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The First Lady Of Australian Adventure Riding
Almost 70 years ago, a plucky young lady took flight
aboard a Royal Enfield Bullet 350, in her pocket £25
(about AU$1,300 in todays money), in her panniers and
suitcase spare clothes and provisions.
She set out from Perth, Western Australia and allowed
herself three weeks to reach and return from Sydney,
New South Wales on the other side of the country. This
is before the infamous Nullarbor had a sealed road. She
was on her own, with nothing more than her bike and
her spirit.
This adventurous lady was just 22 years old, riding
into the unknown, riding into history. This young lady
was Winifred Wells ... she ultimately became the first
lady of Australian adventure riding.
That dual transcontinental crossing was undertaken
in the heat of the Australian summer, that perhaps com-
pared little to what Winifred was dealt with 1940's and
50's male attitudes. Her determination got her through
both and created an admiration that afforded her an
almost hero status.
Winifred once described that determination as 'being
full of herself'. Perhaps. Yet, she was to prove that if
you are determined and take little notice of the nay say-
ers you can do anything ... and she did!
On returning to Perth Winifred was welcomed as
hero, the Mayor (Joe Totterdel) greeted her as did many
well-wishers. A magazine article of the day mentioned
that she 'had no more than one meal a day', perhaps all
that was needed for 'the blue-eyed, small-faced young
woman' who had 'a trim, well shaped figure, good legs
and wiry wrists'.
Less than three years later Winifred took on 'the lap',
riding a full circumference of the Australian continent,
albeit with her father, George.
Taking a clockwise direction they soon reached the
small town of Broome where George was derided for
allowing such a 'small girl' to take on such a danegrous
adventure.
The remainder of the 'outback' journey was 'straight-
forward' until reaching the civilisation of the east coast
TRAVERSE
where Winifred was made to be a celebrity of Kar-
dashian levels. All the way from Sydney to Perth she
was acosted by the media, George almost pushed aside.
Winifred went from riding around Australia to flying
around the country, taking part in the Ansett Around
Australia Air Race ... yes, she became a pilot of note af-
ter illness more or less prevented her from riding bikes.
Sadly, as we were putting the final touches on this
issue, we were made aware that Winifred had passed
away in her Mornington Peninsula (Victoria) respite
home, Winifred was aged 92.
Winifred touched many people, inspiring riders from
all over Australia and some from further afield. Jacqui
Furneaux (a contributor to Traverse), who also has great
exploits on a (Royal) Enfield Bullet said;
"I first heard of Winifred Wells about ten years
ago when a fellow Enfield-rider emailed me an old
press-cutting about her motorcycle ride from Perth to
Sydney on 26th December 1950 before protective cloth-
ing, satellite navigation or sealed roads.
"I was impressed and tried to contact her, eventually
tracking down her daughter’s telephone number. I rang
98