Donnybrook Classic Auto Club

30/08/2026

The Hotham Valley Railway’s Etmilyn Restaurant Train provided club members and friends an evening to remember last night. Fabulous food, fun, and even some dancing in the 1919 carriage as we travelled 8km from Dwellingup to Etmilyn siding and back. Many members enjoyed staying a night or two at the caravan park, while others just came for the train ride. Thanks to Chris Dawe for coming up with the idea!

16/08/2026

ANYONE passing the Donnybrook Library this morning may have thought Halloween had come early this year, as monsters, demons and other spooky characters materialised, ready for the Manji Monster Mash - our annual clueless car rally.
After the regular monthly meeting, rally participants received a list of objects to photograph along the way to Manjimup, ensuring they arrived for lunch at the Park Café by 1pm.
Teams earnt extra points by dressing up, along with taking video footage of spooky laughs or howls, riding a broomstick or sliding down the monster slide at the Manjimup Heritage Park.
There were valiant efforts (but no Valiants!) from several members to beat Frank and Tracy this year, as they have won the past two clueless rallies, but the ‘Rollerghouls’ proved they, and their Rolls Royce decorated with spider webs, spiders and other creepy crawlies, were unbeatable with a clear win of 230 points.
They were once again joined by their friends, Graeme and Wendy, who were also part of their previous two wins, thus proving a team of four is better than just a driver and a navigator/clue seeker.
There was a tie for second place, with Peter and Liza competing as ‘The Thing’ scoring 180 points, as did the ‘Demons Causing Auto Carnage’ team of Allan and Michelle. A countback of the number of objects photographed by each team saw the Demons steal second prize by a point.
‘Team Scooby’, Simone and Mike, placed next on 155 points, closely followed by ‘At Death’s Door’, Kath and Dave, on 150 points.
Winning the ‘Spec Saver Award’ for last place had little competition and went to new member Rod and his mate John, who only found six of the 20 objects to photograph and got lost out the back of Greenbushes.
Rod's classic car was described by Frank as an ABM - another b..... Mustang!
A range of prizes, including a $100 voucher for first, were awarded along with several trophies – thanks to the creativity and craftsmanship of member Laurie.
It was the club’s third clueless rally organised by Tim and Shen, with Tim doing an excellent impersonation of Uncle Fester, including shaving his head for the event.
Next month’s event is the annual Grimwade Challenge on Sunday 20 September, which tests drivers’ skill navigating obstacles course in their vehicles. For more information, email [email protected] or message this page.
Shendelle Mullane, Publicity Officer

26/07/2026

The Clueless Car Rally is on again - this year it is the MANJI MONSTER MASH!!
Starting after the monthly meeting at the Donnybrook Library on Sunday 16 August. Requirements for the day:
• A car with driver and navigator (minimum) – invite your friends and family too!
• A smart phones to take a photo of each ‘non-clue’ item.
• A good sense of humour, and an even better sense of direction!
• A monster or spooky character that reflects your identity, your alter-ego, or that of your vehicle.
• Monster outfit - optional but encouraged (extra points likely).
• Money for lunch at the Park Café, Manjimup, and a full fuel tank – just in case!
So get your 'GHOUL' on and join us a for frighteningly good time!

