Table of Contents
Aussie Trikers - Across America
Adventures of the Rigid Rider - The Road to Finke
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Farewell Dr Bob - Life and Death MC
Police Intervention - Looks like Harrassment
Aussie Bikers - Ride to Bathurst
The NSW Consorting Laws - A Mug's Guide
One woman's cure for mediocrity!
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Bikers Break Bread with MP's - Brotherhood CMC
Farewell Hirsty 1952-2017
Aussie Trikers - Across America
Sturgis is home to the biggest biker party in the world. Each year, hundreds of thousands of riders make the pilgrimage to the Black Hills Rally, to ride and to party. Last year, six wide-eyed Aussie Trikers made the journey to experience it for themselves.
“You can never describe in words what it really feels like being amongst it and riding in such an atmosphere.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes However, the trip didn’t start in Sturgis, but in North Carolina where the trikes were shipped to from Sydney. I caught up with the boys 4 weeks into their trip, in New Orleans. Steve picked me up from the airport on his impressive black BOOM Trike. It’s a comfortable ride but the fact that Steve forgot to bring me a helmet made it an uneasy 30-minute trip back from the airport. Fortunately, the local constabulary didn’t spot me because Louisiana has very strict helmet laws.
“When you look at this group here from Australia how could you not have fun – and know that we are a blend of all the cultures that live here and come to see us.” – Margaret Fitzgerald, New Orleans Visitor Centre
Traveling through the south of the United States is quite an experience. Firstly, it’s muggy as hell and even the wind on your face offers very little relief. Also, the locals are quite fascinated with Aussies and our accents. I don’t know what they are talking about, they are the ones with the accents! But seriously, folk there are really friendly, hospitable and that’s what makes it all the more fun.
“Everybody’s happy, taking photos and us Aussies are creating some interest here.” – Dale Tanner, Aussie Triker
After cruising down Bourbon Street and turning some heads with our BOOM Trike convoy, we took off across the longest over water bridge in the world (24 miles to be exact!) and up the Blues Highway. It’s obvious why they call it that when you stop off at local towns and enjoy live music in the numerous blues bars.
One bar that stood out for me was Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It’s owned by Morgan Freeman and is a genuine slice of southern hospitality. The Food is greasy, the beers are cold, and the music is loud! If you can find an empty space on the wall you can even sign your name and leave a message. It’s a cool place.
“I enjoyed the music… apparently blues in that town is a big thing. We ended up staying until stumps.” – Scott Bollom, Aussie Triker
The crew departed Clarksdale with a sore head or two, but from there it’s only a short ride up to Memphis, Tennessee. We camped right next door to Graceland, but we didn’t go in because apparently Elvis wasn’t home. Instead we hit up Beale Street for some more live entertainment and refreshment.
“It’s not just all about Elvis, it’s really the home of the Blues.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
Heading north from Tennessee you can feel a significant drop in humidity, which makes the riding experience much more enjoyable. There is some beautiful riding country through these parts, especially when you get off the interstate highways. Long sweeping country roads, vast waterways through the Ozarks, and then there is the seemingly never-ending open farmland through Kansas and Nebraska.
“You get to one horizon and then you follow the road to the next. It’s just beautiful scenery and lush green country.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
You meet some pretty amazing people on the road to Sturgis and at a small motel in a town called Chadron we were treated with an impromptu performance from a Johnny Cash tribute artist. He was headed to Sturgis himself and couldn’t speak more highly of it.
“In my band I’ve been to New Hampshire, Daytona, Galveston and I’ve been to Sturgis many times and this is the true bike rally because it has the best rides.” – Merle Travis Peterson, Cold Hard Cash Show
From Chadron, it was only a one-day ride up to Sturgis, through the amazing Badlands National Park. One of the boys describes it as a moonscape and compares it to the Bungle Bungles in Western Australia. After the previous few days of riding through endless farmland it sure was nice to finally see some corners.
“It’s just nice to be able to ride through some corners with this pretty amazing type of landscape.” – Warren Walker, Aussie Biker
Arriving in Sturgis is an amazing experience. The main street is lined with thousands of bikes and riders fill every bar and restaurant in town - all there for a good time! There are bikes of all different shapes and sizes, some of which make you wonder how on earth they ever got compliance.
“It’s a childhood dream to drive down the main street of Sturgis with your own trike, with your own wheels.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
A convoy of six BOOM Trikes waving the Aussie flag really was a sight to see for most Americans as they are not yet available in the USA. They are also quite different to the Harley and kit trikes that you most commonly see there.
“People would pass you with thumbs up, taking photographs. Even one BOOM Trike would create a spectacle but six of them?!” – Bruce Yalden, Aussie Triker
You can’t say you’ve seen it all until you have spent a night out in Sturgis during the rally. It’s a great place to have a drink and let your hair down. A pub crawl took us from a small Karaoke bar, to a large beer garden at The Broken Spoke, and to some famous bars like One Eyed Jack’s Saloon.
“The whole place is just buzzing for ten days, 24/7, and it never ends, it never stops.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
If music is your thing then you definitely need to check out Buffalo Chip and Full Throttle Saloon. But make sure your wallet is full because those venues will clean you out faster than a prune milkshake! We popped our head in for a couple of hours during the day and there was still plenty to see and do. Live music, stunt shows and a bikini bike wash for those who had been down a dirt road or two.
“It’s a town… you don’t have to move from the Buffalo Chip - it’s all there!” – Steve Melchior, Elite Products
The Black Hills is known for having some of the best riding in the world and you really need to spend a few days in the saddle to do it justice. If landmarks are your thing then you will want to hit up Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, they are quite impressive.
