WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT MOTORCYCLE OWNERS CLUB inc
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 9TH JULY 2026
PRESENT 53 Members Present
APOLOGIES Bruce Brown, Phillip Russell, Andrew Goodall, Faye Owen, Geoff Grec, Allan Ingram, Andrew Kuhne, Greg & Jan Batten, Rodger Punch, John & Laurel Nowacki, Stephen Smith , Peter Haberfield Dave Gibbons, Brian Quinn, Bill Owens, Brian Steel, Step. Fary, Tom King, June &Keith Bonnett, Cec & Jon Narik, Jamie Nicholson, Neil McPherson, Matthew Murphy, Mitch Hose, Steve Heazlewood,
MINUTES Minutes from previous AGM 10th July, 25 as circulated by email & Club WEB page be accepted Moved Geoff Barby Sec: Richard Treffrey. Carried
Presidents report WDMOC Club AGM 9/7/26
President’s report.
I have seen Elaine’s Secretary’s report and Bruce’s Ride Coordinators report.
They are both very thorough reports of the year that was.
I don’t want to repeat what they are going to report.
So that ends my report……….. No
I have enjoyed my year back in the club and Warrnambool after being away.
It is great to ride with a group again.
The social connection of riders and pillions through club rides, meetings and social events is a wonderful thing for members. Apparently it’s great for your mental health.
I have reviewed Club Policies and Procedures on our website to ensure we are following them and that we are meeting our responsibilities for Consumer Affairs and in the conduction club business.
Following an unfortunate accident on a lunch ride, where a member was badly injured we have reviewed our safety procedures and implemented the following:
- Motorcycle Crash Card for members to complete and put in their helmets and carry on their person. The card contains member personal details to be used in the case of an emergency. The card is available from myself or VicRoads.
- Accredited First Aid for Course for members to be held on Saturday 25 July
- An Expert speaker on safe group riding at the !4th May meeting by Bruce Brown.
- A Rider Training day to be held at MAC Park later this year.
- Pre ride briefings and reminders that safe group riding is the members responsibility.
A continuing issue is the state of the roads:
Some members and myself attended . The Hogs Cogs and Two Aussie Flogs. State of the Roads Rally on the Civic Green on Saturday 21 March
At the rally I was interviewed by Fitzmedia and Channel 7 Regional News took a few words from it for that nights news.
‘Some potholes are bigger than the front wheel of a motorbike”
Local ABC radio also interviewed me and played the full 10 minute interview on the Monday morning following the rally.
Being a State election year our club along with Councils must advocate for road works to be undertaken.
As reported in today’s Standard we need our local member Jacinta Ermacora to step up and lead this.
In conclusion I would like to thank the Office bearers, Committee, Permit Scheme Administrators, Website Managers. The Ride Coordinator, Ride leaders and Tail end Charlies
Elaine and Bruce’s reports will report more on this.
A very special thanks to Elaine for her assistance and support over the year.
Thank you all for your support over the past year.
Trevor White President
SECRETARY’S REPORT - ELAINE FINNIGAN
Good evening everyone, and welcome to the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Warrnambool & District Motorcycle Owners Club.
Before we begin, I’d like to wish Bruce Brown, Bill Owens, Jack Levey, Colin Rogers, Jamie Nicolson, Steve Heazlewood and all other members who are currently experiencing health issues a speedy recovery. We look forward to seeing you back enjoying rides and club events again soon.
I’d like to begin by thanking Trevor for his dedication as President over the past year. I’d also like to thank Kevin Langley for chairing meetings in Trevor’s absence and for faithfully organising the raffle at our meetings.
A sincere thank you also goes to our committee members – Ken Rowe, Geoff McLeod, Shane Magrath, Kevin Langley and Bruce Brown. Your support and willingness to help throughout the year is greatly appreciated.
A special thank you to Bill Owens for the outstanding job he has done managing our club website. We appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into keeping it up to date. As Bill steps down from the role, I’d like to welcome Peter O’Keeffe as our new Website Manager. Thank you, Peter, for taking on this role.
I’d also like to thank Wayne Fary and David Morse for the tremendous work they do managing our Club Permit Scheme. Our club now has 295 members, and more than half have Club Permits. With over 230 motorcycles on Club Permits requiring annual sign-offs and inspections of new red plate bikes, Wayne, David and I are meeting with members almost every week. It’s a significant job, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.
Bruce Brown deserves special recognition for his work as Ride Coordinator. Despite undergoing chemotherapy over the past 12 months, Bruce has continued to organise our rides with his usual enthusiasm and commitment. Bruce, thank you for everything you do for the club.
Our Sunday and Thursday rides have continued to be well supported, and I’d encourage members to consider organising a destination from time to time. Sharing the organising helps keep the rides interesting and takes some of the load off our regular volunteers.
Our social nights continue to be a great success, with more than 30 members attending most months. It’s always good to see everyone enjoying each other’s company.
