Coff Harbour Gathering

From JohnMC

This is the final reminder that on the 19 and 20th of August, we are having a Classmates and Partners Gathering at The Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. We have 52 attendees in total with 21 rooms booked and a few staying offsite as well. The resort (https://pacificbayresort.com.au) still has rooms available and if you decide at the last minute to book, please keep me in the loop so I can cover off the numbers for our suppliers. Remember to use the code “RMC “ to get your discount.

The list of those who have booked is below and they will receive a separate email asking them which aspects they plan to attend for catering purposes.

If anyone has any specific questions I am happy to assist; john.m.mcnamara@bigpond.com

Regards, JohnMc

Booked @ Pacific Bay:
Rod Allan and Jenny Tracy
John and Jacqui Black
Warwick and Brenda Elliott
John Elphinston and Sandra Davies
Geoff and Caroline Hay
Bill and Marina Houston
Peter and Kerry Jenke
Gerry and Annette Jones
Steve and Debra Jones
Kevin and Jan Loughrey
Jon Mander-Jones and Partner
Peter and Sue Martyn
Don and Diedre Muirhead
Duncan and Carmel McInnes
Tony and Mary McLeod
John and Margaret McNamara
Phil and Chris Newman
John and Vivienne Price
Paddy Ryan and Judy Fraser
Graham and Maxine Smith
Peter and Helen Teys
Attending but not booked at Pacific Bay Resort :
Dave and Trish Cran
Maurie and Joan Meecham
Darryl and Robyn Poole
Murray and Judy Smith
Rowan and Jane Tracey

Northern Catch Up . . .

Thanks to John Mac for organising another great catch up. We had a good roll up, with Al McMurran attending his first lunch since relocating to the Sunshine Coast, Don and Diedre and Kevin and Jan from just south of the border, plus the Gold Coast and Brisbane regulars.

On Location in Tasmania

From John Mac

Last week Trace and I visited Michael and Annie Barrett in Richmond, Tasmania. It was our 7th or 8th trip to see them and it has now turned into an annual event. Michael is doing pretty well and is 84 and still full of cheek as you would expect. He remembers our Class with much affection and amazes us with his recall of events from our years together.

I just wanted to share this with you all and say that Michael passes on his best wishes to you all.
Regards,
John Mc

Coffs Harbour Gathering

From John McNamara

Last week I visited Coffs and today I had mornos with the boys and have received my guidance.
Thank you for those who have shown interest in attending. We have 50 attendees in total to date and the list of those attending is below. There is obviously room for more and if anyone wants to book please follow the process on the website.
Our main purpose remains to give us the opportunity to catch up as a wider group and have fun with people who share a story. What we are after is a casual gathering without too much organisation but I do know some of you like a bit of structure, so here goes.

Tuesday 19 August
Check- in time is 3pm but if the room is available, you are in. The bar opens at 2.30pm and closes much later. If you are driving, you may want to consider bringing an esky with you with your best wines from home so we can sample these if we get invited to your room. If flying, Uncle Dans is 2km away and we will do a tock run if asked.
Happy Hour is 5pm so this would be a good time to gather if you are not already there.
Dinner – Dinner will start from 6pm but there will be no rush to sit down as we will be collocated in a separate area but spread over 5 or 6 tables. The menu in the dining room has a range of menu options. If you have special dietary needs please engage with Pacific Bay Resort. Everything is  ‘ pay as you go ‘ and you can charge you room or pay by cash or card.
Dress this evening is Hawaiian / Tropical with lots of colour which is likely to keep other guests from coming near us. The August temperatures range from 9 – 20C and the area we have been allocated for dining is outdoors but can be closed off and has outdoor heaters.

Wednesday 20 August

There are a number of tourist type activities in and around the Coffs Harbour area. Some may wish to play golf or tennis or go for a walk on the beach or just relax and do nothing. Inspirations can be found here:
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/coffs-harbour-area/activities
https://www.coffscoast.com.au/info/

Breakfast – most have booked for breakfast in the dining room.
Mornos – as a suggestion there is a coffee shop attached to a World War 2 bunker that houses the National Cartoon Gallery. The National Holden Museum is close by  – it is $8 per head for people our age which covers entry to both.
Lunch –  we suggest you visit the Coffs Harbour Surf Club. It is well patronised with a good menu. If we have the numbers they will set aside a separate area for us so we can keep talking.
Dinner – The evening plan is to repeat Tuesday with Happy Hour followed by dinner.


A month out from our gathering I will ask Elph to send out something whereby you tell me what, from the above, you wish to attend so I can pass this on to The Bunker / The Surf Club and Pacific Bay for catering , staffing and seating purposes.
That is it from me for now. If you have questions I am happy to handle via the web or via email at John.m.mcnamara@bigpond.com

John Mac

Booked @ Pacific Bay:
Rod Allan and Jenny Tracy
John and Jacqui Black
Warwick and Brenda Elliott
John Elphinston and Sandra Davies
Geoff and Caroline Hay
Bill and Marina Houston
Peter and Kerry Jenke
Gerry and Annette Jones
Steve and Debra Jones
Kevin and Jan Loughrey
Jon Mander-Jones and Partner
Peter and Sue Martyn
Don and Diedre Muirhead
Duncan and Carmel McInnes
Tony and Mary McLeod
John and Margaret McNamara
Phil and Chris Newman
John and Vivienne Price
Paddy Ryan and Judy Fraser
Graham and Maxine Smith
Peter and Helen Teys
Attending but not booked at Pacific Bay Resort :
Dave and Trish Cran
Maurie and Joan Meecham
Darryl and Robyn Poole
Murray and Judy Smith

