It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were preparing for Christmas 2024 but here we are in 2025 – has it actually been a year? In my final report for the year, I’d like to acknowledge all of our club sponsors and supporters, in particular our Gold Sponsors Zagame and Shannons, you are all vital to our club and all that we do.

As we come to the close of another rewarding year, it is a pleasure to reflect on the passion, camaraderie and commitment that continue to make the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club of Australia (Victoria Branch) a truly special community.

Greetings Everyone. Where has 2025 gone, November already and Christmas around the corner. A big thank you to the committee for holding the fort whilst Cath and I travelled last month.

While the cat is away, the mice are hardly at play! Far from it, as this is the car club that does not sleep! Thank you to those Members who turned out in impressive numbers to celebrate the legendary Walter Owen Bentley and his magnificent “sports cars”! at the September General Meeting.

As I write this final editorial, I feel both gratitude and pride reflecting on my journey as Editor of our Rolls-Royce Newsletter. It has been an immense honour to serve in this role over the past years, sharing stories, updates, and memories that celebrate not just the marque we cherish, but also the remarkable community that brings it to life.

Greetings all, I write this month’s Presidents report in departure mode as Cath and I prepare for a long overdue holiday. I also write on somewhat of a high, after our club enjoyed two very successful events.

We are delighted to share the successes and exciting developments within RROCA Victoria over the past months. Our recent General Meeting at Maldon Victoria was a resounding success, providing an excellent platform for members to connect, share ideas, and plan future initiatives.

Warm winter greetings everyone. I hope you are getting your cars out and driving – after all they come from the UK so they should be well accustomed to a Victorian Winter and to reinforce our driving enjoyment we have some really interesting events coming up.

“Preserving Elegance in a Changing World: Classic Cars and the Industry in Flux”. As custodians of motoring history — whether through the whisper-quiet grace of a vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud or the stately power of a Bentley Turbo R — we are more than collectors. We are stewards of legacy. But in 2025, the automobile industry is changing faster than ever, and our community faces both challenges and moments of opportunity.

Greetings everyone, trust you are all keeping warm and well and those of you who travelled to the Newcastle Federal Rally have returned safely and have dried out!! Many of us enjoyed a fantastic presentation from our Past President and now SHRF Trustee Howard Wraight and his tantalising tales from the archives.

We are living in one of the world’s most turbulent times politically and in the motoring industries with combustion engines using petrol or hydrogen, then Hybrid and finally EV. There is much debate on the future of all energy types, Hydrogen Production for Cars: A Clean Fuel Future Hydrogen is emerging as a promising clean fuel for cars, especially in the push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Can I start by extending congratulations to the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Car Club of New South Wales on the completion of the 67th Federal Rally in Newcastle. Australia is a land of contrasts and from a weather perspective the NSW team were faced with extremes, but they had a back up plan for everything and managed to keep everything just ticking along, just like a PMC.

This edition is really an information sharing on what is happening in the wider world rather than focusing on the local club events. The 67th Federal Rally was recently held in Newcastle with members returning as this is being prepared for publication. A full update on the federal Rally will be published in July.

I’m going to start this report with a line that my late Father-in-Law, Graeme lived by – “Aren’t we lucky” as we move further into Autumn this really pops into mind. Trees changing colour, a great club trip to the zoo, a great clubroom, a forthcoming Federal Rally, fabulous friendships, amazing cars (even when they don’t behave) – we do have so much to be grateful for and I for one intend to get out and enjoy every bit of it.

As I reflect on the last month, I remember a quote which I have used before, “The only constant in life is change” what we have seen locally and globally has highlighted this, however the speed at which change in our lives has happened is challenging every aspect of our lives.

Greetings everyone. Well Melbourne is certainly full of weather surprises – from a beautiful day for our early morning run to UK Motors to a more precipitous day for our Drive and Be Driven – Bring your other car. What can we say – Melbourne’s weather always keeps you guessing and laughs at any attempts to plan.

Recently I was looking on a forum for a solution for one of my Lotus and came across some interesting discussions on: Many EU countries are severely limiting use of classics on the roads. Many EU cities are banning their use completely.

We are seeking more membership articles that make for some great reading, this month and next Rod Cuthbertson has provided an insight into his passion, really a good read.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Geoffrey May. Geoffrey, an Ian Dodd recipient and 50-year member passed away, peacefully on the night of our last general meeting after a long and brave battle with cancer. Geoffrey was certainly a character of our club and will be fondly remembered and missed.

Firstly, can I say a big thank you to those members who supported our first two events for the year. Our January picnic meeting at Iron Bark station was enjoyed by many and was just right.