November was a month full of adventure, camaraderie, and memorable moments for our club. As we head into summer we look forward to longer days and sunny days. Perfect for getting out and enjoying our cars and our get togethers.
Canberra Adventure
We kicked things off in November with a large group of intrepid travellers heading off on a 10 day adventure to Canberra. Along the way, we detoured through the Snowy Mountains, where the Alpine Coaster at Thredbo gave us all a thrill and plenty of laughs. There was even some snow still on the hills up there. Canberra itself proved once again to be a fantastic city, with some truly amazing driving roads to enjoy. It was wonderful to have a friend from the NSW club join us for part of the trip, and equally special to catch up with our Canberra mate from E30 Racing. You can read more about the fun we had HERE.
Sandown Historic Racing & Calder E30 Round
While we were away in ACT, a group of our enthusiasts proudly represented the club with a display at Sandown Historic Racing. A big thank you to Simon Wilkins for picking up the banners and flags and flying the club colours while we were gone. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, our members were racing at Calder for the final round of E30 Racing. We managed to watch the races on Blend line TV and Jo provided lively commentary as we drove home through some spectacular roads, making the experience even more enjoyable.
Challenge Bathurst
As the month drew to a close, members travelled to Bathurst to take part in Challenge Bathurst. I’m proud to say we had entries joining our group from across the east coast and South Australia, and equally proud of the volunteers who gave up their time to help run this iconic event. Without officials and volunteers, none of these events would be possible, so thank you to each and every one of you. Especially since our medical issues prevented Jo and I heading up again. I was very disappointed not to be up there again this year. This is a fantastic event and about the only way any of us normal people can get to drive one of the best racetracks in the world, as fast as you like. For information on how to get on track at Bathurst feel free to chat to Jo or myself.
Midweek & Twilight Drives
With the weather warming up and the days growing longer, midweek drives returned to the calendar. A great group headed off to Lorne for a mid-week evening drive, enjoying fantastic cars, great company, and a beautiful night. Our final drive for the month was a Twilight Drive to Panton Hill, which sold out quickly and proved to be a huge success. These later drives are clearly becoming more popular, and we’ll look at adding more of them in the future as the weather warms up and the evenings get longer.
Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship
November wrapped up with Round 8 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship. It was a pleasure to be out there supporting potential new racers, and I even had the chance to conduct a couple of OLTs (Observed Licence Tests) on the day.
A Personal Note
As I mentioned earlier, sadly, Jo and I were unable to attend Challenge Bathurst this year. Jo was rushed into hospital the week before with kidney stones and required emergency surgery. She has two more surgeries scheduled over the next month, so her journey isn’t over yet. Before heading to Canberra, I also discovered a lump in my throat, which was later diagnosed as cancer of the left tonsil. With this news, we had to make the difficult but necessary decision to put our health first. Knowing that Lawrence and the team were officiating at Bathurst gave us peace of mind that everything would be well looked after.
I have spent a few days at various hospitals over the last two weeks, having pan-endoscopy, biopsies, PET and CT scans and talking to specialists, next week we meet with them again to set the plan of attack to treat the cancer and move forward. Looking like Chemo and Radiology, so I might be out of action for a few weeks.
We are both determined to face these challenges head on, and while there may be times when we’re out of action, we’ll continue to support the club as much as we can. The strength of our community and the generosity of our volunteers remind us why this club is so special. Thank you all for your emails, calls and texts of support, it really is comforting to know we have so many friends in our corner.
Looking Ahead – December & Beyond
December brings a quieter schedule as we head into Christmas. Our annual Christmas Show & Shine at Cruden Farm is just around the corner, and we’d love to see as many members as possible there. Helpers are still needed, so please put your hand up if you can assist—it’s not too late to register and bring the whole family along.
We’ll finish the year with a relaxed Coffee & Chat (used to be called donuts!) night in Geelong, the perfect way to wind down after a busy season.
Events to Diary in 2026
Final Thoughts
As 2025 draws to a close, I can’t help but reflect on what an incredible year it has been. From epic road trips to thrilling race days, BMW’s 1-2 at the Bathurst 12 Hour, from casual coffee catch ups to twilight drives, we’ve shared so many experiences that embody the spirit of our club.
Last but not least our fantastic BMW Clubs Australia Nationals that was one to remember.
I had hoped to finish the year with good health news, but life has given Jo and I another journey to navigate. Even so, we remain grateful—grateful for the support of our members, the dedication of our volunteers, and the friendships that make this club feel like family.