Personally though, I really enjoy the twists and turns of the Needles Highway, where you can ride through tunnels carved out of solid granite. Or perhaps the Iron Mountain Road, to ride the pigtails, which is a series of very unique looping bridges! Custer State Park was fun but the 18-mile wildlife loop which promises herds of buffalo and other native animals only delivered us one measly buffalo on the side of the road – luck of the draw, I guess!
“Amazing country for riding, amazing landscape, from one extreme to the next!” – Stuart Hall, Aussie Triker
Inspiration for the trip across America came after Steve and Johann attended the funeral of Greg Hirst. He was the host of the TV series, Temporary Australians, and had done a similar trip to Sturgis not long before he passed away. I was part of that trip too and it was an unforgettable and treasured experience.
“Part of the celebration of his life was about that trip to Sturgis... we will talk about it for the rest of our lives and never do it… but now 12 months later we are here in Sturgis living the dream.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
“We dedicate this trip to Greg Hirst, to be honest.” – Steve Melchior, Elite Products
As I settled in to my swag at Hog’s Heaven Campgrounds for my last night with the Aussie Trikers, I wondered what amazing adventures I was going to miss out on, as they would continue their journey, another 1500 miles down the road to Los Angeles, to complete their trip of a lifetime. Words and photos by Tim Robinson
“You can never describe in words what it really feels like being amongst it and riding in such an atmosphere.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes However, the trip didn’t start in Sturgis, but in North Carolina where the trikes were shipped to from Sydney. I caught up with the boys 4 weeks into their trip, in New Orleans. Steve picked me up from the airport on his impressive black BOOM Trike. It’s a comfortable ride but the fact that Steve forgot to bring me a helmet made it an uneasy 30-minute trip back from the airport. Fortunately, the local constabulary didn’t spot me because Louisiana has very strict helmet laws.
“When you look at this group here from Australia how could you not have fun – and know that we are a blend of all the cultures that live here and come to see us.” – Margaret Fitzgerald, New Orleans Visitor Centre
Traveling through the south of the United States is quite an experience. Firstly, it’s muggy as hell and even the wind on your face offers very little relief. Also, the locals are quite fascinated with Aussies and our accents. I don’t know what they are talking about, they are the ones with the accents! But seriously, folk there are really friendly, hospitable and that’s what makes it all the more fun.
“Everybody’s happy, taking photos and us Aussies are creating some interest here.” – Dale Tanner, Aussie Triker
After cruising down Bourbon Street and turning some heads with our BOOM Trike convoy, we took off across the longest over water bridge in the world (24 miles to be exact!) and up the Blues Highway. It’s obvious why they call it that when you stop off at local towns and enjoy live music in the numerous blues bars.
One bar that stood out for me was Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It’s owned by Morgan Freeman and is a genuine slice of southern hospitality. The Food is greasy, the beers are cold, and the music is loud! If you can find an empty space on the wall you can even sign your name and leave a message. It’s a cool place.
“I enjoyed the music… apparently blues in that town is a big thing. We ended up staying until stumps.” – Scott Bollom, Aussie Triker
The crew departed Clarksdale with a sore head or two, but from there it’s only a short ride up to Memphis, Tennessee. We camped right next door to Graceland, but we didn’t go in because apparently Elvis wasn’t home. Instead we hit up Beale Street for some more live entertainment and refreshment.
“It’s not just all about Elvis, it’s really the home of the Blues.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
Heading north from Tennessee you can feel a significant drop in humidity, which makes the riding experience much more enjoyable. There is some beautiful riding country through these parts, especially when you get off the interstate highways. Long sweeping country roads, vast waterways through the Ozarks, and then there is the seemingly never-ending open farmland through Kansas and Nebraska.
“You get to one horizon and then you follow the road to the next. It’s just beautiful scenery and lush green country.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
You meet some pretty amazing people on the road to Sturgis and at a small motel in a town called Chadron we were treated with an impromptu performance from a Johnny Cash tribute artist. He was headed to Sturgis himself and couldn’t speak more highly of it.
“In my band I’ve been to New Hampshire, Daytona, Galveston and I’ve been to Sturgis many times and this is the true bike rally because it has the best rides.” – Merle Travis Peterson, Cold Hard Cash Show
From Chadron, it was only a one-day ride up to Sturgis, through the amazing Badlands National Park. One of the boys describes it as a moonscape and compares it to the Bungle Bungles in Western Australia. After the previous few days of riding through endless farmland it sure was nice to finally see some corners.
“It’s just nice to be able to ride through some corners with this pretty amazing type of landscape.” – Warren Walker, Aussie Biker
Arriving in Sturgis is an amazing experience. The main street is lined with thousands of bikes and riders fill every bar and restaurant in town - all there for a good time! There are bikes of all different shapes and sizes, some of which make you wonder how on earth they ever got compliance.
“It’s a childhood dream to drive down the main street of Sturgis with your own trike, with your own wheels.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
A convoy of six BOOM Trikes waving the Aussie flag really was a sight to see for most Americans as they are not yet available in the USA. They are also quite different to the Harley and kit trikes that you most commonly see there.
“People would pass you with thumbs up, taking photographs. Even one BOOM Trike would create a spectacle but six of them?!” – Bruce Yalden, Aussie Triker
You can’t say you’ve seen it all until you have spent a night out in Sturgis during the rally. It’s a great place to have a drink and let your hair down. A pub crawl took us from a small Karaoke bar, to a large beer garden at The Broken Spoke, and to some famous bars like One Eyed Jack’s Saloon.
“The whole place is just buzzing for ten days, 24/7, and it never ends, it never stops.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
If music is your thing then you definitely need to check out Buffalo Chip and Full Throttle Saloon. But make sure your wallet is full because those venues will clean you out faster than a prune milkshake! We popped our head in for a couple of hours during the day and there was still plenty to see and do. Live music, stunt shows and a bikini bike wash for those who had been down a dirt road or two.
