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Determined Handcyclist En Route To East Gippsland

A man who has completed 75 percent of an anticlockwise journey around Australia on a hand cycle will visit East Gippsland early next month.

By East Gippsland Shire Council - 30th January 2006 - Back to News

He is Andreas Dagelet who will in Bairnsdale between 1.00-2.00 pm on Wednesday, 8 February, visit Lakes Entrance next day, then Orbost on 11th.

Said to be living proof of the adage "you can't keep a good man down!" the New Zealand born naturalised Australian is a human dynamo who has packed much into his 38 years in spite of having broken his back in 1995 after falling from a tree.

In April last year he left his home on picturesque Coochiemudlo Island in Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane and began to ride a custom designed and fitted hand driven cycle on a 17,000 km, Guinness Book of Records endorsed, ride around Australia.

He says it is "the greatest challenge of his life" and he hopes to raise $1 million for children's charities.

Before beginning the adventure Dagelet regularly for a year on his tiny home island and broke the existing world record of 5421.34km when he arrived in, Halls Creek, Western Australia having set a pace of 75km per day for five days per week.

A former Pilot Officer in the Air Force, Dagelet has worked as a night club worker, bank officer, speaker, architect and travel agent.

He has also traveled to 49 countries across five continents, skydived, scuba dived and flown aerobatic aircraft and most of these achievements have been accomplished on his wheelchair having on the challenge of a major physical disability with the same vigour he gave to all his earlier ventures.

Dagelet says he subscribes to the theory there are only three ways to teach somebody: the first way is by example, the second is by example and the third....‘by example.’

Described as an inspiration to all those he meets he is spreading his message across the entire Australian continent in his quest for a World and Australian record.

He also visits schools regularly along the way to show his incredible purpose built machine to kids of all ages.

On arrival in Bairnsdale he will be met by Mayor Cr Jane Rowe after which he hopes to visit local schools.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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