VALE CHRIS “KIWI” BUTLER
Chris in white, with his beloved Judy on the right
It is with great sadness that we report that our WA mate and all-round great guy Chris Butler has passed away after an accident whilst riding his motorcycle. There was no-one else involved and the reason for the accident is unknown.
Chris was a long term and dedicated member of our club, along with The Indian Harley Club of Bunbury and the MG TC Owners’ clubs here and supported and attended as many events as he could. Chris also took on actives roles in clubs over a very long period of time.
Chris had an encyclopedic knowledge about almost anything to do with motorsport, both bike and car, and a huge range of knowledge about just about everything you could imagine. Always ready to lend a hand, his ready smile and razor sharp wit made him a very popular man to be around.
In recent years Chris began to suffer from Parkinson’s Disease which he bravely and stoically dealt with as best he could, his willpower and inner strength keeping him going when many others would not have been able to.
Since they first met and fell in love, Chris was always supported by his beloved wife Judy whom he was devoted to as she was to him, they were a wonderfully warm and welcoming couple and couldn’t do enough if asked.
We extend our most heartfelt sympathies to Judy and Chris’s family on behalf of all his clubmates – he will be sorely missed.
Chris’s funeral service will take place at 11am on Thursday 13th April in the Funeral Directors chapel
William Barrett Funerals
9 Spencer St, Bunbury
VOCA Good Companions Rally 2023 – Beechworth, Victoria
Sunday October 29th to Sunday 5th November 2023
Expression of Interest Form Now Available!! Click here!
PLEASE READ THE E.O.I. INSTRUCTIONS FIRST AND CAREFULLY BEFORE DOING ANYTHING!
The Rally will be based in Beechworth at the George Kerferd Hotel. The George Kerferd is located in the grounds of the old Mayday Hills Mental Asylum.
The rally is limited to approximately 150 people based on capacity of the dining hall.
Ride routes are set and will be corner marshalled each day, Marshalling is Fun! Most morning teas and lunches are provided. The rally week will include a free day on Thursday to allow visits to local attractions such as the Goal, Shops, Wineries, Breweries or Velo engine rebuilding.
A rally bus will be provided each day for those not riding but numbers may be limited based on the bus size.
Seats on the bus will be prepaid with the final Rally Entry fee.
The bus will also be available to carry back any food and drink purchases made on the rides.
We are looking for a driver for the bus, so if able to help we will look after you very well.
For all Accommodation options PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING!!!
• All rooms reserved by the rally will become unreserved at the end of April (Armour Inn earlier on 15th April),
so we ask you book as soon as you can, after this date rooms will be open to the public.
• You must call or Email as described above, quoting you’re from the Velocette Owners Motorcycle club.
Do not try to book online as they will appear booked out.
This is to ensure we (you) have first dibs at the accommodation reserved at these venues for these dates.
George Kerferd Hotel (rally HQ)
03 57282618
team@gkhotel.com.au
22 Oak Ave, Mayday Hills, Beechworth, Vic 3747
The George Kerferd will be rally HQ but has limited rooms so will fill quickly.
Room are the old cells for inmates of the asylum but updated as hotel accommodation.
The dining hall, bar, rally check-in, ride starts and breakfast restaurant are all located here.
The Linaker Art Deco Hotel (Old Nurses Quarters)
admin@linakermotel.com.au
11 Bluegum Crescent, Mayday Hills, Beechworth, VIC
The Linaker is located about 100 metres from The George Kerferd, a short and pleasant walk through the gardens. This heritage protected Art Deco building is the largest of the accommodation options and will house the bulk of the rally attendees. The Rally has reserved the entire venue for the week.
Special rally flat rates have been negotiated for the rooms at the Linaker.
To book the Linaker you will need to email the manager whom will confirm your booking. DO NOT go on-line as rooms will appear to be unavailable.
Linaker reserved rooms held to 30th April 3
Armour Motor Inn
03 5728 1466
1 Camp St, Beechworth, AU 3747
The Armour is located in town but on the main road to Rally HQ (1.2klms or a 20min walk).
We have reserved several rooms as overflow to the Linaker.
Please contact them directly to book your room.
You will need to advise them you are booking for the Velocette Rally to access the reserved rooms.
Reserved rooms held to 15th April
Beechworth Holiday Park
03 5728 1597
151 Stanley Road, Beechworth, Vic 3747
Located in north eastern Victoria, historical Beechworth is one of Australia’s best preserved towns of the colonial gold rush era.
Nestled in the foothills of the Australian Alps on the banks of Spring Creek, Beechworth Holiday Park, formerly known as Silver Creek Caravan Park, is just 1.5kms from the centre of town making it the perfect accommodation base from which to immerse yourself in Australia’s colonial past and explore the wondrous natural beauty of this historical region.
