Meet the Riders

Geoff Kennedy

Geoff Kennedy will be riding and running since he is Ride Director of the event and, as an enthusiastic rider, he will also be spending time in the saddle. Click here for Geoff's daily updates.

Karen & David Brown

Karen Brown and husband David from Healesville Rotary Club are both taking part in the Great Australian Bike Ride. David, a member of Healesville for over 20 years, has taken part in the District 9810 Ride to Conference for the past 8 years and Karen since 2004. On the Great Australian Bike Ride David is Stage Manager of Stage 3 from Melbourne to Sydney. David was heavily involved on mapping the route of the whole ride as well as surveying and fine-tuning the day segments for Stage 3. David & Karen are also involved on a club level with the Rotary Exchange Student programme and their progress will be watched by their nine Exchange sons and daughters in Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Mexico & Switzerland all of whom have taken part in the 9810 rides. A love of the great outdoors sees Karen and David four wheel driving, camping, house boating on Eildon weir, water skiing and wake boarding as well as bike riding.The Great Australian Bike Ride will be a challenge and they hope to do as much as possible both as Riders and working on the Support Team. See them on the road somewhere, some time.

Tom Brown

Tom Brown from Mission Beach in North Queensland turns 70 in January and is rather laid back about the ride. “It’s one of those things I’ve always wanted to do and to raise funds for mental health gives the Ride a greater sense of purpose” said the grandfather of nine. Tom has been cycling since he was a teenager competing in road races in the United Kingdom. He relocated to live in Western Australia in 1968 and was later inducted into the Rotary Club of Rockingham. He moved to Queensland 5 years ago and joined the Rotary Club of Mission Beach. In 2006 he undertook a 200 kilometre walk through WA’s harsh Pilbara region on what was described by American National Geographic as “the world’s most arduous Outback Survival Course open to civilians”. In the process Tom lost 10kg in 10 days. Tom’s entry in the Great Australian Bike Ride is attracting much interest and he aims to raise over $40,000 for Australian Rotary Health. Tom has lined up major sponsors for his ride. Netti Atom who are the Australian distributors of Scott bikes have supplied him with a Scott bike at cost, plus accessories and clothing. For the Netti and Scott websites go to www.netti.com.au or www.netti.com.au/Scott/default.aspx

John Farrugia

I come from Melton in Victoria. I am 61 years old and recently retired. I was attracted to the challenge of the Great Australian Bike Ride and the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Australian Rotary Health. I am a keen bike rider who enjoys cycling socially on the weekends. I have participated in events such as The Great Victorian Bike Ride (although quite a while ago). On the 21^st March 2009, I will attempt the longest ride of my life. Firstly stages 1 & 2 and then I hope to go on to complete stages 3, maybe 4 and then hopefully the whole ride. My aim is to bring together as many sponsors / donations as possible for Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. In the spirit of raising money for this great cause I encourage all readers to donate. During the ride I will aim to visit as many places and Rotary Clubs in Australia as possible advocating mental awareness nationally. I am currently working closely with Melton Rotary and Melton Valley Rotary to raise funds.

Roberta Gordon

I am passionate about raising funds for, and public awareness of, mental health and I have accepted the challenge of riding over 17,800km around Australia. My goal is to raise $40,000 plus. I am a sixty year old retired teacher/librarian, an experienced ex-triathlete, current lifesaver and an outback cyclist who rode 2,000km to Birdsville in 2006 with two others carrying all our food, water and camping equipment. My bike is my transport so I ride most days with a few longer, latte rides during the week mixing up the pace between 30 to 60kms. Combine that with my usual activities of yoga, pilates, swimming and kayaking will make a good base for the Great Australian Bike Ride. The emphasis in all my activities is enjoyment and usually sharing them with my friends. I wish I was riding now as I am looking forward to meeting fellow cyclists, helping them and meeting people along the way as I really loved each day of my last outback ride.

Gonny and John Rundell

Track our journey on: www.rotarnet.com.au/wantirna.
Gonny and John Rundell have been riding together for over 4 years. Gonny inspired her family to take up cycling through her participation and support of Rotary District 9180’s annual “Ride to Conference” for Australian Rotary Health. Gonny has set herself the challenge of riding the full 17,800 kms with John offering support by cycling a 10,000 km “over & back” ride. Gonny’s qualities of commitment, passion and inspiration are the underlying motivation for Team Rundell to set itself a target of raising $65,000. Gonny and John have been married for 36 years and have pursued an active life through sport, family holidays, community participation and career pursuits. Gonny still tap dances and regularly volunteers at the community emergency relief centre; whilst John remains a devout “petrol head” with a very soft spot for old Jaguars. They have 3 adult children and their first grandchild, Avah, arrived just over a year ago. (N.B. Gonny has hatched a devious plan to ensure that Avah doesn’t forget her “Oma” during the 7 months on the road).

Sally Tregenza

Photo & details to come.

Rebecca Tricker

Photo & details to come.

Mark Addis

Photo & Details to come.

Ross Andrewartha

Greetings from Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Great Australian Bike Ride provides me with a wonderful opportunity to realise two of my personal dreams - to see Australia by bike and undertake a worthwhile community fundraising event. My fundraising target is A$19,634.00 or $A2.00 per kilometre. I had a taste of combining riding and money raising while in Tasmania during the ABC Giving Tree Rides in 2003 & 04. Also as coach of the Solomon Islands Triathlon team, I was instrumental in raising A$15,000 to participate in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Both experiences proved to me how supportive Australians are of a ‘good cause’ like raising money for mental health research.
Raising awareness in Australia’s lifeblood ‘The Truckies’. A recent survey, commissioned by Australian Rotary Health, into the NSW transport industry revealed that truck drivers work excessive hours, have higher levels of depression and stress, which in turn increases the probability of accidents on our national roads. So during the ride I intend to raise awareness amongst the truckies about the mental health services available to them. These people are the 'lifeblood of Australia’ and we are all dependent on them being healthy on our national highways.
Visit Ross' blog for his updates here.

