We have our third volunteer Bicycle Packing Day of 2023 coming up.
After the great success of our previous packing day, we would love to see as many volunteers as possible to help prepare our bicycle donations for transport to Namibia.
No experience necessary. If you haven’t seen our new storage site yet at Toyota in Altona, now’s your chance.
We need as many hands as possible to help prepare our donated bicycles for transport to Namibia.
New or experienced volunteers are both welcome.
When: Sunday, 21st May 2023, 10am – 3pm
In case of bad weather (heavy storms/extreme heat), the day will be postponed.
Where: Our new site at Toyota Altona – 494 Grieve Parade, Altona North (enter at Gate 7)
Andy Gild is co-founder and CEO of Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne. Andy has been running marathons for several years and has competed in several triathlons. She is dedicated to grassroots charity and the Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) organisation. Therefore running a 90km ultramarathon, and fundraising for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, seems an appropriate way to help ensure more people have access to basic needs through the distribution of pre-loved, donated bicycles.
The best way to achieve goals is to partner with someone else. Andy is honoured to be accompanied, both in training and on the day itself, by her good friend and co-coach, Jacqui. In 2011 during the New York Marathon, Jacqui discovered for the first time what digging deep meant to her. Now as she returns to her place of birth for the first time in 44 years, this is an incredible time to explore how much deeper she can dig!
Andy (left) and Jacqui (right)
Andy, Jacqui and the entire Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne community (in Melbourne and Namibia) thank you for whatever support you are able to provide.
Donate to Andy and Jacqui’s fundraising and Comrade ultramarathon efforts via myCause
Just $30 can give a donated bicycle a new life in Africa.
We have our second volunteer Bicycle Packing Day of 2023 coming up.
After the great success of our previous packing day, we would love to see as many volunteers as possible to help prepare our bicycle donations for transport to Namibia.
No experience necessary. If you haven’t seen our new storage site yet at Toyota in Altona, now’s your chance.
We need as many hands as possible to help prepare our donated bicycles for transport to Namibia.
New or experienced volunteers are both welcome.
When: Sunday, 16th April 2023, 10am – 3pm
In case of bad weather (heavy storms/extreme heat), the day will be postponed.
Where: Our new site at Toyota Altona – 494 Grieve Parade, Altona North (enter at Gate 7)
Our tireless Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Andy Gild, is participating in a 90km Ultramarathon in June where she will be raising funds for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne.
To prepare for this Ultramarathon, Andy has done some hair-raising cross-training recently in New Zealand (Aotearoa). Andy ran 26km along the 302km Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, which winds through New Zealand’s South Island through a variety of landscapes. Andy is also riding her road bike through much of the cycle trail to complete the full journey.
Trail MapStopping to enjoy the viewBike on the A2O trailAndy riding through the mountains
Andy commented during her New Zealand trail ride that:
“It is so incredible to be riding my bike for so much joy, knowing how significant a bike is for basic transport”.
Andy Gild – Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne CEO & Co-Founder
Keep your eyes peeled ands following our blog and social media updates on Andy’s progress and fundraising in the future.
Mike and Lorraine, long time friends of Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, are undertaking a mammoth bicycle ride across New Zealand – 400km and 6,700m of climbing over gravel roads!
While it’s not for the faint-hearted, Mike and Lorraine are doing it for a good cause – to raise funds for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne. So far, they have raise $900 out of a target of $1,000. If you want to help them reach their goal by donating, or simply follow their journey, check out their myCause fundraising page below:
A massive congratulations to our 2022 Matt McCullough Award Winners – Ira Felinski and Tim Mulligan.
Ira receiving his Volunteer award from Andy Gild CEO & Founder
Ira is our Website Manager, who has been volunteering with us for 5 years now. Ira was instrumental in redeveloping, designing and managing our current Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne website. Ira has recently successfully navigated our transition to a new domain name (b4hmelbourne.org.au) with aplomb.
Tim receiving his Volunteer award from Andy Gild CEO & Founder
Tim in our Packing Team is a master of packing bicycles – he has stacked nearly every bicycle we have received into shipping containers to be sent to improve the lives of African communities and support our projects.
Thank you so much for your volunteer contributions Ira and Tim to Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne so far.
If you are interested in volunteering with Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, see more info on our website: Volunteer
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne volunteers had a very successful packing day on Sunday, 20th November 2022 at our new site at Toyota Altona.
Weather was a mix of rain and sunshine but it didn’t deter 25 volunteers who all put in several hours of solid work to prep and pack a record 208 bicycles on the day!
The Toyota site worked a treat and having all the extra space was so useful.
