Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently met an amazing 73-year-old man, Bob Montgomery, who just completed his third solo bike ride. This time he rode from Darwin to Perth on a bicycle. Bob lives in the Blue Mountains in my electorate of Macquarie. He doesn't ride just for fun; he raises money for motor neurone disease and Huntington's disease research. As a Rotarian, Bob had enormous support from local Blue Mountains Rotary clubs as well as others on his travels. This was his most challenging ride yet, covering more than 4,000 kilometres through largely remote areas. To prepare for his ride, Bob cycled up to 500 kilometres a week throughout the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, down to Windsor and out west to Jenolan Caves and Lithgow. These are not flat, easy bike rides. Supporting him was fellow Rotarian Bill Pixton. At 69 years, he brings youth to the team as the van driver.

Bob's raised tens of thousands of dollars for motor neurone disease and Huntingtons. Both are degenerative neurological disorders affecting muscles that control movement, speech, breathing and swallowing and affecting personality changes. There is widespread global research, but a cure is a long way off. Bob was honoured by his Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise with a Paul Harris Fellow award. I congratulate him, Bill and Bob's wife, Jenny, for the amazing contribution that they've made.