SATURDAY JULY 4 2015

MEDIA ALERT -  United Motorcycle Council of NSW Press Conference at Parliament House Saturday, July 4 at 1pm

While motorcycle clubs around the country unite to oppose the proposed South Australian laws,the Liberal Opposition in that state is questioning the lack of judicial scrutiny, echoing legal opinion across the country.

In Sydney on Saturday July 4 the UMC of NSW will hold a press conference outside Sydney's Parliament House at 1pm to explain why it is opposed to these and other forms of anti-association laws that aim to by-pass the rule of law and give politicians and police unnecessary and excessive discretionary power.

Speaking at the Press Conference will be UMC Barrister and veteran of several High 

Court Challenges Barrister Wayne Baffsky, who will explain the serious implications of ignoring the 'separation of powers' doctrine, and Greg Pendlebury from Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club, who has spoken publicly on a number of occasions about the dangers of these type of laws for Christians and society in general.

During the press gathering a cavalcade of UMC NSW member club representatives will pass by and ride around Parliament House to remind the government of motorcycle community concern about these excessive powers and how they are exercised.

For more information call :

Greg Hirst

Brotherhood CMC

0414 798 440

LANE SPLITTING IN CALIFORNIA

http://www.latimes.com/opinions/editorials/la-ed-lane-splitting-20150602-story.html

TOY RUN STORY

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/council-pulls-pin-on-biker-toy-run-for-father-bob-maguire-foundation/story-fngnvli9-1227409157170

The MRA TOY RUN in Melbourne in the 1990s. Good for road safety. Good for needy kids. Good PR.

In my opinion VicRoads does not want the motorcycle & scooter community to have a major public relations event return to Melbourne or the inner suburbs. The City of Port Phillip's concerns about traffic congestion and safety are nonsense. The O'Donnell Gardens next to Luna Park are not being used by any other group on Sunday, December 6, 2015.

On Wednesday, June 24, ABC Radio 774 in Melbourne will do a TOY RUN interview at 6.40 am.

TALKBACK: 1300 222 774.

TEXT: 0437 774 774.

Email the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip.  

mayor@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Damien

IRG

STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK PLEASE - JUNE 2015

Minister Donnellan opens the traffic filtering workshop

Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan MP (L) with Motorcycle Advisory Group (MAG) Chairman David Hawker AM at the VicRoads traffic filtering workshop in Melbourne on June 16, 2015.

As was stated at the workshop, VicRoads is seeking additional stakeholder feedback and will shortly be launching a consultation hub. We would encourage you to respond to the hub when it goes live on Monday morning. We encourage you to share the attached consultation hub link amongst your networks.


http://consult.vicroads.vic.gov.au/motorcycle-lane-filtering

FILTERING WORKSHOP ON THE RADIO

Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan MP opens the motorcycle & scooter filtering workshop.

ABC Radio, 774 in Melbourne will do a bit on the motorcycle & scooter filtering workshop
held last night at 9.40 am today, June 17, 2015.

Talkback: 1300 222 774

Text: 0437 774 774

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
Independent Riders' Group (IRG)

BIG JOHN CM OAM - NEWCASTLE NSW

THE ORDER of AUSTRALIA MEDAL will sit with the Centenary Medal I received in 2003.  So now it is C.M. O.A.M.  I feel humbled to be amongst such esteemed people. Thanks for your kind words.

As you know, we do it for the kids. We put smiles on their faces at Christmas. That's the reward that makes everything GREAT.

I now have my second eldest  son as my 2IC so the BIKERS FOR KIDS NEWCASTLE TOY RUN will stay with the same vision and commitment that every child deserves to smile and their smiles light the darkness and light the world.

We had an official laser counter.  10,500  motorcycles went on the 25 kilometre run in 2014 and riders donated $95,000 in toys and cash to the Salvos.

I am trying to get down to your run (in Melbourne) but we run on the first Sunday in December too.

Let people know that there are a few dedicated people that care about children. My details are public knowledge. I am Big John Young . C.M. & O.A.M.  BIKERS FOR KIDS CHARITY.  Facebook,  Bikers for Kids Newcastle  and Group, Newcastle Toy Run.

Email:  bigjohn@optusnet.com.au 

Mobile: 0415 490 710.

You know me,  anything I can do to promote our visions for children and motorcycling, I'll do.

Regards Mate

Big John CM OAM 
 

MOTORBIKEWRITER

Are you a subscriber?

That way you’ll keep up with the motorcycle news on MBW:

http://motorbikewriter.us3.list-manage1.com/subscribeu=743c7e9730d915b101dcc2644&id=56c494aeb6

CONGRATULATIONS!

