CASE Riders, Ride for Awareness
Ten local bike riders and support crew completed the arduous 450 klm ride from Sheffield, Tasmania, back to Hay on the 20th April. The ride from Tasmania back to Hay coincided with the 10 th Anniversary Celebrations of CORES( COmmunity???), Tasmania. The Hay team attended a special dinner for CORES before leaving Sheffield. Riders, who had been training for months on the Hay Plains found the going a bit hard on the Tasmanian Hills, and then again coming out of Melbourne, enjoyed meeting people and explaining why they were riding.
In many towns, local riders joined the CASE riders for part of the journey.“ There was not one negative comment about what we were doing,” says Peter Dwyer,“ Everyone was so supportive. We met a lot of people that have been affected( by suicide) one way or another.”
As well as news stories in six papers along the route, win news and ABC radio gave coverage to the ride.
Deniliquin’ s Exchange Hotel and Hay’ s Riverina Hotel have both expressed their intent to sponsor next years ride. It is muted that 2014 will see riders travel to Canberra,“’ Cause that’ s where the pollies are.”
At a CASE meeting held on Wednesday 1st May, Peter Dwyer expressed his heart felt thanks to all sponsors of the ride. Appreciation to Mick and Julie Darlow’ s hard work was also expressed. Mick and Julie work tirelessly for CASE and have worked hard to source prizes for the trivia night held in February as well as sponsorship for the ride.
The CORES program, run by Coral Anne Walker( Executive Officer CORES), is the foundation of awareness courses run, in Hay through CASE. On the 22 nd April, fourteen Hay residents attended the CORES course at the Hay Services Club. These courses are subsidised by CASE in order that more community members may attend.
The end of the ride was celebrated at the Lion’ s Park with a‘ Happy Hay Day’. Stalls, activities for the kids and entertainment were enjoyed by all who attended. Sussan Ley MP( Federal), and John Williams( State) politicians attended the day and presented certificates to each of the riders and crew.
Left: Fairdinkum Shed donated shirts to the riders. The shirts were worn on the ride from the boat to Sheffield.
Right: The community was invited to ride into town with the CASE team. A massive group met at the airport and rode to the Lion’ s Park. Kids enjoyed decorating their bikes for the ride.
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