Snowy Loop - CANCELLED due to ongoing fire risks

Ride leader Al Munday has advised that the ride scheduled for this Sunday, 2 February has been cancelled due to the current and ongoing bushfire. 

Alan or Ian will attend Caltex Woolworths HUME to advise any rider who does not receive this message. Alans contact number is 0438 510 137

Invite to 'The Nerriga Nosh for Bushfire Relief' from the Blue Knights

Arthur Mitchell has passed on an invite to a bushfire relief ride hosted by the
Blue Knights. Further details are below:

The Nerriga Nosh for Bushfire Relief
 
Saturday 15 February 10.30 to 3.30

The Nerriga Nosh (Def: eat food enthusiastically or greedily.)
 Nerriga Pub - http://www.nerrigahotel.com/

 Ride hosted by Blue Knights Australia II Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and inviting all Knights, Defence Riders and Ulysses Club Canberra and family and friends.

 "Folks

 Many are familiar with the fully sealed “Back Road” between Canberra and Jervis Bay.  The communities along it were hit hard during the recent fires, especially around Nerriga, Sassafras and Wog Wog.  Like many of you who have and are continuing to donate to this cause and offer help, this is yet another way to get money into this small Community that has suffered so much.

 This ride will be an out and back to this lovely Country Pub which is the focal point for these Communities and also acted as an emergency shelter when the fires raged through.  Currently the Pub is housing families who lost their homes as well as helping look after their pets!  If that is not Community Spirit what is?

 Ride as follows;
 Saturday 15 February 2020
 Meet at McDonalds Queanbeyan at 10.30am for stands up at 11am after a short ride brief.
 Route will be Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Tarago, Oallen to Nerriga for lunch at the pub.  

 I am asking that each participant bring an additional $20 in cash (or more if you like) to donate to the Nerriga Community Recovery fund.  This can be donated via the Pub.  We will coordinate this and grab a pic to put up on Facebook to help inspire others to do the same.

 After lunch we will return via the same route with a stop off at Bungendore for a milk shake/Coffee and disperse from there which will allow any north side riders to head home up Smith’s Gap.  Probably stop at the R&R Diner or one of the other venues nearby to spread the $$$ around local businesses.

 The distance from Queanbeyan to Nerriga is about 110k’s.  Those needing fuel on the return can get it at Tarago(53k's back from Nerriga - 163k's approx to there in total),  Bungendore(84's back from Nerriga - 194k's approx to there in total) or back at Queanbeyan (220k round trip approx)

 I know many of us have work that gets in the way BUT do try to make this ride as a show of numbers will be so gratefully received by this local Community who have been doing it tough locally with the drought and now the Bush Fires.

 Hope you can join us.  Please respond to the facebook event and I will collate a list.   Their lunch menu can be viewed via the website which is complimented with chalk board specials on the day."

 Regards

 Arthur
 

February 2020 Social Dinner

Kyla has passed on the information that the first Branch social dinner for 2020 will be held on Friday 28th Feb, 6pm at Star Buffet, Burns Club in Kambah. 

Our tables will be at the back,  please go past the buffet to the back of the venue.

if you are planning to go please contact Kyla via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/161484078451791/ , by email at mickandkyla@hotmail.com or phone on 0407047575

Info for those planning to donate to the victims of NSW bushfires.

Kyla Harvey has passed on information for anyone planning to donate to the victims of the recent and ongoing NSW bushfires. 

This is that national not-for-profit organisation GIVIT will be co-ordinating donations to bushfire-affected communities. 

Further details are contained in the advice from the NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelly Hancock MP below.

GIVIT to co-ordinate donations of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities

I am pleased to announce that the NSW Government, on behalf of all local councils, has commissioned national not-for-profit organisation GIVIT to co-ordinate the donation of much-needed goods and services in bushfire-affected communities across the State. The State’s 128 local councils and their nominated local charities now have free access to the proven online service to better co-ordinate and manage donations to those in need. There is no doubt that the great Aussie spirit of giving has been shining throughout the current bushfire crisis, with councils and affected communities inundated with donations of cash, goods and services. While this generosity is welcome, it has posed some logistical challenges for local councils and charities in storing, transporting, sorting and matching these donations to those in need. The Government funding will provide all NSW councils and their local charities access to GIVIT’s donation management platform to co-ordinate donations of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities. GIVIT boasts an innovative virtual warehouse which captures public and corporate pledges of assistance online. The organisation then works with local councils, charities and community groups to match a donation to a recipient in need of that particular item or service. This not only ensures those in need get exactly what they need when they need it most, it also eliminates the need for physical storage and sorting of donations and potential disposal of unwanted goods. This in turn reduces the financial and administrative burden for local councils, recovery agencies and charities. The service also includes an online hub linking residents seeking assistance to trusted local support services. All monetary donations received by GIVIT are used to buy essential items from local businesses to help generate local economic recovery. GIVIT will shortly start contacting local councils to register them for the free service. The organisation will also provide local councils with a range of communication materials to promote the service in their local communities. I encourage local councils to work closely with GIVIT to better co-ordinate the donation of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities. GIVIT has previously assisted the NSW Government to co-ordinate donations for drought-affected communities. The organisation is also the official partner of the Queensland Government and co-ordinated offers of assistance after Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017, the 2018 fires and the 2019 floods in that State. For further information about GIVIT visit www.givit.org.au Councils can contact GIVIT by email: nsw@givit.org.au   Shelley Hancock Minister for Local Government

