Life membership of Bike North is the highest honour that can be granted to any member and is only awarded where a member has given outstanding service to Bike North over a period of time, service which has a profound impact on Bike North, its members and the community in general.
This year, Life Membership has been awarded to a member who has provided outstanding service across all areas of Bike North since joining on 29 December 2005: Alison Pryor.
Within two years of joining Bike North, Alison completed training and was approved as a Ride Leader in August 2007. Alison has since gone on to become a Master Ride Leader, helping other Bike North members achieve Ride Leader status and volunteering with Bicycle NSW to train ride leaders from across NSW.
As part of the Committee for eleven years, Alison held the positions of Training Co-ordinator and Rides Co-ordinator. As Training Co-ordinator, she developed a strong working relationship with Ryde Council and assisted in training both adults and children in how to ride. Individual members have also benefited from Alison’s coaching, both as one-on-one sessions and also on rides.
Granting Alison Pryor Life Membership of Bike North would be totally fitting and, dare I say, probably overdue. Since I have known her, she has shown deep commitment to Bike North. She has been an active ride leader, showing particular support for newer and/or less experienced riders. Her greatest contribution has been in coaching, assisting innumerable riders to improve their skills. (Tom Rubin)
As Rides Co-ordinator, Alision not only led the ride leader team but created most of the club’s formal documentation such as the Ride Procedures and Policies that are still used today.
As a member of Bike North’s advocacy team, representative for Ryde LGA, Alison has been tireless in her efforts as advocate for cycling and contributed to major projects such as the Epping Road cycleway, the Pittwater Road cycleway and the Meadowbank to Top Ryde cycle route.
As a member of Bike North’s advocacy team, Alison has developed deep, continuing and productive relationships with staff and councillors at Ryde Council which have benefited not only Bike North members but the community in general. Alison has developed and delivered a range of coaching programmes, providing encouragement for kids and families to enjoy recreational cycling. It is no surprise that Ryde Council has the largest bike programme of any of Bike North’s LGAs. (David Thomson)
A passionate rider (of course!) Alison has led countless rides locally and interstate, especially in Victoria and the ACT, but has also gone the extra kilometre (or two) by arranging multi-day cycling trips in Europe, providing Bike North members with the opportunity to experience a whole new world of cycling.
The entire Bike North membership applauds Alison’s contributions and thanks her for her continued passion and energy from which we all benefit.
Congratulations, Alison!
Nominated by Brian Lynne, Rides Co-ordinator
Supported by Tom Rubin, Secretary and David Thomson, Advocacy Co-ordinator