Capricorn Chapter

CAPRICORN CHAPTER
Established 24 May, 2008

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.

Founding members from these existing Chapters joined club President David Miles and Assistant Treasurer Kevin Ponting in Rockhampton for the occasion. Gurney Clamp was appointed Co-ordinator of the club's newest regional Chapter, joining Wide Bay and Darling Downs. After holding that position for 10 years, he resigned at the end of 2018 and the role has been taken over by Gary Kunst.

Phil Henry is the Coordinator of the Capricorn Chapter.
His contact details are :
Phone: 0434 017 132
Email: phil@ph7consulting.com.au

Deputy Coordinator Gordon Kelsey will be leading the Chapter until 24 May, 2025

Click here for our Facebook page.

Check out the report on the All-Chapter Queensland Meeting held by the Capricorn Chapter here.

Check out the report on the Capricorn Chapter Far North Queensland Run from 7 - 16 August, 2023 here.

MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Coordinator: Phil Henry 0434 017 132

Deputy Coordinator: Gordon Kelsey 0407 133 596

Run Committee

Gary Whight 0438 262 276 Paul Davey 0419 719 882

Chapter First Aid Officer Rae Cowie

Run Report – 19 October 2025 - Mulumbin

By: Phil Henry

Photos by: Phil Henry

A total of 23 members and spouses arrived at Emily Moore Park on Mulumbin Beach ready for a relaxed Bunnings BBQ style brunch. With clear directions on the simple run sheet, most arrived with ease. However not all - apparently.

Paul Davey had arrived early to set up his two barbecues, tables, chairs and the makings of the meals so by the time everyone had settled in, cooking was well under way.

Paul’s hard work, complemented by Gordon Kelsey assisting, was well rewarded by the way the food was devoured and so before long the social aspect of the run was in full flow to catch up with each other’s doings since we had last gathered.

The group welcomed its newest member, Dennis Finch and his Nissan 300ZX and he was soon swapping automotive stories with the others. Good to see Bob and Wendy Schoevaart back amongst us after their travels and also George Ganter with his proper TF. With Trevor Andersen having also brought his TF it was almost like an old times MG meeting.

With only a limited number of other visitors to the area, the group had it pretty much to ourselves. Some mild interest was stirred by members of the (we assume) Classic Car Club pottering up and down the Scenic Highway in front of us.

Gloria’s Poker Run was won by Lyle Fielding with a hand that could only have been better if he’d printed the cards himself. Reminder to whoever delivers the poker run – more shuffling of cards is required. The Rusty Door lucky prize was won by Kev Carr.

After a very pleasant few hours, members started to say their farewells and drift off into the afternoon.

Participants:

George Ganter - MGTF
Jim and Sandra Armstrong - MGA

Rae and Jack Cowie - MGBGT
Pat and Lyle Fielding - Audi TT
Paul and Joanne Davey - Toyota
Gordon Kelsey - Jaguar E-type
Dennis Finch - Nissan 300ZX
Kev and Yvonne Carr - BMW Z3
Gurney Clamp - MGB
John Newton - Jaguar E-type
Meredith and Ewen Sutherland - BMW Z3
Richard Hughes - Mercedes A45 AMG
Jo Emmert - MGB
Bob and Wendy Schoevaart - Ford Mustang

Trevor Andersen - MGF

Julie Kunst

Phil Henry -MGF (late model)

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MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Run Report – Capricorn Caves, 21 September 2025

By: Phil Henry

Photos by: Phil Henry and Kylie Lindley

One of the drawbacks of a committee whose families don’t include school-aged children is that you don’t know when the school holidays are. Our venue, the Capricorn Caves, did warn us it could be busy.

However, as it turned out there weren’t many visitors there on the day, so our little group was easily accommodated. That said, we were only a little group because many of our members were away, on family holidays we imagine. All this did not prevent some elementary early miscommunication on who was meeting and where.

