Day 8 2010 "Breathless" Ride
Saturday 6th November 2010
After a disappointing Friday evening the final day was going to be the highlight of 8 days riding around Victoria on the "Breathless" Ride with a welcoming reception at the Queenscliff Masonic Centre and later in the evening the Monster Auction at the Queenscliff Bowling Club.
As we were about to depart the motel at Sebastopol MWBro. Bruce Bartrop PGM arrived in time for a photo shoot on the V6 Trike with a huge smile before waving us off on our last leg of the ride to Queenscliff.
MWBro. Bruce Bartrop PGM came to the motel to farewell us.
We quickly refueled and with time not on our side due to a planned filming of our group of riders we were unable to stop for coffee at the Beechworth Bakery in Ballarat which disappointed a number of the riders.
Our ride to Queenscliff was via Barwon Heads, unlike the other 7 days riding from town to town on windy picturesque roads we ended up riding along the longest and straightest roads of the whole trip.
Not having to negotiate corners with the big V6 trike gave Tracy a chance to catch up on a few Z’s while Dean had to steer in a dead straight line.
We arrived at Barwon Heads for lunch and to meet up with the Compass ABC film crew for a ride pass film shoot across the bridge, but unaware to everyone was the fact that the bridge is currently a construction zone with cranes, trucks and many men with stop/go signs.
The motorcycles all carried "Breathless" stickers to promote the ride.
Due to arriving early at Barwon Heads we had to wait to order lunch at the pub for it was not 12 o'clock, a few decided to look for an alternate food outlet whilst other waited patiently watching the clock and promptly ordered at 12 o'clock.
The Compass ABC film crew arrived and after some discussion it was decided to film the ride pass further down the road to Queenscliff and with the assistance of a very nice traffic controller we were able to ride in one big group across the half built Barwon Bridge.
Just 3km’s past the bridge heading into Ocean Grove we pulled over so all riders could re-group and head up the hill in one big procession for the ride pass filming, this was repeated twice to ensure enough footage was obtained.
After confirmation the film crew were happy with the two ride passes they then requested we ride off to Shell Road for another lot of filming down a long straight stretch and a return ride- by from the other direction.
After slow riding in the hot sun and geared up in all our woollies after a chilly morning we were glad the filming was complete and could head to our final destination, well not quite.
Assembling for the final ride with a police escort to Queenscliff Masonic Centre.
We were then asked to ride down the main street of Queenscliff so additional film footage could be obtained riding through the township, with everyone back in formation we rode down the main street of Queenscliff tooting our horns and waving to the locals whilst being filmed.
It was now time to settle in at the Dive Centre - Salt House our accommodation at Queenscliff which had a few double rooms with linen whilst the other bedding arrangements was back packer style bunks with the oversight that we needed to order the linen for the bunks.
After a number of telephone calls we were advised that there was an extra charge for the linen and this was confirmed when the fine print was read on the email confirming our booking, David and Viv offered to pay the extra charge for the bedding a very generous gesture, thank you David and Viv.
Riding into Queenscliff and being welcomed at the Queenscliff Masonic Centre.
Finally after selecting our room and bunk we could actually take time out to relaxed and have a few drinks before it was time to get all the gear on again to meet the police escort on the outskirts of town for the final ride through Queenscliff with lights, sirens and tooting bike horns to the welcoming reception at the Queenscliff Masonic Centre.
As we turned into the street towards the Queenscliff Masonic Centre we could see all the people and a sea of red balloons.
We pulled up to claps and cheers that tugged at all our heart strings, it just felt amazing and to see all those little faces of the children who are suffering with Cystic Fibrosis looking so happy to greet us just made what we had done as a group of riders over the past 8 days all the more special and significant.
Arriving at Queenscliff Masonic Centre.
The motorcycles and trikes parked all around the Queenscliff Masonic Centre made quite a spectacular image with all the red Cystic Fibrosis balloons and the many Cystic Fibrosis families and friends who found the time to be part of the welcoming reception to the riders who had ridden for 8 days for the cause.
It was soon time to commence the official welcoming reception in the Masonic Centre with the MC Ian Henry our local supporter who made all the arrangements for the welcoming reception at the Masonic Centre and the Monster Auction at the Queenscliff Bowling Club.
Ian introduced and invited the following people to the floor Worshipful Master of Cosmopolitan Lodge, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria – Stephen Murby CEO, MWBro. John Wilson PGM Patron of the VMMA who also represented Freemasons Victoria, Queenscliff Borough Council – Cr John Burgess and VMMA President David Cash all of whom addressed everyone at the welcoming reception in the presence of the Compass ABC film crew.
Two CF sufferers at Queenscliff.
Cystic Fibrosis Victoria – Stephen Murby CEO and VMMA President David Cash at the reception at the Queenscliff Masonic Centre.
At the conclusion of the official welcoming reception the Cosmopolitan Lodge provide light refreshments and invited everyone to partake and enjoy the rest of their afternoon.
It was amazing how many people stayed for the refreshments and wanted to chat about the 8 day ride whilst the children outside were a buzz of excitement and couldn’t wait to check out the bikes and trikes with their beaming faces saying it all with the cameras snapping from every direction.
Two very special young children.
The time was once again getting away from us and it was time to head back to the Salt House and quickly get ready for our monster auction night.
At 5:30pm the bus arrived and took those of us not riding to the Queenscliff Bowling Club where we had a wonderful BBQ dinner provided to us for a gold coin donation by the Bowls Club who later in the evening donated the money collected to the "Breathless" Ride.
At around 7:00pm the final evening of awareness and fundraising commenced with Dean being the MC, inviting the following people to the floor to speak during the evening MWBro. John Wilson PGM, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria – Stephen Murby CEO, Paul O’Farrell CF sufferer and VMMA President David Cash.
Yes it is our very own Auctioneer The Baron performing to the audience and assisting them to unload their heavy pockets.
This particular fundraising evening was different to the previous nights in that there was no trivia games it was purely a monster auction and with The Baron taking the floor and control of the auction proceedings and keeping everyone amused somehow after 3 hours of continued auction action managed to auction off everything, raising around $5400.
Baron you did a fantastic job as the auctioneer and no doubt Sue would have appreciated on your return the quietness of your voice that you must have lost during the evening.
With the night finished and a few good -byes it was time for us all to finally stop and retreat back to the Salt House to relax with a well deserved drink, snacks and some great conversation that in many cases reflected on the achievements of the VMMA Riders over those 8 days in raising the awareness of Cystic Fibrosis, meeting and greeting CFV Families and contributing financially towards assisting CFV Families and sufferers.
Some were looking forward to a bit of a sleep-in after the 2am closing time, but 7am came around within a blink of an eye and it was time to start packing for home.
Time to relax and sign the vest for Paul.
Surprisingly everyone was up and ready to leave by 9am and the realisation that the ride was over was suddenly felt by all when a fully signed CF Charity Ride vest was presented by David to Paul O’Farrell CF sufferer who travelled with us on the 8 day ride.
After some long good-byes everyone headed off in different directions with some choosing to take the ferry home while others took the Freeway.
What a tremendous array of items had been donated and collected by VMMA members for this Monster Auction Night.
We will leave you with this thought:
If we have helped just one person with CF by taking on this challenge of a core group of 25 riders working together over 8 days to raise the awareness and funds.
Then we have collectively made this world a much better place and everyone who participated a much better person.
Information supplied by Tracy Brown, Pedro and Chris. edited by CW.