“It’s a town… you don’t have to move from the Buffalo Chip - it’s all there!” – Steve Melchior, Elite Products
The Black Hills is known for having some of the best riding in the world and you really need to spend a few days in the saddle to do it justice. If landmarks are your thing then you will want to hit up Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, they are quite impressive.
Personally though, I really enjoy the twists and turns of the Needles Highway, where you can ride through tunnels carved out of solid granite. Or perhaps the Iron Mountain Road, to ride the pigtails, which is a series of very unique looping bridges! Custer State Park was fun but the 18-mile wildlife loop which promises herds of buffalo and other native animals only delivered us one measly buffalo on the side of the road – luck of the draw, I guess!
“Amazing country for riding, amazing landscape, from one extreme to the next!” – Stuart Hall, Aussie Triker
Inspiration for the trip across America came after Steve and Johann attended the funeral of Greg Hirst. He was the host of the TV series, Temporary Australians, and had done a similar trip to Sturgis not long before he passed away. I was part of that trip too and it was an unforgettable and treasured experience.
“Part of the celebration of his life was about that trip to Sturgis... we will talk about it for the rest of our lives and never do it… but now 12 months later we are here in Sturgis living the dream.” - Johann Kastner, Oz Trikes
“We dedicate this trip to Greg Hirst, to be honest.” – Steve Melchior, Elite Products
As I settled in to my swag at Hog’s Heaven Campgrounds for my last night with the Aussie Trikers, I wondered what amazing adventures I was going to miss out on, as they would continue their journey, another 1500 miles down the road to Los Angeles, to complete their trip of a lifetime. Words and photos by Tim Robinson
Adventures of the Rigid Rider - The Road to Finke
Darren Goulder has been turning heads and stirring up controversy since he converted a 1995 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade into a hard tail chopper. “I wanted a bike that I could take long distance, go to the drags, still do track days and go off road, and there was no bike to me, with short little legs, that could do that”, Darren explains. The bike, affectionately named ‘Missfit’, features Honda Fury forks, a 21-inch front wheel, a car tyre on the rear and a turbo taken off a Nissan 300ZX.
Darren is not one to back down from a challenge and he has been proving this by completing a series of challenges he has set himself. “I decided to do Fraser Island and everyone said you can’t do that, there is no way that bike will make it… I blitzed it!”. Since her first big test on the sand, ‘Missfit’ has also done a lot of miles through the outback, and has even tackled Big Red, a large sand dune in the Simpson Desert.
But Darren plans to put ‘Missfit’ through the ultimate test, to run her in the Finke Desert Race. It’s at this point that people are now convinced Darren has a little more than a screw loose. The Finke Desert Race is arguably the toughest off-road challenge in Australia. The grueling track consists of 230kms of red earth, rocks, ruts, creek beds, hidden holes and ‘whoops’ that will push any motorcycle, car, buggy or quad to their limit. Many entrants fail to cross the finish line due to the ridiculously demanding terrain.
Josh Green rides for the Yamaha off-road team and has finished on the podium at Finke on a number of occasions. His weapon of choice is the Yamaha WR450F. It’s a sensible bike for desert racing because like all enduro motorcycles it is light, aggressive and has forgiving suspension for rough terrain. But how does he think a rigid chopper will handle the track?
“To me, it’s the last thing I would want to ride down the Finke Desert track”, Josh says with a smirk. He is impressed with Darren’s ambition but is not sure it is the right bike or the job. Lee Stephens has completed the race eight times and agrees, “he might go alright for a bit, but then he will get in some tricky areas and will be a bit loose. I don’t know how it goes in the gravel but I saw him in the soft sand and it struggled a bit”.
Darren is not fazed, he has faced skepticism at every turn. To him, it’s more about taking challenge head on and inspiring others. He explains it like this, “I am not planning on going in to win, or not even to get a good time, but to show people that they can challenge life.” Darren has been raising money for various charities and with his riding wants to encourage those facing hard times.
We took Darren, Josh and Lee out to the sand dunes on Stockton Beach to compare the two riding styles. A lot of enduro riders use this beach to train for Finke and I could see why. ‘Missfit’ tackled the big dunes with ease but the lack of knobby tyres meant that taking off in the soft sand was not as quick as the off-road bikes. For a much heavier bike, the chopper seemed to handle small jumps well but Darren is realistic about some of the hazards on the track, “in certain sections the bike will be very slow and in some sections it will excel”.
Darren is not upset by people’s criticism and admits that some of his biggest fans were the most vocal skeptics. “Most people just appreciate that I am getting in and having a go and being a little bit out of the norm.” Good luck Darren. Whether you make it across the finish line or not I’m sure you will have a hell of a lot of fun on the journey! Words and Photos by Tim Robinson
Darren is not one to back down from a challenge and he has been proving this by completing a series of challenges he has set himself. “I decided to do Fraser Island and everyone said you can’t do that, there is no way that bike will make it… I blitzed it!”. Since her first big test on the sand, ‘Missfit’ has also done a lot of miles through the outback, and has even tackled Big Red, a large sand dune in the Simpson Desert.
But Darren plans to put ‘Missfit’ through the ultimate test, to run her in the Finke Desert Race. It’s at this point that people are now convinced Darren has a little more than a screw loose. The Finke Desert Race is arguably the toughest off-road challenge in Australia. The grueling track consists of 230kms of red earth, rocks, ruts, creek beds, hidden holes and ‘whoops’ that will push any motorcycle, car, buggy or quad to their limit. Many entrants fail to cross the finish line due to the ridiculously demanding terrain.
Josh Green rides for the Yamaha off-road team and has finished on the podium at Finke on a number of occasions. His weapon of choice is the Yamaha WR450F. It’s a sensible bike for desert racing because like all enduro motorcycles it is light, aggressive and has forgiving suspension for rough terrain. But how does he think a rigid chopper will handle the track?
