Mr Hogan, one of the teachers at my school (Elanora High), has worked very hard over the past few years to get a very popular program going revolving around tackling the grueling 96 km Kokoda Challenge for charity here on the Gold Coast.
This year the school had 3 teams of 4 students and a teacher competing in the full distance (96 km) (I think there were 66 school teams in total) and quite a number of teams doing the half Kokoda.
I was in one of those 3 teams tackling the 96 km track along with:
my brother Harry,
friends Ryan and Nathan and
Mr Hogan.
We Won & Broke The Old Record
We were lucky enough to have everything go right for us – including having an incredible Support Crew of parents and brothers and sisters – and were able to achieve our 2 goals for the trek:
be the first school team to finish, and
break the old record of 19 hours and 36 minutes (we beat it by 21 minutes).
We were awarded the Stan Bisset Cup for being the first school team.
Thanks to Mr Hogan, teachers, our Support Crew and the other Elanora High lads who we walked/ran with for most of the way.
An incredible achievement by all teams to finish.
Met Stan Bisset MC OAM MID
Harry and I read up on Mr Bisset – he’s a Kokoda Hero, a recipient of the Military Cross and Order of Australia Medal and Australia’s oldest living Wallaby (Australia’s Rugby team players).
We found out he lives on the Sunshine Coast and called to see if he’d like a visit from a couple of lads who are very proud to have won the Cup named in his honour.
Mr Bisset and his lovely wife Gloria made us feel very welcome and were a real joy to chat with.
Harry and I feel very honoured to have met such an inspirational and giving person.
I’m back from flying for a couple of weeks at Tamworth as part of the flight screening to get accepted as a pilot in the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Did a ton of flying with lots of aerobatics, fantastic instructors and a great group of guys on my course. The flight back home was a little dull after flying rolls, loops and lots more!
I was lucky enough to be recommended.
Ran Gold Coast Half Marathon Yesterday
Arrived home on Saturday and then ran the Gold Coast Half Marathon on Sunday morning. I did the full marathon last year and thought I’d see if I could do the Half in under 1 & 1/2 hours.
Ran okay and slowed in the last few kilometres to come in at 1 hr 32 mins and 34 secs.
My mum ran her first ever marathon and did an amazing job – her 3 goals were:
to finish,
run all the way and
run under 5 hours.
She did all that and we’re all bursting with pride.
Next up I have the 96 km Kokoda Challenge where my team (my brother Harry, and friends Ryan and Nathan and teacher Mr Hogan) are aiming to break the schoolboy record.
We’ve been training really hard, so we could give it a decent crack.
Then It Gets Easier!
After that it gets easier!
I then have a school trip to tropical Herron Island, the school skiing trip, then a trip to New York to do some work with Big Brothers Big Sisters International.
I’m also going to run the Brisbane Half Marathon on August 1 – trying to get under the 1 hr 30 mins for the 21.1 kilometres.
Still Doing Speeches
I’m still doing a few speeches around the place to:
Scout groups,
community and
business groups – so if your organisation would like me to come along (usually with my dad) to talk about our ride across Australia to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia then I’d love to hear from you: jack@jacksinclair.com.au.
I will be heading to New York in September 2010 after being lucky enough to be awarded a $5,200 RSL Youth Development Grant announced last week. Thanks!
My friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia have arranged for me to spend 2 weeks with Big Brothers Big Sisters New York to work with the charity and see how they do things in the Big Apple.
Jack Sinclair - Finalist 2010 Young Australian of the Year (QLD)
Other Finalists Were Bloody Amazing
It’s weird, but you’d think there would be some disappointment when your kid doesn’t win but the other finalists were just so bloody amazing it was great to just see him up there with these 3 incredible people.
As Jack’s mum Mel said (and even though it sounds a bit soppy, it’s actually true) “Even though he didn’t win, he doesn’t lose.”
He got some terrific recognition for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia as well as the chance to meet and chat with some extraordinary people doing amazing things.
Congratulations To The Winner – Jean Madden
Jean Madden won the Queensland Young Australian of the Year – Jean designs, gets made and has given away over 11,000 swags to homeless people. Amazing.
The other 2 finalists were:
Alissa Phillips – Alissa works with people with disabilities through a very innovative range of programs.
Ray Chen – check out Ray in the video below. (Aside from being an amazing violinist, Ray also has the most charming mum in Australia!)
Hi and thanks to everyone who has contacted me through the site.
Had a few people ask what I’ve been up to and what’s next.
Harry (he’s my little brother – but he’s rather tall at 6 foot 2 inches) and I ran the Gold Coast Marathon a couple of weeks ago.
We also both did the rather hard Kokoda Challenge – a 96 km bushwalk in the Gold Coast Hinterland last weekend. Had some great info from First Aid Training Gold Coast expert Scott Whimpey.
What’s Next
I’ve just finished my presentation for Scout groups and school children -the talk goes for 10 minutes and I talk about:
how kids should do a bit of exercise each day,
how and why children should eat good things and not tons of junk food, and
Dad and I have been talking about having another dinner this year (maybe on the anniversary of finishing the ride) and having some more raffles to raise some more money for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Jack received a bit of press a few weeks ago to promote the Pride of Australia Awards. Check the article here.
Jack has also just been nominated for the Gold Coast Honours Award – the Gold Coast Bulletin had an article in Saturday’s newspaper about him and said some very kind things.
In September 2008, 15 year old Jack Sinclair and his dad Brendon, will cycle 4,500 kms across Australia (from Perth to Surfers Paradise) in just 30 days.
The ride will be used to raise to help raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia - a fantastic organisation who match up mentors to children who need a positive role model. Let's give a helping hand.
Ride Ambassador is Robbie McEwen
Cycling legend Robbie McEwen is our Ride Ambassador and said:
"For a young man of just 15 years of age to undertake this huge journey with the discipline and commitment he is showing is inspiring."
One of our great supporters and advisers is legendary Gold Coast cyclist and all round nice guy Peter 'Jonah' Lawton.
Jonah rode from Perth to the Gold Coast in March 2007 in an amazing 15 days - at 300 km per day that is an incredible achievement.
Jonah and his partner Diane have provided us with a ton of practical information and equipment to make the Perth to Paradise ride much easier than it would otherwise be. Thanks so much guys!
