By Brendan Rees
Bumper crowds flocked to the streets of Cranbourne to wave-off thousands of motorcyclists that roared into town for Casey’s annual Cranbourne GP Run.
There was a sea of leather and chrome – and even Stormtroopers that lined the streets as bikers assembled for their mass ride to Phillip Island for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Saturday 21 October.
Flag-bearer Casey’s Councillor Wayne Smith said you could feel the electricity in the air.
“The weather didn’t put too many off. It was fantastic. It was overcast but no wind which makes it always easier to go up in the cherry-picker.”
He said it took nearly 30 minutes for the final bike to cross the start line as they headed off to Philip Island along the South Gippsland Highway for the Moto GP.
“Matt Prins sang the national anthem and he nailed it. That was fantastic. He’s been a local performer for a long time and I was happy to recommend him to do it.”
There was plenty of entertainment, stallholders and family activities such as craft, Daytona racing, face painting, workshops and market stalls set up along High Street with significant traffic management in place.
Former Casey councillor Bob Halsall from Casey Radio also helped broadcast a live-to-air coverage of the event.
City of Casey socialite Lady Uppity Crust also handed out flags, adding the event made a statement for Casey and “sets a scene” for the Moto GP.
“I had a ball. It was fantastic to see so many people that had been coming for years. It puts Cranbourne on the map and the City of Casey. It was great for Lady Uppity to chat to the local radio and hand out flags to families,” she said.
“And to have Cr Wayne Smith and Cr Amanda Stapledon doing the flag wave-off was absolutely fantastic. Lady Uppity thanks the City of Casey and the volunteers for supporting this great event.”
Some of the action from the GP Run in Cranbourne:
Dandenong Harley Owners Group held a fund-raising breakfast for charity group Very Special Kids.
“We took nearly $2000 and that money then gets presented in a cheque to the Very Special Kids down at Lord Somers Camp which we go down to twice a year and give them Harley rides.
“We do the barbecue every year. We’ve been doing it since City of Casey created it. We get a heap of our members to go down there,” said Rodney Gadsden, merchandise officer for Dandenong Harley Owners Group.
He said it was a worthy cause each year, with the group raising nearly $50,000 since participating in the GP Run.
“So the money we made from the GP Run will be presented to them during our next visit in February,” he said.
“It’s a very good event. We love it. We ride these big machines that we’ve all dreamt of having and now that we’ve got them we may as well brighten up the kids and give them a smile. They love riding on them. They have a ball.”
Cranbourne CFA First Lieutenant Dennis Latchford said: “We have the truck down there every year. For two reasons, for one publicity – for the kids to climb through it but we’re also down there if something happens in the main street we’ve got a truck ready to go.”
“You quite often pick up a few more volunteers out of it. They start talking and get interested in it.”
Narre Warren SES also had their truck on display, with kids jumping with excitement into the front seat.
“We were there from a community education perspective. We gave out lots of pamphlets, and little soft toy trucks and pens.
“We give some to the kids and talk to the parents for five minutes on what they do and how they can how they can prepare in their home for storm and emergencies,” said Narre Warren SES Controller Clinton Brown.
He said of all the major events they’d attended in the past, the GP Run was the “biggest crowd by far.”
Senior Sergeant Alan Dew of Cranbourne Police said the GP Run went well.
“The public were well behaved and they stayed back from the roads. We didn’t have any issues as far as I’m aware,” he said.
Money raised will go to the Casey-Cardinia Foundation to help community groups across the region.
“We had 14 volunteers assisting the foundation’s tin rattling at the GP Event on Saturday. We raised $907,” said Casey-Cardinia Foundation chairman Paul Thomas.
He said the foundation was grateful to be chosen by the City of Casey as the event’s charity partner this year.
“It was the first time the foundation had been involved in the event. The fund-raising and generosity of the community was appreciated. It was also an opportunity for the foundation to connect with the community and explain the work it does.
“The foundation provides grants to numerous Casey Cardinia not for profit community groups each year and assists older persons, youth, those with a disability and the disadvantaged,” Mr Thomas said.
