| On car journeys to Adelaide or elsewhere, one may sometimes pass a lone long distance cyclist towing his luggage, and wonder ‘how many kangaroos were loose in his upper paddock’? Of all the ways to spend one’s time, money and energy, the effort of bicycling vast distances ranks as inexplicable in the modern day world, where cars and motor racing are given so much attention.
One such solo, unsupported, cyclist rode into Iron Knob township on Friday, May 29 – just before sunset. He was Udeni Gunasekera, 56, a Geo technical Engineer from Western Australia, travelling from Perth to Melbourne. It was the 34th day of his odyssey.
Although he left his native Sri Lanka many years ago, settling in Australia in 1981, he has been mindful of the needs in his homeland. This bicycle trip is being made to raise funds for a much needed Portable Echo Cardiogram Unit.
This would enable medical staff to travel to locations where children have heart defects and carry out required screening. Currently such units are solely located in Colombo’s main children’s hospital, and patients in peripheral areas must wait for transport by ambulance for screening to be done. Time delays in waiting and the attendant anxiety can be alleviated with portable units.
A keen walker, cyclist and outdoor camper from his youngest days growing up in Kurunegala, Udeni has been planning such an adventurous trip for some years. He carries his own tent, clothing, food, water, communication and other essential devices and has braved the climate and weather since setting out from Perth in April. He travels during daylight hours, and makes his bed in either a roadhouse/motel if available, or makes a bush camp not far from the highway.
He has developed his own safe road use practices bearing in mind other road users, their limitations when sharing the road with him, as well as the available space and conditions of the road shoulder on which he rides. He has met other similar travellers including one solo long distance walker. Many truck drivers strike up friendships and give tips and advice when meeting up in road houses in the evening.
Passing through Adelaide for the final leg of his journey on to Melbourne, Udena will be greeted by his wife and two daughters with other family and friends, when he completes this inspirational and uplifting journey of 3600 km. His large heartedness and sacrifice, to help the children in Sri Lanka - whose own hearts may need major corrective surgery - is a truly uplifting example, in these times when the media carries many stories of a depressing nature.
All funds raised will go to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
RAA
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