Geoff de Chaneet

I'm a retired, 1944-born member of the Rotary Club of Bunbury Leschenault. Having cycled spasmodically all my life, I took it up seriously seven years ago after retirement from distance running and now ride with the local cycle club. I have nominated to ride the Darwin to Perth leg of the GABR. I've previously done long rides such as the TDU participation ride but this will be the greatest challenge to date. The challenge is mental as much as physical, given the need to mount up day after day for 47 days. What an incredible challenge full circumnavigators are undertaking both in riding and in fund raising and I'll do my best to support them. In a nutshell, the ride offers me a great opportunity to combine a passion for riding with a desire to try long-distance touring in a beautiful part of Australia on a really testing ride while supporting ARH and doing it all with fellow Rotarians - what could be better? I'll be visiting local Rotary Clubs in District 9460 with the aim of raising funds for ARH by seeking per kilometre sponsorships from Rotarians (and others). My initial target is a promised $1 per km ridden for the 4600 km.

Michael Jobe

This is a monumental Rotary event and I’m so happy to be part of it . Bike riding is my greatest pleasure and I have done some long hard rides in outback Australia, usually plodding along at the back of the field far from the testosterone clouds. So I guess that’s where I’ll happily be found most of the time from Darwin to Perth. I still work as a self employed consultant in the human services industry and am also involved in a voluntary capacity in cancer support groups . I’m a 62 year old cancer survivor, who, after significant surgery 9 and then again 4 years ago decided to always take on any new challenges that seemed exciting, particularly challenges on the road bike or mountain bike. I really enjoy the long rides, particularly when someone else carries all the gear during the day and organises dinner and drinks at night! I’ve been a member of the Rotary Club of Irymple (in Mildura, Victoria) for over 18 years. Our club has had a dedicated bike riding team (Rotary Revolution ) for 14 years and we ride every Sunday and additionally in all the local long distance relay events raising money for charity and just enjoying the fellowship. I’ll be proudly carrying the flag for our riding team and my great club which is supporting me. I’m no stranger to mental health issues either, as my mother had significant mental illness almost all of my life. So this event which involves raising funds for Australian Rotary Health effectively for research into mental health and riding for 4 or 5 hours a day for a challenging 47 days and taking time away from my modest consulting business and seeing the only part of Australia I have never seen before seems to sit very well with me. Roll on July !!.

Jon Jureidini

Photo & details to come.

Bernard Koszegi

Photo & details to come.

Russell Marnock

I have been really impressed with the medical research work that is supported by ARH, particularly the research to improve the viability and availability of donor organs for transplant. Having worked in a research area I know how much leverage for good can be obtained with supporting funds such as ARH provides. The Bike ride is a great opportunity to do someting healthy, enjoyable and personally challenging while raising these funds.

Malcolm Nicholson

I am a member of the Katoomba Rotary Club in the Blue Mountains and have completed Stages 2 and 3 of the Great Australian Bike Ride from Hobart to Sydney.

I enjoyed it so much that I have now booked to ride part of Stage 7, riding the 2,500 kilometres from Darwin to Port Hedland. It will great to rejoin this group of fantastic people, both riders and support volunteers and to renew the friendships I made on the earlier Stages.

The Australian Rotary Health Fund Directors are to be congratulated for coming up with the idea and Geoff Kennedy and his crew on the road for making it happen.

Richard Bentley

Richard is a charter member of the Walkerville Rotary Club- celebrating 20 years of Rotary Service this year. He came to South Australia from Queensland over 30 years ago with a bicycle which had been purchased and ridden from Toowoomba to Melbourne during a Christmas holiday break. This experience gives Richard confidence that despite the intervening 30 years, Eucla to Adelaide should be a ride in the park. He just might be in for a big surprise.

With children growing up he suddenly found himself reliant on public transport to get to work as daughters were now driving the car. So the old bike came out of the shed and reliably transported Richard to his work for 4 years. Then his boss decided he should be rewarded with a new bike. Today he continues to ride to work and to Rotary meetings on this marginally superior form of transport.

Richard pictured getting some tips from young Harry on riding a LikeaBike as he begins training for his September Ride.

Max Bryant

I have been a member of Cairns Mulgrave Rotary Club for 23 years. I am a keen advocate of making people knowledgeable about mental illness and depression and the affect its debilitating condition has, which can strike anyone at any time. Campaigning to raise funds and increase awareness for such a worthy cause is well worthwhile as it affects so many. I have experienced the problems at first hand through dealings with adolescents in the community who have been dealing with drug abuse which has in turn led to mental health and depression problems. With a love of the outdoors I am reasonably fit, and looking forward to the personal challenge. I am keen to meet fellow riders on the experience that the Great Bike Ride has to offer.

Rodney Burgess

Photo and details to come.

Phil Cousins

Photo & details to come.

Tim Crowley

Photo & details to come.

Kate Desborough

Photo & details to come.

Simon House

Photo & details to come.

Rod Davies

Day Rider

Stuart Monger

Geelong to Melbourne

Richard Herbert

Photo & Details to come.

Ray Hutchinson

I'm from Auburn, SA and have been riding to raise money for the St Andrews Hospital and the Amy Gillett Foundation. The Great Australian Bike Ride provides me with the oppotunity to raise money for Mental Health issues.

