Club History
The Pilgrims CMC began in January 1987 after a meeting in Melbourne of three Christian motorcyclists, Scott Milan, John Steer and Chris McAleer. Their desire was to create a new model for a club for Christian motorcyclists that catered for members who may be widely dispersed. One of the aims being to vary meetings around country centres such as Maryborough and Shepparton, as well as various suburbs across Greater Melbourne. We also met regularly at motorcycle events such as Toy Runs, Australian Motorcycle GP’s at Phillip Island, Touring Rallies and outlaw clubhouses. It was a diverse ministry which attracted a committed group of Christian motorcyclists from across Victoria. The involvement in touring rallies began with the Big Desert Rally in 1987 and the Riders on the Storm in 1989. We strongly supported the founding of CMA Victoria in 1988, helped organise regular Bikers’ Church events from 1990 and the Pub Church with the Rev John Hannaford from 1991. Due to the silk-screening talents of Mal Salmon, a tradition was begun with the Christmas Poster of 1987, the Tee-shirts to celebrate the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1988 and the rally poster for Riders on the Storm in May 1989. During the first five years, many close and lasting friendships were made with members of other clubs; Christian, secular and outlaw. However, the tendency to see outside our own ministry resulted in a vote to merge with the God’s Squad CMC; which was still in a re-building stage after a split that resulted in the creation of the Longriders’ CMC in 1988. The merger process proved to be less than was hoped for with many Pilgrims choosing not to join and those who did soon losing their identity as Pilgrims. It was extremely positive for the God’s Squad CMC, which was rejuvenated by the influx of mature and gifted Christians who brought a vibrant mix of energy and new ideas with them. In January 2009, three Christian motorcyclists decided to resurrect the concept of the Pilgrims CMC in a new form, as the Pilgrim CMC. The idea of a club for widely dispersed members with contact via email was born. Ken Bechaz, Joe Tettmann and Chris McAleer did the preliminary work and early in 2009, a Year 12 Design student, Adam Moyle, was commissioned to assemble the website. Mal Doswell, Peter van der Heiden, Linton Eckert, Fred Bertacco, Tony Daniels, John Schoolderman, John Hammersmith and Richard Harvey also became “founding Pilgrims”. John McIntyre, the Anglican Bishop of Gippsland agreed to be our founding Patron. The tradition of our monthly Prayer List and the resurrecting of the Big Desert Rally for October 2010 were commenced by the end of 2009.