In July 1967 at the then Ayres Rock Hotel the idea to form a club that would raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service came about. Over a few beers on a quite night in the hotel the Ayres Rock Cock Sock Club came into being, with the patron John Edwards from Canada using the idea as a similar club existed in Canada.

 The founder was Dough Friedrichs, the President was Lance Rust, the hotel Owner, other foundation members were Syd Lynch, Own Parker and Rod Mayfield. The Club would get its membership from coach drivers and air pilots as these were the people who were mainly responsible for the increasing influx of tourists to the then isolated area of Ayres Rock and surrounding attractions.

Early members of A.R.C.S.C. had their sock knitted for them mainly by Pam Rust and the ladies who worked at the Ayres Rock Hotel. Many members will remembers will remember having their sock personally fitted on the bar of the Ayres Rock Hotel in the early hours of the morning and many would have to be told of the fitting later that day. 

Fitting sessions were of great hilarity to all in the bar at the time, members and nonmembers alike. Some new members were a little embarrassed at the fitting depending on how long they had been at the bar. 

Money was raised by members asking for a show of another member’s anywhere and at anytime throughout Australia. If unable to show your sock you were then fined. And all the money collected from fines went back to the Ayres Rock Hotel and from there was forwarded to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs who serviced the Ayres Rock area. 

It was not long after the formation of the club that tourist coaches which passed through Ayres Rock on their many and varied journeys throughout Australia came up with what was known as the Sin Tin. Into the Sin Tin went the fines collected from passengers who were fined for calling their coach a bus, swearing, being last back on board after a stop and any other small misdemeanour their Coach Captain could come up with.

These fines were only five or ten cents but over years that the club operated many thousands of dollars was collected and forwarded to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The A.R.C.S.C. was the source of great enjoyment to it’s many members as well as raising money for a great cause. 

In the latter years of the Club it also took in Associate Members whose contribution was also greatly appreciated. Unfortunately after the Ayres Rock Hotel changed owners the Club slowly folded and ceased in the early eighties. 

This board was rescued, repaired and rejuvenated by the Committee and members of A.L.D.E.C.C.. 

Well you all may wonder just what happened to the Ayers Rock Cock Club Board after the Reunion? 

It’s a very sad Story. 

After quite a deal of rush and bustle to get the Board finished for the reunion it was discovered and pointed out to me just as the Coach left that in the story about the Club “Ayres” had been incorrectly spelt. How embarrassing after all these years still cant get it right. 

I took the Board back to get the spelling corrected also to add names that had been left off both the members and associate members lists. On the evening of the 5^th of March 1993 at approximately 5:30 pm the Bear Factory where the work was being done on the Board caught fire and burnt out leaving not very much except a hell of a mess. I got permission to get into the burnt out shop two weeks after the fire to see if I could find any trace of the Board or the Silver Foundation Plate. It’s not all bad news as I found what was left of the Board which we can use to make a new Board that will look the same but best of all I did find the Silver Foundation Plate looking a little black and burnt but I am sure that it will clean up to look like new once again. The Committee of A.L.D.E.C.C. is working towards getting the Board finished and off to the R.F.D.S. as soon as possible.

In 1992 with the changing of facilities at Ayers Rock (now known as Uluru) the board was passed to Aldecc for safe keeping. The committee decided that it needed to be returned to Central Australia where it belonged, but before doing so Kevin Bryant offered to remove all the 'dyno' labels and have the board prepared for public exhibition.

Once the labels and many layers of laquer were removed, the original names could be seen.

But then -  the shed where it was being housed during restoration caught fire. The names were burned off forever, but fire couldn't destroy the board itself.

Kevin then set about bringing the board back to life. He wrote and attached a story of the boards history and what it signified.