BENDIGO Historical Society member Terry Davidson has unearthed a fascinating document from the Society’s vast, varied and valuable collection, concerning a bike ride by Bendigo rowers in 1932.
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This ride finished in Sydney to enable the Bendigo rowers to compete in a rowing regatta on Sydney Harbour to celebrate the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge in March that year.
It was Arthur Cambridge, sculling champion of Victoria and Australia, who devised the idea of Bendigo club rowers cycling to Sydney to compete in a championship regatta on the magnificent harbour. Arthur did not stop with the idea but organised Hartley Cycles, framing the itinerary, meal arrangements and even civic receptions in Sydney and en route. The rower-cycling team even carried letters of good will from the Bendigo City Council to municipalities of all stop-over cities and towns.
Arthur had the full cooperation of President Dick Burkett, Secretary and Treasurer, Harry Kenley, Tour Captain Jack Wookey and the enthusiastic team of rower-cyclists.
A ride in February of 600 miles (966km) over rough roads to row on Sydney Harbour in a championship seemed a mad-cap idea, but it was a unique “famous first” for Bendigo Rowing Club and it won acclaim in Victoria and New South Wales for its originality.
Best of all, it was a grand success and enjoyed to the full by each participant.
Bendigo did not succeed in the rowing because of misfortune with its borrowed boats, but the Bendigo boys won points for sportsmanship and sociability and really represented the Golden City in a fine way.
It was a tour with a difference, bringing sporting mates closer together, and it also promoted our city in another state.
The 50th anniversary of the Cycling Tour to Sydney was celebrated at a dinner in Bendigo’s famous Shamrock Hotel on Thursday, March 4, 1982. The menu consisted of a “Whiting Gundagai” entrée, a mains choice of “Pork Sydney”, “Chicken a la Canberra” and “Beef Holbrook”. For sweets, the diners could pick from “Martin Place Crème Caramel” or “Lemon Souffle Drummoyne”.
Veterans’ Coffee with “Harbour Bridge Mints” completed the menu.
According to the programme, there were twelve present from the team of 1932, including well-known Bendigo names like Cyril Michelsen, who chaired the evening, and former tour captain Jack Wookey, while the same number of former colleagues were remembered including the originator of the ride idea, Arthur Cambridge.
The toast to the veterans was proposed by the mayor of Bendigo, Cr Chris Stoltz. A section of the night was devoted to “Memory Lane”, when reminiscences of the eventful tour were given by each Sydney tripper as called upon by the compere, Cr David Peake.
One of our images shows the cycling stars of 1932 lining up for the Bendigo to Bridge hike of 600 miles.
The boys are seen with their special supply van and about to face a herculean task, almost equal to the Tour de France. Their fitness as rower athletes stood them in good stead, as the second image shows.
In this photo, taken in Martin Place, Sydney, we see a group of remarkably fit young men after their arrival in March.
History Week with the Bendigo Historical Society
Talk today at 11am at Specimen Cottage (178-80 Hargreaves Street). Barbara Poustie will speak on her recent research on James Brierley and the people who have lived at the cottage and in the Hargreaves Street vicinity.
Cost $5, morning tea provided. For details, phone 5441 3443
Walking tour today at 2pm from Specimen Cottage. Gold coin donation
Tour tomorrow of White Hills Cemetery with Carol Holsworth. Meet at cemetery gates at 2pm. Gold coin donation.
Shamrock Hotel tours on Sundays at 2pm. Cost $10 includes cake and coffee. Phone the Shamrock on 5443 0333.
Visit the Bendigo Historical Society website at www.bendigohistory.com