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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