Local Heroes support Diabetes Australia Vic on the 2009 Great Victorian Bike Ride

Ride for a cause: Peter and Jane Nicolson, and Deirdre Thorn are raising money to support people with diabetes. Photo: Nicholson and Thorn families

The Great Victorian Bike Ride has been held in late November / early December every year since 1984. It is easily Australia’s biggest one week cycling holiday. This year’s GVBR has attracted a sell out 5,000 cyclists and over 500 volunteers and supporting crew. Only once in the last 17 years has there been a bigger one week ride in Australia. Bicycle Victoria’s Development Director, Nikki Tyler said: “It is a great year to be a part of this legendary bike ride as we ride the Great Ocean Road”.

The cycling holiday starts on Saturday 28 November with the first day as a loop ride from Portland to Cape Bridgewater and back to Portland. The ride ends in Geelong at Eastern Park on Sunday 6 December after 547kms.  This year three local riders all first timers have linked to support Diabetes Australia Vic who is the charity partner of this year’s ride with the extra chore of fundraising. Deirdre has a target of $1600.00, Peter and Jane $1500.00.

Being a quiet but strong ambassador

Humble beginnings: Jackie started with local groups five years ago and this year competed in the Hawaii iron man event. Photo: Russell Tremayne

Some five years ago a slight in stature, well mannered lady with a smile that would light up the room joined the cycling scene. Little did we know that in 2009 Jackie would be competing on the world stage in one of the world’s toughest events and complete the event in good style and stoic perseverance.

We asked Jackie  as an ambassador  to reflect on the journey and memories of starting out in hope that sharing such a testimony would inspire more ladies to have a go at cycling and or triathlons.

Resurrecting the old for a new culture

Subsistence: these old bikes are being recycled as trendy single-speeds. Photo: Eddie Barkla

Subsistence is a social enterprise, run by three Long Gully residents, Cam Farrall, Finn den Otter and Ali Turnbull. They build quality single speed bikes from old men’s racers. Most of the old bikes are from steel recycle bins around the place as well as from the council recovery yards. They also receive bike donations from other enterprises run by CVGT and St. Lukes.

The oldest and most simple bikes were fixed gear single speed – i.e. if the bike is in motion, then the pedals are moving. In the past this was more necessity than choice. Now there are a number of reasons people are choosing these types of bike over more complex geared bikes.

Community service cycling

Camaraderie: members of the PROBUS cycling group in Bendigo enjoy companionship and keep fit.

PROBUS is a community service program of Rotary clubs, an association of active retirees who join together to provide regular opportunities for them to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy the fellowship of new friends. Membership is open to anyone of good character who has had some measure of responsibility or achievement in any field of worthy endeavour.

PROBUS originated in the United Kingdom in 1965. Yes, it was a lady who added the notion that the needs of all people who were in retired families and not just male Rotarians could be met by a new community based club. So it was in England in 1965 and 1966 that PROBUS was conceived independently by two Rotary clubs. The first PROBUS Clubs formed in the South Pacific area were New Zealand in 1974, Australia in 1976 and the Philippines in 2007.