Riding On Report Autumn 2025
Before heading off with TedE on another biking adventure across Australia to the Armadale Rally, one final thing to do was to prepare the UCARF Riding On report for Autumn 25. It was also be my annual report summary to the Annual General Meeting held at Armidale. From the AGM in Mandurah, where a lot of ideas were floated, I was happy to report that they have all come together and resulted in a very exciting year of progress.
The fledgling attempt to get Cash for Cans running in all states was being handicapped by the scheme’s administrators but with the efforts our secretary and treasurer, Lyn and John Tout, we were able to set up a charity account for depositing into UCARF in Victoria, New south Wales and Queensland. It has been encouraging to see deposits being made on the monthly tally updates.
At the Mandurah Rally, NatCom was developing a proposed funding agreement that would be called “The Ulysses Club PhD Scholarship into Arthritis Research”. Since then, it has come to fruition in a big way. Monash University together with the University of Sydney and University of Queensland now each receive yearly grants for their research laboratories to help support the salary costs of their selected Ph D student. This is a four-year commitment with the three research programs – a total of $62000 each year. Needless to say, this did not go all that smoothly, with our National Committee having to deal with University Administrators during the set-up phase, but happily, it all got done.
I remember talking to Robert Hunt, a former committee member and colleague, at Mandurah about an idea he had for a charity ride to raise money for UCARF. To be called the “UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research”, I did think that it was going to be a lot of work. Good Luck Rob!
Well, I happy to say that my Armidale ride with TedE and 3 other Joondalup Branch members was planned to meet up with the ride in Newcastle after a 6500km wander over from Perth, so It did become a reality with very big thanks to the wonderful effort of Robert. Thanks also go the committee members who have helped Robert plan and test the ride route plus all the branches on route that offered assistance with event and accommodation locations. Let hope this ride sets a precedent for our future rallies.
Two members that really got into the Ride for Rheumatoid Research are Cheryl and Patrick Mahedy, who have taken the event to the next level for the South Coast NSW Branch. Cheryl has lived with RA for 7 years and in just a few short months, Cheryl and Patrick created serious attention of the ride through newsletters, sponsorships and presentations, setting a great template to follow in the years to come.
An important part of the Ulysses Club is of course the presentation of the UCARF awards of the Jo Dearnley Award and the Good Joint Award.
Awards for2024/2025 –
Jo Dearnley Memorial Award – Canberra Branch
Good Joint Award – Lockyer Branch
This Year we have added the UCARF1000Plus Club Certificate, for Branches that achieved donation amounts of $1000 and over during the year. Certificates went to Shearwaters Branch, Canberra Branch, Fraser Coast Branch, Lockyer Branch, Melbourne Branch, Newcastle Lower Hunter Branch, Orange Branch, Redlands Branch, Warnbro Sound Wanderers Branch and Yarra Ranges Branch. Well, done!
Individual donations came to $4375, which included a donation of $3000 from Barry Day, member #21796. Formally from the Albury Wodonga Branch, Barry donated the sale of his Camper to the UCARF fund. A big thank you to all members for their donations.
We often get asker by members and others, “What is this UCARF thing”. Our Secretary Lyn Tout has put together a great article in this Autumn Riding On in the form of Questions and Answers on exactly, What It Is!
Thanks to the Admin staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Donations Running Tally for December to end of February: –
Southern Cross Tourers Branch, Northern Gateway Branch, Logan City Branch, RV Group Tasmania, Westgate Wanderers Branch, Melbourne – Black Dog, Newcastle Lower Hunter Branch, Nepean Branch, Wagga Wagga Branch, Lockyer Branch, INNOTESCO – Rally Stall, Lower Hunter Branch / Lions Club, Redlands Branch, Warnbro Sound Wanderers Branch, Torrens Valley Branch, Central Deserts Branch, Burnett Group, NDE Group.
Individual donations fand sponsorship donations to Cheryl Mahedy to date amounts to $1010. Cash for cans totalled $143.90.
I would also thank the Committee Team for their ongoing support and the upcoming exciting announcements about UCARF and its structure. Let’s this be the Year of UCARF!
Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67