Photos from the first Vintage Vehicle Club Event

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Some early member reminiscences:

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Ron Selig (Founding Member 7 and Honrary Life Member )

" I, at the time, was seeking a club to be able to use my vintage car (1928 rugby) & on approaching some other clubs found they were not very helpful. At a meeting of the Veteran Car Club of Australia NSW (VCCA) some members proposed the admission of vintage cars, but it was felt that they would erode the club, so it never happened. So we thought that there were enough car owners to form our own club, so we did. At the June 1997 meeting the attendees and first ten members came along and Laurie Stewart came along out of curiosity and became our first secretary. I personally was given the plates system and held that post for 25 years till the present system was introduced by the RTA. Each club was identified by the colour of their plates and the VVCA managed to get white numerals on a black background. At one time we had 85 cars on the club plates. To the best of my knowledge we never financed the VCCA. We were always short of chips in the beginning until we collaborated with the VCCA to supply the cars for the film "Kitty and the bagman".
 

Robert McCarthy (Founding Member 4)

“Back in the mid 70's there was pressure in the Veteran Car Club of Australia to broaden the interest base and to include Vintage Cars but the club constitution did not allow. In 1977 10 people decided to officially form another Club, after quite lengthy discussion and being aware of the other Clubs involved with Vintage vehicles - Antique and Classic, Vintage Motor Club, VSCC etc. In fact the VVCA invited comment from these and they were positive about the aims as stated and as mainly still current. Founder members, I think, were Ben Bronk, George Green, George Roberts, Len Sheen, George Jones (all sadly now gone) Ron Selig, Allen Blythe, Laurie Stewart, Max Roberts and myself. All have played a big part in the movement at one time or other.

My wife, Fay, worked with George Green at Leppington and then managed the associated museum at Birkenhead and received much support from both the VCCA and VVCA. I did various tasks - investigations, treasurer, editor etc - we maintained a close association with the VCCA and met in their hall.”
 

Tony Falstein (Member No 7)

“I was a founding member of the Daimler Lanchester Club, and through them a long term delegate to the CVVTMC. George Green 'volunteered' me as Rally Director for the Annual Event at Warwick Farm (now held at Eastern Creek), which I ran from 1974 to 1977, and through this I was in contact with the leading lights in our movement.

One day in 1977, George (Roberts) rang and said that Ben Bronk was forming a club, the aims of which was to provide a club in which members would be encouraged to use their cars, rather than let them sit in sheds with just the occasional run, hence the annual Tour and Hub Rallys. I thought that it was a terrific idea, so I paid my subs and joined.”
 

Bill Ardus says (Member No 243)

“ Ben Bronk was a member of the Veteran Car Club and like other members had Vintage cars as well. He tried to get the Veteran Car Club to accept Vintage vehicles on their activities but the majority of members were not interested, Ben then decided to form a vintage only car club. At the inaugural meeting chaired by Ben, those present were Veteran car members and became founder members of the VVCA.

Ben received an Honorary membership for his long dedication to the VVCA. Ben initiated the VVCA. Ben was President for over 10 years. Ben also promoted Annual Tours. At the time, very few clubs ran Annual Tours and they were invited to participate with the VVCA and often there were over 70 cars in arun. Ben also put the club on a sound financial footing and I believe his idea was for the VVCA to have its own clubhouse. This was before the Veteran car club built the new hall next to the old church hall. The VVCA lent the Veterans money to help finance it. Ben was always looking at ways to raise revenue.

He also had garage crawls and visits to factories and those who supplied services to the restoration industry to keep members interested.

Ben was the backbone and driving force behind the VVCA and had a lot joined the VVCA during his Presidency, before other clubs sprung up to usually support one make of car.

When Ben stood down he still attended meetings and runs.

Our next President was Ian Milburn (brother of Jim). Ian was very active but unfortunately he died of cancer whilst in office.

Ron Selig was a Founder member and I understand he was one of the Vice Presidents for the majority of the time that Ben Bronk was President and whilst Ian Milburn was President.. He also held to position of Permits and Insurance for a long time. I would say that Ron Selig was the Founder Member that contributed the most (not including Ben Bronk) of all the founder members and contributed the longest. Ron was involved in everything and you could say he was Ben Bronk's right hand man.

Whilst Barry Thew was President, I spoke with many members about giving Ron Honorary Life Membership. The result was that all agreed, with the comment from some, that it should have happened a long time ago. Hence he was given Honorary Life Membership for his long service to the VVCA.

Barry Thew was our next President for a few years.

Roger Page then took the position of President. On joining the VVCA, Roger Page became very involved. He attended all meetings and runs. I don't think he missed an Annual Tour. Chris Madden decided to run a Hub Rally each year and Roger was very involved in its running. Roger held many positions on Committee, in fact he was on Committee for many years.

I am not too sure whether or not Roger Page was President when he passed away. ( He was not, since confirmed by others)

Roger was in hospital with not too long to live and Ron Selig suggested he should be given Honorary Life Membership for his services to the club. The procedure was short circuited as time was running out. Roger was presented with it at his bedside by Alan Eager on behalf of the club.

Roger had been on many Committees and expressed the opinion that Honorary Life Memberships shouldn't be handed out willy nilly. I believe he wouldn't have accepted it had he been well but in the circumstances he accepted and I heard it really gave him a boost.”
 

Complied with help from Bill Ardus, Ron Selig, Robert McCarthy, Tony Falstein, Bob Shipway, Darryl Blythe and the club records. Thank you all for your contributions.