19/07/2026

Today’s mini-Olympics and pot luck lunch once again provided some indoor fun, following the club’s July meeting.
As the mini-Olympics required more space than the library, we returned to the Donnybrook Soldiers Memorial Hall for this event, and the lack of heating and carpeted floors was sorely noted by the 29 members as they entered the Lesser Hall on a cold July morning.
Obviously warmer climes are currently attracting quite a few members north or overseas!
In his president’s report, Dave Barnes said the club had welcomed another six members since the last meeting.
“We have 225 members on our books, plus 227 concessionally licensed vehicles in both C4C and 404.
“This membership base sees the club in a strong financial position with events being heavily subsidised for those attending,” he said.
After the meeting, five teams of four would-be Olympians tried their hand at eight different fun events, vying for the mini-Olympics gold medal. Events included putting, darts, archery and ten pin bowling using an array of toy game equipment.
Some very creative scoring was observed!
The gold medal winners were ‘Allan and the Allanettes’, who won four events and came second in the other four.
The DCC team won silver, while the bronze medals went to the Wombats. All three teams received a real metal medal each, plus Allan and the Allanettes each received a gift voucher.
A delicious pot luck lunch followed, with a smorgasbord of hot dishes including lasagnas, curries, quiches and sausage rolls. With Charles celebrating his birthday the next day, we all enjoyed the lemon meringue pie he bought along, plus other tasty desserts.
Thanks to Dave and Kath for organising the day’s activities and to all the cooks who added to the feast!
The club’s next meeting is on Sunday 16 August at the usual venue (Donnybrook Library) and will be followed by the popular annual Clueless Rally.
This year the theme is the “Manji Monster Mash” and participants will be given a list of clues to find on their way to Manjimup. Each team has to take a photo of the clue, to prove they found it, and arrive at the lunch destination by 1pm.
The requirements are at least two people per car - driver and navigator – but more passengers are welcome, as it is a great event to which to invite friends and family. A smart phone is needed to take a photo of each ‘clue’ item, along with a good sense of humour, and an even better sense of direction!
Dressing up as a monster is optional (but encouraged for extra points), and each team needs to choose a monster or spooky character that reflects their identity, their alter-ego, or that of their vehicle.
There will be plenty of prizes up for grabs and laughs are guaranteed!
For more information, email [email protected] or send us a direct message.
Shendelle Mullane, Publicity Officer

22/06/2026

New club member Ian McDonagh's very rare Australian-made car garnered a lot of attention at the Donnybrook Classic Auto Club's June meeting on Sunday.
Ian's 1970 Morris Nomad was built in Sydney, and despite being incredibly difficult to get parts for, has been lovingly restored with its gleaming ‘damsel purple’ duco and very tidy interior.
It was great to see around 40 members at the monthly meeting held at the Donnybrook Library and chaired by club president Dave Barnes.
We had another merchandise item on sale - this month it was the black cap with the club logo - for the red-hot price of $5, instead of the usual $10. Each meeting, the club plans to offer a discounted price on one merchandise item as a “one-off, in-person” special.
You have to attend the meeting to get the bargain!
Thanks to Viv for coordinating our range of merchandise including club polo shirts, caps, beanies, bucket hats, and number plate surrounds.
After the June meeting, 13 cars cruised into Bunbury for a picnic lunch. Fortunately, Bunbury Runners’ Club members Allan Whitfield and Tony Gilfuis opened up their clubroom, so DCAC could enjoy lunch out of the weather.
Then it was off to the Bunbury Ten Pin Bowling, with five groups competing against each other, with a total of 18 bowlers taking part.
Fierce competition ensured amongst all bowlers, with the overall winning team being Dave Barnes, Peter and Simone Redman, and Tony Gilfuis. Dave was also named the men’s winner and Viv Seers as the women’s winner.
Highlights of the competition were Tony nearly faceplanting on the lanes, Simone falling over mid-bowl and Peter ripping the crotch of his jeans due to the effort he was putting in.
Thanks to Chris Dawe and Angelo Conti for their efforts in organising the June run and ten-pin bowling - an event which was fully subsidised by the club for financial members.
The club’s next meeting is on Sunday 19 July and will be held at the former venue, Donnybrook Soldiers Memorial Hall, for a potluck lunch and mini-Olympics. So don't go to the library for the next meeting!
For more information about the club and upcoming activities, email [email protected]
Dave Barnes & Shendelle Mullane

