Please note the prices in the post yesterday were not correct.
The correct rates, using the ‘RMC’ code, reduces :
– The Executive One Bedroom Apartment to $245 / night , and
– The Executive Hotel Room to $215 / night .
Cheers
John Mac
Author: John Elphinston
Coffs Gathering Aug 2025
From John Mac
Happy New Year to you all.
I would like to give you a reminder and update on what is planned for 19 / 20 Aug this year in Coffs Harbour for our Class.
As you know a couple of us thought we should try and get together more often outside the scheduled 5 and 10 year reunions. Many gather in ‘tribal groupings‘, but generally don’t see most other classmates until the larger reunions. Coffs Harbour in August is designed to offer a low key, self paced gathering; ideally located mid-way between Sydney and Brisbane and accessible by road or air. Hopefully it may also offer you a break from the chills of this winter.
Our venue is The Pacific Bay Resort (https://pacificbayresort.com.au/).
This week John Price negotiated a price reduction for us for those who book directly with the resort using the resort’s online booking and or calling them direct. When Booking use the code ‘RMC’ to gain the discount.
The discount is:
- Room Rate for Executive 1 Bedroom Apartment, normal $ 245, with code $215
- Buffet Breakfast, normal $29.50, with code $20.00.
Remember that your credit card is not charged until 48 hours prior to arrival so flexibility is provided for last minute changes.
The Reservations Manager, Kristen Woolgar, is aware of our group and wants those who book online using their website to email her after you book to ensure you get the RMC discount and she will email you back. Her email is :
Reservations@pacificbayresort.com.au
In your email mention the RMC code and mention her name, Kristen Woolgar , in the body of the email – if you don’t get a conformation from her please follow her up.
I am having a coffee with Kristen at Pacific Bay in Coffs at 10am on Thursday 27 Mar25 to discuss how we can best look after you but to do this I need to know the numbers – is it 20 or 40 or more that we need to seat and organise for a beer and wine.
I am looking at a lunch venue offsite for Wednesday 20 Aug and again is it for 20 or 40 ?
To assist me, can you please email me (john.m.mcnamara@bigpond.com) once you have booked so I have an idea of numbers. If you are only 80% sure why not book anyway, as you can cancel out up to 48 hours prior if needs be with no financial penalty.
See you in Coffs in August 2025.
John Mac
A Final Brissie Lunch for 2024
A final lunch as Jon Mander-Jones couldn’t make the Southport gathering.
We were blessed with some additional family members as well, as Maurie was on Grandparent duties with his Grandson Jack and Jon’s youngest son Chris had just flown in that morning from the USA.
Some of the group had a wardrobe malfunction by choosing the same silly shirt for the day – some people just can’t keep out of uniform !
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year to all.
Regards,
JohnMc
A Few Good Men . . . . and Women
The Class of ’73 held their annual dinner at Tattersalls Club on Wednesday night and kindly extended an invitation to our class to attend.
A good night was had by all and many thanks to the youngsters for the invitation. Plenty of anecdotal stories with no shortage of willing speakers.
Cheers
John Elph
SEQ and Nthn Rivers Catch Up (Mk II)
The mixed media format sent out yesterday was no good – back to a conventional approach. Elph
From John McNamara
The Queensland and Northern Rivers crew had a great lunch organised by John Black at Southport this week. We had a good roll up; 20 all told. Don and Deidre were the newcomers to the group, having ventured north from their new home at Byron Bay. Don was a bit out of his comfort zone as he was supposed to wear a silly shirt – he’ll be off to Lowes now that he has seen what is expected of him.
Well done Blackie – it was a great day, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Our next lunch is planned for Brisbane on 26 February 25 and our special guest will be Denis Brennan from Thailand. His last lunch with us was very eventful so if you are game we would like to extend an invitation to one and all.
A big prize is on offer for this month’s competition . . . . what do you call a collection of 3 prime, red roosters as per the last photo below?
Cheers John Mc
SEQ and Nthn Rivers Catch Up
From John Mcnamara
The Queensland and Northern Rivers crew had a great lunch organised by John Black at Southport this week .
We had a good roll up; 20 all told.
Don and Deidre were the newcomers to the group, having ventured north from their new home at Byron Bay. Don was a bit out of his comfort zone as he was supposed to wear a silly shirt – he’ll be off to Lowes now that he has seen what is expected of him .
Well done Blackie – it was a great day, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
SO, to this month’s competition . . . . what do you call a collection of 3 prime, red roosters?
Our next lunch is planned for Brisbane on 26 February 25 and our special guest will be Denis Brennan from Thailand . His last lunch with us was very eventful so if you are game we would like to extend an invitation to one and all .
Cheers John Mc
RMC Journal added to the site
As per the recent post, I hadn’t intended to scan in the 1970/71 RMC Journal, preferring all those who volunteered to scan it, to fight it out amongst themselves. I ended up drawing straws from the long list of volunteers and . . . . well yes you guessed it. It was a bit like winning the proverbial Nigerian lottery again.
So relax, I’ve done it – it’s under the menu item Reading for those who want to take a look.
Website Refreshed
A few people have mentioned to me that things are hard to find on the website so I re-arranged things a bit, so now you won’t be able to find anything!!
But if you are curious and persistant, you should hopefully find things are grouped more logically, as long as you follow my logic. In summary:
- Classmates – includes the basic lists of names,
- Doco and Memorabillia – has a menu item of its own, and
- Reading – includes reading material gathered from other website areas, but not published books. If anyone can suggest a better label for the menu please do so.
RMC Journals. You may also notice that the 1969 and 1972 RMC Journals have been scanned in. For the majority of classmates, they bookend our time at RMC however, clearly the entry class of 1968 miss out on their first year (see below). The 1970/71 Journal hasn’t been done and I’m not planning on doing it so any volunteers please feel free to have a go.
The scanning quality overall is not too bad and hopefully sufficient for our purposes.
The National Library (Trove) has scanned journals from 1913 to 1968 inclusive which can be accessed here (https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-734748369). A link to the 1968 Journal has been included in Reading.
Coffs is Off . . . for this year
From John McNamara
Classmates,
Unfortunately I have decided to pull the pin on Coffs for August 2024 . This week we have had a number of classmates withdraw for upcoming medical ops or recovery from same. Just a part of the stage of life we are experiencing .
So , looking forward , “ Coffs 2025” is planned for Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 August 2025 at The Pacific Bay Resort https://pacificbayresort.com.au/ This willbe two and a half years since our 50th .
Now is a great to reserve a room at good rates and yet you wont have to pay until 48 hours before you arrival.
If you do book please let me know so I have some idea of who is coming so we can do a just a little planning .
Sorry about this cancellation !
Mates Forever,
Mac
Welcome to . . . and a reminder.
Maurie set up a lunch to welcome Dave and Trish Cran to the great south east again. Unfortunately, due to good old Covid-19, they couldn’t attend and neither could Maurie and Joan at the last minute. So we went ahead anyway and had a good lunch on another sparkling Brisbane day. Photo below.
And from John Mc,
Just to refresh you on the Coffs Harbour Recce No 2. It is planned for 20-21 Aug 2024 , arriving Tuesday and departing Thursday at The Pacific Bay Resort , Coffs Harbour https://pacificbayresort.com.au/. Its a low key, do your own thing, informal get together so if you are still thinking about it, take the plunge, and, (for most people) head north to escape the winter blues.
Please let me know if you are coming so we can arrange to have a meal together on both nights .
Regards,
John Mc
RMC Class of 1972 