Cade Lucas
The 40th edition of the Great Vic Bike Ride will start on November 23 and among the participants will be a team of cyclists from Bayside P-12 College, just as there has been for most of the event’s history.
Students and teachers from the Williamstown school have participated in 36 of the ride’s 40 editions and this year will again be led by teacher Ross Shubach who’ll suit up for his 34th ride throughout regional Victoria.
Joining him in leading the Bayside contingent will be physical education teacher Natalie Tancredi, who’ll be doing her eighth ride in the event, joined by 10 students, two former students and four parents.
Ms Tancredi said there were many benefits for the students participating in the week-long ride.
“The students are able to interact with students at different year levels and form connections both inside and outside of school,” she said.
“Students achieve daily accomplishments with each ride. They visit the different country towns and appreciate what each town has to offer. They develop leadership skills which can be transferred into other areas of their lives”.
A keen cyclist, Ms Tancredi was first encouraged to do the Great Vic Bike Ride by her colleague Mr Shubach a decade ago and has participated in every one since, only missing the two that were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said doing the event alongside students was also beneficial for teachers.
“It gives the staff the opportunity to see the students outside the classroom and thriving in a different environment,” she said, adding that students had been preparing by going on bike rides after school and on weekends since the beginning of term.
Students from year 7 to 12 are taking part in this year’s ride and will miss a week of school, with all except for those who’ve just completed VCE needing to catch up on rescheduled assessment and exams.
The Great Vic Bike Ride isn’t just a school event though, with an estimated 3000 riders from all walks of life expected at the starting line in Wodonga, where the first ride began in 1984.
Riders will then make their way through Yackandandah, Milawa, Lake Eildon and Marysville before finishing in Healsville on December 1.
Details: greatvic.com.au/
