news & events

Return to GSNV News page

Motorcycle and Vintage Car Ride

Tarli Bogtstra

On Sunday 12th October, friends and members of GSNV and Cystic Fibrosis Victoria were warmly invited to attend a ‘Motorcycle and Vintage Car Ride and BBQ lunch’. This was a wonderful day full of fun and festivities proudly organised by Chapter’s of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association (VMMA).

Motorcycles and vintage cars departed from the car park outside Melbourne Zoo early on Sunday morning. They rode via a scenic route for 2 hours, stopping in Lilydale, to the South Eastern Masonic Centre, Keysborough. There a scrumptious lunch was had by all!

Children had to be over the age of 10 to ride on the motorcycles for safety reasons. Families either followed in their own cars to the South Eastern Masonic Centre for lunch, or joined their children on motorcycles or in vintage cars. Children were able to have short rides in different motorcycles and vintage cars at the South Eastern Masonic Centre.

A return ride back to the zoo followed. Please see some of the happy photographs of participants who attended on the day.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants who attended on the day. And a big thank you to the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association, the Order of the Eastern Star, and in particular to Larry King, for all the effort that went into organising this wonderful event.

Andrew Williams, a member of GSNV, a committee member and also a member of the Australian Ectodermal Dysplasia Support Group kindly shared his personal story with the group, as did Kaiser Wehbe from Cystic Fibrosis Victoria. Thank you gentlemen.

Whilst at the South Eastern Masonic Centre, we were able to learn about the Order of the Eastern Star and the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association. Please read below about these wonderful organisations and the charity work that they generously do.

The Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association began organising charity motorbike rides in December 2000 when it was decided to hold a charity ride for the Freemasons hospital, with all money raised going to them. Two more charity rides were held in 2000 and 2001, with more than $10,000.00 being raised. Since beginning to work with charitable appeals in this way, the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association have raised $195,000.00 and worked with many other worthwhile charities including Canteen and Cystic Fibrosis Victoria. They are very pleased to now be associated with GSNV, with their first ride being held with us in 2007. We are looking forward to many more joint ventures!

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organisation in the world to which both women and men may belong. In Melbourne they have been established since 1947. Their main aim is to assist those in need by raising funds in different ways to many charitable organisations. GSNV’s 2007 Motorcycle Ride was the first time that the Order of the Eastern Star was involved in a Motorcycle Event. Their members enjoyed it so much that they wish to continue helping the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association run this event each year.

Please keep your eyes open for advertisements of future ‘Motorcycle and Vintage Car Ride Days’ to be had in 2009. It is an enjoyable event and is FREE! All motorcyclists have Working with Children police checks and insurance is provided by the Order of the Eastern Star. Jackets, gloves and helmets are all supplied or you can provide your own gear.

We look forward to seeing you at future events in 2009!

Vintage car

For more information on anything you’ve read here, please contact Penny or Leah in the GSNV office on (03) 8341-6315.