Bike it to Ballidu Gravel 2024: Local lore & speccy wildflowers in a WA gravel mecca!

Shire of Wongan Hills-Ballidu president Mandy Stephenson can’t wait for Bike it to Ballidu Gravel this year – she’s become a big fan of gravel riding.

Since last year’s inaugural event took the former Bike it to Ballidu road event to gravel after 25 locally beloved years, the number of riders visiting the Shire to explore its 1000+ kilometres of gravel roads has exploded.

“Bike it to Ballidu Gravel has really put this place on the map as a gravel destination – there are riders groups coming through here all the time now,” Ms Stephenson told WestCycle. “It’s been really great for this community, great exposure for the Shire and a real boost to the local economy.”

The Wongan Hills Visitors’ Centre now sports a map with several 70-80km loops to help gravel riders navigate the Shire’s offerings.

Gravel grooming, community booming, wildflowers blooming!

The president said local buy-in to the event continued to build.

“We’ve found the event really brings the community together and everybody around here wants it to be successful,” said Ms Stephenson. “What it’s become is amazing and we can’t thank everybody enough.”

Ms. Stephenson said the healthy recent rains were not only good for the farmers and the gravel, but meant the Shire was likely to be in full bloom come September after a few dry winters.

“The canola is out and it’s a wildflower hotspot around here – we have about 1200 wildflower varieties – with the likes of rare orchids that are unique to this region. With all the rain we have it will be really spectacular.”

“Last year we welcomed 330 riders from around here, in Perth and the rest of the State – we hope more come this year and stay the weekend!”

Other things to do for the weekend include an art expo in Shire capital Wongan Hills, the aforementioned riding offers and trail walks, star gazing, bird watching and more.

Bike it to Ballidu Gravel rides out of Ballidu Township on Saturday, 21 September.

Sign up and find out more about local attractions and accommodation options here: www.ballidugravel.com.au/

Thanks to the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu, the Ballidu Progress Group, Boekeman Machinery, CASE IH, Lotterywest, and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries 

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Tim Roach

Elected Director | Off Road

Tim has been in senior leadership and strategic development roles for more than twenty years. He is currently Director of Executive Education in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University and is a past Assistant Commissioner and General Manager in the public service. He is an Accountant (FCPA) and sits on the Divisional Council of CPA Australia.

Tim has been involved in racing mountain bikes, BMX and triathlon for many years, both as a father of two children who race and as a past and current bike racer. Tim is the current over-50 State Champion in downhill mountain biking. He is also a very regular and enthusiastic transport cyclist; frequently seen in a suit and tie riding to meetings in the city on a mountain bike.

Denise Sullivan

Chair | Governance & Risk Committee

Denise Sullivan has a career spanning over twenty years in senior management and executive roles in the state public and not-for-profit health sectors.

In her usual role of Director Chronic Disease Prevention with the Western Australian Department of Health, she leads the development of state chronic disease and injury prevention policy and planning frameworks and contributes to the shaping of the national preventive health policy agenda.

Her professional interests cover many aspects of chronic disease and injury prevention encompassing health communications, health promotion and research, public policy on health and workforce planning and development.

She has a particular interest in furthering collaborations with other sectors with a mutual interest in promoting a more active and healthier WA community, and creating and sustaining environments that support this. Denise is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Leadership WA Signature Program, and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian College of Health Service Managers.

Denise is a recreational cyclist and recent convert to mountain biking (although trainer wheels still on!).