17 Oct, 2013

City of Adelaide is Cycling for Culture

October’s inaugural City of Adelaide-sponsored Cycling for Culture will provide a unique union of cycling, Aboriginal heritage and fundraising across a variety of South Australian locations.

Cycling for Culture aims to cultivate an understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginals while simultaneously raising funds for the teaching, preservation and revival of the Kaurna language.

A group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal riders will spend three days cycling through more than 300 kilometres of Kaurna Country, covering the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Mount Lofty Ranges and the River Torrens.

High profile sporting identities including Tour de France veteran Patrick Jonker and AFL Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen will be among the riders following the ‘Tjilbruke Dreaming’ trail from Friday 18 October until Sunday 20 October. Kaurna Elders will greet the cyclists at significant locations along the route and offer interpretative explanations of the sites.

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Stephen Yarwood will welcome cyclists to Cycling for Culture’s closing function at the Torrens Weir (Pirltawardli) on Sunday 20 October from 3.30pm. The Torrens location is the former site of the Aboriginal school where the Kaurna language was first documented in the 1840s.

“Council is pleased to support the first Cycling for Culture event, via both an City of Adelaide team of riders as well as with a monetary grant of more than $9000,” Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said.

“The event raises awareness of our Kaurna Aboriginal community and I look forward to being involved in Cycling for Culture’s closing event on the beautiful banks of the Torrens.”

More information on Cycling for Culture, rider sponsorship and the Kaurna people can be found at http://www.cyclingforculture.com.au. ‘Kaurna miyurna, Kaurna yarta, ngadlu tampinthi’ – We recognise Kaurna people and their land.

Rebecca Draysey