Article by Jason King
Well, Janine and I started the run early and decided to head up to Echuca on the Friday night. In a way I’m glad we did as the traffic leaving Melbourne was bad, so we decided to head up via Heathcote and not Bendigo.
The rest of the club members left on Saturday morning with members leaving from the club rooms and meeting other members at the servo on the Calder Freeway. By all accounts when the convey arrived to pick up the Bendigo members at the Beechworth Bakery everyone had a smile on their face, especially Kim Radenic who has been itching to get his ute on a club run.
Whilst the members were making their way to Echuca, Bob and Dot Stone couldn’t wait and arrived at the hotel early, so Janine and I had a nice long chat to Bob and Dot in our Hotel room until the cavalry arrived. The first to arrive was Ray Edsall who was just passing through and was going to say in Bendigo the night. Shortly after Ray had arrived the members started to filter in. Everyone congregated (whilst social distancing until their rooms were ready).
Our first adventure was to the Beer Shed. The Holden Museum was not open on this weekend as Tony the owner of the Holden Museum postponed his reopening from lockdown for a few days. On arrival at the beer shed, we were welcomed by a very enthusiastic owner Neil. We all had a few ales (as the Victorian Premier said — We got on the beers), although Richard Fox and a few others had not arrived by this time as their maxi taxi that they had booked seemed to have taken forever to pick them up.
A very informative session was held at the beer shed, we could have stayed there long after we left but we had a dinner reservation that we all had to get. At dinner it was nice to catch up with everyone, as it seemed it had been a long while since we had chatted to each other face to face. after dinner we all met up in an area at the hotel and had a few more refreshments and enjoyed the night. Word has it a certain club member went to dinner and forgot to take his (or hers) wallet. mmmmmm
In the morning we woke up to see Kim Radenic, jacking up the rear of his car. It appears that he has some rear suspension issues. We all went down the street to have breakfast at a cafe that we had booked and had an enjoyable breakfast and chat and explored the local shops. The members all started to then make their own way home.
I do know a number of club members did go back to Rick Kingsley’s place in Bendigo, to assist Kim Radenic in fixing his ute, so he could make the journey home.
All in all, it was an excellent weekend away.
Members with earlies.
Jim and Kay Bishop
Tristan Coote
Ray Edsall
Rod and Sharon Grummitt
Richard Fox
Jason and Janine King
Rick Kingsley
Kim and Janine Radenic
Derk Tuik
Members without.
Gary and Lesley Beardsley
Presley Easdale
Gary and Judy Hislop
Ian and Jane Maclean
Tim Sells and Michelle
Dot and Bob Stone
