Pollie Pedal is a charity ride held annually in Australia, led by former Prime Minister The Hon Tony Abbott. This year marked the 19th Pollie Pedal, but for the first time the circuit was in the form of a loop. Commencing in Canberra, rides spend days cycling to regional locations including Yass, Cootamundra, West Wyalong, Forbes, Orange, Oberon and Goulburn before completing the ride back in Canberra. In total, 30 riders including four politicialns and two Latter-day Saints covered 1050 kilometres over 8 days.
Each day began with a hearty breakfast followed by a liberal application of sunscreen and chaff cream before hitting the road. Typically the ride would begin with complaints about the previous night’s camp rest site, the soreness and to decipher who would be riding in which pack.
As the kilometres clocked on, each day would entail public events to publicise Carers Australia, the reason behind the event to raise awareness and funds for Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers.
With the Church as a contributor for this event, members James Mackie and Alex Gomez were given the opportunity to support this ride, build relations with government leaders and share fundamental doctrines followed and practised worldwide by membes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