“To me, it’s the last thing I would want to ride down the Finke Desert track”, Josh says with a smirk. He is impressed with Darren’s ambition but is not sure it is the right bike or the job. Lee Stephens has completed the race eight times and agrees, “he might go alright for a bit, but then he will get in some tricky areas and will be a bit loose. I don’t know how it goes in the gravel but I saw him in the soft sand and it struggled a bit”.
Darren is not fazed, he has faced skepticism at every turn. To him, it’s more about taking challenge head on and inspiring others. He explains it like this, “I am not planning on going in to win, or not even to get a good time, but to show people that they can challenge life.” Darren has been raising money for various charities and with his riding wants to encourage those facing hard times.
We took Darren, Josh and Lee out to the sand dunes on Stockton Beach to compare the two riding styles. A lot of enduro riders use this beach to train for Finke and I could see why. ‘Missfit’ tackled the big dunes with ease but the lack of knobby tyres meant that taking off in the soft sand was not as quick as the off-road bikes. For a much heavier bike, the chopper seemed to handle small jumps well but Darren is realistic about some of the hazards on the track, “in certain sections the bike will be very slow and in some sections it will excel”.
Darren is not upset by people’s criticism and admits that some of his biggest fans were the most vocal skeptics. “Most people just appreciate that I am getting in and having a go and being a little bit out of the norm.” Good luck Darren. Whether you make it across the finish line or not I’m sure you will have a hell of a lot of fun on the journey! Words and Photos by Tim Robinson
Farewell Dr Bob
How do you farewell the founding member and national President of a motorcycle club? The only appropriate way I can think of is to throw a huge party with all your mates. Well that’s exactly what Dr Bob was given for his retirement at the Life and Death MC Hawkesbury chapter clubhouse.
Dr Bob founded Life and Death MC in 1973 with half a dozen mates. It began as just a bit of fun and he never expected that 45 years later it would still be going strong. But for Bob it has come time to leave the hustle and bustle of Sydney and move out to the country.
“I need to put some time into myself, so I’m moving out west, out in the quiet, along with the country people, settle back and just enjoy life.“- Dr Bob
Life and Death is an old school club. They love to ride, party and all share a strong brotherhood. Family is also important to them and over the years they have included their partners and children in an annual get together, where they hire out a caravan park, ride quads with the kids and chat around the campfire.
“[The club] became part of me, it was something that I loved and I couldn’t shake it.“- Dr Bob
In the late 80s, Life and Death fell out with the law and started dealing pot. Dr Bob states, “we were trying to keep up with the Joneses”, but after some gaol time Dr Bob decided that was not what the club was about. They decided to return to their roots and they haven’t looked back. Weekend overnighters and six club runs a year confirms that they are a riding club at the core.
“Alright, let’s pull our heads in and go back old school”– Dr Bob
Dr Bob’s retirement party was a great reflection of the welcoming nature of the club. The place was packed with friends, family, 1%er, military, social and Christian clubs – all there to pay respect. Dr Bob and his wife of 39 years were presented with a number of gifts including a table with club colours and a stunning cut-off presented by Greg Lunnon of Outlaw Leather.
“We don’t look down and play tough to people, that doesn’t get you anywhere and you don’t make many friends”– Dr Bob
Rock and roll, booze, great food and some cheeky jelly wrestling was on the agenda. A great night was had by all and it was a fitting send off to a legend of a bloke. Good luck Dr Bob! Words and Photos by Tim Robinson
Dr Bob founded Life and Death MC in 1973 with half a dozen mates. It began as just a bit of fun and he never expected that 45 years later it would still be going strong. But for Bob it has come time to leave the hustle and bustle of Sydney and move out to the country.
“I need to put some time into myself, so I’m moving out west, out in the quiet, along with the country people, settle back and just enjoy life.“- Dr Bob
Life and Death is an old school club. They love to ride, party and all share a strong brotherhood. Family is also important to them and over the years they have included their partners and children in an annual get together, where they hire out a caravan park, ride quads with the kids and chat around the campfire.
“[The club] became part of me, it was something that I loved and I couldn’t shake it.“- Dr Bob
In the late 80s, Life and Death fell out with the law and started dealing pot. Dr Bob states, “we were trying to keep up with the Joneses”, but after some gaol time Dr Bob decided that was not what the club was about. They decided to return to their roots and they haven’t looked back. Weekend overnighters and six club runs a year confirms that they are a riding club at the core.
“Alright, let’s pull our heads in and go back old school”– Dr Bob
Dr Bob’s retirement party was a great reflection of the welcoming nature of the club. The place was packed with friends, family, 1%er, military, social and Christian clubs – all there to pay respect. Dr Bob and his wife of 39 years were presented with a number of gifts including a table with club colours and a stunning cut-off presented by Greg Lunnon of Outlaw Leather.
“We don’t look down and play tough to people, that doesn’t get you anywhere and you don’t make many friends”– Dr Bob
Rock and roll, booze, great food and some cheeky jelly wrestling was on the agenda. A great night was had by all and it was a fitting send off to a legend of a bloke. Good luck Dr Bob! Words and Photos by Tim Robinson
Police intervention looks a lot like harassment to me
Temporary Australians crew at The Good as Gold Poker Run in 2013
The annual Good As Gold Poker Run faced major disruption from the QLD Police, Taskforce Maxima and NSW Taskforce Raptor over the weekend. With multiple arrests, consorting warnings, drawn out licence/vehicle/drug/alcohol checks in the hot sun with no shade, water or toilet breaks. Things even got physical, when the infamous 'Raptor 13' Officer, Andrew Murphy, shoved a Veteran MC member.
