Welcome to the UCARF Team
Introducing Cheryl Mahedy - National and NSW
My name is Cheryl Mahedy #71179 and along with my husband Patrick, #71178 I joined the South Coast NSW Ulysses Branch in mid-2022.
As a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 8 years I was very interested to note that the Ulysses Club has supported Rheumatoid Arthritis research for many years.
I became involved in fundraising for UCARF in 2025, The Ride for Rheumatoid being the catalyst for my involvement. I had previously read about UCARF in one of the Club articles but hadn’t investigated it or what it was all about, sadly the fact is that many club members are still unaware of UCARF.
As such in my new roles as UCARF NSW Ambassador and National Co-ordinator, along with my team of state Ambassadors, I am very keen to work to promote Ulysses and UCARF, by fundraising and raising awareness of how the funds raised are used for valuable research into RA and autoimmune diseases.
I very much enjoy the social aspect of our Branch which includes a ladies’ lunch group, games and dinner nights as well as day and overnight rides.
Being asked to represent UCARF as NSW Ambassador and National Co-ordinator is a huge honour.
Cheryl Mahedy #71179
coordinator@ucarf.com
Introducing Ros Rees - Queensland
I have been a member of the Ulysses Club since 2006 and originally affiliated with Northern Gateway Branch in Brisbane.
I served on the committee of the Northern Gateway Branch as Secretary then President for 3 years.
With my partner Paul, we relocated to Hervey Bay in 2016 and joined the Fraser Coast Branch, which is one of the oldest in Qld .
Fraser Coast Branch had hosted the very successful 2013 AGM however the once thriving branch was suffering low participation and support by 2016.
At the Branch AGM in March 2017, I volunteered to take on the position of President after no other nominations had been received. I have been in the role now for 9 years and the Branch is once again thriving, thanks to our hard working and supportive Committee.
As the Qld UCARF Ambassador, I am keen to grow the knowledge of UCARF within the Branches and hopefully increase the fundraising and support.
I have first hand knowledge of the disease as my mother was diagnosed with it in her 70’s; and I have a friend’s daughter who was diagnosed with the disease in her 20’s. She is now 42.
I am very interested to learn more about the research being done and look forward to being able to pass this information on to the Branches.
Ros Rees #44090
President, Fraser Coast Branch
qld@ucarf.com
Introducing John Harkin - Victoria
I joined the Ulysses Club in January 2002 and I was part of the Gold Coast Branch until January 2013 then moved to western Victoria settling in Stawell, in 2014. I’d met some of the local riders and we decided to talk about the formation of a local group which eventually became the Grampians Branch being ratified in 2015. I don’t own a car which works out great as I ride everywhere, I have attended many AGM’s now National Rallies and I’ve ridden to various state Odyssey’s in every state.
Regards
John Harkin #26230
vic@ucarf.com
Introducing Janet Mulgrue - Canberra ACT
I have been a member of the Ulysses Club since 2002 and the treasurer of the Canberra branch for the last 4 years.
Canberra Branch is a strong supporter of UCARF and when I said I was planning to put my name forward for the ACT ambassador role a number of other members also expressed interest. As a result I am confident of support from the Canberra Branch
On a personal level my interest in UCARF stems from my membership and involvement with Arthritis ACT. I have a number of friends and family members affected by osteoarthritis and will this is a totally different disease to rheumatoid arthritis I hope that advances will be relevant to both.
Jaqnet Mulgrue #29499
act@ucarf.com
Introducing Ken Eaton - Western Australia
I returned to motorcycle riding soon after losing my wife to younger onset dementia in 2007 after an ultimation from a daughter to get a girlfriend or buy a motorbike; I bought a motorbike and joined the Ulysses Club Joondalup Branch shortly after. With the Joondalup Branch I have spent the years on their committee, mostly as Branch President. I spent 2 years on the National Committee for years 2021 and 2022.
With my little Dog Chloe, we created a charity for Dementia called ‘I Ride With Chloe to Fight Dementia’, which we pursued by distance riding Australia, mainly by attending and being involved in each Ulysses Rally since 2010. At Mornington in 2019, a discussion with Kim Kennerson, sparked the idea to develop a Patch and Badge campaign for UCARF fund raising, with Chloe becoming the ‘Chloe the UCARF Dog’. Sadly, I lost Chloe early 2021, but a new little pall called TedE has now joined me on my adventure rides as ‘TedE the UCARF Dog’.
In 2023, on leaving the National Committee, I filled a vacancy as the UCARF Co-ordinator and enjoyed involvement with UCARF funding of researcher Meilang Xue PhD, Associate Professor, and Director of the Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory, plus seeing a new donation scheme funding University PHD students.
I now hand the Co-ordinators batten over to a dedicated and committed person in Cheryl Mahedy, while I carry on as a UCARF state Ambassador for WA, along with the state Ambassadors of Ros Rees, Qld, John Harkin, Vic, and Janer Mulgrue, ACT, as UCARF enters a new exciting stage in its development.
Ken Eaton #51189 DM67
wa@ucarf.com