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CAPRICORN CHAPTER
Capricorn Chapter
MGCC country members living in the Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Biloela and Moura
districts can now enjoy more social activities with the Capricorn Chapter
being officially recognised following the meeting in Rockhampton.
Gurney Clamp was appointed Co-ordinator of the clubs newest
regional Chapter, joining Wide Bay and Darling Downs. Founding members from
these existing Chapters joined club President David Miles and Assistant
Treasurer Kevin Ponting in Rockhampton for the occasion.
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NEWSLETTER -
16/08/10
Beautiful clear skies and great weather conditions welcomed the members of the Capricorn Chapter, MG Car Club of Queensland, as they headed off on their August tour around the Keppel coast.
The Coastal group of Don Madden and friend Jenny and Gurney & Gloria Clamp started off at Beaman Park in Yeppoon before heading off to the corner of the road to Cawarral and the Yeppoon to Rockhampton road where they met with the central group of Dale & Margaret Volling, Terry Dwyer, Janelle Thomasson, Phil & Pam White, Peter & Tracey Breed and Stuart & Ada Clark. The combined group then travelled to the Cooraman creek boat ramp for morning tea, after which the group travelled to Emu Park and called into the markets at Bell Park with some members purchasing much need items.
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From Bell Park the group travelled to the Causeway Lake where Ian & Linda Wilhelmsen caught up with us joining in for a meal of fish and chips at the Causeway Kiosk. It was here that a couple of people who own MGs enquired about the club so we look forward to their becoming members in the near future. After lunch the group of MGs travelled to Cooee Bay and met up with another potential member in Henry Cave of Emerald, after which we headed off to Don Madden’s property near Farnborough to view a number of projects he has under taken in his workshop and to enjoy his efforts from his kitchen for afternoon tea. Well done Don.
The September tour will be to the property of Stuart & Ada Clark at Goovigen.
Yours in good MG motoring
Gurney T. CLAMP
Capricorn Chapter.
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NEWSLETTER -
13/06/10
The Capricorn Chapter of the MG car Club of Queensland June run to Joskeleigh South Sea Islander Museum and Keppel Sands was made in beautiful and fine weather with a cool chill in the air, the group of Terry Dwyer, Phil & Pam White, Jo and her daughter Emma Emmert, (both dressed in their New South Wales state of Origin supporters outfits), Ian & Linda Wilhelmsen after meeting at Kershaw gardens Rockhampton headed off to meet the coastal group of Don Madden, Trevor Anderson and his partner, Gurney & Gloria Clamp (with their Queensland supporter’s flag on their MG ) at the junction of the Yeppoon / Rockhampton Road and Dairy Inn road to Cawarral, After much discussion, the most suitable route to Kevin and Helens Brown’s property on Coowonga road was selected where we were invited to have morning tea, traveling on the selected route was brought to a halt when unexpectedly dirt road appeared, Don and Trevor decided that the dirt road appeared to be OK and would be a lot shorter, while the remainder of the group took the longer alternative all bitumen route.
Kevin Brown, a potential new member due to him recently purchasing a 1971 MG B and driving it up from New South Wales, made it known that when he has restored the car he wants to become a member.
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Kevin made us more
than welcome on arrival with an area in the open air specially
prepared for our visit along with beautifully home made pumpkin
soup and home made fruit slice freshly made before we arrived.
Kevin gave us all a tour of his garage where restoration on his
MG has commenced. Unfortunately we had too short a time with
Kevin as we had to meet up with Mrs. Leo at the Joskeleigh museum which was housed in a former school teacher house in Joskeleigh. Here we found out that when the school was in operation, it was mainly filled with South Sea Islander children who came to this country to work the land and at the former Yeppoon Sugar Mill.
From Joskeleigh we headed to Keppel Sands for lunch at the Keppel Sands Hotel, a popular spot for groups such as ours, during lunch it was decided that the July tour would be to the Awonga Dam near Gladstone. Gurney to select a suitable date and Ina Wilhelmsen to investigate accommodation for those who wish to travel down Saturday and over night, The group also indicated that this years trip to 1770 meeting with the Wide Bay Chapter was one that we should make an annual event.
Apologies were received from Stuart & Ada Clark, Jim & Sandra Armstrong, Ted Pidcock, Janelle Thomasson, Dale & Margaret Volling, Brian & Glenis Sullivan
Yours in good MG motoring
Gurney T. CLAMP
Capricorn Chapter.
