Brief History of the MODEL A RESTORERS CLUB of WA Inc
On Sunday, the 22nd of June 1980, a small but enthusiastic group of twelve gathered at the home of Bill and Dorothy Bennie with the intention of forming a Model A Ford Club-which was to be the last mainland State to form a branch of the Model A Restorers Club (Australia), based in Canberra. Subsequently the West Australian Club was named the Model A Restorers Club Australia (Western Australia Branch).
The twelve prospective members owned 17 Model A Fords (7 being fully restored) when they met that day, Bill Bennie was elected President and Mike Cooke as Secretary/treasurer. The annual fee was set at $5, plus $12 to the Canberra.
Since that first meeting, the Club has been family orientated; with meetings held during regular monthly Club runs to various locations – we never have evening meetings and we feel that this format has kept our Club strong as ALL members can be involved.
A draft constitution was tabled on August 24th 1980. By September, 1980 there were 20 family memberships. The Inaugural Run was held on Saturday May 2nd 1981, and recreated 10 years later on May 5th, 1991 (organised by the same club member, Alex Kirkwood).
The Club was incorporated, on August 24th 1980.
At the Annual General Meeting in 1982, it was decided not to continue to be regarded as a Branch of Canberra . The Club name was changed to the Model A Restorers Club of Western Australia, Incorporated in August 1992.
Office Bearers
Year President Vice President Secretary/Treasurer
1980 Bill Bennie Eric Richards Mike Cooke
1983 Max Annear Bill Spencer Toni Mahony
1984 Max Annear Mike Cooke Alma Letch
1985 Mike Cooke Ross Letch Alma Letch
1987 Steve Read Ron Andrews Gail Andrews
1989 John Luca Louise Read Helen Sharp
1991 Laurel Cooke Angelo Calleja Helen Sharp
1993 Angelo Calleja Bevan Sharp Ray Mahony
1994 Alan Jeffree Steve Read Ray Mahony
1995 Alan Jeffree Steve Read Germaine Jeffree
1996 Alan Jeffree Steve Read Germaine Jeffree
1997 Steve Read Ron Andrews John & Shirley Hall
1998 David Bussard Peter Sartori Pat Bussard
1999 David Bussard Peter Sartori Pat Bussard
2000 Peter Sartori Ray Mahony Toni Mahony
2001 Peter Sartori Ray Mahony Toni Mahony
2002 Peter Sartori Ray Mahony Gayle Easterbrook
2003 Peter Sartori Ray Mahony John & Shirley Hall
2004 Peter Sartori Ray Mahony John Moorehead
2005 John Timmings Ray Mahony John Moorehead
2006 John Timmings Ray Mahony John Moorehead
Secretary Treasurer
2007 Evan Gobby Alex Kirkwood Kaye Gobby John Moorehead
2008 Evan Gobby Alex Kirkwood Kaye Gobby John Moorehead
2009 Evan Gobby Alex Kirkwood Toni Mahony Jean Misko
2010 Alan Jeffree Colin Davidson Toni Mahony John Moorehead
2011 Alan Jeffree Colin Davidson Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2012 Alan Jeffree Colin Davidson Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2013 Alan Jeffree Colin Davidson Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2014 Alan Jeffree Colin Davidson Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2015 Colin Davidson Dean Roberts Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2016 Colin Davidson Dean Roberts Kathleen Kuenzel Bob Piercy
2017 Ray Mahony Dean Roberts Kathleen Kuenzel Anne Steer
2018 Ray Mahony Dean Roberts Kathleen Kuenzel Anne Steer
2019 Dean Roberts Alan Jeffree Kathleen Kuenzel Anne Steer
2020 Dean Roberts Alan Jeffree Kathleen Kuenzel Anne Steer
The above information was compiled initially by a member at the time, Bevan Sharp. In 1994 he compiled a booklet which detailed the history of all Australia Model A Clubs. All Model A Clubs in Australia have a copy of his compiled Information. Our Club has an updated copy of this document in our Club Library which can be borrowed by members. The table of office bearers is updated each year.
This year (2020) we have approximately 145 members with over 90 restored Model As licensed for road use, and another 20-plus vehicles under restoration.
Our Editor produces a newsletter each month and these can be emailed or posted to members.
Our Club has proudly hosted National Meets in 1992, 2004 and 2014. In 1992 we attracted 151 entries. In 2004 there were 167 participants – 79 from the other Sates, thirty with vehicles from the USA, two from NZ without vehicles and one from Holland without a vehicle.