Not only did the disruption prevent money going to charities but it also affected the local businesses that had prepared for a large group of riders to patronise their venues. It was said by one officer that if there was even one 1%er within the group then all riders would be treated as such. He also said that the NSW Police Commander would not allow any runs in NSW if a 1%er was part of the group.
What are your thoughts? What can we do as bikers to stand up against unjust laws and disrespectful police behaviour? (Comment on Facebook link below)
Written by Tim Robinson(Pictured)
Not only did the disruption prevent money going to charities but it also affected the local businesses that had prepared for a large group of riders to patronise their venues. It was said by one officer that if there was even one 1%er within the group then all riders would be treated as such. He also said that the NSW Police Commander would not allow any runs in NSW if a 1%er was part of the group.
What are your thoughts? What can we do as bikers to stand up against unjust laws and disrespectful police behaviour? (Comment on Facebook link below)
Written by Tim Robinson(Pictured)
Aussie Bikers Ride to Bathurst - A Top Day out!
150 riders turned up at McGrath Hills Macca's for a ride up the Bells Line of Road to the 10th annual Bathurst Street and Custom Motorcycle Show. The ride was the first official ‘Aussie Bikers’ run - celebrating the launch of the new online TV series, hosted by Brendan Jones.
The weather was perfect - the sun was hot and the mountain air was fresh. Getting through the centre of Richmond was pretty painless, but the pack inevitably got split up into a few groups due to a number of traffic lights. CSBA led the ride very well, corner-marking all the way to Bathurst.
Riders represented a number of clubs and riding groups. Members of Brotherhood CMC, CSBA, Ambassadors CMC, Bikers Australia and a handful of other’s I can't recall (sorry!). A good cross section of the biker community was present; with Sports Bikes, cruisers, adventure bikes, LAMs bikes, a Boom Trike and even a dog in a side car!
When we arrived in Bathurst we doubled the number of bikes on show. There was heaps to look at - some really interesting builds, some golden oldies, Trade stalls, a jumping Castle for the kids and an awesome band, ‘Chuck’s Wagon’.It was great to see the Bathurst community getting behind the event. Heaps of locals turned out to have a squiz at the bikes. The Mayor even made an appearance and gave us some updates on the new motorcycle race track that is scheduled for construction in Bathurst soon!
The Bad Hobo’s SMC hosted the Bike Show and along with Bikers Australia, judged the 13 categories. The ‘Aussie Bikers’ People’s Choice award went to Kiwi Dave for his awesome 2003 Anniversary edition Softail Deuce, and Ian Mackay took out best bike in Show for his 2008 Custom Godfather. This trophy was named as the ‘Greg Hirst Memorial award’ to honour Hirsty, who passed away in June 2017. Greg had run the Bathurst Bike Show for 9 years and it was his passion to get Motorcycle racing back in Bathurst. The new track is just one of the many legacies that he will leave behind.
The ride and bike show will feature in an upcoming episode of Aussie Bikers. Head over to our YouTube channel and subscribe for updates! Stay tuned for news of the 2019 Bathurst Street and Custom Motorcycle Show, Presented by Brotherhood CMC! #RIPHIRSTY
Written by Tim RobinsonPhotos by John Keogh
A mug’s guide to the NSW anti-friendship law (aka ‘consorting law’)
The consorting law is in the Crimes Act 1900, Division 7 (Section 93W, X, Z).See http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/
4. Defend yourself.There are only 6 defences to consorting (Section 96Y), and in each case you must satisfy the court your consorting was reasonable.The following forms of consorting are to be disregarded for the purposes of section 93X if the defendant satisfies the court that the consorting was reasonable in the circumstances:(a) consorting with family members,(b) consorting that occurs in the course of lawful employment or the lawful operation of a business,(c) consorting that occurs in the course of training or education,(d) consorting that occurs in the course of the provision of a health service,(e) consorting that occurs in the course of the provision of legal advice,(f) consorting that occurs in lawful custody or in the course of complying with a court order.
Written by Pendo Brotherhood CMC / www.thinkwrite.com.auI am not a lawyer. If you need legal advice about any matter, I recommend Frank Law.
Written by Pendo Brotherhood CMC / www.thinkwrite.com.auI am not a lawyer. If you need legal advice about any matter, I recommend Frank Law.
The consorting laws remain in force because the public do not know about the impacts. Tell your story – how have the consorting laws affected you? JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
One woman's cure for mediocrity!
The legendary Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, has long waged war on what he calls ‘the beige people’ His anti-beige campaign targets mediocrity - being boring, being the sort of person who settles for things in life, someone who never challenges themselves to do anything different and who just...exists.
I’m sure you can see where this is going. Last year I looked around for something to fend off the onslaught of beige, and, as you do, decided to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I’m 52, never ridden a bike in my life before this. So naturally my first bike had to be a Harley! The only reason I did this is because in 2015 my husband and I joined the NSW South Coast HOG Chapter. I was a contented professional pillion, but I observed quite a few ladies from our Chapter leaping off the back of someone else’s bike and on to their own. I’d never in a million years have ever contemplated doing something so silly all by myself, but I saw first-hand just how supportive and encouraging our Chapter is in encouraging lady riders, so I decided to have a go. I won’t say I’ve loved every moment, it continues to be a tough learning curve and probably always will. It’s terrifying, overwhelming, exhilarating and liberating all at the same time. I wouldn’t change a thing and I’m on the journey now, no looking back. I’m lucky to have a (mostly patient) husband as my main coach and a network of Hoggies who I know, without question, have my back every time I get on the road with them.