Ride Report - Chomp & Chat: Araluen – Sunday 19 Jan 2020

The day started off with a forecast of rain in the afternoon but in the morning the weather was cool and promised to be a great day for a ride to Araluen Pub for lunch. The Kings Highway had only recently been reopened due to the bush fires and this meant the police had to make up for lost opportunities and keep a very close eye on the traveling public. 

Briefing over, we all rode sedately to Araluen passing two marked cars on the way to Braidwood. It was good to breathe in fresh air without the smell of the smoke for a change. We rode through areas of burnt out sections of trees and bush visible from the roadway.
 

Braidwood was busy and it was good to see the tourist and locals returning to spend time and money to help the local businesses. The ride down into the valley is twisty, passing beautiful stands of gums. The locals have been busy clearing back trees and bush from the roadsides. 

We used some caution as we rode through not knowing the condition of the road or if fallen branches may have blocked the roadway.  Riding up to the hotel we found it still shut and the area where we usually sit to have lunch filled with boxes. Thankfully we were just a little bit early and the doors opened with the manager greeting us. He stated the boxes we saw were only half of the goods and clothing donated for the bush fire appeal.
 

This was a great opportunity for our branch to support a small country town which is still being affected by the bushfires in the greater NSW region. These smaller towns off the highways need us to visit and let them know they are not alone and not forgotten.
 

Lunch was plentiful and the company talkative. The publican was very welcoming and friendly, as is the lovely cockatoo who, surrounded by boxes, still had something to say to our members.
 
On the ride home we encountered the typical Sunday afternoon traffic traveling west, but it seemed to be more considerate than usual. This was a wonderful way to spend a lazy Sunday hoping that we contributed in a small way to the continued success of the Araluen Hotel.

Riders –

• Mick Winters                Triumph Trophy SE
• Kevin Sherman             Indian Scout
• Neridah McMinn            VTR Honda
• Alan and Lyn Munday    FJR1300
• Warren Richer              Triumph Thruxton R
• Chris Dietzel                 GTR 1400
• Chas Towie                   ST1300
• John Grace                   Triumph Tiger 1200
• Craig Fraser                  Yamaha 1300
• Janet Mulgrue               650 Burgman
• Kerry Mulgrue               ST1300

January 2020 "Riding On 2" is available!

The January 2020 RO2 is now available!

Download >>here<< or click on the image above.

Kings Highway expected to open this afternoon (14 Jan)

The ABC has an on line report that the Kings Highway is expected to be open to traffic this afternoon. (14 Jan).

With so many terrible tales of bush fire fire damage over the last weeks it will be of great news to the South Coastal communities with renewed access to tourist and commercial traffic and ready access to regional medical services.

SAFETY NOTE: Concern has been flagged re the road surface through the fire grounds. Expect any road surfaces contaminated by fire retardant to be slippery especially in the event of rainfall. Caution should be shown on any road surface exposed to bushfire in any case.

>>Link<<

Bush Fire Support Ride to Merimbula ( 7 to 9 March 2020 )

Daryl P has organised a ride to Merimbula for the Long Weekend in March to help support the southern NSW communities who have been heavily impacted by bushfire. Tourism is a core source of income for the region.

The ride will depart Caltex Hume at 9.00am on saturday 7th March to travel via Cooma Nimmitabel and Bega to Stay at Merimbula.

The Ride will include a visit to Bermagui on Sunday and on Monday for mornos.

>> Please see the attached flyer for further details. <<

Note: Suggested accommodation; 
Sapphire Waters Motor, 32 Merimbula Drive 
Phone: 02 6495 1999 to make your booking. 
Mention Canberra Ulysses for the rate of $99.00 per night.

Please contact Darryl Palin on mobile: 041 221 3764 to advise him if you are going on the ride.

Sunday Jan 5, Thredbo ride is off ( but all is not lost!)

A message from Ride Leader Chris D:

Happy New Year one and all! I regret to advise - and for good reason - Thredbo ride is off, compliments of the current bushfire threat. 

That's not to say I will not be at the ride start point. Whoever chooses to ride on Sunday, we will decide where to on the day. 

Smoke! - Just come back from Tassie, which was nice. Tasmania has some fires and smoke - but not nearly as bad as Vic and across NSW - driving up from Melbourne today it became thick nearing Wangaratta and got worse further north. As we know it's from the fires in the Snowy Mountains region.

If smoke haze worsens – as it may, we will likely ride for a nearby coffee spot

“Ride brief” 0850, departure 0900 – Caltex Hume

Regards,

Chris Dietzel

0432632667