Sapphire Coast Branch Ulysses Inc

BRANCH NEWS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

PARKING UPDATE

Dedicated motorcycle parking in Bega has fallen into a pothole. We have been informed that the Chair of the Council's Traffic Committee - who is thought to be anti-motorcycle - has referred the proposal to provide motorcycle parking in Carp Street to the RTA for its consideration on the grounds that it is a major highway and such a momentous policy decision is ouside the authority of the Council. It all sounds a bit peculiar as the Council seems to be able to make all sorts of other decisions relating to Carp Street.

Apparently an RTA representative will be inspecting the proposed parking spaces this week or next and her report, even if positive, will then have to be considered by Council. We have no indication of how long it will take for the report to be materialise or how long Council's deliberations will take. In the meantime members are reminded that is an offence to park more than one vehicle in a marked parking space, which means that if you are parking in Carp Street - as many of us do - we should take up a full space for each motorcycle by parking parallel to the kerb.

On 30 March I wrote to Andrew Constance MP (a member of the Council's Traffic Committee) referring to a meeting I had with him in November 2008 when he indicated strong support for dedicated motorcycle parking in Carp Street. I sought his assistance in resolving what appeared to me to be delaying tactics. On 9 April he replied "I have made representations on your behalf to the Mayor of Bega Valley Shire Council Mr Tony Allen and wait his response, which I will forward to you".

John Dean

Branch Secretary

NEWS

Riding on motorbikes- new rules from RTA

Any passenger carried on a motorbike (not in a sidecar) must be eight years of age or older. Children under eight are only allowed to be carried in the sidecar of a motorbike.

Sidecars must not be operated if:

The passenger is not safely seated.
The passenger is not wearing an approved helmet.

PENALTY: Three demerit points and a $243 fine. Passenger offence is a $243 fine

Driver to have proper control of a vehicle

A driver must not drive with a person or animal in the driver’s lap. The rider of a motorbike must not ride with an animal on the fuel tank. This does not apply to a person who travels less than 500 metres for the purposes of farming.

PENALTY: Three demerit points (four in a school zone) and a $324 fine ($405 in a school zone).

PRESIDENT ALAN MORGAN

In a nutshell

Born in Wales. Migrated with family as a child to Tathra

Went to school at Bega Primary then High ....YEARS AGO!

Finished school and couldn't get out of Bega fast enough!

Discovered Sydney!! Studied accountancy and partied a lot. Finished studies and travelled to the UK ...Overland. What an adventure. Well and truly bitten by the travel bug. Stayed away for 7 years. Met up with my English girlfriend (met in Oz), and did more travelling. Worked off and on between travels in Computers and Accounting in London. Hitched hiked around Scandinavia. Took an old Citroen 2CV over to Israel via Morocco. Wanted to do North and South America so decided to Migrate to Canada. Worked in Toronto then fitted out VW Kombi and took it to South America and back.

Married, back to Oz. Got an accounting job at Bega Coop. Bought land at Tantawangalo, had two kids. Started computer business The Logic Centre in Bega. Split up... moved to Bega. Got a Yamaha 250 and bike licence. Jumped up to 1300cc HD Electra Glide. Joined Ulysses #4735. Went bike crazy and over the years went to scores of rallies and Ulysses AGMs.

In recent times, have 3 grand kids, did lots more travel overseas and in Oz using a motorcycle whenever possible. Eased back after second Harley Electraglide to 650cc Honda Deauville. Sold Computer business after 23 years and now work a few days a week at the Potoroo Palace (Yellowpinch), with Australian wildlife ......and loving it.

There are over 300 countries out there and I have only visited a third of them, so there is much to do. Must keep fit and well and keep the shinny side up!

Cheers