Report of Annual General Meeting
Weekend at Maldon & Castlemaine
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th August 2007
The VMMA held its 2007 Annual General Meeting at Maldon in Central Victoria, over the past 12 months the VMMA has continued to hold its general meetings and now the AGM at various locations throughout Victoria.
This has allowed members who would not normally be involved in the various meetings due to time constrains and distance to travel to attend and contribute along with catching up with friends whom they may not have seen for awhile.
The attendance at the AGM was outstanding with members traveling from all round Victoria to attend along with locals to Castlemaine Phil and Heather who due to other commitments would normally be unable to attend, but next year their commitments will change and we will see Phil & Heather becoming involved once again.
VMMA members attendance at Maldon Masonic Centre for the A.G.M. was outstanding.
The day commenced with a group ride from Shell Westgate for those departing from Melbourne, we stopped at Malmsbury and met with other members who had already ordered their coffee.
After the coffee break we rode directly to the Maldon Masonic Centre for the AGM which was to commence at 11.00 a.m. sharp so Pedro had drilled us, well it started a little after 11.00 a.m.
A number of Maldon locals and organisations assisted the VMMA in putting this AGM together at Maldon and it was without any reservations on their behalf. Richard Horlock of the Maldon Masonic Centre was our first contact in relation to inquiring if the Maldon Masonic Centre would be available and his response was yes along with names of contacts who would assist us with organising the weekend.
Maldon Masonic Centre Lodge Room Coffee break at Malmsbury
The main players from Maldon were Peter Thompson, Ross Dohnt, Daniel Clarke and Jim Chapman, this group of men assisted with providing the BBQ (CFA), details of local butcher & IGA Store, opening and closing the Masonic Centre, cooking the BBQ lunch (thank you Cath & Emma for your assistance with the cooking), arranged for the local newspaper to attend at the Masonic Centre and Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum and finally arranging for afternoon tea at the Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum.
Daniel Clarke became our focal point to this group of men, he is a credit to the local community by his active involvement in many community organisations in and around Maldon.
The AGM commenced with the normal apologies and acknowledgement of a large number of proxy forms received, reports were then given by the various office bears and finally all office positions were declared vacant and Pedro as Public Officer took control of the election of officer bears for the ensuing year.
After the election of office bears the meeting retired for a BBQ lunch that was cooked for us by those mentioned above, whilst having our lunch the local media turned up to put together an article for the local newspaper and to get a group photograph.
Group photo at Maldon Masonic Centre
The AGM resumed after lunch with general business of which everyone in attendance was invited by the President individually if they had any items to discuss or to bring to our attention, many members took this opportunity to enlighten everyone of their opinions which were very constructive to the on going development of the VMMA into the future.
Concluding the AGM at 2.30 p.m. the President invited Ross to come forward for the presentation of a $100 donation towards the Maldon Masonic Centre and to thank them for making the centre available for the AGM.
Chris presenting $100 donation to Ross Dohnt Maldon Masonic Centre representative.
All members were invited to the Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum for a display of their machinery and afternoon tea that had be arranged by Daniel Clarke.
A great effort had been put in at the Museum for our attendance, they had rolled out a good number of stationary engines and had them operational.
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum, Daniel in the red shirt attending a stationary engine.
During the afternoon the local press turned up at the museum to follow up on the article written earlier at the AGM, it was anticipated the article will appear in this weeks local paper with a couple of photographs.
The afternoon concluded at the museum with VMMA President making two donations to representatives of Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum and Maldon CFA, Rodger accepted the donation of $265 to the Museum and Daniel accepted the donation of $100 to the CFA, a total of $465 was donated to local community groups within Maldon on the Saturday by the VMMA.
Chris presenting donations to both Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum and Maldon CFA
Now to relax and have some fun with good friends at Castlemaine, accommodation had been arranged for 30 members who made this AGM into a social weekend whilst others had commitments that required them to travel back home.
Once settled into Campbell Street Motor Lodge we adjourned to the outside court yard to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, we then moved into a room provided by the Motel. It was decided that the local Chinese was within walking distance and the Motel made the booking for us.
Relaxing Saturday afternoon at Castlemaine Campbell Street Motor Lodge
Bob's okay, but please do not wake the Red Baron!!!!
It was going to be a great time at the Chinese for on our entry other patrons suggested they would like to join with us down the back, yes they had a special area down the back for large groups such as ours!!!!
Well this is what it is all about, Phil and Heather came and joined us for tea and Phil's comment was this AGM weekend had confirmed he will be looking to purchase another motorcycle and after his study finishes next year they will become an active members once again.
Everyone had a great time with the only interruption being eating food and having a drink, one table even found what they thought were party hats!!!
Party hats, I do not think so!!! Think I would like to be on the 2nd table.
After tea we all walked or what ever back to the Motel and made our selves comfortable in Suit No. 1 the boys room, Terry looked like he wanted to fall asleep but the party continued for quite sometime.
Finally it is morning and time to consider making arrangements for breakfast, once again the Motel owners made a suggestion that Saffs Cafe would be the place for breakfast and made the booking for us, this establishment had a special area for large groups, yes down the back, it must be a Castlemaine thing to have visiting large groups down the back out of the way.
After breakfast we walked a short distance to the Castlemaine Restorers Barn and spent some time looking through this shop, if you have not been to the Restorers Barn you should consider a visit next time you are in Castlemaine.
Mal and Dean at the Restorers Barn.
Whilst at the Motel we were informed that there was a Picnic Day at Marong about 20 minutes from Castlemaine for Vintage, Veteran and Classic stationary motors, tractors, cars, bikes and trucks so after breakfast some of us went for a look and what did we find? VMMA member Cameron Mac Mahon who was attending the picnic day with the Vincent Motorcycle Club and had his motorcycle on display.
Dean & Red Baron at Restorers Barn Look who we found at Picnic Day Sharyn with Cameron.
Late Sunday afternoon the weekend came to a close with those who attended the Picnic Day went their own separate ways.
Reported by CW
