Prime Minister Tony Abbott flew into Mudgee on Friday night to lead the Pollie Pedal out of town on Saturday morning for the final stages of the annual charity ride.
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Overseas commitments in the Netherlands, London and the United Arab Emirates kept the PM from participating in the full 1000km of the event which this year is raising money for Carers Australia.
“It is nice to swap the Royal Australian Air Force jet for the bike,” he said on Saturday morning before setting off for Lithgow in the drizzling conditions.
The Moree to Penrith ride is Mr Abbott’s first Pollie Pedal in the country’s top job and the added duties of the role meant that it is also the first time the event founder hasn’t completed the entire journey.
“In the end, this is for the carers of our country; the people who care for someone in need."
The PM was in Moree last Saturday to launch the ride before flying to The Hague to meet Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and discuss the process of identifying victims of the MH17 disaster.
Returning to Australia, he paused only long enough to pull treasurer Joe Hockey into line before flying to Mudgee and getting on the bike.
The ride covered a large amount of the Parkes electorate and fittingly Member Mark Coulton was on board for the trip.
“Pollie Pedal has been a great event not only because it has raised funds for Carers Australia, but because it has helped senior Ministers of the Federal Government to connect with carer organisations that they might not otherwise have come into contact with,” Mr Coulton said.
“This year both Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews and Assistant Minister for Social Services Senator Mitch Fifield have been able to meet with aged care facilities, disability groups and carer organisations along the ride.
“It has been beneficial for Minister Andrews and Minister Fifield to hear about problems that carer organisations are facing and also to hear about local solutions which are working very well.”
Before setting off Mr Abbott spoke with the riders about the importance of the ride’s beneficiaries and carers in Australian communities.
“In the end, this is for the carers of our country; the people who care for someone in need,” he said.
“The great thing about all of these people is that they are putting themselves out every day 24/7 for someone they love.
“Obviously, there is a lot the Government does for the carers of our country but I want to thank my colleagues and everyone involved in this ride over the last few days for literally and metaphorically going the extra mile for the carers of our country; letting the carers of our country know that the commitment of at least some of their leaders in Canberra is not just official but it is personal and practical as well.”
As of Sunday the charity ride had raised over $700,000.
