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  Border Dash 2017 – Recap   Big smiles, snags on the barbie, corn on the cob, friendly competition, raffles, an auction and running across the Border – we must be talking about the Border Dash!   In 2017, the annual Border Dash occurred on Saturday, 14 October, and attracted runners from as far as Kalgoorlie and Ceduna to compete in the charity event raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Central Operations and Silverchain nurses.  This year, we are proud to report $9,467 was raised, and divided equally between the two critical charities who service our remote community.   As always, we could count on Sergeant Russell Chamberlain, and the Eucla Police Team, our local nurse, Gladys from Silverchain nurses, Tony and Penny Hogan from the Streaky Bay Hotel, Rob Stevens, our amazing auctioneer and a number of other prominent locals to throw their support behind the event and ensure the day went off without a hitch!     Each year the 13km Dash begins at 9.00am from the Eucla Hotel Motel, following a safety briefing from the Sergeant. This year, facing headwinds and a blaring sun, our placeholders were:   1st – Danny Sheehan (57mins 42seconds) 2nd – Lenny Cotter (1 hour, 4 minutes and 52 seconds) 3rd – Toby Schulz (1 hour, 5 minutes and 23 seconds)   Once the final competitors crossed the finish line, it was time for a good old-fashioned sausage sizzle with corn on the cob while everyone cooled down, and the medallions were awarded.     The afternoon of the Border Dash is dedicated to rest and recuperation, with many guests retiring to their rooms, or having a splash in the Border Village Roadhouse swimming pool before gathering in the Bar for the final event, the charity auction!     This year, not only were we lucky enough to have Auctioneer extraordinaire, Rob Stevens return, we had some incredible donations including Limited Edition items from local and inter-state businesses!   All in all, the Border Dash 2017 was a great event due, in no small part to all who participated, attended, helped out on the day, and of course our wonderful sponsors, listed below!  

A few weeks ago, the team here at Border Village Roadhouse became aware of two Sydney-siders, Erich Hoffman and Rashid Khallouf who planned to ride their bicycles from Perth to Sydney to raise funds for Lifeline Australia (to read more about the beginning of the journey, click here).   Erich and Rashid set off on Saturday, 2 September as planned, however, since then, constant mechanical issues plagued Rashid’s bike which eventually resulted in the ride, for him, being unsafe. The tough decision was made by both Erich and Rashid that despite his determination to keep going, there was no alternative but for Rashid to turn back and allow Erich to ride on alone. We have been following Erich’s progress and were so excited when, on the afternoon of Thursday 14 September, Erich, pedalled across the border and here to us! From Perth, Erich has cycled 721 kilometres in just 12 days.  Erich arrived with, Ash Nurick, a new riding mate he met along the way!  Ash has been planning his ride for almost 10 years, and met Erich by chance along the way!  Both men arrived in great spirits, and our staff members, Diane and Ricky said they have never seen anyone so happy about a bed and a shower!     ‘   Diane and Ricky joined Erich and Ash for a hot meal in the evening and discussed the highlights and challenges of the journey so far. Erich has kept a positive attitude and says “it is challenging! Sometimes it is brutal, it’s hard and it’s tough, but then I think about why I am doing this, for Lifeline and for people suffering with mental illness and I know I’ve got it easier than them, and that in a few weeks I will be back home.”   ‘   The highlight for Erich and Ash has been the kindness of strangers.  They have been fortunate to meet people along the way who have offered food, water and encouragement.  They have also met others who are on similar missions, like Matty, who is walking from Perth to Ipswich for a Children’s Hospital, and Sue, who is walking from Melbourne to Geraldton for Alzheimer’s disease.  Erich says “meeting so many wonderful, generous and kind people restores faith in humankind”.     Erich and Ash told us:   When you are out there the only thing man made is the bike and the road! There is plenty of time to see the natural beauty around you, plenty of time to think.. and another good thing is you can eat whatever you like and still lose weight!! Their advice for anyone thinking of taking on this challenge is “you must have good equipment and gear, you must do your research and plan well, be safe and think ahead, then get out there and do it!” So far, Erich has raised $5,248.62 for Lifeline Australia.  If you would like to support Erich on his journey, please visit https://give.everydayhero.com/au/perth-to-sydney-on-bicycle Alternatively, donation tins are available at Border Village Roadhouse.  

