UCARF

Autumn 2025

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 02:30:50 +0000

Riding On Report Autumn 2025

Report currently being publisher

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Summer 2025

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 02:03:49 +0000

Riding On Report Summer 2025

I do consider myself a very lucky person at the moment. I have just spent the best part of October and November riding five days along the Victorian and NSW Alpine roads and then spending 22 days in Tasmania testing out their roads. As a Western Australian we don’t actually have bends or mountains, so it is always a thrill to ride in the east. (Last time I was in Tassie was for the 2016 AGM). TedE the UCARF dog enjoyed the ride, being photographed whenever we stopped. During the trip I did start to feel aches and pains as I suffer from sciatica and a bit of arthritis but normally by the start of each day, I was on the bike ready to go. That did make me think about those who suffer from the pain of debilitating symptoms such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, spending their days in constant pain and missing out on or struggling to participate in the things they loved to do and enjoying life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a nasty chronic autoimmune disease that uses our immune system, which normally protects our body from infection and disease, to attack our own tissues. As with most diseases, cures only come with years of research and the Ulysses Club has been proudly part of that research for many years. As a continuation of that support, it is fantastic to announce that finally, after a lot of hard work by the National Committee, Monash University together with the University of Sydney and University of Queensland will each receive yearly grants for their research laboratories to help support the salary costs of their selected PhD student. This will be a four-year commitment with the three research programs – a total of $62000 each year. You may like to read about Bailey Slyp, our first PhD scholarship recipient for Monash on our Ulysses website in Members Documents – General or go to https://bit.ly/RecipientBailey .

The inaugural UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research being organised by Rob Hunt looks like achieving a great outcome, which is fantastic. I have spoken to Rob and have organised funding to produce special UCARF Inaugural Ride Patches and Stickers for participants. Limited number so on a ‘first come first get’ basis. More to come on this in the New Year.

Thanks to the Admin staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Donations Running Tally for September, October and November: –

Fraser Coast Branch, Ulysses RV Group, Geelong Branch, Northern Beaches Branch, Macedon Ranges, Canberra Branch and Warwick Branch.

We received quite a few individual donations over these months and I wonder if it is due to Cash for Cans? A big thanks for those using this for fund-raising.

Donations from Mike Abberfield, Paul Margereson, Adrian Chin, Alan Bateman, Peter Richardson, Laurent Schurrle, John Osborne, Kim Allchin, Alan Reece, Peter R and Deni.

Donations for this period totalled a whopping $8305. Thanks to all those Branches and Individuals.

Like I said, I am a lucky person. Having just got home from Tasmania, TedE and I are busy planning our next adventure, where to, the Armidale National Rally of course!

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Spring 2024

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:58:21 +0000

Riding On Report Spring 2024

Things have developed quite excitingly since my winter Riding On report regarding the Cash for Cans scheme and the UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research.

With great persistence, Lyn and John Tout have finally introduced UCARF as a donation charity into the three Eastern States of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. This allows members and Branches to deposit directly into the UCARF Bank Account, something that had been elusive to do previously. To donate your refund from your cans and bottles, there are two methods that can be used. Locate your nearest deposit location. You can either download the relevant app to your phone and click on the donate button, search for Ulysses – it will come up with UCARF – Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and set it as your payment method or go to the deposit centre and click on the donate button, search for Ulysses and again it will come up with UCARF – Rheumatoid Arthritis Research, select and then deposit the cans/bottles. Funds will then be deposited into the UCARF bank account. If you wish to be acknowledged for your deposit, send your name, date of deposit and location to the treasurer@ulysses.org.au. Full details how to deposit will be available on the Ulysses website or on the ucarf.com website.

Lyn has advised that emails to describe cash for cans was sent to each member from the involved states. The downside was that over sixty emails were returned as not received. A follow up text message was sent to those messages. The upside is that if you did not receive an email, it may indicate you need to update your contact details with the National Admin Office or National Secretary.

The inaugural UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research being organised by Rob Hunt has now entered the full planning stage. Check out Rob Hunt’s report on the details and how you can become involved. TedE and I are very jealous as we are a bit far away living in the West to be involved in the ride this time.

My Winter Report had an editor update that we had actually signed a 4-year Gift Agreement with Rheumatology Group at Monash University. I can now advise that UCARF has made the first payment to the Rheumatoid Research Section of Monash University for the sponsorship of a PhD Student. The following is an excerpt from the thank you letter from Prof Eric Morand, Dean.