I’ve been reflecting on how this came about (apart from the beige thing of course), and there is an easy culprit – the Harley Owners Group. I’m lucky enough to have become part of a culture that places a huge importance on the common goal of community. A community of equals where it doesn’t matter what your status is in life, it’s about the passion for motorcycle riding and all things Harley-Davidson. For me, HOG has been about supporting and encouraging women to participate in the culture of Harley-Davidson - bringing the girls together to share the lifestyle, friendship and enrichment that being part of HOG brings to our lives in whatever way they chose. You might ride, you might pillion, or you might just hang around your local HD dealership spending large sums of money (Oh, wait – I do all of that!) but most importantly, you are part of a worldwide community.
We’ve just had Harley Days 2017 and as I rode on the Ladies of Harley ride, it became a bit of a defining moment for me. It was one of those rides where everything clicked, for the first time I truly felt that, ‘yeah, I’ve got this.’
However you choose to engage, the Harley-Davidson culture is one that embraces, encourages, and supports women to follow their dreams. So I’d encourage every woman who has ever thought about learning to ride to have a go, become a Lady of Harley and share the bonds, experience and community of the wind sisters. Ride your own ride with an attitude to life that says – no beige here!
Written by Fiona NapierNSW South Coast HOG Chapter Photo by John Keogh
I’m sure you can see where this is going. Last year I looked around for something to fend off the onslaught of beige, and, as you do, decided to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I’m 52, never ridden a bike in my life before this. So naturally my first bike had to be a Harley! The only reason I did this is because in 2015 my husband and I joined the NSW South Coast HOG Chapter. I was a contented professional pillion, but I observed quite a few ladies from our Chapter leaping off the back of someone else’s bike and on to their own. I’d never in a million years have ever contemplated doing something so silly all by myself, but I saw first-hand just how supportive and encouraging our Chapter is in encouraging lady riders, so I decided to have a go. I won’t say I’ve loved every moment, it continues to be a tough learning curve and probably always will. It’s terrifying, overwhelming, exhilarating and liberating all at the same time. I wouldn’t change a thing and I’m on the journey now, no looking back. I’m lucky to have a (mostly patient) husband as my main coach and a network of Hoggies who I know, without question, have my back every time I get on the road with them.
I’ve been reflecting on how this came about (apart from the beige thing of course), and there is an easy culprit – the Harley Owners Group. I’m lucky enough to have become part of a culture that places a huge importance on the common goal of community. A community of equals where it doesn’t matter what your status is in life, it’s about the passion for motorcycle riding and all things Harley-Davidson. For me, HOG has been about supporting and encouraging women to participate in the culture of Harley-Davidson - bringing the girls together to share the lifestyle, friendship and enrichment that being part of HOG brings to our lives in whatever way they chose. You might ride, you might pillion, or you might just hang around your local HD dealership spending large sums of money (Oh, wait – I do all of that!) but most importantly, you are part of a worldwide community.
We’ve just had Harley Days 2017 and as I rode on the Ladies of Harley ride, it became a bit of a defining moment for me. It was one of those rides where everything clicked, for the first time I truly felt that, ‘yeah, I’ve got this.’
However you choose to engage, the Harley-Davidson culture is one that embraces, encourages, and supports women to follow their dreams. So I’d encourage every woman who has ever thought about learning to ride to have a go, become a Lady of Harley and share the bonds, experience and community of the wind sisters. Ride your own ride with an attitude to life that says – no beige here!
Written by Fiona NapierNSW South Coast HOG Chapter Photo by John Keogh
Bikers break bread with MPs
At first glance, politicians and bikers seem like unlikely breakfast buddies. But for the past three years, NSW politicians and the Motorcycle Council of NSW have been holding the Hungry Bikers’ Breakfast in October as part of Motorcycle Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness around safety issues facing motorcyclists, and dispel some of the negative ‘bikie’ stereotypes.
Some of this year’s guests included NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard, and members of the Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club (CMC).“We certainly feel that the role we play is a very important role,” said Steve Pearce, Treasurer of the Motorcycle Council.“We represent around 40,000 motorcyclists across NSW and they have to have a voice. It’s very hard these days. Lobby groups are always talking to governments about their views on things. We find that working with the government is very effective, they listen to what we have to say and they always call us in when they need an opinion.”
The group is mainly concerned with issues relating to how motorcyclists interact with other vehicles on the road. One area they are currently consulting with the government on is the impact of driverless cars in the future.
The Hungry Bikers’ event is an initiative started by Greg Hirst, a founding member of the Brotherhood CMC. Mr. Hirst was known for being a fierce advocate for motorcyclists and spent a large part of his life campaigning on their behalf for safer conditions on the road. He passed away on June 6 this year at the age of 64.
Grant Howard is a member of the Brotherhood CMC, a club based in Parramatta that aims to “integrate Christian faith with motorcycling.” The club, which has been running for around 36 years, is heavily involved with charity work in their community, contrary to the popular stereotypes of bikers as criminals. Mr. Howard says people would be surprised how many motorcyclists don’t fit this stereotype.“People who are involved in riding are involved in all sorts of different things – doctors, police, the fire brigade… my wife rides, and our kids have been involved in the community since they were old enough to touch the pegs on our motorbikes. One guy I know in a patch club has an Order of Australia medal,” he said.
Patch clubs, or ‘one percent clubs’, are the clubs that tend to appear most often in the headlines, identifiable by their jackets adorned with club insignia or patches that simply say ‘1%’. The term dates back to the 1950s, when the American Motorcycle Association issued a statement claiming that 99% of the riders they represented were law-abiding citizens – the implication being that the other 1% were criminals and outlaws, which ‘rebel’ bikers embrace.But as the term would suggest, these riders are by no means the majority among motorcyclists.
