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. Contact details for Gary are:
Phone - 0419 909 616.
Email: garyk53@icloud.com or juliek26@bigpond.net.au
Click here for the amended calendar of events for the remainder of 2019.
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Click here for our Facebook page.
THE BIRTH OF THE CAPRICORN CHAPTER
by founding Chapter Coordinator, Gurney T Clamp
After purchasing my 1972 MG B in Brisbane and shipped back to Yeppoon, I started driving it on every opportunity I got in and around Yeppoon and its surrounding area.
Then, one day I came across a couple driving in their red MG B doing as I was, so I caught up to them and found that they were from Rockhampton and doing a cruise around Yeppoon. Their names were Dale & Margaret Volling. I told them that I was going to try to form a MG Car club in Central Queensland and asked them if they were interested in joining a club such as I was trying to form. They agreed that they would be interested, gave me their contact details and I told them that they would be number 2 members. On arriving back home, one of my neighbors, Robert Hanson, called over to have a good look at my MG and told me that he knew of another MG owner, Trevor Williams, who lived in Yeppoon. He agreed to take me to meet him and this visit turned out to be very important as he tried unsuccessfully to form a MG car club several years ago. He had a list of names and contact details of people that owned an MG in Central Queensland, which he gave to me.
I returned home and started making contact with everyone on the list, asking them if they were interested in forming an MG car club in Central Queensland. The response was just what I was hoping for so then, I had to contact them all again informing them that on Sunday, 4 May 2008, a meeting of all interested MG owners was going to be held at Beaman Park Yeppoon at 9.00 a.m.
On Sunday, 4 May I was overjoyed by the number of MG’s and their owners that arrived at Beaman Park. They had come from as far away as Moura, Biloela and Rockhampton. All present indicted that an MG car club should be formed. I was elected as chairman and spoke on how we should go about forming the club. Jim Armstrong and Gary Kunst who were current members of the MG Car Club of Queensland, suggested that we should seriously look at becoming a chapter of the MG car club of Queensland if this club had any chance of survival. The MQCC of Qld already had two chapters operating quite successfully called the Darling Downs and Wide Bay Chapters. In doing this, we would have the back up of the MGCC of Qld’s support in legal liability, financial matters etc., if successful and accepted by the MGCC of Qld. All present agreed that this was the path that we should take and indicated that I should continue as an unofficial chairman of this fledgling organization.
On Monday, 5 May 2008, I contacted the MG Car Club of Queensland’s then President, David Miles, informing him of the outcome of our meeting at Beaman Park in Yeppoon. I then asked him what steps needed to be done for the MG owners of Central Queensland to become a chapter of their club. The response was an overwhelming “We will be glad to welcome you into our club”. He indicated that information would be forwarded to me and he asked me to call a meeting of all interested MG car owners to attend another meeting at a time and venue suitable to all concerned.
It was agreed that a meeting should be called on Saturday, 24 May, 2008 at the Rockhampton Golf Club, and the club president David Miles would attend. He was supported by Brisbane members, Val Horgan, Kevin Ponting, Wide Bay chapter coordinator Ian Bryant and Darling Downs coordinator Trevor Watkins, all arriving in Rockhampton on Friday, 23 May in their MGs. My wife Gloria and I were invited to attend a dinner at the motel they were staying at in Rockhampton. And of course we attended.
On the day of the meeting at the Rockhampton Golf Club premises, David Miles addressed all present on functioning and policies of the MG Car Club of Queensland and what was expected of the chapters that are affiliated with them.
These discussions were well supported by the Brisbane members and the chapter coordinators, the late Ian Bryant and Trevor Watkins.
A vote was taken to accept that all Central Queensland MG owners become a chapter of the MG Car Club of Queensland, the result was unanimous. Next step was that we now need to find a name for our chapter. A few names were suggested but Capricorn Chapter was selected.
I was then elected as the coordinator for the newly formed Capricorn Chapter, the next step was to select a suitable time of each month to have a get together of members, once again a number of suggestions were put forward with the 3rd Sunday of each month be adopted, which was duly voted on and passed.
David Miles indicated that the results of this meeting would have to be approved by the MG car club of Queensland and I would be notified of the result by mail, A letter dated 28 May, 2008 was received from MG Car club that the management committee of the MG Car Club of Queensland had accepted our application to join as the Capricorn Chapter.
After a couple of years at a Christmas function, Ian Wilhelmsen and Phil White suggested that we all should find interested members to assist in the running of the chapter, to which I agreed. Ian Wilhelmsen was elected as assistant coordinator, Phil White and Terry Dwyer as event committee members. Since then I have found that this to be of a great assistance to myself, as we now prepare the following years calendar in November of each year with suggestions of places we should tour to coming from individual members.
