Blind Courage

There was a real air of excitement this morning (Monday, April 26), as the cyclists and crew prepared for the very last day of the Blind Courage tandem bike ride across Australia. We’d stayed overnight at the Bass Hill Tourist Park and left bright and early to be at our starting point – the Dunc Gray Velodrome, which was not far from the park.

When the blogger arrived at the venue (late as usual), the cyclists were chatting to a few other cyclists – Justin, Minh and Dan – who planned to ride with them in to the city on the final leg of the 4000km-plus trek. John Nicholson was videoing the scene, as he had done throughout the trip and Mitch was pacing before escorting the boys in his final role as “tail-end Charlie”. Also in attendance was Senior Constable Andrew McNeice from Bankstown Police. As arranged the previous evening via John Murray, chairman of Bankstown Sports Club and his friend Ian, in the police force, Andrew was to be the Blind Courage police escort into the city. Also on hand at the velodrome were Karen and David Ross, who work with Bowdens Group in Sydney, great supporters of the Blind Courage ride.

That last 26km in to the Sydney Opera House was one of the shortest – and slowest – trips of the entire journey, as Grant’s final set of stats will attest. Mind you, the police escort was fabulous and having Andrew up front with lights flashing made for a pretty impressive entrance to the Opera House forecourt. With all the waiting media, family, friends and supporters, we didn’t get the chance to thank him personally for his efforts, which were very much appreciated by the Blind Courage cyclists and crew.

The security staff at the Opera House were wonderful to us as well, granting us special permission to park the motor homes for a few hours until we finalised our media commitments and had photos taken on the steps of the iconic Sydney landmark. So a big thank you to Chris Wynton and all the team at the Sydney Opera House for making us so welcome.

Thanks to Channel 10, ABC TV and Channel Seven for showing interest in the Blind Courage story and coming out to talk to the boys. With the news media full of the football salary cap scandal, miniature horses on the other side of the world, a cat stuck up a tree and that pint-sized Canadian pop star, your support and coverage of Blind Courage was most heartening. And thanks to our terrific new mate, Sydney freelance photographer Geoff Ambler, who covered our arrival. We’d met Geoff the night before at Bankstown Sports Club and he was only too happy to come along to capture the Blind Courage arrival on camera.

It was a pretty exciting time for the Nicholson clan too, as it had been 14 years since the entire family had gathered together. Two sisters live in the United States, another in Barcaldine, Queensland and another in Tamworth, NSW. The two brothers live in Brisbane and mum and dad Nicholson (Julie and John) are on the NSW Central Coast, so full family reunions are a rarity. The last one was in 1996, so today was extra special for all the family.

Deano and Lorin’s wives, Janelle and Lisa, and their children arrived from Brisbane, and Grant’s wife, Rhys, was in Sydney to see her hubby come over the finish line. Poor old John Eder had to wait until he got home to Warwick to see his pussy cat!
After a full four weeks of going through everything from mouse and locust plagues, heat, cold, dust, rain and aches in every body part imaginable, the Blind Courage tandem bike ride is now a part of Australian history. The reason for the ride is still there… 300,000 blind people in Australia. While we have not yet reached our financial target of $300,000, we remain optimistic that corporate Australia will come to the party – and that any individuals or organisations with a few spare dollars in the kitty might consider giving to Blind Courage. We have until June 30, 2010 to finalise this appeal, so please, if you have not already donated, do it now. Thanks to all those people who supported Blind Courage along the way from Perth to Sydney – and thanks to those who will support it before the end of June. We could not have achieved what we did without your help and encouragement.

Grant’s final statistics: 25.8km in 1 hour 24 minutes; Grant’s average speed was 18.3km/h; maximum speed 50.6km/h; minimum temperature 9.7 degrees; maximum temp 20.4 degrees; 7.85 km of climbing; average incline 3 per cent; maximum incline 6 per cent; downhill descending 9.9km; average descent 2 per cent; maximum descent 6 per cent.

Four thousand kilometres in four weeks is an extraordinary journey for anyone, but just imagine trying it if you were blind on the back of a tandem pushbike. That’s exactly what Brisbane-based brothers Lorin and Dean Nicholson will achieve when they arrive on steps of the Sydney Opera House at 8am tomorrow (Monday, April 26). They will complete this epic journey in the company of their pilot riders John Eder (of Warwick, Qld) and Grant Williams (of Brisbane, Qld) and the iconic Sydney landmark will never have looked better for any of them.

The reason for their journey is threefold:

(1) They will become the first blind persons to cycle 4000km across Australia, creating national history and a landmark achievement for the vision impaired;
(2) They aim to raise $300,000 for Vision Australia, which equates to $1 for every blind or vision impaired person in this country; and
(3) Their dearest wish is to change the public perception of what a blind or vision impaired person is capable of.

