Report of Social and
Ararat Grampians "Ride to Remember" Blue Ribbon Ride Weekend
January 24th, 25th & 26th 2009
The VMMA was invited to support the Australia Day Grampians “Ride to Remember” Monday 26th January 2009 whilst in Stawell last November 2008 during our "Breathless" 8 day Ride to raise the awareness and much need funds for Cystic Fibrosis Victoria by Mal Pitcher (VMMA member) who is one of the committee members of the Blue Ribbon Foundation at Ararat who organised this 1st Australia Day Grampians “Ride to Remember”.
VMMA at Moonambel for Australia Day Celebrations
This invitation was extended into a social weekend with VMMA members being offered free accommodation at Chris & Sharyn's property at Moonambel.
The weekend commenced on Friday with Chris, Sharyn, Bob, Jean, Johnno and Baron traveling to Moonambel to settle in for a good break from our normal life style in the big smoke.
Saturday morning we first celebrated Baron's 60th birthday with the presentation of a walking stick, shawl, hat and a guide dog, this was just the start of his birthday antics.
Baron's 60th birthday, his friends presented him with a walking stick, shawl, hat and a guide dog.
We departed Moonambel for Skipton Hotel to meet with Dave, Viv and Brian who rode up from Melbourne Saturday morning to join with us for the weekend, we stopped at Beaufort to look at the Antique shop and to no surprise Baron wanted us to buy him a new mode of transport.
Oh no he has woken up in the antique shop!!!!
Arriving at Skipton Hotel at 12.30 pm we found that Dave, Viv and Brian had already arrived and were seated in the dinning room ready to order their counter lunch, it was also Viv's birthday so we invited the visiting lawn bowls club who were enjoying their lunch to join in with us to sing happy birthday to both Viv and Baron.
After lunch we departed Skipton for a ride back to Moonambel via back roads to settle in for the evening and await Mal to arrive for he volunteered to be our guide for the Sunday ride around the Grampians showing us the scenic lookouts.
Saturday evening both Viv and baron were presented with their birthday cakes, it appeared baron may have required assistance to blow his candles out, but he did finally manage to muster enough strength to everybody's surprise!!!
Both Viv and Baron were presented with birthday cakes on the Saturday evening.
Sunday morning Pedro arrived to join us for the rest of the weekend, we departed Moonambel led by Mal to Stawell to refuel the motorcycles, but YES there was a problem with Brian's BMW it had lost a bolt that held the rear luggage rack to the main frame and the other bolts were found to be loose. We met a local lodge member at the servo who tried to assist with the repair of the BMW but unfortunately he was unable to supply the missing bolt, so we rode around the corner to Mal's who has a well stocked workshop and the repair was complete, but the story goes ON, how many people does it take to replace a BMW seat, by this episode around about 6, see photo gallery for images.
A good number of VMMA members supported this particular social weekend.
BMW Repair, how hard can it be?
Finally BMW is repaired and the seat firmly attached and after Lynne provided refreshments to everyone it was time to depart for our scenic tour of the Grampians led by Mal and Lynne.
First stop was at Halls Gap for a light lunch after a ride around Lake Lonsdale which is completely dry, we then departed for Reids Lookout without a lead rider due to the twisty roads and holiday traffic, yes you guessed it not everyone stopped at Reids Lookout some missed the turn off and had a pleasant ride towards Horsham.
The lucky few who made it to Reids Lookout!!!!
Pedro and Brian volunteered to stay down on the main road at the next lookout in case some of our traveling willberries found their way back to civilisation while the main group took the opportunity to enjoy another view of the Grampians.
Thank you Mal & Lynne for guiding us through the Grampians.
It was now time to consider heading back to Moonambel to once again sit back and enjoy the country air whilst partaking in a cold drink.
Relaxing back at Moonambel. L to R: Pedro, Baron, Brian and Sharyn.
It had been a very hot and dry day and it did take its toll on everyone with a few members relaxing that much that they found themselves fast a sleep prior to tea.
Sleeping beauties!!!!!