Mark Matthew

Hello Superstars,
I am Mark Matthew, keen cyclist and member of Bike SA. My reason for joining in is to promote awareness of mental health issues, as both my mother and maternal grandmother both suicided aged 67, and my sister has both mental and physical disabilities. My maternal grandfather died of medical complications resulting from an "accident" he had whilst suffering deep depression. I am a supporter of MOSH (Minimisation of Suicide Harm) Australia http://www.moshaustralia.org.au/, and the Living Beyond Suicide program
http://www.anglicare-sa.org.au/services/lbs.html. Given my family history, I always carry with me the Lifeline and beyondblue contact cards.

Peter Mayer

I love cycling and think this is a great way to raise funds and awareness for the Australian Rotary Health Foundation.

It is good to see Rotary promoting more active fundraising activities which promote health and friendship as well as significant team work in organising such a major event. I am currently President of the Rotary Club of Morialta and my club has given me leave to take part in the final stage of this great ride from Adelaide to Melbourne.

Since retiring from a business in electronics I have helped with Morialta's maternal health project in East Timor, IMOG as well as serving on Orienteering and Athletics boards. I keep fit with mountain bike orienteering and road bike events as well snow skiing and scuba diving.

Stewart McDonald

Just this week, a family in Geelong lost their father to suicide brought about by mental illness. Participating in the GABR will be a tangible way of helping. Combining this with cycling is a bonus. Thank you to Dick White and Sheree Clark and the rest of the team for organising such a wonderful event. Let's get behind the team and support their efforts. Stewart McDonald, Vice President - Rotary Club of Highton Kardinia Inc.

Mark Melnyk

As a colleague of Stewart (Slim) McDonald, I had no choice but to partake in this brilliant Rotary Health event.

I am riding as a tribute to my late uncle, Sylvester Stangel. My uncle suffered from polio and meningitis as a child, and later depression as a young adult due to these diseases. Sylvester was a keen cyclist, and gifted in sprints and hill climbs in the Slovenian Alps. Sadly, Sylvester committed suicide at the young age of 28.

I have always been passionate about the awareness of mental health, and have always been supportive of any cause that assists people that are in need.

I am also a keen cyclist, and cycle to work on my mountain bike over the warmer months, and also do the café latte/lycra rides from Geelong to Moriac or Ocean Grove on the road bike on weekends.

Nothing beats the fresh air, the scenery, the aromas of each town, catching up with mates when you go for a bike ride. Let’s all work together and get behind Rotary, to help promote Mental Health awareness. Keep on 2 wheels.

Pete McNally

Photo and details to come

Peter Miskelly

Photo & details to come.

Maurice Owen

Photo & Details to come.

Peter Sexton

I am a member of the Cairns Mulgrave Rotary Club which was founded in 1983, currently has 38 members and meets on Friday for lunch. Fellow club member Brian White and I will represent our club on the first two stages from Melbourne to Hobart and back. Until a few years ago I was unaware of the devastating effect depression and other mental illnesses can have on perfectly healthy people. I was astounded to find how common the condition is and how many people in the community are affected in one way or another. Assisting Australian Rotary Health to increase the awareness of mental illness as the Ride travels round Australia will make suffering the big hills and cold that Tasmania has on offer well worthwhile. I just wish I had the time to go all the way around.

Deborah Treseder

Photo and details to come.

Martin Wilkinson

I'm born and bred in North Queensland where the weather in May when the GABR comes through will be beautiful one day and perfect the next. The Rotary Club of Townsville Daybreak invited me to join in 2005. Since then I have very much enjoyed the fellowship and opportunity to give something back to my local community. I found out about the GABR when researching another great ride in North Queensland, the Children's Cancer Institute Townsville to Cairns Charity ride. Unfortunately for me, the middle night of that ride is my daughter's 16th Birthday, so I'll be at home for that milestone, probably doing what I'm doing in the photo! The GABR brings not only the chance to do something I've never done before in riding from Proserpine to Townsville, and then out to Charters Towers, but also to rally the resources of our many local Rotary clubs to raise awareness of the GABR and the great cause of research into mental illness, being supported by Australian Rotary Health.

Cathy Wright

Photo & Details to come.

Roz Townsend

Travelling through the top end of Australia has always been a long held dream of mine. As a child my father would tell us stories of his role in mapping the top end as part of his contribution in the army to the war effort. There were only minimal maps of northern Australia during WW2. This is also my chance to have an adventure in a part of the world that is new to me and to share it with my husband Iain who is part of the support team. My philosophy of life is very much akin to my bike riding - “for every uphill there is a down hill and life would be pretty boring if it were only flat!”

I look forward to the camaraderie of the trip and the chance raise awareness of mental health issues.

Kay Peacock

Photo and details to come

Russell Green

In September 2008 I decided that the body needed some exercise, so I bought a bike. Six months later and 10kg lighter I’m onto my second bike. I read about the Great Australian Bike Ride. What a great opportunity to raise some funds for such a worthwhile cause as Australian Rotary Health and in particular for research into mental health. There seem to be so many troubles in our community that emanate from mental health problems. But the ride is a two edged sword, in that it affords me the opportunity to not only raise funds, but to also develop my own healthy lifestyle and achieve something that I would never have considered at the age of 65..... a bike ride from Adelaide to Melbourne. I’m currently President-Elect of the Rotary Club of North Adelaide (D9500) and my club has got behind me and will sponsor my ride as well as raise individual sponsorship for the distance. It’s currently six months until the tour reaches Adelaide, when I can join them on the final stage.....can’t wait!

Fred Grundy

I am 61 years of age and started cycling 5 years ago and partner of Yvonne Moon a member of the Rotary Club of Williamstown (District 9800). I am pleased to be riding to support Mental Health.

This is a great opportunity to raise awareness to Mental Illness affecting many in the community. I have previousley participated in the Murray to Moyne bike ride for the last 4 years to raise money for RoCan (Ovarian Cancer Research). I have participated in several events Around the Bay, the Amy Gillett Foundation, also the Otway Classic. I enjoy cycling when time permits and look forward to supporting this great event.