Please remember to check that your CPS registrations and membership renewals are paid up. With the silly season upon us, it’s easy to forget, and we’d hate for anyone to have their registration cancelled due to a missed payment. We are all volunteers and deserve some time off over Christmas, so if your Club Permit is coming due get it to us early rather than last minute for a signature as we may well be away over the break and you will then have to wait to get it signed.
Thank you all for being part of this wonderful community. Here’s to a joyful Christmas, a happy New Year, and an exciting 2026 ahead.
Graeme Bell | President
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
PO Box 81, Tyabb VIC 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council Motorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club
TBA
We got off to a great start of our 10 day Canberra trip departing from Croyden and heading through Yarck to Whitfield for lunch and then some time exploring Beechworth before overnighting at Wodonga.
Once the early rain and traffic cleared we could enjoy the roads and the views. We met some riders from BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria at Whitfield. They were completing a 2,000 km tour. We encountered a splendid Ceylon Yellow M440i and its owner in Beechworth. He purchased it when a Mustang Dark Horse deal fell through!. He did not seem to be missing the Mustang.
Day two started off with a 9am briefing on a perfect sunny day in Wodonga and was followed by a stunning drive along the banks of the Murray River with sweeping bends and glorious sunshine. Heading in land and up hill changed that to majestic views of snow tinged mountains and tighter curves.
Lunch was at Corryong followed a bit of fun for some at the Thredbo Alpine Coaster and viewing the surrounds before Horizons in Jindabyne for excellent accommodation and a first class meal celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary Jill and Jeff Palmer (who survived the Alpine Coaster - just!).
After dinner, some snuck off for a whisky tasting session whilst the rest went off to bed.
Day three was a more relaxed start with a lovely breakfast at our Motel at Jindabyne with a fairly short leg to our first stop at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre at Cooma for morning tea.
An easy casual drive took us to the (relatively) recently upgraded Tharwa Bridge before arriving at the very interesting Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Station.
Our final destination was our accommodation for the next four nights at the Pavilion Hotel in Canberra.
A lovely dinner in house was enjoyed by all.
From here there was no fixed programme but each day a varying number joined in the main activities.
Day 4 took a group of us to Yass and then the Carey Caves at Wee Jasper.
What an amazing tour guide we all had. So much information and knowledge it was an honour to be in his presence. What was supposed to be an hour tour turned into a full afternoon, but no one complained, as he was so passionate and informative about the caves and his life long work looking after them.
So, 4 hours later and after what was the best cave tour we’ve ever been on, we headed back to Canberra via the Cotter Dam.
Such an amazing sight and again fantastic driving roads picked and plotted by Graeme.
The run of good weather had to end so best to heads inside on Day 5. Some headed off to the Australian War Memorial. Always an amazing place to visit, sadly the rear huge display is still being rebuilt, but the rest is still very much worth seeing. There is so much history here and some of it very confronting and moving. For anyone that has family serving in the military it is a must see when in Canberra.
Canberra is, of course, our Nation’s capital and is replete with embassies and consulates, many built in national style (the UK embassy being stereotypically boring!). As expected, the USA embassy looks the biggest and most palatial. As a former Canberra resident Lawrence had plotted a TourBoss route past the best of the embassies which also took us past the Royal Mint.
Unlike the Note Printing Works in Melbourne, they welcome visitors here and it was very interesting to see it all working. We even made our own $1 coins that are actually legal tender, real coins! Pretty cool! Put $3 in and watch a blank get stamped out and issued to you with a folder to put it in.
We continued our tour, with a detour up another look out viewing point then back to the motel before heading in to the city for dinner with the gang.
Some even tried to watch a certain horse race happening back home, but the pub had the TV on the wrong channel. So they watched a different race somewhere else.
Another awesome day out on Day 6 exploring the countryside surrounding Canberra, literally! We headed off on a shortish drive to our first stop at The Cascades at Lake Googong.
We needed a quick stop to check a tyre that was losing a bit of pressure, luckily Trent had a tyre pump on board to help out.
Lovely short walk to see the river below the dam, then back in our cars for a short drive to the dam wall viewing area. Lovely spot on such a lovely day.
Our next location involved a couple of kms of good gravel roads and it was great to see no one was too precious to not drive down to the car park at the Woolshed at London Bridge. It was a bit of a hike to this one and we were very proud that everyone made the 2km hike to London Bridge to see this natural limestone formation. There was so much else to see and enjoy too, we saw echidnas, kangaroos and even a big fat wombat came out to say hello.