The tour of the caves is always interesting and our guide, who’d only been there for two weeks, did an excellent job of explaining the natural wonders, both flora and fauna, while also being quite entertaining. Listening to a recording of a capella group Pentatonix doing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, in the Cathedral Cave, is always breathtaking and fortunately this time there was no unsolicited follow up rendition of Get Down and Get With It.

Those members who came but passed on the tour were still chatting away over their coffees as the tour group returned. We then all proceeded to the Caves Pub for a refreshing ale or two and the always excellent food. It was good to see Jo Emmert amongst us after some bouts of illness.

In the absence of Paul Davey and Gary Whight on holidays, there was no poker run or rusty door prize. So now we know who actually does the work.

Participants

Darryl and Kylie Lindley - MGF

John Rowe - MGA

Keith Fullard - Velocette (motorcycle)

Gordon Kelsey - Subaru

Jo Emmert - MGB

Jim and Sandra Armstrong - MGA

Lyle and Pat Fielding - Audi

John and Gail Newton - Jaguar E-type

Phil Henry - MGTF late model

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MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Run Report – Eight Beaches Run: 4-10 August 2025

By: Phil Henry

Photos by: Phil Henry, Jim Armstrong, Ralph Kelsey

At last the day dawned on the long awaited Eight Beaches run. For those not aware, the Capricorn Chapter organises a longer run every two years. These have gone in all directions from Rockhampton, except to New Zealand. The Eight Beaches were: Rainbow; Tin Can Bay; Hervey Bay/Urangan; Woodgate; Bargara; Elliott Heads; Agnes Water; and 1770. Because of adverse weather and some mechanical/electrical incursions, only a select few managed all eight.

Seventeen people in nine cars departed from Rockhampton on Monday 4 August. No major incidents on the run down to the first overnight in Gayndah but some interesting notes. A bloke in Rocky pulled me up just as I was leaving Fantastic Furniture to tell me he had some MG trim bits for sale. I’ll try to get his details. As we passed through Thangool, we picked up four more travellers. After lunch in Monto we went to the RM Williams Centre in Eidsvold, where we got talking to a couple of RV drivers. The coincidence of two E-type Jags travelling in convoy, and two blokes whose RVs were equipped with composting toilets, was worth a conversation - apparently!

After that it was just a quick tootle down to Gayndah where twelve more members, from both “down south” and home, joined us. The obligatory happy hour soon got under way as those who didn’t know each other did so, while some renewed old acquaintances. Dinner was at the Grand Hotel, where the proprietor ran an exceptionally well-organised ship, and the first of a series of fantastic pub meals.

Day two of the run was from Gayndah to Tin Can Bay. A last-minute suggestion saw the group head to Goomeri for excellent coffee and local bakery delights. Managing to navigate through Gympie, we were met with an expansive, sumptuous BBQ lunch at Wayne Kirwan and Megan Perrett's property. So much food! A big thank you to both of them and their helpers for the immense effort it would have taken to cater for us all. Naturally, there was a display of members’ MGs and other models, not to mention the contents of Wayne’s workshop. Eventually we had to head off to Rainbow Beach and the Carlo Sand Blow (for some!). Then to Tin Can Bay's Sleepy Lagoon Motel for happy hour and shortly afterwards to the pub next door for dinner.

Wednesday was a slightly easier day with less driving. The day started early so we could see the dolphin feeding, a local highlight. Gary Whight and Beth Heraghty braved the winter waters to participate in the feeding and were so enthused they accepted the offer to do it a second time! Onward to Maryborough where most of the group took the opportunity to look around before another great feed, this time at the Carriers Arms.

The group then travelled on to Hervey Bay where Martin and Narelle Adamson had a major issue arise with their accommodation - they couldn’t get into their room. It took a few hours and much finagling before it got sorted.

For the Wednesday - second day - in Hervey Bay, we were guests of the MG Car Club of Qld - Wide Bay Chapter under the guidance of its coordinators Lyn Hayward and David Hall, ably supported by Chapter members. We had a very pleasant drive around the area including a visit to Bambooland, a restful and calming oasis.