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NEWSLETTER -
17/05/10
Mt Morgan – Bouldercombe Tour
This is newsletter number 2 for me and hopefully, with Gurney’s return, the last. You can all breathe a sigh of relief. The original plan was for us to travel to Mt Morgan via the Razorback but an executive decision (i.e., by me) had us motoring to Dululu via Westwood for the first leg. The plan was to meet up with Stuart and Ada Clark in their TC at the rest area for morning tea then proceed to Mt Morgan as originally proposed. A very chilly and cloudy sky greeted us Sunday morning and things weren’t to change for the rest of the day. Never having used the heater in our MGB, I made a mental note to read the manual on how to do so when I got home as I feel it won’t be long before it will come in handy. Anyhow, Linda and I were greeted with the smiling faces of several of our members – Terry, Phil, Jo and her guest Kim. Seeing that there were spare passenger seats available, Jo promptly shot off to get another friend to accompany us. Thus Trish joined the expedition.
The run to Dululu was trouble free (unlike the previous run to Agnes Waters) although as we approached Dululu, numerous lights appeared in our rear view mirrors and these turned out to be the local HOGs on a charity run. They managed to pass us just before our arrival in Dululu and as there were 60 of them but only 4 of us, I was wondering if there would be enough space for all of us in Dululu. Not to worry as they pulled up outside the pub while we carried on to the rest area a short distance further along. On our arrival at the rest area, Stuart and Ada were patiently waiting, accompanied by numerous caravans and cars. The normally quiet town was buzzing with activity. A couple of our lot, who shall remain anonymous, decided they would duck to the pub to see what was happening. Yes sure !!
After morning tea, a short drive to Mt Morgan ensued. First stop
was the lookout with a fabulous view overlooking the mine. |
This history of Mt
Morgan is intriguing and a return visit to do a mine tour is on
the cards. The recent film “Beneath Hill 60” was based on the
diaries of Captain Oliver Woodward who had been mine manager at
Mt Morgan before enlisting and joining the 1st Australian
Tunnelling Company.
The next stop was the Mt Morgan dam. After being extremely low for some time, the dam is now full and looking an absolute picture. Once again a brief walk to check out the spillway was accompanied by much chatter and laughter. The final leg to Bouldercombe for lunch allowed us a view from the Mt Morgan range over the plains below. I am old enough to remember when white posts were placed in the middle of the rather steep and winding road to separate upgoing vehicles from the descending ones. Thankfully they are long gone but the drive up (or down) is still a thrilling affair. I was very impressed by the taut handling of our 37 year old MGB on the rather quick trip down the range.
Arrival at the Royal Hotel in Bouldercombe saw the crew quickly consuming liquid refreshments and enjoying a delicious BBQ lunch. The peace and quiet was rudely interrupted by the sound of some 2 wheeled vehicles, one of which appeared to be an Indian with sidecar attached. Once again a couple of our group could not contain themselves and went to investigate. Although the sun refused to break through the clouds, the day was once again a most enjoyable one. I am so pleased I joined the MGCCQ and the local Capricorn Chapter and look forward to many more adventures with the club.
Cheers for now.
Ian Wilhelmsen
Assistant Coordinator
Capricorn Chapter. |
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NEWSLETTER -
14/05/10
Agnes Waters / Town of 1770 Tour
At the Capricorn Chapter’s last run to Byfield, Gurney revealed that he and Gloria would be gallivanting around the Pacific on a cruise and was looking for someone to report on the next two trips we had planned. Unfortunately you will have to put up with my ramblings until the very eloquent Gurney returns from his adventures. Talking of adventures, we landlubbers had adventures of our own which shall be revealed in due course.
Saturday the 1st of May dawned bright and clear which is a good start when contemplating a 200 mile (I refuse to use kilometres when in the MG as most of us have proper speedometers) trip to our destination, which just happened to be Agnes Waters / Town of 1770 to meet the Wide Bay Chapter. Running a little late for our rendezvous with the rest of our crew at Kershaw Gardens, I was surprised to be the first but in rapid succession Stuart and Ada, Terry and Janelle and Jo and Sally arrived. Stuart and Ada were in their beautiful 1948 TC and unfortunately had to put up with the rest of us in common garden variety MGBs. Together with Linda and my good (some would say otherwise) self, that made for eight people keen to hit the road. The first “planned” stop was to be the Calliope River Heritage Village for morning tea. Since joining the MG car club, I find it better to refer to “planned” stops rather then plain old “stops” as things just don’t seem to go according to plan on most trips. We were not to be disappointed.
