President's Report - April 2026

Monday’s meeting was the Annual General Meeting, and while the turnout was down a bit for an AGM thanks to all who attended and participated.

 A bit of housekeeping first, Xmas in July in April is on this Sunday, 19 April, 8:30 for 9:00am departure from Bradman Oval for a ride through the Highlands to Werai Farm Club for coffee and a pie on the club. The weather is predicted to be mild and sunny, so should be a good morning.

 The overnight trip to Rylstone is on Friday  1^st May and Saturday 2 May, staying at the Globe Hotel at Rob McKellar’s recommendation. Rob will be out of the country and safe from retribution before we stay there so it remains to be seen what the accommodation is like. Departure time is  8:30 for 9:00 am meeting at the Shell Hume motorway southbound at Sutton Forest. I know that Hendo, Simmo, Davo, Cammo and Rob Hanna-o have booked. There are still three twin rooms available , if you want to make a booking contact the hotel directly on 02 6379 1048 or book via their website.

 As you know this is the AGM and so it brings another year to a close. Some notable achievements over the last 12 months  include the inaugural Christmas in July in April, the first aid course that we put into use last winter, the memorial ride barbecue, a truly excellent Christmas in July in December. We also settled the disposition of the club vests and hopefully have finally put to rest the contentious issue of insurance.

 I’d really like to thank the committee members who have put in the hard yards this year, as always Rob Hanna, the hardest working member of the committee who toils tirelessly in the background to keep the membership system running. Thanks to Paul Roodenrys, vice president extraordinaire who is a constant source of maturity and reasonableness and has been a terrific support this year. Thanks to Rob McKellar our Secretary who is leaving the country, a terrific bloke who has done an extraordinary job, I’ll miss him greatly.

 Our (very) ordinary committee members deserve thanks: Colin Sims despite being a disruptive element in committee members is a constant source of good cheer and organises a pretty good barbecue. Mal Campbell stops in to help when he’s not jet-setting and is great company, and our go to barbecue chef. Andrew Buckley’s had a few health challenges this year, but still makes a valued contribution.

Thanks to those who organise rides, thanks especially to John Diaz for his dirt rides, Mick Lendrum for his imperial tour, Paul Riley for organising the track day, and Mick Simpson for organising trips away.

Greg Rieve deserves a mention too, while we never see him due to moving to Quirindi  he constantly liaises with Rob Hanna to keep our computerised membership system going.

And thanks to John Ogden our returning officer and all round good guy for running the election which he dispatched in record time.

And of course thanks to every member who turns up to meetings and goes on rides and contributes to Facebook; the active members of the club make the whole thing worthwhile.

And now the news you have all been waiting for, the committee for 2026-27

President: Michael CallaghanVice President: Paul RoodenrysMembership Secretary: Rob HannaTreasurer: Joe FishburnSecretary: Paul RileyOrdinary Committee Members: Colin Sims, Mal Campbell, Andrew Buckley

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our new and existing committee members and here’s to a successful new year

Ride Well,

Michael Callaghan

 Upcoming Day Rides

19 April, Sun8:30am –11:30am Xmas in July in April

23 April, 9 May Thu 9am – 12pm Classic Motorcycle Ride

26 April, Sun 8 – 10am Crash the Cars and Coffee Classics Cruise, or CCCCC

29 April Wed 9am – 12pm SH.T (Southern Highlands Imperial Tour) Ride

3 May, Sun 9:30am – 12pm Coffee Ride 

9 May, Sat 12 – 3pm Bikes and Coffee - Werai Pie Shop