On your bikes, veterans

By Melissa Meehan
WAR veterans, young and old, are invited to jump on board a Tour of Duty in 2012.
VetRide is the inaugural fund-raising recreational bike ride that plans to get veterans together for a good cause.
Althought VetRide is sponsored and is the brain child of the West Gippsland branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, the event is a separate entity which aims to bring veterans from all walks of life together. Marketing manager for VetRide Gary Elliott said it was an exciting project for veterans to get involved in.
“The tour will be about 400 kilometres, starting in Echuca on the Murray River on Sunday 25 March,” Mr Elliott said.
“It will then travel to Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Ballarat and finish at Melton.
“Each day’s ride will be broken into four easy stages.”
There will be an optional later ceremonial stage at Phillip Island in November where the recipient of the fund-raising proceeds, The National Vietnam Veterans Museum, will play host to participating riders.
Any veterans wanting to take part in the ride should contact the VetRide secretary Maurie Benson on 0417 588 886 or email vetride@vvaavic.org.au.