As an ex serving member of the Royal Australian Air Force, I was going to attend the Dawn service at the Australian War Memorial (more than 50,000 people did, to commemorate this Centenary year!) but I needed my beauty sleep after staying up late to watch on TV some of the many tributes to the life of the ANZACs on the Friday night. I was not in the good books with my better half, after setting the alarm for 0330 only to turn it off straight away – her words to the effect of “Well, why set it at all if you’re not going to get up anyway...?”.
I arrived at Caltex Nicholls at 0715 for Peter Arday’s ride. Peter couldn’t make it and had seconded Daryl Pailin to the job of ride leader. It was great to see so many from our Branch for this ride (18 bikes, two with pillions Lyn and Natalie), more than any previous year I have been to (this was my 5th).
Darryl gave us the ride brief, advising we will have coffee at Murrumburrah.
We rode at a leisurely pace, all meeting there. The Hausfeld’s (Steve and Jan) couldn’t spend all day with us so we left them at the coffee stop and continued on to Temora. With some 60km to ride, the skies ahead of us looked ominous, with bolts of lightning spreading across the dark and fast-moving front heading straight for us. Those that stopped to put on their wet weather gear got a nice surprise as the hail began. For those of us at the front, we rode through without stopping, and I swear that by the time I reached Temora at just after 1000 I was completely dry again. Moral of the story – don’t stop for a ‘tiny little rainstorm’ (??).
On arrival in Temora I refuelled and was at the parade “form-up” location before many of our group had arrived.We formed up at the back of the Parade, behind the (always growing) group of local schoolchildren (it’s fantastic that in these country towns, every part of the community gets involved in ANZAC Day – after all, country areas, possibly more than the city, paid a high price in human casualties in those dark days of war – perhaps because of the sense of adventure in getting away from the possibly mundane life in the country).Some of us had Australian flags taped or otherwise connected to our bikes, and a few of us wore our Service medals. And one thing is certain, the local community do appreciate our being there on their Parade – we got a tremendous round of applause from the crowd as we ambled along at walking pace. The local constabulary had turned a blind eye to us not wearing helmets (the usual line “I can’t say I approve, but will not book you if you choose to” after Darryl introduced himself to the local Police Sergeant).
After a short parade, we parked the bikes and Chas (ex-Air Force) and our newest Ulysses Club member Andrea (also ex-Air Force, but more recently – sorry Chas!) were invited to lay a wreath on behalf of our Branch. There was a flyover of four aircraft (I didn’t get a good photo) from the Temora Aviation Museum – two Spitfires and a Lockheed Hudson, and another plane I didn’t recognise. There was also a reading by one Air Force Wing Commander Anthony Wennerbom. Tony and I served together at RAAF Laverton for a time in Victoria in the early 90’s (albeit from different trade groups), and is currently a Commanding Officer at RAAF Wagga, Forest Hill NSW. He gave an account of his Great Uncle arriving in the second wave at Gallipoli, and was from the local Temora region. Thanks Tony (I’m sending this story to Tony as well).
Immediately after the parade, Mick Harvey headed home, and the rest of us proceeded to the Serviceman’s Club where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and some discussion. The thunder began again, and the rain, just as we were preparing to leave. Alan and Lyn had left slightly before – so probably got wet! No sooner as the wet weather gear was put on, the rain stopped again and it was a balmy 18 degrees. We continued home to a view of what lay before us – more nasty weather. Most stopped at Harden/Murrumburrah again, but Darryl Cullen and I forged onwards, only to be hit by a strong storm (with hail!) just short of reaching Yass – and it continued all the way home. Yet we didn’t bother with putting on our Wet’s, so by the time I got home, I was soaked through, and the temperature was down to six degrees.
Another great day out; all the more memorable as it was the centenary of ANZAC day. Thank you to everybody that came along on this day.
Chris Dietzel
Creative Photography: Kym Moorey
List of riders:
- Daryl Pailin (Honda GL1800)
- Mike Kelly (BMW R1200RT)
- Garry McCurley & Natalie TeBay (Honda VFR1200)
- Ron Tito (Honda CTX1300)
- Kim Moorey (Honda DN01)
- Nic Platt (BMW RnineT)
- Julie Hyland (Honda Sports CBR500) – welcome Julie – who’s first ride with us was today.
- Andrea Lanagan (Suzuki Boulevard)
- Alan & Lyn Munday (Yamaha FJR1300)
- Darryl Cullen (Suzuki 1250S Bandit)
- Genelle Mills (Triumph Bonneville)
- Mick Harvey (Yamaha FJR1300)
- Chas Towie (Honda ST1300)
- Steven Hausfeld (BMW K1300S)
- Jan Hausfeld (Honda CB400)
- Chris Dietzel (Kawasaki GTR1400)
- Butch Wills (BMW)
- Jan Wills (Honda DN01)