Monday morning was an early rise for everyone 6.00 a.m. the call to arise was performed by Bob and the siren on the trike, we had to pack up and have breakfast and on the road to Ararat no later than 8.00 a.m so we could finalise our registration in the Australia Day Grampians “Ride to Remember”.
Early departure from Moonambel to Ararat.
Overview of event Released: 27th January 2009, D Radford.
"Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ a great success for Ararat’s Blue Ribbon Branch.
Over 200 bikers and pillions set off from Ararat’s Alexandra Gardens on Australia Day
morning for the first up boomerang Grampians “Ride to Remember”.
It was a great sight for the many spectators who waved them off, many celebrating
Australia day with Australia Day flags. Riders came from right across the state to support the Grampians Ride and the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation who coordinated the event to raise valuable funds for the Medical Imaging Department at the Ararat Hospital.
Motorcyclists at the start of the Grampians "Ride to Remember"
With perfect weather riders started to converge on Ararat from early morning, registering and then joining in the Ararat community barbecue before heading off on the 192km ride that took in Crowlands, Joel, Stawell then through to Pomonal, along the fringes of the Grampians National Park and then a morning tea stopover at Moyston.
The last stages of the Ride went through Willaura and then headed back through to Ararat with a lap of the main Barkly Street business precinct before heading to the Alexandra Gardens for a great get together and community barbecue organized by the Ararat Lions Club to celebrate Australia Day.
With the backdrop of Alexandra Lake and popular entertainment by Geoff Udy, the riders were happy to stay around, relax and make the most of the chance to catch up with fellow riders from far and wide, with many purchasing Blue Ribbon merchandising from the Ararat Branch to take away as a momento.
VMMA members Sharyn, Jean and Viv displaying their support of Australia Day.
The feedback on the day from the Riders who took part was all positive to the Grampians Ride, and Sub C’tee Chairman Nicholas Hatswell in commenting on the Ride thanked everyone involved in organizing the event, congratulated them on their enthusiasm and acknowledged the great support from the Police Traffic Management Unit, Ararat Police, Moyston Public Parks Committee, Ararat Lions Club, Ararat Rural City and others in the community for assisting.
Ararat Branch President and Australia Day Honors Recipient 2009 Terry Weeks (OAM) said: “This first up Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ has been fantastic for the Ararat Branch to be able to run such a successful event in Ararat, as a follow-up to Melbourne’s Blue Ribbon Ride which was held yesterday.
We are thrilled at the response to the Grampians Ride and it has been a great team effort here today by our Ararat Branch members, the Sub C’tee and our partners and we are pleased that our event has complimented the Ararat Rural City’s Australia Day
celebrations. I am sure this is the first of many annual Grampians Rides to come and
already everyone is talking about next year and doubling the participants.”and it did not take long for a few of the members , but it really Australia Day Grampians “Ride to Remember” Monday 26th January 2009."
End of Overview Released: 27th January 2009, D Radford.
The VMMA was acknowledge for its support of this 1st "Ride to Remember" Police Blue Ribbon Ride at Ararat with a number of VMMA members who live locally to Ararat being involved in the Blue Ribbon Foundation Committee.
The day had come to an end and it was time to depart for home, some rode straight down the Highway whilst others rode together via Elmhurst to Avoca and then split up some heading to Bendigo whilst the others to Melbourne.
The ride from Ararat to Avoca was not trouble free with Viv unfortunately getting a tyre puncture Ararat side of Elmhurst, Chris, Sharyn and Pedro received the call when they reached Avoca so it was turn around and ride back to assist Viv in repairing the puncture. Pedro was first back at the scene and had a tyre plug inserted in no time when Chris arrived out came the air compressor and luckily the plug held and 42 psi pressure was maintained.
It was a slow ride back to Avoca checking that the plug was going to hold, back at Avoca the tyre pressure was checked and found to have lost no pressure, Pedro noticed the chain was very tight on Viv's bike and proceeded to make the appropriate adjustments with of course the appropriately sized spanner.
Pedro do you require the next sized spanner? Phil assisted Pedro to complete the adjustment.
Once again another event was well supported by VMMA members which include 3 days socialising with friends.
Report by CW
