Senses Camp
Earlier this year, Beau came to hear about a camp to be held in November by the Senses Foundation for people with vision and hearing impairments from all over the country. As we’d had such a successful event last year with the Senses people in Whiteman Park, the Committee offered to provide tandem cycling as an activity for the campers.

On the day, our team of front-riders, Jake, Paul M, James, Chris, Paul F, Hab and Beau ran the Senses clients through a short introduction on the camp’s basketball courts, then it was out onto the bike paths for a cruise from Hillarys to Mullaloo and back again. The weather was kind and the back riders enjoyed their rides very much. The highlight was a young lady with Cerebral Palsy, severe vision and hearing loss who had her first ever experience on a bike – and loved it. It was fantastic to see how much pleasure we were able to provide to these people through an activity that we take for granted.

Thanks go to Adriana for sorting out the arrangements and recruiting the volunteers and to Hab for managing the logistics. Thanks also to all of the front riders all of whom enjoyed themselves.

WA Cycling Federation Come and Try Day
In November, the WACF held a come and try day to which WATCAC was invited. Unfortunately, the weather on that day was less than perfect and so there were not many triers, but thanks anyway to Hab, Adriana, Jennifer, Dee and Hayley for waving WATCAC’s flag – and WATCAC’s banner too – on the day.

Tandem Disposal
After a review of WATCAC’s track tandems, it was revealed that many of them were in very poor condition. The shipping container in which they were stored had developed a leak so many of the bikes had been sitting inches deep in water leading to rusting and worse. The Committee talked it over and after taking into account the advanced age and poor condition of the bikes, the ongoing storage costs and the prohibitive cost to recondition them, they decided to dispose of them. The 6 tandems in the best condition have been retained and re-housed under the track, the rest were taken to Red Hill tip but may find a new home in Africa as they have been forwarded on to a charity that reconditions bikes for use over there.

Unfortunately, news of this has leaked out and there have been some questions raised – by people who have no real involvement with, or understanding of WATCAC – about the correctness of the Committee’s decision. Please be assured that a proper process was used to make the decision, and that the disposal was in the best interests of WATCAC and WATCAC members. If you have any questions about this issue, please feel free to raise them with a Committee member.

Tour de Gracetown
Members Beau – on a tandem with Leon – and Janelle participated in the November edition of the Tour de Gracetown along with some cycling buddies. The whole team had a great time, both during the event and the post-event visits to vineyards, breweries and chocolate factories. This charity event raises money for new equipment for the local hospital. The course is a 110km circuit taking in the vineyards and forests around Margaret River. While the route is undulating and quite a challenge, there are no enormous hills. Definitely do-able on a tandem and one to really enjoy. The next event is in March and could be incorporated into the WATCAC southwest tour if there is sufficient interest.

Guildford Grammar Tandem Clinic
WATCAC was approached by a group of teachers at Guildford Grammar School who wished to borrow our tandems for a charity event. The Committee agreed and an introductory clinic was arranged where Hab, Beau and Adriana gave them the good oil and a spin around the back streets. The charity event went well and those on the tandems were apparently the envy of the other riders. In fact it went so well that as a token of their thanks, the teachers presented Hab and Beau with some small gifts of school memorabilia and more importantly… a donation of $500 to WATCAC. That is a pretty good return for a few hours of coaching!

Annual General Meeting
You will already have received an invitation to the WATCAC AGM. As has become traditional, the AGM will be combined with a ride, this time finishing in South Perth for a coffee and pastry to sustain us through the meeting. See you there.