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Service to others takes many forms. For Calrossy Principal, Mr Mark Lewis, it currently involves early morning rides, aching legs and plenty of kilometres in preparation for this year's Westpac Ride for the Chopper .
From 11–18 September, Mr Lewis will join riders for the eight-day mountain bike adventure from Lightning Ridge to Tamworth, covering close to 700 kilometres, much of it on gravel roads.
The route will take riders through the North West, including Rowena, Narrabri, Baan Baa and Boggabri, before an overnight stop at Lake Keepit and the final ride into Tamworth. With a full support crew accompanying the group, the annual event combines a significant physical challenge with an even more important goal – raising funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
While returning to cycling after almost a year away from the bike has presented its challenges, the motivation behind the ride has never been stronger. Adding to the challenge, Mr Lewis only began riding on gravel around five weeks ago.
Since becoming part of the Calrossy community, Mr Lewis has embraced the opportunity to explore the vast landscapes and regional communities that make up Northern New South Wales. Training has become a chance not only to prepare physically, but also to reflect on the people and places that define the region our School proudly serves.
"Every ride reminds me how fortunate we are to live in such a remarkable part of the country," Mr Lewis said.
"It also reinforces just how important the Northern NSW Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is. For regional communities, specialist medical care isn't always close by, and when serious emergencies happen, the Rescue Helicopter can make all the difference."
It is a service whose presence is particularly visible from Calrossy. From the School, the Rescue Helicopter can regularly be seen and heard flying from Tamworth Hospital as it transports critically ill and injured patients for specialist care.
The importance of the service resonates deeply within the Calrossy community. Over the years, many current families, staff and alumni have relied on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter during times of crisis, making this fundraiser one that holds genuine meaning for the School.
For Mr Lewis, the challenge is about far more than completing a cycling event.
"It's easy to complain about tired legs after a long training ride," he said. "But the reality is that I get to choose this challenge. Many of the people who need the Rescue Helicopter never choose the circumstances that lead them there."
Supported throughout his training by his wife, Leigh—who, in his own words, has found his return to cycling "highly amusing"—Mr Lewis is approaching the ride with equal measures of determination and humour.
As the kilometres continue to add up, so too does the reminder that community is built not only through what we achieve together, but through the ways we support one another when it matters most.
Calrossy is proud to support Mr Lewis as he prepares to take on the journey from Lightning Ridge to Tamworth, helping raise awareness and funds for a service that plays a vital role across our region.
Members of the Calrossy community who would like to support Mr Lewis and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service can make a donation through his official Ride for the Chopper fundraising page.
Every donation will help support the vital work of the Rescue Helicopter and the communities it serves across Northern NSW.
Calrossy’s support will also extend beyond the bike. As riders make their way through Narrabri, the School will be involved in the Narrabri Ride for the Chopper Dinner on Tuesday, 15 September at Narrabri Bowling Club, providing another opportunity to come together in support of the Rescue Helicopter and the communities it serves.
If you would like to join us for the dinner, you can RSVP here.
