Presidents Update

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What a year! As 2020 continues to have us spinning our pedals backwards the committee has taken advantage of the lull to develop new initiatives to take VetRide into the future.

In keeping with the intent to spread the VetRide ideal and broaden our footprint, Queensland and Victoria have developed a joint strategy to increase our membership. An initial recruiting focus in the Townsville and Brisbane regions seeks to add to our membership from currently serving ADF personnel.

A direct request to the Federal Member for Herbert, Mr Phillip Thompson OAM MP, has seen an in principle agreement to support our efforts. Phillip is an ex-serving member of the ADF; serving with the 1st Battalion he saw service in East Timor and Afghanistan. Severe injuries from an IED in Afghanistan saw return to Australia and a long road to recovery. Since the move from the Army to civilian life he has worked to champion mental health and suicide prevention. In 2018 he was awarded his OAM for his significant service to the welfare of war veterans.

A further focus on current and recently discharged ADF members has seen the commencement of negotiations with a large group of cyclists from the now disbanded Soldier On Cycling. Despite the many generational differences it is pleasing to see the common ground we share in terms on interest and intent.

Mountain Biking in Australia has been on of the fastest growing sports over the last few years. The committee has discussed how we could support this discipline within VetRide more than we have in the past. There are many challenges in achieving this; not the least of which is the risk of alienating current members through the fear of ‘not keeping up’ or ‘I can’t do that’. The same fears could be present among those coming from MTB to road or gravel.

Another growing area of cycling, not only within a Australia but also worldwide, is the advent of electric bicycles particularly pedelec (PEdal ELEctric Cycle) in the MTB world. Advances in battery technology and decreasing costs means that these bicycles are a viable solution to many of the concerns mentioned above. The uptake of these types of MTB has Specialized predicting that production of conventional mountain bikes will cease in the future.

There are also numerous bolt on kits that can be used to convert those old bicycles we no longer use to a pedelec; of course, having a couple of old GT’s lying around this is what I have done; stay tuned for a further post on how I went about this.

In the mean time stay strong ;there is light at the end of this pandemic tunnel and we are sure to see a return to normalcy – however gradual it may be.

ANZAC Day 2020

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Dear VetRide Member / Affiliate,

You are invited to join our ANZAC DAY Live-Stream Event on ANZAC DAY Saturday 25 April 2010 commencing at 12-noon sharp.

The Event will last only 10 minutes but it will include:

– A Welcome Address, Reflection & Prayer led by Cadet Chaplain, VetRide member, and serving Army WO2 Darren Thomas

– A text based ‘Chat Room’ feature which will be active from 11.35am to 12.30pm. 

Weather permitting, Darren is hoping to Live Stream from the Victorian Shrine of Remembrance which, I’m sure you will agree, will add to the solemnity of the occasion.

Feel free to use the ‘Chat Room’ feature to write a “Hello” to your mates that might be participating and share some ANZAC DAY banter. Use ‘Chat’ to tell us what you think about the Event and to ask us any VetRide related questions. Note that ‘Chat’ can be viewed by all participants.

A link to particpate has been distibuted via email; if you have not received it please send an email to the committee requesting an invite.

Upon clicking the weblink, your smartphone/computer web-browser (for example, Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Chrome) should automatically open and take you to the VetRide Zoom Live-Stream Event page. You do not need to download the Zoom App or enter meeting ID or Passwords.

Initially, you will be placed in a Virtual ‘Waiting Room’ from where you will be electronically admitted to the ‘Event’ by the event host. Event admission will be from 11.35am. You should aim to join the Event by no later than 11.50am to be ready for the start.

The Event will be a great opportunity for the VetRide community to connect as one family to mark ANZAC DAY, using technology of the day, at a time when our ANZAC DAY routines and traditions are challenged by the COVID-19 Corona Virus pandemic.

The timing of this Event will allow you to ‘participate’ in the National Dawn Service celebrations (for example, watching the Canberra Ceremony on ABC TV), attend our Virtual Event, and then tuck into an “Isolation BBQ and a Beer’ in the afternoon. How good is that!

You are requested:

2.  Mute your microphones, but switch on your video so that we can all see one another. You will be able to see others, but not talk to others. The idea is that you will hear the official broadcast only. If you switch on your microphone everyone will hear you and you will interrupt the ceremony.

At the end of the short ceremony, the Event will be automatically ended by the Event host.

Troubleshooting

1. Make sure you have a ‘live’/active internet connection for your smartphone or computer

2. If connecting via wifi in you own home make sure you are positioned close to your router/modem (minimise the number of walls in-between)

3. If connecting via smartphone good reception is not as important, but 4G is a minimum.

We hope to see you there.

Best wishes,

Your VetRide Committee

Warburton Vetride Photos

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Riders at Noojee

Excellent riding at Warburton. The rain stayed away but it was a little cool for our main supported ride to Nooyee. A tough 103Km ride for many of us including the climbs over the mountain both ways at Powelltown.

We were looked after very well by Tom and Alex in the Perentie lead vehicle, Clive and Ray in the Greensborough RSL Bus and Sag wagon, Les in the Beraldo coffee cart, Simon and Dave from the Warburton Holiday park; and Andrew from Yarra Valley Catering who feed us so well!

