Monday, September 15, 2008

Cycle track must stay until new plan

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle 15.09.08
Cycling veteran says don’t cast aside a proud history

Written by SALLY EVANS.

LANCE Bullus has dedicated a lifetime to the Wangaratta Cycling Club.

If he wasn’t powering around the track himself, he was cheering on those who were.

But Lance, and others like him, is now preparing for the biggest challenge to have ever face the sport locally.

A $2.4 million redevelopment is planned for the Wangaratta Showgrounds in a bid to attract Ovens and Murray Football League grand finals and AFL pre-season matches.

The council project would inevitably see the removal of the track, with no plans currently in place for its replacement.

Lance, who started riding as a junior at 14 and retired as a veteran at 60, said it meant the city was at risk of loosing a long and proud association with cycling.

"This track has got history," he said.

"I can remember in early 1948 how they had to grade the track in between races.

"All this was done by volunteers and people who love the sport.

"We’ve had the great Sid Patterson and the people standing 10-deep to watch him.

"Then we’ve had people like our own Max Ryan, winner of the wheel race here, Ian Petts, Pud Vincent and Dean McDonald - they were all great cyclists."

But of even more importance to Lance is the safety and security the cycling track can offer to local youth.

Lance’s son, Ian, was struck by a car and killed while he was riding on Greta Road at aged 10.

The accident occurred in 1982, around the same time Lance and others campaigned successfully to have the cycling track sealed.

His fear would be the club’s 51 junior members being forced onto the road because they no longer had cycling track.

"I don’t want them out on the road," he said.

"They’re entitled to a track."

But Lance, who is a former councillor and mayor, said he would have no objection to plans to rip up the track if the cyclists had another facility to go to.

"Somebody is saying we’re going to do away with the track, and we’re saying don’t," he said.

"Not until you give us another one.

"Give us one and then take it - that’s all we’re saying."

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