After rescheduling Ride for the Stars three times since late 2019, and navigating the challenges with lockdowns, the weather and clashing events, the Grow a Star team were excited to pilot this fundraising motorbike rally with an intimate number of seven riders.

On Day one, the riders took in the sights of Clarence Town, Booral, Buladelah, Forster, Coopernook and Kew, stopping in North Haven overnight.

On Day 2, the route took the riders to Wauchope and up the Oxley Highway stopping at Ginger’s creek, Long Flat, Apsley Falls and Walcha for lunch, then onto Bendemeer and finally Uralla for the evening.

Day 3 saw the riders travelling back through Walcha and down Thunderbolt’s Way to Gloucester for lunch and on through Belbora, Kranbach, Nabiac and then home to Newcastle.

Proceeds from this event will be helping young people living with disadvantage in our community, overcome the social and financial barriers that might be preventing them from achieving their educational, sporting or artistic pursuits. 

Being engaged in education, sport, music and the arts helps connect young people to their communities and fosters habits and behaviours that have lifelong benefits.  In households where money is tight, young people often miss out on the extra-curricular activities that most would simply take for granted. Rising living and housing costs are pushing more and more families into situations they have never experienced before, and this is where Grow a Star comes in.