Both Lorin, 41, and Dean, 40, are happily married, each with four healthy and beautiful children. Each is successful in their chosen field, Dean as an environmental scientist and qualified accountant, and Lorin as a highly sought after motivational speaker and professional musician. Lorin is also a highly experienced remedial massage therapist.

“My brother and I consider ourselves very lucky, even though we are blind,” Lorin said. “There are 300,000 of our fellow Australians who are blind or have low vision and of those, 63 per cent who want to work cannot gain employment. This is due largely to to the general public perception of the worth and capabilities of a person with a white cane or a guide dog. We are not just riding to help make a difference to those 300,000 people.  We are hoping to inspire a nation. If we can cross this amazingly beautiful country in four weeks with our supposed ‘disability’, the field is now wide open to every man, woman and child in Australia to go out and follow their dream, whatever it is.”

Don’t miss sharing this incredible triumph and significant piece of Australian history with their victorious arrival at Sydney Opera House at 8am on Monday, April 26.

The Blind Courage cyclists are now poised on the outskirts of Sydney with their final destination firmly in mind. They will leave the Bass Hill Velodrome at 6.30am for an 8am arrival at the Opera House.

To help the Blind Courage cyclists support Vision Australia, visit www.blindcourage.com

ends….

For further information visit the website, www.blindcourage.com … or to arrange an interview with Lorin phone Anna Rose on 0409 514 933.

Media release 20.4.10 – for immediate release

Look out Sydney Opera House – here comes Blind Courage!

Blind brothers Lorin and Dean Nicholson are now less than 1000km from the finish line on their epic Perth to Sydney tandem bike ride.  Together with pilot riders John Eder and Grant Williams, the brothers had by this morning (April 20) pedalled 3183km in 123 hours and 32 minutes’ riding time since leaving Perth on Monday, March 29. They have ridden across the Nullarbor through rain, dust, heat, cold, wind and unmentionable liquids coming from sheep and cattle trucks, but nothing has deterred them, day in, day out.

Their quest is threefold: to become the first blind people to ride tandem bikes more than 4000km across Australia; to raise $300,000 for Vision Australia, the country’s largest provider of services to the blind and those with low vision; and to inspire a nation. They don’t only want to inspire other blind people to follow their dreams. These young men wish to inspire all Australians and in the process, change the public perception of what a blind person can actually achieve.

Lorin and Dean Nicholson were born with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye condition that left them with just 10 per cent sight. Over the years, their vision has deteriorated to less than 5 per cent, but that hasn’t stopped them from leading productive lives. Both are successful in their careers – Lorin is a professional musician and sought after motivational speaker with his own business, See Sharp (seesharp.com.au) – and Dean is an environmental scientist with one of Australia’s leading surveying, planning and engineering firms, Bowdens Group. Born in Wollongong, raised in Tamworth and now based in Brisbane, both brothers are happily married, each with four children, all of whom have perfect vision. Their pilot riders, John Eder and Grant Williams, are based in Warwick and Brisbane respectively.

“My brother and I consider ourselves very lucky,” Lorin said. “We may not be able to see, but it doesn’t stop us achieving what we set out to do. Sadly, there are 300,000 blind and vision impaired people in Australia today – and of those blind people who want to work, 63 per cent cannot gain employment. This is due largely to the poor public perception of their capabilities. Just because someone uses a white cane or has a guide dog, does not mean they cannot be useful and productive in a work situation.”

Dean agrees, and says he believes people who are blind or vision impaired may make better employees than those with perfect sight. “Someone with low vision is a loyal and dedicated employee and does not take for granted the fact that they have a job. They know only too well how difficult it is to be given a fair go,” Dean said.

Over the past three weeks, these four young men, aged 32 to 41, have crossed some of this country’s roughest terrain, riding six days out of seven and hopping back on their bikes, day after day without complaint. Apart from aching muscles, sore backsides and legs that could do with a decent rest, they are in peak condition and are all lean, mean, bike riding machines. Having left Balranald this morning (Tuesday, April 20), they will ride to Hay today, Narrandera tomorrow, Wagga Wagga Thursday, Canberra Friday, Goulburn by lunchtime Saturday and then on to Mittagong that afternoon. While Sunday is usually a rest day, they will complete a short ride (100km) and position themselves to leave Bass Hill velodrome, in Sydney’s western suburbs, at 6.30am on Monday, April 26, to ride in to the Sydney Opera House by 8am – and into the Australian record books.

This amazing bike adventure would not have been possible without the support of sponsors Clubs Australia, Virgin Blue, Optus, Cannondale Cycles, Bowdens Group, Water & Carbon, KEA Campers and ISP Media.

“The donations so far have not come close to our goal, so it would be fantastic if corporate Australia could show their true blue colours and back us in this venture,” Lorin said. “We have been amazed by people’s generosity in remote outback locations right across Australia. Now we are so close to the finish line, it would be great if our efforts on the bikes were matched by the donation tally to Vision Australia.”

