A BUG'S LIFE

an entomological study in to the "life cycle" of the Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group

 

In 2003, the former Hervey Bay City Council called a public interest meeting & held this at the CWA building in Bideford Street, Torquay.  Approximately 15 persons attended and after a brief description as to what a BUG was from two council representatives chairing the meeting, David M became the groups first president and Mark P was elected the groups first secretary. As the Hervey Bay BUG, we were off and buzzing!

A sign-on BBQ day was held soon after at the Botanical Gardens in Elizabeth Street where, in spite of Cary's cooking, seven dedicated cycling enthusiasts placed their signature on the line and handed over their money. Mary-Ann P was press-ganged into being the first treasurer.

Things were financially tight in the early days. Our bank account was boosted dramatically by David M who personally lent the group $50 to meet the banks minimum balance requirements; necessary as we couldn't afford to pay the account keeping charges! The president & secretary were heavily involved on the public speaking circuit back then, spreading the word on the newly formed group. Mark gave one presentation to Hervey Bay Rotary and so impressed were they that the governments $150 incorporation fee was quickly forthcomming. This was essential in order to gain insurance for our office bearers as we had big plans to run many future events...

The first annual event was established. The Saturday morning ride at Christmas terminated at Mark & Sues place. All five riders turned up. This has continued ever since even though the hosts have relocated.

Due to personal reasons David M stepped down during this first term and Dave Mac took over. As both had basically the same first name, this saved us time, effort & money. We decided that this was a great idea so made this a requirement for all future presidents. Meetings during this first term were held in a small meeting room at the council library, near the university in Pialba. This was better than the public phone box we thought we would have to use. The library room may also have been small but we didn't have too many members back then, and it was cheap. In fact, it was free - courtesy of the council. One of our main aims then was to be the 'eyes & ears' of council, identifying maintenance issues and areas of concern for cyclists detailed in monthly reports prepared by the secretary and dutifully despached to our engineering contact at council, Craig.

As the library needed the room for paying tenants, we were asked to move on & into the old Seagulls clubhouse on Bideford Street. However, within 12 months this was also now required by another commercial concern. As our membership had grown to around 50 and we were now just able to financially 'pay our way', we were offered a hall in the Arts & Crafts Centre just next door where we remain to this day. Did I mention that money was tight?

Getting the word out there continued to be high on the priority list. Mark continued to appear as a regular monthly guest on local Community Radio. Dave Mac and his disciples ran cycling instruction couses at the library during school holidays.

It was now 2005. A move to the "dark side" saw Craig now joining the group as a member and becoming the next president in spite of member concerns that his name was not David.

Survival now assured and establishment issues a thing of the past, expansion was the new priority. Get the word out. The Saturday morning signature ride was growing steadily to a point where the coffee shop at the end of the ride found it difficult to cope. So graded rides with a staggered finish were introduced.

The Maryborough branch was established with the signature Sunday morning ride and, reflecting the cosy togetherness that is at the core of the group, we changed the name to the all encompasing one we have today.

2007 saw a return to the long established standard of another David as president, David J.

The first of the River to River rides took off as well as the Woodgate Ride. Both of these rides have now been adopted as annual events. Members also participate in Bicycle Queensland events including the 9-day Cycle Queensland with now around 20 of our riders taking part in that plus providing a steady supply of volunteers.

In 2008 the club took on the project of converting the old abandoned rail corridor between Maryborough & Hervey Bay into a sustainable transport track. Long time sponsors Cardno (local engineering company), the other cycle groups in the two towns and input from outside experienced rail trail experts have all cooperated to push the project on.

'Revolutionary Women' also took off and has become another annual training program directed solely at teaching around 20 of the softer gender some of the more blokey issues of cycling. This is organised by our ladies of the club & instruction is by a qualified female trainer. Sorry, no guys allowed.

Road cycling was not the only type of bicycle activity we are involved in. The club became active with the Bicentennial National Trail organisation. Members re-surveyed sections of the BNT around Mt Perry and beyond. We now have former president & foundation member Dave Mac appointed as a director of this body.

2009 saw Peter elected as president but we just call him David.

2010 has seen the Howard branch, the third of the FCBUG start with 8 riders on the inaugural ride.

At time of writing, there are now over 160 financial members, the last ordinary monthly meeting filled the meeting hall and sixty plus members typically partake of the Saturday morning ride in Hervey Bay. We have now seen the introduction of rides, including unofficial ones, run every day of the week!

The never ending story will continue. Watch this space...