Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Video: Former Aussie politician takes a spill at charity cycling event launch

It doesn't look like Jeff Kennett has cycled in a while...but it's for a good cause...

Former Australian politician, and media commentator, Jeff Kennett, took a spill on a bike while riding indoors at the launch of a father's day charity cycling event.

Kennett, 67, who was the Premier of Victoria between 1992-1999 and is founding chairman of mental health charity Beyondblue, was filmed wobbling on a road bike on what looks like a polished concrete floor, before his wheels lost traction while cornering, sending him to the ground.

Kennett, who was uninjured in the fall, said to the assembled cameras "don't any of you show that, will you?".

Kennett, who wore a keepsake from his days as Victorian Premiere said: "This helmet was given to me in about '93 when we adopted the slogan Victoria - On the Move."

However, it looks possible Kennett may not have ridden a bike since then, as he wobbled along among kids and other men on bikes.

There was a serious message to the event, however, with Kennett saying "suicide rate among separated men is substantially higher than the suicide rate among men generally".

Beyond Blue works to raise awareness of anxiety, depression and suicide. 

The Jasco Telstra Father’s Day Bike Ride, on September 6, will see fathers and their families cycling around the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne to raise money for charities Movember and Auschild.

Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
Jimbonic | 9 years ago
0 likes

Fair play to the fella. If he really hasn't ridden a bike for 20 years, then well done for getting out there and supporting a worthwhile charity.

And, besides, if he hadn't fallen off, we wouldn't have heard a word about it........

 41

Avatar
Mr Agreeable | 9 years ago
0 likes

COMPULSORY KNEEPADS NOW!

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 9 years ago
0 likes

So he wears an old helmet that's likely to have minimal protective capability and falls off due to minimal cycling ability but doesn't strike his head against the floor. And yet he is pleased he has been responsible by wearing a helmet that's over 20 years old.

Avatar
Al__S replied to OldRidgeback | 9 years ago
0 likes
OldRidgeback wrote:

And yet he is pleased he has been responsible by wearing a helmet that's over 20 years old.

this makes interesting reading on the subject of helmet ageing

Avatar
Evo Lucas | 9 years ago
0 likes

That's what happens when you steal a cities F1 Grand Prix, karma works in strange ways.

Avatar
djcritchley | 9 years ago
0 likes

That's one shiny slippy surface; lucky he had his helmet on otherwise he might have died  3

Avatar
felixcat | 9 years ago
0 likes

Good job he had the helmet on.

Latest Comments