EveryBody e-Bikes co-owners Richard and Andrea Herklots with Cobram District Specialist School assistant principal Lisa Oliver.
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The smiles say it all at Cobram District Specialist School, where a new adaptive eTrike is ensuring no student is left watching from the sidelines during bike education.
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The school received a community grant through Variety — the Children's Charity to purchase the trike for its bike education program, ensuring every student can now take part.
The program teaches students road safety skills while building confidence, fostering independence and encouraging community participation.
Mental health practitioner and occupational therapist Celine Collins-Bye said a significant number of students with more complex medical needs had been unable to participate safely in the program.
“This trike completely removes that barrier,” she said.
“It’s perfect in that it allows for different levels of capacity, with three different settings students can actively pedal, or they can just be present and we pedal.
“Now every single child at this school can do bike ed, we don't have to exclude anyone, which is awesome.”
Bike ed instructor Di Wright with student Hollee Clark.
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Assistant principal Lisa Oliver said seeing students enjoy the new trike and the smiles on their faces had been wonderful.
“Having access to the adaptive trike means that all students can engage in the bike education program, irrespective of their disability,” she said.
“It will foster their sense of independence, increasing feelings of self-efficacy and confidence.
“This equipment also provides the opportunity to accessibly exercise, which reduces sedentary behaviour and improves motor skills.”
Lisa also thanked EveryBody e-Bikes co-owners Andrea and Richard Herklots, who travelled from Queensland to personally deliver the adaptive trike free of charge and generously donated a second trike to the school.
Education support staff member and bike education teacher Matt Hicks said the program began with Prep students and continued through to the school's final-year students.
“We start off riding on the basketball court on balance bikes and trikes, eventually moving on to two-wheelers,” he said.
Cobram District Specialist School’s new adaptive eTrike was purchased through a Variety community grant.
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Abby Green
“The program covers traffic conditions ― we set up cross roads, intersections and roundabouts so students learn to navigate them safely.
“Once they graduate from that then we take them into real-world scenarios where we ride through the main part of town.”
Matt said students also rode in different weather conditions and learnt practical road safety skills.
Bike education student Cooper Belfall, 16, recently obtained his learner permit and said the program has helped him.
“It gives you driving confidence, knowing that you’ve already been out on the road,” he said.
Student Rose Harkness, 18, said bike education was one of her favourite school activities.
“It’s fun exploring new locations around town on the bike,” she said.
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