Newsletter No 61 - 20 March 2023

Posted 20 March 2023

Newsletter No 61 - 20 March 2023

1 Weeks and 4 Days to the 36th Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay

From the Ride Directors Desk:

Team Captains are Reminded to please get all your Team members Registered as soon as possible.  Please check your Team Members have Registered correctly and access your Registered Team members by using your Team Captain Login and Password.

Late substitutions for Team members can be made at the start locations on Friday night or Saturday morning.  ie If you have someone who has had to withdraw and that you have a substitute to take their place.
Start Times for Each Team on each route from the Murray River will be sent out to Team Captains on Monday 27 March - via E-mail.  This will also include the Team Start Times from Hamilton on Sunday morning (from 7 am).  Please be on Time.  (Note Daylight Saving ends on Saturday  1 April).

The Hamilton to Port Fairy Route allocations will also be included in this e-mail.  ie Hamilton to Port Fairy via ether Penshurst (Pink)  or Macarthur (Green)

Remember the Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay is designed to cater for a range of riders and is not a race event.  Ride Directors on each route may look at having a Compulsory Stop to allow the gap between the front and the rear  close up.  We aim to keep the gap at less than 60 kilometers. It all depends upon the ride conditions and the speed of each of the groups.

The M2M should be an enjoyable event for all so please take notice of the "Ride Officials" including the Motorcycle Marshalls and Corner Volunteers - as we are all concerned about your safety.

Winners Instant Energy Gels for Cyclists - 35% off - Buy online
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Add another 10% Discount Code for all the M2M riders from the Winners website: https://winnersbars.com.au  Coupon Code: M2M2023.
Winners is the Proud Sponsors of the M2M Team Prize.
M2M Participants Prize's for 2023

Thankyou to our very special Sponsors for donating the following event participation prizes.  The Winners will be drawn at random by M2M Officials at the finish of this years event and announced at the Port Fairy Finish Presentation.
  
Port Fairy Big 4 Caravan Park Prize No 1– Accommodation to the Value of $150.00.
Port Fairy Big 4 Caravan Park Prize No 2 – Accommodation to the Value of $150.00.
Hearn’s Port Fairy Weekend Accommodation:  One-night voucher for a luxury one-bedroom Beachside Villa - valued at over $340.00 
Langley’s Port Fairy Weekend Accommodation: Gift Voucher to the value of $300 to stay at one of our many holiday properties in Warrnambool or Port Fairy.
Winners Protein Bars and Gels - Team Prize– This prize is made up of Gels and Protein Bars from the Winners organisations and endorced by the Tour de France Winner Cadel Evans.
 

Reminders:

Checking In – All Team Managers must check-in with the Ride Officials either 6-7pm Friday evening or Saturday morning at the designated start locations. The check-in area will be set up close to each of the starting points on Saturday morning, 8:00 am. Upon check-in you will receive a Team Package which includes this Official Ride Guide, Team Numbers for Each Rider, Safety Pins to attach the Nos, Plus PINK, GREEN & ORANGE stickers for vehicles and trailers and handouts.

Vehicle Number Stickers – Stickers in your team bag collected on checkin have instructions. ORANGE – for vehicles (top corner passenger windscreen & top right hand rear window) and rear right side of trailers. PINK – for ONE vehicle only routed via Penshurst (top corner drivers right side). GREEN – for ONE vehicle only  routed via Macarthur (top corner drivers right side)

Ride Briefing – A compulsory briefing for all riders and support crew will be held at 8.30 am close to the starting point at each venue. 

  • Echuca Port of Echuca Discovery Centre.
  • Mildura Fishers IGA, SUPA, 2109 15th Street,  Irymple.
  • Swan Hill - Barry Steggall Park, Parkside Avenue, off the Sea Lake to Swan Hill Road - (New 2023)

The briefing will be attended by representatives of Victoria Police, and also allows us to introduce to you the people who are there to ensure the safe conduct of the ride and to explain their roles. Please obey any instructions they give.

HAMILTON & PORT FAIRY:  Hamilton is a Compulsory Stop.

  • Follow your map instructions and signs to the Hamilton Showgrounds – follow M2M signs – entry at Shakespeare Street.
  • EVERY team must sign in at Hamilton before going to alternate accommodation – officials need to know you have arrived. Phone or  text  if staying out of town (Peter Goy 0429 167 146 or  :  Sue Goy 0438 217 260). There are officials to assist you with location of toilets and showers.
  • Hot showers are available in Hamilton at HILAC Centre (see officials on checkin) and Port Fairy at Belfast Aquatic Centre on Campbell Street.  (Gold Coin Donation)
  • Breakfast (5.30–6.45am) for sale at Hamilton Showgrounds – Lions Club supply hot food and drinks. Java Jive Coffee Van—Expresso Coffee
  • Refer to route instructions from Hamilton to Port Fairy in the Ride Guide
  • Be aware of the route you are taking on Sunday morning – either Penshurst or Macarthur.  Team Captains are notified of the route by an e-mail a week prior to the event and via information in the team pack you received on Frid night or Sat morning.
  • Only ONE designated vehicle to follow your team from Hamilton to Port Fairy. This vehicle must have either a Green stickerif you are taking the route to Macarthur or a Pink Stickerif you are taking the route to Penshurst.
  • Please remember there is a route from Hamilton to Port Fairy for non designated vehicles down the Mt. Napier Road if you leave after 7am.  Refer to Route in Official Ride Guide.
  • Plan your changeovers from Hamilton to Port Fairy carefully as there will be one vehicle only permitted to follow.
  • When leaving on Sunday, BE ON TIME. If you did not stay at the showgrounds - enter the showgrounds from the Shakespeare Street gate entrance where you registered on arrival last evening.  Ride through the showgrounds and gather at the Horner Street gate at the other end for departure.
  • Ride carefully and safely from Hamilton to Port Fairy as there will be a lot of cyclists on this stretch.
  • Port Fairy – All Murray to Moyne officials will be off duty by 11.30am so to make it on time, keep the relay going and a member of your team on the road at all times.
  • 11.30am sharp Railway Place Port Fairy –Award Presentation.(Please make a special effort this year to attend the presentation)
  • IMPORTANT— Sign in and Collect your Medals from the M2M Tent near the finish line. (We need to know your Team has arrived safely). 
  • Hot food, coffee, refreshments available at Railway Place Port Fairy.
  • Hot showers are in the first amenities block at Belfast Aquatic Centre on Campbell Street – for a gold coin donation.
  • Parking – vehicles not following riders on arrival in Port Fairy will be directed to parking in Railway Place. Support vehicles following the cyclists if possible can park with their teams in Railway Place if space is available otherwise there is street parking available in close vicinity to the finishing area.