“By investing in the future of arthritis research, the Ulysses Club is directly contributing to the development of improved treatments and the potential discovery of a cure. This work has the power to transform the lives of millions who suffer from this chronic inflammatory disorder, offering them hope for a healthier, more active future.

Supporting graduate research is essential in driving innovation and scientific progress. The Ulysses Club’s generosity enables our student, Mr Bailey Slyp, to focus wholeheartedly on his research without the overwhelming burden of financial concerns. This freedom allows him to dedicate his time and energy to exploring new ideas and making significant strides in his field, under the leadership of Associate Professor Sarah Jones.”

The NatCom committee are still working to develop an agreement with the Sutton Group at the Sydney University.

Thanks to the Admin Enquires staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Donations Running Tally for June, July and August:

Macarthur Branch, Mornington Branch, Yarra Rangers Branch, SEQ Cartwheel Ride, Canberra Branch, Upper Hunter Branch, Mallee Branch, Werribee Branch, Wagga Wagga Branch.

We again thank a donation from David Smith. Donations for this period were over $7600.

TedE and I are looking forward to hopefully seeing lots of donations from the recycling of cans and bottles expanding the UCARF bank account.

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Winter 2024

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:55:22 +0000

Riding On Report Winter 2024

For me, it feels quite some time has passed since the Mandurah Rally, the introduction of the new National Committee and the Autumn Riding on report. In that time, I spent April doing a Motorbike Tour of North Vietnam with seven other members of the Joondalup Branch as part of a 12-person group. A fantastic trip that was very well organised, and, being on bikes we saw parts of the country where the average tourist does not go. I have also realised unfortunately; I am not as young as I thought I was.

Spending time at the Rally plus the April break has meant spending catch up time on my business commitments, so not a lot of time spent on UCARF. I am excited that Robert is putting together the UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid. As per his report it will be a long and hard development period as is the case with most things new. Robert has my full support and help wherever possible. Hopefully it will be supported by the majority of the Ulysses membership.

During the Mandurah Rally, NatCom was considering grant applications called “The Ulysses Club PhD Scholarship into Arthritis Research”. It is slowly progressing but unfortunately, I have no up dated information at time of writing this report.

It has been good to see the National Admin Office sending out an acknowledgement receipt as each UCARF donation is made from a Branch or individual. This was missing for some time in the past and I am sure it is appreciated by donors.

Thanks to the Admin enquires staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Running Tally as soon as they are available. These are the donations for March, April and May:

Orange Branch, Fraser Coast Branch, Upper Hunter Branch, Yarra Ranges Branch, Port Macquarie Mid North Coast Branch, Redlands Branch, Alice Springs Branch, Brisbane West Branch, Fremantle Branch, Yarra Ranges Branch, Melbourne Branch.

We thank the RV Group for their donations and donations from David Smith and the late Harry Higgins #5032.

TedE Cash for Containers from the Mandurah Rally raised $300 along with $1045 from the sale of second-hand gear. The big money raiser of the UCARF Raffle resulted in a fantastic amount of $22,519 in sales, so big thanks to all the Branches, members and friends who gave their support. After the cost of the V-Strom 650 bike purchase, total amount raised was a grand $11,500. Congratulations to a lucky Eric Hessling who took out the 1st prize. We have signed a 4-year Gift Agreement with Rheumatology Group at Monash Uni for a Ph D Student Scholarship. A total of $100,000 paid at $25,000 each year. This group is currently working on a medication to support those with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

TedE and I have already started putting our plans together for the Armidale Rally in 2025. It was quite strange for us not to have to travel across Australia this year.

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Autumn 2024

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:44:41 +0000

Riding On Report Autumn 2024

In writing this report I did think that the AGM had come around very quickly, only to realise that this AGM and Rally is actually a month and half earlier than it was in Lismore. For Mandurah it means great weather and lots to do and see.

Mike Abberfield has been chasing up the UCARF Raffle ticket money and has advised that we have nearly 20,000 Dollars in the bank at the start of March so hopefully by the return of all ticket stubs by the Rally and sales during the Rally, we will have made a tidy sum. The Tourist Park has kindly given me permission to collect and cash containers over the rally dates as well. Big thanks to the Park as they normally support a local charity, so drink up!

In January Lyn, Blue, Robert and John made a visit to the Monash-Hudson Institute. It sounded very interesting and allowing us to gain a bit of a background history of our involvement with Monash. The full NatCom committee also did a visit to the Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory at the Sydney University, meeting with Professor Meiling Xue. That was equally as interesting. I will hopefully be able to share a newsletter report on each visit in the next Riding On. NatCom are currently working out grants for this year and hopefully will announce some exciting news at the Rally.

