On Sunday 1 May, Kirsty Robertson (CEO of Caritas Australia), and Richard Landels (Caritas Australia’s Advancement Director) arrived at St Patrick’s Cathedral after a 900km bicycle ride from New South Wales. It was the culmination of more than a week’s hard work, having braved some less-than-ideal weather conditions in their bid to help raise funds and awareness of the work of Caritas.
The pair were greeted upon their arrival by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli who congratulated them on their week-long journey through some of Australia’s rural and regional highways.
Kirsty shared that part of the impetus for the ride was the story of Biru, who was featured in this year’s Project Compassion campaign. Hailing from rural India, Biru contracted polio at a young age, making it difficult for him to walk and support his family. With support from Caritas Australia and in partnership with Caritas India, Biru was able to participate in a livelihood training program and eventually opened his own bicycle repair business. He is now financially independent and can forge a path out of poverty for his four young daughters.
At the same time, Richard and I had been contemplating that because of COVID we hadn’t been out in communities and hadn’t been able to connect with the real supporters of Caritas Australia. And for us, we were poorer because of it.
‘That’s the real richness and light of Caritas: connecting with those people in the rural parts of Australia. And so we combined the two and thought “well, let’s cycle to Melbourne!”’
Along the way, the pair made pit stops at schools and parishes in Mittagong, Goulburn, Boorowa, Wagga Wagga, Holbrook, Wangaratta, Euroa and Craigieburn. ‘On some days we’d meet other cyclists and just spread the word about Caritas and what we were doing,’ Kirsty said. ‘It was an opportunity to raise awareness about who Caritas is and the great work that we do.’
A highlight of the trip was simply meeting people along the way, Kirsty shared. ‘I think Caritas, like the Church, is at its best when it’s in relationship with others.
We’ve got a huge amount of gratitude for people across Australia that support our work and so being able to look people in the eye and thank them and let them know that the money they donate to Caritas does indeed make a difference. That was really special,’ she said.
She also reflected that building partnerships starts with getting to know those around you. For Kirsty, that meant spending time with her riding companion, Richard. ‘I didn’t know him that well before and so spending nine days cycling up some rough terrain is a good way to get to know each other. But also for both of us just getting that deep personal connection that will enable us to work better together,’ she said.
In recent months, Caritas Australia has been working with its partners in Eastern Europe to assist refugees escaping conflict in Ukraine. ‘We’re doing a lot of work with the refugees who’ve moved across the border into Moldova,’ she said. It involves helping those displaced with emergency accommodation, access to meals, water and hygiene supplies, as well as ongoing psychological support.
I’d like people to remember that they can make a difference. That it really is just about every individual across Australia deciding that is not the world that God intended and that we can indeed let someone somewhere in the world have a better life because of something we did today.’
Kirsty and Richard’s bicycle ride to help break the cycle of poverty has already raised more than $49,000. You can still contribute to the work of Caritas Australia here.
