Cyclists push powerful message

KATINA CURTIS

A GROUP of Sydney university students stopped in Kiama and Gerroa last week as part of their cycle around Australia to encourage environmental action.

Tom Gray, Mereki Garnett and Matt Coggan got on their bikes on December 9 and plan to spend the next year on them, with their friend Anthony Garagounis driving a donated Toyota Prius as a support vehicle.

As Mr Coggan said, the boys were “new to the lycra”, but thought it was the best way to get people to think about how they could make effective and positive environmental decisions.

“Basically, in October 2006 we were sitting around and discussing the environment and how the awareness is visible but there’s a real need for positive action and change,” Mr Gray said.

Mr Garnett said the whole point of it was to make people act.

“If people want to get involved or support us, they can do it not with money, but with action,” he said.

On their website they have listed 23 sustainable living challenges – such as planting a native tree and reading a book on sustainable living – that people can commit to do each month.

Their trip is 16,000km long – including around Tasmania.

You can visit their website www.mypower.org.au to track their journey and sign up to monthly environmental challenges.