THE PASSING OF OUR MEMBER - Donald Ross Bertwistle (The Legend)

Donald Ross Bertwistle #9960 was born on November 12th 1930. He died 14th August 2010 after nearly 15 years of enjoying the camaraderie of the Ulysses Life. Like many of us who answer to nicknames, Don was nicknamed ‘The Legend’ a name he was proud to answer to, until the end.

Before Don became a Ulyssian, he was a Husband, Father, Schoolbus Driver, Truck Driver, Dancer, Union rep, P&C President, to name a few. Don still had his suit and his spats for dancing, which he recently wore to a friend and fellow Ulyssian’s wedding and insisted on having his photo taken to be added to the ‘Riding On’ for this occasion.

His first motorcycle he had, as a youngster, was brought and kept at a mate’s place for around 12 months until his father found out. To Don’s asonishment his father said “Well if you havn’t killed yourself by now, you had better bring it home.” He continued his love of bikes when, while working for the Telegraph Newspaper, he rode a WLA Harley Davidson fitted with a wooden box as a sidecar which carried his bundled newspapers for delivery.

On reading the ‘Riding On’ edition No. 101 he was very upset and objected to a member’s letter to the Editor stating that unless one rode a motorcycle to the Ulysses AGM’s, members should not wear their regalia, vests, Logos etc. Don was well aware of his diminished capabilites, so he put pen to paper and in his own words his thoughts on the member’s letter. To his surprise the letter was printed in it’s entirety and he was wrapped in the response he received from fellow members that, dressed in his vest and his biker gear, he drove his Ford F100 which he had set up as a camper and headed for the Penrith AGM in 2009, this being his last Ulysses Adventure, and camped close to all the facilities on the grounds. Don spent most of his time going from camp to camp meeting and talking to as many people as he could. He loved Ulysses with the friendships and rides that came with it.

Don mate, you have made one ride that, we, reading this today, havn’t. Please send back a Map! And remember to tell anyone you talk with “If it ain’t broke…why fix it?”

Your mates from Glasshouse Mountains Branch