17/05/2026

17/05/2026

A short but scenic run - not far from Donnybrook - attracted a large number of members to our May meeting on Sunday 17 May 2026.
Around 35 members attended the monthly meeting held at the Donnybrook Library, which was chaired by vice president Peter Redman.
A new feature of the club’s meetings is to have some items of merchandise being sold at a discounted prices as a one-off, in-person special. For the May meeting it was the red beanies with the club logo at the red-hot price of $5, instead of the usual $10.
You have to attend the meeting to get the bargain!
A range of merchandise is available for purchase, including club polo shirts, caps, beanies, bucket hats, and number plate surrounds.
The club now has 210 financial members, with a core group of 30-40 members who regularly attend meetings and events. It was great to see several new members at the May meeting along with a visitor.
Our next meeting is on Sunday 21June and will be followed by a cruise into Bunbury for a picnic lunch at Rocky Point, followed by ten-pin bowling. The cost of the ten-pin bowling will be fully-subsidised by the club for financial members and there are many prizes up for grabs.
After the May meeting, 18 cars and 28 members took part in the cruise along Upper Capel Road to Kirup, enjoying the lush, rolling landscapes and gentle curves of the route.
First stop was at Radmila’s Golden Pastries in Kirup, where some members enjoyed coffee and cake, or a pie. Lining up some of the cars in front of the pastry shop took a bit of traffic management, but it was eventually achieved.
Kirup local and club member Gary Smitherman invited member to visit his ‘House of DaDa’ and his imaginative world of landscape art and sculpture. Those members who had not visited previously were amazed by Gary’s creativity, while those on a return visit enjoyed seeing Gary’s latest artworks.
The club’s convoy then headed back to Donnybrook, via Brookhampton Road and Sandhills Road, for a late lunch at the S**g Brewing Co.
Congratulations to Peter and Simone Redman, whose yellow 1965 Mustang coupe was selected as ‘best club car’ by the staff at the S**g.
For more information, email [email protected] or send us a message.
Shendelle Mullane, Publicity Officer

21/04/2026

Members of the Donnybrook Classic Auto Club are looking forward to a busy few months ahead, despite concerns about current fuel prices and the possibility of winter storms seeing some of our 'fair weather' wheels staying under cover!
Our monthly meeting held on Sunday 19 April, saw a good number of members in attendance. Afterwards, seven cars travelled to Harvey on what was a beautiful day for a picnic.
We arrived at the Harvey Dam around midday and congregated in the gazebo for a bite to eat.
Tales circulated from memories of the old drive-ins to the Pat's Hamburger Bar, re-created in Bunbury recently, which brought back so many memories of our misspent youth.
We wished Kathy a happy 60th birthday at Harvey and sent birthday wishes to Shendelle (who was absent due to another friend's 60th birthday). No one was prepared to guess what birthday it might have been celebrated by Shen!
Plans for our next club run on Sunday 17 May have changed, due mainly to fuel prices.
We will have a scenic drive around the local area, visit the new cafe in Kirup for coffee (and cake) and then return to Donnybrook for lunch at the S**g Brewery at 1pm.
Originally, we planned to have a leisurely 220km round trip to Darkan to have lunch at the historic pub which closed in 2022 but reopened in 2024 when 43 local investors raised funds as the Darkan Hotel Community Project, buying and renovating the hotel.
Our visit to Darkan will have to wait for another time unfortunately.
Other popular annual events coming up later in the year include ten-pin bowling on 21 June, our Pot Luck lunch and mini-olympics at the Donnybrook Soldiers Memorial Hall on 19 July and the Clueless Rally on 16 August.
The theme for this year's Clueless Rally is 'Manji Monster Mash' and yes, the destination is Manjimup!
Knowing the destination does not ensure success with the Clueless Rally, as each car is given a list of objects to locate and photograph (as proof) on their way to the destination.
While not a race, there are time penalties as everyone vies for the honour of winning the amazing perpetual trophy, crafted by Laurie.
The Clueless Rally offers prizes and lots of fun, with extra points for the best-dressed team. It is a great event to which to bring friends and family along, so start organising a suitable monster-themed outfit.
Thanks to Angelo for his help with this month's report.
For more information on the club or any events, email [email protected]