Woolgoolga (Australia)

ABOUT WOOLGOOLGA

Woolgoolga lies on the coast between Sydney and Brisbane. The headland offers a far-reaching view of the coastline, both north and south, and out to sea to the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Visitors are struck by the magnificent Sikh temple standing out against the skyline. The population is 50% Sikh, and the bicultural harmony and appreciation of our cultural differences enhances the overall atmosphere.

In fairly recent times, Woolgoolga has turned from a sleepy, country town into an increasingly popular tourist destination and a much sought-after place to live. What is reassuring about this transition is that the friendly and openhearted attitude of the population remains unsullied.

The first thing people notice when they visit Woolgoolga is that absolutely everybody is friendly. Residents of all ages smile and say hello as you pass them in the street and this, combined with the warm, helpful treatment you get in all the shops, gives you a sense of belonging.

The residents here don't want this to change and consciously work at reinforcing the feeling of community. But, it is hasn't been easy because local business people and local and state governments are pushing for much greater expansion than has already been initiated.

That is why it is heartwarming to observe small community groups like the Woolgoolga Bike Users Group. A local resident recently described them as the "Cyclestrians" and said that they are the best example of how to thoroughly enjoy fitness activities, camaraderie and good works.

This group of men have coffee together every morning and, while discussing the state of the world, much laughter can be heard ringing down Beach Street. Passers-by often stop and add a comment or two and everybody is welcome to join them.

WOOLGOOLGA BIKE USERS GROUP AND COMMUNITY SOUND [E]SCAPES

Each day members of the Woolgoolga Bike Users Group ride together around the cycle path and they keep fit while enjoying the scenery and engaging in further topics of intense debate or uproarious revelry. They are most noted for the unusual bikes they ride. Leigh and Bob always attract attention when they ride their recumbent bicycles. And Graeme has become a legend in town as he has gone from being almost totally disabled to zooming around on a recumbent trike as his sole form of transport.

Bob and Jim and Leigh are intent on making it possible for anybody who would like to ride to be able to do so. They have recycled many bikes that would have ended up as scrap metal and turned them into an eclectic collection of beautifully ridable bikes for people who couldn't otherwise afford them or who can't ride standard bikes.

The creativity shown by these men is a delight to behold. They have built two hand-driven trikes for people who can't pedal with their legs, several recumbent bicycles, dozens of adapted bikes to let people sit up straight or step through easily, and now they are working on a "bed bike" so that Leigh's horizontal woman can regain the joy of sailing through the wind.

The soundscape they create and exist within is very diverse - the rattling of their bike chains, the sound of the wheels turning, the cry of seagulls, the whoosh of the waves as they hit the shore, the Sikh music at the Bollywood Market, and the laughter and the clinking of cups which punctuate political discussions and questions about how to overcome the latest issue in the current bike building project.

They are a community within a community and they are the epitome of what Woolgoolga represents, an openhearted, open-minded, welcoming, beautiful, interesting place to be.

by Rose Galvin and the Woolgoolga Bike Users Group



ICASP is a Major Collaborative Research Initiative, based at the University of Guelph, sponsored by the SSHRC