Celebration of Women's Motorcycling honours NSW double act
The Australian Riders' Division (ARD) 2013 Celebration of Women's Motorcycling was held at the Upper Murray Resort in Walwa, Victoria over the Australia Day long weekend, with two recipients sharing this year's Woman of the Year Award.
Attended by female riders from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria the highlight of the event was the celebration dinner during which the award was presented by Rob Smith, Manager of the ARD.
The award, conceived to recognise the contribution of outstanding women to motorcycling, was awarded to Selena Thurbon and Diane Scaysbrook, founders of the popular Girls Ride Out (GRO) social riding group and Bikiechic Adventures from Sydney NSW.
Formed in 2001 by Selena Thurbon, GRO has run bi-monthly rides, charity events and ride days as well as providing a support network for learner riders.
Both Selena and Diane have been tireless in their support of women riders and have dedicated countless behind-the-scene hours towards encouraging women to take not just their first step into motorcycling, but also to expand their horizons and to explore the highways and byways of Australia on two wheels.
The group has been a supporter of the Celebration of Women's Motorcycling from its inception and in 2012 organised a group of over thirty women rider to attend the Woman of the Year award held in Yackandandah, Victoria.
This year's GRO contingent numbered over thirty, swelling the dinner attendance to almost eighty.
"It's a huge honour to recognise what these two women have done and are continuing to do for women riders, Motorcycling Australia is proud to be able to present this award on the Australia Day weekend to truly outstanding Australians," said Rob Smith
Although the weather turned savage, with rain and lightning lashing the venue on Australia Day, clear skies prevailed the following day to permit two rides through the amazing countryside to a lunch destination in Corryong, where the staff at the motorcycle friendly Legends café laid on a spectacular meal for the riders. With the 2014 Celebration of Women's Motorcycling venue still to be decided, the event looks set to grow in popularity with more and more women taking to motorcycling.
