ARARAT - The Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation will embark on its first `Ride to Remember' in the Grampians region to coincide with the Australia Day Ride in Melbourne on Monday January 26 next year.
The Grampians motor bike ride will also tap into the Ararat Australia Day celebrations which will be held from 8am onwards in the Alexandra Gardens, the same venue as the ride's starting point, which kicks off at 9.45am with a Police Traffic Unit escort.
The ride will involve motorcycle enthusiasts from right across Western Victoria and it is anticipated some 200 riders plus will support the event. En-route all riders will be asked to show their pride in Australia by flying our national flag and these will be available at the starting line.
The Australia Day `Ride to Remember' is a highly successful Melbourne event, and the opportunity to grow this event in regional Victoria has quickly been embraced by the Ararat Branch.
The Grampians ride is being organised by a sub committee that includes motorcycle enthusiast, all recreational riders from the Grampians region who want to make a contribution to their community.
Also on the committee are members of Victoria Police - Ararat Traffic Management Unit and members of the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.
There are obvious synergies between the Blue Ribbon Foundation, the police and motoring. The Ararat Branch is grateful for the enthusiastic support of local experienced motorcycle riders, Ararat Police Traffic Management Unit, Ararat Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire Council and Pyrenees Shire Council who are helping the committee to develop the Grampians `Ride to Remember' into a major regional event.
The Grampians `Ride to Remember' will cover 192 kilometres over a three hour journey and will take in a picturesque route starting from Alexandra Gardens in Ararat and travel a circuit that will include rural countryside through to Crowlands, Joel and onto Stawell, then head to the fringes of the Grampians National Park including passing through the townships of Pomonal, Moyston, Willaura, all on the perimeter of the mountain ranges.
The ride will then come back through to Ararat for a relaxing community barbecue lunch catered by the Ararat Lions Club and entertainment by the lake in the Alexandra Gardens.
The Ararat Branch members will also be in action selling non alcoholic drinks in addition to `Ride to Remember' merchandising to raise additional funds on the day.
All proceeds from the Grampians ride will be donated to the medical imaging department at East Grampians Health Service (Ararat Hospital).
The Grampians `Ride to Remember' Ararat branch sub committee includes Nicholas Hatswell (chair), Dianne Radford (co-ordinator), Sergeant David Todd (Ararat Traffic Management Unit), Shannon Di Lisio (Ararat Rural City), Father John Mathes (Ararat Branch and Police Chaplain), Tim Andrew (Ararat Branch), Simon Clayfield (Moyston), Alistair Mason (Moyston), Norm Clark (Ararat), Phil Clark (Ararat), Richard McCutcheon (Ararat), Ron Duffin (Ararat), Mal Pitcher (Stawell) and Phil Nicks (Horsham Branch).
Registration is $20 per rider and $10 per pillion and like the Melbourne ride participants will be able to register online through www.australiadayride.com.au, or by contacting the Ararat Branch phone 53529387, email: dradford@eghs.net.au (PO Box 155, Ararat 3377).
There is also an early birds' special offer. Register for the Grampians Ride by January 19 and be put in the draw to win a dozen Clayfield Wines, Winemakers of Grampians Premium Shiraz!