This is the newsletter that I hesitate to write as I will express views on Covid controversy about gatherings of vaccinated and unvaccinated people. My wife, Sue and I are both double vaccinated. Sue has been diagnosed recently with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease so we will obviously be taking extreme care. The future is looking better, for Covid vaccinated people at least. As usual there is some controversy about mandating anything. Remember past cases such as wearing seat belts, motorcycle helmets, speed limits, industrial health & safety laws, military conscription, etc. There were always some “refusers”. However, one of the great strengths of our Australian society is the recognition of free speech and respect for human rights of individuals. Dealing with the Covid virus is an issue of risk management where actions of individuals can present life and death issues for others and themselves. I suppose smoking vs non-smoking was similar but not quite as deadly. We all risk contracting the virus in everyday activities. We minimise risk in the short term through lockdowns, mask wearing, sanitising hands and surfaces but the social and economic cost is bloody inconvenient and unsustainable I believe.
I also believe vaccination by any of the options appears to offer the best currently available solution to minimise the Covid virus risks of getting sick and worst of all – spreading it to others!
I am expressing my own views here – I encourage all members to get vaccinated to minimise risk to yourselves and other members. Even if you personally object, please do it for others. We still wish to enjoy social gatherings of all members safely. Almost all of us have benefited from vaccinations against other diseases such as polio, measles, diphtheria, mumps, cholera, etc.
Venues such as RMYC, clubs, cafes will set their own eligibility entry requirements which will bind us and our outdoor activities such as BBQs will probably have mandated conditions re numbers, masks, vaccination requirements etc. I HOPE WE DON’T HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
If all are vaccinated there will be no problems.
Whilst not wishing to encourage nebulous debate about issues that I, as an individual cannot resolve I can see that a certain amount of altruism is required by all members for the benefit of the Club. The dictionary defines altruism as “the attitude of caring about others and doing acts that help them although you do not gain for yourself.” In simple terms this usually means helping others often in simple ways such as cooking at a club BBQ, cleaning up, writing minutes of meetings, managing the sign on sheets at meetings, assisting with technical issues, organising events, financial and secretarial duties. Our club members have an enviable history of altruistic behaviour, most recently the Alastair Browne case and I am confident, knowing members as I do, that we will all do our best for each other.
Socially, last night Sue and I enjoyed a legal and much appreciated 5-person twilight gathering with drinks and takeaway dinner at the Bayview Park near the tennis courts with Clive Atkinson, David & Diane Rundle. I hope others are getting out to legally mix and laugh again.
Mechanically, on the Jag soft top frame job I have been replacing old rusty screws with new stainless-steel ones and am persevering with fettling the tacking strip to which the rear of the hood attaches to the body. This is a trial & error fit and very frustrating. Dave Rundle tells me he has spent much time cleaning 2 sets of wire spoke wheels – spoke by spoke – masochistic to say the least, but so are many of our restoration tasks as you know.
Hood frame from the parts book.
Hood frame re assembled
Nice shiny stainless-steel screws for the tacking strip – all mild rusty steel back in 1967!
Happy motoring
Kind Regards,
Kerry Benson
President.
