FOUR thousand motorcyclists with a passion for the open road will rev up Port Macquarie in 2017 after the region secured the national Ulysses Club annual general meeting.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mid North Coast branch of the Ulysses Club, in partnership with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, submitted a bid for the event which has the potential to inject up to $15 million into the local economy over seven days.
The Ulysses Club, proudly brandishing the motto Grow Old Disgracefully, is a social riding club for over 40s motorcyclists and has more than 26,000 members nationally and branches in 13 countries.
MNC Ulysses member Barry Hewes said securing the national event for Port Macquarie is a fantastic boon for the region.
“We had to put a proposal together, which took quite a few months, and we did a lot to highlight some of the great things about this area,” Mr Hewes said. “It is just fabulous.”
We will have people arriving here from England, Canada, America and New Zealand.”
The club worked closely with councillors Mike Cusato and Sharon Griffiths who helped prepare the successful submission.
Mayor Peter Besseling said highlights of the event will include a formal dinner and grand parade of motorcyclists through the streets of Port Macquarie.
“An event of this magnitude will have economic benefits across the entire region and will impact a whole range of different businesses and industries,” Cr Besseling said.
“From a tourism perspective it gives us the opportunity to promote the Port Macquarie-Hastings to a whole new audience.”