Cycling 4,000km For Lifeline Australia A 4,000km bike ride might seem unfathomable to some, but for Rashid Khallouf and Erich Hoffman it’s a reality that’s approaching quickly. From 2 September 2017, they will begin a bike ride from Perth to Sydney, across the Nullarbor Plain, over approximately 40 days in order to raise money for Lifeline Australia.   Lifeline Australia is a national charity that provides a 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention service. They rely heavily on community support and donations to continue to provide this life saving service to many Australians every day.     Rashid and Erich began training a few months ago with lots of early morning and long weekend rides, cycling more than 60km a day in order to prepare themselves both mentally and physically.   On Saturday, 2 September both men will fly to Perth, Western Australia, and begin their cycle back to Sydney. On Day One they hope to travel around 25km to the outskirts of Perth and will then continue to ride between 100km-150km each day. Their journey will take them across the Nullarbor, through Ceduna, Port Augusta, Mildura, Wagga Wagga and finally cycling the Old Hume Highway.     The weather conditions may impact how far they ride each day, but the biggest challenge will be carrying enough water to get them to the next roadhouse, which can sometimes be around 200km away. They will have to carry all their own food, water, sleeping bags, tents and other supplies while they travel. Rashid and Erich are showing an admirable sense of determination as they embark on this huge trip to create awareness for Lifeline Australia.   Having both personally experienced the incredible impact that Lifeline Australia can have on someone in need, Rashid and Erich want to give something back to the lifesaving charity. Together they have raised nearly $6000, and will continue to raise money as they pedal their way across Australia.   The team at Border Village Roadhouse are looking forward to welcoming Rashid and Erich as they cross the SA/WA Border and showing our support. Collection tins will be placed at Border Village Roadhouse for our guests to make donations for the duration of their cycle. If you would like to donate online please visit their Everyday Hero pages here: Rashid and Erich.

The Border Dash 2016 Is Fast Approaching   We, at the Roadhouse, are now in the final stages of preparing for the annual Border Dash. It is taking place on Saturday the 15th of October. It sees the event returning to the same date as the original event took place back in 1988. The event sees people walking or running 12 kilometres from the Eucla Motel in Western Australia to the Border Village Roadhouse to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Silverchain nurses   29 Years And Going Strong   The Border Dash has been running since 1987, when two friends had a bet who can run from bar-door to bar-door faster. It was officially organised by Don Harrington, who was a member of the Eyre Highway Association, as a way to raise money for the two causes.   Both of these organisations offer vital medical support in this rural region of Australia. The funds raised are going to much-needed initiatives.   The Charity Auction In the evening, following the Border Dash, there is a charity auction which is where most of the fund-raising occurs. All sorts of different items are auctioned off to a packed bar at the Border Village Roadhouse. The event has been a popular one since its beginning, with people from both sides of the border participating. It has included runners from Madura and Norseman, as well as regular participation from police officers at Eucla. Streaky Bay Hotel have been one business which has participated for the past 6 years. Hotel manager Tony Hogan said everyone loved being involved with the event. “A guy at Border (Village) is a former Streaky Bay resident, Humphrey Morgan, and he got us involved,” he said. Mr Hogan said the hotel collected donations for the event throughout the year and last year raised about $1,300. As well as providing support for two worthy causes, the Border Dash has been a chance for Eyre Highway businesses to come together. Megan Laws, our marketing manager at Border Village Roadhouse says the Border Dash was one of the events of the year, and it brought people together to celebrate being part of the Eyre Highway. “The different roadhouses along the Eyre Highway are in somewhat competition (with each other) but it’s an event that brings everyone together,” she said. How You Can Get Involved People can RSVP to participate in the event by emailing [email protected]. If you would like to contribute to the charity auction you can also get in touch through the same email address.

Recapping The Border Run: August 2016   This month we played host to The Border Run. An annual event which sees people travel by motorcycle and meet for a catch up at “The Border”.     40 Years And Going Strong It’s been 40 years since the inception of the event and the interest is still strong. Originally organised by Eric and Bear as an occasion to meet up at a convenient location after Eric away moved from his long-time friend in WA to Adelaide. These days the event is supported each year by members of the Far Riders. This year did not disappoint with people travelling from across Australia in order to participate in the tradition. The Famous Pudding Probably even more famous than the event itself is “The Pudding”. It is a big sister self-saucing pudding that has been traveling Australia for the last 40 years. You can read more about the history of the Border Run and the Pudding. The gentleman holding “The Pudding” is Brian Kowalia. The Pudding as you can see is encased in resin and the members each year bid for the honor of transporting it across the country for this event. Official Border Run Merchandise This year we chipped in to organise some shirts, singlets and stubbie coolers by making them available to those who attended. You can see the gentleman in the background wearing the shirt, while the lady in the front proudly holds the pudding. The second photo below shows the Border Run merchandise proudly displayed on the wall. It was great to see how successful this merchandise was at resonating with those who attended. Most of flew off the walls and very little remains in our shop for those looking to pick up a piece of history.     Thank You Our team at Border Village were proud as punch to host the event for another year and look forward to having a yarn and beer with those attend next year!

