Early History of the Motor Scooter Association of Victoria (aka MSR)

As alluded to in the Who’s News, I caught up with ex MSR president and editor, Keith Finlay and his wife Katrina at their 16 acre farm in Sunbury. They grow warm bloods – race horses. Keith has a lifetime of projects on the go, and runs an excavating business in his spare time. Katrina is a scientist working for the Department of Primary Industry working out how to reduce the amount of green house gas cows produce by changing the bacteria composition in the cows stomachs. Interesting stuff.

After pouring over old photo albums and trying to put names to familiar faces, I left with an old style tough manila folder containing amongst other things, a scrap book of newspaper clippings. As you may been aware, I have been trying to track down our club history and this folder may in fact be the Holy Grail. Here are a few newspaper excerpts. Note, not all items have a date.

Scooter club opens soon

A Club especially for motor-scooter owners is being formed in Melbourne, with Jim Egan, of Stewart’s Motor Cycles (FB3739), as organiser. Its first meeting will be a free picture night at the Shell Theatre, cnr William and Burke Sts., at 8 pm on October 14 (1955). Tickets are available form Mr Egan.

After the films have been shown, office-bearers will be elected and a committee formed.

The idea behind the new club is primarily social with social functions, get togethers, film nights and lectures, and sporting events suitable for all owners, whether men or women. Women, in fact, are going to be regarded as very important members, and there is a big field among those who already own scooters. There will be more, as the scooter becomes fully appreciated as safe, clean, and reliable transport, with unapproachable advantages in convenience and economy.

Scooters off to a flying start, (probably) The Argus (newspaper) October 14, 1955

Melbourne’s first scooter club seems to be getting off to a good start. Nearly all tickets have been taken up for the first meeting, picture night and supper – all free – at the Shell Theatre, Burke St near William St. … The films to be shown include the prize winning “Back of Beyond” and “Fifty Years of Powered Flight” Experts Reg Sweet and Farendon will explain what fine vehicles scooters are, and the advantages of being a member.

Don’t miss this scooter outing! The Argus October 21, 1955

The newly formed Motor Scooter Association of Victoria (MSAV) will hold its first run next Sunday, starting at 2.15 pm from The Argus office, 365 Elizabeth St. Any scooter owner is invited to attend.

The association was formed this week, following a picture night for enthusiasts last Friday at the Shell Theatre. Office bearers so far elected are; R. Sweet, president, J. Bush, vice president, G. Hageman, treasurer and J. Murphy, secretary. (I made contact with Jack Murphy via phone a couple of years ago. He lives in a nursing home in Vermont. Mental note: I must visit him before all living connection is lost …Ed.) … It is expected that more members will be enrolled from those attending Sunday’s run, so election of a committee has not yet taken place. The first official all-day picnic run has been planned for Nov 6.

A-scooting you’ll go! Nov 4, 1955

The new Motor Scooter Association of Victoria will hold its first official outing on Sunday with a run through the Dandenongs. It may be attended without obligation of membership, but you’ll almost certainly want to join. Distance will be approximately 75 miles and some riders are expected to join en-route. The start will be at 10 am outside The Argus office, 365 Elizabeth St, travelling via Canterbury Road to Vermont, The Basin, Sassafras, Olinda, through the State Forest to Nathania Springs, thence to a picnic ground between Kallista and Belgrave (bring cut lunch).

The afternoon section will take in Belgrave, Emerald, Monbulk, Silvan Dam, Mt Evelyn, and return to Melbourne will be by Montrose, Croydon and the Maroondah Highway.

Have you got a scooter? November 12, 1955

The Motor Scooter Association will hold another run to the Mornington Peninsula on Sunday. All scooter owners are invited. Assembly point is outside The Argus office, Elizabeth St, 10 am but those who wish to join at other points should ring Mr J Murphy (WX6971) after business hours.

Meet ‘em here tomorrow The Argus, November 18, 1955

“Motor Cycle News” The Motor Scooter Association will hold a 50-mile run to Hurstbridge and St. Andrews tomorrow, starting at 1.45 pm from The Argus office, Elizabeth St. Distance will be 50 miles and anyone interested in joining should attend.

