Page 6 - Riding On Autumn 2023

e | vicepresident@ulysses.org.au National Vice President’s Report
international@ulysses.org.au
m | 0427 669 903

As you know, the next National The 2021 National Rally Mandurah was also deferred, again
Rally is being held in Lismore due to the covid pandemic. With this in mind, the focus of the
in May. The Lismore Rally was 2024 National Rally Mandurah has changed, and the concept
deferred at very short notice of a greenfield site has not been adopted (economics). The
in 2020 due to the Covid Extended NatCom Meeting, the AGM, and the Road Safety
Pandemic. The team organising meetings will be held at Pinjarra approximately 15Km from
the Rally were somewhat Mandurah, and the camping will be utilising the Caravan Parks
deflated when this happened, of Mandurah and Pinjarra shires. A Meet and Greet will be
as we all were. I am very held in Pinjarra, and the Saturday Night dinner will be held
happy to say that they have in Mandurah, at the Greyhound Track, which has a very nice
bounced back from this setback facility for dining. The Caravan Parks are taking bookings now,
and have organised the 2023 so make a reservation and we will see you in the West in
National Rally, which will be March 2024.
bigger and better than it was
going to be in 2020. Some Armidale NSW is the location for the 2025 National Rally the
tweaking, though, has had facilities have been booked and they are great.
to be done due to the flooding last year. The Saturday night
dinner location has been changed from the Lismore Workers See you at a future Rally.
Club, due to flood damage to the Club facilities. The dinner will
now be onsite in the Traders’ pavilion, which can cater for up
to 800 diners. The Lismore Show society have invested heavily Blue Knowles
in rectifying and upgrading the showgrounds after the floods of
last year, and the place is looking magnificent. There is plenty #33140
of room for all campers, whether in a Tent, RV or Tent City. National Vice President
The Registration Portal has been open for a while now, and has
seen a lot of members register. I am looking forward to seeing
you all in Lismore in May.

e | committeemember@ulysses.org.au National Committee Member
m | 0418 92 5081

It is with mixed emotion that I write discussions.
this Autumn Riding On report, as
it will be my last as a member of While chasing up Branch details, I have also been doing a bit
NatCom, having served two years of statistical work into the Ulysses Club and its current status. I
from the Orange AGM. The new believe this is a must to help future Club planning and marketing
cut off date for Riding On articles and encourage the incoming committee to maintain a similar
means that both Sharryn Nankervis outlook.
#36204 and I will have handed over
our positions to the new incoming Some results observed that may be of interest.
committee following the Lismore Rally New members in 2020 – 584, in 2021- 687, in 2022 – 602
and AGM before the Winter Edition. I Membership December 31st 2021 was 11358, December 31st
have had a wonderful time over those 2022 was 10421 giving loss of 937 members. With new members
two years, and have really developed taken into account this was a net loss of around 1500 members.
an insight on the operations of the Average age of Ulysses Members December 2022 is 67 with a
Ulysses Club; the good, the not so good, and the challenges that cohort of 615 members (the maximum) Other Cohorts 40-49:
lie in running a Club of this size. 225, 50-59: 1579, 60-69: 4798, 70-79: 3252, 80-89: 542, 90-
100: 25
I leave for business reasons and fulfilment of stagnated personal
goals. I have a lot of people to thank but will leave that to my As you can see, we are an aging Club that has Grown Old
final Extended NatCom meeting report for Lismore. Disgracefully, and we do have a few challenges ahead. If you
would like more detail on the data or to discuss please email me.
Talking of Lismore, the planning is now getting serious. A few of
the Joondalup Branch members and I will be heading across the Although this is my last NatCom Report, you have not got rid of
paddock again to make an appearance, followed by a trip north me completely. Due to unfortunate health issues for Ian (Foggy)
into Queensland then back home via outback roads into NSW and Winter #53026, I have put up my hand to hopefully fill his big
SA., the over the top being a bit cut off at the moment. For me it shoes as UCARF Coordinator. Foggy did a marvellous job at the
will be my first big adventure with TedE the dog, taking the place Warwick Rally, and has put in place an exciting research project.
of little Chloe. He will be excited to meet you all. Make sure you say hi to TedE and me at Lismore. I will be in a
My committee tasks over the past year, along with the Club Plate blue NatCom Vest, and selling UCARF Raffle tickets. Take care
Liaison, was to look into, and update as necessary, the Branch and safe travels to Lismore.
contacts. It also provided a great opportunity for me to make
contact with Branches and discuss how things were travelling. I
found things are still positive, and although membership numbers Ken Eaton
are down, there is still a lot of riding going on. A number of
Branches are slowly converting to Committee by Consensus or to #51189 DM#67
rider groups. I can advise that NatCom is addressing this in their National Committee Member
RIDING ON 6