Pollie Pedal 2011
What
The annual “Pollie Pedal” bike ride was started in 1998 by Tony Abbott, along with a number of federal and state politicians as a way to raise money for various charities and also as an opportunity for MPs to get “off the beaten track” and to meet Australians from the smaller communities that are our heartland.
Since it started, Pollie Pedallers have ridden approximately 13,000km, raising more than one million dollars for organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Ronald McDonald House, Youth Insearch, and the Paralympic Games as well as medical research into childhood leukaemia, diabetes, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Last year, with the help of sponsors such as Amgen; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Tourism Hospitality & Catering Institute; Alphapharm; Blackmores; Telstra; PaulHartmann Pty Ltd; Macquarie Bank; Bruck Textiles; Medibank; Olsson Industries and Signartist, Pollie Pedal raised over $180, 000 for Student Placements and Specialist Outreach Clinics through the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. It also supported Pioneer Clubhouse in Warringah.
In 2011, the Pollie Pedal bike ride will again raise money to support the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health within the Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney. The money raised will be used to fund the successful Specialist and Student Clinical Outreach Placements to regional and remote communities in Western NSW and the Northern Territory. In Warringah it will support STEWART HOUSE.
Who
A number of Federal Parliamentarians will join in the ride as well as MPs, local mayors, sportspeople and members of local communities. Past and present participants include Tony Abbott, Bernie Ripoll, Mark Vaile, Kevin Andrews, Jim Lloyd, Sussan Ley, Pat Farmer, John Anderson, Jackie Kelly, Phil Barresi, Luke Hartsuyker, Louise Markus, Julie Owens and Guy Barnett.
When
|
DAY
|
DATE
|
DISTANCE
|
ROUTE
|
|
1
|
Sat 2 April
|
110
|
Gold Coast – Kyogle
|
|
2
|
Sun 3 April
|
126
|
Kyogle – Grafton
|
|
3
|
Mon 4 April
|
147
|
Grafton – Dorrigo
|
|
4
|
Tues 5 April
|
120
|
Dorrigo – Armidale
|
|
5
|
Wed 6 April
|
64
|
Armidale – Walcha
|
|
6
|
Thurs 7 April
|
143
|
Walcha – Gloucester
|
|
7
|
Fri 8 April
|
148
|
Gloucester – Cessnock
|
|
8
|
Sat 9 April
|
117
|
Cessnock – Ettalong Beach
|
|
9
|
Sun 10 April
|
40
|
Ettalong Beach – Sydney
|
Where
Who are we raising money for?
|
|
|
Poche Centre for
Indigenous Health
|
|
|
 |
How will your donations help?
Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
Donations provide students at the University of Sydney access to Student Clinical Outreach Placements.
At approximately $5000 each, these placements give medical, nursing, dental and allied health students studying at the University of Sydney, the opportunity to experience clinical placements in rural and remote areas of Western NSW and the Northern Territory.
In 2011, the Poche Centre would like to utilise the funds given through Pollie Pedal donations to send more students to areas such as Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
So far, through Pollie Pedal donations, the Poche Centre has supported over twenty students into clinical placements.
To make a tax deductible donation please follow this link: https://www.alumniandfriends.usyd.edu.au/polliepedal.asp
WARRINGAH STEWART HOUSE SPONSORSHIP FORM (PDF)
This year STEWART HOUSE commemorates 80 years of serving public school children in need
Stewart House is a not for profit organization based in Warringah. It formed 80 years ago through collaboration with the NSW Departments of Education and Health and the NSW Teachers Federation. While the school day program receives support from these entities, the respite facility at South Curl Curl is not government funded.
Stewart House has grown since 1931 with one charter – to assist children from all parts of NSW and the ACT who are in need. The charity located opposite South Curl Curl Beach hosts more than 1,800 public school children each year for a 12 day programme. Since its inception Stewart House hosted over 150,000 children.
Children attend Stewart House at no cost to their parents or caregivers. During their stay, they are provided with optometric, dental and medical assessment as well as emotional support. This is balanced with health and educational programs and out of school activities to boost self-esteem, improve social skills and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Why children come to Stewart House
Students come to Stewart House as a result of difficult personal circumstances including; ill health, emotional or other distress, family problems, financial or social disadvantage, neglect or isolation.
A Stewart House placement is extended only through school principals on advice from classroom teachers, school counselors, other welfare staff and Community Services Officers.
Current programs and accomplishments
Stewart House gives children the opportunity to develop a healthy lifestyle and to build self-esteem during their stay. This is delivered in part through a residential program. After school hours and during the weekends the children participate in a wide variety of activities.
The program focuses on developing self-esteem, social skills, team building, personal hygiene, the development of healthy active lifestyles, peer relationships and most importantly FUN!
There are tangible benefits experienced from a stay at Stewart House. Some are realised at the completion of a child’s stay, others manifest themselves in attitudinal change on return to the home school and others are only realised later in adulthood.
Basically, Stewart House provides children with an alternative perspective on life, albeit for a short time, and aims to provide children with skills and experiences to empower them on their return to day-to-day life.
How your donations will help
Donations collected for Stewart House will help upgrade the dilapidated bathrooms in the original 1930s building. These facilities have not received attention for many years. The refurbishment will provide urgently needed modern and hygienic facilities for the children who visit Stewart House.
WARRINGAH STEWART HOUSE SPONSORSHIP FORM (PDF)