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.
As from 19 January, 2020, Jim Armstrong is the Coordinator of the Capricorn Chapter.
His contact details are :
Phone: 0417 544 222
Email: james.armstrong@bigpond.com
The latest version (No 3) calendar of the Capricorn Chapter events for 2020 is available for download
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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
Friday Feast at Yeppoon. (Our version of a Nog 'n Natter)
The Pacific Hotel was an almost perfect place to have our first 2020 on such a hot, barmy evening. The recently renovated outside eating area proved quite cool though, with the huge ceiling fan and a nice cool breeze blowing though the side entrance.
On arrival, our members gathered and partook in cool refreshments before settling in and ordering their evening meals. However the hotel was well patronised and some meals were a bit slow presenting.
It was pleasing to note that members were having an enjoyable time chatting amongst themselves, swapping yarns and in fact staying for some time after eating. Most were in no hurry to leave, all happy and enjoying each others company.
Whilst we had a relatively small contingent from the Rockhampton members, those who did attend were, Clare and Paul Lynam, Terry Dwyer and Anne Burbidge and Stephanie and Pat Sullivan.
Yeppoon members consisted of, Jack and Rae Cowie, Ian and Judy Hamilton, Trevor Andersen, Rick and Michelle Taylor, Gary and Julie Kunst, Gurney and Gloria Clamp and Sandra and myself. We also had the pleasure of the presence of Sandra’s and my son Lloyd and his two older children James and Elizabeth for a short time.
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In all, an excellent evening with good friends and fellow Capricorn Chapter members. Next run is a Sunday run, starting with breakfast at Beaches (Kemp Beach) on 23rd Feb, see you all then,
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Jim Armstrong,
Coordinator. Ph 0417544222.
Clare Lynam
Assistant Coordinator.
Jo Emmert, Phil Henry,
Run Committee.
THE CAPRICORN CHAPTER FAREWELLS ROSCO JAMES – by Jim Armstrong, Capricorn Chapter Coordinator
We learnt on Monday afternoon (Jan 20) that, sadly, our mate Rosco James had passed away after a fairly long illness. Rosco’s family had indicated that his funeral was to be very private so, rather than us attending a funeral they asked if we, The Capricorn Chapter of the MGCC of Qld inc, could pay our respects by attending a small wake at his home.
After rallying around and at very short notice, 11 of our members gathered at Kershaw Gardens car park and then travelled to Rosco’s home, a short distance away. On our arrival, Rosco’s relatives, friends and some neighbours were waiting to witness the little convoy of MGs coming up the street and to welcome us. We were then invited in for some light refreshments. The family was presented with a sympathy card which was previously signed by those present on behalf of our Chapter.
During the gathering, we learned a few interesting things about Rosco - things that Rosco tended to keep to himself as he was a very quiet and unassuming man. For instance: Rosco’s association with the MGCC of Qld goes back as far as the seventies when he was involved with the development of the Hill Climb at Mt Cotton.
His name appears in the book “History of the Hill”, a book about the Mt Cotton Hill Climb.
Rosco and his mate built an open wheel hill climber and competed in events there in the early days.
Rosco had a keen interest in radio controlled air planes and had quite a sizeable collection, some of which were on display.
After what we thought was a respectable time, our members said their goodbyes and paid their respect once again. The family group then gathered around and all came out to watch us go (as did a lot of the neighbours in his street). They were taking videos as we slowly drove past his house.
Farewell Rosco. Rest in Peace old mate, you will be sadly missed.
Those in attendance were; Martin Adamson, Gary Kunst, Tom Coe, Robbie and Gary Galloway, Gurney Clamp, Clare Lynam, Jo Emmert, Neville Funch, Phil Henry, Jim Armstrong.
RUN REPORT – Mt Archer 1st Run 2020
Report by Jim Armstrong
Well the 40 degree heat didn’t deter 18 vehicles and 33 people to take the trek up Mt Archer for our yearly 1st run get together and Bar-b-Que.. A little different from previous years because of the election of a new Coordinator and sub sequentially a restructure of the Run Advisory Committee with yours truly being elected as Chapter Coordinator, Clare Lynam, Assistant Coordinator, Jo Emmert as committee member and Phil Henry rejoining the run advisory group as committee member. We (the run committee) are all looking forward to a fun filled year serving the chapter and its members.
The trip up the mountain claimed a few cars with overheating issues as normal however we all made it up there safe and sound looking forward to a really good catch up after the Christmas and New Year break.
All two of the council supplied bar-b-ques were working this year however, Neville and Barbara Funch, Laurie Chetter and his partner Beth Dunlop and Dave and Anna Temptest, had the foresight to bring their own portable bar-b-ques along as well. This sped up the cooking process somewhat and soon enough we were all were tucking into a hearty evening meal.
With the absence of Jo Emmert, who is currently holidaying in Hawaii with her daughter Katie, poor girls, Clare Lynam took over Jo’s famous poker run.Today’s winners were Ian and Rosemary Carleton who are most likely sitting on their lounge in their air conditioned living room, munching on their winnings.
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After dinner, most participants simply sat and chatted until the light started to fade. Then some started to dissipate particularly those who ventured up in their MGs and oh mustn’t forget, one bug eyed sprite, a Daimler Dart and a Chevy Corvette.
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Those who attended were; Terry Dywer and Anne Burbidge, Rick and Michell Taylor, Bob and Yvonne Holbeck, Gurney Clamp, Phil and Margaret Henry, Gary Kunst, Dave and Anna Temptest, Tom and Janelle Coe, Laurie Chetter and Beth Dunlop, Neville and Barbara Funch, Brian and Glenis Russel, Pat and Stephanie Sullivan, Ian and Rosemary Carleton, John Rowe, Trevor Andersen and Glenys Benson, Martin and Narelle Adamson, Clare and daughter Grace Lynman, Jim and Sandra Armstrong.