t i e n k ’ e a p p ‘M ha
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2015
Welcome to
The 2015 Cycling Victoria International Women’s Day Event, presented by Liv Cycling
We thank Liv Cycling for their work in supporting women’s cycling and for supporting this occasion tonight. The official 2015 UN theme for International Women’s Day is Make it happen! We are very fortunate to have so many terrific people in Victoria making small and big contributions to help make cycling more welcoming to women. Combined, these efforts are making a real difference. Participation by women in all aspects of cycling continues to grow, media coverage continues to improve, and more companies are seeing value in investing in women’s cycling. More importantly, more women and men are getting back on their bikes. Unfortunately, women continue to be underrepresented across many aspects of cycling: in riding, racing, coaching, officiating, administration and watching. We need to keep making it happen! Tonight is a chance to celebrate those who made great contributions throughout 2014. We thank every nominee for their efforts and passion, and look forward to seeing the trends continue in a positive fashion.
#MakeItHappen Monique Hanley
Cycling Victoria Board Member
Special Guest Speaker
Kerryn Harvey In 2013 a seemingly minor cycling accident resulted in Kerryn Harvey contracting a rare life threatening flesh eating bacteria. Radical surgery was required and a right forequarter amputation (arm and shoulder) was performed. Kerryn repeatedly battled against the odds and survived. Kerryn has been able to manage the challenges of her disability through the support of her family, friends and sporting networks, to once again participate in the sports she is passionate about. Kerryn’s journey was the inspiration for the establishment of the START foundation, dedicated to helping others with disabilities to achieve their own sporting dreams. www.startfoundation.org.au
Best Development Initiative Award
This award recognises a Victorian individual (or group) who has led an initiative in 2014 which has provided benefit to women’s cycling in Victoria.
AWARD FINALISTS Ladies Back On Your Bike Helen Kelly Helen established the Park Trent Women’s Team which focussed on the 2014 Victorian Road Series. The team was a mix of junior and senior members to allow for mentoring, leadership and guidance through training and racing. Across their first season, the squad achieved a number of podium results.
Ladies Back On Your Bike is the brainchild of Jacinta Costello. It is the combination of her dream to get more women cycling at any age (with many first time riders between 40 & 80), and her enthusiasm for creating accessibility and opportunities for cycling. She runs a number of rides a week working with a number of different ride leaders around the Bayside suburb. In 2014 they had over 150 women participate in their programs
Peta Stewart In 2014 Peta established a women’s gran fondo squad to participate in the Sam Miranda Gran Fondo. She engaged a number of sponsors to support the program and also made significant financial contributions of her own. The women met in Wangaratta and spent a weekend challenging themselves, attending many social functions, and brought home a huge bundle of inspiration from their energetic leader.
Wheel Women Australia, Tina McCarthy In 2014 Tina taught around 120 women across 16 Wheel Women programs and 2 She Rides programs, developing skills and confidence to achieve their cycling goals. Tina also led a number of initiatives to support women, including charity rides, group participation in Around the Bay, and a development fund to support women who may not be able to afford classes or further development of their cycling interests.
Sunbury Cycling Club Throughout 2014 Sunbury Cycling Club ran specialist skill clinics for women. These clinics were provided free and included expert tuition tailored to the skill level of the participants involved. The cornering and braking clinics attracted 38 women, and the Cyclo-cross skills clinics on the newly dedicated Cyclo-cross course at Essendon Fields attracted 35 participants. The sessions were open to anyone of any ability and have already been repeated in early 2015.
Excellence in Covering Women’s Cycling
This award recognises excellence in individuals or organisations in promoting, reporting or covering any aspect of women’s cycling in Victoria. The work may be in any format: television, online, radio, newspaper, personal blogging and/or social media contributions. The work must have been first published in 2014.
AWARD FINALISTS Peta Stewart Since the 2014 Tour of the King Valley Women’s NRS race Peta Stewart has been showcasing her enthusiasm, passion and superlative knowledge of women’s cycling in the form of race commentary and social media marketing. Events have seen Peta on the microphone calling the race as it unfolds, interviewing the racers pre and post race, posting social media. This showcases the women racers in a way that has never been done before in isolation to the men, and has raised awareness of women’s cycling in a way that is engaging, unique and actually interesting.
Matt de Neef, Cycling Tips Although traditionally focussed on the men’s side of the sport, in 2014 Cycling Tips expanded coverage to include more women’s cycling results and news features. Led by Editor Matt de Neef, this expansion helped provide exposure of women’s cycling to a well-educated cycling audience, and paved the way for a significant investment into a women’s dedicated section of the site.
Jarrod Potter, Star News Group Jarrod is a sports journalist with the Star News Group, based in Pakenham. In 2014 he provided extensive coverage on women and girls involved in cycling based in Melbourne’s South East, with stories ranging from grassroots participation to VIS scholarship holders.
Kirsty Baxter It is hard to find a single women’s cycling project in Victoria that has not been photographed by Kirsty Baxter. Often self-funding trips to cycling events in order to capture the key moments, Kirsty’s passion for cycling is evident. Her terrific eye behind the lens ensures each event is beautifully captured and shared widely.
