Riders hit million dollar charity goal for youth

Thirty-six leaders of Brisbane’s business community have officially raised a whopping $1m for local youth charity TRACTION by cycling 800km around south-east Queensland.

Riders take part in the TRACTION charity event

Thirty-six leaders of Brisbane’s business community have cycled their way hundreds of kilometres to raise a whopping $1 million for local youth charity TRACTION.

Surpassing their original $750,000 goal, the money raised in the first BEYOND Cycling Challenge will help young people unlock their potential through participation in TRACTION’s hands on learning and mentoring programs.

The strenuous five-day journey saw the group cover 800km around south-east Queensland while climbing over 10,000 metres in elevation – 1,100 metres higher than Mt Everest. TRACTION founder and chief executive Sandy Murdoch, who also participated in the challenge, says he was overcome with pride towards the group of riders who participated in the physically and emotionally challenging journey to raise funds for the cause.

Riders trake part in TRACTION cycling event

“I’m so grateful to all 36 riders who tirelessly trained for this challenge and pushed beyond both physical and mental demands along with our event sponsors and those supporters who have contributed,” Murdoch says. “This is the biggest fundraiser we have done since TRACTION’s inception in 2015.”

Murdoch says young people are the most valuable asset in our community but also the most vulnerable. “If we want to help our biggest asset thrive and flourish, we need to provide them with adequate support,” says Murdoch.

BEYOND rider and Bell Potter Securities director Cyril Jinks, who topped the leaderboard and raised more than $110,000 through his network, says he was thrilled to ride alongside a community-minded group of business leaders for the five-day journey.

News flash

The National Lotteries & Newsagents Association (NLNA) recently held its second annual Queensland awards, recognising the achievements of newsagents and independent convenience store owners.

The Friendly Grocer at Strathpine run by Brad and Angela Bateman won convenience store of the year while St Lucia News, operated by Sangeeta and Rahul Singh, was named community newsagent of the year.

Other winners included Allen Tan of Paperboxx North Lakes (Golden Casket newsagent of the year) and Deb, Emmett and Che Bailey, of Nextra Albany Creek (NLNA QLD newsagent of the year). Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb told the event that the 459,094 small firms throughout the state made up 99.7 per cent of the Queensland business community. “To say that small business is the backbone of the economy is an understatement,” says Lamb.

Dominique Lamb says small business backbone.

Diatreme gains

Metallica shareholders “are voting with their wallets” on Diatreme’s hostile takeover offer, with the firm gaining a 56 per cent stake of the target as of this week, a City Beat spy tells us. “Momentum is swiftly building in favour of the bid which aims to bring together two neighbouring silica sand deposits located near Cape Flattery in Far North Queensland,” says our spy. Our spy tells us Metallica’s stated control premium of up to 1,000 per cent is multiples above industry standards, describing its ‘expert’s report’ as “incredibly flawed” in its methodology. The spy tells us a standstill agreement described as an initial stumbling block to the bid has been waived away by Metallica in its target statement and according to sources “doesn’t present any impediment to closing the offer.” “With shareholders ignoring the rhetoric, it seems Queensland will soon have a stronger silica sand champion to power the solar energy boom, giving Far North Queensland an enormous economic boost as it expands production of this key critical mineral.” Of course Metallica begs to differ and claims minority shareholders are being shortchanged in the offer from the Wayne Swan-chaired Diatreme.