Koonung Secondary College Newsletter

School Activities 

Great Victorian Bike Ride 2017 Preparation  

The following 10 students are participating in the 2017 Great Victorian Bike Ride (GVBR); Oscar Goode, Jack Marulli, Luke Morando, Stefan Natsis, Lucy Ollenrenshaw, James Ollerenshaw, Vanessa Ponza, Ben Taylor, Emily Velling and Charlie Windley. Past Koonung student Paul Glaubitz has kindly volunteered to be a supervisor on the camp. Paul is training to be an English/ Psychology teacher at Deakin University. He is also an experienced rider and very handy with the bike tools.

Here is on overview of the ride:

  • Saturday 25 November Day 1: Wilsons Promontory Starting from scenic Tidal River, you will soak up the natural and unspoiled beauty of Ninety Mile Beach and travel through south Gippsland to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range….
  • Sunday 26 November Day 2: Wilsons Promontory - Foster (58km)
  • Monday 27 November Day 3 - Foster - Yarram (64km)
  • Tuesday 28 November Day 4 -  Yarram - Seaspray (92km)
  • Wednesday 29 November Day 5 -  Seaspray - Bairnsdale (105km)
  • Thursday 30 November  Day 6 - Rest day
  • Friday 1 December Day 7 - Bairnsdale - Maffra (81km)
  • Saturday 2 December Day 8 - Maffra - Glengarry (70km)
  • Sunday 3 December Day 9 - Glengarry - Trafalgar (47km)

There are a number of key benefits that the students will take out of this camping adventure including:

  • practical bicycle maintenance skills
  • better physical fitness
  • heightened spatial awareness skills from riding
  • communicating in groups
  • improved self-confidence
  • resilience and personal development

The GVBR team has worked hard, waking up early on Sunday mornings to cycle and on cup day. Also, supporting and encouraging each other on the rides. Most students are riding a road bike for the first time and have made great progress with their skills and fitness.

Students have participated in 6 training rides:

  1. Koonung to Jells park loop 50km
  2. Koonung to Fed square loop 59km
  3. Koonung to Boronia- Knox – Jells Park loop 60km
  4. Koonung to Eltham loop 50km
  5. Koonung to the city via Gardiner trail, returning via the Boulevard 60km
  6. Hurstbridge hills loop 35km

After this GVBR, the next time Koonung will be taking students on the GVBR will be in 2018 (dependent on numbers). Please contact Mrs Jane Thornton for details: 

jthornton@koonung.vic.edu.au

Jane Thornton

GVBR camp leader