Jarrod Partridge and Con Chronis, Peloton Café Peloton Café is an Australian-based cycling website that is a source of information, advice and debate for both amateur and professional cycling. Peloton Café was the first to establish a dedicated women’s cycling section, and provides more coverage to NRS women’s events than they do for the NRS men. Jarrod and Con cover every NRS event in Victoria as well as most VRS and CV events.
Verita Stewart In two short years this even shorter pocket rocket climber has gone from a cycling ‘dabbler’ to a major force in Australian cycling.
While her art has attracted the attention of the likes of German sprint sensation Marcel Kittel, Kirsty remains true to supporting the female side and is a true champion for women’s cycling.
Along the way she has documented through her personal blog tales about her racing experiences, her love of her equipment, and the lessons she has learned.
Wheel Women Australia, Tina McCarthy
“Read it, or don’t” she advertises each update to the world, but for a newcomer to the sport, her fresh insights are a mustread.
In 2014 Tina taught around 120 women across 16 Wheel Women programs and 2 She Rides programs, developing skills and confidence to achieve their cycling goals. Tina also led a number of initiatives to support women, including charity rides, group participation in Around the Bay, and a development fund to support women who may not be able to afford classes or further development of their cycling interests.
Von Micich Since her first race experience, Von has kept a personal blog detailing each race and more importantly, the dedicated required in order for her to compete while managing a full time job. A late comer to cycling, she brings an enthusiasm that is infectious and is one of the biggest advocates for getting older women racing through masters and veterans events.
Champions of Change Award
This award recognises Victorians who have made a positive impact on women’s cycling from their contributions to the sport within their community, club or group / bunch in 2014.
AWARD FINALISTS Helen Kelly Andy Van Bergan Andy formed the Domestique Seven Peaks series along with Matt de Neef, with significant success. Over 100 women participated in some of the dedicated climbing events thanks to the encouragement and marketing to the female audience. After witnessing Tessa Fabry on the podium at a NRS event with duct tape on her shoes, Andy arranged a fundraiser to provide vital funds to support her racing goals. In July this was extended to a major fundraiser for Tessa and Kendelle, which enabled the two riders to race overseas for the first time in their careers.
Helen established the Park Trent Women’s Team which focussed on the 2014 Victorian Road Series. The team was a mix of junior and senior members to allow for mentoring, leadership and guidance through training and racing. Across their first season, the squad achieved a number of podium results.
Sarah Gigante In 2014 and while an Under 15 cyclist, Sarah asked an important question: why can’t girls race the same distances as the boys? Her passion for equalising distances between girls and boys of the same age was supported by Cycling Victoria. On behalf of Sarah, Cycling Victoria has lobbied to have this changed by Cycling Australia.
Jacinta Costello An active and passionate cyclist, Jacinta acquired her Aust Cycle Teacher status in November 2012 and used this additional training to introduce and teach cycling skills to women in several clinics in the communities of Kingston and Bayside. Jacinta’s background of more than 40 years cycling, combined with a Physical Education degree has enabled her to shine in her role as a cycle teacher, social network facilitator, and mentor for older women to get into cycling.
Matt De Neef Although traditionally focussed on the men’s side of the sport, in 2014 Cycling Tips expanded coverage to include more women’s cycling results and news features. Led by Editor Matt de Neef, this expansion helped provide exposure of women’s cycling to a well-educated cycling audience, and paved the way for a significant investment into a women’s dedicated section of the site.
Tina McCarthy Tina has had such an impact on women’s cycling in a very short space of time that others from around Australia look to Wheel Women as a model of what can be achieved. In 2014 Tina presented at the VeloCity Global Conference in Adelaide and became a brand ambassador for Specialized in addition to her work supporting women improve their skills and confidence on the bike.
Sunbury Cycling Club Throughout 2014 Sunbury Cycling Club ran specialist skill clinics for women. These clinics were provided free and included expert tuition tailored to the skill level of the participants involved. The cornering and braking clinics attracted 38 women, and the Cyclocross skills clinics on the newly dedicated Cyclo-cross course at Essendon Fields attracted 35 participants. The sessions were open to anyone of any ability and have already been repeated in early 2015.
Peta Stewart In 2014 Peta established a women’s gran fondo squad to participate in the Sam Miranda Gran Fondo. She engaged a number of sponsors to support the program and also made significant financial contributions of her own. Peta also donated her time to assist in media coverage of women’s cycling events through interviews, video diaries and race commentary.
Bicycle Superstore NRS Women’s Team The philosophy behind the BSS NRS Women’s Team is not only about what happens on the bike, but the opportunity to generate change off the bike as well. To deliver on this, BSS NRS Women’s Team members dedicate a number of hours to supporting women’s skills clinics and information sessions. In June 2014, the BSS NRS Women’s Team hosted the feature film, Half the Road, about the passions and pitfalls of the professional women’s cycling peloton.