The association will hold its first weekend run on December 10 and 11 to Walhalla. Those wishing to make the trip should pay 10 / deposit tomorrow, so that accommodation can be arranged, or telephone the secretary, Mr J. Murphy, at his after hours number, WX6871. Membership is growing rapidly. There was a big attendance at last Sunday’s run of 110 miles.

Girls go for scooters in a big way The Argus, December 2^nd, 1955

Australian girls have “gone for’ motor scooters in a big way. They have always been conservative about motor-cycling. In fact, the girl rider has always been a rarity, regarded by her fellow women as both odd and eccentric. But the scooter has changed all that.

When the formation of a scooter club was under discussion a few weeks ago, I went to the preliminary meeting. There were girls everywhere – not just pillion passengers but real, enthusiastic owner-riders. I talked to Mrs Jack Murphy, whose husband was later elected president. “It’s my scooter five days of the week, and I don’t know how I would get on without it, living on the outskirts of Box Hill, “ she said.

One third of the members of the Scooter Association are girls, all of them dyed-in-the-wool motor-cycle clubmen…

Scooter Trip at Week End February 21^st 1956

The Motor Scooter Association of Victoria is organising a 200-mile trip this weekend to Inverloch via Wonthaggi. Sunday morning will be spent in rehearsing figure riding for the Box Hill mardi gras on March 12.

At this point they started printing an itinerary of two Sunday rides a month, 4 months in advance. Sound familiar? …Ed.

Scooter boys get club rooms

The MSAV has obtained club rooms at the MUIOOF Hall, Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills, near the corner of Warragul Road, and will hold social evenings, lectures, and discussions on the first Friday in every month, beginning August 3 (1956).

The association’s next run will be to Maroondah Dam and Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary on Sunday, leaving at 9.30 am from the Mont Albert tram terminus. Riders should bring lunch. Prospective members are invited.

Next October the association will be a year old, and a birthday party is planned. Secretary is ..

3,500 miles early June, 1956

Since the foundation of the Motor Scooter Association of Victoria, last October, members have logged just on3,500 miles of touring through southern and central Victoria, and into New South Wales. The main places visited were Albury and the Hume Weir, Daylesford, Inverloch, Flinders, Queenscliff, Phillip Island and Mt Macedon. There have been day trips, half day trips, weekend trips, and a four day tour was arranged over Easter. As well as the above functions, social evenings, picture nights, and barbecues have been arranged.

‘Scooting Around” is the title of a club magazine, the only one of its kind in Victoria, just published by the Scooter Association people of Victoria. It contains reports on trips, maintenance hints, and matters of general interest, with a large section devoted to club life.

Scooters to celebrate The Argus, 19^th October, 1956

The Motor Scooter Association will celebrate its first birthday today.

On Sunday, members of the club will have a membership drive around the suburbs, and they will be recognisable not only by their scooters, but also by the blue, white trimmed jackets with initials “MSAV.” The MSAV is a touring and social club, and details of its activities are available from the secretary, Mr J. Murphy, WX 6971, after 6.30 p.m.)

Important job for Scooter Association 2^nd November 1956

The advent of the Olympic Games in Melbourne produced an unusual problem for the Olynpic Photo Association – how to get urgent and irreplaceable negatives and photographs from the Central Distribution Pool in many games venues to the main Olympic Stadium through the dense traffic. The answer was provided by the Motor Scooter Association of Victoria which answered a call for volunteers published in the newspapers.

The secretary, Mr Jack Murphy, has drawn up a roster which provides the ample number of riders for day and night duties during the full period of the Games.

Scooters provide the perfect answer owing to their ability to get through the heaviest of traffic with ease.

Well done

Members of the Scooter Association have finished their biggest reliability trial yet – acting as couriers during the Olympic Games for newsmen and Press photographers.

Everyone has come through with a full score, for both personal and mechanical reliability.

This weekend, members are relaxing with a one, and a half day tour, which will include Lorne, Colac and Anglesea, by way of the scenic Great Ocean Road.

MOTOR scooting is getting organised. The Motor Scooter Association of Australia, combining similar bodies in Victoria, NSW and South Australia, has been formed to foster the pastime and help motor scooter owners. Tasmania and Queensland may also affiliate with the national body.

The first meeting of the delegates is due to be held at Nhill during Easter. Mr Jack Murphy, of the Motor Scooter association of Victoria, is the secretary of the new body.

The originals are available for anyone to peruse.

Ben Warden