Cycling to build a Circle of Courage

Perth to Sydney: 4456 km; April 5 to May 5: 31 days; six cyclists and support crew. So what are they up to? Melody Tan explains.

On the morning of April 5, the six cyclists from the Circle of Courage Cycle Tour embarked on their ride across Australia from Murray Street Mall in Perth to address issues of at-risk behaviour among young people in small, rural communities.
“They would have to be crazy to attempt something like that,” said Joseph Green, who was passing through the mall on his way to work.
The cyclists and their crew gathered in the heart of Perth’s central business district at eight in the morning, drawing the attention of a rush-hour crowd. Members of a local cycling group, as well as the students of one of the cyclists, were also present to provide the cyclists with a farewell.
Jonathan Duffy, team leader and director of health for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific, organiser of the tour, spoke about the Circle of Courage philosophy that will build resilience and self-esteem among young people.
At 8.30 am, the cyclists set off from Murray Street Mall toward the Great Eastern Highway to Cunderdin. They were accompanied by three local cyclists to the edge of the city.
As this issue of Signs goes to print, six cyclists are continuing their ride across Australia. The ride will finish in Sydney on May 5.

“Studies have shown that rural adolescents have some of the highest at-risk statistics,” says Mr Duffy. “And I am very concerned about the increase of risk behaviour in young people. Research shows that the most important protector against risk-taking for young people is to feel valued by significant adults in their community. I want to challenge the adults in rural communities to take the leading role in developing positive community relationships. This will build resilience and self-esteem among the young people.”
Mr Duffy and his team will be speaking at 21 towns across Australia and will be covering an average of 165 kilometres a day during the tour. They will be speaking at local community venues organised through the community most evenings. The cyclists will introduce to parents and other interested adults the “Circle of courage” principles for building resilience in young people.
The Circle of Courage ride is being sponsored by a number of businesses and organisations, including Signs of the Times and regular Signs advertisers such as Avondale College and ADRA.

“Signs is proud to be part of the Circle of Courage project,” says Signs editor Nathan Brown. “And we wish the riders well as they tackle this challenge.”

A mini version of Signs magazine—featuring the article on the preceding six pages—is being handed out by the team at the places they visit along the way.

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