Bike safety program hits Narrabri Schools

Bike and Fitness Australia has been stopping in at schools around the region, teaching kids about bike and road safety.

The afterschool Aboriginal Bike Safety Program from Transport NSW has been running for 10 years, and husband and wife duo Damien and Jenny Enderby have felt very fortunate to be involved.

“It has been super rewarding, the kids always love the program and always ask if we’re coming back the next day,” said Damien.

After a study found that Aboriginal children were at the highest risk of bike-related incidents, the program targeted rural townships with high rates of bike use.

“Bikes are a valuable form of transport, but kids need to be taught about helmets, how to look out for things on the road, and learn about the hazards.

“Important things are, knowing where to ride, and using footpaths as much as possible – some kids don’t understand that they are able to ride on footpaths.”

This time the afterschool program made its way through Coonabarabran, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Wellington, and Mudgee, and stopped at the Narrabri Public School, thanks to talks with Aboriginal education officer Pattie Lettice.

“The weather has been good. We often come in January and have had a really good turnout to all programs,” said Damien.

“A lot of kids involved don’t have helmets when they come, or they have flat tyres and haven’t been able to use their bikes.

“We fix them all up and show them how to do it, and you should see the excitement on their faces when they get their bikes going again.”

Tyrell Russell, Cinton Lamb, Timarlie Williams, Damian Enderby, Rydell Kelly, Aleka Russell-Towney, middle, Archie Thomson, Blaize Fenton, Heather O’Meara, Casey Lamb, Ellani French, front, Cooper Eames, Jayden Gallen, James Thomson, Jahnarli Dixon, Tjinara Chatfield-Booby, Chase Lawler, Terrence Kelly, Kayleigh Lawlor, Mikayla Barwick-Booby, Franki Gallen and Kyle Adams.

A record 30 kids showed up with their bikes, scooters, and skateboards from St Francis Xavier’s Public School, Narrabri Public School and Narrabri West Public School to learn about wearing a helmet, making sure your bike is safe before riding, bike control skills, and how to brake and corner properly.

Then most importantly, the road safety side of things such as understanding road signs and the NSW bike safety rules.

“Some kids have just learned to ride a bike for the first time and by the end of the program can handle a bike better than an adult.

Mrs Lettice has been working with Damian from Bike and Fitness for two years of the program, after the first time it came through in 2018, then taking a halt because of COVID-19.

Mrs Lettice said “I always say yes, if anything is free and it can educate kids, or educate kids about road rules then you must go with that.

“But the safety and the importance of wearing helmets too. One – it’s a big fine if you don’t, two – the magpies won’t pick at your head, and three – it protects your brain when you fall off your bike.”

Kids are supplied with free Aboriginal designed helmets, provided with afternoon tea, and even spare bikes where needed.

Over the years the couple has run more than 300 programs in regional NSW delivering the program over one or two months.

Otherwise, their Bike and Fitness coaching business teaches mountain biking and other bike-related skills for the rest of the year.

“We would love to thank the parents and carers for getting their kids to the programs, and the schools for having us.

“Participating in this has been very rewarding and it’s great to see how fast the kids pick up the skills, and the immediate difference it makes when they take them away from the course.”