Newcastle Toy Run

• Words Liane Morris

The annual festive season favourite, Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run, is gearing up to be bigger than ever this December. With the rising cost of living hurting more family households, the charity that helps over 4,500 families each year to bring the Christmas spirit to the young people of the Hunter is reaching out to the community to do all it can to help support the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.

Held on the first Sunday of December for over forty years, the Newcastle Toy Run has collected toy donations and raised funds for disadvantaged children and those in need across the Hunter Region for generations. The Newcastle Toy Run begins at Ballast Park in Stockton at 10am sharp and finishes at Connelly Park in Carrington, with live music, free rides for the kids, merchandise for purchase, food, drinks and lots more fun in a spectacle that caters for both spectators and riders.

The story all began in 1978 at the Federal Hotel, which was on Auckland Street in Newcastle. About fifty bikers were there, members of the New Tech Tourers, and encouraged by Barry London, who was the main instigator, the group decided to collect toys for Christmas and gift them to the Woodlands Boys Home, which ran from 1944 to 1981 in Wallsend. Little did they know that it was the start of a long tradition that is still in operation today, with as many as 10,000 bikers now taking part and many thousands of families benefiting from their ongoing commitment and generosity.

The event continued for a decade, and when it looked like it might fade, one of the original bikers, Big John Young, decided to take it on and keep it going. It was formalised in 1990 as an incorporated entity with seven people on the committee, including a member of the Salvation Army, Howard Mole. Howard was also a rider until three years ago when age caught up with him. Howard now serves on the board of the Soul Café and, in 2018, was recognised as a Freeman of the City of Newcastle in acknowledgement of his lifelong commitment to charity work in Newcastle, including the events run by Bikers for Kids Incorporated. Big John Young himself received a Centenary Medal and an Order of Australia Medal for his services to children and the Newcastle community and stepped aside in 2017.

In 1986, a youthful Daryn Young, Big John’s son, did his first toy run.

“I remember the feeling,” said Daryn. “It’s just magic seeing everyone cheer us on from the side of the roads. We don’t get to see the kids’ faces on Christmas morning, but we know that we’re putting smiles on faces – not just the kids who get the toys but their parents, too. Being able to choose a gift, wrap it up and put it under the family Christmas tree is something most of us take for granted. I worked on Newcastle Toy Run under Dad for two years before taking it on myself. I didn’t hesitate. We all wear our hearts on our sleeves here, and we’re very passionate about it.”

Fellow committee member Stephen Meek agrees with Daryn about how the run makes the bikers feel.

“I personally find it very rewarding,” said Stephen. “People waving, kids smiling, it’s an emotional thing, and once you start, you can’t stop. Over the years, the run has changed due to traffic management and the increased number of participants, but we’ve got it down to a fine art now.”

The run attracts thousands of bikers from across the country. It is the largest and oldest biker run in Australia and often ends up on biker’s bucket lists.

“Last year, we had riders who rode all the way from Adelaide and another guy who flew in from the Northern Territory and hired a bike here just because it was on their bucket list of great things to do as a biker,” said Daryn.

“In 2014 we broke the record for the most bikers with 10,500 participating, and every year since then, we’ve had around 8,000 except for the COVID period, of course. And more than a few bikers do it because they were recipients of the toys when they were kids, and it’s a way to give back.”

The event begins with bikers leaving from Ballast Park in Stockton at 10am. The route has been designed so that it is all left-hand turns and is supported by the RMS and police, finishing up in Carrington with bikes being parked at Pat Jordan Oval and the Family Fun Day taking over Connolly Park. Bikers bring toys, and many dress up or decorate their bikes. The theme this year is ‘Retro Christmas’.

“Retro can mean lots of different things to different people,” said Stephen.

“Depending on the biker's age, it could be nostalgia from the 50s and swinging 60s to even the 80s and 90s! Seeing all the bikes arrive at Connolly Park is a sight to behold in and of itself. And then seeing all the toys gathered in one place is heart-warming.”

The Family Fun Day in Connolly Park kicks off at 9am and is guaranteed to have something for everyone to enjoy.

“We encourage people to bring their kids out for the Family Fun Day,” said Daryn.

“There are a lot of people struggling right now with the cost of living, so this is something everyone can have fun with. Watch the bikes come in and hear the roar, see the giant collection of toys, and enjoy the free rides, the markets, the food stalls, local bands and performances; this year we’ve even got camel rides. It’s an amazing spectacle that surprises people and is worth a look if you’ve never been before.”

Since 2017, with Daryn at the helm, the organisation’s efforts have seen over $150,000 in cash donations raised and toys and gifts for The Salvation Army’s Christmas appeal worth more than $250,000 donated. The wider community is encouraged to support the appeal with donations of new, unwrapped toys that can be left at various participating businesses around Newcastle during November. Once the toys are collected, they go to the Salvation Army distribution warehouse and are divided into age groups.

“Some go to other charities, but most to the Salvos because of their distribution capacity,” said Stephen.

“Armies of volunteers sort them out. Last year we collected $30K in cash, which was used to purchase toys and gift vouchers. Toys are often very focused on little kids and teens miss out, so we tend to purchase gift vouchers and items that teens would like with the cash donations.”

Bikers for Kids has strong values of integrity, commitment and social justice. The team is also actively involved in many other motorcycling-based fundraising activities, including the annual Tinned Food and Blanket Run and the Bikers’ Memorial Ride, both held in June each year.

“The biker community hails from all walks of life and is one of the biggest charity workers in the country,” said Daryn.

“There are generations of bikers who have never missed a ride. We have a proud legacy to keep running, and we encourage everyone to participate. Every donation and every cent counts.”

To support the work of the Newcastle Toy Run, consider donating cash as well as toys. To donate cash and for more event information, visit www.newcastletoyrun.com.au

Where To Drop Toy Donations

A9X Auto Electrics, Maryland; Brisan Motorcycles, Islington; IMB 4 Branches Glendale, Green Hills, Broadmeadow, Charlestown; Dentist for Chickens, Edgeworth; Pirate Point Pizza, Stockton; Grill’d, The Junction; Newcastle Tourist Information Centre, Civic Station; Alie Jane Travel Accessories, Hunter St Newcastle; Ka Fey Cafe, Hunter St Mall; ONeill’s Mobile Coffee (all sites); Café Inu, Carrington; Coles Edgeworth, Waratah; Double Take Café, Toronto; Watersedge Accounting, Toronto and Wangi RSL.