MMAA Tasmanian Chapter
President: Word. Bro. Tony BRUCE-MULLINS Contact No: 0438 046 595
Email: mmaa@lodgepembroke.org
Secretary: Word. Bro. Craig DEANE Contact No: 0408 129 643
Email: cdeane@bigpond.com.au
Treasurer: Word. Bro Paul GONINON Contact No: 0418 121 394
Email: paul@uhelpremovals.com.au
Ride Reporter: Word. Bro Alan BURTON Contact No: 0418 506 183
Email: hobtas@hotmail.com
Ride Report
Those in attendance over this period were:
Tasmanian Chapter;
Word Bro Craig „Deano‟ DEANE - Ride Captain
Word Bro Rick „Burn Burn Burn‟ GONINON - Ride Marshall
Word Bro Paul GONINON
Bro Bob CRAWFORD
Bro Peter „Shakas‟ SHACKLADY
Kellie „Ned‟ COY
Leigh WELLS
Philip GONINON
Word Bro Alan „AB‟ BURTON – Sweep
NSW Central Coast Chapter
Gary „Duffy‟ DUFF – MMAA National President
Terry „Bongo‟ GARDINER
Graham WILLIAMS
NSW North West Chapter
Trevor & Wendy CAPARARO
Warren & Lyndell GRILLS
Victorian Chapter
Terry „Webby‟ WEBSTER – National Administration Officer
Chris PACKHAM
Jason „Gary‟ BASILIK
Apologies: Word Bro Tony BRUCE-MULLINS & Rosemary
Charmane DEANE
Firstly, my apologies to our mainland Masonic counterparts for not acknowledging their respective Masonic rank. I, at the time of writing and during your recent stay, did not take the time to find out.
Secondly, again my apologies if I have forgotten and subsequently omitted to name, those who may have attended the Easter Ride. My recollection is that I have named everybody who at some stage, took part in the said ride(s) below over the Easter Period.
Thirdly, on to the various daily ride reports.
Friday 22 April: The long wait since the AGM @ Young, NSW in January 2010 when the concept of an Easter Ride to/in Tassie was first mooted by Duffy, had finally abated with Deano, Burn Burn Burn, Paul and AB meeting up at the BP Servo in Brighton, for the ride North to Campbell Town for our first stop en route to Devonport.
Hobart and Tassie in general the previous week, being drenched by unsavoury downpours and inclement weather, were met with rain/showers on this day with wet weather gear being worn all the way to Devonport. Not a good start to our long awaited adventure, although the rain/showers did stop North of Campbell Town.
Having booked into our digs for the night being the Big 4 Cabins (and very comfortable too although Deano claimed the double bed – the others were bunks - after giving the rest of us a choice of beds – how did that work?) we headed for the A???? Hotel to meet Bob CRAWFORD & Leigh WELLS. Having been told by Bob that the Spirit of Tasmania (SPOT) carrying our Victorian counterparts was running 2hrs late, it was decided to have an early tea, instead of waiting as per our original plans. Tea had, and hearing the arrival blast of the SPOT horn, we headed to the wharf to meet Webby, Chris & Jason, before heading back to our digs at the Big 4 were all of us were staying. Having finished off a bottle of „quaffer quality‟ whisky, only joking Deano, being Johnny Walker Swing and sampling some of Webby‟s Chateu Le‟ Cardboard Merlot all retired to their beds, well, bunks for some, for some shut eye (it‟s too late in life for any of the aforementioned to get some beauty sleep) before an early start on Saturday morning to meet the overnight SPOT and Central & NW NSW counterparts.
Saturday 23 April: Having met Duffy, Bongo, Graham, Trevor, Wendy, Warren & Lyndell and with greetings and salutations given & returned, we set off for our first stop being breakfast at the Elizabeth Town Cafe (ETC) Yours truly being the Sweep, had a great view of a total of 14 bikes in front of me as we rode in formation to what turned out to be our first stop, the Caltex Servo in Elizabeth Town were some members/riders needed to fuel up for the trip South, while some headed to order brekky at ETC.