Once again, the Surf City Safari was a wonderful weekend. Thank you to everyone who attended and to all those who helped with the organisation and running of the event. This year’s Surf City Safari will be held on 31st October and 1st November 2026, and I encourage as many members as possible to get involved and help make it another successful rally.
We also had a very successful Club Permit and Scooter Ride. It was pleasing to see so many members participate, and the day was enjoyed by everyone who came along.
Finally, thank you to every member who has supported the club over the past year by attending rides, social nights, meetings and events. Our club continues to thrive because of the willingness of members to get involved and lend a hand whenever needed. I look forward to another enjoyable and successful year ahead.
Thank you everyone.
Elaine
TREASURERS REPORT
BALANCE 1ST JULY, 2025 $10.190.08
INCOME
Membership Fees 2025/26 $ 1,955.00
Membership Fees 26/27 $ 2,905.00
10 New Member5 $ 300.00
Rally $ 3,248.00
INVESTMENT Account CLOSED $ 7,819.35
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$16,227.35
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$26,417.43
EXPENSES
Name Tags $ 55.50
Consumer Affairs $ 49.00
Insurance $ 1,027.98
City Memorial Vouchers $ 250.00
Stamps & Stationary $ 60.00
Rally $ 2,915.00
Supper AGM $ 250.00
BBQ - Club Permit Run $ 75.00
Flowers $ 55.00
Web Page $ 38.00
$ 4,775.48
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BALANCE 30th JUNE, 2026 $21,641.95
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RIDE CO ORDINATOR REPORT - BRUCE BROWN
If nominated again for the Ride Coordinator I will accept as long as it is realised that there will be some Lunch Rides that I will not be in a position to organise/lead and other members will need to step up to ensure an organised ride occurs.
RIDE CO ORDINATOR REPORT AUG 25 TO JUL 26
Throughout the year we have had good attendance on Thursday and Sunday rides. Numbers between 2 and 19 have attended rides on a regular basis.
First Sunday of the month lunch rides have had similar patronage.
Thanks to the following members who organised and led lunch rides when I was unable to.
Ken Rowe
Alan Simpson
Trevor White
Skip Webster
Destinations
Aug Caramut 19
Sep Port McDonald 2
Oct Beeac 11
Nov Lake Goldsmith Vintage Rally 11
Dec Digby 7
Jan Beaufort 9
Aust Day Deans Marsh 8
Feb Ride to Remember, Ararat 9
Mar Gellibrand 8
Apr Mortlake 11
May Maroona 4 (ended at Halls Gap with Ken’s puncher)
Jun Maroona 5 (made it this time)
Jul Edenhope Car Show 7
Destination choice for rides is a constant search for ideas within the acceptable boundaries of time and distance. It would be advantageous for more than one member to put their hand up to run a lunch ride and would result in rides to more unfamiliar places.
Help and advice in relation to overall distance, road types, food availability, fuel supply distances, etc and advertising to members is readily available.
Summary
Ride participation has largely consisted of a core group of riders with occasional attendance by other members.
I think this is largely that many members have family and or work commitments that compete for their time.
If you haven’t been on a ride for some time, make the effort to come along for a pleasant non competitive ride in good company with people of similar interests, we are a motorcycle owners club and motorcycles are made to be ridden.
Bruce Brown
Ride Co Ordinator 2025/26
MOTION : That all reports be received and adopted.
Motion Ross Maloney Sec Tony Kane - Carried
MOTION
MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2027-28 STAY THE SAME AS PREVIOUS YEAR. $20.00
Moved Neville Smith Sec Ken Rowe
Carried
LIFE MEMBERSHIP was presented to Noel & Elaine Finnigan and Keith & June Bonnett in recognition of their 25 years of membership and dedoicated service to the club.
A sincere thank you to Colin Rogers for his kind words and thoughtful tribute to each of the recipients. His contribution made the presentations especially meaningful.
Chair person Michael Stephens declared all positions vacant
ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
POSITION NOMINATION MOVED SECONDED CARRIED
PRESIDENT Trevor White Neville Wallace Richard Treffry Trevor Accepted
VICE PRES. Kevin Langley Trevor White Colin Rogers Kevin Accepted
SECRETARY Elaine Finnigan Neville Wallace Neil Primmer Elaine Accepted
TREASURER Elaine Finnigan Peter O’Keeffe Ross Maloney Elaine Accepted
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC OFfiCER. Peter O’Keeffe Colin Rogers Ken Rowe Peter Accepted
WEB PAGE Peter O’Keeffe
Scrutineering/Club Permit
David Morse /Wayne Fary
/Elaine Finnigan Peter O’Keeffe Neil Primmer All Accepted
Ride Co-or Bruce Brown Trevor White Ken Rower Bruce Accepted.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Ken Rowe Tony Kane Trevor White Ken Accepted
Jamie Nicolson David Morse Kevin Langley Jamie Accepted
Jon Narik Graeme Wines Trevor White Jon Accepted
Tony Kane Colin Rogers Graeme Wines Tony Accepted
-AGM CLOSED 8.36pm NEXT AGM 8th JULY 2027
