Indian & Harley Vintage Club

ALS FORTUNE

 

 

It seems that there were many facets to our great mate Als. We have come to the realisation there were so many layers behind that Cheshire grin and the glass of red. We knew only our part of this complex story but have been fortunate to meet others who have been able to share their part with us.

 

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. (Dr Seuss)

RON KEED

TONY BLAIN

 

It is with much sadness that the IHVC Committee informs you all of the passing of Tony Blain, a long time member and supporter of the IHVC. Tony’s passing will leave a large vacuum in our vintage motorcycle club fraternity. His contributions have been monumental leaving a legacy by the way of founding the AMCA Australia. Tony was also a great friend to many of us personally.

Our condolences go to Tony's wife Jamie, their son Tom and daughter Molly and all of Tony’s extended family and friends.

VIC MABERLEY

 

Vic Maberley, aside from being a family man and hard worker all his life, was a gentleman, elder statesman, champion, custodian and well respected guardian of the Indian Marquee. He was generous, a good listener and a good mate. Vic enjoyed a nice cup of tea, a sweet biscuit which was always good bait for a yarn or two, or three or four.

 

Vic was a country lad, born in 1931 at Tooraweenah (between Gilgandra andCoonabarabran) during the depression years and the family did it tough during those years. He spent much time trapping rabbits with his father,

 

 

their main staple source of food during those years. Before and after school he built shearing sheds, cropping and digging wells with his father and grandfather until the age of 16 before leaving for the big smoke, Sydney as his father enlisted in the army as the war broke out. Whilst in Sydney after a few jobs he joined the Citizen Air force and became a jet mechanic and also began studying diesel mechanics.

 

 

On a trip back home to Tooraweenah he met the love of his life Wilma at a local dance. Wilma (we think) got a glimpse of what she was in for as they rode back to Sydney on his motorcycle in torrential rain which kept breaking down.

 

During the 1970s, Vic was sick of struggling and was working 3 jobs to make ends meet, all mechanic jobs, and his hobby was Vintage Indians, he could not get enough of mechanical things however he got perplexed when he could not make TV remote control work.

 

I first met Vic back in the early 1970s when trying to find bits and pieces for my Indian Chief outfit. Vic was there to lend a hand and happiest when he could be of help.

 

 

He loved his Indians and most of people who owned them, loved his garage sales, and was always on the hunt for old motorcycle parts, he had it bad or good, whatever way you look at it. He always opened up his shed for club 

Christmas parties, club rides for "drop-in" morning teas or lunches. Vic was an active member of the Vintage Motorcycle Club of Australia (NSW) and was a long term machine examiner, the Indian Harley Vintage Club and the Indian Motorcycle Club of Australia and awarded life memberships in recognition of his dedication to the Indian Brand.

 

It was obvious to me back in the 70s he knew his Indian stuff and was obsessed with his hobby and lived for the Indian brand even going so far to have the Indian logo signs affixed on the sides of all his many work vans.

 

Long time friend and fellow shed dweller Mick Atkins remembers Vic since the late 1960s, with philosophical conversations like "Mick - when you're out in the forest, try putting your arms around a large tree, put your ear up to it, and you will hear water running through it,

 

( I guess Vic was an original tree hugger) and another one was, Mick he said - when I was a kid helping my dad on the farm, when I was down a 100 foot shaft during the daylight - guess what, when I looked up I could see the stars even though it was daylight. Mick told me he has not validated either yet, but those two Vic sessions on 'the meaning of life' stood out.

 

We take this occasion to pass on our condolences to Wilma and Family, and we from the vintage motorcycle fraternity will surely miss Vic, his guidance will be felt for many years to come - "Good Innings Vic and Well Done".

 

Garth