VicJam 2022 rides O’Keefe Rail Trail
Bendigo’s O’Keefe Rail Trail was the focus of VicJam 2022, an 11-day Scouts Victoria jamboree based at Elmore Events Centre 50 km northeast of Bendigo, from 28 December 2021.
While the Centre became a temporary ‘town’ for the $5.5 million event attended by more than 7000 children and adults, the Bendigo suburb of Spring Gully hosted an important activity for 100 scout children aged 11 to 14 and 40 adult leaders/helpers.
The event involved 200 specially branded new bikes that arrived late on 29 December, and that then had to be unboxed, assembled and tested before 2 January.
Riding began along Bendigo’s urban off-road trails and then the O’Keefe Rail Trail, with the mid-ride destination of Peppercorn Park at Longlea, 15 km from Bendigo. Portable toilets and drinking water had to be provided at Longlea, which does not have permanent facilities for trail users. Scouts rode in groups of four to six, providing opportunities for the development of leadership skills, and returned to Spring Gully along the same trails.
VicJam volunteer road marshals helped the scout riders with a number of road crossings, including the challenging Napier Street crossing for trail users at White Hills in Bendigo.
Scouts Victoria executive manager Jon McGregor described VicJam 2022 as the equivalent of 200 school camps all happening on the same site at the same time, with the challenge of installing infrastructure such as recycling, a medical centre and a radio station, and co-ordinating nightly concerts and many other activities.
And to say thank you to the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail for their help, Victorian Scout Cycling co-ordinator Luke Moore has offered Scouts Victoria’s support for a rail trail related project!
More News
Australia’s most influential community riding organisation, Bicycle Queensland (BQ) has released a video campaign prom...
Campaspe Shire Council have recently provided an update on the Rushworth Rail Trail project which is on track for comple...
A celebration on 25 November on the trail at Mossiface will mark the completion of a series of major upgrades to the ico...
Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Many of these events take place ...
Running a marathon is a big enough challenge, but running three marathons in a day is a massive feat of endurance. That...
The committee for Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail Inc has made a significant leap towards realization of the Boorowa Galo...
The unstoppable Yarra Ranges Council have been at it again, with pedestrian-activated traffic lights installed at the in...
November UPDATE: Unfortunately the soft opening in December has been postponed due to bridge program being delayed. It w...
What is the situation with numerous rail trail proposals in the southern highlands of NSW? In October, Rail Trails Austr...
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson officially opened The Bunny Trail on Tuesday 24 October. The “Bunny Trail” prov...
Some of our more mature rail trails are looking at ways to enhance visitor experience to increase visitations. This incl...
Join the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society’s slow paced bicycle ride from Warburton to Yarra Junction along th...
A few small changes to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail in South Australia have occurred in recent months that will make ridin...
The District Council of Mt Remarkable has completed the final stage of the Southern Flinders Rail Trail, the 28km Booler...
Construction of Australia’s soon to be longest rail trail has recently gained momentum, with the Palaszczuk Government...
A very interesting and environmentally important project has commenced at the Waranga Basin. The Campaspe Shire Counci...
News Archives
Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesFeatured Articles
More News
Australia’s most influential community riding organisation, Bicycle Queensland (BQ) has released a video campaign prom...
Campaspe Shire Council have recently provided an update on the Rushworth Rail Trail project which is on track for comple...
A celebration on 25 November on the trail at Mossiface will mark the completion of a series of major upgrades to the ico...
Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Many of these events take place ...
Running a marathon is a big enough challenge, but running three marathons in a day is a massive feat of endurance. That...
The committee for Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail Inc has made a significant leap towards realization of the Boorowa Galo...
The unstoppable Yarra Ranges Council have been at it again, with pedestrian-activated traffic lights installed at the in...
November UPDATE: Unfortunately the soft opening in December has been postponed due to bridge program being delayed. It w...
What is the situation with numerous rail trail proposals in the southern highlands of NSW? In October, Rail Trails Austr...
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson officially opened The Bunny Trail on Tuesday 24 October. The “Bunny Trail” prov...
Some of our more mature rail trails are looking at ways to enhance visitor experience to increase visitations. This incl...
Join the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society’s slow paced bicycle ride from Warburton to Yarra Junction along th...
A few small changes to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail in South Australia have occurred in recent months that will make ridin...
The District Council of Mt Remarkable has completed the final stage of the Southern Flinders Rail Trail, the 28km Booler...
Construction of Australia’s soon to be longest rail trail has recently gained momentum, with the Palaszczuk Government...
A very interesting and environmentally important project has commenced at the Waranga Basin. The Campaspe Shire Counci...