I commence writing this report in the last days of August, looking forward to the spring season ahead. I acknowledge the passing of three of our own in the last month. Gary Ayre, almost a household name in the PMC and Jaguar parts and maintenance world, was farewelled earlier in the month, and it was heartening to see so many of the motoring fraternity paying their respects.

It’s August and more than two months into another Victorian winter. Whilst we are good at keeping warm, what about your cherished Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars? The only way to keep our cars warm is to run them!

I’m writing this report whilst on the Bentley Drivers Club, Winter Solstice event and my outlook today is the beautiful Marysville hills, green with a splash of fire red from some late changing trees. We live in a beautiful country but there are still reminders of how quickly things can turn with the effects of Black Saturday still visible through parts of the bushland.

Welcome to Winter, comes around quickly doesn’t it, however every season has something to enjoy, maybe a glass of red grape “juice” and an open fire. It’s certainly no excuse though not to drive your PMC, after all they come from England and are quite familiar with winter – and just think they shouldn’t overheat. (notice I said shouldn’t)

Welcome to one of my favourite times in Victoria – how can you not enjoy that period where the trees start turning and the Autumn colours start exploding forth. It also is a great time to get out and do some driving and here we hit the first speed hump. 

Can you believe a quarter of the year has passed already – I guess we must be having fun because time certainly is flying.

Greetings all, almost two months down already and coming into Autumn – doesn’t time fly.

Happy 2026 everyone and welcome to the 69th year of the RROCA Victoria Branch. I trust you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year and are ready to get back into our club activities. Firstly, a big thank you those of you who attended our January picnic meeting at Ironbark Station.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

President’s Pondering: Every year I think what a busy time the run up to Christmas has been and this year is no different. Melbourne outdid itself in producing all 4 Seasons and a few in between for our annual Concours and Display Day.