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the equinoxes.
Pushing onward, the winds stiffened as we bypassed Goulburn’ s War Memorial Tower. Built in 1925, the lighthouse-style monument honours local soldiers and offers sweeping views of the city, worth a visit on a calmer day. Instead, we pressed on through sandstone cottages and federation buildings that whispered of Goulburn’ s past wealth and importance as a regional hub.
Open fields stretched out before us, rolling hills buffeted by gusts that shoved our bikes sideways. Leaves scattered across the road as sheep grazed unbothered in the paddocks. At Pejar Dam, wind whipped white crests across the surface while waterfowl huddled in the reeds. Stocked with trout and bass, the dam beckons for a return trip in summer, fishing rod in hand.
Soon, the silhouettes of wind turbines appeared on the horizon. Australia’ s first wind farm was built here in 1998, and up close, the turbines’ scale and engineering left us in awe. Like many technologies, they divide opinion, but so once did magnets and electricity before people understood their promise.
The Finish Line in Crookwell By afternoon, we rolled into Crookwell, a town that balances the everyday with its own quirks. The Criterion Hotel, in the centre of town, became our rally point.
Inside, the main bar buzzed with chatter while friendly staff directed us to the dining area. Christine and I set up a table of raffle prizes, drawing locals in with curiosity and generosity.
Tickets were snapped up, and prizes found happy new homes. One winner, herself recently declared cancerfree after treatment, held her prize high with a smile that radiated more than luck— it radiated victory. For Christine, for me, for everyone in the room, it was a reminder of what this ride was about: hope, resilience, and the community that supports it.
Beyond the Patient— Caring for Carers
Often overlooked in the cancer journey are the carers. Research from Sydney University, led by Dr Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell, has uncovered just how heavy the burden can be on family members. High levels of anxiety and depression are common, as carers sacrifice their own wellbeing while supporting loved ones.
The CarersCanAdapt program, funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, is the first internet-delivered psychological therapy created specifically for carers. Its message is simple but profound: looking after yourself is not selfish, it’ s necessary. Because it’ s no good saving your partner only to collapse under the weight of your own unacknowledged stress.
TRAVERSE 102