Birthday cake: Club president Neil Rutherford (fifth from left) with most of the club’s life members, (from left) Lloyd Healey, Kris Healey, Brendan Walsh, John Grieve, Peter Vibert, Rob Balfour, Alan Lavis, Ross Organ and Phil Podbury.
The Goulburn Valley Motor Vehicle Drivers Club held its belated 50th Anniversary Dinner on Friday, November 25 at ‘The Woolshed’ in Kialla. These celebrations were to have taken place on this date two years ago. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions over the past two years, the club wasn’t able to celebrate this special occasion until now.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
A great night was had by all, with beautiful food, dancing and fellowship. Music was provided by The Splinters Group, whose members kindly donated their payment to GV Hospice. All proceeds from a raffle held on the night, along with a contribution from the management at the Woolshed, were donated to GV Hospice as well. The cake was cut by two of the club’s longest serving members, Rob Balfour (a founding member of 52 years) and Ross Organ (50 years). Gathered around them in the picture are the club president and the life members present on the night.
The club held its inaugural meeting on November 26, 1970 at the high school in Numurkah. The object of the club was to foster the recovery, restoration and preservation of all types of veteran, vintage and classic vehicles. Thirty-one people attended that night. Today the club has a membership of around 220, with monthly meetings being held in the clubrooms at Grahamvale.
Over the past 52 years, the GVMVDC has contributed to the community by conducting and supporting all kinds of local activities. These include participating in the procession on New Year’s Eve in Mooroopna and displaying cars at the Mooroopna Australia Day ceremony. The club holds an annual swap meet in September, and this has taken place at the Shepparton Showgrounds in recent years. There is plenty on offer on the day, with stalls with lots of car parts, general bric-a-brac and delicious food. Club members can also participate in one of the longer two-week rallies that are held every year, or in the car runs that are held once a month to somewhere of interest in our region. The GVMVDC also supports other car clubs that visit Shepparton, often taking them to places of interest in the local area. Each year the club makes donations to local charities of its choice.
