Newsletter No 82 - 10 March 2026

Posted 10 March 2026

Woody’s Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay

Team Captains Update E-mail – Newsletter No 82 - Tuesday 10 March 2026

Team Participant Registration Closes:  Sunday 22 March 2026. (Riders & Support Crew)

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.

We also request that Team Captains – resend this E-mail update to all your Team Members – so that everyone is fully informed.  Its unfortunate, but our use of the “Mailchimp E-mail System” has been interrupted as Mailchimp has been taken over by another company, who have now limited the number of people we can e-mail to.  Please resend this e-mail to all your team members!

In This Edition:

• New Start Location from Hamilton.
• Due to Daylight Saving – You will Need Lights for the Hamilton Start.
• Start Times – Mildura, Echuca and Hamilton.
• Road Conditions:  Moyne Bridge in Port Fairy (Gipps Street).
• Team Check-In - Friday Night or Saturday Morning.
• Vehicle Number Stickers.
• Start Location – Breakfast Options.
• Ride Safety Briefing – Compulsory – Mildura & Echuca Start.
• Hamilton Team Check-In – Saturday Night / Sunday Morning.
• Compulsory Stops – Mildura Route & Echuca Route.
• Hamilton to Port Fairy Route - Sunday 29 March.
• Breakfast (5.30–6.45am) at Hamilton (HILAC).
• Hawkesdale Morning Tea - Optional Stop:
• Port Fairy Finish – Railway Place– Starts at 11:30 am - Final Presentation (Short).
• Graham Woodrup Memorial Award Announced   -  M2M Sponsorship Prizes – Announced.

New Start Location from Hamilton:  This year the Start Location in Hamilton will move from the Horner Street Gate at the Hamilton Showgrounds (Southern End) to the Shakespeare Street Gate at the Showgrounds (Northern End) – opposite HILAC (Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre).  Riders will line up inside the Showgrounds and then be called to the start line at 2 minute intervals.  Riders will exit the gate and then turn left down the hill into the main town.  Teams need to arrive at the start at about 6:50 am and be ready to leave from 7:00 am.

REMINDER:  Riders will need lights for about 30 minutes from the Hamilton Start – as we are still under daylight savings.

Start Times – Mildura, Echuca and Hamilton:  The Team Start Times will be e-mailed to Captains on Monday 23 March.  They will be similar to last year.  On the River starts - Mildura & Echuca, Teams and Supporters, need to arrive before the 8:30 am – Compulsory Safety Briefing – Teams will leave from 9:00 am, at 2 Minute intervals.

Road Conditions and the Moyne Bridge in Port Fairy:  The Ride Directors check the Mildura and Echuca Routes the day before the event.  Any issues will be identified at the Saturday morning Safety Briefing.  The Moyne River Bridge (Gipps Street) Port Fairy is open both ways, but some large metal plates have been fixed to the roadway.  This could be quite hazardous – especially if damp – so please follow the Marshalls instructions - who may ask you to walk over the bridge.

Team Check-In - Friday Night or Saturday Morning.  All Team Captains must check-in with the Ride Officials either 6-7pm Friday evening or at 8:00am Saturday morning.  See info below for Check-in Times and Locations. Upon check-in you will receive a Team Event Bag which includes the Official Ride Guide, Team Numbers for Each Rider, Safety Pins to attach the Nos, Plus Penshurst / Hawkesdale Route - PINK sticker and ORANGE stickers for vehicles & trailers and M2M Policies.

Mildura Route Check-In: Friday Night 6:00pm to 7:00pm or Saturday morning from 8:00am to 8:30am - Location:  Mildura Start Location - Richies IGA – 2109, 15th Street, Irymple.

Echuca Route Check-In: Friday Night 6:00pm to 7:00pm Location:  Paddlewheel Motel carpark, 385 High St, Echuca or Saturday morning from 7:30am to 8:30am - Location: Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, 74 Murray Esplanade, Echuca.

Saturday 28 March - Breakfast Options: 

Mildura Start:  Ritchies – Supa IGA Shopping Centre – Irymple Hub –

Sunraysia Bread & Butter Bakery.  Menu:  Has all of your bakery needs covered! Bread, coffee, pastries, cakes and slices. Cooked breakfast available Thursday – Sunday.  Open:  7:00 am Sat.

Echuca Start:  Echuca Discovery Centre Start. Rapid Relief Team. 

Menu:  Barista Coffee, Baked Goods.  Payment:  Gold Coin Donation:

Ride Safety Briefing:  A compulsory briefing for all riders and support crew will be held at 8.30 am at the starting location:

• Mildura - Richies IGA, Supermarket 2109 15th Street, Irymple. (South End).
• Echuca - Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, 74 Murray Esplanade, Echuca.

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

Parking at the Echuca Start location:  Parking at the Port of Echuca Wharf Discovery Centre is limited to “Official Vehicles Only” on the Murray Esplanade.  Teams will need to find parking in the nearby streets.

Hamilton Team Check-In – Saturday Night / Sunday Morning:  When Teams arrive in Hamilton.  Team Captains need to either phone the Hamilton Crew Check-in on the following Phone Nos or physically check-in at HILAC – 80 Shakespeare Street Hamilton.   (Corner of Shakespeare Street and King Street).

