Hannah Hammoud
The wheels at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre (BBEC) will soon be coming to a stop, after three decades of service.
The BBEC, formerly known as the Green Gully Traffic Safety Centre, was originally developed as a joint project between the St Albans Rotary Club (now Brimbank Central) and the Keilor Council (now Brimbank Council) in June of 1993.
After 30 years of providing Vic Roads accredited bicycle education and school children road safety traffic awareness, the volunteer-run, not for profit organisation is set to close in June.
BBEC secretary Richard Carthew has been with the centre for 20 years.
“I believe in my time here, the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre has become the best in Australia,” he said.
As part of its ‘last hoorah’, the BBEC has donated $10,000 from its remaining assets to The Smith Family charity – a generous donation that will support the education of 15 children in need for an entire school year.
The Smith Family supports children in need by providing learning essentials such as new school books, stationary, access to homework support clubs, new school uniforms, as well as enabling children to attend school excursions that they would otherwise miss out on.
“It’s fantastic to know that we can help in this way. I work as a school bus driver, and there are lots of families struggling. Sometimes when schools have excursions some kids can’t join because it is biting the family budget,” Mr Carthew said.
Mr Carthew said over the years the centre has received great community support, and said the team was disappointed to have had to make the decision to close.
“The centre has been running on the work from four volunteers. One of our volunteers is 60 years old, the other is 65, and then two 70 year olds. The work we do is very specialised and needs the correct training. It can really strain an older person and unfortunately we are no longer able to keep up with the service,” he said.
But while it may be the end of the ride for the organisation, Mr Carthew said he is hopeful that the centre will remain a Brimbank institution.
“We are hoping to hand the centre over to Brimbank council and that it will just be a change of hands. If council will keep the centre running, then we will donate all our bikes, helmets, tools and spare parts.”
The BBEC will close its doors on June 30. The community is welcomed to pay a visit before that date.
