KMCC SCOOP THE AWARDS AT 2009 MSA AWARD NIGHT

The Keyneton Motorcycle Club rounded off a highly successful 2009 with Club members being awarded a number of the major awards at the Motorcycling SA Awards Night, held at the end of November.

4 members were awarded MSA’s highest award with them being inducted as Motorcycling SA Life Members, Trevor Diener & Philip Holmes (as a team), Ian Zander and Geoff Warnest. Geoff’s was awarded posthumously and was collected by his widow, Wendy. Trevor, Phil, Ian & Geoff now join John Richardson and Max Graetz (both 2007) as Keyneton members to be awarded Life Membership to MSA.

For the 3^rd time in as many years a Keyneton member took out the Official of the Year award, with Kevin Steinert following on from Ben Zander (2007) and Jim Haseldine (2008) to make it 3 in a row for the Club.

Becoming first time winners for the Club, in the following categories were; Daniel McKenzie (Rising Star Award), Jim Haseldine (Coach of the Year) and Maria Caust (Woman of the Year), handing the Club a total of 8 awards for the 2009 year.

                                                                   Keyneton MCC members who collected awards at the 2009 MSA Awards    

                                                                   Night, (from left) Coach of the Year, Jim Haseldine, Official of the Year,      

                                                                   Kevin Steinert and SA Rising Star of the Year, Daniel McKenzie.

Keyneton MCC member, Maria Caust,                                                                                                                        2009 MSA Woman of the Year award                                                                                                                           winner.

Maria was unable to attend the awards                                                                                                                      night and was presented with her award                                                                                                                        at the Keyneton MCC Christmas picnic.

                                                            Congratulations from the Club to all winners.

VALE LAURENCE ‘WILLIE’ WILLIAMS

In its 60 year history the Keyneton Motorcycle Club has awarded 26 Life Memberships, and the 5^th of those was awarded to Laurence Williams, or Willie as he was known, in 1981. Willie passed away just before Christmas at the age of 67 after a long battle with illness at Angaston, the Keyneton MCC will be the poorer for his passing.

Willie was one of the true characters in the Club, and one of its hardest workers. Whether an event or a social function or a work bee Willie was always there for the Club. One of only 12 members to have sat on the Executive Committee for 10 or more years he is the Club’s longest serving Social Secretary, and it was his efforts, along with a dedicated band of helpers, who raised money through many social functions for the Club to be, by 1980 in a position to buy the Wilton Hall and make it their own.

Before that though, through the 1970’s Willie was always on hand at work bees and events, helping to organise and run any event the Club was involved in. Willie became a legend though, at least to the kids who grew up in the Club in the 70’s, as half of the ‘Wack & Willie’ sidecar team. Geoff Barratt and Laurie were 2 larger than life characters who became one of the most successful outfit teams the Club has produced, both in Observed Trials and Road Trials. In Observed Trials (now Moto Trials) Wack & Willie almost became the club’s first Australian Champions when they travelled to Tasmania in 1973. After an event long battle, they were pipped by fellow SA riders Nip Kuerschner & Ron Bell, and had to settle for second. The duo backed that up with a trip to NSW in 1974 and had their second Australian Championship podium when they finished 3^rd, but did come out on top to record a South Australian Championship in the same year. They won the 24 Hour Trial in 1971, but ’78 was a fine swan song for the team. Reuniting after a few years off the duo bought home their outfit in 2^nd place in a wet event where only 34 of 152 made it with Willie flying the Club flag proudly as they crossed the finish line.

Willie stopped being an active member in the mid 1980’s, but whenever there was a social function at the Club he was often the first to arrive and the last to leave. He was in attendance at every Life Members night the Club has held, as well as the 50^th Anniversary of the Club celebrations in 2000 and was last seen at the Club when it celebrated 30 years at Wilton Hall in 2006. On the night Willie showed his heart was still very much with the Keyneton MCC when he gave a passionate speech about his time in the Club and, how proud he was to have played a (not so) small part in the Club’s history. With his oxygen bottle in tow, and a glass of red in hand Willie was, quite simply, the life of the party that night, mingling with the younger members he had never before met, sharing with them his many stories of the Club, as well as taking a keen interest in their careers and what they were riding.

Did he, maybe, know, with his illness that he may not return to the Club and he was determined to go out with a bang?  Maybe, but it was more like Willie just being himself surrounded by fellow members, of many generations, of a Club he had given so much to and had asked so little in return. The Keyneton MCC turns 60 years of age in 2010 and it would have been a safe bet that the first to arrive would have been Willie. Mate, it won’t be the same without you there, but we will raise a glass of red to your memory and all you did for the Keyneton MCC.

Seeya mate, and thanks.      

- ANDREW WARNEST -