Riding for a cause: Shepparton South Rotary President Clay Doyle, tandem bike riders Joyce and Phil Ogden and Rotarian Greg Barnes at Victoria Park Lake.
Tasmanians Phil and Joyce Ogden from South Launceston Rotary Club rode their tandem bicycle through Shepparton on Wednesday, May 1, as part of Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
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The couple, both 74, started their journey in Adelaide on April 3 and will travel about 3000km in eight weeks through South Australia, Victoria and NSW before arriving in Sydney.
The Ogdens have ridden tandem bikes since 1993, covering an estimated 100,000km, and together have enjoyed many adventures.
To name a few, they have toured the European Alps, the Pyrenees and the Rockies — in addition to organised long-distance rides with Audax, culminating in a 600km ride over 36 hours.
While on their overnight stay in Shepparton, Mr and Mrs Ogden were hosted by the Shepparton South Rotary Club and spoke at its meeting at the Overlander Hotel.
This was after local Rotarians Clay Doyle and Greg Barnes rode out to greet them and guide them into town.
“It’s lovely to be received so warmly into Shepparton,” Mrs Ogden said.
“This was the first time on all our travels we’ve been escorted into a town.”
After speaking with Shepparton Rotarians, the couple received $1000 in donations from both the Shepparton South and Shepparton Rotary clubs.
Retired anaesthetist Mr Ogden witnessed the terrible legacy of the polio epidemic of the 1950s and the threat to children of the world until the Rotary-inspired campaign worked its magic during the past 30-plus years.
He was grateful for the donation and said they would keep pedalling to raise awareness and funding towards eradicating the terrible disease.
“Even though the goal of eliminating polio is very close, Rotary has a responsibility to make sure the job is completed," Mr Ogden said.
“If we take our collective eyes off the ball, the disease will re-establish. So, we are still committed to harnessing another of our passions, cycling, to push things along.”
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