Cairns to Karumba: a long ride for charity
The tradition of rabbiting other team’s mascots continued better than ever

By LEUT Donna Ellem

Ready to cool off in the water LSBM Rick Ellem and ABSN Tim Spenser from HMAS Cairns took part in the seven hundred and twenty eight kilometre ride across Far North Queensland. Photo by LEUT Donna Ellem

Seven hundred and twenty eight kilometers across Far North Queensland on a push bike seems like a long way for a bunch of sailors to ride, but eight from HMAS Cairns (CMDR Niel Wark) did just that to raise $5000 for the School of Distance Education (formerly the School of the Air).

The team, along with 200 other riders, volunteers, support crew and officials set out from Cairns on a cool Sunday morning for what ended up being a fun filled seven days.

The team consisted of LEUT Donna Ellem, CHAP Collin Acton, CPOMT Greg Meares, POMT Wesely Reibel, LSBM Ricky Ellem (Support Crew), ABMT Tony McCreanor, ABMT Nathan Sandford, ABMT Paul Neil, ABSN Tim Spenser (volunteer cook), and SMNSN Eleisha Flaskas.

Riders were split up into different “packs” depending on speed and experience. This helped the organisers to get the packs off in a timely fashion, which meant that the slowest pack, pack five, left at 0630 everyday.

The ride was both demanding and fun, with the first fours days consisting of riding up and down hills and reaching the highest town in Queensland, Ravenshoe. For some it meant riding up the three ranges, Karanda, Herberton and Newcastle.

There was no requirement for participants to ride the whole way which eased the pressure on the more inexperienced riders.

The last three days consisted of savannah land, but also included the two longest days of riding, namely 146 kms and 151kms respectively.

Not only did the participants have fun on the road chatting to their fellow riders and getting a good look at the scenery, but there were plenty of opportunities to get to know one another during the night time activities.

These included a trivia night, talent quest night, nerd night, bar games, Mexican night, Pyjama party, nominations for the Wally Award (person who did something stupid during the day), the calcutta and memorabilia auctions.

A number of these events were used to raise additional funds, and saw the Navy Team T-shirt and ball cap, signed by the team, auctioned off for $100.

Some more memorable moments from these evening include:

• CHAP Acton getting the “GOD” question wrong on the trivia night;
• The Navy Nerds winning the most nerdiest costumes;
• The Navy talent quest performance winning the “Most in need of Improvement” Award;
• SMNSN Flaskas winning the first Wally Award for forgetting to go left at the Atherton round-about and plowing into the bushes in the middle of it; and
• ABSN Spenser receiving an award from the Road Kill Kitchen (really makes you appreciate Navy Cooks), for being a volunteer cook who didn’t know how to cook.
  

Apart from the those events, the other tradition that has been in practice since the inception of the ride seven years ago was for teams and organisers to ‘rabbit’ other team mascots etc. Not willing to be out done by the organisers, the team set forward to out-do previous years’ attempts.

The team managed to acquire the highway Patrolman’s (affectionately known as Pommy Bob) helmet and jacket, orange flashing lights from official vehicles, the organiser’s devil, the rider’s mascot Hurtle the Turtle, Telstra magnets off the Red Cross car, and the one thing that had never been done before - LSBM Ellem drove off with the campervan that belonged to head organiser Yvonne, plastered with Brand Navy magnets.

In retaliation for our efforts, the team had some of their Brand Navy magnets swiped and team ball caps mysteriously appeared on heads all around the camp site. All items were returned in perfect order, and next year’s team have a lot to live up to.

The Cairns to Karumba, Coast to Coast Bike ride is run every year during the third term school holidays, with all monies raised before and during the ride going towards improving facilities for bush kids, and for donations to other children’s charities.
The event is best described as the Variety Club Bash on push bikes. Teams and individuals can do the ride and a number of participants this year were from inter-state. If you wish to know more about the ride and how you can get involved next year, please email Yvonne Tunney at milboe@austarnet.com.au, or look on the website www.ridefnq.com

.