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: mgcapricornia@gmail.com

Click here for our Facebook page.

Here is the 2026 Calendar. to download in Excel. The committee has made provisions for any changes or additional outings, through listing some impromptu runs.

MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Run Report – Mt Morgan Museum - 18 October 2026

Text and photos by: Phil Henry

Lucky number draw – not drawn, wait until next month

As has occurred too frequently this year, the lead-up to the October run was dominated by the mental exertion required to forecast the weather. As a result, and to minimise risk, the proposed BBQ at the Big Dam was replaced by lunch at the Grand Hotel. In the event there were only light showers. John Rowe left the hood down on his MGA, as he ritually does, and didn’t get wet at all (he says). What he didn’t do, though, was check that his wipers had blades fitted.

On arriving at the Museum, the staff were eager to greet us. Those members looking for a coffee beforehand were in for some disappointment, with the bakery closed.

Suffice to say the Museum didn’t disappoint and if it hadn’t been for the lunch booking, many would have lingered longer. The Museum has various sections: war, memories of the town, the history of the mine, medical/surgical (scary!), music and theatre, families and clothing and so on. The photos included here don’t do it justice. That said, our tour guide Gwen Scott did a marvellous job in giving an overview of each section and highlighting particularly interesting exhibits.

Eventually we had to be on our way – about half a kilometre – to the Grand, which always does a good pub lunch. After which we all headed home before any more weather. Of some note, we had 6 actual MGs. Bit of a record, these days.

NOTE: Elections for the Coordinator and any committee for 2027 will be held at the November run (18 November, BBQ at Mulumbin). Instructions on how this process works will be sent out shortly.

Participants:

John Rowe - MGA

Jim and Sandra Armstrong - MGA

Jo Emmert and - MGB

Rae and Jack Cowie - MGBGT

Martin and Narelle Adamson - MGB

Phil Henry - MGTF

Trevor Andersen - Ute/truck

Kev and Yvonne Carr - BMW Z3

Kim and Darren Craig - VW Beetle

Ian and Judy Hamilton - Subaru BRZ

Gordon Kelsey - Mazda MX5

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MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Run Report – Koorawatha Homestead, 19-20 September 2026

By: Phil Henry

Photos by: Phil Henry. Narelle Adamson (fog rainbow)

Many of us must have the same experience of Koorawatha Homestead – we drive past it every time on our way to or from Brisbane and think “I wonder what that place is like?”

So a small contingent of MGCCQ Capricornia Chapter members decided to find out. Following (in most cases) a route laid out by Gordon Kelsey, who used to work in the area, they took off from Rockhampton on a delightful spring morning.

The first brief stop was at Mt Larcom, for necessary ablutions, then to Calliope for coffee and cake. We had been joined at Mt Larcom by Robbie and Gary Galloway in their Land Rover, then by Jean and Clem Hill at Calliope in their MX5. After that it was a zoom up the road to Many Peaks for lunch, after another comfort stop at Ubobo, where the tour leader demonstrated his utter ineptitude at choosing the correct route out of a one-horse town.

At Many Peaks, the pub was surrounded by street machine type automobiles, members of the (Gladstone) Harbour City Auto club. Their unmistakable V8 rumbles punctuated our lunch as they departed. The food was copious and tasty and of course some participants couldn’t refuse a (light) cleansing ale.

Then onto the Blackman’s Gap road to Miriam Vale. Suffice to say, some of the gravel sections felt like they hadn’t been graded since construction. Overall though, it’s a great experience in a part of the world that many thought we should explore more in future.

After a bit of a breather, we headed up the Bruce goat track to Koorawatha, where we were efficiently checked in to our rooms.

In no time at all and ignoring some instructions against doing so, the group gathered out the back around an industrial cable drum serving as a table.

Drinks, snacks and chatter quickly ensued, although purchasing lucky number tickets proved too difficult for one member, who managed to drop his ten dollar note into the aforesaid drum. Hence the photo of Gordon Kelsey with a hose – he can explain.

The food was uniformly excellent but it was here that things started to fall apart. No prizes for guessing what was the common culprit and no prizes for identifying who was most like to over-indulge. A “long run” tradition that refuses to die.

The next day started with a “leisurely breakfast” after a generally agreed good night’s sleep. A photo shot for the owners and then onto the road home. A breath test station in Benaraby could have spelled disaster for a couple of the team, who scooted past while the officer conducting the testing was engaged in extended conversation by Gary “Haveachat” Whight. Martin Adamson similarly was pronounced perfectly legal.

The final stop was Calliope for coffee (awarded zero points by the group’s quality arbiter). It was too early to call into the pub at Bajool, so that’s the (interim?) end of another tradition.

The final word goes to Meredith Sutherland, who sent this: “Thank you all for a very happy, fun weekend - enjoyed every minute.”

Lucky number draw – Doris Lisle

Participants:

Ewen and Meredith Sutherland - BMW Z3
Martin and Narelle Adamson - MGB
Gary Whight and Doris Lisle - Triumph 2500TC
Clem and Jean Hill - Mazda MX5
Gordon Kelsey - Mazda MX5
Phil Henry - MGTF (2005)

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MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.

Run Report by: Phil Henry

Photos by: Phil Henry, Gordon Kelsey

A goodly sized group drifted into Fig Tree Creek carpark to commence the August run by starting off with coffee, cake and so on.

With only a leisurely short run to undertake, no-one was in any hurry to get on the road, so a choice was announced: the group could stay, chat and go straight to lunch, or leave on time and do the visit to Raspberry Creek homestead first. As per the run sheet.

The coordinator had ignored one of the key components of coordinating and left the choice on the table. One should never offer choices, should one? Anyway, most members didn’t hear the announcement and tootled past Byfield Store to the homestead which, although closed, offered enough interest to justify the visit.

Lunch time (as per the run sheet) arrived soon enough and, consistent with every visit we have made there, the Byfield Store had our yummy food and drinks out very quickly. This was even though we were a large group and there were plenty of other customers.

It looked like this would be a run with no incidents, but on the way back to Yeppoon the coordinator, travelling behind Martin and Narelle Adamson in their MGB, noticed it slowing. Eventually Martin pulled over and diagnosed a lack of petrol at the carbies.

A few knocks on the fuel pump restored flow, only for a repeat further down the road, by which time more members had arrived. We believe Martin made it home satisfactorily but with another job to do. The photo of Wayne Bergan with his bonnet up was – we are reliably informed – not related to any problems.

Lucky number draw – Wayne Bergan. Hmmm, coincidence?

Reminder – September run to Koorawatha. Book the motel and let Gordon or me know.

Participants:

Gordon Kelsey - Mazda MX5

Gary Whight and Doris Lisle - Triumph 2500

Jack and Rae Cowie - MGBGT

Wayne Bergan - MGA

Martin and Narelle Anderson - MGB

Jo Emmert - MGB

Ian and Judy Hamilton - Subaru BRZ

Rick and Michele Taylor - Chevrolet Corvette

Ewen and Meredith Sutherland - BMW Z3