23 Feb Rain, hail or COVID – the Timboon Cruisers get it done

(l-r) TDHS physiotherapist Sarah Rahles-Rahbula, Timboon Cruisers representative Todd Baxter and TDHS CEO Rebecca Van Wollingen.

The cancellation of the 2020 Murray To Moyne due to COVID-19 didn’t stop the Timboon Cruisers from making their annual donation to the town’s healthcare service.

Timboon Cruisers representative Todd Baxter visited Timboon and District Healthcare Service chief executive officer Rebecca Van Wollingen last week to see the new gym equipment purchased with the funds raised during a very different 2020 campaign.

“We were already well into our fundraising when the call was made that it wasn’t going ahead. Although it was disappointing not to ride, we are proud that we could still make a donation to TDHS, which we’ve done for more than 25 years,” he said.

TDHS allied health assistant Tracey Heeps said the funds helped purchase a new physio step machine which was already used daily to benefit TDHS clients.

“Our first physio step was donated by the late Hermann Schulz about eight years ago and has been used so much that when we were asked about the Timboon Cruisers funding a new piece of equipment we decided another physio step would be great,” she said.

“They are wonderful for clients who can’t necessarily exercise for long periods standing up. Clients can work their upper and lower limbs togethers, safely, in the seated position and get in some good cardio.

“The seat swivels, which makes it easy for clients to get in and out of. The machines are great for physio and general rehabilitation programs.”

Ms Van Wollingen said the Timboon Cruisers had raised many thousands of dollars for TDHS and the entire organisation was incredibly grateful.

“It’s a real tradition now, the Timboon Cruisers are a wonderful part of our history that shows how hard the community has worked over a long period of time to help maintain our health service,” she said.

“I’m told there are hundreds of people who have ridden it at least once. People like Todd have done it more than 15 times…he tells me since he was in Year 11 at school.

“It’s such a wonderful commitment that not only raises important funds for this healthcare service but also promotes the sport of cycling and more generally exercise.”

Mr Baxter said registrations for this year’s Murray to Moyne opened this month and the Timboon Cruisers were desperately hoping to get back in the saddle in 2021.

“A special mention must go to John Jardine, our secretary, who really does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of the fundraising,” Mr Baxter said.

“We had a stall at the Heytesbury Show, we do a mail out each year seeking donations and businesses are very good to us as well.”

Sponsors in 2020 included;

• Lago Pastoral Trust
• Midfield Meats
• The Vet Group
• Timboon Motors
• Coprice
• 12 Rocks Port Campbell
• Australian Dairy Farmers Corporation
• Popes Timboon