Darebin Bicycle User Group is one of Melbourne's largest and most active cycling groups.

Committee of Management

Anyone is welcome to join the Committee of Management. If you think you have something to offer and would like to get involved, please contact Louise on 9484 3860 (AH).

The Committee

Louise Nelson - Convenor Darebin Bicycle Users Group

Louise learnt to ride her bike in April 2002 deciding that given she was 40 it was about time to learn. On her first ride with Darebin BUG she had not yet learnt how to ride and talk and found it a bit tricky when friendly club members kept riding up to chat with her and make her welcome.

Determined to become a competent cyclist in time for the February 2003 Great Tasmanian Bike Ride with Bicycle Victoria she went cycling every weekend with her very patient teacher, husband Robin.

Now she shops, visits friends, goes to movies and restaurants, holidays and commutes by bike. In fact, two questions she asks at job interviews are "Do you have a staff shower?" and "Where can I lock my bike?" She also leads Darebin BUG rides including our famous weekend rides and campaigns to make it safer and easier to ride in Darebin.

Doug Morffew - Rides & Events Coordinator & Website Manager

Doug has been a keen cyclist for many years, but Darebin is the first BUG he has joined, having recently settled in the area. He is keen to support and encourage cycling as a healthy way to discover alternative perspectives of our urban environment.

Doug's passion for cycle touring has taken him to many locations, but the highlight was a 3 month long-service leave trip in which he explored parts of the UK and Ireland in 1999.

As Rides & Events Coordinator Doug is the first point of contact for information and advice on the range of rides offered by the BUG: AH 9499.7325 / 0409 956 913 / dougmorf@alphalink.com.au

Peter Anderson - Meeting Chairperson.

As the role suggests, Peter chairs our monthly member meetings, our annual general meetings and, whenever he can, our committee meetings. All of this sounds awfully formal, but it really means that Peter makes sure that our meetings run on time, our agenda issues are discussed, and that everyone coming along to meetings has a say and contributes to making the BUG a stronger and more effective body through member participation at meetings. Above all Peter wants our meetings to be efficient, informative and fun!

Peter lives in Alphington and became a keen cyclist in the mid 1990's, around the time he moved to Melbourne from Adelaide and Canberra. He rides to and from work in the CBD most days (or nights), where he is Director of Workplace Policy with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He's occasionally in the media talking about industry issues, and tries to set a good example for industry executives and managers to ride to work and help their staff do the same. He's even known to have stopped on the side of the road and done a phone media interview or talked to a politician on his bike!

Peter's lobbying skills and experience in working with governments also helps the BUG get its message through to local decision makers. For Peter, riding a bike is great therapy for a busy work life, keeps him fit, and makes him feel sane. He likes the freedom of riding our local streets and bike trails - especially the BUG's eco rides that teach us about our local environment. He also likes challenging himself with more demanding rides - such as the Great Victoria Bike Ride and Around the Bay in Day.

He usually rides a Gitane Hybrid he bought in Canberra - and loves his panniers and bike rack. He's recently bought a Specialized touring bike and hopes one day to ride from Melbourne to Adelaide and Melbourne to Sydney.

Kathleen Kemp - Committee Member Darebin Bicycle Users Group

As a newcomer to Melbourne, riding with the DarebinBUG has given me opportunities to get to know Melbourne's extensive system of bicycle routes. I've explored Melbourne from the urban chic of Port Melbourne to trails through bush along the Plenty River. The rides go at an easy pace with stops in parks and cafes providing time to chat. Members are happy to discuss the gadgets they recommend and even use them if someone gets a flat tyre. On one ride, a rider had a spill and we combined our skills to help him. This incident reminded me that there are many advantages to riding with a group.

I've chosen to take an active role in the Bicycle User's Group to contribute to my local community and promote sustainable transport. I've been a bicycle-commuter for years. I find cycling to work gives me time outdoors, helps me arrive refreshed and builds fitness into my daily activities. Cycling is also often the quickest way to get from one place to another since you are riding door-to-door.

Robin Gallagher - Campigns Coordinator

Robin started out on a black iron bike with Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub. He then moved to a green iron bike with 10 gears. Now he rides a red alloy mountain bike that goes through anything, including the sand coast road on French Island. Robin is passionate about joining up the scattered bits of path and lane, getting it all marked and signed consistently - in short - getting the same level of infrastructure for bike vehicles as for other types of vehicles. Robin may be recognised by the spooky eyes on the back of his helmet. And the plait.

Glenys Sleeman - Deputy Membership Secretary

Glenys became a regular commuter cyclist (to the CBD) when she moved to Northcote nearly 7 years ago. She also helped form a local community group - Westgarth Action Group, when it seemed like Vic Roads were going to further encroach on the street she lived in (Westgarth Street/Merri Parade). She first heard of Darebin BUG when she met Heidi as a follow attendee of the Darebin Council meetings. While she decided to join to swell the ranks of DBUG, as numbers are all important when lobbying Council, she was not an active member in terms of rides, meetings etc.

Her retirement from the workforce in May 05 coincided with the arrival of the BV Rides magazine. This led to the goal of doing the Great WA ride in 2006 as part of her retirement plans. Darebin BUG rides on a Tuesday and Thursday seemed like a good way of testing out the body to see if WA was possible. In fact the rides have become a must do for themselves (time with the grandchild is the only activity that takes priority!). She has been to parts of Melbourne she never knew existed and has enjoyed the welcome and friendship offered by fellow riders. It has been a great way to keep fit, to meet fellow bike riders, to enjoy our fabulous bike paths and the peace and quiet and nature that exists along them and to just enjoy the new found freedom of retirement.