By KATH GANNAWAY
A GROUP five Yarra Valley sixty-somethings (and beyond) may have struggled to find a lot in common until the Scootabor Challenge grabbed their attention almost a year ago.
What they’ve discovered as their plans to ride on Piaggio Typhoon 50cc scooters across the Nullarbor have taken shape is a shared quest for adventure and a commitment to helping raise the profile of mental health issues through Beyondblue.
The group, Perry Carter from Launching Place, Bob Gannaway and Jock Purves from Healesville and friends Dr Felicity Nolle from Chirnside Park and Diane Roberts from Yarra Glen, leave this week for an adventure that none of them had earmarked as bucket list material.
Spontaneity – another thing they have in common!
The Yarra Valley contingent is part of a national team of 20 riders who will leave Port Augusta on 9 September to ride the Eyre Highway, alternating riders over the next 11 days as they make their way to Fremantle.
The driving force behind Scootabor is Queenslander, former pilot and Vietnam veteran Ian Jacobsen.
He wanted to get the message across to government that older people are a national asset, not a liability, and that mental illness can affect anyone at any age.
It’s a message that Perry Carter is right behind.
Perry lost a sister to suicide when she was just 18, and a workmate the same way.
The connection with Beyondblue and the organisation’s proactive role in addressing depression and other mental health issues was a compelling reason to get involved.
“Everybody has knowledge of it and if they don’t have it themselves, they certainly know someone not too far away who is suffering from a mental illness, or who has,” he said.
He agrees with Mr Jacobsen’s comments on older Australian’s as well, saying they have the ability to have enormous input into all aspects of life.
“Experience and wisdom are attributes you don’t get with younger people, that comes with age,” he said.
Scootabor Challenge aims to raise $300,000 and will be calling on Nullarbor communities to help meet that target as they scoot along the iconic highway.
To get behind the Yarra Valley team, donations can be made on-line to
www.everydayhero.com.au/event/ScootarborChallengebeyondblue.
