Riding On Report Spring 2018

WINNER of the club’s prestigious Jo Dearnley Memorial Award for 2017 is Dubbo and Districts Branch. Wellington members of the branch John Jannis, Phil Melhuish and Peter Ogden lead the way during the year and made a $5000.00 deposit on 09/05/2017 and another deposit of $5000.00 on 27/11/2017. I am sure you will agree this is an incredibly generous effort which favours our club’s effort of improving the lives of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Being within a four-hour distance to Wellington from home, the least I could do was make the effort to present the trophy and appreciation certificates to the unaware trio in person.

The Good Joint Award was won by Yarra Ranges Branch, with a deposit of $4000.00 on 21/03/2017 and another $4000.00 on 25/11/2017. An amazing effort.  The Good Joint Award was presented to a surprised Branch president, Chris Collins, at the welcoming ceremony at Renmark at the most recent AGM event.  Although not award winners I wish to acknowledge two other large branch donations that are exceedingly generous. Lockyer Branch donated $6670.00 during 2017 and Bunbury Branch added another $6000.00 to the funds.

The Ulysses Club thanks the award winners, the specially mention branches and every other Branch in the Club that offered their support during the 2017 for this great cause that we embrace.

Our Expression of Interest sale of the Honda Forza scooter that was previously owned by founding member the late Stephen Dearnley OAM was finalised at the end of July. There were three members who made offers for the purchase during the sale period and we wish to thank those members for their interest. It was hoped that the scooter would be retained in the Ulysses family rather than an outside sale and that is exactly what happened. George Truelove #47931, an active member from the Hills Branch, secured the scooter. George is clearly motivated by the history of the Club, the family history of the Honda and the legacy Old No.1 left us. George intends to take the scooter to Club events and to the National Rally, where he will ride it in the grand parade. As was always the intent, all profits from the raffle will be deposited into the UCARF account and subsequently distributed for rheumatoid arthritis research.

I would like to add a little bit of nostalgic trivia regarding the scooter for your interest. On the front of the scooter is a Submariners Association decal. Stephen Dearnley joined the Royal Navy In 1941 and after training was appointed to the rank of sub-lieutenant in 1943. Stephen’s ship, the leading minesweeper HMS Fitzroy, was sweeping outdated mines off the Dutch coast when it hit a mine. Stephen was on deck duty when he heard the explosion and within 5 minutes the ship was listing and within 15minutes it was sinking. Stephen had to swim for his life to avoid being sucked down with the ship. I clearly remember Old No.1 recalling the incident with some of us members and his conclusion was that it was safer to be underwater. Stephen went on to become a submariner.

The 2019 national biennial raffle has kicked into gear already .At the time of writing tickets have been printed and some have already been purchased. Look for details in this edition of Riding On. The raffle will conclude at the National Rally at Mornington Peninsula next year. Approaches have been made to the research institutions that undertake rheumatoid arthritis studies exploring the possibility of providing additional funding support. Sutton Laboratory has responded with an interesting proposal that would commence early next year and we are awaiting a proposal from Monash University.

UCARF sponsored researcher Dr. Haiyan Lin has provided a report for the club that is published in this edition of Riding On. I encourage members to seek out and read Haiyan’s research feedback. A report from our other sponsored researcher Dr Sarah Jones will be published in the following edition of Riding On.

The following donations have been gratefully received since the last published recognition in the winter 2018 edition of Riding On. In no particular order these most generous contributions are as follows – Coffs Coast Branch $136, Mt Lindesay Branch $500, Central Victoria Branch $500, North West Coast Branch $500, Shearwaters Branch $1500, Lion’s Club Wodonga $2000, Wellington members of the Dubbo & Districts Branch $2000, Tamar Tourers Branch $500, Bunbury Branch $3000, Shearwaters Branch $1500.

Kim Kennerson
UCARF Coordinator,
#6929 L.M. 14.