Friday, June 6

Ulysses, Keating and the rest

Okay, Stuart and Marianne - review of Keating please...

In answer to your question regarding my membership of the Ulysses Club (see post below on Townsville), no, I've never joined. The pic below was taken by Townsvilles's local paper, the Bulletin, on Friday, May 30. The bloke in the middle is Stephen Dearnly, member number one of the club. The bloke beside him is my old mate and the editor of Bike Australia, Peter Thoeming. Here's what the paper said in it's Saturday edition:
"The impetus for the club came when Mr Roff, writing a technical advice column for Bike Australia, playfully insulted older riders in reply to a question he had been asked. He wrote that older riders should "be at home weaving baskets" and should learn to just "grow old gracefully" - a quote that was later twisted to become the club's motto."
Stephen used the debate to start a club for older riders. I've never joined because I'm not that fond of old people. It was a point of some embarrassment at the Townsville event as, because I've never been a member, Stephen wouldn't let me be in any of the official photos. He relented for the pic below and he has a great sense of humour for an 85 year-old.

2 comments:

Newcastle Roffs said...

Grant, I didn't know that story about your comment being the catalyst for the foundation of the Ulysses club - it has a real Forrest Gump feel about it. I always thought you had to read a certain book to become a member! That' why I havn't joined. Wait a minute, you have never joined either.......?

grant said...

I'm up to 32 times but who, except you, is counting?