On Route Catering:

Mildura Route:  Dinner Meals available via Beulah Primary School - Order Forms have been sent out to Mildura Route Team Captains  You can eat in or get to go!  Many teams order these meals for the team and this reduces their time off the road - As Beulah is exactly half way between Mildura and Hamilton, some teams feel its a great time to top up on Calories.

Swan Hill Route:  Rapid Relief Team will provide Breakfast and Coffee at the New Start Location in Barry Steggall Park, Parkside Avenue, off the Sea Lake to Swan Hill Road - (New 2023).

Echuca Route: Rapid Relief Team will provide Breakfast and Coffee at the Start.  New Dinner option is organised for Stawell.  The Stawell Primary School are providing a BBQ at the Woolworths Car Park as you enter the main street

Hamilton to Port Fairy - Via Macarthur Route:  Macarthur Lions Club will be offering Egg & Bacon Rolls, Pancakes, and Tea / Coffee.  Toilets available in Lions Park.

Hamilton to Port Fairy - Via Penshurst Route:  Hawkesdale CERT Unit are offering homemade Cakes, scones and slices plus Tea / Coffey.  Donations for the Hawkesdale Critical Emergency Response Team.  Toilets available on the right just as you enter the town on the right - next to the swimming pool.
 

Covid Safe Strategy: Your Personal Responsibility.
All participants are encouraged to check your vaccination status and update your Covid-19 vaccinations to those recommended by your doctor.  Teams are encouraged to follow accepted Covid-19 prevention strategies and this might include encouraging all participants to take a RAT test just prior to the event in order to prevent any transmission of the virus amongst your team members.  If anyone is feeling ill or experiencing headaches or flu like symptoms, they should use the RAT test prior to the event. 

Vale:  Rick McInerney - Team Member - Bega Bunch Team 570.
 
Rick tragically lost his life while riding his bike near Koroit recently.
 
Rick joined our team the Devondalers a few years ago (now Bega Bunch), as he was out riding around Koroit and bumped into the Bega Bunch while on a training ride. Rick then started to rider regularly with us then we asked the old question about the participating in for next M2M.
 
Rick was up for it immediately, and also asked his brother Ian from Melb to join the team also.  Rick
always supported the team fundraising, and was a valuable team rider, involved in all activities about the ride and training, Rick was full of life and always supporting all our team members.
 
Rick was also involved in many other community activities and sports and he enjoyed his cricket.
Rick was involved in many Alpine rides (peak ride), and was in training for the Melb to Warrnambool Fundraiser.
 
We would leave our cars at his property on Conns Lane when loading up for the M2M, and nothing was too much effort for him.  Rick will be sadly missed this year, and ourselves and several other teams will be remembering him with black armbands during the 2023 M2M ride.
 
Greg Lemmens – Team Captain Team 570.

We wish thank all of our 2023 event sponsors for their support and generosity.
Sponsors: Westvic Staffing Solutions, KFC - Bird Group, Big 4 Port Fairy Caravan Park, Rebecca's Cafe & Ice Creamery, Port Fairy Electrics, Langley's Accommodation, Hearn's Port Fairy Accommodation.
Inkind Sponsors:  Sunbeam Foods, Winners Sports Nutrition Bars & Gels  - Team Prize Pack, Warrnambool Toyota, Norton Motor Group, Callaghan Motors, Warrnambool Auto Group, McLaren - Hunt Financial Group. Taits Legal, G & M Auto Electrics, Allens Freight, Kyabram Removals,  Donehue’s Leisure - Hamilton, Warrnambool Sheet Metal. Steve Gray - Sign Writing.
M2M Supporters: Rapid Relief Team, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Beulah Primary School, Moyne Shire, Moyne Health Service, Stawell Primary Schools, TechInsight Web Services, Hamilton SES, Java Jive Coffee - Hamilton, Great Coffee Moments - Port Fairy, Port Fairy Folk Festival.

 

Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay
Over 30 wonderful years, more than 30,000 riders, 
46,000 kilometers and $20,000,000 raised.

The M2M is a community organisation established by Graham "Woody" Woodrup to provide support to Hospitals and Healthcare & Wellbeing Services.  Woody threw out the challenge to everyone he met to get on a bike and have a go, he also set the example to be generous with your talents and help others whenever you have the opportunity.