Media Releases
9 December 2022
A partnership between Reclink Australia and Bicycle Network and funding from MyState Foundation has seen the delivery of bike education to students at the Southern Support School in Howrah.
“Thanks to a grant from MyState Foundation, Reclink has been able to buy three trikes which allow us to help more people to learn to ride and deliver targeted sessions for people with complex additional learning needs,” Reclink Senior Sports Coordinator Brett Geeves said.
“We trialled the trikes in the Community Bike Program with Bicycle Network’s Back on your Bike program and it was so popular that we applied to MyState for a grant so we could buy more bikes.
“The grant has ensured we now have enough trikes so that everyone who wants to take part can.
“We know physical activities like cycling can deliver physical and mental benefits but they also help people consider staying active in the longer term and boost their self-confidence and motivation.
“We hope people who undertake our program have fun on the day but also pick up long-term skills they can use throughout their lives.
“This time around we are taking the trikes to Southern Support School students and also utilising the expertise of the network’s Ride2School program,” Brett said.
Ride2School operates across the state and is open to all public and private schools, and with trikes like Reclink’s, children at support schools can also take part.
“There are so many different styles of cycle set-ups, with bicycles, tricycles and adaptive bikes, it means that with a bit of help more people can ride,” Bicycle Network spokesperson Alison Hetherington said.
“Knowing how to ride gives people a sense of freedom, it allows you to have fun outside with your friends and family or get to where you need to go.
“The Support School students enjoyed two skills sessions where they learnt about braking, turning and controlling the trikes.,” Alison said.
MyState Foundation chair Bob Gordon said changing lives for the better was what the Foundation was all about.
“Our mission is to provide young Tasmanians with greater opportunities, and that’s exactly what Reclink is achieving with the $10,000 MyState Foundation grant for their Community Bike Program,” Mr Gordon said.
“Whether it’s three wheels or two, it’s fantastic that even more young people have the chance to experience the joy of riding a bike and all the benefits that come from that.”
MyState Limited Managing Director and CEO Brett Morgan said that the Foundation had provided more than $2.4 million in grants to organisations like Reclink since its inception.
“For 21 years the MyState Foundation grants have given a brighter future to Tasmanian groups focused on youth wellbeing and health,” Mr Morgan said.
“As one of Tasmania’s leading banks, we’re proud to not just support our customers, but play our part as a large employer by investing in the wider community.”
Back on your Bike is funded by a Healthy Tasmania grant.