Jeremy Bennett knows the
fun that can be had on a bicycle. Not only is he a keen cyclist, he's also
Master in Charge of Cycling at St Ignatius' College, Riverview.
So it was with some
sadness that he noticed on his visits to Bathurst Island in the Arafura Sea off
Darwin that there weren't many bicycles to go around.
'I have been to Bathurst
Island twice with boys from Riverview on immersion experiences and I noticed
the Tiwi kids had very few bikes among them', says Jeremy. This dearth of bikes
got him thinking about ways in which he could pass on his love of cycling - and
the huge physical benefits brought about by such a pursuit - to these children.
'Two years ago I helped collect bikes for refugee families in Western Sydney,
so I thought I could collect bikes for the Tiwi kids as well.'
Jeremy put the word out:
an advert on the Riverview website and the local parish bulletin for donations of
pre-loved bicycles has so far netted 15 of them. 'I have been getting students to
help me do minor repairs on the bikes. The boys, who range from year 9 to 12, could
help me as part of their community service requirement.' Jeremy hopes to
receive 40 bicycles before leaving for Bathurst Island
again in April. And he's also looking for sponsorship to transport the gear to
the island.
'I need all the help I
can get! Putting the bikes into a container and flying them up there would be
the best way', says Jeremy. 'I hope I have not started something that will get
too big for me to ever get them to Bathurst Island.'
Instead of giving the
bikes away, Jeremy plans to sell them, on the advice of Sr Anne Gardiner from
the order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who has lived on Bathurst Island for
around 45 years. 'She is a wonderful, tough, salt of the earth, saint of a
woman. She suggests we sell the bikes to the people, rather than give them
away. She runs a clothing store in Nguiu, one of the many things she does for
the people, so maybe if we get the bikes there she could sell them from the
shop.'
If you would like to donate a
bicycle or help with transport, please contact Jeremy Bennett on 02 9882 8310
or at JWBennett[at]riverview.nsw.edu.au.