Then to David and Lyn's place for a big Bunnings style sausage sizzle and a look at their extraordinary (there is no other word) MG museum. We were certainly privileged to have time here before it opens officially, as the range and curation are beyond commercial quality. As coordinators, David and Lyn suffer the same issues as with Capricorn, and probably all Chapters, in wrangling members to pay attention when being given instructions, so Capricorn bequeathed one of its bicycle style horns to them. Good luck!

The only downer was the eventual complete failure of Martin Adamson's clutch, which had been losing fluid faster than he could top it up. After his and Narelle's massive hassles getting into their room in Hervey Bay, their equanimity in braving the new situation was exemplary. The car was RACQ’ed to us and, long story short, Martin and David subsequently sorted the problem after it turned out to be a split in the feeder pipe rather than the slave cylinder itself. Martin and Narelle’s costs were covered, and they made their own way home successfully. That said, five points have been allocated.

Happy hours were conducted on both days, first at the park over the road from one accommodation and then on the verandah of Ross and Shez Letten’s room. We also had two night’s most satisfactory meals at the Hervey Bay Boat Club.

Friday’s run was from Urangan to Bargara. We had a pleasant if cool breakfast on the water’s edge at Toogum, then the group stopped at Woodgate on the way to Bundaberg where we had lunch at the Bundy Social club. More enormous meals, then on to the Bundaberg soft drink factory and outlet to taste a great variety of their flavours and get a six pack of samples to take home.

On the way to Bargara the run sheet had us stopping at the Hummock and then Elliott Heads. However, we had at last encountered the rain that the radar had been showing coming our way, so only four cars were at the Hummock – which is not a beach – and two cars at Elliott Heads, which is. In all the long runs that Capricorn has organised since 2016, this was the most rain we have ever encountered, so we’ve been doing pretty well.

After checking in at Bargara the group split up, having chosen a few different places for dinner. There was nowhere big enough and dry for happy hour, thus trashing another tradition.

Saturday’s departure to Agnes Water was delayed by Ross and Shez Letten discovering that their car – the global traveller Blue B – would not start, including through pushing and towing. Eventually Ross decided that RACQ was needed. They turned up but Ross decided to get it returned to Brisbane and hire a car to take them to Agnes Water.

The original run sheet had included a tour of another classic car display as well a visit to Tinaberries strawberry farm and lunch at Macadamias Australia. With the road to Tinaberries likely to be a red mud experience and the car display cancelled owing to serious health issues in the proprietor’s family, the planned lunch at Macadamias Australia was brought forward.

We were joined by David and Jenny Cook, coordinators, and Graeme Leacock and Marilyn Kerrigan from the Bundaberg Chapter for coffee and morning tea after they’d been able to rearrange their schedules. I overheard much useful technical information being shared, which is a big part of the value of club membership.

Once our Bundaberg compatriots had been farewelled, the afternoon run to Agnes Water was OK although through very wet conditions. Thanks to Brian Russell for confirming the shorter route was open.

Happy Hour was able to be reinstated for the last night in Agnes Water. Although the participant list totals 35, our numbers had dwindled to 13, after having risen and fallen continuously throughout the run. As some compensation, the final celebratory dinner at Sandcastles resort was nothing short of sensational. The necessary reflections and acknowledgements were made.

Sunday dawned bright and clear – of course. With formalities having been dispensed with the evening before, the group made their own arrangements for breakfast before hitting the highways for home.

So another Capricorn Chapter long run had concluded, probably more successfully than any such adventure has any right. Only two breakdowns, both of which could be sorted.

These adventures are great fun, I know we all had a good time. Thank you one and all.

Participants (some not all stages)

Gordon and Ralph Kelsey - Jaguar E-type

Paul and Joanne Davey - MGB

Lyle and Pat Fielding - Audi TT

Martin and Narelle Adamson - MGB

Rae and Jack Cowie - Toyota Rav4

John and Gail Newton - Jaguar E-type

Kev and Yvonne Carr - BMW Z3

Gary Whight and Doris Lisle - Triumph 2500TC

Clem and Jean Hil - Mazda MX5

Brian and Glenis Russell - MGB