Canberra To Singapore Cyclist To Ride Through Cowra

Retired Canberra scientist and academic, Dr Ian Wallis, sets off from Burgmann College ANU at 9am on 1 May 2023, riding through NSW, Queensland and NT, to Timor Leste and Indonesia to Singapore. He expects to reach Singapore in September 2023.

Dr Wallis will pass through 80 cities and towns, including Cowra, and cover over 6,750 kilometres, raising funds for the indigo foundation’s partners supporting the rights of women and girls in Timor Leste, India and Indonesia.

He will leave Canberra at 9am on Monday 1 May with Canberra cyclists The Indefatigables, who will accompany him through Yass and Boorowa to Cowra. After overnighting in Cowra and meeting local schoolchildren, Dr Wallis will ride on alone, stopping to meet local communities and spread the word about the work of the indigo foundation to provide equitable access to education and health care to women and girls, wherever they may be. He rides without support, usually camping each night.

Dr Wallis has ridden through England, across Europe, from Boston to Oregon and down the west coast of the USA. He has cycled from London to Singapore and now needs to close the gap. He says that his last ride showed him first-hand the inequities women and girls faced in accessing health care and education.

“Riding a bike loaded with all that I need makes me feel more part of the environment. I feel less removed from those I see doing it tough along the way - the farm and road workers and the women carrying huge loads,” said Dr Wallis. In Dili Dr Wallis will meet with indigo’s local partner Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Nasional (JDN) - Youth for National Development, to see their work addressing sexual harassment, public safety and other issues faced by young women in Timor Leste. JDN was established by young people in Timor Leste as a peer education and advocacy organisation. JDN aims to address the systemic issues that create obstacles to the healthy and productive development of young people and Timor Leste society.

• Topics:
• Fundraiser
• Cycling