READY TO RIDE: Ken John and Les Bumbak are ready to fire up the Hondas for a 1700km ride around the south of the state and are looking for others to join them.
WANTED: a spirit of adventure, a 110cc ‘postie’ bike and someone to have fun riding around southern WA for a week in September.
These are the basic requirements for a special Lions fundraising effort to assist the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Driving this project are seven postie bike enthusiasts from Carnarvon and Augusta, headed by Leeuwin Lions Club members Les Bumbak and Ken John.
Last August, the two “50-somethings” raised almost $5000 for the RFDS by completing a 1600km Postie Bike Challenge on outback roads between Carnarvon and Meekatharra.
Les and Ken of Karridale joined six other riders – all on 110cc Hondas designed for city use – and six support crew, raising in total more than $15,000 for the RFDS following a mail route pioneered in 1924 by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
They collected letters written by East Carnarvon Primary School children and delivered them to schools at Gascoyne Junction, Burringurrah Aboriginal community and Meekatharra, then delivered the replies.
Les was one of four riders still on L plates, having only learned to ride a motorbike a year ago.
The tiny Hondas proved their worth, sitting on 60kmh for hours on end over extremely rough terrain.
This year, they will leave Augusta on September 21 and will cover 1700km in seven days, overnighting in Manjimup, Albany, Lake Grace, Kulin, Kojonup and Busselton.
Along the way they will visit and network with members of 31 Lions clubs along the route.
They have allowed for a dozen riders plus support crew, so there are five vacancies for postie bikers to join the contingent, help the RFDS and have some fun.
Postie bike owners interested in joining the ride should contact Les Bumbak on 0448 891 034 or email lesbumbak@augusta.wa.au.