General News
10 February, 2026
2026 ride a resounding success
A record contingent of 580 riders and pillions from across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales took part in the eighteenth annual Blue Ribbon Foundation’s “Ride to Remember” on Sunday the 1st of February. With cooler conditions, motorcycle enthusiasts came out in force arriving in Ararat from Friday onwards, with many of the 460 plus who had pre-registered taking advantage of a weekend in the area. A number of others chose to register on the day making up the record participation for the 2026 ride. The ride commenced at 9am on Sunday with a minutes silence in memory of police officers who have died in the line of duty. The 221 kilometre ride took participants from Ararat RSL via Tatyoon Road to the rural countryside taking in Maroona, Lake Bolac, Wickliffe before arriving in Willaura for morning tea which was prepared by the Willaura Health Care Auxiliary volunteers with a number of Pomonal supporters coming along to assist after doing the morning tea last year.
After an hour break to rehydrate, the riders took off again and headed via Yarram Gap Road to the Grampians
National Park and then south through last year’s fire affected area to Dunkeld.
Riders then started the journey back to Ararat via Glenthompson to Willaura/Moyston Road, turning into Andrews Lane and back through to Ararat arriving at the Alexandra Gardens at lunchtime.
Ararat Branch President, Dianne Radford said Ararat Lions Club volunteers did a magnificent job preparing around 600 lunches.
She said this year’s ride was an incredible success due to the hard work of many groups and individuals.
“The ride itself was conducted safely and was most enjoyable with lots of comments of how spectacular it
was travelling through the Grampians National Park and to see the regrowth following the fires of last year.
“To everyone involved, Blue Ribbon Ararat puts out a big thank to our Victoria Police, marshals, vehicle and
medical support who did a great job out on the ride in addition to the Ararat Rural City and the Willaura
community for their involvement,” Ms Radford said.
“We (also) had a full house at the Welcoming Dinner at the Ararat RSL. It was great to see many familiar riders attending and the extra activities added to this function makes it more popular each year.”
Mayor Bob Sanders also praised the organisers adding that Ararat Rural City is proud to be
associated with such a significant regional event that brings so much economic benefit to the local
community.
“Ride to Remember brings people to Ararat in their hundreds, many stay a night or two, they eat at local restaurants, clubs and pubs and they support local shops. It’s a magnificent event for our city,” he said.
After the ride, the annual Show N Shine in the Alexandra Gardens was a popular feature for ride participants.
A special presentation was also made this year to well known Ararat local David Coone for his many years of involvement in the Show N Shine.
The Ararat branch of the Blue Ribbon Foundation has thanked its sponsors for their ongoing support including AME Systems, ACE Radio, Ararat Rural City, TAC, the Ararat RSL and the Ararat Advocate together with the many other supporters who all assisted in making the 2026 ride a success.
Money raised from this year’s ride will go towards the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s latest project to fund a mammogram machine for Ararat Hospital.
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