👥 Looking to expand your social circle? Are you interested in cars? 🚗

Would you like to meet some like minded people in your community to share your automotive passion? Consider joining Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club! We’re looking to expand our membership in the Great Lakes and Mid North Coast area. All ages are welcome and you don’t even need to own a car! Visit our website to read more about our club!

As a 19-year-old living in Redfern in 1967, Rodney happened to be walking past the Mounted Unit along Bourke Street when he was struck by the aroma of horses.

Having grown up around horses he walked into the Unit for a closer look.
Despite having no interest in policing, shortly thereafter Rodney decided to join the NSWPF – and he never looked back.
Shortly after joining, Rodney transferred to the Mounted Unit. Later he would work around the Sydney metropolitan area and regional NSW in both general duties and as a detective.
Whilst still a serving police officer Rodney volunteered for National Service in the early 1970’s spending two years in the army. Twelve months of which he served in Vietnam.
In 1988 Rodney and two colleagues responded to reports of a man armed with a rifle walking the streets of Morisset.
On challenging the man, he opened fire on the police vehicle and the officers themselves.
The incident ended with Rodney’s two colleagues and the offender being shot. All three would later make a full recovery. The offender was sentenced to 14 years jail.
For his actions Rodney was awarded the Commissioner’s Valour Award.
Holding the rank of senior sergeant at Gundagai Police Station, Rodney was medically discharged from the NSWPF in 1990.
“I loved every bit of my time in the police and I didn’t want to go,” says Rodney. “But I was pretty crook with a respiratory problem which I have long since recovered from ironically enough.”
Because of his work with Australian Defence Force veterans and their families he was presented with the Order of Australia Medal in 2014.
Although long since retired Rodney is still associated with the Mounted Unit and often wears period police uniform at ceremonial functions.
Thank you for your service Rodney.

On Wednesday 2nd July, Corinne Stephenson from Forster Neighbourhood Centre (FNC) attended the Great Lakes Historic Auto Club (GLHAC) to accept a $5,000 donation. The donation is most welcome as every dollar will go towards getting the Neighbourhood Centre’s central community hub opening again on Mondays. “It is contributions like this that show the strength of the Great Lakes community to rally together to support those in need” said Corinne Stephenson. President of the Auto Club, Ron Pulling approached Forster Neighbourhood Centre earlier in the year and offered for Forster Neighbourhood Centre to be the nominated charity for their upcoming MotorFest event held each year on the June long weekend. Members of the Historic Auto Club and staff and volunteers from Forster Neighbourhood Centre worked together to sell raffle tickets and collect gold coin donations to raise these much needed funds. On presentation of the cheque, Ron Pulling said “when we heard about the great work the Neighbourhood Centre does, the members were all agreed to help in any way they could”. Through support from our local community, businesses and philanthropy trusts, the Forster Neighbourhood Centre has now raised $40,000 towards their $110,000 goal to fund a Crisis Counsellor at the centre and re-open on Mondays. Any individual, community group or business can help out by heading to the donation page on FNC’s website www.fnc.org.au/donate

Corinne Stephenson (FNC) receiving a $5,000 donation from Ron Pulling (GLHAC). Photo supplied.

The forecast looks great for Sunday; and since the rain has finally stopped, and the ground has dried out, Mid Coast Council has given the green light for the use of John Wright Park for Motorfest. See you there!

🏁 In other Motorfest news, the Rocker Cover Race Track is finally complete and painted, and ready for its inaugural Race Day at Mid Coast Ford Motorfest 2025! 🏎️

If it’s on wheels, we welcome it at Motorfest! Whether you’re showing off or just soaking it all in, there’s something for everyone at this high-octane community celebration.
📍 John Wright Park, Tuncurry
📆 Sunday, 8th June 2025
🕗 8AM–2PM

Let’s make Motorfest 2025 the biggest and boldest one yet. See you there — engines ready, spirits high!

The Rocker Cover Racetrack is almost complete, just needs a coat of paint, then it’s ready for its inaugural Race Day at Mid Coast Ford Motorfest 2025! Thank you Ron, Tony and Harvey for making this come to life!

🏁 New to Motorfest 2025 will be the inaugural Rocker Cover Racing competition 🏎️

Rocker Cover Racing gives old, unused rocker covers from actual engines a second chance at life. No longer will they be a small and unnoticed elements of a bigger product. With Rocker Cover Racing, they leave their engines and the cars they’re tightly packed in behind as they themselves become the centerpiece.

Competitors take these old rocker covers and transform them into speed machines. With wheels and axles put on and of course racing stripes (to make it go faster), the rocker covers are ready for action. The only limit – one’s creativity!

More Motorfest information can be found here.
Follow Motorfest 2025 on Facebook!