Having stopped at the said servo, yours truly encountered trouble with the Shadow in that it wouldn't start, with a flat battery being named as the cause. With a set of leads from the servo and with assistance from Bongo, the Shadow was restarted at which time, Bob & I rode to straight to Launceston for a new battery. This turned out not to be the case as the battery was checked and found to be fully operational with no cause for concern. What happened?...Who knows but for the rest of the trip and to date so far, the bike has started first time every time.
Meeting the rest of the group at the Caltex Servo in Perth and re-grouping, it was off down South towards Campbell Town, where we stopped for a quick „pit stop‟ and to rendezvous with Shakas & Kellie. On through Campbell Town and left onto the Lake Leake Road to Swansea, it was on this stretch of road that our mainland colleagues encountered what we in Tassie take for granted – magnificent roads with long sweeping bends instead of the long stretches of straight road as per the mainland. Stopping at the Bark Bush Mill for lunch, again, no disappointment with the quality or quantity of all meals, the usual banter reserved amongst bikers, alright then, motorcyclists, was had.
Nourished and with bikes re-fuelled too, it was off again down the magnificent East Coast with fantastic scenery on the left (alright Webby, the Port Side) being Maria Island and everything in between and rolling green hills etc: on the right (yes Webby, the Starboard Side) Oh yeah! I forgot to mention, it was a beautiful sunny day too which made it, as always, an even more enjoyable ride.
On down to the turn off at Finger Post Road, onto the Campania/Richmond Road, we headed for and through, the historic township of Richmond. Throughout and again, a great ride was had by all, with long stretches of sweeping road with the bikes being treated to some „opening up‟ along the way.
Out of Richmond we turned onto Sugar Loaf Road, being met by some tight corners, familiar to the „locals‟. It was on one such bend, a bend that suddenly turns sharp right halfway round that Wendy decided to see just how far she could lean her bike over. With a loud scrape of the right hand floorboard, a wobble and turn, Wendy regained control and rode through the bend. Well done Wendy, although I honestly thought that you had „lost it‟.
Arriving at the Big 4 Cabins at East Risdon, our guests signed in for their stay and found the Cabins and site in general, to be very accommodating being very clean and tidy. That done, the „locals‟ left them to unpack and have tea at the local l pub next door, the Risdon Tavern, arranging to meet the next morning, Sunday, @ 0930hrs.
Sunday 24 April: Craig, Bob, Leigh & I having arrived at the Big 4 Cabins on the East Derwent Highway to meet our guests, were informed that one our guests had succumbed to the fresh air, the tranquillity of Tassie and the previous day‟s ride down the beautiful East Coast and had slept in? Yeah right!!! Enough of the niceties‟. One of the group, who shall remain nameless as Webby said not to put this bit in, sampled two (2) bottles of the vino with his dinner the previous evening followed by a nightcap of a few nips of Rum....well half a bottle anyway. Needless to say, this unnamed person spent the night yodelling to the porcelain god reciting mort than his ritual...........or should that be regurgitating? Not satisfied with that and feeling slightly embarrassed, went for the sympathy vote and came out claiming to have slipped and banged/cut open his forehead just above the left eye, for a band aid was clearly visible. Everyone say aaaawwwwggggghhhh!!!!! For once, yours truly wasn't the victim as I was on home soil and not playing away from home................figuratively speaking!!!!
Anyway, finally arriving at our usual meeting place of Montrose Yacht Club it was very pleasing to see the turnout of 15 bikes/riders and three pillions being 18 all up. It was here that the Easter Bunny arrived aka Deano whom some say, looked like a right bunny too, giving out Easter Eggs for one and all. They were of course sent by his better halve who couldn't, unfortunately, make the ride. Thankyou Charmane.
The ride already planned for the day, it was off North a few klms up the Brooker Highway, before turning left towards Glen Lusk and Collinsvale on what was a narrow in parts and winding road, all the way to the Lyell Highway coming out at the Boyer Paper Mill.
