The official handover of the Les Cecil bicycle  by Debbie Gower to the Toogoolawah & District History Group will take place at 10.00 am on Saturday 10 September .

You are invited...

Les Cecil was a local Toogoolawah lad with many cycling achievements to his credit back in the day when famous, professional  cyclists were  celebrated across the nation.  Apart from many other long distance record-breaking cycling feats, the bicycle was used in the Federal Government’s specially commissioned long-distance bicycle ride from Cairns to Canberra in 1951 to mark 50 years of Federation. Les Cecil collected Pledges of Allegiance to the Queen along the way, which were carried in an army truck that accompanied him.

Debbie is coming from New South Wales for the event and will have the opportunity to meet the Federal MP, Hon Shayne Neumann, the Mayor Cr Graeme Lehmann and senior representatives of Somerset Regional Council, Mr Lyle Paul from UQ, who has brought the bicycle back to life, Paul Heyman who brought the bicycle back from New South Wales and introduced us to Lyle Paul. As well as other people who helped to make this possible.

T&DHG is inviting members of the BVRT cyclists group and other cycling enthusiasts to mark the occasion by riding the Rail Trail from Esk to Toogoolawah in time to arrive no later than 10am for the unveiling.

Les Cecil was raised on a dairy farm just outside Toogoolawah and first made his cycling reputation as a member of the Toogoolawah Wheelers. He broke the record for the fastest ride between these two towns on a number of occasions. It was the beginning of a long and well-documented career as Australia’s first successful long-distance cyclist.

Morning tea will be served in the Toogoolawah Station Waiting Room.

Beryce Nelson

Secretary T&DHG