Octagon March, 2016

CHAPTER Chatter
Far North Queensland Chapter
by John and Cherie Fransen
Sunday, 24 January 2016 – ‘Meet and Greet’
Trinity Beach Sports Club
Well a very Happy New Year everyone, from all of
us up here in the tippy top of Queensland. Hope
everyone had a great Festive Season, including
those that are involved in the Club state wide.
A great turnout for the first get together, about
34 people showed. We met a few potential new
Members which was really nice to see, just goes
to show when you are having fun, word gets
around.
So today’s event was more just a social gathering,
and time to get some tucker while we discussed
what we might like to do for the rest of the year.
Sheets were handed out for ideas, if people
wanted to contribute to suggestions for places
to visit, roads to drive and places to eat, not to
mention events we already had to add to our
draft calendar; some had already sent in ideas
via email what they thought might be worthwhile
doing in the coming months, so that was also
appreciated.
From previous years, we know what motoring
events ie: show and shines, swap meets etc
generally select the same dates on the calendar
annually, so we pencilled those in first, then add
in what the FNQ club Members think would be
fun to do. We continue to add suggestions, even
throughout the year, as nothing is really set in
stone until a week or two before (as we need to
get our organising permit), just because we are
a pretty ‘laidback’ mob and sometimes things
change depending on weather, road conditions or
even numbers for the day (as we get bigger we
are always on a search for new eating spots that
can seat a larger group). But that said, we seem
to have a rough idea now, well probably better
than rough, of what we are doing from January
through to December and as local or even state
wide events arise we add them to the diary and
juggle other things in to fit better.
So essentially, a great lunch was had, most
drove their regular drives today as there was no
planned run on the road. Once we had been fed
and watered, jotted some things down on paper it
looks like we have some really fun things to look
forward to this year, we bid each other adieu’ until
we meet again, which pretty much meant ‘see ya
next time’ on the 7th of February.
Sunday, 7 February 2016 – Bluewater Trinity
Beach Grill / Highlander Hotel Julatten run
Attended – John and Annette Collet Silver
Mercedes (MGA in the garage), John and Cherie
Fransen ASX (Midget in the garage), Lyn and
Wayne Morgan Red MGB, Brendon and June
Hammersley Black MX5 (MGB having a paint
job plus some extras), Leon and Llorien Johnson
White Suzuki, Tony Boland and Cevita Green
TD, Bob and Patty Ingram White Hilux (need
aircon today!!!) Chris and Valmae Millar Green TF,
Cynthia and Derek Bevan Silver MX5, Graham
and Pauline Hepburn Red Bugeye Sprite, Paul
Lyons Red MG, Alan and Aileen Bielefeld Maroon
MGF, John and Helen Honan Mustard MG, Tony
Basham Red TD and Steve and Maureen Girardi
,Kay and Harvey Williams Mini.
First official ‘back to the road’ run for 2016 for our
FNQ Chapter, we were all really looking forward
to taking advantage of our summertime weather
and hitting the bitumen. However, in saying that,
boy was it a sweltering hot day today, but that
didn’t put anyone off, we had a great turnout with
some new Members joining the group. Interesting
to see what the day would hold and hopefully
the weather would not affect any of the vehicles’
performance, must admit though there was a
few that didn’t come in their Club cars due to the
heat (need aircon) and others still had them in the
garage needing repairs, upgrades, paint etc which
a couple took advantage of, trying to get done
over the festive season break.
This morning our initial meeting point was a new
50
The Octagon - March 2016