It’s a long way from Wollongong to the Torres Strait, off the northern tip of Australia, and, as expected, Port Kembla mother-of-two Sarah Tedder has found we are world’s apart.

A keen photographer and cyclist, one of Sarah’s first observations when she arrived just over a year ago was the lack of bicycles on the remote islands.

Sarah moved to the Torres Strait/Zenadth Kes in September 2023 when her partner took on a role with the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA). Without any child care available, and with limited options for things to do on the 5km circumference of Waibene/Thursday Island, Sarah spent a lot of her first few months riding between the pool, park, beach and playgroup with her daughters Lila, 2, and Zadie, 4, at the time.

A lack of bicycles

In doing so, Sarah noticed a distinct lack of other bicycles in the community. Despite the ideal riding conditions and relatively good infrastructure, most people were travelling in private cars or maxi taxis for the 1-2 km trips between destinations.

“While many people were walking, the majority were in cars, and therefore dependent on access to fuel,” Sarah said.

This experience sparked Sarah’s interest in sustainable mobility and its impact on climate resilience. After all, rising sea levels are a very real threat to places like the Torres Strait.

She started a conversation with the community about their needs and transportation options and quickly found that for many, it was the expense of buying and importing a bicycle  – especially a high quality one that was able to carry children and/or groceries – that meant access to a bike was out of reach.

“The absence of any formal bike maintenance and repair service compounded the problem, since any bike that was brought to the island was unable to be looked after in the long-term, especially since local retailers did not supply most essential tools and parts,” Sarah said.

The Bike Hospital

From that time, Sarah and a team of volunteers started the Bike Hospital “to get more bikes going with shared tools and parts and skills and weekly bike-to-school bus group rides to school.”

But the issue of affordable access to inclusive bicycles remained and, as a result, Sarah and her team have launched the Torres Strait Ride Revolution fundraising campaign.

“We want everyone, especially more mothers, caregivers and kids, to have an option to get around for free, through access to high quality bicycles,” Sarah said.

“With a deliberate grassroots effort to cultivate a bicycle ecosystem that relies less on imports, fewer people will be dependent on private cars and paid lifts to get around, and more people will have the freedom of mobility.”

Sarah has sent out a call for help to her old home town and the Illawarra to help make her Ride Revolution become a reality.

“Our mission is to fill a truck with bikes and start the bike revolution.

“We have three key goals: more affordable high-quality bikes for kids and families; to properly set up a community bike hospital with tools and parts to share; and local repair training for First Nations youth.”

The ride revolution campaign was launched on 4 November and has set itself ambitious goals of $15,000 (minimum target), $30,000 (ambitious target) and $50,000 (pie in the sky target). The fundraiser will close in less than a fortnight.

Local love it

The locals are excited about what Sarah and her team are trying to achieve.

“As a kid, I recall riding to school a lot, but I guess with the high cost of living and as the price goes up, it’s hard to even afford a bike these days,” says Torres Shire Council Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM, one of the fundraising group.

“I think with more mums, and more young mums that struggle to get around, this is definitely the way to go.

“We want more bikes up to the Torres Strait but for us to be able to do that we are highly dependent on the freight. Once upon a time it was cheap, but it’s not any more.”

Another local team member, Neville Johnston, says bikes would be “more cost saving, more effective, more better for the environment, and most importantly more better for your health”.

Sarah’s team has sent a call-out, inviting individuals and organisations to get involved in the ride revolution.

“Every donation, whether large or small, is a step toward building a sustainable future for the Torres Strait,” Sarah said.

To donate, visit the fundraising website