The talk about official naming for Lemming Corner has reminded me of an idea that pops into my head occasionally. Many will have heard of the Australian Truck Drivers' Memorial, located in Tarcutta, NSW, the midpoint of the Hume Highway which has claimed so many of their lives. "The Memorial has grown to include almost 900 names of truck drivers killed on our roads."[1][2] The idea that pops into my head is this: perhaps it's time for an Australian Motorcyclists' Memorial. There's certainly enough deaduns. In the tradition of motorcyclists everywhere, a disinterested crowd would stand around and offer easy jibes, cutting criticisms, and half-baked jokes, while one bod does all the work, of which, necessarily, there's quite a bit. I reckon this concept needs: . official approval, for dedication of public land for the Memorial; . a location; . funds, for design, construction, and maintenance; . a committee, to thrash out decisions and keep each other on the boil; . sponsors, the major source of funds; . recognition, so that bikers want to be involved, and want to be remembered there; . community support, to get it done, and look after it; . rules, the main one being: "this Memorial is a symbol of remembrance of anyone who dies as a result of their love of motorcycling" (needs work; that would exclude, for example, Barry Sheene); . a design: a wall, tower, or similar, little plaques, a bit of a garden, maybe a parking area; . all of the elements of construction; . a patron, someone like Ian Thorpe, Robert de Castella, or Mick Doohan, who can suck in the media and their captive audiences (feel free to shed a tear for Bazza at this point); . and perhaps most important of all, people WGAF. To come full circle, this idea pops into my head mostly at one particular time, when I'm exiting Canberra via Bungendore and Tarago. Everyone will recognise this as the scene of Australia's most shocking and tragic motorcycle-only accident on 17 August 2003, a head-on which resulted in the deaths of Andrew Hart and Peter Cooke, and injuries to a large number of riders. This strikes me as a choice spot for a memorial; deep in the country, surrounded by silent farmlands, little traffic, no distractions, a spot for quiet reflection and getting a grip on the sadness that we manage to keep at bay most of the time. Incidentally, this post is spurred by my latest follow-up to the crash on the Tarago road; the news from the Queanbeyan Coroner's Court is that there is no news, no decision yet about whether there will be an inquest into the deaths there. Stay tuned. Gary [1] http://members.myco.com.au/atdm/index.html [2] http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/09/1073437461605.html (nice article, I cried again when I saw Mark Evans' name here) -- Wealth without Work Pleasure without Conscience Science without Humanity Knowledge without Character Politics without Principle Commerce without Morality Worship without Sacrifice The Seven Deadly Sins of M.K. Gandhi
The idea seems ok except I can already hear the cage dwellers saying "see motorcycling IS dangerous, theres even a memorial stating so!" Hmmm dont know if it would be in our best interest. But nice idea all the same. KiwiRider (not yet on any memorials.)
There are crosses and flowers on roadsides all over Australia where people have died in cars. Roads can be dangerous places in a car as well. And people still drive trucks. Kim
Funny you should say that. I just got home from my spin down the coast, and I swear I saw more of these unofficial memorials than I saw dead roos. There's half a dozen on the Kings alone, and an elaborate one just out of Tathra, with a rock cairn and a photo no less. So people do GAF. Gary
The one just out of Tathra (just before the bends down the hill) isn't a road accident. Those two teenage girls in the photo were picked up there when hitching, then raped and murdered. It happened about two years ago. Kim
yurk!! poor things, i hope their souls are resting peacfully, given the circumstance. Did they get the malicious bastard(s) that did it? I hope so Mike.S
That's the one. I remember now. Thanks, but no thanks. Your factual input is welcome. When I was young I hitchhiked tens of thousands of km, including a trip to Darwin and back, but I wouldn't recommend it now. Weirdos are a lot more dangerous these days. It was 97. Time flies when...err... what was the question? I did the rounds of the memorial garden this trip, their names don't appear there. I clambered out to the headland and sat for a while, watching the waves battering and grinding the rocks. I bet they did too. Gary
There are a number of memorials to induvidual riders scattered around OZ. One is just outside Alice Springs .. another north of packsaddle .. I'm certain there are many more .. and most would have had aproval to have them erected... If you wanted a national one then somewheres about the centre of OZ would be best .. rather then weight it to the east. No point in havin it in the backyard .. may as well have a nice long ride to it.