Angus Hender

I am a member of Bicycle S.A. and have been riding since 2006 in various day & multi day events. I’m also a Member of Scouts Australia SA Branch working at Woodhouse as an activity leader. I have participated in the Mutual Community Challenge Tour in 2007 to 2009, the last tour was 155km Adelaide to Angaston (Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under Friday 23 January 2009). I enjoyed doing the Coast to Coast ride from Glenelg to Victor Harbour which was 120km on 1 March 2009. As part of my training I’ll also be doing part of the bi-annual Bicycle S.A run Outback Odyssey in May. This is a 15 day ride on the Mawson Trail from Adelaide to Blinman in the Flinders Rangers. I will be doing the mini Mawson Two from Burra to Melrose.

Douglas Irvin

I am a member of Cairns-Earlville Rotary Club. This will be the first major project since retiring recently. I look forward to the challenge of the ride and hope to raise money and awareness of the problems of mental health.

Tony Jorm

I am riding from Adelaide to Melbourne together with my wife Betty Kitchener. We are asking researchers who have received funding from Australian Rotary Health to sponsor us. Australian Rotary Health is the biggest non-government funder of mental illness research in Australia. The money that funds the grants, post-docs and PhD scholarships has come from the pockets of generous Rotarians over many years. We are now asking researchers to give something back to Australian Rotary Health so that more research can be funded in the future. The ARH can fund less than 20% of the applications made. Help to do something about making more money available by making a donation. After consultation with some researcher colleagues, I suggest the following as a guide to an appropriate donation from someone who has benefited from Australian Rotary Health funding in the past. Recipients of a Project Grant might donate $500-$1000. Recipients of a Post-Doc or PhD scholarship: $100-$200. All donations are tax deductible, so you get nearly half of it back on your tax return. To sponsor Betty and me, go to the blue Sponsor a Rider button on the website and look for our names in the Select Rider box.

Betty Kitchener

I am riding from Adelaide to Melbourne together with my husband Tony Jorm. We are asking researchers who have received funding from ARH to sponsor us. I have been a recipient of Australian Rotary Health grant funding which allowed us to develop consensus guidelines for how a member of the public can provide first aid to someone in a mental health crisis situation. As both a mental health consumer and researcher, I want to see more mental illness research funded, so I am making a personal donation of $5000. I ask other beneficiaries of Australian Rotary Health grants to give their support as well. To sponsor Tony and me, go to the blue Sponsor a Rider button on the website and look for our names in the Select Rider box.

Jana Kelly-Harradence

Photo and details to come

Anne Newman

Photo and details to come

Paul Overton

Paul is secretary of the Rotary Club of Kingaroy in Queensland and will be riding on Stage Five from Brisbane to Townsville and with a bit of luck in extra fundraising may go on to Darwin. Paul has been bike riding for many years in long rides and charity events and has even started an event locally to support cancer research. For Paul, to be taking part in the Great Australian Bike Ride for Australian Rotary Health is to make dreams real. He is looking forward to meeting fellow Rotarians and raising funds for ARH to increase awareness of mental illness.

Anne Rawson

Why do I want to be part of the great Australian bike Ride? I have completed quite a few of the NSW big bike rides and last year rode around Ireland on an unsupported ride with a few friends. I enjoy riding around different parts of Australia as when you ride you see more of the country and meet loads of interesting people. All the rides I have been on have been for charity, hence everyone wins. This ride is raising awareness for mental health and I feel blessed that I have healthy children and grandchildren and for this I am eternally grateful.

Michael Sawyer

Michael's message is simple: I’m riding to help people with mental illness

When Michael is not chairing the Research Committee or the Evaluation Committee of Australian Rotary Health he is Head of the the Research and Evaluation Unit, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide and Professor, Discipline of Paediatrics at the University of Adelaide

Ray Stanford

After riding bikes every day whilst at school, including to school and back home (16 kms) I had a break for about 45 years. I decided to try mountain bikes and bought a Dunlop at Woolworths for $200. This bike is still going strong after 5000 mostly rough kilometres. Had much fun riding with Dubbo BUGS every Sunday morning for several years.

Now retired and living in Katoomba and last year bought a touring bike and went on the Great Escapade from the NSW Tablelands to the Hunter Region.

Currently clock up plenty of kilometres with GABR participant Malcolm Nicholson and ride in charity events e.g. Woodford to Glenbrook Classic, when available.

Anthony Caruana

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Ross River, Townsville. I am self employed including being an Independent Distributor for Xango. I was motivated to tackle Stage 6 of the Ride as my wife Chris and I were both dealing with our own mental health issues and our Rotary Club is a major supporter of Youth mental health. Chris had been battling ovarian cancer for two years and at the time of my registration she had only weeks to live. Chris passed away on 15^th January 09 and we had been married for 37 years.
On arrival in Darwin I intend to remain for a few weeks to research some of Chris’ indigenous family background. I worked for 10 years at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane which housed three wards for mental patients. Each ward managed different levels of mental illness. Cycling is one form of fitness activity I have retained since a young boy. My last big fund raising ride was in 2000 and was on behalf of PBF. The ride was across the Simpson Desert – Purni Bore to Birdsville.

John Barber

Photo and details to come.

Mark Blomkamp

I have a personal stake in this particular event. I was made redundant … it affected me in lots of different ways, created some anxiety and even some depression, and anger too. I used a technique called Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and psychotherapy. It helped me to identify the negative thoughts I was experiencing, and to reframe them when I caught myself myself doing it. I had to get into a positive mindset, and prepare myself for new challenges. One of my goals is to raise at least $40,000.00 before the start of the Great Australian Bike Ride. From 9 to 22 May 2009, I will join others to help raise awareness of, and support for, mental illness by riding from Brisbane to Townsville in the Great Australian Bike Ride. Australian Rotary Health supports healthy minds, bodies and communities through research, awareness and education. By making a donation, you are supporting one of Australia’s largest independent providers of health research funds.

