The story that ended up in a number of local papers:
Terri Barclay rides a motorbike around Australia for a good cause.
Terri Barclay left her island home on the 18th of July heading for Busselton Western Australia which was the beginning of the annual Black Dog Ride.
This year though it was different. It’s been 10 years since Steve Andrews rode his motorbike around Australia wanting to raise awareness about depression and suicide so to commemorate this, a group of bikers headed off around Australia to follow in his footsteps.
The ride was 15,700 km around Australia in 34 days however Terri had to ride to Busselton W.A. for the start which was 4500 km there and then the same back again.
All up Terry ended up writing 27,000 km in seven weeks.
Terri has been riding motorbikes for almost 6 years and started riding in the Black Dog Ride five years ago after losing her godson Cameron to suicide.
“When I found out about Cameron’s death the first thing I did was jump on my motorbike and go for a long ride to try and clear my head and come to grips with his loss” says Terri. “So the Black Dog Ride was a natural progression and way for me to remember him while helping to start conversations around depression and suicide”.
The ride around Australia this year ride this year went from Busselton W.A. anti clockwise around the country.
Along the way many conversations were had –
when over 30 bikers ride into a Town, everyone wants to know why they are there.
“The ride was exhausting” says Terry “both physically and emotionally. riding around 800 km every day takes its toll on you however the group of people we were riding with formed a really supportive family group and I saw incredible acts of kindness and sharing all the way around Australia. Everywhere we went people wanted to help us whether it be meals donated, work on motorbikes or a hug – people just wanted to take part because so many people in this country have been affected by depression in one way or another.
A ride of this magnitude doesn’t come without its issues. I had to get my bike rack welded back onto my rear mudguard as it come apart when I went over a large bump. I also had to have my front forks redone and of course riding so many kilometres there are multiple services and changes of tyres to be done.
One of our ladies had the misfortune to hit a kangaroo crossing the Nullarbor it was raining when we crossed (the second of three crossings on this trip for me) which brings out the kangaroos she hit the kangaroo so hard that it broke the foot pedal off the bike but she managed to keep the bike upright and get it safely off the road. within two days she was back riding the bike even though she had a massive bruising to her leg- she was determined to see it through, as we all were, as in such an important cause to us.
Tragically 8 Australians take their life every single day.
Black Dog Ride has decided that the best way they can put the funds that they raise to use is to supply grants directly to community organisations who are helping fight depression in their areas.
100% of all donations made are used for this.
Community groups can apply for a grant at www.blackdogride.org.au
If you or someone you know need help please do not hesitate to call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 44.
Around Australia Ride 2019 Itinerary
Day # Date From/To1 Fri 26/07/2019 Busselton to Denmark
2 Sat 27/07/2019 Denmark to Esperance
3 Sun 28/07/2019 Esperance to Madura Pass
4 Mon 29/07/2019 Madura Pass to Ceduna
5 Tue 30/07/2019 Ceduna to Port Augusta
6 Wed 31/07/2019 Rest day
7 Thu 01/08/2019 Port Augusta to Goolwa
8 Fri 02/08/2019 Goolwa to Mt Gambier
9 Sat 03/08/2019 Mt Gambier to Ballarat
10 Sun 04/08/2019 Ballarat to Lakes Entrance
11 Mon 05/08/2019 Lakes Entrance to Canberra
12 Tue 06/08/2019 Rest day
13 Wed 07/08/2019 Canberra to Bathurst
14 Thu 08/08/2019 Bathurst to Tamworth
15 Fri 09/08/2019 Tamworth to Byron Bay
16 Sat 10/08/2019 Byron Bay to Hervey Bay
17 Sun 11/08/2019 Hervey Bay to Mackay
18 Mon 12/08/2019 Mackay to Townsville
19 Tue 13/08/2019 Townsville to Cairns
20 Wed 14/08/2019 Rest day
21 Thu 15/08/2019 Cairns to Normanton
22 Fri 16/08/2019 Normanton to Mt Isa
23 Sat 17/08/2019 Mt Isa to Tennant Creek
24 Sun 18/08/2019 Tennant Creek to Mataranka
25 Mon 19/08/2019 Mataranka to Darwin
26 Tue 20/08/2019 Rest day
27 Wed 21/08/2019 Darwin to Kununurra
28 Thu 22/08/2019 Kununurra to Fitzroy Crossing
29 Fri 23/08/2019 Fitzroy Crossing to Broome
30 Sat 24/08/2019 Rest day
31 Sun 25/08/2019 Broome to Karratha
32 Mon 26/08/2019 Karratha to Carnarvon
33 Tue 27/08/2019 Carnarvon to Northampton
34 Wed 28/08/2019 Northampton to Swan Valley
35 Thurs29/08/2019 Swan Valley to Busselton