October 3, 2017
A Charity Challenge cycle ride from Kingaroy to Murgon on Sunday not only raised $2300 for two local good causes … it may have also helped prevent a nasty accident.
Protesters or vandals attempted to sabotage the South Burnett Rail Trail’s official opening celebrations by erecting a makeshift timber and steel barricade across a bridge near Barambah Creek.
If professional cyclists travelling at full speed had hit the barricade, they could have suffered serious injuries.
But because the Charity Challenge riders set off from Kingaroy at 5:15am well in advance of the official party, they were the first to stumble across the barricade and removed it before other riders, runners and walkers arrived.
The three riders involved in the Charity Challenge were Cr Gavin Jones, his son Ryan and retired policeman Barry Krosch.
The idea for the ride came about a few months ago when Cr Jones challenged Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff at a Council meeting to ride the full length of the South Burnett Rail Trail with him.
Cr Duff declined, but soon afterwards Mr Krosch offered to take her place, providing the pair used the ride to raise funds for local good causes.
Cr Jones agreed and the duo started training for Sunday’s event – although Cr Jones’ training consisted mainly of riding a stationary bike at home for an hour every day.
“Our journey to Murgon was very fast, but enjoyable,” Mr Krosch said.
“The only issue was the lowlife who had barricaded the bridge crossing near Barambah Creek.
“It took some effort for Cr Jones and I to remove the timber and other junk.
“Protesting in Australia is allowed, of course, but this could have been outright dangerous.”
In all, the pair took slightly more than three hours to cover the distance, with Ryan Jones first across the finish line.
Later that afternoon at Murgon’s official opening celebrations, a “completely knackered” Cr Jones told the crowd the day’s effort had raised $2300.
This included the $200 Cr Duff had wagered against him completing the ride.
The money was split between RACQ LifeFlight ($1200) and the Murgon Men’s Shed ($1100).
Anyone with any information about Sunday’s rail trail barricade should call Policelink on 13-14-44 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 1800-333-000.
- Related article: Rail Trail History In The Making