Jim Brownett

I really like riding my bike and helping people. I am a professional photographer, lecturer and radio presenter.

For more information go to my website at www.jimbrownett.com.au or contact me on jimbrownett@gmail.com

Bernie Caffery

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Dalby and since first hearing about the GABR I have thought what a great idea and I've got to give it a go. I've been inspired by our enthusiastic, true veterans Geoffery Hawkins and Tom Brown and I'm looking forward to riding with themon the Brisbane to Townsville stage. I am keen to raise money for Australian Rotary Health and promote the health benefits of physical activity. Cycling is an excellent fitness sport. There was no obesity crisis decades ago! Dalby Rotary and community are giving fellow rider Dick Heiler and myself great support, so please join us on the ride or support Australian Rotary Health with a donation.

Mike Campbell

I am a recreational rider and Friend of the Rotary Club of Samford Valley, riding from Brisbane - Nambour to raise awareness of and funds for research into mental illness. The ride is dedicated to my late brother Mark.

Neil Dawson

I am a Past President of The Rotary Club of Pambula (NSW) (2007-08) and also a passionate cyclist. I have been riding bicycles ever since I can remember and competed successfully as a schoolboy. In more recent years I have participated in many Audax events including the "Sea to Summit" from the coast to the top of Mt Kosziusko and the "Alpine Challenge". I have participated in the Around The Bay in a Day ride in Melbourne on 6 occasions. When I first heard about this ride, I was very keen to participate. Firstly, because I believe the work ARH does is extremely worthy of support and secondly, my ride will be paying a tribute on behalf of my Club to Ian Scott - the founder of the Fund who was a former member of my Club. I am riding from Nerang to Bundaberg which coincides with a short break in Queensland. I am looking forward to meeting other like minded Rotarians and cyclists."

Mike Donnelly

I’m a 1943 ”spring” drop, and have been bike riding for only 7 or 8 years. I’m a member of the Mooloolaba Rotary Club on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland and I’m riding from Brisbane to Townsville so the challenges are many! I firmly believe that Mental Health has been a hidden illness for far too long and I’m hoping to have a positive impact by raising funds to help treat, and raise awareness of, the conditions that cause so much suffering to the individuals, their families and friends.

Gary Ehsman

Gary Ehsman, 48 of Buderim has been cycling for the past 6 months and is taking up the challenge to ride from Brisbane to Townsville in stage 5 of the Australian Rotary Health “Great Australian Bike Ride”.Gary has been training together with Mike Donnelly and Gerry Morris from the Sunshine Coast to prepare for the ride to support the awareness of, and raise funds for mental health. Gary is Manager, Caravan & Projects, with Sunshine Coast Regional Council. He is married to Sharon and has 3 daughters.

Jorja Elsegood

Photo & details to come.

Graeme Sargent

I am President of the Rotary Club of Hervey Bay and a Paul Harris Fellow. I have two reasons for entering the Ride. The first is to support Australian Rotary Health and the second is to emulate my grandfather's achievements as a road cyclist in the early 1900's. Henry William Sargent competed in four Warrnambool to Melbourne road races between 1905 and 1910, finishing 6th in 1906 and 3rd in 1908. I will be riding the Brisbane to Townsville stage with fellow Club Rotarian David Jurss.

Robert Ephraims & Team

Pictured from left: Robert Ephraims, Sue Fa'atau, Ian Petherick, Jaidon Ephraims
Robert Ephraims is Principal/Auctioneer of Century 21 Wide Bay Realty and a member of Bundaberg Sunrise Rotary Club since 1996 with 11 years of 100% attendance. Aged 56 Robert is an avid bike rider, golfer, Member of I.F.C.R (International Fellowship of Cricketing Rotarians, toured New Zealand and Sri Lanka) and has participated in many short rides including the ‘City to Coast’ Bundaberg four years running. Robert has always dreamt of riding from Brisbane to Bundaberg but now that it is almost a reality, trepidation is setting in! His fiancée, Sue Fa'atau, who is an extremely fit, former fitness camp supervisor/hiker and gym instructor, and his son Jaidon (19), who has been training extensively for the ride will be joining Robert. Other Bundaberg Sunrise Rotarians along for the ride are, Ian ‘Mr Cricket’ Petherick, Jason Powning and Simon Burgess. We appeal to all cricket lovers and others to sponsor us!

Peter Griffin

I am President of the Mooloolaba Rotary Club and enjoy life on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. I took up bike riding and racing about 5 or 6 years ago but soccer has been my sporting priority for the last couple of years. Riding from Brisbane to Townsville will be quite a challenge and I am looking forward to it! Mackay is my home town and my paremts and one of my sisters still live there so I'm hoping for a warm welcome there. Australian Rotary health is a favourite charity of our club and of mine. I think it does great work, particularly in funding research into mental health.

Dick Heiler

Details to come

David Jurss

I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Hervey Bay for over 20 years, a past president and Paul Harris fellow. I started cycling for the sake of my own health about 6 years ago and since then have completed 2 NSW Big Rides, 1 Bicycle Qld Ride and 2 Wilson HTM 100 klm Brisbane to Gold Coast rides. I am President of the local Bicycle Users Group which promotes cycling through regular social rides; week-end trips in Wide Bay area; workshops and advocacy for better cycle ways, including preliminary investigative work towards future re-construction of the old Rail Trail between Hervey Bay and Colton for use by cyclists, walkers and horseriders.

