Club History

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 , Manager 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.

2005 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.

2005 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.

2008, due to increased membership a further move to the Werribee RSL was completed.

2016 Club meetings now held at Hotel 520 , 520 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing at 8:00pmSee Melways Map 202 F5

2018 The Club name was officially altered to the "Yamaha Cruisers Club of Victoria".

PAST CLUB OFFICEBEARERS AND AWARD WINNERS

Year	President	Secretary	Treasurer	Editor	Clubman Award	Presidents Award
2025	Brian Smith	Peter Dyer	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Peter Dyer	Dave Post
2024	Brian Smith	Peter Dyer	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Dave Post	Julie Bellet
2023	Brian Smith	Peter Dyer	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Dave Post	Peter Dyer
2022	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Tejas Shah	Neville Dixon
2021	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Not awarded	Not awarded
2020	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Peter Dyer	Richard Bellet
2019	Peter Dyer	Peter Dyer	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Nino Nardella	Brian Smith
2018	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Gerry Palmier	Julie Bellet.
2017	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Julie Bellet	Brian Smith	Not awarded	Not awarded
2016	Tejas Shah	Les Ralph	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Peter Dyer	Sandra Petersen
2015	Tejas Shah	Peter Dyer	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah	Nino Nardella	Jenni Cook
2014	Rob Evans	Peter Dyer	Brian Micallef	Peter Dyer	Peter Dyer	Les Ralph
2013	Steve Kulpinski & Rob Evans	Peter Dyer	Brian Micallef	Peter Dyer	Peter Dyer	Tejas Shah
2012	Neville Dickson	Sue Towers	Brian Micallef	Peter Dyer	Neville Dickson & Peter Dyer	Brian Micallef
2011	Neville Dickson	Sue Towers	Brian Micallef	Peter Dyer	Peter Dyer	Simon Rideout
2010	Peter Dyer	Andrew Gordon	Brian Micallef	Andrew Gordon	Rob Evans	Neville Dickson
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	Steve Kulpinski
2002	Sue Towers	Lou Howlett	Brett Bonnett	Kim Towers	Neville Dickson	Karen Featon
2001	Neville Dickson	Debi Chetuti	Sue Towers	Kim Towers	Debi Chetuti	.
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	.	.

Life Members : Neville Dickson, Ron Bastin, Erwin Halle.

Twenty Year Service awards : Sue Towers, Kim Towers, Brian Micallef, Steve Kulpinski.

Fifteen Year Service awards : John Zammit, Tom Bacsa, Peter Dyer, Tejas Shah.

Ten Year Service awards : Rob Evans, Rod Belfrage, Faye Hartshorne, Bob Hartshorne, Wayne Cherry, Steve Hartshorne, Tony Muir, Ron Colston-ing, Vaishali Shah, Peter Andjelkovic, Brian Smith, Jeff Peck.

Safe Riding!!