Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge

22 August 2007

Between May 29th and June 2nd 2007 a team of Navy personnel from HMAS Stirling participated in the inaugural Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge. The event is a charity mountain bike ride, sponsored by Western Australian Police, across the picturesque but harsh Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Participants and support crews of 22 teams, from various organisations and agencies, assembled at Derby in the far north of the state in late May in preparation for the challenge. Over five days they cycled more than 820km to Kunnunurra through some very gruelling country that is, at times, best suited to the local wildlife.

Teams made various stops at local communities enroute and were accommodated at various Stations and Homesteads overnight. Navy seldom visits this remote region of Australia so the opportunity to engage the local population and make them aware of the Navy and its role was an added bonus.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling CAPT Steve Davies, RAN, participated in the event and indicated that HMAS Stirling ship's charities, Malibu Special School and Serenity Lodge received significant contributions from monies raised. The event looks set to become an annual event on the calendar with Navy keen to enter a team next year.