I am a member of the Fraser Coast Cycle Club which encourages young people to enter the sport through a full-year program of road and track racing which has seen many Maryborough and District champions go on to State and National titles. I cannot think of a better way of raising money for research into Mental Health and other health projects than riding from Brisbane to Townsville with my fellow Rotarians. I am being supported by my Rotary club and the Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group.

Gerry Morris

Hello There and thank you for taking the time to visit my page. It’s a honour to be part of this amazing challenge as it is certainly different to anything I have ever done before, I’m totally out of my comfort zone and the thought of riding 1,700 kilometres in two weeks is a bit daunting to say the least. My good friend and cycling buddy Mike Donnelly from the Mooloolaba Rotary Club has a lot to answer for as it was he who invited me for a social bike ride some 7-8 months ago and got me hooked on this cycling thing. Life has changed as I knew it and I now find myself getting up at crazy hours of the morning to go riding. But it has been a blast and I thank Mike for getting me involved and I’m returning the favour by joining with him and Gary Ehsman to raise as much money and awareness as possible for Mental Health which can have such an impact on the individual and the families involved. I appreciate that many people have dug deep into their pockets these past few months to help Flood & Bushfire victims but if you can manage to dig a little deeper to sponsor me on this ride it will be very much appreciated. Please just follow the links on the bottom of this page and follow the link to sponsor a rider. Thank you very much for your support. Cheers, Gerry Morris

Ian Petherick

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Bundaberg Sunrise which has always supported Australian Rotary Health. At a personal level I have actively followed the work of Rotary Health through being a pharmacist, now retired and enjoying the life of a locum. Apart from my school days, I have only cycled over the last 2 years for recreation and to lose weight. This Brisbane to Townsville leg will be a personal challenge which I believe I can achieve. Mental health research will benefit regardless of my fitness level! I am still actively involved in cricket at Club level in Bundaberg, and in IFCR – the International Fellowship of Cricketing Rotarians. I am the immediate Past President of IFCR in Australia. An Australian Rotary Cricket Festival was held in Bundaberg in October 2008. Sixteen teams attended, with members coming from all mainland States and from New Zealand and India. During this Festival, funds were raised for Australian Rotary Health by raffling an Adam Gilchrist autographed bat and auctioning a limited edition whisky decanter. As well, the AMP Foundation donated $20,000. Our members were overwhelmed by the magnitude of this generosity. Additional funds raised at the Festival will be sent via The Great Australian Bike Ride.Three other members of Bundaberg Sunrise and IFCR, Simon Burgess, Robert Ephraims and Jason Powning, are riding part of the Brisbane to Townsville leg. I appeal to IFCR members, Rotarians and friends to sponsor me or one of the other three, or all of us as IFCR members, to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health.

Jason Powning

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Albin Swahn

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Anne Shanks

I recently joined Warners Bay Rotary Club and met DES LAWSON at one of our meetings. He was very excited about the BEST Stage of the Great Australian Bike Ride as he was organising it to be full of FUN. So I got myself organised into training and collecting up gear such as a lighter bike... I am representing Warners Bay Rotary Club who has put some money in to sponsor me. Thanks also to my friends who are sponsoring me per KM. I work for Newcastle University in Newcastle just north of Sydney in IT Services as a Systems Administrator in the Database administration team. I have been using my GIANT Mountain bike to ride to work and to commute whenever possible and have been doing some longer rides with friends plus our club's LOOP THE LAKE 85 Km fundraiser. In 1980 I cycled the South Island of New Zealand on a 10-speed road bike with my husband. Carrying Tent, Food and clothing on the bike. So that was > 100KM per day over 3 weeks. It was hilly, it was windy, it was also cold so hopefully this will be a dream ride. I come from New Zealand and have never seen any of the Stage 5 countryside. I have been training by working on all areas of fitness, Gym, running, swimming and cycling. Most of the cycle training has been on the mountain bike. I ride from my house along a beautiful track over a big hill to a beautiful beach most mornings before work. So 25 KM with a big hill, plus 14KM to get to and from work.... We need as much money as we can get for research into Mental Healthespecially to help young people whose lives could be greatly improved with the right help.

Geoff Voigt

I am 56 and a member of the Rotary Club of Samford Valley, a club with a proud record of support of, and involvement in Australian Rotary Health. We are very fortunate in Brisbane to have an extensive network of bikeways and bikelanes and what better way is there to exercise and enjoy the outdoors than to ride a bike. I have taken up riding fairly recently and will only be riding one leg from Brisbane to Nambour, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to do my bit for mental health research and the ARH.

Christian Jorgensen

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Bjorn Ingmanson

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Brendon Hyde

Brendon has designed hundreds of bridges working in Australia and from Asia to Africa. A keen sportsman he competes regularly in distance athletics, swimming, triathlon, kayak, cycling and cross country skiing events – recently gaining a Worldloppet Master gold medal. Brendon is enthusiastic to take part in the challenging Tasmanian section of this worthwhile Rotary Ride and hopes that plenty of coffee breaks along the way will get him through the hilly sections. As a cancer survivor he allows time to smell the flowers, look at the scenery and talk to anyone.

Brett Cottee

I am a Past President of the Rotary Club of Wollondilly North in NSW. In the fading months of my presidency our President Nominee Stuart Dench came back from district assembly with news of the Great Australian Bike Ride. Stuart then put the idea to the club to ‘get rid of me’ in some remote parts of Australia for a couple of weeks. I challenged Stuart and the club that fund raising for Australian Rotary Health was the reason for the ride and I would ride anywhere for that cause. I think Stuart is still waiting for me to blink. In the mean time the club's board and members have got behind the idea and are working on some fund raising projects and chasing up sponsors. I thank my wife and son for allowing me to take part in the first three stages.I am a club cyclist with Penrith Cycling Club, I have been racing for four years and look forward to the challenges this ride will bring our way. Riding with 50 other riders for fun and funds in a supportive way.

