COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of a number of Port Stephens events in recent months, but the pandemic could not halt the Variety Postie Bike Dash, which raises much-needed funds for underprivileged children living in country NSW.
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Lining up for his fourth consecutive year is retired Nelson Bay builder Warwick Mathieson, who enjoys nothing more than the freedom of riding his two-wheeler.
And while the dash has been given the green light by state and local governments, the popular school presentations have been banned.
"Usually we would stop at schools along the way distributing cheques for equipment, but unfortunately that has been dashed this year due to the pandemic," he said.
The 71-year-old will ride his trusty 110cc Honda in this year's Variety dash, which will run from November 1 to 7 starting and finishing in the country music capital, Tamworth.
"In the first year I decided to wear one of my more colourful bow ties and jackets, which was a bit of a novelty among the other riders so they have become part of my regular dash attire," Mr Mathieson said.
Mathieson will join 70 other postie bike riders for the 2020 event, riding 1600km from Tamworth to Noonan Flat, Gloucester, Comboyne, North Haven, Nambucca Heads, Coutts Crossing, Glen Innes, Bundarra and Gunnedah before returning to Tamworth.
"Last year [all dashers] raised $165,000 for Variety."
To donate go to fundraise.varietynswact.org.au and search Warwick Mathieson. Or, click here.
