Great Aussie Rickshaw Ride - 11th September

The 61st day of the GARR. This was one of our longest stretches of
riding and the most number of riders. The conditions were great for
riding the rickshaw. The topography was undulating. The road was good
and there were very keen riders. This leg means that we have completed
the last stretch of riding on continental Australia. We will have more
in Tasmania but today was the last. This represents an amazing
achievement. 61 days ago Melbourne seemed a long way off. That was
because it was! But now we are here. Khalek and Hajrat are looking
forward to going home on Tuesday. The ladies, Farida and Parvin, have
joined the programme. Thousands of people, mainly children, have had a
terrific opportunity to hear the challenge of the millenium
development goals. They have seen and heard how ordinary people can
make a difference in the lives of poor people.
Amongst the riders today were several people who had been to
Bangladesh and visited the programmes of Symbiosis in Bangladesh. All
joined together in Federation Square to celebrate the arrival of the
rickshaw. It was surreal to watch it come up Flinders Street, cross
Swanston Street, make a u-turn, come back down Flinders Street and
then turn into Federation Square. The support team had set up the
banners, back drop and a table. The other rickshaw was there being
ridden around the Square, amongst the crowds gathered around the Square.
Many people came up to see what was going on and several took the
opportunity to have a ride on the rickshaw. Some people like Faye
Huxley were there because they heard of the event on ABC radio early
in the morning. Others like Natalie were there because they saw the
rickshaw earlier in the GARR programme while it was in Sydney. Khalek
accompanied Hajrat on the tablas while he sang the song of the poor to
the group of people gathered around the rickshaws and the display. In
the section of the Square where the big screen is situated, people
were able to watch the videos about rickshaws and the millenium
development goals.
Tomorrow Sunday will also be busy with meetings in suburban Melbourne.