More than 30 members of the former Gunnedah Black Lions Motorcycle Club recently made their way from across Australia to reminisce about days gone by.
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The club’s reunion took place at the Gunnedah Hotel after former members Shana Reichmann (nee Connolly) and Vicki Grover (nee Birch) decided to get everyone together one more time.
With the use of a members list, Facebook and Gunnedah Memories site, most of the members were tracked down and came from as far away as Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Casino, and the Hunter Valley with apologies from former members in Perth, Katherine, Rockhampton, Melbourne and Port Macquarie.
“There were a lot of past memories recounted, old photos reviewed, friendships renewed and promises to keep in contact made,” Ms Reichmann said.
“The guys hadn't seen each other for so long and it was a really good afternoon and evening.”
Members last held a reunion in 2014 when past president Colin Small became unwell.
Ms Reichmann said the club was started by Dennis Roberts in 1969 with the idea of giving road bike owners a group to tour the countryside with and not be labelled as “bikies”. There was also a great sharing of knowledge and skills regarding bike maintenance.
The club’s name and emblem was sourced from Mr Roberts’ family history but it wasn’t until 20 years after the emblem was adopted that he discovered it was very similar to his family’s crest.
Ms Reichmann said there were trips to Bathurst races and various other race meetings, coastal trips on the weekends, camping trips to members’ properties and night events with a navigator having to spot items in the dark.
“The comradeship between members meant no one was left to fend for themselves when they broke down, had an accident or needed their bike motor rebuilt,” she said.
In addition to road touring, some members found an interest in racing sidecars. In 1977 at the Old Bar Race track, Marshall Rixon, with Trevor King swinging, won a NSW state title. The Dall brothers came in second.
The four men and Col Small with Alan Carlson swinging went on to compete for many years and numerous members competed at the local Bluevale circuit.
“The fun of racing and the smell of racing fuel is a hard habit to kick, even at 70 years of age,” Ms Reichmann said.
The former member said some of the motorcyclists still had bikes and continued to regularly catch up and attend events together.
Ms Reichmann said there was a general consensus to hold another reunion in 2019, with the hope that those who missed out this time around could catch the next one.
