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