HARS 40TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER - 12th October 2019
A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR CLUB FROM PAST PRESIDENT YOGI COLLINS
To the members of this very special society, celebrating a very special milestone…. As at October 2019, it will be 40 years since Max McKinnon had the foresight for the humble beginning of the Hastings Auto Restorers Society Inc. He called on a few very special people to meet in his home, with the idea of forming a club for motoring enthusiasts from the Port Macquarie, Hastings and Camden Haven areas to meet and share knowledge and experience in a social atmosphere , whilst conserving the history of the Historic Vehicle Movement…..
Hence this club was formed by a handful of very dedicated enthusiasts, comprising of our Foundation Members, Dale Bleasdale, Brian Clarke, Ross Dwyer , David Hayes, Reg Minett, Brian Saville, David Spokes, Ray Howell, Graeme Kooke, Keith Ramsay, Harold Boughton, Ron Woods, Bill Langhorne,and Barry Everingham….
On the first Wednesday of October 1979 a meeting was held at the West Port Bowling Club. On that nite Reg Minett was elected President, Ray Howell, Secretary and Keith Ramsay as Treasurer.. Early editors of our magazine were Dale and Robyn Bleasdale, Norma Dwyer , Maurie Chegwidden and Jennifer Smith , progressing to our current editor of many years, Robyn Bushell….
We do have some of these dedicated people as active members to this day , along with their wives and partners who have given their unconditional support to the club over years, and have held executive positions in the past to steer this club on the steady course to get us where we are today…. The active Foundation Members to this day being , Dale Bleasdale, David Hayes, Brian Saville, Norma Dwyer and David Spokes…. Sadly over the 40 Years we have lost some of our beloved Founders in the passing of Reg Minett, Ross Dwyer, Brian Clarke….
Life Membership has been granted in past years to Reg and Gwen Minett, Ross and Norma Dwyer, Trevor Blackman. , Bill Spraggon., and Rick and Robyn Bushell…..
In an extract from our 25th Year celebrations written by the Late Reg Minett… quote,” Max McKinnon as founder of the club always did a good job as President and on committee and I think we owe him a lot more than can be put into words in kicking off the club” Unquote!!! Maybe this sums up the humble beginning of Hastings Auto Restorers Society and of course the members over the past years to get us where we are today…..
A big thank you can be given to the past presidents for their time spent devoted to this club….
- 1979—1980. Reg Minett.
- 1980—1983. Max McKinnon.
- 1983---1984. Keith Ramsay.
- 1984---1986. Ross Dwyer.
- 1986---1988. Max McKinnon.
- 1988---1991. Maurice Chegwidden.
- 1991---1992. Ross Dwyer.
- 1992---1993. Keith Ings.
- 1993---1995. Trevor Blackman.
- 1995---1999. Dale Bleasdale.
- 1999---2002. Dennis Marks.
- 2002---2005. Jennifer Smith.
- 2005---2008. Rick Bushell.
- 2008---2011. David Spokes.
- 2011---2013. Chris Whalley.
- 2013---2015. Rick Bushell.
- 2015---2018. Ken Collins.
- 2018---2019. Chris Whalley.
The club has seen a lot of changes over the past 40 years!! With the introduction of our ever popular Port Macquarie Swap Meet, which would be one of the major events on our annual calendar. The inaugural event was held in 2001 and was organized and run by two long standing, dedicated members, Phil Constable and Dennis Marks. Dennis was then the current President. This event has progressed over the years with the involvement of Wayne Windley on the Swap Team. Being followed by an outstanding term of eight years by Norm Dunn as Swap Co-ordinator, to the current status boasting in excess of 180 Swap Sites. Covering a major section of the Port Macquarie Race Course facility. This being our major fund raiser under the current co-ordination of Chris and Cindy Whalley.
Another great achievement over the past years, which has been introduced by a very hard working dedicated member in Ron Turnbull. This is the Famous Wheelbarrow Raffle held in conjunction with the Swap Meet, where Ron and his tireless team, being, Len Colbert, Peter Denham, Norma Dwyer and along with club members, raise funds for the Cancer Care Unit of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, in which Ron has been tirelessly involved with for many years. Being the clubs current beneficiary, it has been possible to also reach a milestone by donating in excess of $67,000 over the past eleven years!! A huge effort by all involved in the club…
With the steady progress of the club over the period of time, in keeping with modern trend, a website has been introduced and is aimed in making a valuable information source in our modern progression. Giving praise to our current Webmaster Col Shaw….
Today we boast of around 100 Financial Members, with wives, partners and family always included in our activities and management.
With approximately 160 Historic Vehicles on our Registrar , paves the way for a very solid future .
A lot of praise to our current club members, but as pointed out, without the dedication and involvement of our Foundation Members and subsequent members we would not be where we are today.