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped and thank you Toyota Altona.
After a long search for a new facility, we are pleased to share that Toyota Australia has provided a fantastic site for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, that will serve as the heart of our operations, with plenty of room to grow. With so much space and a great new location to store and pack, we are ready to get back on the road to collect bicycles from all over Melbourne.
B4H Melbourne Board Members and Collection Team at Toyota Product Centre, Melbourne
We are super excited about the partnership with Toyota Australia, who share our passion for mobility, sustainability and community. Together we can rehome more bikes, keeping them out of landfill, by donating them to our international partners who work with remote African communities to create sustainable transport and development opportunities.
One bicycle can change a life, a container load can change a community, but it wouldn’t be possible without supporters like Toyota. If you would like to get involved too and help us fill this great new site with bicycles, check the ways you can donate now.
The 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) provided a great recap of B4H Melbourne’s milestones this year.
Andy Gild, cofounder and CEO of B4H Melbourne, summed it up perfectly when she said that “what we do is all about the impact”. Reflecting upon B4H Melbourne from the very beginning until now certainly echoes this sentiment. Over the years 27 containers have been sent to Africa, landing in Namibia, Zambia, Madagascar and Botswana. Each container has a huge impact in Africa, with every bicycle, and every shop having a profound impact on people’s lives.
A summary of the 27 containers sent out by B4H Melbourne.
Despite all of the challenges with COVID this year, 856 bicycles were prepped to ship, 436 bicycles were shipped and 129 bicycles were sold back into the community. In August this year, container 27 touched down in Namibia packed to the brim with 436 bicycles, 34 solar panels and two wheelchairs. A huge thank you goes out to Queenscliff Men’s Shed who generously funded the container!
An overview of B4H Melbourne 2021. Our fantastic volunteers packing up container 27.
Excitingly, 2021 saw B4H Melbourne begin implementing its 30K30 strategy. The strategy aims to repurpose 30 thousand bicycles, support 30 sustainable workshops and potentially partner with 30 organisations by the year 2030. The first partnership has been formed with the fantastic organisation Slipstream Coaching, pathing the way for B4H to make great strides in its contribution to the community.
Even during lockdowns work was undertaken behind the scenes, in particular B4H Melbourne worked closely with Michael Linke (CEO of BEN Namibia) to pivot to a bicycle entrepreneurship program. So far, 92 bicycles have been offered through the shops at a discount and six month repayment period, and there has been an extended offer to low income workers who have been affected by pandemic wage cuts.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure B4H Melbourne’s success. Whilst there are many notable volunteers, a special thanks goes out to Mandi Gunsberger and Keir Paterson who are now stepping off the Board after making valued contributions. Another congratulations goes out to Bill Martin and Mary-Jane Willis, both of whom were recipients of the Matt McCullough Volunteer Award 2021 for their outstanding voluntary contributions to B4H Melbourne.
The wonderful B4H Melbourne Committee.
Along with the ups of 2021, B4H Melbourne has also experienced a great loss. In April 2021 Pat Montani, the B4H global founder, tragically passed away after a short battle with cancer. Pat was an incredible human being who devoted a huge amount of time and energy to this amazing grassroots organisation and has enabled communities around the world to develop and flourish. Container 28, which will be sent off in early 2022, is dedicated to Pat and will be sent in his honour.
2021 has been another huge year for B4H Melbourne and we are so excited to see what 2022 holds!
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Facebook
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Instagram
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Twitter Feed
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne LinkedIn Organisation Page
Last Updated: 17 May 2023 by B4H Admin
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Volunteer Packing Day – May 2023
We have our third volunteer Bicycle Packing Day of 2023 coming up.
After the great success of our previous packing day, we would love to see as many volunteers as possible to help prepare our bicycle donations for transport to Namibia.
No experience necessary. If you haven’t seen our new storage site yet at Toyota in Altona, now’s your chance.
We need as many hands as possible to help prepare our donated bicycles for transport to Namibia.
New or experienced volunteers are both welcome.
When: Sunday, 21st May 2023, 10am – 3pm
In case of bad weather (heavy storms/extreme heat), the day will be postponed.
Where: Our new site at Toyota Altona – 494 Grieve Parade, Altona North (enter at Gate 7)
How: Register your interest Register your interest or attendance via email and please let us know if you have any specific BBQ dietary requirements.
What: Cleaning and packing of donated bicycles into the next shipping container.
