I’ve just returned to Queensland after walking the South Coast Track.  It’s a briliant 84 km wilderness walk over 7 days.

I’d heard the Melaleuca flights were amazing – incredible flight over the wilderness to a gravel airstrip in the middle of nowhere.

Dad has put up a web site about the trip that has over 180 photos, some video and lots more – check it out at www.southcoasttrack.com.au.

The track was very muddy in parts

My brother Harry picked the wrong place to step

Thanks

Jack

I was lucky enough to get invited along to the Nerang Rotary Club last night and give a little talk about the ride and the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia.

Quite a few of the members were aware of the great work of BBBS, which was great.

Dinner was delicious (!) and it was terrific to hear of the work Nerang Rotary have been doing in their local community to make a difference.

Keep it up Jayne and team!

Thanks

Jack

I will be heading to New York in June 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.

I am also doing a 3 day Leadership and Service conference as well as as much sightseeing as I can squeeze in!

Regards

Jack

No joy for Jack in the 2010 Young Australian of the Year finals for Queensland.

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!)

Cheers

Brendon

Jack has been named as one of 4 Finalists for the Young Australian of the Year Award (QLD).

Jack was nominated by the good folk at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia for his community work which has included:

Last year, at 15 years of age, Jack became the youngest person ever to cycle across Australia when he rode from Perth to Surfers Paradise for charity – 4,500 kms in just 30 days – raising $25,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia.

Other Charity & Community Work

His charity work also includes the donation and management of the web site for charity cycle www.sydneytosurfers.org.au, a site that has helped to raise in excess of $200,000 this year for disadvantaged youth.

• Jack ran the full 2009 Gold Coast marathon and the grueling 96 km Kokoda Challenge in July for charity.
• He volunteers two weeks of his school holidays each year to a camp for disabled children.
• He speaks to Scouting groups on the importance of regular exercise and doing your very best.

“…A Special Young Man…”

As legendary Australian cyclist Robbie McEwen said about Jack’s efforts:

“Jack Sinclair is a special young man, who through personal sacrifice, dedication, perseverance and guts is giving his all to support other young Australians.

As a teenager it is easy to be consumed by your interests, wondering what the world is going to do for you.

Jack is different, he’s thinking about and DOING what he can for others in need.”

Winner Announced Thursday November 19

The winner of the Young Australian of the Year Award is announced on Thursday November 19, 2009.

A big thanks to the lovely group of Cub Scouts at Ashmore Scout Group.

I did a speech there last night about the ride and how you can do anything if you do your best, help each other and practice.

The children were very nice and very interested.

They asked lots of questions at the end.  My favourite question was:

“Did you get paid for riding across Australia?”

Thanks

Jack

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.

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
• how they can do anything they set their mind to.

If you’d like me to talk to your group please email me at jack@perthtoparadise.com.au.

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.

Thanks

Jack

Howdy

Quick update on things.

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.

Click the article to make it larger.

Click for larger image.

Cheers

Brendon

Tuesday November 25, 2008

I just realised some of the chronological order is difficult to find on the site.  Here’s the ride in order:

Adventure Begins
Good Luck Message
Day 1 – Tailwinds
Day 2 – More than planned
Day 3 – Rolling Plains of WA
Day 4 – Kalgoorlie
Day 5 – Tough Day
Day 6 – Norseman to Balladonia
Day 7 – Massive Day Gets Us Ahead
Day 8 – Past Madura
Day 9 – Crossing the border
Day 10 – Into SA
Day 11 – To Penong
Day 12 – Hardest Ride Ever
Day 13 – To Minnipa
Day 14 – Reducing tomorrow’s ride
Day 15 – 120 km to Port Augusta
Day 16 – An Incredible Day
Day 17 – Australia Bites Back
Day 18 – Broken Hill Birthday Boy
Day 19 – Broken Hill Flying
Day 20 – Pushing Hard
Day 21 – Lunch Update
Day 22 – Heat, Flies & Exhaustion
Day 23 – Stormy Morning, Hot Afternoon
Day 24 – Cycling Hell to Heaven to Hell
Day 25 – Dodging Snakes, Kangaroos & More
Day 26 – Wet & Wild 101 km
Day 27 – 120 kms of Downhill
Day 28 – 130 km Lumpy Ride
Day 29 – The Kyogle Ranges
Day 30 – It’s Here….Coming To The End
End – Done!