A stop for a quick tour of the Derwent Valley Lodge (DVL) courtesy of Rick & Paul, where a brief history of the Lodge was given by Rick after which, it was inside for some group photo‟s . Mounting our trusty steeds again...............no! I‟m not going there, it was off following the River as it snaked through the Valley as we headed for Westerway via Glenora. Arriving at Westerway, it was to the Possum Shed we went for a light snack of scones, jam & cream ( and more cream in Deano‟s case), toasted raisin bread, coffee and tea‟s. Photo‟s taken and all, it was off again heading for Bothwell via Meadowbank, Hamilton and through Dunrobin. What can I say? As we locals well know, this is a great stretch of road and one which is well suited for a quick „spurt‟ and an opening up of the throttle to get rid of a few cobwebs which, on a perfect day for riding as this was, was done and enjoyed by all.
Arriving at Bothwell safe and sound it was into the local, Castle Hotel, for our what is for us locals, our usual stop for lunch. Yours truly at least, ate too much having had a steak ordered by Deano of which literally filled the dinner plate and coming chips and salad. Talk about bloated!!!!! The bike didn't go as fast after dinner as it did before with the extra weight!!
All fed & watered, it was time to head off again, but not before farewells were given to Bob & Leigh who, being from the North of State, Launceston & Devonport respectively, would be leaving us at Melton Mowbray and riding North once we reached the Midlands Highway.
Reaching the Highway, Bob & Leigh went North whilst the rest of the group headed South towards our final destination re: our guests being back at the Big 4. Waves and toots given to Rick, Paul, Shakas and Kellie Deano and AB turned left at the roundabout at Bridgewater to ride through amongst other places, Otago Bay and our final destination of East Risdon, where we bid farewell to our mainland counterparts.
Monday 25th April: With Rick & I arriving at the Big 4 @ 0915hrs, we found that there was „no one home‟ with not a bike in sight. We decided to head into Lindisfarne for a Latte, alright, we had a flat white, we found our „lost tribe‟ coming out of Lindisfarne Village having, we assumed, already having eaten their brekkies and heading back to the Cabins. Rick & I having had our morning coffee, returned to the Big 4 where we found „the tribe‟ duly congregated. It was then we heard the shout “look out, here comes Shakas with his L Plates on”. Shakas came into view with his usual travelling companion Kellie as pillion, on the back of Kellies Hyosung Aquila. This came about as Shakas Trumpy is badly in need of a new tyre with the old one showing well and truly, signs of wear and tear to the extent of being worn right through in parts.
It was at this time that farewells were said and given to one of our Victorian colleagues namely Chris PACKHAM, who had to return to Melbourne on the evening sail of the SPOT. Not knowing how long the ride would be, down to Port Arthur, Chris decided to remain behind in order to pack etc:
Farewells given, a total of 12 bikes and 3 pillions being 15 in total set off for our destination, non-stop to Port Arthur, via Sugar Loaf Road, Richmond, Finger Post Road, on to the Arthur Highway through Sorell, Dunalley, Eaglehawk Neck etc: Again, a great day for a ride with the weather holding out with no rain in sight, a good ride was had to Port Arthur although we were at times, frustrated by slower moving vehicles in front namely campervans. Into the cafe at Port Arthur, pies and hot drinks were the main order of the day, followed by various cakes & slices. With no takers for a tour of this historic and scenic destination, it was off again through the Township of Nubeena before a photo stop was had at the Blow Hole. Snaps taken, it was off again for the short ride to the Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck where snaps having being taken yet again, it was off for an even shorter ride to the lookout, for some more holiday snaps.
It was here, unfortunately, that disaster struck in that we had a „domino effect‟ of falling bikes. I‟m really not too sure how in fact it happened other than Phillip and Paul were at Phillip‟s bike when it fell onto Paul‟s who‟s fell onto Kellie‟s with all three bikes ending up on the floor. As for damage, scrapes, dents on all bikes and a broken brake lever on Kellie‟s bike, being the outcome.