Brian White

Brian, from the Cairns Mulgrave Rotary Club, is joining fellow club member Peter Sexton on the first two stages of the ride from Melbourne to Hobart and return. Brian and Peter are now actively training for the ride and also seeking sponsorships so that between them they can raise as much money as possible for Australian Rotary Health and its campaign to raise awareness of mental illness issues and to support ongoing research. As a former Tasmanian resident, Brian is looking forward to experiencing again the varied weather conditions and challenging hills for which the Island State is famous.

Chris Butler

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Hans Witlox

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Peter McBride

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Cheryl Symons

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Adrian Leenaerts

I am riding Stage One and Two as a tribute to my brother-in-law, Paul McManus, a former member of the Boronia Rotary Club (in the yellow jersey in the photo). Paul introduced me to the Rotary Rides for Research and after riding in the 2007 and 2008 rides, we were looking forward to cycling in the Great Australian Bike Ride. Paul was diagnosed with advanced myeloma in August last year and after a protracted battle died suddenly on Australia Day. For Paul’s service his family requested that people donate to the Myeloma Foundation rather than send flowers. I was moved to re-enter the Great Australian Bike Ride by their initiative, the persuasive requests of my team mates, and the fact that the money raised will be used to assist people suffering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Sue-Anne Mitchell

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Eddie Post

Since joining the Rotary Club of Boronia in 1995 I have enjoyed nine rides to our Rotary Conference. Each ride has had its challenges, but if you listen to our leader ("Trust Me" Henry) the terrain is all level or only slightly undulating. This year I have been told it is on average all down hill. Yes we start at High Tide and finish at Low Tide. (Why do I believe him?). On every ride I have enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie whilst raising funds for a fantastic organisation. We will all be aware of the need for a mental health program especially after the horrific bush fires that have recently taken so many lives and livelihoods. I only wish I could do more than just Stage One of the Great Australian Bike Ride. Please give generously in your support for Australian Rotary Health.

Andrew Narayan

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Geoffrey Hawkins

Geoff is from Blayney, NSW, and will be in his eighty-first year when the Ride starts. He has had a passion for cycling since his first race aged fifteen in Sydney where he competed against some of the cycling legends of the 1940’s and 50’s. Due to work commitments and family responsibilities he chose to put his passion for cycling to one side. When he returned to Blayney fifteen years ago he took up cycling again as a way to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Local cycle shop owner Greg Bell convinced him to take up racing again at the ripe old age of 76 and Geoff is now an active member of the Bathurst Cycling Club competing regularly in the local race scene with plans to compete in the World Masters Games in Sydney in late 2009. Geoffrey is a remarkable man, full of enthusiasm for life with the mental toughness and a physical fitness level which will give him every chance to complete the daunting task of cycling around Australia. Should Geoffrey do so, he will break the previous record for the oldest person to circumnavigate Australia on a bicycle by some seven years.

Daryl Mitchell

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Glen Tippett

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Graeme Moorfoot

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Helen Riethof

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Helen Wilkie

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Ian Donald

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Ken Barrett

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Boronia in Victoria & look foward again this year, to raising sponsorship funds for Australian Rotary Health. Having ridden on the District 9810 Ride to Conference for 6 years, I am looking forward to riding in Stage One of the Great Australian Bike Ride as the one ride I missed in recent years was the East Coast of Tasmania. Our esteemed Stage Manager, Rob (Trust Me) Henry, assures me the west coast ride will involve only "minor undulations" as it is all flat on the map.

Jessica Frank

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Joan Whitaker

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John Shaw

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Kathy Every

Kathy is back on the bike for a long ride after 19 years ‘rest’. Yes! It was 1990 when she did her last Great Victoria Bike Ride. She was inspired a few years ago by the Rotary District’s Ride to Conference in Adelaide, where she met a lady of 76 years who had done quite a few rides. It sounded like a challenge, good fun and fellowship and Kathy thought: “If this wonderful person can do it, why can’t I?” The seed was sown. This year with the offer of beautiful Tasmania to discover – Kathy loves discovering new places - and the chance to raise funds to assist in an area she is passionate about helping, mental health and well-being - her mind was made up. Kathy believes Australian Rotary Health’s commitment to mental health via Research, Education and Awareness will assist the people of this country, who are its greatest asset. The statistics of 1 in 5 Australians affected by some form of mental illness, impacts strongly on them and those around them, including children. The ripple affect goes out to communities. Kathy believes that if we can improve this situation, it will benefit a lot of people and Australia.

Katrin Heidgin

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Jacques Olivier

I live in Bendigo, Victoria’s most beautiful regional city. I bought my first bicycle ten years ago to improve my general fitness and health and I have never stopped cycling since! I joined Rotary three years ago and when I first read about this fund raising opportunity, I decided I wanted to be part of it. I joined Stages 1 & 2 from Melbourne, around Tasmania and back to Healesville.

It was the best cycling experience I ever had. The company and encouragement from the other riders helped me to overcome some issues I had about my capabilities.

The support team has done an amazing job and I encourage every cyclist to get involved with this event and join in any of the future stages. This is an experience of a lifetime, while raising funds for a very importand cause. I hope to join the event again in Adelaide.

I motivate all individuals and businesses to get involved and sponsor a rider. Thank you to my sponsors, West Cape Howe Wines of Denmark in WA and Moronis Bike Shop in Bendigo.

