Sydney Chapter Celebrates 10 Years!

10 years of Sydney

24 July 2023 / Words: Senia Gaunson Photos: Various

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY SYDNEY!

Saturday 15th July 2023 we celebrated 10 years of Sydney Chapter.

The Sydney Chapter was officially launched on the 4th of September 2013 at the Waverton bowling Club, headed by Guy Coles.  From there thousands of fun runs evolved, including some that have prevailed since those early days, like the Bottom of the Harbour Fish and Chips nights at Balmoral and Southern Sydney Social Dinners.

Bryan and Ann Hicks, together with Andy and Vicki Bottomley decided a Christmas in July was a great time to celebrate 10 years of Sydney Chapter, so off we trekked to the Grand View Hotel at Wentworth Falls for our adventure celebrating Sydney Chapter’s 10th Anniversary.

 



Ann and Bryan and Vicki and Andy were presented with a “thank you” gift by the Club President, Ian Combes for their years of service as Convenors of the Sydney Chapter.

Bryan and Andy, retiring as Convenors after 5 and 6 years respectively, introduced Maree and Steve Eccleston who will be taking over from them as Sydney Convenors at the end of the year.  We’re not sure whether Bryan’s threat to lock the doors until a Convenor was found, influenced Steve and Maree, who are long time members, and really nice people, but we look forward to some fun runs ahead with them, and I’m sure they’ll be helped by other keen Sydney members.

Steve and Maree Eccleston - next year’s convenors

 

A few of us lingered into the afternoon, evening and overnight and were joined by Graham and Gillian Fletcher the next day for a ride on the Zig Zag railway.  Zig Zag was closed for over 10 years due to fire and flood damage, restored to its’ former glory by volunteers.  We couldn’t by-pass the Three Sisters at Echo Point, a marvel of nature.  And yes, the mountains did look blue Brendan!

 

 

What a fun and varied weekend, culminating in a drive home along Bells Line of Road and the best apple pie and cream I’ve ever tasted in a little cafe in Bilpin.

It was a fabulous mix of members from Sydney, RPM and Illawarra Chapters, all coming together to celebrate Sydney’s 10 years.  Looking forward to the next 10!

Senia Gaunson (originally a Sydney member, now a ring in from the Illawarra)