Postie Bike Ride for PTSD

One of our teachers, Mrs Barbara Davey and her husband recently returned from a trip around Australia where Dr Davey road his postie bike in order to raise money for Defence and Veteran’s Suicide Prevention.  You can read all about it below.

Postie Bike Ride Around Australia for PTSD

Leaving 21 June from Nowra after COVID isolation, Dr and Mrs Michael Davey headed north, riding on Highway 1 to Brisbane on his postie bike, raising money for Defence and Veteran’s Suicide Prevention. 

They stopped the first night in Taree, a distance of 600 kilometres. They then made it to Mackay in Queensland where Dr Davey noticed his wet clutch was slipping. After waiting three days for a part to arrive, he rode on to Townsville.  

'It was a shame that part didn’t arrive after being stuck in one place,' Dr Davey said. ‘But then my bike blew up in Townsville,' he added. 'The upside was going to the Royal Commission in Townsville and meeting the commissioners and sharing my concerns for defence and veteran’s suicide.'

Dr Davey had numerous radio and TV interviews around the country. 'We want to raise awareness and funds for those in need, and destigmatise depression and anxiety,’ he often said in interviews. 'We want to inspire and encourage people who find themselves in a dark place to start a conversation with a friend, and in the process seek professional help.'

Dr Davey, and his fellow riders, David Mace and Joseph Kolossa, met while serving at HMAS Albatross as 16-year-olds. 'We all joined the Navy as fifteen-year-olds then a year later met at Albatross and became the best of mates,' he said.

The journey followed Highway 1 in a counter-clockwise direction and spanned almost 15,000 kilometres to complete a full lap of Australia. 'You're not weak if you're suffering depression and it's not weak to seek professional help; that's a sign of strength,’ Dr Davey said.  

Dr Davey’s son is a medical officer in the Navy. 'My son said it was good we're supporting Soldier On because a young veteran came back from Afghanistan suffering from PTSD and took his own life, then his best friend committed suicide in sympathy and that breaks my heart,' Dr Davey said with a watery eye.   

The Soldier On group advocates for defence personnel and veterans and was a natural pick for the trio.   

They will also be standing behind Soldier On's motto of HELP - Health and Wellbeing, Employment Support, Learning and Education and Participation, which results in social connection. The trio are dressed as ‘Where’s Wally’ for the ride. 

'We’ve been a bunch of Wally's riding around,' Dr Davey laughed. 'It's something we're doing because people suffering mental illness are hard to find, they're trying to blend in and hide their symptoms, so that's the metaphor. The journey around Australia hasn’t always been smooth sailing. We crossed multiple causeways that had crocodiles in them along with becoming severely dehydrated in Darwin. There have been multiple mechanical issues along the way. We do big kilometres every day, up to 600 some days but generally aim for around 500, so that has created problems as postie bikes aren’t designed to sit on 80 kilometres per hour all day long.'

Dr Davey also reflected on how much he’s been touched by the giving of Australians on his journey. 'We’ve been amazed at the generosity around the country, and we’ve had pretty much free accommodation all the way which has been brilliant.'   

Driving a vehicle in support, Mrs Davey and her husband arrived back in Nowra on August 5. The 14,500 km lap of the country only took 46 days, a bit over six weeks and has raised $35,000 for Soldier On. 'I am yet to ride through Tasmania and the ACT, so I’m really stoked with how much we have raised in such a short time,' Dr Davey said. 'I’m hoping we can eventually reach our target of $100,000. But, realistically, I will have to go again next year to realise this dream.'

To learn more about the journey or to donate, visit apostieride4ptsd.com.au, and follow the ride through Tasmania and the ACT on their public Facebook group apostieride4ptsd.