FOUNDATION MEMBERS
ARMSTRONG Jim & Sandra - Moura / Yeppoon
BREED Peter & Tracey - Rockhampton Past members
CLAMP Gurney & Gloria - Yeppoon
CLARK Stuart & Ada - Goovigin
DWYER Terry - Rockhampton
FOX Bill - Yeppoon Past member
GUBBINS Tony (Deceased) & Merilyn WEST- Rockhampton Past members
KIRWAN Wayne - Biloela
KUNST Gary & Julie - Moura / Yeppoon
MADDEN Don -Yeppoon (Deceased)
O’DEA Tom & Kathy - Yeppoon Past members
PIDCOCK Ted & Margaret - Yeppoon Past members
RUSSELL Brian & Glenis - Biloela
SULLIVAN Pat & Stephanie - Rockhampton
VOLLING Dale & Margaret - Rockhampton Past members
WHITE Phil & Pam - Rockhampton
WILLIAMS Trevor - Rockhampton Past members
RUN REPORT – Friday night dinner at the Parkhurst Tavern, 1 November, 2019
Now that the weather is warming up we have started to enjoy the coolness of a Friday evening get together instead off some of our Sunday runs. Our first outing for the season was to the Parkhurst Tavern where we enjoyed good company and a nice meal.
While most people were contented to eat the treats from the poker run for dessert, a couple of sweet tooths couldn’t resist what was on the menu. I think Julie started it all and was quickly followed by Ian once he laid eyes on Julie’s cheese cake.
Well, it created some humour and the desserts were thoroughly enjoyed.
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Attendees on the day were:
Phil & Margaret Henry, Gary & Julie Kunst, Jim & Sandra Armstrong, Ian Wilhelmsen, Ian & Judy Hamilton, Jo Emmert, and Terry Dwyer & Anne Burbidge.
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Regards
Gary Kunst
Coordinator – Capricorn Chapter, MGCCQ
RUN REPORT – Keppel Island Trip, 20 October 2019.
What a beautiful day in Keppel Bay. Everyone arrived on time to catch the ferry across to Great Keppel Island so off we went in fine spirits. Some were a bit nervous about sea sickness, but to their delight this was not a problem.
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On arrival we all gathered at the Hideaway Resort and secured a couple of tables with a magnificent view out over the water to the surrounding islands. Once settled, refreshed with a cool beverage and our time table for the day established, most people took the opportunity to take a swim in the crystal clear waters of Keppel Island.
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Then back to our base for a delightful lunch and a complimentary drink. Well, you know what happens after that, all the old farts were getting sleepy so off to a quiet shady place in the resort gardens for a nap. Once we were all sparked up again, there were walks along the beach and things to see on the island.
Some took to the water again while the remainder enjoyed the facilities at the resort while we waited for the ferry to take us back home.
We were on the late ferry as the bookings for the day were very high, but that enabled us to enjoy a great sunset and a cool trip across Keppel Bay to the Marina.
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That ended a great day in a very beautiful part of the Capricorn Coast.
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I would like to thank Phil Henry for doing the bookings for us and for negotiating a reduced price for the ferry and meal package. I should also note that while Phil didn’t bring his wife Margaret, he did bring a little mate who kept getting in front of the cameras in all sorts of situations. I’m sure the little Elf enjoyed the day as much as the rest of us!
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Attendees on the day were:
Phil Henry, Gary & Julie Kunst, Rae & Jack Cowie, Jim & Sandra Armstrong, Ian Wilhelmsen, Ian & Judy Hamilton, Gurney & Gloria Clamp as well as Gurneys cousin Florence from Sydney,
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Regards
Gary Kunst
Coordinator – Capricorn Chapter, MGCCQ
RUN REPORT – Mt Archer & The Caves Hotel, 6 October 2019.
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Well, we couldn’t have asked for better weather for a drive in the MGs and this was substantiated by the number of cars and people that turned up for the run. We had a total of 33 people, 15 MGs, 1 Bug Eyed Sprite, 1 Bentley, and 1 MX5 making a total of 18 cars which is a magnificent effort for our MG Chapter.
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Following a short catch up at the Oaks, the coastal members headed off to Mount Archer where we met up with the Rockhampton members and enjoyed a BYO morning tea, great conversation and a scenic walk around the elevated walkways that provide great views over Rockhampton and surrounding districts.
Our next move was back down the mountain and out to The Caves Hotel where we were treated to a great meal and more time enjoying one another’s company. Jo ran the rusty door prize which was won by Rosco James with Gary Kunst getting second prize.
The poker run was won by Phil & Margaret Henry with second prize going to Rick & Michele Taylor.
Michele donated the prize back for a redraw and the winner was Margaret Henry who also donated the prize back for redraw. The prize clock eventually went to Neville & Barbara Funch. I’m sure it now hangs proudly in Neville’s shed.
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Thanks everyone for supporting the chapter and making our runs such a success.
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Attendees on the day were:
Phil & Margaret Henry, Gary Kunst, Jo Emmert and friend Kim, Tom & Janelle Coe, Neville & Barbara Funch, Clare Lynam, Martin & Narelle Adamson, Rae & Jack Cowie, Jim & Sandra Armstrong, John Rowe, Laurie Chetter & Beth Dunlop, Ian Wilhelmsen, Gordon Kelsey, Ian & Judy Hamilton, Rodney Blair, Glyn Blair, Gurney & Gloria Clamp, Bob & Yvonne Holbeck, Rick & Michele Taylor, Rosco James and his granddaughter Tysha Summers.
Regards
Gary Kunst
Coordinator – Capricorn Chapter, MGCCQ