A Brief History Of The Border Run & The Pudding   The Border Run is an annual event on the first weekend of August each year. Motorcycle riders from around Australia meet at Border Village, bring “The Pudding”, and catch up for a good time with friends.     The History of Border stretches just over 40 years and it is an interesting story well worth the read.   In 1976, Bear and Eric both lived in Western Australia although Eric decided to move to better pastures in South Australia. Not long before Eric left WA dinner was organised at Bear’s place and Eric showed up with a Big Sister self-saucing pudding for dessert. Unfortunately, after much liberation the pudding was forgotten, dinner was consumed and the weary friends parted company after making arrangements to catch up.   The following year, Bear and Eric decided that if they wanted to catch up and have a beer, they needed a place that was relatively close to both of them. As they lived in states that shared a border, perhaps the best place to catch-up would be the newly built pub at WA/SA border.Ad the venue was decided all that was needed was a date. After much discussion, it was decided that the first weekend in August would be an ideal time as it is not too hot and not a lot happens in August anyway.   Word soon spread among the faithful in WA and not only was this to be a catch-up for Bear and Eric, others decided to go along for the ride. So, on August 6/7th 1977 the first Border Run happened. Present at the first Border Run were: Bear, Eric and Sandra, Boomer, Goldie, Pat Henderson, Catherine, Joan, Murray, and John.   Prior to leaving Perth, Bear located the pudding and decided to take it out to the order and have it for dessert one night. Fortunately, the Pudding didn’t get eaten and to this say it still travels Australia by motorcycle.   Since that first Border Run in 1977, a year has not gone by without the Border Run happening and some 350 people have attended from each state and territory in Australia.

Fraser Range Situated halfway between Norseman and Balladonia, Fraser Range is an important part of Western Australia’s history. Though it’s near the Nullarbor plain, it bears very little resemblance. It is compressed of hardwood eucalyptus forest with some trees towering 20 to 30 metres tall with dense undergrowth. Attractions include sightseeing tours of the range, the forest and the operational station. Overnight caravan and camping has been developed also. 4WD Track – Cocklebiddy to Esperance If you are a half-brave four wheel driver, then the Telegraph Track is best for you. It can be slow but it’s exciting and along the track are some of the best spots along the peninsula. It is very isolated so you need to be well prepared. The track is a variety of limestone, muddy claypans, sand, and some steep hills. The tracks are narrow and you might need to clear a few trees before passing through. 4WD Track – Point Brown Track The Point Brown Track is an unsealed road in South Australia. Off the Flinders Highway, the Point Brown Track takes you right to the edge of the South Australian coastline. Australia’s Longest Straight Road Sign The Eyre Highway is the longest straight stretch of road in Australia. It’s often categorised as “The Long and Lonely Eyre Highway”. There is a section of the highway which is 90 miles with no turns or bends. You will see the sign of Australia’s longest straight road sign at the start of 90 mile stretch between Balladonia and Caiguna, a great photo opportunity. Eucla Telegraph Station The Eucla Telegraph Station opened in 1877 and helped link Western Australia with the rest of Australia and the world. Situated a few kilometers across the border of Western Australia, visiting the Eucla Telegraph Station is just one of the many things you should include in your adventure while crossing the Nullarbor as this constantly changing landmark is little more than a few old stone walls protruding above the moving dunes. Murrawijinie Caves Considered as one of the many things you should see when you’re visiting the Nullarbor, Murrawijinie Caves is situated just 10 kilometers north of the Nullarbor Roadhouse. The site is marked by a large sign and is open to the public. What you’ll find here is a large doline. Caves 2 and 3 are the most interesting with hawks and swallows using the caves as nesting place. However, full safety precautions are strongly advise as there is a possibility you may encounter some snakes. Remember, you are in the Outback and entering caves is not without risk. Scott’s Beach One of the many tourist attractions along the Fowler’s Bay is Scott’s Beach. It is a 4.5 km long exposed beach and backing massive sand dunes. You can surf over the eastern reefs. Also, Scott’s beach is relatively popular for rock, reef and beach fishing. Cactus Beach Situated 21 kilometers south of Penong along the road to Point Sinclair, Cactus Beach features bush camping ground within the dune scrub adjacent to the highly acclaimed Cactus Surf Beach. Cactus Beach is well-known for its three perfect surfing breaks: “Castles”, “Cactus” and “Caves”. Experienced surfers from all over Australia and overseas flock at this iconic surfing mecca to experience the freedom of surfing in an unspoilt surrounding. Minnipa Minnipa is a small township along South Australian’s grain belt with wheat being the most common crop grown in the area. Despite of its size, it has a rich rural life, boasting several churches, store, caravan park, pub and other industry base companies. As with other towns in the Eyre Peninsula, the main attractions here are a variety of granite outcrops like the Pildappa Rock. Coffin Bay Coffin Bay is a town situated at the southern extremity of the Eyre Peninsula. The bay overlooks the blue waters of Port Douglas and Kellidie Bay. The town is popular for boating, sailing, swimming, water-skiing, skindiving, wind-surfing and fishing. Coffin Bay is most famous for their world-class seafood products especially oyster. Oyster farming is conducted in the quiet waters of the bay. Isralites Bay Israelite Bay is a remote beach east of Esperance, primarily known for its fishing. It is a challenge to get there, and you need to be completely self sufficient (fuel, water, camping, cooking etc). It also holds a lot of historical value, being one of the first places to communicate with Europe. Head of the Bight The Head of Bight is located 20 kilometres east of Nullarbor Roadhouse. As a vantage point to view the Southern Right Whale the Head of Bight is impossible to beat. Between June and October of each year up to 100 Southern Right Whales frequent this area of the South Australian coastline to breed and give birth to whale calves.