The inaugural meeting of the Virago Owners Club of Victoria inc was held at the Bay View Hotel, Geelong on January 1994. It was attended by 17 people . Mr John Ashmore , Manger of Yamaha Victoria presented a cheque to the value of $250 to start off the club. He was voted member No1, Gary O'Brien was elected president, Lindon Turner - treasurer and Ron Cleasby-Jones - Secretary.
Mr Bob Adema won a competition for the design of the club logo depicting a "wheel" with the club name surrounding a road winding through the You Yangs with the sun and blue sky in the background. Club meeting locations progressively used in Geelong were The Bay View Hotel, The Charles Hothan Hotel and finally The Carton Central Hotel. Due to growth in the club and to better service the non Geelong members of the club, Billy Bells Hotel in Melbourne was used every second month.
The first organised ride was to Lavers Hill with 11 Virago's participating. Stewie ran his wide around the corner and stepped off the bitumen. On the second club ride 3 bikes went down - not a great start to the club.
In May 1997, following Yamaha's decision to drop the " Virago" name on their bikes ( bar the 250cc version ) the Club changed its name to The Virago and Yamaha Cruisers club of Victoria inc. At this time the club also became a non denominational club with all types of bikes from any bike manufacturer being welcomed.
In 2004 the Club celebrated it's 10th anniversary by holding a motorcyle expo in the car park of the Carlton Central Hotel, Geelong. This was well attended by the public and members and was supported by Peter Stevens Motorcycles, Geelong. In the evening a dinner and dance was held, also at the Cartlon Central Hotel.
In 2004 a decision was made to relocate the club to the Tigers Clubhouse, Hoppers Crossing. This provided a much more centralised location for all club meetings for the Geelong and Melbourne based members. In 2008, due to increased membership a further move to the Werribee RSL was completed.
PAST CLUB OFFICEBEARERS AND AWARD WINNERS
| Year | President | Secretary | Treasurer | Editor | Clubman Award | Presidents Award | 2010 | Peter_Dyer | Andrew_Gordon | Brian_Micallef | Andrew_Gordon | ???? | ???? | | 2009 | Peter_Dyer | Andrew_Gordon | Brian_Micallef | Andrew_Gordon | Rob_Evans | Brian_Micallef | | 2008 | Brendan_Micallef | Nola_Grech | Peter_Dyer | Andrew_Gordon | Rob_Evans | Erwin_Halle | | 2007 | Nola_Grech | Brendan_Micallef | Peter_Dyer | Andrew_Gordon | Peter_Dyer | Andrew_Gordon | | 2006 | Dave_West | Brendan_Micallef | Ron_Colston'ing | Dave_Post | Steve_Kulpinski | Erwin_Halle | | 2005 | Brian_Micallef | Erwin_Halle | Ron_Colston'ing | Sue_Towers | Dave_Post | Erwin_Halle | | 2004 | Steve_Kulpinski | Tony_Muir | Dave_Post | Karen_Featon | Tony_Muir | Ron_Colston'ing | | 2003 | Sue_Towers | Laura_Towers | Brett_Bonnett | Sue_&_Kim_Towers | Kim_Towers | Kim_Towers | | 2002 | Sue_Towers | Lou_Howlett | Brett_Bonnett | Kim_Towers | Neville_Dickson | Karen_Featon | | 2001 | Neville_Dickson | Debi_Chetuti | Sue_Towers | Kim_Towers | Debi_Chetcuti | | | 2000 | Barry_Wilson | Steve_Hartshorne | Kier_Rasmussen | Kim_Towers | Bob_Hartshorne | | | 1999 | Neville_Dickson | Jeff_Peck | Barry_Wilson | Margaret_Groen | Ray_Hill | | | 1998 | Neville_Dickson | Jeff_Peck | Gary_O'Brien | Margaret_Groen | Jeff_Peck | | | 1997 | Ray_Hill | ???????? | ???????? | Jane_Coventry | | | | 1996 | Glenys_Drayton | ???????? | ???????? | ???????? | | | | 1995 | Gary_O'Brien | John_Brigman | Lindon_Turner | ???????? | | | | 1994 | Gary_O'Brien | Ron_Cleasby'Jones | Lindon_Turner | Kylie_Lennox | | | |
Ten Year Service awards :
Steve Kulpinski, Faye Hartshorne, Bob Hartshorne, Wayne Cherry, Steve Hartshorne, Sue Towers, Kim Towers, Erwin Halle, John Zammit, Tony Muir.
Fifteen Year Service awards : Neville Dickson, Ron Bastin.
© 2000-2004 VIRAGO YAMAHA CRUISER CLUB OF VICTORIA INC.
Postal address: PO BOX, 4364, Hoppers Crossing DC 3029