I would like to thank our secretary, Lyn Tout, for organizing the engraving of awards for the UCARF Jo Dearnley and Good Joint presentations. Lyn has also made up a commendation certificate award for branches and individuals who have also gone to the effort of substantial fund raising. Having an earlier Rally and due to time constraints on preparation of the awards, we did have an early cut off on donations at the end of January, but don’t be alarmed, we will account for all donations made from that date until the Armadale AGM for next year’s awards.

Awards for2023/2024 –Jo Dearnley – Canberra Branch Good Joint – Lockyer Branch

Commendation to Newcastle Lower Hunter, SEQ Odyssey, Taroom Woy Woy Branch. As there is no Grand Parade as such, the awards will be presented at the Saturday night dinner.

Thanks to the Admin Enquires staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Running Tally as soon as they are available. It was also great to see over 5000 dollars deposited from our United Petroleum UCARF association over the past year. Of course, this means that the same amount has been saved and shared by Ulysses members using the scheme.

40th Anniversary Patch, Metal Button and Ulysses book are now selling along with the UCARF Patch and Buttons. TedE and I are looking forward to catching up with everyone at the Mandurah Rally.

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Spring 2023

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:41:30 +0000

Riding On Report Spring 2023

To all those who were lucky enough to make it, wasn’t it great to finally get to Lismore? I consider myself extra lucky as I got to spend a week travelling to Lismore with five Branch mates, enjoying the rally week and then taking two weeks travelling home via coastal and inland Queensland. By the time we got back to Perth I had travelled 13,299km, so give a thought to little dog TedE on his first ‘long’ ride with ears flapping all the way.

After the grand parade I was proud to announce that the Canberra Branch had taken out the Jo Dearnley Award with the Central Desert Branch receiving the Good Joint Award.

The UCARF raffle ticket sales went well and along with the major prize donated by TAC, we had several smaller prizes and thank BMW Ballina for motorcycle accessories, Marcel Smith for the lovely vests and the Gear Shop for tee shirts. A big thanks to Peter Baulch and Mike Abberfield for organising it at short notice. National Treasurer, John Tout, has advised me that the raffle raised $3951 for UCARF. With the container return, storm trooper photos and a few other things a total of over $4700 was raised over the rally week. This is also added to by the United Fuel Card proceeds of $3899 and of course all the wonderfully Branch and individual donations over the past year.

In the last report I noted an unknown donation of $500. This was in fact from the Central Desert mob. Donations from Branches since the Summer Riding On edition are:

Sydney Thursday Riders $620, Lower Murray $500, Northern Beaches $100, Ballarat Toy Run $436.64, Central Desert $500, Yarra Ranges $1500, Orange $1000, Torrens Valley $300, North West Coast $200, Brisbane West $500, Redlands $1000, Blue Mountains $25, St. George $500, Sale and Districts $500 and TedE Containers $75. It is good to see Tweed Border Branch join in Containers for UCARF.

With all your donations and the Lismore Rally funds the UCARF bank account is very healthy and fully covers our research grant to Professor Meilang Xue PhD, Director, Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute. I did make contact with Professor Meilang Xue and she asked me to say hello to everyone and thank you all for your generous contribution to their arthritis research. She was heading to Hobart for an Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting. At this meeting she presented two papers which are supported by the Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund. We can feel proud as her presentation charts clearly show the Old Man Logo in acknowledgement.

Don’t forget you can purchase your UCARF Patch and Badge from the Ulysses Gear Shop and drop me a line if you would like more information on “TedE’s Containers for UCARF”

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Winter 2023

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:38:33 +0000

Riding On Report Winter 2023

After the grand parade I was proud to announce that the Canberra Branch had taken out the Jo Dearnley Award with the Central Desert Branch receiving the Good Joint Award.

In the last report I noted an unknown donation of $500. This was in fact from the Central Desert mob. Donations from Branches since the Summer Riding On edition are:

Don’t forget you can purchase your UCARF Patch and Badge from the Ulysses Gear Shop and drop me a line if you would like more information on “TedE’s Containers for UCARF”

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Summer 2023

KEN — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:28:45 +0000

Riding On Report Summer 2023

By the time you read this summer edition of Riding On, we will already be in the New Year of 2024. I trust the festive season was joyous for all. Being the new year, a number of you will be preparing your bikes and Mandurah Rally itineraries for travelling to the great state of Western Australia. We are looking forward to you coming. Why not purchase a UCARF patch or badge from the Gear Shop for your riding jacket before the trip.

