AGM 05

Lengthening days and rising temperatures heralding the onset of spring affect many of nature’s creations, witness the huge migratory herds crossing the plains of Africa to find lush feeding and breeding grounds, and flocks of birds winging their way to food rich nesting sites. This primordial instinct for a species to seek out their place of origin cannot be ignored and therefore, acting on some deeply buried motivation they start to travel, the Wildcats are no exception to this call of nature, thus, the first weekend in August saw dozens of Cats scattered throughout Australia wake up in their dens, have a stretch, let go a fart or two and upon hearing the call of the wild jump on their bikes and head off to the original home den at Walgett.

In common with our counterparts in nature, the annual migration for the Wildcats is fraught with danger, like traps dug to ensnare wildlife, potholes in the road threaten to engulf us, car drivers attempt to exact the same results on us as they do when they create road-kill, and men with guns, albeit in the Wildcats case, radar guns, are stationed along the route trying to cull as many of the mob as possible.

Notwithstanding the dangers en-route the urge to ride is overwhelming, and, as the Wildcats converged from all the compass points at the penultimate watering hole at Burren Junction, it became apparent we had all got through relatively unscathed, although I did sustain a wound to my wallet to the tune of $225 for a lapse of concentration in an 80 klm zone, and an earlier rather severe skid mark in my undies caused by an oncoming car making a right turn in front of me, mind you the bludger came to a complete halt and waited till I got closer before doing it.

After what appeared to be an entire cow, judging from the size of the steaks, had been cooked and served up to us at the Junction City Hotel and a raffle being drawn, we headed off on the final run to Walgett, a successful last minute attempt for the road-kill trophy by Macca saw him head-butt a bird out of the sky as we rode along, I thought he should have got the most artistic award as well, as from behind I watched the erstwhile pigeon surrounded in a cloud of its own feathers describe a beautiful parabolic arc, and then bounce off the bitumen, as the rest of us rode through a spray of entrails and feathers.

Arriving at the clubhouse at Rowdy & Kate’s place it was obvious that our hosts had thought of everything, as parked next door was an ambulance especially for Gina, after parking the bikes in the backyard and saying a few g’days we settled back as the sun started to dip below the horizon and the fire drums were lit up. Fairly soon it was time for the barbie to be fired up and although most of us had eaten a big lunch, the last ride leg in and the quickly falling temperature saw our appetites back again and we hoed into a good feed of steak, sausages and trays full of side dishes.

After another raffle with a swag of prizes was drawn, and copious amounts of grog consumed, it was time for the trophy presentations, unlike a lot of awards where you get to win by pissing in someone’s pocket, these have to be earned throughout the year and always seem to go to the appropriate people, witness examples like the Club Blonde and the Most Exposed award certainly going to the correct person. All too soon it was the early hours of the morning and two o’clock saw me heading of to bed leaving a few die-hards to carry on until some ungodly hour before they too hit the sack. Daylight saw a few of the Cats looking a bit seedy, however a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs soon fixed that, and after a bit more chatting it was time for most of us to leave, I said my goodbyes and headed home well pleased with having had a bloody good time ..

A huge vote of thanks to Rowdy & Kate for putting in so much work and for opening their home to us, plus an equal vote of thanks to all those members who helped out on the night. Also, last but by no means least, a big thank you to all the Wildcats for being who you are and making our club what it is.

AWARD	NOMINEE
POSER	LITTLE TED
CLUB CLOWN	LITTLE TED
RAIN GOD	DUDS
DUMBY SPIT	TALLIE
CLUB BITCH	KB
CLUB BLONDE	GINA
SCARIEST TO RIDE WITH	STEWART FAMILY
REVHEAD	SQUARKY
BIGGEST TART/SLEAZE BAG	TALLIE
MOST IMPROVED RIDER	JAMES STEWART
CLEANEST BIKE	MURP
CLUB PISS POT	TALLIE
SHIT STIRRER	SQUARKY
MOST EXCUSES FOR NOT RIDING	CYCLONE
MOST NUMBER OF EVENTS ATTENDED	CRUSTY
MOST OVER EXPOSED MEMBER	GINA
NAUGHTY AWARD (FOR THE MOST APOLOGIES REQUIRED / BRING THE CLUB INTO DISREPUTE)	KB
LETTERS OF APPRECIATION	BURREN JUNCTION PUB/YETMAN PUB/ PAUL NEWTON
WORST AT KEEPING THE SHINY SIDE UP (1st	SQUARKY
(2nd	PATRICK WARREN
(3rd	STEWART FAMILY
ABZ OF ROAD KILL (Highest Score)	MACCA
ABZ OF ROAD KILL (Most Artistic)	N/A
MOST SUPPORTIVE MEMBER	CHARLIE

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