All Abilities AUA/Evatt Primary School Dirt Bike Precinct at Evatt

8 Feb

Abilities Unlimited Australia (AUA), in partnership with Evatt Primary school, has now completed stage 1 of the All Abilities AUA/Evatt Primary School Bike Precinct initiative. After over 2 years of planning, and being led by AUA volunteer and bike enthusiast Bill Caddey, the initiative was developed as Bill saw a need for children of all abilities to be able to develop progressive, inclusive, safe cycling opportunities in the local community.

Bill, together with a group of strong and committed volunteers, has been instrumental since the initiative’s inception. The All Abilities AUA/Evatt Primary School Bike Precinct, and the benefit to the local community, could become a legacy.

The track is built behind Evatt Primary School, providing a community facility for trail riders to safely practice and learn skills within their local community. The site’s trails include a beginner and intermediate flow loops, climb and descent, bumps, berms, tabletops and technical features.

Sustainability, environmentally conscious elements, and safety are key to the development.

AUA has funded this community gift and says the aim of this project is to provide opportunities for the community to come together to ride. AUA is a not-for-profit community organisation within the ACT offering targeted, inclusive programs that provide children of all abilities, the transformative power and joy of sport and active recreation.

AUA’s Cyclabilities programs are for children of all abilities and teach progressive cycling from balance bike riding, safe community cycling to now tackling different terrains and trail riding skills. Programs are inclusive and intensive by utilising both 1:1 individual support and group-based games and activities. All of AUA’s Cyclabilities cycling programs are led by allied health professionals, teachers, and highly skilled cycling instructors who provide the best support for children of all abilities to develop safe cycling skills.

The All Abilities Bike Precinct was designed with the idea to challenge and develop safe trail riding opportunities, help children discover new passions, new talents and to understand they have enormous potential.

“We wanted to be able to build a facility that they'd be able to use and a facility that enabled progression — for younger kids of all abilities starting out to kids that have had a bit more experience. Kids of all needs and abilities, being part of community, sharing community, enjoying community with community. The results are amazing and children and families both within and outside of our AUA program are flocking to the track and truly shining. There are kids that have never ridden a bike on dirt before; that are now building confidence on corners, drops, and jumps. They are developing social and team working skills, fitness, resilience, perseverance, confidence, a positive attitude can do towards learning are making friends and having fun. This is the perfect steppingstone towards having children develop fit and healthy lifestyle choices, in the local community, with the local community. This is true community capacity building in action”.
- Bill Caddey, AUA Volunteer

The track is used by Evatt Primary school students during curriculum time. Many extra-curricular opportunities within cycling will also be provided to engage local schools and community to inspire them to cycle.

"The All Abilities AUA/Evatt Primary School Dirt Bike Precinct is a wonderful addition to our community. Students and families are excited and are actively using the great facility. It also enriches active options for the school to use daily and is another example of the strong, successful partnership Evatt Primary School and AUA share”.
- Michael Hatswell, Evatt School Principal.

"AUA’s Cyclabilities cycling program has come a very long way in a relatively short time. To see the progression of our children and to watch them go from strength to strength is truly magical. It is because of each child’s dedication, their family’s commitment, the enthusiasm of our amazing instructors, volunteers and operational staff that the AUA Board unanimously agreed that funding this track for use of AUA’s programs and the community was a priority. Encouraging as many people as possible to get out there riding, in a fun and safe environment is what AUA is all about and it is even better that we can share that with the wider community.”
- Robin Arranz, CEO, Abilities Unlimited Australia

“We are so lucky to have the All-Abilities Bike Precinct outside our schools’ gates. It gives students a chance to learn, be active and develop cycling skills. I have been amazed at how many children are now riding to school and enjoying the tracks. This time to express themselves, cycle and explore has flowed on to positive performance, school pride, growth mindsets and confidence in the classroom”.
- Teacher

This project would not have been possible without:

the thousands of volunteer hours put in by AUA visionary volunteer Bill Caddey and a group of supportive and motivated advocates
the strong, community focussed, ongoing partnership of Evatt Primary school under the inclusive leadership of Michael Hatswell and Jamal See
ACT Government Bumps and Berms who provided support, approvals, and assistance with ensuring compliance, environmental sustainability, and support
Iconic Trails who worked tirelessly, creatively, and expertly to ensure the track provided meaningful, safe progressive elements to support children of all abilities to be able to access and ride
the truly amazing individuals within the community who donated funds to help AUA provide this gift to the local community allowing more families to have the opportunity to enjoy riding
Abilities Unlimited Australia. This small not-for-profit organisation has worked together with stakeholders to understand needs, design, develop, deliver and fund this community gift.

“Working in collaboration with such key people on this project has led to great outcomes, bringing together amazing creative minds, people who truly care for the community, people who understand inclusion and people with phenomenal landscaping skills and local trail design knowledge. The result is a high-quality asset that has been gifted to the community by a small not for profit organisation with the support of amazing people who believe in bringing community together”.
- Bill Caddey.

AUA uses the cycling track each weekend to run its newest program “Head for the Dirt”. The feedback has been amazing:

“The AUA Cyclabilities Head for the Dirt program has been crucial for our family because I have always wanted to take our son and his friends dirt riding but because of chronic pain and mobility issues I have had to put a pin on it. The program has given my son and his friends the experience to ride dirt tracks safely, has given them the confidence to try new things, they are able to access it safely from our home and they have learnt so many new skills. The location and design are ideal. Thanks to AUA programs my son now has the independence, confidence, and judgement to safely bike ride and now the place to trail ride nearby. In short, biking and boarding at AUA has improved my family’s life”.
- Kim

“My son had a fantastic time this week at AUA Cyclabilities Head to the Dirt program. He is growing in confidence and his skills, safely and his stamina is improving. The Abilities Teams involved in these programs showed how caring, inclusive, and professional the AUA team is. I would like to sincerely thank all involved”.
- John

“My son and daughter absolutely love the AUA track. Thanks to AUA they have learnt how to ride it safely and now we all as a family are out there every second day riding. We are all getting fitter, sharing time as a family together and it is the closest, we have been in years. There is no way we would have done this without AUA building this track so close to home or providing such phenomenal guidance and support to our families to help us all have the confidence and skills to ride. THANK YOU so much”.
- Peter

“The All Abilities AUA/Evatt Primary School Dirt Bike Precinct provides a great community resource particularly for our local young people and encourage them to be fit and healthy.”
- Luke

“I can’t believe she did it! She usually says no to everything, she worries about what others will think, becomes anxious about trying new things and gets concerned about getting hurt. But, today due to the warm, gentle encouraging support of the AUA cycling instructor, together with such phenomenal technical guidance she rode through the All-Abilities Bike track first with a little apprehension but now with fitness, confidence, ease, and assurance. This is a true miracle. I am so grateful to have this track and this organisation. This is a fabulous initiative that really builds on what community is meant to be”.
- Ele

“I was so nervous at the start. But then I did it. It was so much fun, and I only feel the good emotions now. I feel happy and excited and even proud. I completed all the challenges, and it feels so good. I can’t believe I did it, but Brooke [my instructor] can”.
- Participant

So, what now? This is only stage 1 of the bike precinct. AUA, together with Evatt Primary School are still working tirelessly to bring more opportunities to the community including:

a wide circular all abilities concrete learn to ride bike path
a modular bike track for more advanced riders
community features such as seating, water facilities and shading
communication boards for accessible learning.

If you would like to support the next stages of the bike track you are able to provide a tax deductable donation to Abilities Unlimited Australia - Australian Sports Foundation (asf.org.au).