Jennifer Killen organised the rally and wrote this report.
On the land of the WodiWodi people of the Dharawal nation, we were privileged to be able to hold a WIMA 2000 50th Anniversary Rally, on a continent which is home to the oldest civilisation in the world. We recognise their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.
The year 2000 was a special year in many ways, not least because it was WIMA’s 50th birthday. In Australia, we were thrilled to be hosting our first Southern Hemisphere International and sharing the golden anniversary celebrations with Finland.
This was the first ever international rally to be held down under and what a rally it was. We hosted about 140 WIMA women (and many brought partners). From overseas, some joined an organised tour with hired bikes, setting out from Melbourne. Others rode all the way to Sydney from Western Australia, across the Nullarbor taking 6 days in all – a 4000 km journey that sorts the women from the girls!
Our special guest of honour was the amazing Hazel Mayes, aged 78, who was a friend of Louise Scherbyn and founded the original WIMA Australia in 1950. A pioneer amongst women in motorcycling, aviation and mechanics, Hazel worked not only as a motorcycle despatch rider but trained with the Australian Airforce to become an aircraft mechanic. You can read more about her here: https:/invenusveritas.com/the-petrolettes- blog/2017/5/9/hazel-mayes
Kiama, the place ‘where the sea makes a noise’, welcomed these WIMA members from across our continent, our Kiwi neighbours from New Zealand and internationals from around the world. Michiko and husband Tei came from Japan while Europe was represented by France, Germany, GB, Holland, Sweden and Switzerland.
A spectacular site, Kiama gave us three gorgeous beaches within walking distance, and caravans with jacuzzis as well as a wonderful choice of coastal and mountain rides. We enjoyed ride outs to the Minnamurra Rainforest, the Southern Highlands, and perhaps best of all, Bundanon (meaning deep valley in the Dharawal language), a unique national arts organisation with an historic Australian homestead and wildlife sanctuary located on 1,000 hectares of pristine bushland. We browsed the art collection, went bushwalking or just relaxed in the ancient landscape.
Doonooch Aboriginal Dancers were standouts amongst evening entertainment. They even did a Reverse Rain Dance for us which must have worked as we enjoyed fine weather throughout, though Alice Springs flooded when some of our visitors arrived there after the rally.
The Trivia Night was great fun too and most of us were totally bamboozled by the questions. To the amazement of his friends, the winner of the Heads and Tails prize was GB member Rowena’s husband Frank, who has no interest in motorcycles and would probably be hard put to distinguish a Ducati from a Harley. A felicitous mixture of strategy (copying his knowledgeable friends) and good luck – or perhaps it was sorcery.
Everyone enjoyed the traditional WIMA gymkhana of silly games which included The Shelley Slatcher Memorial Handbag Toss, without which no WIMA Australia rally is complete.
Sadly, all good things must end so we celebrated our final night, a great rally and many new friends with the prize giving and an energetic bush dance and thank you to everyone who travelled so far to make our rally so exciting and enjoyable.
The rally programme
