Biketoberfest Leongatha

Biketoberfest Leongatha was a concept that was devised during Covid.

We were wondering how we could bring the community back together. We had just had the redevelopment in Bair Street and thought we would love to showcase that. As we are all motorbike enthusiasts and ride ourselves, we thought, “why not make it a motorcycle event?” Leongatha Business Association was very keen to get on board and support us, so with that we became a sub-committee of the Association. We are a not-for-profit event relying on sponsorship and donations to keep the event going each year.

We wanted to raise awareness for mental health and road safety. Black Dog Ride is a big part of our event.

We feel community-based support systems, including peer support groups, provide an important source of emotional and social assistance for individuals facing mental health challenges. Peer networks are a safe space to share experiences, coping strategies and emotional support prompting a sense of belonging. This year we were lucky enough to have Psychs on Bikes attend and carry out free mental health checks on the day.

We also had the Victoria Police in attendance to talk about road safety that has become a growing concern over the years. Motorbike use has grown steadily in Victoria with more individuals opting for motorcycles as an economical and convenient mode of transport.

However, riding a motorbike presents inherent risks, particularly due to exposure to external elements and the limited protection during collisions. The more we can raise awareness for this the safer we all become.

October is motorcycle awareness month in Victoria and is an annual safety campaign dedicated to raising awareness about motorcycle safety and reducing the number of motorbike related accidents. Mutual respect and safe driving is the key.

This year we had approximately 800 bikes parked up in Bair Street and the town was buzzing. Some of the cafes stayed open till about 2pm. It was great to see the street so busy and the shop owners supporting the event. The Stallholders had a great day and money was raised for the Black Dog Ride.

We had the Trials riding in Michael Place and they never disappoint, putting on a fantastic show for all to watch. The local CFA even bought out their trucks and set up interactions for the kids.

Next year we are hoping for bigger and better things.

CPK McLaren MotorBody was the Winner of the Gippsland Business Awards Mechanical Trades & Construction Category in 2016 and 2023; also recognised as one of the State’s leading Automotive Repair Facilities – consistently one of only 5 Regional Finalists in the VACC Automotive Industry Awards from 2016 to 2024.

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