Don’t forget purchasing your UCARF Raffle tickets, I am sure most Branches have them available and along with the Suzuki V-Strom, the other prizes are all worth winning.

Associate professor Meilang Xue, our sponsored researcher at the Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory, has advised me that the bench work has been completed for the current research project we have helped to fund, and the outcomes look good.

Meilang will present her work in Auckland at the Annual Australia and New Zealand Society for Immunology in early December and will send a final report to us to summarize the work done. Unfortunately, too late for this edition but it will be featured in the Autumn 2024 Riding On. Meilang and her team sent us their thanks and gratitude for our support for the research project during 2023.

At time of writing, there were several Medical Research Council Ideas grant applications being made and once again our National Committee will make a decision on the UCARF funding for 2024. It is also exciting news that the National Committee is also looking at other ways to invest in Rheumatoid Arthritis Research.

For the period of September, October and November, I am very proud to announce the UCARF donations were over $11,500, totally awesome!

Donations have come from the following Branches:

Brisbane $500, Newcastle Lower Hunter $2000, Canberra $5000 (more sausages), Redlands $200, Echuca $240, Port Macquarie Mid North Coast $160, Torrens Valley $510, Freemantle $665 and the RV Group Tasmania $114.

A big thanks to all the Branches and of course to the Individual donation made by the Abberfield’s $172 and two unknowns of $45 and $72. A big thanks as well to all the members who bought a 40th Anniversary Patch, you

added to the UCARF coffers by $1935.

Don’t forget, ‘Cash for Containers’ is a fantastic way for Branches to raise money for UCARF. Very simple for Branches to set up an individual account or contact me if you would like more information on “TedE’s Containers for UCARF”

Catch up in Mandurah

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Autumn 2023

KEN — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:08:32 +0000

Riding On Report Autumn 2023

It is with mixed emotion that I write this Autumn Riding On report, as it will be my last as a member of NatCom, having served two years from the Orange AGM. The new cut off date for Riding On articles means that both Sharryn Nankervis #36204 and I will have handed over our positions to the new incoming committee following the Lismore Rally and AGM before the Winter Edition. I have had a wonderful time over those two years, and have really developed an insight on the operations of the Ulysses Club; the good, the not so good, and the challenges that lie in running a Club of this size.

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 final Extended NatCom meeting report for Lismore.

Talking of Lismore, the planning is now getting serious. A few of the Joondalup Branch members and I will be heading across the paddock again to make an appearance, followed by a trip north into Queensland then back home via outback roads into NSW and SA., the over the top being a bit cut off at the moment. For me it will be my first big adventure with TedE the dog, taking the place of little Chloe. He will be excited to meet you all.

My committee tasks over the past year, along with the Club Plate Liaison, was to look into, and update as necessary, the Branch 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 are down, there is still a lot of riding going on. A number of Branches are slowly converting to Committee by Consensus or to rider groups. I can advise that NatCom is addressing this in their discussions.

While chasing up Branch details, I have also been doing a bit of statistical work into the Ulysses Club and its current status. I believe this is a must to help future Club planning and marketing and encourage the incoming committee to maintain a similar outlook.

Some results observed that may be of interest. New members in 2020 – 584, in 2021- 687, in 2022 – 602 Membership December 31st 2021 was 11358, December 31st 2022 was 10421 giving loss of 937 members. With new members taken into account this was a net loss of around 1500 members. Average age of Ulysses Members December 2022 is 67 with a cohort of 615 members (the maximum) Other Cohorts 40-49: 225, 50-59: 1579, 60-69: 4798, 70-79: 3252, 80-89: 542, 90- 100: 25

As you can see, we are an aging Club that has Grown Old Disgracefully, and we do have a few challenges ahead. If you would like more detail on the data or to discuss please email me.

Although this is my last NatCom Report, you have not got rid of me completely. Due to unfortunate health issues for Ian (Foggy) Winter #53026, I have put up my hand to hopefully fill his big shoes as UCARF Coordinator. Foggy did a marvellous job at the Warwick Rally, and has put in place an exciting research project.

Make sure you say hi to TedE and me at Lismore. I will be in a blue NatCom Vest, and selling UCARF Raffle tickets. Take care and safe travels to Lismore.

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67

Summer 2022

KEN — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 14:24:07 +0000

Riding On Report Summer 2022

Hi every one, unfortunately Foggy was unable to complete a report for the Summer edition due to ill health and has reluctantly had to step down from the UCARF Coordinator position.

Ken Eaton and his side kick TedE with be taking over in the New Year and looking forward to taking on the big task of keeping up the high standards set by both Kim and Foggy in the past.

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67