Coffs Harbour Gathering

From John McNamara

Last week I visited Coffs and today I had mornos with the boys and have received my guidance.
Thank you for those who have shown interest in attending. We have 50 attendees in total to date and the list of those attending is below. There is obviously room for more and if anyone wants to book please follow the process on the website.
Our main purpose remains to give us the opportunity to catch up as a wider group and have fun with people who share a story. What we are after is a casual gathering without too much organisation but I do know some of you like a bit of structure, so here goes.

Tuesday 19 August
Check- in time is 3pm but if the room is available, you are in. The bar opens at 2.30pm and closes much later. If you are driving, you may want to consider bringing an esky with you with your best wines from home so we can sample these if we get invited to your room. If flying, Uncle Dans is 2km away and we will do a tock run if asked.
Happy Hour is 5pm so this would be a good time to gather if you are not already there.
Dinner – Dinner will start from 6pm but there will be no rush to sit down as we will be collocated in a separate area but spread over 5 or 6 tables. The menu in the dining room has a range of menu options. If you have special dietary needs please engage with Pacific Bay Resort. Everything is  ‘ pay as you go ‘ and you can charge you room or pay by cash or card.
Dress this evening is Hawaiian / Tropical with lots of colour which is likely to keep other guests from coming near us. The August temperatures range from 9 – 20C and the area we have been allocated for dining is outdoors but can be closed off and has outdoor heaters.

Wednesday 20 August

There are a number of tourist type activities in and around the Coffs Harbour area. Some may wish to play golf or tennis or go for a walk on the beach or just relax and do nothing. Inspirations can be found here:
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/coffs-harbour-area/activities
https://www.coffscoast.com.au/info/

Breakfast – most have booked for breakfast in the dining room.
Mornos – as a suggestion there is a coffee shop attached to a World War 2 bunker that houses the National Cartoon Gallery. The National Holden Museum is close by  – it is $8 per head for people our age which covers entry to both.
Lunch –  we suggest you visit the Coffs Harbour Surf Club. It is well patronised with a good menu. If we have the numbers they will set aside a separate area for us so we can keep talking.
Dinner – The evening plan is to repeat Tuesday with Happy Hour followed by dinner.


A month out from our gathering I will ask Elph to send out something whereby you tell me what, from the above, you wish to attend so I can pass this on to The Bunker / The Surf Club and Pacific Bay for catering , staffing and seating purposes.
That is it from me for now. If you have questions I am happy to handle via the web or via email at John.m.mcnamara@bigpond.com

John Mac

Booked @ Pacific Bay:
Rod Allan and Jenny Tracy
John and Jacqui Black
Warwick and Brenda Elliott
John Elphinston and Sandra Davies
Geoff and Caroline Hay
Bill and Marina Houston
Peter and Kerry Jenke
Gerry and Annette Jones
Steve and Debra Jones
Kevin and Jan Loughrey
Jon Mander-Jones and Partner
Peter and Sue Martyn
Don and Diedre Muirhead
Duncan and Carmel McInnes
Tony and Mary McLeod
John and Margaret McNamara
Phil and Chris Newman
John and Vivienne Price
Paddy Ryan and Judy Fraser
Graham and Maxine Smith
Peter and Helen Teys
Attending but not booked at Pacific Bay Resort :
Dave and Trish Cran
Maurie and Joan Meecham
Darryl and Robyn Poole
Murray and Judy Smith

Coffs Gathering

From John Mac,

Classmates,

As you know, we are planning a gathering of like minded people in Coffs at The Pacific Bay Resort on 19 and 20 Aug this year. To date we have 42 coming and the list is below. Of these, 36 are booked into the resort. In addition, Murray and Judy Smith are locals and we have a couple of caravaners. I reconciled bookings with Pacific Bay Resort yesterday and the below list is correct.

Murray and I are meeting with Pacific Bay Resort on 27 March and getting down to business now that we know the numbers. I will plan for 50 and hope for 60 so don’t hold back.

Remember when dealing with The Pacific Bay Resort to quote “RMC“  to gain your group discount. 

After our meeting on 27 March I will consult with my ‘Band of Merry Men’ and give you a more detailed plan.

Cheers

John Mac 

Attending but not booked at Pacific Bay Resort:

Dave and Trish Cran
Maurie and Joan Meecham
Murray and Judy Smith

Booked @ Pacific Bay Resort:

Rod Allan and Jenny Tracey
John and Jacqui Black
Warwick and Brenda Elliott
John Elphinston and Sandy Davies
Geoff and Caroline Hay
Peter and Kerry Jenke
Gerry and Annette Jones
Kevin and Jan Loughrey
Peter and Sue Martyn
Don and Diedre Muirhead
Duncan and Carmel McInnes
Tony and Mary McLeod
John and Margaret McNamara
Phil and Chris Newman
John and Vivienne Price
Paddy Ryan and Judy Fraser
Graham and Maxine Smith
Peter and Helen Teys

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