to fill the casual vacancy created by Ted’s resignation.

Both Don and Ted will be seriously missed from the executive of the national Committee, but I also want to pay tribute to Bruce Graham. Bruce has spent three years on NatCom during which time he undertook a number of important roles culminating in the coordination of the Bunbury AGM. Bruce will not be standing for re election and I take this opportunity of thanking him for his contribution and wish him a long association with the Club.

I want also to mention the other members of NatCom; Robyn Martin, Vice president, who has taken responsibility for the smooth running of the Rider Training Program in addittion to her already onerous duties as Public Liaison Officer. Ken Taylor, who has been National Purchasing Officer for several years now, and Ian Rawlings who is our newest recruit and has willingly taken on whatever needed doing. It has been a great team and a pleasure to be part of it.

I don’t know quite what to say about the role that John Miller plays as editor, advertising manager, photographer, publisher [typist] and everything else associated with Riding On. I know of no other club of any size that has a quarterly magazine that can come close to Riding On for content and quality. John, we are eternally grateful for the time and energy you put into Riding On and I speak for every member when I say thank you. [blush!]

In conclusion, I also want to mention two people who, although they don’t hold office in the National Committee, are indispensable to the efficient running running of the Club. They are the National Quartermaster Ernie Shaw, and our Administrative Assistant, Wendy Thompson.

Without these two, largely unsung, heroes the Club could not function. The management of a club with nearly 11,000 active members and a full size business operation requires an immense amount of time, and Ernie and Wendy play a major role in keeping us efficient.

Gary Vandersluis
National President

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