I’ve thought about tonight almost every day on this journey and I’ve dreamt of home hundreds of times. I’ve written this speech a million times in my head. Kilometres have vanished under my tyres as my mind wandered. And now as the curtains close on our MyPOWER journey I’m suddenly left without any words. I suppose no words will ever account for what we’ve been through. No words can portray the crooked smiles of cattle stockman or the intense stare of the school children we’ve visited. I know these experiences are unique. I can see it in the eyes of the other three boys. It’s an emotion far greater than any I have ever known.
Tonight I want to say a few things. The first has kept my mind occupied from the dangers of repetition and monotony. It’s challenged me mentally when all other perceivable physical barriers were overcome. It’s a question I believe I share with probably a lot of people here tonight. Is there any point trying to change the way we live when we are so small in the scheme of things? I know now the answer is simple. Individual action is, and always has been, the single most effective form of change.
We’ve watched school children collect spilt water from their bubblers in ice cream containers so as not to waste a drop. They do it irrespective of booming offshore industry or rampant deforestation. They do it simply because they know it’s the right thing to do. They know our earth’s resources are finite. At such a young age they are already developing a deep respect and wisdom far beyond their years. Whenever I questioned the rationality of our cause or felt lost or disheartened I would remember these kids and smile.
I really want to take a few moments to talk about the other three quarters of MyPOWER. A lot of people are surprised at the fact we’ve never had a serious fight. No matter how bad a situation seemed, our goals never wavered and our determination never faltered and that’s what impresses me about these boys.
I look at Anthony now and remember his refusal to eat tuna. I fast forward to months and picture him lying on a concrete bench, his feet stained red from the dirt, a fly net over his face and his cheek planted against a concrete block for a pillow. It’s a timely reminder of how we have grown. Above all, I admire his loyalty and patience. Not a day went by when I didn’t think about him in the car and hope he could hang in there.
In many ways we are here talking to you tonight because of him. I honestly don’t know anyone else that could have done what he’s done physically and mentally. Mate, you told me once you were proud of us for persevering through tough conditions when many others would have stopped or give up. I can tell you tonight that I’ve never been more proud of what you’ve achieved and the person you’ve become.
I don’t need to say much about Mereki. He’s a best friend. He’s an inspiration. He’s definitely NOT a cyclist. He’s . . well he’s just him.
As for Matty. It’s not often you look up to someone who is younger than you.. I honestly don’t think this trip would have happened without his imagination and determination. I don’t know if we would have made it round so smoothly without him. He has this amazing ability to remain positive in any situation. To be here tonight having completed what we set out to do over two years ago is almost too much for words. If ever I felt disheartened on this trip I looked to you and drew strength. You are the strongest person I know.
None of us truly knew what we’d gotten ourselves in for when we set off on this journey. We had a grand plan and left the details to fate or something similar. Without the kindness, selflessness and hospitality of once strangers around our great country I don’t know where we’d be now.
People like Meredith Carlier who became our mother when we were miles from home. She drove 140kms to meet us at the bottom of the Eyre Peninsula just to make sure we had enough fruit and water . . . and maybe some beer, from memory. I have to say now while I’ve got the chance. Ross Coggan has a lot of friends around Australia, all of them wonderful people. But they always seem to live on the top of very big hills. Every single time. Mountain Crescent. Panorama Drive. Super Giant Hill Street.
One particular couple still stands out in my memory. A pair of South Africans residing in the middle of nowhere in Western Australia, who, without any desire for anything in return, took us in, gave us a bed each, a fresh shower, a big dinner and enough breakfast Danish’s to sink the Titanic. All of this not because they had to but because they wanted to.
We have slept under the roofs of complete strangers and have eaten meals with friends we never knew we had. It’s the unconditional generosity and mateship that this great country is built on. To anyone who ever gave our beaten bodies a place to rest we sincerely thankyou. I’ve always said that positivity breeds. It’s contagious. I hope whatever direction our lives take us on now, we will always remember the kindness of those who helped us and aspire to do the same for others.
Finally, to my family and close friends. If there was ever a time where you were concerned for our safety, losing sleep as we pedalled through the darkness of night near Wolf Creek, you have only my dad to blame.
He’s the one that taught me, there is no such thing as ‘can’t’.
Thanks again and enjoy the night.
TG
tom@mypower.org.au