34 blokes on 34 postie bikes departed Mackay last Thursday, July 27 for the Postie Bike Safari, taking them across 2,200km of dirt road to Chillagoe and back.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Safari started with a group of mates in Glenden who decided to buy some postie bikes and go for a ride.
Over a decade later, the ride has raised funds for RACQ CQ Rescue, Black Dog Institute and Canteen, this year fundraising for Childhood Cancer Support for the third time.
“Childhood Cancer Support’s a great organisation to raise funds for; they do great work for sick children,” said Organiser Greg Becke.
“It’s really good to see our work goes to something to make someone’s life easier.”
When last year’s Postie Bike Safari went through the small town of Moura, west of Biloela, the group met Victor Lee who, this year, is embarking on the trip for the first time.
Mr Lee’s son, Sidney, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2021, aged eight, forcing his family of four to travel to Brisbane for treatment.
“We left Moura fairly early on that morning to head to Brisbane … not knowing where we were going to stay,” Mr Lee said.
A family friend who had gone through a similar situation contacted them while they were on the road and told them about Childhood Cancer Support (CCS), a charity providing accommodation to regional families of children receiving cancer treatment.
“When we got closer to Brisbane I rang them, I put the address into the satnav, and as we turned down the street, these two ladies wearing CCS shirts were standing in the middle of the street pointing us down a driveway and tears just started falling,” Mr Lee said.
“That was our home for eight months.”
Not long after returning to Moura, Mr Lee received a call to say that the Postie Bike Safari was travelling through his hometown raising money for CCS.
“We went down, and I shook all their hands and said, ‘Thanks, guys,’” he said.
Inspired by his son, Mr Lee is embarking on the trip for the first time and led the fundraising campaign having raised over $20,000 before departure.
“I just wanted to do something little for an organisation that’s done so much for us,” he said.
“They gave us a lot, and are still now giving us support, so when the opportunity knocks like this to do something, it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.”
Departing Mackay, the group of riders ventured through Eungella and Charters Towers to arrive at their destination of Chillagoe, returning to Mackay via Cardwell and Bowen.
“We drive along the back roads, keep off the bitumen as much as possible, camp at towns in the outback and get up and do it all again the next day,” said Organiser Greg Becke.
“You’ve got to take your postie bikes through some pretty wild territory; dirt roads, corrugation, soft sand, anything to keep us off the main road.
“It’s good camaraderie, everyone pitches in and helps, and it’s a really great break for people to get away from it all and we’re raising some funds for some well deserving organisations on the way.”
Collectively, Postie Bike Safari had raised over $130,000 before even leaving Mackay.
This is the third year the group has raised funds for CCS, a charity that has helped over 80 Mackay families.
“The accommodation’s based in Brisbane but it’s a regional charity because it helps regional families,” said CCS President Bert Pulman, a local man who used the services of CCS himself when his son Darcy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2010.
“We house families of kids with cancer in Brisbane, because that’s where they’ve got to get their treatment.”
Mr Pulman has participated on the ride over the last three years and said the Postie Bike Safari has embraced the charity.
“These guys do a great job every year,” he said.
“When you talk amongst the guys, there’s someone who knows someone who’s experienced childhood cancer, so these guys know what’s going on and they get to meet some of our families along the way which makes it real for them.”
Visit fundraise.ccs.org.au/event/postie-bike-safari-23/home to donate.
Victor Lee and Childhood Cancer Support President Bert Pulman. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
34 riders are on a Postie Bike Safari to Chillagoe and back. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
