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Shh, don’t mention the crocs
Volume 50, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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WHEELPOWER: LCDR Mitch Livingstone, LSCSO Adrian Hassall, CPOPT Darren Dyball and LEUT Chris Ashdown with their mountain bikes.
Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe |
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| HELPING HAND: The view from the cab of the Navy bus as the Army’s truck provides a tow across the Pentecost River. |
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When Navy was asked to enter the inaugural Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia earlier this year, no one mentioned the crocodiles in the Pentecost River.
Nor were Navy’s seven riders and six support crew told the crossing was 400m wide and the water rose to half a metre in the dry season.
Except perhaps for the more than 823km of bumpy road before them from Derby to Kununurra over five days, they were blissfully unaware of what lay ahead.
All they knew was that it was a golden opportunity to promote Navy in the vast Kimberley region and raise funds for WA Police Legacy, Services Legacy and the two HMAS Stirling-nominated charities of Malibu Special School and Serenity Lodge.
The Navy was represented by riders CAPT Steve Davies (CO Stirling), LCDR Mitch Livingstone (Warrumunga), LEUT Chris Ashdown (SM CSPO), CPOPT Darren Dyball (OIC Navy Gym West), POET Tom Power (ANR - Broome), ABCD Matthew Tompson (AUSCDT 4) and Mr Daniel Gray (KD Cycles Rockingham) and support crew CPOWTR Trevor Syme (FBW AT Unit), CPOSTD Ron Zelina (ANR - Stirling), CPOMT Glen Askew (ANR – AT Facilitator), POMT Ian Thompson (ANZCEM), LSCSO Heath Dowling (FBW AT Unit) and LSCSO Adrian Hassall (Stirling Reg Office). They raised more than $3000 and flew the flag in the region by visiting many local Aboriginal communities, providing a variety of promotional items, donating many prizes for raffles and give-aways and attending event auctions.
The Gibb River Road passes through the Western Kimberley, a rugged region with sandstone ranges, a myriad of gorges and spectacular waterfalls.
Most of the road is unsealed and heavily corrugated, having its origins as a ‘beef road’ built during the 1950s to transfer cattle from Gibb River Station to the abattoirs and ports at Derby and Wyndham.
None of this, of course, deterred more than 100 riders from 22 teams from undertaking the challenge of choking red pindan dust, mountainous terrain and the searing heat.
But nobody mentioned the crocs until they reached at Ellenbrae Station on day 3.
“During the debrief at camp dinner the height and width of the Pentecost River was revealed,” CPO Trevor Syme said. “No one was to ride across lest they be eaten by crocodiles!”
The next day, due to safety concerns by race organisers, the Navy’s 25 seater bus, was towed across by a truck from the Army, which was also competing.
After five days’ of riding, the group reached Kununurra.
But there was no rest – next day they were headed home. In all, the return journey from Rockingham to Kununurra took 13 days and covered 8058km.
Next year’s event will start in Derby on May 11 and end in Kununurra on May 17.
Anyone interested in either participating as a rider or support crew member should contact CPO Syme at the Stirling Adventure Training Unit on (08) 9553 2993. |
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