Note: A BBQ lunch will be provided for all volunteers on the day – please advise of any dietary requirements
Check out this behind the scenes time lapse video of what the packing day entails through the magic of Vimeo:
Last Updated: 2 May 2023 by B4H Admin
Andy and Jacqui fundraising and running 90km in the Comrades Ultramarathon in South Africa
Andy and Jacqui will be putting one foot in front of the other for 90km along the Valley of 1000 Hills in the Comrades Ultramarathon in South Africa 🇿🇦.
Andy Gild is co-founder and CEO of Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne. Andy has been running marathons for several years and has competed in several triathlons. She is dedicated to grassroots charity and the Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) organisation. Therefore running a 90km ultramarathon, and fundraising for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, seems an appropriate way to help ensure more people have access to basic needs through the distribution of pre-loved, donated bicycles.
The best way to achieve goals is to partner with someone else. Andy is honoured to be accompanied, both in training and on the day itself, by her good friend and co-coach, Jacqui. In 2011 during the New York Marathon, Jacqui discovered for the first time what digging deep meant to her. Now as she returns to her place of birth for the first time in 44 years, this is an incredible time to explore how much deeper she can dig!
Andy, Jacqui and the entire Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne community (in Melbourne and Namibia) thank you for whatever support you are able to provide.
Donate to Andy and Jacqui’s fundraising and Comrade ultramarathon efforts via myCause
Just $30 can give a donated bicycle a new life in Africa.
Read more about Andy Gild’s first experience running the Comrades Ultramarathon in 2013 in this article for the GROWTH PROJECT’S PUBLICATION, RIPPLES (2019)
Last Updated: 14 April 2023 by B4H Admin
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Volunteer Packing Day – April 2023
We have our second volunteer Bicycle Packing Day of 2023 coming up.
After the great success of our previous packing day, we would love to see as many volunteers as possible to help prepare our bicycle donations for transport to Namibia.
No experience necessary. If you haven’t seen our new storage site yet at Toyota in Altona, now’s your chance.
We need as many hands as possible to help prepare our donated bicycles for transport to Namibia.
New or experienced volunteers are both welcome.
When: Sunday, 16th April 2023, 10am – 3pm
In case of bad weather (heavy storms/extreme heat), the day will be postponed.
Where: Our new site at Toyota Altona – 494 Grieve Parade, Altona North (enter at Gate 7)
How: Register your interest Register your interest or attendance via email and please let us know if you have any specific BBQ dietary requirements.
What: Cleaing and packing of donated bicycles into the next shipping container.
Note: A BBQ lunch will be provided for all volunteers on the day – please advise any dietary requirements
Check out this behind the scenes time lapse video of what the packing day entails through the magic of Vimeo:
Last Updated: 3 April 2023 by B4H Admin
Director & CEO Andy Gild’s Ultramarathon Preparation Biking in New Zealand
Our tireless Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Andy Gild, is participating in a 90km Ultramarathon in June where she will be raising funds for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne.
To prepare for this Ultramarathon, Andy has done some hair-raising cross-training recently in New Zealand (Aotearoa). Andy ran 26km along the 302km Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, which winds through New Zealand’s South Island through a variety of landscapes. Andy is also riding her road bike through much of the cycle trail to complete the full journey.
Andy commented during her New Zealand trail ride that:
Keep your eyes peeled ands following our blog and social media updates on Andy’s progress and fundraising in the future.
Last Updated: 22 February 2023 by B4H Admin
The Bear Essentials – Bike-packing for Humanity
Mike and Lorraine, long time friends of Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, are undertaking a mammoth bicycle ride across New Zealand – 400km and 6,700m of climbing over gravel roads!
While it’s not for the faint-hearted, Mike and Lorraine are doing it for a good cause – to raise funds for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne. So far, they have raise $900 out of a target of $1,000. If you want to help them reach their goal by donating, or simply follow their journey, check out their myCause fundraising page below:
https://www.mycause.com.au/p/303947/the-bear-essentials-bikepacking-for-humanity
Last Updated: 14 April 2023 by B4H Admin
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Volunteer Packing Day – February 2023
We have our first Packing Day of 2023 coming up.
If you haven’t seen the new site yet, now’s your chance.
We need as many hands as possible to help prepare our bicycle donations for transport to Namibia.
New or experienced volunteers are both welcome.
When: Sunday, 12th Feb 2023, 10am – 3pm
In case of extreme heat, the day will be postponed.
Where: Our new site at Toyota Altona – 494 Grieve Parade, Altona North (enter at Gate 7)
How: Register your interest Register your interest via email and please let us know if you have any specific BBQ dietary requirements.
What: Cleaing and packing of donated bicycles into the next shipping container.