BIG JOHN (Newcastle NSW), BARBARA MAGGS (Cranbourne Vic) and ROD QUANTOCK (Melbourne Vic) were awarded ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDALS today, June 8, 2015.

All three have served the community over many years through, among other things, motorcycle TOY RUNs. Each year these events help less fortunate children to have a happier Christmas and promote road safety. Riders come together for a grand parade bringing gifts and donations for worthy charities like the Salvation Army and the Father Bob Foundation.

TOY RUNs began in both Melbourne and Newcastle in 1978. The organisers did not know about each other at the time. It just seemed like a good thing to do that year. 

In Newcastle Big John did not realise he was starting something that would still be happening nearly four decades later. John is the Grand Champion TOY RUN organiser. 2015 is his 38th TOY RUN. His OAM is fitting recognition for this great achievement.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3130608/big-john-young-smiles-motivate-bikers-heart/?cs=305

The first Melbourne TOY RUN was held in the Salvation Army car park at the corner of Spring and Lonsdale Streets in December 1978. Early TOY RUN meetings were held at the famous Society Restaurant in Bourke Street. The picture shows Salvos, industry representatives and bike journos in Rino's Room at the Society.

Rod Quantock was a pioneer in Australian television, particularly in live comedy. His live shows were, and are, extraordinary. He led groups of "theatre goers" through our city with a rubber chicken on a stick. He conducted mock trials in the Old Melbourne Gaol. Wherever there was a good cause, he put his hand up. In the early 1980s I invited him to be Master of Ceremonies at the MRA TOY RUN in Melbourne. For more than a decade Rod ran the stage and was part of making the event the major success it was attracting 10 to 15 thousand riders each year.

In the early 1980s Barbara Maggs and her partner Tony began organising the Cranbourne TOY RUN which would come up the Monash Freeway to join the Melbourne TOY RUN. Barbara has organised some 34 TOY RUNs. A mighty effort. Her OAM is certainly well deserved. 

http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

http://motorbikewriter.com/queens-honour-for-toy-run-lady/

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders Group

FILTERING WORKSHOP - JUNE 16 - ALL WELCOME

An invitation to attend a traffic/lane filtering law workshop on June 16, 2015.

This law will effect your riding future and all road riders in Victoria. Get involved. Pass this info on to as many riders as you can. Attend the workshop if at all possible.

The Independent Riders Group policy on lane/traffic filtering laws can be seen in earlier posts on this blog. BUT, in a nutshell:

* we want minimum restrictions on a way of riding that has been done safely for decades 

*we want maximum car driver education about the benefits of filtering to other road users. 

*we want new stop lines for all two wheelers to separate pedestrians from bikes and bikes from cars at intersections providing improved safety for all. 

*we do NOT want harsh penalties for riding safely as in NSW.

Existing laws cover dangerous riding/driving.

Damien.
IRG

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"Dear Stakeholder,

Owing to your previous involvement with the development of the motorcycle lane filtering policy, VicRoads would like to invite you to a workshop to be held in the Melbourne CBD on the 16th June at 5:30. A seat has been reserved for you. If you would like to attend can you please RSVP to the email address lanefiltering@roads.vic.gov.au with your name, an email address and a contact number.

Further information is provided in the attached media release which was issued today to invite broader community involvement in the workshop and the consultation process.

Please pass this on to others who you think may be interested in participating by either providing comments or attending the workshop

Regards

James Holgate
Director, Vehicle and Road Use Policy
VicRoads"

CRASHES WITH ROADSIDE OBJECTS

VICROADS HAS COME UP WITH ANOTHER YOU BEAUT SCHEME to make our streets prettier for car drivers and more dangerous for motorcycle & scooter riders.

Damien
IRG

SPEEDING FINE CHECK IN VIC

THIS HERALD SUN STORY says some of you are paying minor speeding fines that you do not have to.

Damien
IRG

MAG REVIEW OVERDUE

THE MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY GROUP at VicRoads was due for review in 2014. In January 2015 Vicroads wrote to me about it. Five months later VicRoads still controls the administration, operation of MAG and appointment of rider representatives to MAG.

The Victorian motorcycle & scooter community is the only road user group that is not allowed to appoint/elect its' own representatives and this is to a committee that directly affects the lives and safety of riders and their families.

Damien
IRG

At the community consultation session at the Melbourne Town Hall on June 2, 2015 I gave VicRoads CEO John Merret a copy of the above letter and told him MAG was a closed shop that other rider reps should be let in to.

We shall see.

Damien
IRG