The big idea is to ride genuine postie bikes from Ballina NSW (20km south of Byron Bay) to Darwin in time for the Darwin Cup, raising money for Biala Special School, Ballina. The Royal Flying Doctor Service will also benefit by receiving 20% of funds raised. The idea began the same way most great Australian ideas do, over a few beers at the pub. Most years a few friends will get together and go out west for some occasion be it the Birdsville races, a charity event like the Endeavour rally or the Variety Bash, ideas were being exhausted. This year they decided to go one better, they were sick of cars and so opted for postie bikes. Darwin is far enough away to be an adventure and a half and they chose their own worthy causes to fundraise for. It was big. So crazy many people said they’d never do it, crazy enough that it just might work.
After they talked about it for a while (without really doing anything) the daughter of one of the main architects of this grand plan, sent off a magnificently worded email to Honda – the manufacturers of the postie bike. Honda replied: they were in! That was almost unexpected. Everyone was so happy and it was now really time to get the show on the road. Old friends, the motorbike enthusiasts, were called. New friends were made. The respective causes were contacted. The ball was rolling.
One of the more challenging things was finding the postie bikes. Honda makes the postie bike model exclusively for Australia Post. Therefore you cannot purchase a new postie bike. When Australia Post is done with the bikes they are auctioned. They are a much sought after bike for beginner riders. The search was on; it was almost a race for each pelican to obtain a genuine postie bike.
Finding a bike was only half the battle for each pelican, they all are required to have a current rider licence. Many could ride a motorbike but not everyone was licenced to do that on a road. The process to get a licence is not that simple: To get your L’s you are required to take two half day courses, usually over a weekend. There is great demand for these courses and the waiting period can be over a month. Upon passing the course you are given a certificate of competency to take with you when you go to do your computer test of the road rules at the RTA, this test is a very educational experience, learning all the road rules you have forgotten or didn’t know existed. Once you pass that you get you L’s.
Meanwhile a support team was forming, family, friends and the wonderful people from Biala. Together with the Pelicans they managed to do all the little things that put the event together: other sponsors were contacted, such as Caltex; posters were made; raffle tickets were sold; sausage sizzles were had; social networking was established; websites were created; the itinerary was drawn up; accommodation was organised. It is important to note that the ‘Pelicans’ are all of the riders and their support team that is travelling by road to Darwin with them. This team is especially important, without them all of the postie bikes, and their riders will surely not make it to Darwin. This team includes a red 1960’s convertible Mustang – the pride and joy of the Shaws Bay Hotel (Pelican headquarters) publican.
We are well on our way to organising a stellar event, all the help and support we can muster the better it will be. Your support would be most welcome in our grand plan to help others.