Note: A BBQ lunch will be provided for all volunteers on the day – please advise any dietary requirements
Check out this behind the scenes time lapse video of what the packing day entails through the magic of Vimeo:
Last Updated: 6 January 2023 by B4H Admin
2022 Matt McCullough Volunteer Award Winners
A massive congratulations to our 2022 Matt McCullough Award Winners – Ira Felinski and Tim Mulligan.
Ira is our Website Manager, who has been volunteering with us for 5 years now. Ira was instrumental in redeveloping, designing and managing our current Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne website. Ira has recently successfully navigated our transition to a new domain name (b4hmelbourne.org.au) with aplomb.
Tim in our Packing Team is a master of packing bicycles – he has stacked nearly every bicycle we have received into shipping containers to be sent to improve the lives of African communities and support our projects.
Thank you so much for your volunteer contributions Ira and Tim to Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne so far.
If you are interested in volunteering with Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, see more info on our website: Volunteer
Last Updated: 14 April 2023 by B4H Admin
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Volunteer Packing Day – November 2022 Highlights
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne volunteers had a very successful packing day on Sunday, 20th November 2022 at our new site at Toyota Altona.
Weather was a mix of rain and sunshine but it didn’t deter 25 volunteers who all put in several hours of solid work to prep and pack a record 208 bicycles on the day!
The Toyota site worked a treat and having all the extra space was so useful.
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped and thank you Toyota Altona.
Last Updated: 26 October 2022 by B4H Admin
New Bicycle Storage Facility & Operations Centre
After a long search for a new facility, we are pleased to share that Toyota Australia has provided a fantastic site for Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne, that will serve as the heart of our operations, with plenty of room to grow. With so much space and a great new location to store and pack, we are ready to get back on the road to collect bicycles from all over Melbourne.
We are super excited about the partnership with Toyota Australia, who share our passion for mobility, sustainability and community. Together we can rehome more bikes, keeping them out of landfill, by donating them to our international partners who work with remote African communities to create sustainable transport and development opportunities.
One bicycle can change a life, a container load can change a community, but it wouldn’t be possible without supporters like Toyota. If you would like to get involved too and help us fill this great new site with bicycles, check the ways you can donate now.
Last Updated: 9 December 2023 by B4H Editor
Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne Annual General Meeting 2021
The 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) provided a great recap of B4H Melbourne’s milestones this year.
Andy Gild, cofounder and CEO of B4H Melbourne, summed it up perfectly when she said that “what we do is all about the impact”. Reflecting upon B4H Melbourne from the very beginning until now certainly echoes this sentiment. Over the years 27 containers have been sent to Africa, landing in Namibia, Zambia, Madagascar and Botswana. Each container has a huge impact in Africa, with every bicycle, and every shop having a profound impact on people’s lives.
Despite all of the challenges with COVID this year, 856 bicycles were prepped to ship, 436 bicycles were shipped and 129 bicycles were sold back into the community. In August this year, container 27 touched down in Namibia packed to the brim with 436 bicycles, 34 solar panels and two wheelchairs. A huge thank you goes out to Queenscliff Men’s Shed who generously funded the container!
Excitingly, 2021 saw B4H Melbourne begin implementing its 30K30 strategy. The strategy aims to repurpose 30 thousand bicycles, support 30 sustainable workshops and potentially partner with 30 organisations by the year 2030. The first partnership has been formed with the fantastic organisation Slipstream Coaching, pathing the way for B4H to make great strides in its contribution to the community.
Even during lockdowns work was undertaken behind the scenes, in particular B4H Melbourne worked closely with Michael Linke (CEO of BEN Namibia) to pivot to a bicycle entrepreneurship program. So far, 92 bicycles have been offered through the shops at a discount and six month repayment period, and there has been an extended offer to low income workers who have been affected by pandemic wage cuts.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure B4H Melbourne’s success. Whilst there are many notable volunteers, a special thanks goes out to Mandi Gunsberger and Keir Paterson who are now stepping off the Board after making valued contributions. Another congratulations goes out to Bill Martin and Mary-Jane Willis, both of whom were recipients of the Matt McCullough Volunteer Award 2021 for their outstanding voluntary contributions to B4H Melbourne.
Along with the ups of 2021, B4H Melbourne has also experienced a great loss. In April 2021 Pat Montani, the B4H global founder, tragically passed away after a short battle with cancer. Pat was an incredible human being who devoted a huge amount of time and energy to this amazing grassroots organisation and has enabled communities around the world to develop and flourish. Container 28, which will be sent off in early 2022, is dedicated to Pat and will be sent in his honour.
2021 has been another huge year for B4H Melbourne and we are so excited to see what 2022 holds!
Click here to read the full B4H AGM CEO Report.
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