Thanks Peter for keeping us on track and getting this event on the road.

Click here to view photos

Warburton 2019

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VetRide is excited to announce it’s major ride for the year will be held at Warburton from Mon 11 – Thurs 14 November. Pencil the dates in; come for a day, come for three, or extend your stay in lovely Warburton. Keep your eyes on here and social media as more planning is done and details become available

 

Ride With GPS

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Ride with GPS is ride/activity tracking web site whose stated aim is to

empower people to get outside, reconnect with nature, and embark on two-wheeled adventures.

Just like Strava or Garmin Connect, Ride With GPS is able to record your ride and create routes through both a website and iOS/Android apps. Thanks to hard work of the Ride Director all VetRide members have access to a club membership of this great service.

The first step, if you don’t already have one, is to create an account at Ride With GPS, don’t worry it’s free to join. Once you’ve completed that process follow the instructions in the above video to request access to the club area.

Then check out the great YouTube channel Ride With GPS run with instructional videos on how to use the the website.

2018 In Review

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At the close of business for this year we have undertaken and participated in a number of interesting rides, solidified our connections with like-minded organisations, welcomed some new cyclists into the VetRide family; and maintained our commitment to honouring the service and sacrifice of our compatriots, past and present.

Queensland Visits

Early in the year and although we did not participate, some of us were on hand to welcome the Queensland VetRide group, who traveled south to enjoy a packed week on many of our rail trails.

Pollie Pedal

Over the years since we began in 2011, VetRide has been able to establish its bona fides through the backing of well recognized ex-service organisations, most notably the Victorian Branch of the Vietnams Association and that in turn has led to financial support from the State Government of Victoria and the Federal Government.

Since our first multi day ride from Echuca to Melbourne in 2012 and with the help of ongoing personal endorsement from previous PM, Tony Abbott and his then Defence Minister, Kevin Andrews, we have been able to continue to broaden our focus beyond the Vietnam veteran cohort.

As part of that ongoing partnership and at Tony’s suggestion, we joined the Pollie Pedal commitment to the ‘Soldier On’ cause, for a pre-ride event in April. A mix of about 50 current serving personnel and veterans joined with a number of politicians for a day ride between some of the RSLs in Melbourne.

Around the Bay in a Day

Following on from our joining forces with riders from Soldier On, Ride 2 Recovery and RSL Active for the 2017 Bicycle Network Great Victorian Bike Ride; we and a number of other service participants entered the annual 2018 Around the Bay in a Day event

For Bicycle network’s 25th Around the Bay, about 80 military service linked riders took on the various optional rides, with the two biggest pelotons tackling the 210k and 100k distances. Weather conditions on Beach road were ideal and just for a change most of our riders enjoyed a pretty ‘cruisy’ day.

Centenary of Armistice

For our annual VetRide event we chose to undertake a ride in commemoration of the Centenary of the Armistice. With Kevin Andrews welcome sponsorship as the Federal Member for the Menzies electorate, we were able to obtain some modest funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the with 100k for 100 years as the goal, the ‘Ride of the Century’ took place on Saturday 10th November.

At the completion of the 100k, the riders enjoyed some comradeship and refreshments at the Templestowe RSL. The success of the day was all about the bringing together of a good number of those who are currently serving, some who have more recently been discharged and those for whom the wearing of a uniform is a distant memory.

Incorporation

On other necessary matters and following from our discontinuing to operate under the auspices of the VVAA in 2017; the Planning Committee sat down this year to talk about our future. All options were on the table, however with WO2 Thommo’s strongly voiced enthusiasm for the organisation’s continuation, we determined to do so, unanimously.

For many reasons, including the ability to make agreements and apply for larger grants, we need to be a legal entity and as with other not-for-profit organisations, we have incorporated under the state-based Associations Incorporation Act.

The first duty of VetRide Incorporated was to hold its inaugural AGM and which was held on Friday 23 November, with acting Chair Melbourne Legacy President, Hugh Roberton. At that meeting the committee including the Executive was elected and some basic operational rules were determined.

As part of the change in status we have also been successful in formally registering as a Charity and obtaining ATO recognition as a Deductible Gift Recipient. The latter means that VetRide can receive tax deductible donations.

Given the broadening of interest in the organisation by younger veterans, we have enlarged the committee to 11 with the increase now to two members who are currently serving. As we look to the future and given the average age of a Vietnam veteran is 70, the shift to management by those who are younger is a no brainer.

In terms of the time it takes to make the generational transition, it’s already some time since the World War 2 veteran cohort passed the baton to the baby boomer generation. I pass on a comment made to me many years ago by a close friend and WW2 veteran, the late Laurence Sydney Black OAM. Laurie served with Z Special, a unit that operated behind the Japanese lines. In urging my generation to take the reins sooner (‘up Donner up Blitzen’) rather than later, he made the point to me that his mates were already running most of the RSLs in their 30’s.

On that note and on behalf of the VetRide committee, I wish all of our riders and their families, the very best for the festive season.

Peter Liefman

“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride”

– Eddy Merckx