Lara Santos

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Leigh Elsey

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Leo Griffiths

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Linnea Oberg

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Louisa Carvallo

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Mehmut Kutuk

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Milan Nedomacki

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Neil Stitt

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Neville Morey

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Nicole Osner

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Noel & Gail Jenkin

As you can see from the photo Gail and Noel enjoy ice-cream, especially after a long bike ride. Being friends of Rotarians we have thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and adventurous experience of riding the last 8 yearly Rides to Conference with District 9810 to raise funds for Australian Rotary Heath of which mental health is a major focus. This year we are taking on Stages 1 and 2 of the ride around Australia to promote Mental Health awareness and Australian Rotary Health. Noel’s Mum suffers with Alzheimer’s in a caring home. Her loving husband visits every day to feed her at meal times. We will be riding for her and many others. Please support us on this worthy cause with your sponsorship. Go to the bottom of this website page, click on the “Sponsor a Rider” button, select our names and complete the on-line card payment form which will let us know of your kind donations. If you would like to contact us directly to sponsor please do so via email to ngjenkin@optusnet.com.au. Yes, some say we are “MAD” but we say we are “Making A Difference”

Peter Brown

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Ralph Lowe

As a work colleague of Rob (Trust Me) Henry I’ve probably heard that scary phrase even more often than the Boronia Rotary Club members. Nonetheless the opportunity to ride the west coast of Tasmania and help raise some funds for charity was too good an opportunity to pass up. As a beach road weekend warrior the hills will be a challenge but provided the snow holds off it should be great fun and a week off work has got to be a good thing no matter what you're doing. (And yes it’s the daggy photo off my CV as it’s the only one I have at work)

Petra Kantola

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Rob Henry

Rob (Trust Me) Henry - Like many of the other riders, I am also passionate about Australian Rotary Health and the fantastic opportunity it provides for talented young Australian researchers to obtain funds to study their innovative ideas.
I am a member of the RC of Boronia (Vic) and I took up bike riding to get fit in 1992 and to ride to my first District conference in Canberra. I have been riding since then with a great group that enjoys the riding and a coffee stop. In 1993 I took over the mantle as one of the conveners for these annual conference rides which raise money for ARH. Since then I have been endeavouring to get all districts to ride to their conferences for ARH. This year I have been assisting with the organisation of the GABR . Stage One will be a great ride with some gentle undulations and slight inclines, but as we start at the coast and finish at the coast it is obvious that it averages out as flat , so we will all go well and a great time is promised.

Robyn Johnson

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Roger & Judy Eastwood

This is Roger and Judy trekking in Vietnam. They have enjoyed many "flat" Rides to Conference in aid of Australian Rotary Health and look forward to the flat West coast of Tassie (!!) and joining the first leg of the ride around Australia .

Selina Helfenstein

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Sophie Lehner

I am a Rotary Exchange Student from Gumunden in Austria. I arrived in Australia in July for a 12 month stay, hosted by the Rotary Club of Healesville (VIC). I am staying with David & Karen Brown who are getting me fit for Stage 1 from Melbourne to Hobart and District 9810's Conference. I am enjoying my stay here and a hot Christmas is a first for me. I have been wakeboarding on Eildon Weir and surfing at Phillip Island which are two activities I can't do at home. I hope to see and do many more things in Australia during my stay and I am also raising money for a Shelterbox and hope to be able to purchase one before I leave for home in July 2009.

Stephen Spiers

I'm looking forward to being involved as part of this great event. I got hooked after joining last year’s District 9810 Ride to Conference. It is a great way to slow life down for a while, have a great time and help to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health, a great charitable organisation.

Teruo Aiko

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Chris Dallen

Chris is riding the Sydney–Brisbane stage of the Ride. The thirty-one year old teacher, the youngest member of his Club, is committed to raising money for Australian Rotary Health. While Chris has the strong support of his Penrith Valley Club, the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, known for its Glenbrook Garden Gnome Convention on Australia Day, is also sponsoring Chris. They are giving $1,000 - provided he carries a gnome with him on the Ride! It’s a good thing the gnome is tiny, as Chris has positioned it on the handlebar of his bike.

John Dover

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Joy Graydon

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Bob Missingham

Having walked the Kokoda Track last year I was looking for a new challenge. The idea to help Rotary raise money for Health Research through a bike ride interested me and I therefore convinced my sister to ride with me from Sydney to Brisbane. I am looking forward to participating in such a great event. My Rotary Club in Murwillumbah has promised support and I hope that other friends will help me raise more funds for this worthy cause.

Noel Watt

When I retired over 5 years ago I started cycling after a 40 year break. I am now a passionate cyclist and have ridden over 35,000km over the 5 years including a ride following part of the Tour de France for 17 days.

As a member of the Rotary Club of West Wollongong, New South Wales (Past President and Paul Harris Fellow) for the last 31 rewarding years and a cycling Rotarian, I am looking forward to being part of this great Australian Rotary Health cycling event. In June last year I was intending to do the complete ride but my circumstances have changed and unfortunately I can now only complete the Sydney to Brisbane leg. I am excited to assist in raising funds for the very needy cause of mental health via Australian Rotary Health. I hope the ride is very successful and we exceed our fund raising targets to support mental health via Australian Rotary Health.

Tony Worrad

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Wayne & Nicola Edwards

We both started bike riding December 2008 to support our daughter, Wayne did his bike ride in January Savings and Loans Coast to Coast which he completed the 100km ride, we have both entered the Gram Slam series and taken part in 3 of the 5 round series. When we heard about this bike ride we thought it would be a good idea to take part, not only is it riding a bike it is also raising awareness for Mental Health. We are both looking forward to taking part in this ride. Originally from South Wales in the United Kingdom we now live in Auburn in the Clare Valley.

William Gehling

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The Great Australian Bike Ride is a nine-stage ride around the country that began in Melbourne on March 21st and will finish back there on October 10th. This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in a healthy challenge for a good cause. Whether it's for a few days or a few weeks here's your chance to be part of a great cycling event that is raising funds for, and awareness of, the research into mental illness being supported by Australian Rotary Health.