Things were proceeding beautifully with all cars humming (or rasping) along and everyone enjoying the superb Autumnal weather when suddenly just as we approached the thriving metropolis of Ambrose, Terry’s left front tyre decided to commit suicide in a most spectacular fashion. Safely pulling to the side of the road, a quick look revealed a very sad tyre that had obviously come to the end of its life, strands of wire sticking out in all directions. No worries. A quick change of tyre and we would be on our way. Umm not so hasty. “When I got up this morning I had a flat tyre so I did a quick change. That’s the spare that just exploded!” said Terry. “I’ve got the same model B as you” says Jo “we’ll use my spare”. For some reason Jo’s spare would not fit and I couldn’t help as I have 15 inch mags. So Jo and Terry threw the flat but not shredded tyre into Jo’s car and off they went to obtain help. The rest of us, being the resourceful mob we are, decided to have morning tea under a large shady tree and await their return. And return they did – eventually! Via Gladstone! We were only on the road for a short time when once again we had an impromptu stop, this time by the constabulary for a licence check and RBT. The officer checking Jo was particularly interested in her fingerless gloves and considered issuing her with a defect notice. Stuart and Ada however, were allowed to pass by, obviously appearing too distinguished to bother, not like the glove wearing speedaholics in their MGBs.
We arrived at Miriam Vale without any further dramas and had an excellent lunch in the park with food purchased from Saffy’s Café. After lunch I decided to head to the ablutions block, as you do, only to return to the sound of much laughter and merriment.
It’s just as well I wasn’t there as a Kon Tiki tour bus had just
reverse parallel parked between two of our cars and our car
“Ruby” was the rear one. The driver was obviously extremely skilled but the crew were conjuring up pictures of me hurling myself between the bus and our MG to save it!
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After arriving at our motel at Agnes Waters and meeting some of the Wide Bay crew, our lot decided to take a trip to 1770 and to the Round Hill lookout and gaze out over the rather rough ocean. This should have given us an inkling of what was in store for four of us the next day as we had planned a trip to Lady Musgrave Island. As we were staying at the Mango Tree Motel, we had dinner at the Café just beside it and the meals were superb (particularly the lamb shanks). We had a great time with the Wide Bay mob and also met up with Sue and Noel King from Rocky who had travelled down the day before
and were camping just over the road from the motel. The campers with their large 4WDs were amazed at just how much camping gear could fit into an MG. After dinner, a group returned to the motel where much laughter and frivolity ensued. We are wondering if Peter B and Ian B do gigs and if so, we would like to hire them for our next Christmas party. After a hearty and for some, a rushed breakfast, we said our farewells as Terry, Janelle, Linda and I had to catch a bus to 1770 to do a trip to Lady Musgrave Island. Jo and Sally were heading back to Rocky while Stuart and Ada decided to have a relaxing day checking out some markets etc. As this is an MG report, I won’t go into details about LMI except to say “Do yourself a favour” and at sometime in your life visit the Great Barrier Reef if you haven’t already done so. We went on an island tour, glass bottom boat and semi submersible but the highlight had to be the
snorkelling (although the food was pretty good as well). All four of us had a wonderful day and thoroughly recommend it. Just take your seasick pills before you go!
On our arrival back on land (I was going to say “dry” land) the heavens opened and all I could think of was if Ruby was ok as the roof was down but in a carport. I needn’t have worried as Stuart was keeping
an eye out. A bit of a wander after a refreshing shower saw the intrepid six dining on pizza and finishing off a fantastic day.
Monday morning saw Stuart and Ada head off followed a little while later by Terry, Janelle, Linda and Ian with the girls driving and the boys relaxing in the passenger seat. Our car loved Agnes Waters so much it tried to leave its front number plate behind when reversing out of the motel. It does sit rather low so I should do something about it! The trip to Tannum Sands seemed to happen at a much faster rate of knots with the girls at the helm then the trip down and we were there in no time only to be greeted with “Hey do you know you’ve got a flat tyre!” Oh no, we had obviously displeased the tyre God and he had struck once again. This time we bundled both tyres into our car and headed off in a vain attempt to affect a repair. After an impromptu tour around Gladstone we came to the inevitable conclusion that the words “public holiday” really mean “no-one is working today and it doesn’t matter if you are desperate we will not help you”. As Terry’s brother lives in Gladstone, a decision was made to leave the car at his place and get a lift to Rocky. A call to the RACQ saw a flat bed truck arrive and safely take the car. Linda and I continued on to home, arriving home at about 3 o’clock. A few phone calls revealed all participants were safely home and looking forward to the next run. The good news is that I only have to report on 1 more run and our fearless leader Gurney will have returned.
Apologies were received from Gurney and Gloria Clamp and Phil and Pam White. See you on the next run.
PS Ian B we only saw 1 Victorian number plate on our way home and dispatched him with ease.
Ian Wilhelmsen
Assistant Coordinator, Capricorn Chapter.
Click here
for full calendar of events for 2010. |
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