Reverend John McMahon is using his own experiences to guide him in helping hills youngsters. 66533 Picture: Donna Oates
By Russell Bennett
GEMBROOK’S John McMahon is the fastest Rev in town.
And the motorbike racing reverend and former high school chaplain is on a mission to help hills kids stay on track.
Reverend McMahon is not your average man of God. He is young, tattooed, rides fast bikes and drives a big Chevy V8 ute. But he has a heart of gold.
He recently donated a day of motivational seminars to Emerald Secondary College in an effort to inspire students to stay on the straight and narrow. His wife is a teacher at the school and one of his three kids is in Year 7.
“I start with the Ride of Life,” he said.
“It’s based on the principles and analogies of motorbike racing.”
Rev McMahon, 39, is a former chaplain to both the MotoGP and World Superbike paddocks and is a keen bike racer, himself.
His teachings combine two of his biggest passions – bike racing and helping young people through their troubles.
Rev McMahon’s interest comes from a deeply personal place. He was kicked out of two schools as a youngster and got caught up in a seedy world of gangs, drugs, alcohol, violence, graffiti and shoplifting.
“I grew up in a good home, with good parents,” he said.
“But even their best wasn’t good enough.
Rev McMahon was on the verge of suicide at just 19. Luckily, he was introduced to a youth minister who, ultimately, changed his life.
“From the night I met him, he made a commitment to turn me around,” Rev McMahon said.
“I still keep in touch with him to this day.”
Rev McMahon has now been a youth minister for more than 17 years.
He has a seminar called “Race Face” about the effects of adolescent bullying. It is part of ‘Motov8’ – a motivational program he started 18 months ago for schools, sporting clubs and youth groups.
“Once you’re at the start line, you have to get your race face on,” he said.
“When you’re with 40 bikes on the start line of a race, it’s quite intimidating.
“The key is staying focussed, staying on track.”
Rev McMahon’s seminars engage high achievers right through to those who are more disengaged in school communities.
‘Motov8’ covers a wide range of issues facing young people, including emotional intelligence, family breakdown, self-esteem, rejection and peer pressure.
Rev McMahon said he was not after a pat on the back. He just wants to help.
“Just let me at them, let me in there,” he said.
Rev McMahon recently finished a five-and-a-half year tenure as the school chaplain at Berwick’s Kambrya College but said he was looking forward to dedicating the next decade years of his life to Motov8.
