THE dream of Graham “Woody” Woodrup and wife Hester was to promote healthy living and help the community whilst doing it.
It was this lifestyle that inspired the famous Murray to Moyne relay. Ms Woodrup and a team of Port Fairy women challenged her husband, the Port Fairy Apex Club and another team of locals to ride in a relay from the Murray River in Mildura to the Moyne River in Port Fairy to raise money for the Port Fairy Hospital.
From its humble beginnings in 1987 it has grown into an annual ride and one of the great charity bike events in the country.
“We’ve raised 25 million over 36 years” said event organiser Peter Bollard.
The pandemic cut numbers by more than half in 2021. This year the numbers improved but the team organising the ride is hoping to get back to pre-COVID numbers and Swan Hill is a big part of their mission.
“There was about 50 teams pre-COVID which equated to 800 riders last year we only had 500 so were trying to just build it up again and see if there’s a new group of people willing to get involved” said Mr Bollard.
“The reason were here in Swan Hill is because we didn’t have a team from Swan Hill this year as a starting point of the race. We had six or seven teams start here but no local team.”
“We had a chat with the fellows from Swan Hill who did it the previous year. There a group of local riders they ride every week there going to have a chat and see if they want to do it again but there might be some new people who want to get a team together.”
“We’ve come here now because it takes six months to train.”
“Anyone can do it but it requires a good fitness level,” said Mr Bollard.
The event is held on the first weekend of every April and each team nominates an institution or cause to raise money for “some teams raise $50,000-60,000 others $500 it’s up to the group” said Mr. Bollard.
“There’s all sorts of causes you can do it for mental health or diseases, special programs for schools,” said Jeff McLean.
Mr McLean is the brother in law of Graham Woodrup and remembers his incredible generosity.
“He was a cyclist and he set a lot of long distance records including Perth to Sydney in nine days and all his rides were to raise money for our local Port Fairy hospital and nursing home.”
The main ride has three starting points – Mildura, Swan Hill and Echuca, stopping overnight in Hamilton. The final 90km ride into Port Fairy is on the Sunday.
Mr. Bollard said a senior olice officer had told him he liked the Murray to Moyne because “it’s the only way you can ride from one side of the state to the other in safety”.
Further information for the event and how to register can be found at murraytomoyne.com.au.
