“I have a bike now.”
Those were the words of 10-year-old Heather-Maree Cripps-O’Shea as she pedalled up to meet me with the biggest grin on her face.
To some, it may not seem like much of a statement.
However, Heather-Maree had been left without one after hers was stolen from the front yard of a friend’s house in mid-April.
It was not the first bike she had had stolen either — it was the second.
Two scooters had also been taken within the past two years.
However Cobram Secondary College came to her rescue after seeing an article in the Shepparton News about Heather-Maree’s bike being stolen.
The school has donated a bike that students had fixed up as part of the Pedal Empowerment program at the school.
Former Cobram Secondary College wellbeing co-ordinator and Pedal Empowerment program founder Stan Thomas knew of a bike that had been fixed up through the program that would be suitable for Heather-Maree and organised for it to be donated.
Mr Thomas said the program saw Year 8, 9 and 10 students fix bikes that had been donated to the school by the community.
Currently the students are trying to provide bikes for 100 workers at the abattoir in Cobram — many of whom do not have any other type of transport to get them around town.
So far they have fixed about a dozen bikes, Mr Thomas said.
He said he felt donating a bike to Heather-Maree was also a good cause.
“We saw the need and there was a bike there,” he said.
“I thought it was a good thing to do.
“How good are the kids at Cobram?
“I wish they were there to see the smile on the girl’s face.”
Mr Thomas said he felt it was important for children to have bikes and the independence that brought them.
“Bikes are such a big part of childhood,” he said.
Heather-Maree’s mum, Heather Fryer, is pleased to see the youngster back on a bike.
“I think it’s wonderful … that there are people in this community that care and step up and show that compassion,” Mrs Fryer said.
“It’s so great that you can put it out there and there are people like Stan that say ‘I can help’.
“More and more we are living in a world where people are doing that they want.
“It’s heart-warming to know that people care.”
Mrs Fryer said Heather-Maree had been upset and angry after her bike was stolen and was unable to be replaced straight away.
“Her comment was ‘why couldn’t they buy their own?’” Mrs Fryer said.
However, Heather-Maree was excited when she heard it was going to be replaced through the program.
“She’s so excited to be out there now on it,” Mrs Fryer said, as she watched the youngster pedal off.
“Unless she’s at school or asleep, she’s not off her bike.”