It’s long and arduous – ice baths are a must at the end of seven hours of pedalling a day – but men like Brisbane’s Nathan King talk about the biennial RideWest charity bike ride to aid the Royal Flying Doctor Service with genuine pleasure.
The chief financial officer for Lindsay Australia said he had gained a new empathy for people in the bush coping with the stigma of depression following the 1200km ride completed last week, seeing the isolation they lived in, and the difficulty they had to remain anonymous.
“I think getting people in the city to be aware of this will be a big part of helping,” he said. “If I can touch a couple of thousand of people doing this by putting it on social media, the message will spread.”
Coupled with a feeling of making a difference was the physical challenge – Nathan said he had never done anything so demanding.
Now that he has conquered it he thinks he’ll keep riding, as much for the feeling of happiness it brings.
The ride was this year was expected to raise around $180,000 for RFDS mental health initiatives.
Another of the participants was Longreach expat Michael Williams, who grew up at Yuruga, south of the town, before moving to Rotherfield at Ilfracombe.
He rode into town at the end of the ride with his brother Sandy, who still runs the family property, saying he was glad to have tackled the 1270 ride.
“I’m not really into bike riding,” he said. “I had some doubt, but when I thought of where it was going, into our heartland, I couldn’t really not do it.
“I’m glad I did – the over-riding problems in the bush are a big thing, the services that government keeps taking off the bush – it means a lot to me.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