Mr Howard said his club is “concerned” about the NSW Government’s anti-consorting laws and the impact they have on the club’s work in the community, particularly as there is no exemption for clergy under the laws – only direct family members and work colleagues.The government passed the laws in 2012 as an amendment to the Crimes Act with the intention of disrupting organised crime and violence between outlaw motorcycle gangs. The laws mean that if a person is seen with two or more convicted offenders on at least two separate occasions, police must warn them about the offenders’ criminal records. If they are seen in their company again, they can be charged with habitual consorting, which has a maximum penalty of three years in jail.
Since 2012, police have issued over 8500 warnings across NSW and charged at least 54 people with consorting.“There’s a lot of discretion in some of the powers. Basically the argument is that one percent clubs are crime organisations, and there’s quite a mixed view on that,” said Mr. Howard.“In our case, we have contact with people from all sorts of different clubs, so I could quite easily find myself being warned about people that I associate with.”
While their organisation does not support criminal activity, they are concerned that the laws impact the way they can interact with people who need their help.“These are really quite serious laws when you’re talking about being able to enter people’s homes, to be able to associate with other people. It’s working towards terrorist-type legislation in terms of its powers.“We’re saying, as a club, let’s target behaviour, let’s not target who I associate with.”
Mr. Howard says his club is far from the only one in Sydney that does charity work, and they would all be affected by these laws.“There are a number of motorcycle clubs that run annual charity events. Often people associate clubs with negatives but a lot of clubs, including patch clubs, do a lot of services and support for young people, the homeless, and hospitals, and those tend not to give a balanced view of people who are involved in motorcycling.”
Mr. Pearce admits that although the Motorcycle Council isn’t actively campaigning against the laws, they do “share the Brotherhood’s concerns” about the impact they could have on their members’ lives. But he says events like the Hungry Bikers’ breakfast are about building positive relationships with the government to work with them on important issues, rather than against them.
“It’s just a way of us reaching out to government and to members of parliament and just letting them know we appreciate the partnership we work in with them. We don’t always agree on things, but mostly we try to come to agreements with them on issues affecting motorcyclists,” he said.
“We want to celebrate motorcycling because we all enjoy the time we spend riding and the associations we have with people. This year is quite significant because of Greg Hirst’s passing. He was a major driver of the event and of the Brotherhood. We’re really pleased to be able to continue Greg’s work.” BY ANITA SENARATNAhttp://www.altmedia.net.au/bikers-break-bread-with-mps/127735
Some of this year’s guests included NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard, and members of the Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club (CMC).“We certainly feel that the role we play is a very important role,” said Steve Pearce, Treasurer of the Motorcycle Council.“We represent around 40,000 motorcyclists across NSW and they have to have a voice. It’s very hard these days. Lobby groups are always talking to governments about their views on things. We find that working with the government is very effective, they listen to what we have to say and they always call us in when they need an opinion.”
The group is mainly concerned with issues relating to how motorcyclists interact with other vehicles on the road. One area they are currently consulting with the government on is the impact of driverless cars in the future.
The Hungry Bikers’ event is an initiative started by Greg Hirst, a founding member of the Brotherhood CMC. Mr. Hirst was known for being a fierce advocate for motorcyclists and spent a large part of his life campaigning on their behalf for safer conditions on the road. He passed away on June 6 this year at the age of 64.
Grant Howard is a member of the Brotherhood CMC, a club based in Parramatta that aims to “integrate Christian faith with motorcycling.” The club, which has been running for around 36 years, is heavily involved with charity work in their community, contrary to the popular stereotypes of bikers as criminals. Mr. Howard says people would be surprised how many motorcyclists don’t fit this stereotype.“People who are involved in riding are involved in all sorts of different things – doctors, police, the fire brigade… my wife rides, and our kids have been involved in the community since they were old enough to touch the pegs on our motorbikes. One guy I know in a patch club has an Order of Australia medal,” he said.
Patch clubs, or ‘one percent clubs’, are the clubs that tend to appear most often in the headlines, identifiable by their jackets adorned with club insignia or patches that simply say ‘1%’. The term dates back to the 1950s, when the American Motorcycle Association issued a statement claiming that 99% of the riders they represented were law-abiding citizens – the implication being that the other 1% were criminals and outlaws, which ‘rebel’ bikers embrace.But as the term would suggest, these riders are by no means the majority among motorcyclists.
Mr Howard said his club is “concerned” about the NSW Government’s anti-consorting laws and the impact they have on the club’s work in the community, particularly as there is no exemption for clergy under the laws – only direct family members and work colleagues.The government passed the laws in 2012 as an amendment to the Crimes Act with the intention of disrupting organised crime and violence between outlaw motorcycle gangs. The laws mean that if a person is seen with two or more convicted offenders on at least two separate occasions, police must warn them about the offenders’ criminal records. If they are seen in their company again, they can be charged with habitual consorting, which has a maximum penalty of three years in jail.
Since 2012, police have issued over 8500 warnings across NSW and charged at least 54 people with consorting.“There’s a lot of discretion in some of the powers. Basically the argument is that one percent clubs are crime organisations, and there’s quite a mixed view on that,” said Mr. Howard.“In our case, we have contact with people from all sorts of different clubs, so I could quite easily find myself being warned about people that I associate with.”
While their organisation does not support criminal activity, they are concerned that the laws impact the way they can interact with people who need their help.“These are really quite serious laws when you’re talking about being able to enter people’s homes, to be able to associate with other people. It’s working towards terrorist-type legislation in terms of its powers.“We’re saying, as a club, let’s target behaviour, let’s not target who I associate with.”
Mr. Howard says his club is far from the only one in Sydney that does charity work, and they would all be affected by these laws.“There are a number of motorcycle clubs that run annual charity events. Often people associate clubs with negatives but a lot of clubs, including patch clubs, do a lot of services and support for young people, the homeless, and hospitals, and those tend not to give a balanced view of people who are involved in motorcycling.”
