BEVAN TO TRAVEL AROUND QUEENSLAND ON HIS WHEELCHAIR
Announcement posted by Spinal Life 06 Sep 2021
Anyone who has ever met Bevan Kearsley will be in awe at his need to give back to others. Almost 30 years ago Bevan a qualified ‘chippy’, working as a Sales Rep selling building products, was involved in a motorbike accident. In seconds his life changed for ever and he was left living with paraplegia, permanently using a wheelchair.
Thrown many challenges in life, Bevan has always bounced back and put others first. His love of motorbikes despite his accident has never wanted.
So, one day over a few drinks with family he came up with the idea of jumping on a 150cc wheelchair scooter and hitting the road. With Bevan’s enthusiasm and love of motorcycles nothing can stop him. In Bevan’s typical fashion of giving back to others he will be raising money for spinal research through the not-for-profit Miller Chase Foundation.
“After retiring I was looking for something to do. I wanted to raise funds for a good cause and a cause I could relate to. I’ve had the wheelchair scooter for a few years now and it was just there gathering dust. One day I ripped the seats out of my Toyota HiAce Commuter and converted it into a wheelchair-accessible campervan, so if I am stuck for accommodation I can stay in there and my mate will drive the van behind me as a support vehicle”, said Bevan.
All going to plan, Bevan will be farewelled by friends, family, and supporters on 13 September. Bevan, from Greenslopes, this year will travel the length and breadth of Queensland completing a loop which will take in Mackay, Cairns, Mount Isa, Winton, and Charleville before returning home to Brisbane.
Not content with fundraising for a great cause, Bevan will also be helping to map Queensland for other people living with a disability. Using Spinal Life Australia’s free online resource, Accessible Australia, Bevan will leave reviews and upload photos, which helps others to plan ahead before travelling and find accessible places and experiences.
“My aim is to give people with disability the confidence to explore more of Australia and to influence more businesses to consider people with disability as customers”, said Bevan.
Eager to continue his travels next year around the rest of Australia when border restrictions hopefully relax, Bevan’s goal is to raise $100,000 for spinal research.
If you would like to follow Bevan’s journey you can follow him on Facebook @accessozride or if you would like to donate you can via accessibleaustraliaride.org.au/donate.
For media enquiries please contact:
Steve Coulter
m 0419 988 465
e scoulter@spinal.com.au
Bevan’s itinerary is below and can be interviewed/photographed at the following locations:
| Day 1
Monday 13th Sept
Brisbane to Hervey Bay (media invited to the start location) 9.00am Brisbane to Nambour 106 km 11:00am Refuel and refresh 11:30am Nambour to Maryborough 157 km 3.00pm Maryborough to Hervey Bay 31 km 4:00pm Arrive and refuel at Hervey Bay
Day 2
Tuesday 14th Sept
Hervey Bay to Bundaberg 3.00pm Hervey Bay to Bundaberg 110 km 5.00pm Arrive and refuel at Bundaberg
Day 3
Wednesday 15th Sept
Full day in Bundaberg
Day 4
Thursday 16th Sept
Bundaberg to Rockhampton 287km
9:00am Bundaberg to Miriam Vale 118km 10:30am Refuel and refresh at Miriam Vale 11.00am Miriam Vale to Mount Larcom 94km 12.30pm Mount Larcom to Rockhampton 73km 1.30pm Arrive and refuel Rockhampton
Day 5
Friday 17th Sept