Photo‟s taken, we were off again for a fuel stop at Dunalley at which time, we became fragmented with yours truly, whilst filling up and being Sweep, not knowing who had stayed after stopping and who had decide to ride on. With Paul & Phillip riding past, I decided that they were the last and took off in pursuit of same during which, I saw Shakas and Kellie up ahead then Rick as Ride Captain, ahead even further.
Through Sorell and on towards the airport it was at this stage, that some of the group went their various ways to their respective homes.
Monday evening: A bbq was organised by the Tasmanian Chapter to be had at the Big 4 Cabins venue for all. Sausages, homemade burgers & chutney/relish, damper, onions, bread, sauces etc: were cooked by Deano and yours truly, being washed down with Cascade and Chang, varying wines as donated by Deano (on ya! Deano) and varying other alcoholic, and non alcoholic beverages, being had by all. Again, thanks to Charmane for making/providing the burgers and the shopping for sausages, damper/breads etc:
In all, a good evening in good company was had by those in attendance, for which was a fitting end to the MMAA Tasmania Easter Ride, 2011. It was during this time, that the National President Gary DUFF announced that the next MMAA AGM would be held in Batemans Bay, NSW next January 2012, for which all would be advised of the exact dates/times etc: so that both accommodation and travel arrangements could be made well in advance.
Trevor CAPARARO suggested that at the next MMAA AGM, the Tasmanian Chapter be given the opportunity to host an AGM in Tasmania which was well received by all.
With the evening drawing to a close, goodnights, farewells and thanks of mutual appreciation were given by/to all as this was officially, the end of the Tasmania Easter Trip for most.
Tuesday 26 April, 2011: With Trevor & Wendy and Warren & Lyndell staying on in Tassie for an extra few days, yours truly met with Gary DUFF, Terry GARDINER, Graham WILLIAMS and Terry WEBSTER @ 0900hrs to act as escort to Campbell Town, on their way to Devonport to meet the evening sailing of the SPOT. Jason BASILIK had departed earlier that morning @ 0600hrs as he was meeting with his father who resides in Longford? before meeting the others in Devonport later that day.
Arriving in Campbell Town, bacon & egg rolls with coffee were had by all except for Terry W, who chose to have a full breakfast before yet again, handing part thereof to Gary to finish. Whilst in the cafe, we were joined by Bob CRAWFORD who had ridden down from Launceston to relieve yours truly and act as escort for the next leg of the trip. Breakfasts consumed, farewells were exchanged with the words „see you in Batemans Bay‟ being said by all. Bob escorted the group to, I believe Latrobe? were he handed over the reins to Leigh WELLS who came down from Devonport in support, showing them the sights of Devonport and surrounds, before returning to the SPOT in time for the night sailing.
Yours truly, having bid farewell in Campbell Town rode the Lake Leake/Swansea Coast Route home, before heading through Richmond where I saw Trevor, Wendy, Warren & Lyndell who had obviously ventured to this historic township, for some afternoon tea. On ya! guys!!
MMAA Tasmania Easter Trip 2011 verdict: A very enjoyable trip was encountered by all of which was conducted with good will, in good spirit and in good company.
Having prayed, well ok then, wished for good weather, my prayers/wishes were answered with excellent weather for the whole trip, which made for great riding without the need for wet weather gear or uncomfortable days in „the saddle‟.
Please make sure you visit the following web page to view photo‟s of the trip as taken by the Tasmanian members as they are uploaded:
www.lodgepembroke.org Then to the MMAA Tab at the top right hand side of the page or;
www.freemasonrytasmania.org Scroll down to the MMAA Tab
In closing, we, the MMAA Tasmanian Chapter thank all our guests from the Victorian, Central and NW NSW MMAA Chapters for taking the time to travel to Tasmania to participate in this, our inaugural MMAA Ride as hosts.
Ride safe, stay safe.............
Alan „AB‟ BURTON
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