BIKETOBERFEST drew people and bikes from the local region and further afield on Saturday, with one intrepid rider setting out well before that, travelling from Western Australia for the Leongatha event.


One of the organisers, Cherie Pritchett, was pleased with the success of the day.
“Given the weather was not fantastic, we had a really good turnout, and we were pleased with how things went, and it’s great how the community comes together with something like this,” she said.
While there were periods of rain, the sun broke through at times, a vast improvement on Friday’s gloomy and sodden conditions.

Biketoberfest was supported by a vibrant team of volunteers who ensured everything ran smoothly.

“The biggest thing for us was the amount of help we got with all the volunteers,” Cherie said.

She also expressed her appreciation for those who ventured to Leongatha despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions.
“Every single bike that came out in the wet weather was awesome,” Cherie said.

She was delighted with the friendly atmosphere on the day.

Gold coin donations to check out classic bikes in Leongatha Memorial Hall helped raise $1,750 for Black Dog Ride, a crucial mental health initiative.

A friendly crew from that organisation was on hand to chat to Biketoberfest attendees, accompanied by a giant black dog Winston, named in honour of Winston Churchill who coined the phrase “Black Dog” to describe his depression.

“Black Dog Ride is a national charity and we travel the countryside talking about mental health, depression awareness and suicide prevention,” Bernie Garvey said.

While motorbikes are often maligned as dangerous, he outlined their value in terms of opening up important discussions.

“We use the catalyst of motorcycles as an interest point for people to come over and have a chat,” Bernie said.

While Black Dog Ride plays a vital part in sparking conversations about mental health, he explained that its team are not mental health professionals but can steer people in the right direction should they require such expertise.

Black Dog Ride was established in 2009 and is highly active in Victoria, holding rides on a regular basis, some being fundraising journeys and others just for fun.
Visit blackdogride.org.au to see what rides are coming up.

Terry Bourke was one of the early arrivals at Biketoberfest, braving the rain and dodging potholes as he travelled there from Inverloch on his 2013 Triumph Bonneville.

He was delighted the event went ahead after other motorbike gatherings in Cranbourne and Bairnsdale were cancelled this year due to rain.

“It takes more than rain and sleet to stop us,” he said, albeit the weather diminished the size of his group with some less intrepid.

John Moore’s 1976 Suzuki GT 750A was one of the classic bikes on show in the Memorial Hall.

He has owned it since 2013 and has ridden it to Perth, requiring careful planning to avoid running out of fuel crossing the Nullarbor.

The bike enjoys a more sedate lifestyle these days, with no more marathon trips planned for it.

A 1988 Harley was another eye-catching machine featured in the hall.
It was custom built in California, when new, to resemble a 1960s bike.
Owner Neil Becker said he bought the bike in scarcely-ridden condition after it had been displayed for 30 years in America.
He purchased it from a Queensland-based man who imported it, with Neil having to overcome some issues such as a rusted-out fuel tank, but it is now in immaculate condition.
Val Bremner of Leongatha SES and David Bartley of the Foster unit were at Biketoberfest with a couple of the organisation’s Suzuki DRZ 250 bikes, explaining the value of motorcycles for searching for people and accessing difficult to reach places in the event of accidents.
Cherie said Biketoberfest organisers received positive feedback and that stallholders at the event already plan to return next year.
While pleased with this year’s success, she hopes for better weather and more bikes next time, and will undoubtedly throw herself into preparations after a well-earned rest.