Rockhampton to Mackay 339km 8.00am Rockhampton to Marlborough 105km 9.30am Refuel and refresh at Marlborough 10.00am Marlborough to Clairview 103km 11:30am Refuel and lunch Clairview 12.30pm Clairview Beach to Mackay 129km 2.30pm Arrive and refuel at Mackay
Day 6
Saturday 18th Sept
Mackay to Airlie Beach 150km 1.00pm Mackay to Bloomsbury 90km
2.30pm Rest and refuel at Bloomsbury 3.00pm Bloomsbury to Airlie Beach 67km 4.00pm Arrive and refuel at Airlie Beach
Day 7
Sunday 19th Sept
Airlie Beach
Day 8
Monday 20th Sept
Airlie Beach to Townsville 275km 8.00am Airlie Beach to Bowen 78 km 9.00am Refuel and brekky at Bowen 9.30am Bowen to Homehill 105km 11.00am Refresh and refuel at Homehill 11.15am Homehill to Townsville 12.45pm Arrive and refuel Townsville
Day 9
Tuesday 21st Sept
Townsville to Cairns 347km 7.00am Townsville to Ingham 113km 8.30am Refuel and morning tea Ingham 9.00am Ingham to Innisfail 148 km 11.00am Refuel and refresh Innisfail 11.30am Innisfail to Cairns 88km 1.00pm Arrive and refuel at Cairns
Day 10
Wednesday 22nd Sept
Cairns
Day 11
Thursday 23rd Sept
Return trip to Townsville
Day 12
Friday 24th Sept
Townsville to Hughenden 383km 6.00am Townsville to Charters Towers 137km 8.00am Refuel and Brekky Charters Towers 9.00am Charters towers to Pentland 107km 10.30pm Refuel and refresh Pentland 11.00am Pentland to Hughenden 141km 1.00pm Arrive and refuel Hughenden
Day 13
Saturday 25th Sept
Hughenden to Cloncurry 401km 7.00am Hughenden to Richmond 115 km 8.30am Refuel and refresh Richmond 9.00am Richmond to Julia Creek Caravan Park 159km 11.30am Refuel and refresh Julia Creek 12.00pm Julia Creek to Cloncurry 137km 2.30pm Arrive and refuel Cloncurry
Day 14
Sunday 26th Sept
Cloncurry to Mt Isa 120km 9.00am Cloncurry to Mt Isa 120km 11.00am Arrive Mt Isa Chance
Day 15
Monday 27th Sept
Mt Isa to Winton 451km 7.00am Mt Isa to Cloncurry 120km 8.15am Refuel and refresh Cloncurry 8.30am Cloncurry to Walkabout Hotel 108km 10.00am Arrive and refuel Walkabout Hotel 10.30am Walkabout to Kynuna Roadhouse 76km 11.30am Refresh and refuel Kynuna Roadhouse 12.30pm Kynuna to Winton 164km 3.00pm Arrive and refuel at Winton
Day 16
Tuesday 28th Sept
Winton to Longreach 179km 12.00pm Winton to Longreach 179km 3.00pm Arrive and refuel at Longreach
Day 17
Wednesday 29th Sept
Day in Longreach
Day 18
Thursday 30th Sept
Longreach to Tambo 315km 8.00am Longreach to Barcaldine 108km
9.30am Refuel and refresh Barcaldine 10.00am Barcaldine to Blackall 108km 11.30am Refuel and refresh at Blackall 12.00pm Blackall to Tambo 101km 1.30pm Arrive and refuel at Tambo
Day 19
Friday 1st Oct
Tambo to Charleville 220km 8.00am Tambo to Augathella 119km 9.45am Refuel and refresh at Augathella 10.00am Augathella to Charleville 101km 11.30am Arrive and refuel at Charleville
Day 20
Saturday 2nd Oct
Charleville to Roma 267km 8.00am Charleville to Morven 90km 9.30am Refuel and refresh at Morven 10.am Morven to Mitchell 88km 11.30am Refuel and lunch at Mitchell 12.30pm Mitchell to Roma 89km 2.00pm Arrive and refuel in Roma
Day 21
Sunday 3rd Oct
Roma to Toowoomba 356km 8.00am Roma to Miles 142km 10.00am Miles to Chinchilla 48km 11.00am Refuel and refresh Chinchilla 12.00pm Chinchilla to Dalby 85km 1.30pm Refuel and refresh Dalby 2.00pm Dalby to Toowoomba 82km 3.30pm Arrive and refuel at Toowoomba
Day 22
Monday 4th Oct
Day in Toowoomba
Day 23
Tuesday 5th Oct
Toowoomba to Brisbane 110km 9.00am Toowoomba to Brisbane 10.30am Arrive in King George Square
|