Some went to Honeysuckle Creek, site of the former communication centre used by NASA during the space race and Apollo moon shot missions, sadly now abandoned but one of the dishes is at Tinbinbilla.
We headed back the long way to the splendid Mount Ainslie lookout with grand views over the Parliamentary Triangle and lake, so impressive the way the city was designed and laid out.
From here we each went our own ways for a couple of hours before our last full dinner together as a group, as some were due to head home the next day.
For our last full day in town (Day 7) we started off with breakfast with a most of the group, joined by one of our friends from E30 Racing that lives in Canberra. Great catching up and chatting about cars and life in general.
Some went to the National Library for a coffee and a look around and bought some books for the grand kids. Went for a walk around the lake front and enjoyed the sunshine on such a lovely day.
A visit to Canberra is incomplete without a visit to Parliament House where we wandered around and discovered parliament was actually in session. No photos inside the house, as you can’t take anything inside, no phones, cameras, even smart watches. After watching the kindergarten (sorry, Question Time) for a while we left to go up on the roof and take in the views. It really is a magnificent building. Well worth the visit.
Trent visited the Royal Australian Mint for a look see and managed to grab us some of the just released that day, gold and silver commemorative poppy coins marking 80 years after WW2. So very thankful to Trent, as we missed out in the pre release ballot for the limited edition coins, so thank you Trent.
We tried to go to Black Mountain Tower (best known as the Telecom Tower) to take some pics, but it is all closed up, forlorn and deserted looking, pretty sad really for such a prominent spot. You couldn’t see out much for the trees as even the lower area of the tower is all fenced off. Looks like it is only used as a drift park these days. Probably pretty lively at night with the local lads judging by the tyre marks in the car park.
An early start to Day 8 so we could be packed and loaded up ready to head off at 9 as we had a bit of driving to do today.
We said farewell to Canberra and headed for our first stop at Braidwood. NSW’s first heritage listed town. Lovely old town, we had a short stop for coffee and a comfort break, quick walk down the street then off to the coast.
We arrived in Bateman’s Bay (made accessible by forst a punt ferry and then a succession of 2 bridges) with time for a half hour wander around, look at the shops and the foreshore before taking the scenic route on to our lunch stop at Narooma Golf Club.
Lovely lunch, very picturesque location with delightful views along the coast and out to sea.
We left here around three and headed to our overnight stop at Merimbula.
Once checked in to the motel, some headed to the bowls club for dinner, some had something more simple.
After a lovely night in Merimbula Day 9 saw half the crew were up early to take a longer inland jaunt through the Snowy Mountains to tonight’s final stop at Lakes Entrance. The rest took the very scenic coast road with time for a leisurely wander around Merimbula before heading off
First stop on the coastal run was Eden, with a visit to the Whaling Museum and then a bit of a tour around town.
The Museum was very interesting, lots of memories of the old days of catching and carving up whales here. Brought back my own memories of a visit to the Whaling Station at Albany in WA, when I was a teenager, whilst it was still operating. If ever you have been there you will know why it sticks in your mind. I can still remember the smell and the blood and the sharks trying to climb the ramp to get scraps from the butchering. Most of all the smell though! Very happy they don’t do it any more!
From there we headed down the coast, back across the border into Victoria, then on to lunch at Mallacoota.
Awesome road into Mallacoota, by the way, and so great we got to do it again on the way out!
We chatted to some locals that run the cafe in town and the young bloke recommended we head down the coast a bit and stop at some of the lookouts, as there were still a few Whales coming past. So we did and managed to see some breeches in the distance. On our way back out we met the first rain we have had since Tuesday in Canberra. We have been blessed this whole trip with perfect weather, so a little rain whilst driving didn’t really upset anyone.
Our next stop along the coast, other than a couple of lookout stops, was at Marlo Pub for an afternoon coffee and sit in front of the fire. Perfect for a slightly wet afternoon!
Back on the road again for the final run to Lakes Entrance and by the time we got to the motel it had stopped raining so we could unload and rest up before dinner.
Our last dinner together as a group was just delicious! Perfect spot on the waterfront to end the last full day together.
The group presented Jo and I (and Peter) some lovely gifts and a thank you card that touched our hearts. So thank you all.