We welcome you with accommodation options such as villas, cottages, cabins, glamping pods, powered and unpowered camping sites. Our park is pet friendly, boasting a dedicated pet friendly cabin. With a range of facilities on site, including swimming pool, there is something available to suit every budget and need.
Come and relax in our beautiful bush environment or experience a taste of the alfresco cafes, fine dining, gourmet local produce
and speciality shops that Beechworth and surrounds has to offer.
We are in an ideal location for those of you wanting to try some bushwalking, mountain bike riding, gold panning, scenic walks or even ghost tours!
You will need to advise them you are booking for the Velocette Rally to access the reserved sites.
Beechworth Accommodation General
If none of the above options suit you or are booked out, Beechworth has many other accommodation options covering all price ranges and standards. We selected the above as they are either close to Rally HQ or a known quantity. Feel free to browse.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AT THE RALLY
Rally Committee contact email: velorally2023@gmail.com
VOCA GOOD COMPANIONS “COVID” RALLY 2022
Well that is the 2022 GCR done and dusted. It was a testing time for all with covid coming into the ranks, but as usual, the rally party rolled on regardless and everyone had a good time and caught up with friends old and new.
Geoff “Claude” Ingram and John Doig rode their Velo’s from Victoria, did the rally, and are on their way back again – an amazing achievement and a testament to their dedication and ability. Other drove from far away Queensland straight across and from Victoria, NSW and South Australia to participate, and their hugs and greetings as they all arrived on Sunday and caught up with each other after so long was a joy to see.
The weather was a bit fickle but nowhere near as fickle as the dreaded covid which entered the group and quickly spread, although most members did not let it inhibit them in any way and they carried on regardless. Everyone enjoyed the Collie Racetrack part of the day and it was hard to get them to pack up and ride off, and the Dardanup Museum and display stopped people in their tracks such was the breadth of machinery and displays of all sorts of antiques and household/shop/memorabilia – 1 hour or so was nowhere near enough time to take it all in and 4 hours would be needed to do it justice – amazing!
The visit to the Vintage Steel metal works was also a big surprise to many, the quality of the workmanship and range of knowledge these guys have hand rolling and forming mudguards etc has to be seen to be believed, and the entertaining way they describe and show the process is top notch.
The final dress up dinner was a real hoot with nearly everyone getting into the nautical theme including these characters who were unable to attend the actual dinner…
more photos added with viewing links as they come in…
Keith and Colleen Canning Rally photos
George and Val Loverocks rally photos
Dinner video-they sure can talk!
everyone gets home and has time to send us their photos. Jim Day should have plenty as he was always there snapping away at every opportunity.
All in all a very testing time for the rally officials but at least we have had our GCR after the previous 3 years ones were cancelled and I’m sure everyone is keen as mustard to get ready for the next one in 2023 in Beechworth Victoria.
Many thanks to all who came to the rally and made it so special, you truly are GOOD COMPANIONS!
2022 WA STATE HISTORIC ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS – 5 VELO’S IN PERIOD 2 RACING
Andrew Davies (missing – ex-Don Chesson MAC), Robert Dillon, Jodi Brown, Fred Dillon and Ken Vincent
All 350’s and all going well, flying the flag for our marque. (pic courtesy Ken Vincent)
Velocette oval belt buckles
Price includes p&p in Australia. Originally purchased for WA 2020 rally.
Price:$ 38
Contact Bob whittaker
Phone:0492 874 084
HEDLEY COX INTERVIEW
Courtesy of our Membership Secretary Arthur Harvey, who was sent this for us to use by Corey.
Dear Arthur; Attached is a video you might be interested in and show to members. It was made by Corey Levenson, who lives near me
It’s flattering to me, I guess. Still —-Best wishes, Hedley Cox.
Get your 2023 VOCA (the Velocette Owners’ Club of Australia) membership forms here…..
MEMBERS MACHINE DATABASE FORM
The club has a Database form page for VOCA members to submit details on their machines, it is one of the menu item at the top of the page. All details will remain private and for club officials use ONLY.
Hopefully one day we can produce a modest booklet or similar so the history etc of our machines is captured and not lost over time.
The committee decided to have it made available on this VOCA website where everyone can fill it out and return it to Dominic Brown so he can create the database – once completed click on the “SUBMIT” button
Of course all details are strictly general in nature and no identification of the location of the machines is being requested other than which state it is located in.
GOOD COMPANIONS RALLY – WHERE IT ALL STARED
Here are three copies of 1983 club newsletters, showing the before/ during/after writeups of the first NSW rally’s, which eventually morphed into what we all know and love as the Velocette Owners’ Club of Australia’s “Good Companions Rally”.
(Thanks go to Paul Barfoot for sending me the copies)