An extreme bike riding camp at Maldon in central Victoria will give 24 Burmese refugees their first taste of country life this weekend.
The camp, being held at the Victoria Police Blue Light Youth Camp, is the final step of a seven week bike course that has been conducted through the LeasePlan Western Bulldogs SpiritWest Services.
The No-Crash Bike Riding Course has taught participants, aged between 16 and 25, basic bike riding skills, bike maintenance, road rules and bike safety messages. They have navigated parts of the Heathdale/Glen Orden bike trails and surrounding roads, including group rides to the Hoppers Crossing Bicycle Superstore and Werribee Police, to prepare for this weekend.
The camp will further develop on and off road bike riding skills and give everyone leadership and community building opportunities.
Western Bulldogs Engaged Communities Coordinator, Kiemi Lai, said the camp will provide a unique Australian experience.
“Those going to the camp have been in Australia for less than five years, with the majority of them having settled in Melbourne in the past two years. They all live in the Wyndham and Laverton areas and are part of the growing Karen refugee population in the western region,” she said.
The camp, being held at the Victoria Police Blue Light Youth Camp, is the final step of a seven week bike course that has been conducted through the LeasePlan Western Bulldogs SpiritWest Services.
The No-Crash Bike Riding Course has taught participants, aged between 16 and 25, basic bike riding skills, bike maintenance, road rules and bike safety messages. They have navigated parts of the Heathdale/Glen Orden bike trails and surrounding roads, including group rides to the Hoppers Crossing Bicycle Superstore and Werribee Police, to prepare for this weekend.
The camp will further develop on and off road bike riding skills and give everyone leadership and community building opportunities.
Western Bulldogs Engaged Communities Coordinator, Kiemi Lai, said the camp will provide a unique Australian experience.
“Those going to the camp have been in Australia for less than five years, with the majority of them having settled in Melbourne in the past two years. They all live in the Wyndham and Laverton areas and are part of the growing Karen refugee population in the western region,” she said.
“As well as the bike riding element, there will be educational activities for the young people to learn about Australian history and connect with country life.”
The bike program has been supported through funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship under the Settlement Grants Program (SGP) that was awarded to the Bulldogs in 2007. The club then uses this funding to help immigrants participate within their new community through sporting activities.
The bike program has also been supported by community partner Victoria Police and CycleSport Victoria. Helmets, safety kits, sleeping bags and bikes were donated by the Bicycle Superstore, Anaconda Geelong and Glen Orden Primary School.
The bike program has also been supported by community partner Victoria Police and CycleSport Victoria. Helmets, safety kits, sleeping bags and bikes were donated by the Bicycle Superstore, Anaconda Geelong and Glen Orden Primary School.
Volunteers from ISIS Primary Care, Wyndham Humanitarian Network, International Volunteers for Peace and Heathdale Neighbourhood Renewal have also assisted with the delivery of the course.
Camp participants will set off this afternoon and return on Sunday evening.