We still have a fair drive home tomorrow yet to come, and some great roads to enjoy and things to see, but this has been such a wonderful time away with a truly lovely bunch of people. We have loved every minute of it.
Thank you all for coming and we both hope you have all enjoyed it as much as we have.
But before departing on Day 10 there was time to explore Lakes Entrance a little and have a casual breakfast.
We found a lovely cafe for breakfast then wandered around and took a few pics and explored a lovely antique/brick-a-brack store for some bargains before heading back to the hotel to meet everyone for the trip home.
Our group has been shrinking almost each day, with some heading directly home from Canberra, one heading home last night and a couple staying in Lakes for an extra night.
So we are now down to 7 cars in convoy this morning. We headed to Bairnsdale, with a stop at the lookout over Lakes Entrance, then off the highway again to Heyfield for a lovely lunch in a family run cafe.
Again a couple left for home direct from here whilst the rest of us stopped by Cowwarr Weir for some pics and our last stop together. Lovely spot, lovely roads to get here too so we might have to come back again for a visit.
From here we started splintering off and finding our own way home.
It’s been an awesome time away, so many amazing roads to drive, sights to see, all with a great bunch of people.
Thank you all for coming and enjoying it as much as we have.
Thanks to Peter for all the organising of the original route and trip notes.
Most of all, thanks to Jo for all the planning, booking, checking, confirming, rebooking, hearding cats, endless calling of pot holes, tight corners, debris, oncoming vehicles, dips, jumps, mud, water on road, echidnas, wild brumbies, road kill, and commentary along the road. We’d be lost without you!
Thank you all for following us on tour too.
If you love our stories and pics, come and join in!
We have a lot of fun away on tour as we do on all our drives and events. Watch out for the next one!
Graeme Bell #1
As a very busy October draws to a close, I’m proud to reflect on another action-packed month for our club. From winding roads to heartfelt fundraisers, we’ve shared some truly memorable experiences together.
Events Completed
We kicked off the month with our Twisty Roads Drive, a favourite among our driving enthusiasts. The October “Donut Replacement” Coffee Night brought members together for relaxed chats and mutual car admiration, followed a week later by a well-attended Members Meeting at Brighton BMW, where we shared updates and welcomed new faces.
Our Wonthaggi SES and Coal Mine visit, preceded by a scenic drive, was both educational and enjoyable—thank you to our hosts and all who joined. I for one could have spent a lot more time at the SES and the Coal Mine, both were very interesting, and we will have to go back again to both.
The AGM at the German Tivoli Club was a great opportunity to connect with our members and celebrate our shared passion. The Executive committee was re-elected, unchanged from last year. We also announced a new initiative where we are bringing on more people to help run the club. Whilst not official committee positions, each will have a job to do to help us run the club and share the load the Executive jointly carry. Positions like Dealer Liaison, Assistants in running events, marketing, and social media are all areas where we would love more people to help out. So, if you have some particular skills or areas of expertise and you’d like to help run our club, send us an email at info@bmwdcm.com.au and we’ll get you involved.
A special highlight of October was our Pink Ribbon Morning Tea at Black Rock House, where we raised over $2,000 through raffles and generous donations. Nearly everyone went home with a prize, and the spirit of giving was truly inspiring.
We also had members attend Superfest 2025 in NSW, representing our club with pride, and wrapped up the month with the Geelong Area Mid-Week Twilight Drive and Dinner, a perfect blend of driving and dining.
As I write this, we’re gearing up for our Week-Long Trip to Canberra, starting 31st October. It promises to be a fantastic journey filled with camaraderie, culture, and of course, plenty of driving.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars—November is just as exciting:
Save the Dates
Looking further ahead, don’t miss these key events:
A little about the Variety Stars on Track event. We have partnered with Variety Victoria to bring some fun and excitement to the kids and families of kids battling illness, by putting on passenger rides around Sandown. We will have a wide variety of cars on hand to take kids and their families for some hot laps around Sandown, all at no cost to them. The day is about bringing some fun back into the lives of families impacted by illness and maybe just for a day, forget about their troubles and have some fun.
We will need drivers and cars and lots of helpers for this event, so keep an eye on your emails and come and help us make the day a great success. All volunteers will need Working With Children checks so please update you officials details with this import and necessary addition and make sure BMWDCM is linked to your WWC registration via the WWC website.
Thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors, and members who make all of our events possible. Your enthusiasm and support continue to shape our club into something truly special.
