Australia's Longest Ride To Work Supports Rfds

Australia's Longest Ride to Work Supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Parliament of Queensland Far North Queensland sitting of Parliament in Cairns

Media Statement
Wednesday, 15 October 2008

On `Ride to Work Day', a Queensland Parliamentary staffer is mid-way through a 1,900 km bike ride that is believed to be Australia's longest ride to work.

Queensland Parliament House staff member, Stephen Finnimore, is currently cycling from Brisbane to Cairns and will work at the Far North Queensland sitting of Parliament in Cairns following his arrival.

Mr Finnimore said, "Today is Ride to Work Day but I have embarked on `ride to work month'."

"I have been a keen cyclist for 25 years and the Far North Queensland sitting of the Parliament in Cairns seemed the perfect opportunity for me to attempt this trip from Brisbane to Cairns," Mr Finnimore said.

Mr Finnimore will arrive in Mackay today and yesterday passed the half-way mark of his three-week, 1,900 km journey to Cairns.

Mr Finnimore, who is a Parliamentary Committee Research Director, said that he hoped his cycle to Cairns would raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and increase interest in the upcoming regional sitting of the Queensland Parliament in Cairns.

Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Mike Reynolds, congratulated Stephen Finnimore for his record `cycle to work' journey.

"This charity bike ride is a tremendous opportunity for the Queensland Parliament to reach the people of regional Queensland and to help raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service," Mr Reynolds said.

"The Royal Flying Doctor Service are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year and in June I was proud to announce that the Queensland Parliament would be partnering with them for the Far North Queensland sitting of the Queensland Parliament in Cairns," Mr Reynolds said.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer, Nino Di Marco, also congratulated Mr Finnimore on his ride.

"The Royal Flying Doctor Service was born in regional Queensland in 1928 and eighty years on, we are still providing a vital medical service. Each year we rely upon donations to raise $5 million, so events like this are very important in helping to keep the Flying Doctor flying."

The Queensland Parliament will sit at the Cairns Convention Centre from 28 to 30 October.

For further details on Stephen's bike ride-
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/supportstephen

Media Contacts: Contact Stephen for a media interview on 0438 286 395
Zac Dadic, Parliament House - Senior Communications Officer, 0418 750 646

SOURCE: Queensland Parliament