Cruising With Charlie

Newcastle Herald

Monday January 8, 2007

Donna Sawyer

OBITUARY

ELLEN MARGARET HUGHES

Born: October 2, 1940

Died: December 16, 2006

Funeral: No funeral service was held, at Ellen Hughes's own request, but the Ulysses Club is planning a special poker ride later this year in her honour.

ELLEN Hughes was always happiest riding on the back of a motorcycle with the wind in her hair and her husband in front at the controls.

There, her hobby became a way of life and she could share her experiences with her closest friends from the Lake Macquarie branch of the Ulysses Club.

Mrs Hughes, of Marks Point, was 66 when she died at Lingard Hospital on December 16, 2006, after a long battle with cancer.

Although her husband Charlie had been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years, Mrs Hughes got her motorcycle licence at age 53.

She joined the Ulysses Club in 1992, where she held the position of secretary-treasurer of the Lake Macquarie branch for nine years. It was a team effort, with her husband taking the role of president of the branch during that time.

A major force behind the growing club's success, Mrs Hughes made sure her fellow members felt like part of the family.

She organised everything from regular trips away, to charity rides, to the barbecues at each meeting. At Christmastime Mrs Hughes would even make lolly bags for members, insisting that no one was too old to appreciate the Christmas spirit.

"She did so much for the club," Mr Hughes said. "She thought more of her friends and family than she did of herself and she would help them in any way she could."

One of Mrs Hughes's proudest moments was when she received the Dearnley Medal at an annual general meeting in Canberra, for her services to the club. It was the second-highest attainable medal within the Ulysses movement and she was the 18th member in Australia to get it. As Mrs Hughes was always the better half, Mr Hughes didn't mind being the 19th recipient of the award.

Club members thought as much of Mrs Hughes as she did of them. As news of her passing spread around the club, messages came from all over Australia to extend their condolences. Even people she had only stayed with once or twice during long trips sent messages a testimony to her kind and generous character.

Mrs Hughes loved nothing more than to explore Australia on the back of a motorcycle, travelling all over the country with her husband.

About the only sight she didn't get to see was the wild flowers on the Nullarbor Plain, but she certainly saw more of Australia than most.

Her favourite camp spot was the hot springs at Burren Junction, near Wee Waa, where she and her husband often spent holidays.

Mrs and Mr Hughes travelled everywhere together, collecting patches for their vests at each new destination.

In keeping with the Ulysses Club's motto to "grow old disgracefully" the pair even collected a "Mile High Club" patch during a trip to New Zealand.

Mrs Hughes grew up in Swansea and married Charlie when she was 18 years old. The happy couple were inseparable for 48 years, raising their two daughters, Kim and Lea. Mrs Hughes loved spending time with her grandchildren Alicia, Amy and Cameron.

Mrs Hughes requested that no funeral be held after her death, but the Lake Macquarie branch of the Ulysses Club is expected to organise a special poker ride later this year in her honour. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to the oncology ward at Lingard Hospital.