Schools teams have to have an adult leader with them – with teachers leading the other 2 teams, the school asked me to step in and lead a team of 4 boys.
We completed the Challenge in a little over 29 hours – amazing effort by the boys to finish, though we did have 2 unable to continue on after 50 km.
I’ve just (yesterday at midday) finished my 1,200 km solo run around Tasmania to raise some money and awareness of Big brothers Big Sisters of Australia.
I’m heading to Tasmania at the end of next week to see if I can run around the island – 1,200 km of it – in 27 days.
That’s more than a marathon a day.
The training has been interesting to say the least and I’m keen to test myself on lonely days running and running.
I’m not making a big deal of the fundraising – I figure Australian’s have been hammered this year, and incredibly generous, with the many disasters around the place.
I did a speech a few weeks back to 400 Grade 9 students at the yLead leadership day.
Thanks to those people who did the survey after to let me know how I did – 13 people did the survey and they all went in the draw to win an iPod Shuffle and a $50 iTunes Gift card.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Stan Bisset, a true Australian hero.
Harry (my brother), Dad and I met Mr. Bisset a few weeks back when we went and had afternoon tea with Stan and his wife Gloria in Coolum.
Mr. Bisset then arranged for Harry and I and our Kokoda Challenge team to go along to the 2/14th Battalion reunion in Brisbane, which was an enormous thrill for us all.
Mr Bisset was a remarkable Australian and the nation is poorer for his loss.
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 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 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.
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."
Anne Steele is another wonderful person who has helped us out - Anne is the 2007 Tasmanian of the Year and the first Tasmanian to swim the English Channel.
