March, 1964 Len Shearer

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Our first Club Social for the year was held on Friday, February 7. Four guests from Sydney were present, namely Richard, Graham, Greg and David. Also present was Ross, who rides a Vespa, whom we met while returning from Phillip Island. Congratulations were extended to Maurie and Joyce on the arrival of a son, Gary David. Noticeable absentees were Bob Gardiner who hurt his back at Cowes, and Ron Davies and Adrienne Barkham who met with an accident during January. Following normal business discussion, we all took part in a Mock Trial, with everyone being found guilty of something. Supper followed and the evening concluded well after midnight with a showing of slides.

"Mrs Smith, can Tommy come out and play?"

"No, I told you yesterday, he’s sick in bed with leprosy".

"Well, can we please come in and watch him rot?"

Amazing! The club actually left Alexandra Avenue early. Our new policy of leaving almost on time showed just what can be done when everyone tries. Amongst new faces were Ross (Vespa), Doug (Vespa), Janice’s friend Stephanie, Ken Brown’s pillion Dora, and the four boys from Sydney, Richard, Greg, Graham and David. Arrived Werribee before 10 o’clock, had a brief stop, and also met Pat Morral. From there on to Geelong non-stop. Then straight through to Torquay – arrived midday. Spent the next 3 _ hours eating, drinking, talking, playing football and poison ball, and sunbaking. Greg went for a swim, telling us afterwards that it was warm in. My, though, what nice goose pimples he had! Returned home reasonably early, and seven of us went to visit Bob in hospital – good thing, too, as he cheered us all up.

Do you know what is a popular name for a fringe area set?

The Beatles.

From a rock by the river Len Shearer cried out,

"Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon"

And I said to him "Leonard, why do you shout

"Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

Is it weakness of intellect Len Shearer? I cried,

"Or a grouse mess* that’s turning your little inside?"

With a shake of his great big fat head he replied

"Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

For six days in camp he just went on and on,

With "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

And nothing would stop him from singing his song

Of "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

Neither pontoon nor chess nor a warm goodnight kiss

From Sheila, could stop him from thinking with bliss

of that day when the ascent would finally be his

Of "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

At last little Leonard’s persistence won through

At singing "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

And we left for the mountain just as the cock crew,

Singing "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

And when after hours we all reached the top,

The rest of us were about ready to drop,

But Len kept on southing and singing non-stop,

"Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

Now I feel just as sure as I still hear him shout,

"Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

That a deep-seated brain tumour brought this about,

This "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

Since Casy or Kildare just could not be found,

I almost did it myself with a rock from the ground,

And I will if I ever more hear him expound

Of "Oberon, Mt Oberon, Mt Oberon".

THE PROFESSOR

*Grouse Mess is slang for a decent meal.

This parody will be understood only by the nine members who attended our Christmas Camp at Wilson’s Promontory. Mt. Oberon is one of the main attractions for tourists there.

"Mummy, Mummy, come quickly, Daddy’s fallen off the top of the roof and is hanging upside down by one leg from the spouting".

"Well don’t just stand there, child, go and get my movie camera".

A cold and blustery day greeted us at Alexandra Avenue on Sunday, February 23, the date for our first practice for the Williamstown Parade. Left at four minutes after ten with Malcolm just catching us as we turned into Yarra Bank Road. Made good time to Ken’s parents’ home and from there went on a brief excursion of the docking area. Managed to have a guided tour around the "Wyuna", a pilot vessel owned by the Port Phillip Sea Pilots. Returned for lunch at the Kilgour residence and began our first trials at about 2 o’clock. Most of us got the idea, and after three goes at it we knocked off. Afternoon tea was partaken of and most of us left for home at 4 o’clock. Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Kilgour for having us for the day.

From Len, after finally reaching the peak of Mt. Oberon (1200 feet up, or 4 miles walk uphill), came this: "Guess this is (puff) the closest I’ll (puff) ever get to heaven".

About a dozen members gathered at Alexandra Avenue on Saturday, February 29, for our night trip to One Tree Hill at Ferntree Gully in order to see the lights of the city and suburbs. We welcomed new member Alan and his friend Mary (Alan owns David’s old Lambretta). Also very nice to have Elsie’s and Peter’s cars following behind. Stopped at Burwood to meet a prospective member Lauris, who rides a Bella. While stopped here a sudden gust of wind made Ross’s Vespa almost airborne. Then Dennis and Richard both arrived, complete with wives and families. Pushed on to the Gully and stopped for a malted. Rain had begun to fall, but the night was still warm and good for travelling. Arrived at the lookout tower at about 8.45pm and spent about half an hour there. The view was surprisingly clear, and after a look-see, the Weavers, the Henrys and David left for home. The rest decided to take a tour through the hills, and set off with Len in the lead, with Lauris now pillion. Made excellent time to Sassafras, waited a short time for three machines which had fallen behind for some reason, and turned towards The Basin. Somewhere along here "The Blue Streak" bit the dust for the first time ever amid a great shower of sparks. Rider and pillion not seriously hurt and we kept going towards home. Then Ross broke a gear-change cable – and didn’t have a spare. With about one hour of fiddling and mucking about, we got going again. Arrived at Vermont and proceeded to the Seifert Tea House for tea and bickies. Many thanks to Gerry and Elaine for a wonderful "cuppa". Finally left for home after 1.00am with heavy rain still falling. On arrival at Burwood we found that Lauris’s Bella was "kaput" and so we left it to be picked up again later that morning. All round it was a terrific evening and one which I am sure will be remembered for quite a long time by those who took part in it.

About a dozen of us attended Tracey’s Speedway on Saturday night, February 14. Arrived there early and met Ken out the front. To retain some interest in the events, we nominated Peter to be our bookie for the night, and penny bets were then placed on the favourites. Numbers 2, 29 and 37 seemed to be winning most of the races, and the money was evenly distributed amongst the punters. A couple of "prangs" towards the finish made the night fully worthwhile, and we dispersed afterwards at the front gate.

He: "Did you know that I once fell off a firemen’s 90 foot extension ladder?"

She: "Good heavens, did you hurt yourself?"

He: "No, not really, I fell off the bottom rung."

David is a growing boy, to watch him eat is such a joy,

Weeties by the saucepanful, milk goes in (a bottleful!),

A pound of sugar, in it goes, that’ll keep him on his toes

Until morning tea we hope, till then we all just sit and mope.

Wonder what we’ll have for lunch? – I do think Ken K. has a hunch:

"Camp pie" he says we’re gunna have, "or else a roll and half a sav."

"How about a cup of tea?" (from Ron, with Sheila on his knee).

Then from Peter, on his back, "Let’s just have a little snack."

Sin suggested eggs and ham – go ahead and cook it, ma’am.

"Can’t be bothered, too much toil, trying to make the saucepans boil."

Finally we finished "din", then filled up the garbage bin

With all the bottles and the cans, and headed down towards the sand.

The water was a long way out, (we got there though, without a doubt).

Then we tanned up in the sun, we were having lots of fun.

Next back to camp to have some tea (Who’s turn to cook, it can’t be me!)

Following eats down to the flicks, if your seats were booked by six.

The weather changed then for the worse, for 4 wet days we all did curse.

At last to home we slowly came, but willing to do it all again.

You hear some beauties on "While Melbourne Sleeps" and "Nightbeat". About a year ago came this one, after a minor accident in which a car drove through a fence: "Well, it wash like thish, mate. I wash about to turn right when that car parked over there suddenly came out at high shpeed and forshed me to shwerve into the gutter, and I shmashed into the fensh." Upon inspection, the accused car was found to be jacked up on four piles of bricks, and with no motor within!