You can also donate by phoning the Vision Australia hotline on 1300 84 74 66.

 Release created 20.4.10 for Blind Courage by Anna Rose Media Solutions 

 For further information or to arrange an interview or media opportunity with the cyclists, phone Anna Rose on 0409 514 933. 

After an early morning interview with David Evans on ABC Radio New England North West (Tamworth), the Blind Courage cyclists took to the road again, bound for Poochera, our next destination. We had planned to spend the weekend there, but when two out of two washing machines at the caravan park were out of order we had a rethink.

The blogger and child had planned to take a slight diversion in to Streaky Bay (68km towards the coast from Poochera) to catch up with a dear old friend, Heather Irvine. Heather and my mum had been lifelong best friends, so we couldn’t go so close to her place without at least saying g’day.

With the desolation of the Poochera caravan park and the sad state of disrepair in the laundry, we decided to throw the tandems into the motor homes and all drive to Streaky Bay Foreshores Tourist Park, which fortunately, had a couple of unpowered sites vacant and a fully operational laundry and camp kitchen.

The boys were set so Jordan and I headed off to Heather’s to spend Saturday afternoon and Sunday with my late mother’s dearest friend in the world. Knowing the boys were happily ensconced at the picturesque tourist park on the water, we spent the weekend catching up on family news, looking at photos and being taken on guided tours of the beautiful town of Streaky Bay.

Heather’s son, Peter Irvine, has worked for the local council for the past 24 years and having just retired, has certainly left his mark on the district, with impressive infrastructure at every turn. Countless subdivisions with houses popping up everywhere mean the town is booming, as most lots are sold and very few are left on the market. Peter’s lovely wife Lorraine collected Heather, Jordan and I for a short tour of the town Sunday afternoon to see the local farmers’ and fisherman’s market at the Streaky Bay jetty.

I’d always wanted to visit Streaky Bay’s Mocean Cafe after hearing about it in John O’Dea’s song, Streaky Bay, on his new album Storyteller. Unfortunately for us, the cafe was closed on Sunday, but the proprietors, Hardy Weyrauch and Margii Caldwell, were at the farmers’ market, so we got to say g’day.  When I mentioned Johno’s name, Hardy piped up that Johno was obviously short on subject matter, as he’d written a couple of songs about him.  Hardy is the infamous “feral chef” from Parachilna Pub, owned by Ross and Jane Fargher, and now owns the Mocean cafe at picturesque Streaky Bay. He’s also the subject of another John O’Dea song, appropriately titled The Feral Chef.

Saying our farewells and boosting the local economy no end (particularly in local wine sales), we left the market and had a cappuccino at the recently renovated Streaky Bay Hotel (established in 1866).

I think the boys had a good look around town too, only on foot, not having the advantage of a local tour guide like we did. They took a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll along the foreshores and the jetty and checked out the farmers’ market as well. Having a non-powered site, the boys’ 12 volt batteries in the motor home were like flickering candles about to be snuffed out by Sunday night.

A warning sign had been erected at the campground kiosk, saying: Beware: mice in residence at this park, although the warning came a little late as John, Lorin and Dean had three or four furry little critters take up residence in the KEA motor home. Now you’ve all heard the story about three blind mice, but have you heard the yarn about two blind brothers creeping around in the dark trying to trap these mice with their bare hands? I kid you not, folks. This happened. And guess what? Dean and Lorin succeeded. They cornered one of God’s little vermin in the Weet-bix box – and needless to say, the Weet-bix box, complete with mouse, was evicted hastily from the motor home.

Dean was close to man handling a second mouse creeping in among the muesli bars under Poppa John’s bed, but the slippery little blighter got away to fight another night. Despite the furry little creatures, Streaky Bay is a very pretty town and I think we’d all love to go back again. It’s well worth a second visit.

Now – the stats from the Ceduna to Poochera ride: started at 6.51am; 140km distance; 4 hours and 40 minutes riding time; average speed 29.9km/h; maximum speed 57.3km/h; Grant burnt 2408 calories, which is a shame because he probably ate triple or quadruple that – before breakfast! Only kidding folks, but he is good fun to pick on – and takes all my ribbing with a big toothy grin!

Minimum temperature 15 degrees; maximum 34.5 degrees; average incline 1 per cent; maximum incline 3 per cent; average descent 1 per cent; maximum descent 3 per cent.

The Ride

Being blind, we don’t plan to ride solo, but have two tandem bikes and two great friends that will be pilot riders for us. See their story on the About Us dropdown menu on the home page of this site.

Thanks to the great support of all our sponsors we will begin our journey on Monday, March 29, 2010 in Perth. We will ride tandem over 4000 kilometres, across the country for four weeks, crossing five states and territories, to arrive in Sydney on Monday, April 26, 2010.

We invite all to join with us on this journey by

-          donating to Vision Australia

-          Following our progress online, and

-          Cheering us on along the way

(Details of our route provided below.)