Biketoberfest revs up Leongatha for fifth year

Thousands of motorbikes rolled into Leongatha on Saturday, October 17 for Biketoberfest, which returned to Bair Street for its fifth year.

It brought both riders and visitors to the town, and had a focus on mental health awareness.

The weather couldn’t have been much better, with a bright sunny day greeting the attendees, and event organiser Cherie Pritchett estimating that around 2000 motorcycles would attend throughout the day.

“Oh, the turnout's fantastic, especially with the weather being so good,” Ms Pritchett said.

“No wind, the sun's out, and everyone's arrived here early. It's fantastic.”

The annual event featured motorcycles of all makes, models and ages, alongside community stalls, local emergency services and motorcycle organisations.

But the benefits were being felt beyond Bair Street.

Ms Pritchett said visitors had been arriving in the region several days before the festival, with accommodation in Leongatha and Korumburra fully booked.

“People have been in town three, four days prior to the event, spending their money locally,” she said.

“They hang around the region for, you know, up to a week.”

The event was originally established to bring visitors into Leongatha and the surrounding areas, with the not-for-profit organising committee relying on donations, sponsorships and support from the Leongatha Business Association.

Money raised through merchandise sales helps fund the following year's festival.

Among the thousands of attendees was Beaconsfield rider Geoff Whitehead, who made his first trip to Biketoberfest after encouragement from friends.

Mr Whitehead brought along his 1995 Harley-Davidson Sportster, which he purchased brand new and has owned for more than 30 years.

“Yeah, it's vintage now,” he laughed.

He said the opportunity to catch up with other riders and admire the variety of bikes was what made the event so fun.

“Just hanging out. Checking out all the different bikes and wide range of bikes, from modern to old ones. Yeah, it's good.”

Beyond the bikes, mental health and suicide prevention was at the forefront of the event and was a major focus.

Black Dog Ride Victorian coordinator Bernie Garvey attended the event to encourage visitors to check in on their mates and have conversations about their wellbeing.

He said motorcycle gatherings offered a great opportunity for people with shared interests to connect, especially those at risk of becoming isolated.

“You start talking about bikes, and then you start talking about life, and then you start checking in on each other, and that's how the conversations roll,” Mr Garvey said.

“Something shiny starts the conversation, it's as simple as that.”

Black Dog Ride began in 2009 and has since grown into a national charity promoting awareness of depression and suicide prevention.

Ms Pritchett said supporting that message was one of the main reasons Biketoberfest continued each year, with the event also raising money for Black Dog Ride.

Other participants included the Leongatha Motorcycle Club, SES and CFA, while the motorcycle club continued the fun later in the evening with a live music event at Leongatha Memorial Hall.