See you on the road,
What better way to spend a Wednesday evening now daylight saving is here than a scenic drive via a not-so-direct route to the Royal Hotel at Meredith. A lovely selection of cars from nearly old to nearly new and one which is not even nearly a BMW! A lovely meal served efficiently but with humour invoked many great chats and discussions. Were it not for the staff wanting to go home we may still be there! Great to see a couple of prospective new members come along and be made very welcome by the whole group.
We were lucky to enjoy a huge improvement in the weather after last week’s cancelled event.
The picturesque and very pleasant drive set the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable night, followed by a delicious meal and, of course, the best part—sharing it all with such good company.
Looking forward to the next one!
Kind regards
Terry and Anne Lane #965 and #1112
A Morning of Hope and Generosity
On a beautiful morning at Ebden House, the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne community came together for a heartfelt cause—our annual Pink Ribbon Morning Tea in support of breast cancer awareness and research. The event was a resounding success, raising an incredible $2,000 so far, with donations still coming in.
Raffle Joy and Generous Spirits Guests were treated to a delightful spread of morning tea, surrounded by laughter, warmth, and a sea of pink. The raffle was a highlight, with a stunning array of prizes generously donated by our sponsors. From luxury hampers to automotive goodies, nearly every attendee went home with a smile—and a prize in hand!
Gratitude to Our Sponsors and Supporters We extend our deepest thanks to all our sponsors whose generosity made this event possible. Your contributions not only filled our prize table but also helped us create an atmosphere of celebration and community. To every attendee who donated, participated, and shared in the spirit of giving—thank you. Your kindness fuels the impact we can make together.
A Community United It was truly moving to see so many members, friends, and supporters gather in solidarity. Whether you baked, brewed, donated, decorated, or simply showed up with a smile, your presence made a difference. Special thanks to our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly.
We’re proud to stand together in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and look forward to continuing this tradition of compassion and connection.
Jo Mawson #2
What began as a misty morning at Caldermeade McDonald's quickly turned into a day full of laughter, learning, and scenic driving as BMW Drivers Club Melbourne members set off for a memorable journey to Wonthaggi.
Despite the drizzle, spirits were high and attendance was strong proof that a little rain can’t dampen the enthusiasm of our incredible community. As we hit the road, we were treated to the sight of countless bikes heading to Phillip Island for the MotoGP. While the spectacle was impressive, we were all quietly grateful to be cruising in our warm, dry cars!
Scenic Roads & SES Visit
The drive itself was nothing short of stunning—rolling hills, coastal glimpses, and winding roads that made every kilometre a joy. Our destination: the Wonthaggi State Emergency Service (SES), where we were welcomed with an informative and engaging presentation. The SES team shared insights into their operations, equipment, and community impact. We could’ve stayed for hours soaking it all in!
Lunch at the Coal Mine
Next stop: the historic Wonthaggi Coal Mine café for a delicious lunch that had everyone raving. The food was hearty and satisfying—perfect after a morning on the road. Some members ventured underground for the guided mine tour, while others explored the grounds and museum exhibits. Both options offered fascinating glimpses into Victoria’s industrial past and the lives of those who worked below the surface.
Missing Peter, Sending Love
We missed our dear Peter, Williams who’s currently recovering from knee surgery #2. He’s doing well, and we’re counting down the days until he’s back behind the wheel with us. The roads aren’t the same without him! He had, however, put together another stunning route combining scenery and entertaining driving.
Tourboss & Sunny Roads Home
A big thank you to everyone who used our Tourboss app—it kept us on track and made navigation a breeze. As the clouds cleared, we were treated to a glorious sunny afternoon and some of the best driving roads on the way home. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
To all who joined us—thank you for your smiles, your stories, and your company. Days like this remind us why we love what we do. Until the next adventure!
As part of the informative visit to the marvellous Wonthaggi SES we learnt about a subject dear to my heart, the computer tablet Crash Recovery System. This is a replacement for the paper based, " Airbag guide " more properly known as the Emergency Rescue Guide or Road Resecue Guide, which I supervised the compilation of for several years. Both these products guide the rescuers on how to safely deactivate the vehicle (including the high voltage batteries on hybrid and electric vehicles) and avoid cutting into the airbag detonators, and more. Detailed information on each and every car model. This used to be updated every 6 months with a print run costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, one thick book per rescue truck across Australia. Now, updated daily at no extra cost and much quicker to search.
Lawrence Glynn #3
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