This ride is a fundraiser and awareness raiser, dedicated to the returned Service men and women, many of them who do need, and will need, support in the transition to life after trauma and injury. It is intended to be the first of many rides to come.
We (about 60 in all – bikes of all sorts and riders of all levels of ability and skill!) met up at Blamey Square, Russell Hill, well in time for the ride brief and departure at 1515. I met up with a few fellow Canberra Branch Ulyssians (Ron Tito, Kim Moorey, Richard Hay and a few others) at the start.
Mke advised that the ride will conclude at the Australian War Memorial at about 1615, where we can if we like, lay a wreath at the Last Post ceremony, conducted daily at 1700 (this is an idea that Dr Brendan Nelson, the Director of the AWM, brought back with him from Ypres - near Brussels, where he was recently the Australian Ambassador to the European Union. Reportedly he attended Ypres and surrounds some 20+ times during his tenure).
Corner marking and traffic control was managed by some of the Vietnam Veterans (Veterans) group. The ride took us from Blamey Square, across Kings Avenue Bridge, and through the Federation Square area of Barton and the Parliament House precinct, onto Adelaide Avenue, Hindmarsh Drive and onto the Parkway. We continued up the Gungahlin Drive Extension, swinging off at Barton Highway, along Northbourne Avenue, back onto Parkes Way and then up Anzac Parade to the AWM, where we parked the bikes in front of the AWM at the main hall.
We arrived in time to find out that 6 wreaths are available, so I accepted one slot and filled out the card on behalf of our Branch. I asked Kim if she would like to accompany me in the laying of the wreath. Thanks Kim! The laying of the wreath and playing of the last post was as always, a sombre event, and it turns out that the bugler is an acquaintance of Ron’s.
Despite it being a bit on the cool side, I enjoyed this ride (but not so much some of the abilities of the learner riders in the group, who really should have given themselves much more space and remained at the rear of the pack).
Chris
List of Riders:
- Chris Dietzel – Kawasaki GTR1400
- Ron Tito – Honda NT700 Deauville
- Kym Moorey – Honda DN01
- Richard Hay – Triumph Explorer 1200
- Plus more than 50 others!