Hamilton Phone-in Check-in Nos:  Phil —0427 600 610 or Bryan - 0408 067 080

We need to know that you have arrived safely so you must make contact !

If you do NOT Check-In we will continue to ring your Team Members until we get a reply!

Compulsory Stops – Mildura & Echuca Routes:  On each route a short 20-to-30-minute Compulsory STOP will occur.  This is to allow the slower teams to catch up and we recommend that these are timed to approximate a “Dinner Time” around 5:30pm to 7:00pm – depending upon the weather conditions!

Mildura Route:  WARRACKNABEAL, Toilets, Werrigar Fuel & BP Roadhouse, Warracknabeal, 213 Henty Highway, Fast food, Drinks, Toilets, Fuel etc – 250kms completed.

Echuca Route:  STAWELL,Toilets, Woolworths Supermarket Carpark.  Barbecue items, Coleslaw, Bread, Soft drinks, Water. $7:50 - Hamburgers with the Lot.  Barista Coffee,  290kms Completed. Provided by Rural Aussies for Refugees (RAR) – Payment:  Eftpos / Credit Cards.

Hamilton to Port Fairy Route - Sunday 29 March.

Breakfast (5.30–6.45am) at Hamilton – Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre (HILAC) – Lions Club will supply hot food (Egg & Bacon Rolls etc) and HILAC — Barista Coffee / Tea, cold drinks, fresh fruit cups & sandwiches etc.  Northern end of Showgrounds (Corner of Shakespeare Street and King Street).

Teams not staying at HILAC are encouraged to come along for Breakfast.  Please email me and let me know if you are looking to come to HILAC for Breakfast – so we have an idea of how many people we can expect.

Hawkesdale Morning Tea - Optional Stop:

Hawkesdale CERT - Critical Emergency Response Team.  Menu:  Homemade Country Baked Goods, Scones, Slices, Cakes plus Tea & Coffee, Toilets, Payment:  Gold Coin Donation.

Number of Vehicles following the riders from Hamilton to Port Fairy:

Teams with 16 participants or more will be allowed to send 2 vehicles down the Penshurst / Hawkesdale Route from Hamilton to Port Fairy - if they wish (But your Vehicle MUST Display the PINK Sticker on the top front of the screen) provided in your Team Pack.

All other teams are only allowed 1 vehicle to travel this route to reduce the traffic congestion – (Vicpol Instruction); otherwise all Non-Designated vehicles must travel to Port Fairy via the Macarthur route.  See the Ride Guide for specific route details. 

ONLY VEHICLES WITH PINK STICKERS PERMITTED TO FOLLOW RIDERS—ALL OTHER NON-DESIGNATED  VEHICLES MUST LEAVE AT OR BEFORE 7.00AM & STAY IN FRONT OF RIDE LEAD VEHICLE OR FOLLOW THE NON-DESIGNATED VEHICLE ROUTE VIA MACARTHUR .

Check-In  and Collect your Team Medals from the M2M Tent – near the Finish Line.  Music Entertainment.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the Presentation, where we recognise:

Team Milestones and Individual Achievements. 

Announce the Winners of the Graham Woodrup Memorial Award

Announce the Winners of the Sponsorship Prizes.  These Include:

These Participant Prizes will be selected by randomly selecting Participant Names using their M2M Registration No at the M2M Committee Meeting on the Tuesday before the 2026 M2M.  You have to be Registered to win it

• Hearns Port Fairy Accommodation Package:
• Langleys Port Fairy / Warrnambool Accommodation Package:
• Port Fairy Big 4 Holiday Park 1:
• Port Fairy Big 4 Holiday Park 2:
• Winners – Gels & Bars Team Prize:

PLUS:   Rotary BBQ:  Gold Coin Donation.  Barista Coffee:  Payment Options: Cash / Credit Card.

Child Safety Policy:  To Register - Riders must be 15 Years of age as at the 28 March 2026.

Riders between the ages of 15 and 17 years must be accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian as part of our child safe policy.  A copy of the full policy will be included in your Team Bag.

Please be sure to Read the “Official Ride Guide” Carefully.

We wish thank all of our 2026 event sponsors for their support and generosity.

Sponsors: KFC - Bird Group, Lane Transport - Killarney, Westvic Staffing Solutions, Big 4 Port Fairy Caravan Park, Rebecca's Cafe & Ice Creamery, Port Fairy BP Roadhouse, Port Fairy Electrics, Langley's Accommodation, Hearn's Port Fairy Accommodation.

Inkind Sponsors:  Winners Sports Nutrition Bars & Gels  - Team Prize Pack, Warrnambool Toyota, Norton Motor Group, Callaghan Motors, Clinton Baulch Motors - McLaren Hunt Financial Group, Taits Legal, G & M Auto Electrics, Steve Gray - Sign Writing,  IXplainIT Technical Training. HILAC Center - Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre.

M2M Supporters:  Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Apex, Local Community Groups, Moyne Shire, Moyne Health Service, TechInsight Web Services, Coffee with the Girls, Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Looking forward to another great ride:  Peter Bollard, M2M President –