Nicola Davis Spirit of Breeze Award
This award has been established in 2014 to recognise an individual who reflects the spirit of Cycling Victoria’s Breeze Rides Program: encouraging women to ride.
AWARD FINALISTS Tanya Sturt Tanya became a Breeze leader in November 2012 and runs a weekly Sunday ride along Beach Road, followed by coffee. “I like running my Breeze Rides as it not only provides me with motivation to be out riding and keeping fit, but it motivates other women as well”, she said. “I like how it brings people together, everyone has a different story and can bring out some great conversations.”
Simone Evans Simone runs regular rides for women of all abilities in the northern suburbs. She is a Specialized brand ambassador through her local bike shop, Bike ‘n Bean. Simone trained as a ride leader alongside Nicola Davis in November 2012. The most satisfying thing for her work in encouraging women to ride was seeing riders who once needed the security of a planned ride having enough confidence to venture out without it.
Marg Noonan Marg wears many hats in cycling, but being a Breeze leader and helping women to discover their confidence on the bike is one she is most proud of. Marg established connections with local bike shops who call on her to provide one on one time with women rediscovering cycling. Her friendly and welcoming style puts tensions at ease and helps with transition of women becoming more confident road users on the bike.
Elizabeth George Elizabeth George volunteers her time for Ladies Back On Your Bike, helping those who lack skills and confidence to take up cycling again. She works four days a week, however on her days off runs a regular ride in the Bayside area. She goes about it in a quiet and unassuming manner.
Sam Sutton A passionate advocate for health and fitness, Sam discovered cycling and became hooked. She now combines her own racing aspirations with working with beginners in the western suburbs, developing great numbers of regular female participants who are drawn to her upbeat personality and the fun of two wheels.
Jenny Richards Jenny Richards was one of the many women who commenced their cycling through Ladies Back On Your Bike. Now she volunteers her time to help other women gain confidence and skills through assisting in leading rides and other programs
Iris Dixon Woman of the Year
This award is presented to a Victorian (male or female) who has made an outstanding contribution to cycling as a leader and a role model for women’s cycling in 2014.
AWARD FINALISTS Jacinta Costello An active and passionate cyclist, Jacinta acquired her Aust Cycle Teacher status in November 2012 and used this additional training to introduce and teach cycling skills to women in several clinics in the communities of Kingston and Bayside. Jacinta’s background of more than 40 years cycling, combined with a Physical Education degree has enabled her to shine in her role as a cycle teacher, social network facilitator, and mentor for older women to get into cycling.
Kirsty Baxter It is hard to find a single women’s cycling project in Victoria that has not been photographed by Kirsty Baxter. Often self-funding trips to cycling events in order to capture the key moments, Kirsty’s passion for cycling is evident. Her terrific eye behind the lens ensures each event is beautifully captured and shared widely. While her art has attracted the attention of the likes of German sprint sensation Marcel Kittel, Kirsty remains true to supporting the female side and is a true champion for women’s cycling.
Tina McCarthy Tina has had such an impact on women’s cycling in a very short space of time that others from around Australia look to Wheel Women as a model of what can be achieved. Her work is dedicated to creating opportunities for women in cycling, and this can be seen in the courses she delivers, the events she encourages participation in, and the passion she passes on to everyone involved.
Abbey Grave Abbey Grave has stepped up in the Coburg Cycling Club to take on several leadership roles in the past 12 months including; President, Finance Director and Membership Manager. The hours she puts into the club shows a strong commitment to both the cycling and the club.
Karen O’Callaghan Karen is a UCI level commisiare based in Victoria, and has been involved and committed to cycling for many years. In 2014 she commissaried the Australian Under 19 and Elite Track Championships, whilst earlier in 2015 commissiared the Jack Bobridge one hour record attempt.
Peta Stewart In 2014 Peta established a women’s gran fondo squad to participate in the Sam Miranda Gran Fondo. She engaged a number of sponsors to support the program and also made significant financial contributions of her own. Peta also donated her time to assist in media coverage of women’s cycling events through interviews, video diaries and race commentary.
Donna Rae Szalinski Donna has been a long time advocate for womens cycling. She is the Victorian Institute of Sport Womens coach, and regularly takes Australian and development teams to Europe to compete. Her work with up and coming athletes has led many to greater things.
PAST AWARD WINNERS
2014
2014
Jacinta Costello, Ladies Back on Your Bike
2013
Rob Carson, Cykel Events, for the Women’s Grand Prix (Femme Vitesse) women’s only criterium series
Pip Carroll, The Squeaky Wheel Kelly Jamieson, Shepparton Breeze Rides group Tim Scarborough, Anchor Point Village Laurie Lovelock, Hawthorn Cycling Club
2013
Tina McCarthy, Wheel Women Australia Liz Hall, Hawthorn Cycling Club Kaylene Chaprionere, Velo Fille – Warragul
2014
Jarrod Potter, Star News Group
2014
Tracey Gaudry, Amy Gillett Foundation CEO and Vice President of the UCI
2013
Gaelene Snelling, St Kilda Cycling Club