Page 5 - Riding On Spring

e | president@ulysses.org.au
m | 0448 336 111 National President’s Report

This is my second report :H DOVR KDYH RXU 1DWLRQDO $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 2໥FH WR NHHS WUDFN
for Riding On since of the memberships, join up new members and do renewals
becoming president and ZLWK WZR VWD໤ PHPEHUV 7KH R໥FH VWD໤ QXPEHUV DUH NHSW WR
it has been a very few D PLQLPXP DQG ZH WU\ WR UXQ DV H໥FLHQWO\ DV SRVVLEOH %XW ZH
months. I don’t want this to still have rent to pay and utilities to pay for.
sound like a medical report,
but this is an opportune Like many clubs and organisations, you get out of a club as
time to let members know much and maybe more than you put in. The key is to get
about my initial period as involved. I have been in the Ulysses Club for 19 years so far,
President. Shortly after with 10 on the Yarra Ranges Branch committee and 7 on the
coming home from Orange National Committee. Over that time my wife and I have had the
I was booked in for some EHQH¿W RI PDNLQJ IULHQGV DOO RYHU WKH FRXQWU\ :H ERWK IHHO ZH
blood tests. These showed have got out a lot more out of the Ulysses Club than we ever
some anomalies which led put in. Our Ulysses Club friends are more like family. For many
to an appointment with members living by themselves, the Ulysses Club is their family.
a haematologist, then other tests and ultimately a visit with So for those that ask “what do we get for our money”, perhaps
a renal surgeon. It transpired that I had some cancer in my you should read the above and then get more involved. I urge
left kidney and it was not long before I was in hospital having everyone to look after your friends and family and enjoy the
half a kidney removed. This all happened in a very short space EHQH¿WV WKDW WKLV FOXE KDV WR R໤HU EHFDXVH XOWLPDWHO\ ZH DUH DOO
of time, but the key advice I got from the surgeon was that in the same boat.
if the cancer had not been detected and gone unnoticed for
DQRWKHU PRQWKV P\ VWRU\ ZRXOG EH TXLWH GL໤HUHQW $V LW And I have to also mention that at this time a substantial part
stands now I have fully recovered and am cancer free. But I of Australia is in lockdown with most of our rides and social
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We are all in a vulnerable age group. Too many, especially continue for much longer, but this is all going to come down
the men, are all too willing to ignore little niggles or feeling to controlling this Covid19 Delta Strain and vaccinations. Like
unwell. My problem was only detected through regular blood it or not, vaccinations will be the key to getting back to some
testing. So I urge all of our members to get properly tested sort of normal and being able to meet up with our friends. The
on a regular basis, not just every year or two. You never know National Committee is still utilising Zoom for our meetings as
ZKDW \RX PLJKW ¿QG DQG LI \RX ¿QG LW HDUO\ HQRXJK \RX FDQ GR most of us can’t cross any borders at the moment
something about it. If this advice helps to save even one life, As a lot of members know already, the National Administration
then I will be happy. 2໥FH KDV PRYHG LQWR WKH QHZ SUHPLVHV EXW EHFDXVH RI &RYLG
UHVWULFWLRQV RXU VWD໤ PHPEHU /LQGD LV FXUUHQWO\ ZRUNLQJ IURP
Now on to more mundane things. We have received a number KRPH 7KH JHDU VKRS EHLQJ DW WKH 1$2 LV WHPSRUDULO\ FORVHG
of emails with comments and complaints about the rise in ,I DQ\ HQTXLULHV DUH VHQW WR WKH R໥FH SOHDVH EH SDWLHQW DV D
membership fees and the cost of the printed Riding On.
This has been explained on numerous occasions. This is an response may take a little longer to get.
economic necessity and the reality of life these days. One So everyone, please stay safe. For those that can get out,
question that was posed by several people was “What do we please enjoy it while you can. The rest of us just need to be
get for our money?” Not an easy question to answer on the patient.
spur of the moment, but I will try somehow to put this into
perspective with the following advice:
The membership fee charged by the Ulysses Club is one the
lowest, if not the lowest of any club that I know of in Australia. Henry Rokx
$120.00 for three years works out to only $40.00 per year.
For this you now get the magazine in digital format or for the #28636 DM#45
extra $20 per year you get 4 printed copies per year – still very National President
cheap.
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The Ulysses Club, being an incorporated body we have to have
various insurance including our Public Liability. The insurance
we carry comes at a cost of around $45,000.oo per annum.
Without the required insurances a lot of our activities would
stop. There would be no toy runs, attendance at shows, no
rallies or odysseys, no Bunnings sausage sizzles, no hall hires or
other activities including monthly socials in some cases, as well
as the National Rallies. For almost all of these things, a copy of Gear Shop Closed due to Covid restrictions.
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covers us on a national basis, individual branches don’t need to Once restrictions are lifted and we can return to
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a member emails and facebook and that the Gear
On top of this, the Ulysses Club provides rebates for appropriate Shop will re-open
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club also provides badges for years of service and milestone
birthdays. We also have awards in the form of Telemachus
Award, Dearnley Medal and Life Memberships, plus the Spirit in
Action Award for deserving members. These all cost money, but
are provided free to the members.

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