8th Gippsland Motorcyclists Toy Run
Saturday 1st December 2007
Concept of Toy Runs has been around for a while with over 100 Toy Runs being conducted throughout Australia last year involving more than 150 000 motorcyclists. All have one common theme and that is to help needy kids and their families at Christmas time.
Our first Gippsland Motorcyclists Toy Run was conducted seven years ago and has been going from strength to strength. Last year the run attracted 420 bikes with over 500 people participating.
We gathered toys and goods and other donations valued at over $60 000 for presentation to the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society. This effort was declared to be the biggest single effort to support needy families in Gippsland and helped to provide hampers for more than 1000 families at Christmas.
The Toy Run has been awarded the Latrobe City Community Event Awards at the Australia Day Ceremony for the last 3 years and each of the co-ordinating clubs received acknowledgement for their participation.
This year the Toy Run is again being co-ordinated by 3 local bike clubs:
Local Police under the direction of Senior Constable Peter Ollorenshaw are heavily involved in the event and will be out in force to ensure the safe passage of the convoy of bikes throughout its route.
The word is spreading about our good work and we have many other bike clubs and other organizations also lending a hand.
The ride is open to anyone with a bike, whatever type - everything from Full Dresser Tourers to Sports Bikes. If it's got two wheels and a motor it's welcome. As long as the vehicle is registered and road worthy and the rider licenced.
We have received a large amount of corporate sponsorships, with our major sponsor being the City of Latrobe, who is providing events organizing expertise and funding posters, media advertising and morning tea for the riders. The Latrobe City is also playing a major role in assisting us with roadside signage leading up to the event and on the day.
We are again approaching local Primary Schools this year to participate in some way, either by selling raffle tickets or collecting toys and donations of food. Those participating will be visited by a number of motorcyclists where a hand over ceremony will be held to mark the effort. We expect to involve up to 12 schools in this way this year. Last year Primary Schools contributed $8000 in toys and goods towards the total effort.
We have a big raffle running with the major prizes being a TV donated by Estate Services, Yallourn W Station, Bunnings Warehouse, Harvey Norman, RACV, Sound on Wheels, Wights Motor World, and Morwell Art and Framing, with many other prizes coming from local companies.
The Toy Run is being held on Saturday 1st December and will start at the Latrobe City Offices in Kay Street, Traralgon. Cooked breakfasts are on sale and refreshments and amenities are available. Areas of Kay Street will be blocked off to traffic from 9.30am to depart at 11.00am.
The procession will head through CBD's of Traralgon, Morwell and Moe concluding at Heritage Park, Moe for a BBQ lunch and presentation of goods to the Salvation Army and the St Vincent de Paul Society. Entertainment and refreshments will also be available.
Public are more than welcome to view the bikes at both Traralgon and at Moe, especially if they bring a toy or food and buy a raffle ticket.
We want to continue to make this the biggest Christmas event in Gippsland and also put a smile on the faces of families that are doing it tough.
Motto of the Toy Run is "By Gippsland people for Gippsland people".
More info: call either Alf on 5167 1794 or Bill on 5122 1202
Alf Vella and Bill Roberts
Toy Run Co-ordinators