Mr. Pearce admits that although the Motorcycle Council isn’t actively campaigning against the laws, they do “share the Brotherhood’s concerns” about the impact they could have on their members’ lives. But he says events like the Hungry Bikers’ breakfast are about building positive relationships with the government to work with them on important issues, rather than against them.
“It’s just a way of us reaching out to government and to members of parliament and just letting them know we appreciate the partnership we work in with them. We don’t always agree on things, but mostly we try to come to agreements with them on issues affecting motorcyclists,” he said.
“We want to celebrate motorcycling because we all enjoy the time we spend riding and the associations we have with people. This year is quite significant because of Greg Hirst’s passing. He was a major driver of the event and of the Brotherhood. We’re really pleased to be able to continue Greg’s work.” BY ANITA SENARATNAhttp://www.altmedia.net.au/bikers-break-bread-with-mps/127735
Farewell Hirsty
TributeGreg Hirst (Hirsty)2/12/1952 - 6/6/2017
Greg was a husband, a father, a motorcyclist, and a man of God.
His love for his family and his dedication and love for the motorcycling community were driven by his unwavering belief in a God who sees value and worth in every human being. He was happily married to Colleen for 37 years. They had 6 children (one now deceased). He was a founding member of Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club (CMC) and rode with them for 40 years.
Greg has pastored a house church in the Parramatta area for over 35 years, with today’s Street Level Christian Community born out of Brotherhood CMC in 1981.
In 2003 he opened Street Level’s ‘Caring and Ministry Centre’ on Pitt St Parramatta, which has also been his family home. He provided the core for this place of contact and drop in - for the church and for those on the edges of society.
During the early 1980’s he assisted with Christian Scripture for high schools in Parramatta, under the auspices of St. John’s Anglican Church.
In Greg’s motorcycling ministry, he was a founding member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association of Australia and the force behind the Australian Conferences of Christian Motorcycling Clubs.
He organised the Silverwater Motor Festival, which hosted Brotherhood’s annual Street and Custom Motorcycle Show for 23 years. He also established the Bathurst Bike Show, which has run for 7 years.
He was an avid journalist, writing columns for several newspapers and magazines. He also wrote 2 books – My Motorcycling Life (Parts I & II) and hosted a community radio program on motorcycling.
In 2008 he began working on his television series, Temporary Australians, now in its 5th series.
Greg has worked with the homelessness community for 40 years. He established Parramatta Street Youth Project, and was most recently supporting the street work of Parramatta Mission. He has been involved in organising Homeless Person’s Week events in Parramatta for many years, linking the Blanket Run by Bikers Australia. Greg has organised rock concerts to raise money for the homeless with support from bands such as Midnight Oil.
He was a political activist and lobbyist, who worked tirelessly to secure better and safer conditions for bikers - a Labor Party member with political aspirations. He was also an active member of the NSW Motorcycle Council and Bikers Australia.
He was a key figure in organising annual politicians’ rides in Canberra and Sydney as well as numerous Australia-wide protest and celebration rides. He also presented at several international conferences on bikers’ rights.
He was a Christian biker who was equally at ease with politicians, media personalities, the rich and famous and the homeless. He would visit gaols and churches. He conducted weddings and funerals, including for his own children.
Above all, Greg was a genuine and honest man who made time for every one he met. He tried to live in a way that honoured Christ, without imposing his beliefs and morals on anyone.
Greg was a husband, a father, a motorcyclist, and a man of God.
His love for his family and his dedication and love for the motorcycling community were driven by his unwavering belief in a God who sees value and worth in every human being. He was happily married to Colleen for 37 years. They had 6 children (one now deceased). He was a founding member of Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club (CMC) and rode with them for 40 years.
Greg has pastored a house church in the Parramatta area for over 35 years, with today’s Street Level Christian Community born out of Brotherhood CMC in 1981.
In 2003 he opened Street Level’s ‘Caring and Ministry Centre’ on Pitt St Parramatta, which has also been his family home. He provided the core for this place of contact and drop in - for the church and for those on the edges of society.
During the early 1980’s he assisted with Christian Scripture for high schools in Parramatta, under the auspices of St. John’s Anglican Church.
In Greg’s motorcycling ministry, he was a founding member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association of Australia and the force behind the Australian Conferences of Christian Motorcycling Clubs.
He organised the Silverwater Motor Festival, which hosted Brotherhood’s annual Street and Custom Motorcycle Show for 23 years. He also established the Bathurst Bike Show, which has run for 7 years.
He was an avid journalist, writing columns for several newspapers and magazines. He also wrote 2 books – My Motorcycling Life (Parts I & II) and hosted a community radio program on motorcycling.
In 2008 he began working on his television series, Temporary Australians, now in its 5th series.
Greg has worked with the homelessness community for 40 years. He established Parramatta Street Youth Project, and was most recently supporting the street work of Parramatta Mission. He has been involved in organising Homeless Person’s Week events in Parramatta for many years, linking the Blanket Run by Bikers Australia. Greg has organised rock concerts to raise money for the homeless with support from bands such as Midnight Oil.
He was a political activist and lobbyist, who worked tirelessly to secure better and safer conditions for bikers - a Labor Party member with political aspirations. He was also an active member of the NSW Motorcycle Council and Bikers Australia.
He was a key figure in organising annual politicians’ rides in Canberra and Sydney as well as numerous Australia-wide protest and celebration rides. He also presented at several international conferences on bikers’ rights.
He was a Christian biker who was equally at ease with politicians, media personalities, the rich and famous and the homeless. He would visit gaols and churches. He conducted weddings and funerals, including for his own children.
Above all, Greg was a genuine and honest man who made time for every one he met. He tried to live in a way that honoured Christ, without imposing his beliefs and morals on anyone.