Support crew profile: Brian Birchall

I have been a support crew member of five rides in the New Enlgand North West. I decided to participate in the Barossa Ride becasue I like the challenge and the commitment people involved display while trying to help and riase money for the chopper. I also enjoy the friendship and comeraderie that comes with participating in a ride like this.

Ken “Westie” West

Home Town: Tamworth
Previous rides for Service: Four in the New England North West, two in Newcastle
Any other mountain bike rides: Nil
Reason for participating in Barossa to Tamworth ride: This ride is a lot different to the other rides, it is a bigger rider, it’s longer , expected to be harder and more of a challenge. I’m looking forward to it, I will chop and change between riding and being a member of the support crew.

Rider profile: Bob Freeman

Rider Profile: Bob Freeman
Home Town: Inverell
Previous Rides for the Service:
7 Mountain bike bashes
2 Walcha team Challenges
1 Guyra top of the range challenge
1 Inverell Teams Challenge


Bob is married with 2 children ages 12 and 15. Has many interests and enjoys plenty of 2 and 4 wheeled action, motorised or not.

Bob’s mountain bike riding career kicked off in the mid 80’s and he spent many years riding the bush around Newcastle in Glenrock State Recreation area and Mt Sugarloaf before moving west to take up teaching. In Inverell his favourite haunt is the Goonoowigall bushland known well to the Tamworth Callala Mongrels who have braved the occasional day riding with Bob.

Cajoled into his first Westpac charity ride in 2004 by two friends and local Inverell businessmen, Bob was soon hooked and has participated in every bash since. His commitment to the helicopter service inspired him to help co-ordinate the inaugural Inverell Teams Challenge in 2009 and it is hoped this will become an annual event.

Being born, bred and working on the cost of NSW for most of his life Bob has found the change to country life to be a good one. Becoming involved with the Westpac Mountain bike events has taken him to many small communities and country towns that otherwise he would not had the opportunity to visit.

Bob took on the role of year advisor at about the same time of his first Westpac ride. After supporting these students through their senior schooling for 6 years the 2009 graduating group committed to throw their support behind him by fundraising for the Barossa ride. The students put in an outstanding effort for their Year 12 fund raising campaign, raising over $2000 for the service to support the 10th anniversary ride. Macintyre High School is very proud to have their school logo feature on the ride shirts this year.

Bob is pleased to introduce his teaching colleague from Macintyre, Nick McLoughlin, to the Westpac mountain bike family and Nick will be joining him for the 10th anniversary ride.

Rider profile: Ross Dobson

"Hey Roscoe, were going to do something special for the 10th anniversary of the 'the Ride' in 2010", was how Barry Walton opened up the phone call.

Which he followed up with a clipped "Ya interested?""Sure" I confidently responded. "Where to mate?"."The Barossa back to Tamworth over three weeks, you wanna come?""Oh you bet!" was how I got myself into the challenge.1700 kilometers in 21 days on a mountain bike, about a third of the distance across Australia, on the dirt back roads fundraising for the New England North West Rescue Helicopter Service.

I had completed four of the previous nine rides whilst residing in Armidale through most of the Noughties, originally becoming involved through the calculated provocation of ABC Local Radio New England North West's David Evans.With the initial excited and impetuous response to Barry a distant memory, now residing in 'Our Nation's Capital', Canberra and having missed the last four rides, not to mention the middle age spread gathering bulk around my waist, I bravely (stupidly) committed to raise funds, get fit and complete the ride.

So, why does a Canberran ride to raise funds for the Tamworth based chopper? Well, I can easily appreciate the profound benefit of fast expert medical assistance being rendered in the field. It is only a short extension of the imagination to envisage having an accident on my bike an hour or two into the bush and have the chopper land close by and transport me to hospital, or just as easy to think of my relatives and friends at work or play in the New England North West who may have the misfortune to need the chopper.

This ride brings up my fifth, it will be good to renew acquaintances with Goog, Steve, Shane and Bob, but Barry had better make sure I get a badge :)

Rider profile: Geoff Battle

I was born in Tamworth in 1961 and lived there until I was 20. I went to Hillvue Public school when it first opened and was school captain. Then moved on to Tamworth High whereI stayed until finishing yr 12 in 1979. My father, Peter Battle, was a teacher there. He and my mum Ivy still live in Tamworth, in St andrews Retirement Village.On leaving school I joined the Commonwealth Bank and worked for about 4 years in Tamworth before starting my travelling around the state. I worked at Gunnedah, Uralla, Cowra, Moree and Inverell branches, mainly in the loans department. In 2003 I left the bank and took up a job as the manager of a credit union in Forster Tuncurry where I remained until I was retrenched in 2005. After 4 months of being unemployed I landed the job as general manager of the local funeral home, which is where I am still employed. Its a job I enjoy immensly.I am married and have been for almost 7 years and inherited three children, now 22, 21 and 16. My wife (Deb) is a nurse, in charge of the operating theatre and day surgery at the local private hospital.Sports intersts outside bike riding would include soccer and volleyball. I am aslo heavily involved in the local Uniting Church as I have been ever since I can remember and am a qulaified lay preacher.I have two sisters, Marie and Jennifer; Marie lives in Forster and Jennifer is a school teacher in Maitland.

Rider profile: Shane "Shaneo" Paul

Hi my name is Shane Paul aka Shaneo.

I'm participating in the Barossa to Tamworth Mountain Bike Ride, celebrating Westpac Rescue Helicopter New England North West 10th Anniversary based at Tamworth.

I have participated in all the Tamworth Mountain Bike Bash Rides since its inception and have participated in Westpac Mountain Bike Fundraisers with the Hunter and North-Coast Westpac Helicopters, some 18/19 in all over the past 12 years.

I have a dual role as a participant/ safety officer/ first aider (medico).

I have completed numerous long distance rides before, during the 80's and 90's and thought it about time to do another long distance ride other than on a motorbike which i usually do these days.

I ride for fitness and enjoyment being an ambo and registered nurse. I see first hand the benefits of trauma/ medical retreivals via helicopters to specilised care at major regional / receival hosiptals, which has profound affects on patient outcomes. I'm also aware of the importance of health and fitness for a happy healthy lifestyle.

Most of all I enjoy the camaraderie of other riders and support crew, as over the years we have multiple re-offenders within our ranks and it's all part of being an extended family.

Feel free to support your local helicopter with a small donation as you never know who you will help next :-)