May we congratulate all Foundation Members, Life Members, current and future on their past and present involvement in our club… Our members can be proud of the achievements of the Hastings Auto Restorers Society, as we continue through this 40th year under our present office bearers…..
. Congratulations one and all on 40 Incredible Years!!!
Hence this club was formed by a handful of very dedicated enthusiasts, comprising of our Foundation Members, Dale Bleasdale, Brian Clarke, Ross Dwyer , David Hayes, Reg Minett, Brian Saville, David Spokes, Ray Howell, Graeme Kooke, Keith Ramsay, Harold Boughton, Ron Woods, Bill Langhorne,and Barry Everingham….
On the first Wednesday of October 1979 a meeting was held at the West Port Bowling Club. On that nite Reg Minett was elected President, Ray Howell, Secretary and Keith Ramsay as Treasurer.. Early editors of our magazine were Dale and Robyn Bleasdale, Norma Dwyer , Maurie Chegwidden and Jennifer Smith , progressing to our current editor of many years, Robyn Bushell….
We do have some of these dedicated people as active members to this day , along with their wives and partners who have given their unconditional support to the club over years, and have held executive positions in the past to steer this club on the steady course to get us where we are today…. The active Foundation Members to this day being , Dale Bleasdale, David Hayes, Brian Saville, Norma Dwyer and David Spokes…. Sadly over the 40 Years we have lost some of our beloved Founders in the passing of Reg Minett, Ross Dwyer, Brian Clarke….
Life Membership has been granted in past years to Reg and Gwen Minett, Ross and Norma Dwyer, Trevor Blackman. , Bill Spraggon., and Rick and Robyn Bushell…..
In an extract from our 25th Year celebrations written by the Late Reg Minett… quote,” Max McKinnon as founder of the club always did a good job as President and on committee and I think we owe him a lot more than can be put into words in kicking off the club” Unquote!!! Maybe this sums up the humble beginning of Hastings Auto Restorers Society and of course the members over the past years to get us where we are today…..
A big thank you can be given to the past presidents for their time spent devoted to this club….
- 1979—1980. Reg Minett.
- 1980—1983. Max McKinnon.
- 1983---1984. Keith Ramsay.
- 1984---1986. Ross Dwyer.
- 1986---1988. Max McKinnon.
- 1988---1991. Maurice Chegwidden.
- 1991---1992. Ross Dwyer.
- 1992---1993. Keith Ings.
- 1993---1995. Trevor Blackman.
- 1995---1999. Dale Bleasdale.
- 1999---2002. Dennis Marks.
- 2002---2005. Jennifer Smith.
- 2005---2008. Rick Bushell.
- 2008---2011. David Spokes.
- 2011---2013. Chris Whalley.
- 2013---2015. Rick Bushell.
- 2015---2018. Ken Collins.
- 2018---2019. Chris Whalley.
The club has seen a lot of changes over the past 40 years!! With the introduction of our ever popular Port Macquarie Swap Meet, which would be one of the major events on our annual calendar. The inaugural event was held in 2001 and was organized and run by two long standing, dedicated members, Phil Constable and Dennis Marks. Dennis was then the current President. This event has progressed over the years with the involvement of Wayne Windley on the Swap Team. Being followed by an outstanding term of eight years by Norm Dunn as Swap Co-ordinator, to the current status boasting in excess of 180 Swap Sites. Covering a major section of the Port Macquarie Race Course facility. This being our major fund raiser under the current co-ordination of Chris and Cindy Whalley.
Another great achievement over the past years, which has been introduced by a very hard working dedicated member in Ron Turnbull. This is the Famous Wheelbarrow Raffle held in conjunction with the Swap Meet, where Ron and his tireless team, being, Len Colbert, Peter Denham, Norma Dwyer and along with club members, raise funds for the Cancer Care Unit of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, in which Ron has been tirelessly involved with for many years. Being the clubs current beneficiary, it has been possible to also reach a milestone by donating in excess of $67,000 over the past eleven years!! A huge effort by all involved in the club…
With the steady progress of the club over the period of time, in keeping with modern trend, a website has been introduced and is aimed in making a valuable information source in our modern progression. Giving praise to our current Webmaster Col Shaw….
Today we boast of around 100 Financial Members, with wives, partners and family always included in our activities and management.
With approximately 160 Historic Vehicles on our Registrar , paves the way for a very solid future .
A lot of praise to our current club members, but as pointed out, without the dedication and involvement of our Foundation Members and subsequent members we would not be where we are today.
May we congratulate all Foundation Members, Life Members, current and future on their past and present involvement in our club… Our members can be proud of the achievements of the Hastings Auto Restorers Society, as we continue through this 40th year under our present office bearers…..
. Congratulations one and all on 40 Incredible Years!!!
These photos by our Club Photographer, John Waters, show plenty of smiling faces and much chin wagging. Thanks John.