Laverton Cycling Project: May Update

Program coordinator Sabine Bird sends through another update from the Laverton Cycling Project, with May marking an important milestone in the program’s continued evolution within the Laverton community.

Health & Wellbeing Seminar Launch

“This month was a special one,” Sabine said, “marking our very first Health & Wellbeing Seminar in Laverton.”

The seminar focused on menopause education and welcomed two guest speakers from Sydney, Dr Julia Menzies, a specialist women’s health GP, and Katie Harris, Co-founder of Zebra Research. Many women within the community had been eagerly anticipating the session, with the strong turnout reinforcing just how important the conversation was.

“We had an unexpected high attendance and the only thing that was even better than that was to hear how the conversation continued the next day,” Sabine explained. “That’s what we want.”

The event represented the first adult-focused health education initiative delivered under the Laverton Cycling Project banner, marking an important step forward for the program beyond its ongoing youth cycling activities.

While bike riding remains at the heart of the project, the long-term vision continues to grow around building stronger support networks, healthier lifestyles, and more opportunities for connection within Laverton and surrounding communities.

“The purpose is to promote and encourage lifelong learning, relationships, growth and personal development,” Sabine said. “We want to spark the conversations in every direction.”

That philosophy also ties closely to the program’s continued encouragement of movement and physical activity across all ages and backgrounds.

“This goes hand in hand with the encouragement to exercise,” Sabine noted, “aiming to eventually build a local social support network of people encouraging each other to move, whether that’s walking, strength training, bike riding or swimming.”

The month reinforced an important part of the project’s philosophy, that remote communities deserve access not just to services, but to meaningful opportunities for connection, education, wellbeing, and long-term community development.

“Laverton may be remote, but it is full of opportunity to live a rich, healthy, connected life.”

A big thank you to the Shire of Laverton, The Great Beyond Visitor Centre, and Laverton Community Resource Centre for helping make the seminar possible, alongside everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion.

Youth Cycling Program Continues

Alongside the seminar launch, the project’s youth-focused bike program remained busy throughout the month, with 45 kids supported across three days and three locations across Laverton and surrounding communities.

“We were so busy keeping bikes rolling that we barely had time for photos,” Sabine said.

The continued consistency of these sessions remains a key part of the project’s impact within the community, providing opportunities for kids to stay active, build confidence, and connect through riding.

Thank you to all of our supporters for continuing to make this possible.

A photo selection from Sabine can be viewed below.