A combined meeting of members from the Rotary Clubs of Victor Harbor, Goolwa and Encounter Bay was held to hear from Rotarians Phil and Joyce Ogden, who spoke about their epic 3000 kilometre tandem bike journey from Adelaide to Sydney via Melbourne, to raise funds for Rotary’s ‘End Polio Now’ campaign.
The couple in their 70’s, have previously ridden their tandem from Perth to Adelaide and this new challenge commenced last week and is expected to take two months.
They are being hosted by 30 Rotary Clubs along their the journey.
Stuart Ellis, President of the Rotary Club of Encounter Bay, hosted them for their local stay on the South Coast and indicated how inspiring they were in undertaking this ride.
The Ogdens explained that many people thought polio was eradicated, however outbreaks have occurred in Indonesia and it still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Until it is completely eliminated, the risk remains of further outbreaks.
Rotary is a founding partner and has played a major role in the Global Polio Eradication Scheme and has helped to reduce polio cases by more than 99.9 per cent.
Rotary has donated in excess of $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect 3 billion children in 122 countries.
The Rotary Clubs on the South Coast donated $4,400 to their ‘End Polio Now’ campaign and further donations can be made by the public by emailing the club at encounterbay@rotaryclub.org.au or by contacting the secretary at 0417 730 607.
