Australian West Coast Bike Ride
Newsletter No 14- Langwarrin to Bairnsdale
24th November 2004

West Coast Bike Ride .. Home at last!

Langwarrin to Bairnsdale

After a swinging night at the 'Seaford Soiree' Fundraiser, everyone spent Sunday relaxing and catching up with old friends and family. Ben Goding from Dromana, who built the recumbents called in to check them over in the morning, finally adjusting John's cluster so that all gears were fully operational! The rest of the time was spent catching up with old friends and family before getting the bikes ready for an early departure on Tuesday. Old friends, Pauline and Graham Scown, opened their home to us, Pauline cooking some wonderful meals and both of them spoiling us all.

Tuesday November 9th - Pakenham - 40kms

A 6.30 start - overcast but fine weather - the boys made good time, John's bike picking up speed with the new adjustments, arriving in Packenham by 9.15 for an interview with the local press while Rtns Peter Van Dieman and Andrew Walsh met us for a roadside morning tea. Assistant Governor Casey, Terry Williams, made us all welcome to his and Alwyn's beautiful home before Andrew took John to speak to his Rotaract Club at the Secondary College, his mother, Martha, kindly transporting the trike in the back of her ute!

We spent the rest of the day exploring the town before attending a meeting at the Golf Club in the evening. John spoke about the fund raising and highlights of the trip and was presented with a 'giant' cheque for $500 by Past President Jim Armstrong.

Wednesday 10th - Warragul - 49kms

Another 6.30 start for a hilly ride arriving in good time by 11.15 for an official roadside welcome from Mayor Ruth MacDonald , Emma from the local press and Rtn Don Cummings and Marie, and Rtn Wally Christie (who had just returned from a 60km training ride himself) and Lorna - our hosts for the night. John and Ted both rode off to visit the local Secondary College for another talk to the students before Wally led all the riders along the bike path to Don's home to park the van. A relaxing afternoon being shown around the town by our hosts before a Rotary Dinner meeting in the evening. Rotarian Colin Brown gave a moving introduction to John before he spoke of their travels and fund raising. He then presented him with a cheque for $500 and gave John and Ted both a commemorative beaker as a memento of their visit. Everyone enjoyed a great evening of fellowship at the meeting and generous hospitality from our hosts. Wally even shared his photos from The Great New Zealand Bike Ride!

Thursday 11th - Traralgon - 63kms

Rtn Wally joined the riders on the road to Yarragon where they met up with Rtn John Glass from Mitchell River Rotary Club who was joining us in the first support vehicle for the remainder of the ride. Pulled up for morning tea at the Moe exit from the freeway where WIN News interviewed John and then followed the boys up the highway taking footage from every angle - down from the overpass and from the back of the vehicle as they peddled along the highway - for a news coverage that night! Just short of our next target, the rain started and we arrived at the Latrobe Valley Hospital on time, although rather wet! Jenny rescued the team and ushered us into the foyer of the Allied Health wing where tea, coffee and cool drinks were ready waiting. John and Ted rode the recumbents into the rehab facility where John had spent so much time in 2002 recovering from meningococcal and getting used to his legs. A very moving and sentimental journey. He renewed friendships with some of the staff who had cared for him and met new staff now working in the unit. They were all thrilled to meet him and amazed to hear how far he had ridden, while the news team did more interviews and filming. Head of Allied Health, Rowan English's comment on the news that "they encouraged all their patients to leave with a goal, but not all were as great as John's!" rather summed up the ride pretty well!

On arriving in Traralgon we were met by Rtn Bill MacFarlane and Secretary Rtn Charlie Spiers. It had been a long, wet, exciting day, and we were all grateful for the warm welcome and friendship extended to John, Kay, Mike and Val in Bill and Audrey's home and to Ted and Pam by Rtn Pat Crosier and Jane. Charlie and Bill drove us all to a Rotary Finance Dinner at the Regency Reception Venue, originally the picture theatre and now beautifully restored. John gave a brief address about the Bionic Ear Fund Raising before the evening's speakers addressed the main issue - Business Ethics.

Friday 12th - Sale - 58km . One more day to go!

A beautiful day! Our hopes were rising for good weather for the final lap after a pretty miserable week weatherwise!

Left at 8am to arrive at a roadside stop outside Rosedale for morning tea by 9.30. John Glass joined everyone to ride to the Rosedale Primary School where John spoke to Grade 5 students in a very well appointed Gym! After he had answered some great questions from the children, a Lions Club member donated $100 to the fund, noting that the Lions had been the first to fund the Bionic Ear program almost 30 years ago! The school children also presented him with their own $35 gold collection, which was very gratefully received. Phys Ed teacher Rod, had organised a ride to the highway with police escort and motor cyclist in attendance, as a road use learning exercise, so all the children donned their helmets and followed the recumbents down the road - everyone very excited!

Lunch in the park after escorting them all back to school - cars tooting as they went past and people calling in to give donations. Word was getting around and the local interest was steadily growing!

We were escorted into Sale by Mitchell River Rotarians, Rik Hill and Peter Mackey and were very grateful to Rtn Steven Payne for making his home available to us for the night. We all joined Sale Rotary Club members for an informal BBQ at the Port of Sale and enjoyed some good fellowship in the evening.

Saturday 13th - Bairnsdale - 64 km . 'The final day!'

Rained all night but the morning was fine and cold - everyone watching the sky after some talk of rain during the day! We all knew that it wouldn't!

Up early to meet thirty-four riders from Bairnsdale, many of who came on the 6 am train. Big reunion outside the Catholic School - especially for John, Kay and daughter Andrea and many of their friends. Everyone thrilled to be there. Local member Craig Ingram MP came to congratulate John and Ted on their amazing ride for such a worthy cause, and John for the inspiration his perseverance and courage would and has been to others. He wished them a safe journey home and the boys moved off, heading for Meerlieu, with the other riders packed in behind, followed by the police escort, Glen Rawson's truck for any repairs needed en route and support vehicles and cars following along the road. With a strong tail wind - what a relief it wasn't a headwind - they had had enough of those! - they arrived at the Meerlieu Cricket Club Hall well ahead of time. Local identity Murray Frew already had the urn on when Kay, Val and Mike arrived to prepare morning tea. Everyone was having a great ride and enjoying the tailwind advantage. Morning tea in the sun outside the hall was extended to avoid arriving too early at the Rotunda. Taking off again, two more riders joined the pack off the roadside; the ride stopping twice and slowing the pace to make sure the 2pm finish time was kept.

A last stop at the Weigh Station outside Bairnsdale for a lunch break and then the rest of John's family and grandchildren, school students and other riders joined them on the road for the final few kms.

A big crowd was waiting at the Rotunda, cheering as they pulled the bikes onto the lawn. Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rowe, officially welcomed them home and Rtn Helen Lannigen presented them with a hand drawn 'welcome home' greeting to the accompaniment of some reading reflecting the ride and the landscape they had travelled through along the way. John rose to say thankyou to everyone for coming, especially Ted and Kay for all their support throughout the ride.

It is hard to believe the ride has finished. What next?

More news of the Fund progress - currently approx $40 000 - which will not close until February when John officially hands over a cheque to the Bionic Ear Institute. So it is hoped that, by then, the balance will reach the target of $50 000.

Cheers from us all

John, Ted and the crew.