First Nations Telegraph

Indigenous kids in remote Northern Territory communities will have free bikes from October 17.

 

The nearly 100 bikes were kept out of landfill and fully refurbed by a group of Sydney-based volunteers as part of the new ‘Bikes for Indigenous Kids Enterprise’ (BIKE) run by Revolve ReCYCLING.

 

As part of a 10000-kilometer road trip from inner Sydney and across the Territory, the bikes will be delivered by Revolve ReCYCLING’s General Manager, Guido Verbist, and General Hand, Siena Young, from October 17 to October 22.

 

‘Every kid in Australia deserves the joy of a bicycle,’ Guido said.

 

‘All the bikes being distributed are quality, branded bikes that Sydney kids have grown out of,’ Guido continued.

 

‘It’s great to save these bikes from landfill, make cultural connections, work with an Indigenous NGO Wanta, and help the kids in these remote places out.’

 

BIKE will deliver bikes to Indigenous communities in: Alice Springs/Uluru (October 17); Hermannsburg (October 18); Black Tank Bore (October 19); Kalkarindji (October 21), and Ngukurr (October 22).

 

Guido explained that BIKE is part of the ‘bike equity’ championed by Revolve ReCYCLING.

 

‘Every bike is a chance to share happiness, fairness and opportunity,’ Guido said.

 

‘In the last two years, with the help of our volunteers and staff, some 600 kids including Indigenous kids in inner Sydney, Ukrainian refugee kids, and kids in disadvantaged schools in NSW, Queensland and Victoria have received our redeployed bikes.

 

‘In future, through the new charitable Revolve ReCYCLING Foundation and BIKE, we will aim to give new life to 1000 old bikes for needy kids every year, and we would be thrilled if people want to support our goal and give some joy to some great kids,’ Guido added.

 

As well as the bikes, tools and equipment for their maintenance and repair in local communities will be delivered and training of locals provided by BIKE.

 

'On local suggestions, we’ve pumped special sealant into the tyres for outback conditions like thorns. The little things count when you want to do big things,” Guido said.

 

A fundraising campaign has been launched to cover the cost. https://asf.org.au/projects/revolve-recycling-foundation/bikes-for-kids-in-remote-communities

 

Revolve ReCYCLING was founded in September 2021 and aims to help Australia’s riders, bike shops, Councils and share fleets a sustainability solution for used bikes.

 

It has thus far recovered, recycled and/or redeployed 6000 bicycles, saving 85 tonnes of waste from landfill and 160 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

 

Revolve ReCYCLING also employs several people from disadvantaged backgrounds.