River2Reef Festival 2022: Golding Kids Colour Ride photo gallery

Children were splashed with colour in a fun kid’s cycling event for the River2Reef Festival at Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. See the pictures.

Mario Kart fans will be happy to hear that an actual Rainbow Road came to life in the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens when kids aged 3 to 12 gathered for a charity ride.

Part of the BMA River2Reef Festival, the Golding Kids Colour Ride on Saturday invited about 150 children to cycle around the lake while volunteers and parents splashed the kids with coloured pigments.

Reminiscent of the popular Hindu spring festival Holi, the colourful event raised money to support local charities RACQ CQ Rescue and Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association.

Sacha Sawtell, 4, and Belinda Sawtell of Slade Point at Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 3 September 2022. Picture: Zoe Devenport

Four-year-old Sacha Sawtell, from Slade Point, said the event track “was really long, but it was still fun”.

“I went for a bike ride all around the park, then I got colours all on me and on my bike,” he said.

Sacha’s mum Belinda said she found out about the event on the River2Reef website and soon realised lots of her friends’ kids were doing it as well.

The track for Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 3 September 2022. Picture: Contributed

“Our other son was only meant to do one lap, but he’s gone for his second,” she said.

Children’s ages split the event; with those aged 11-12 encouraged to do four to six laps, five to 10 year olds doing two to four laps and the youngest doing three to four laps on a special mini course nearby.

Event organiser and triathlon coach Nikki Giles said the preparation for the kids’ event and the 700-strong River2Reef ride on Sunday was “pretty manic”.

Kids aged 3-4 kick off at the Special Mini-Course for Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 3 September 2022. Picture: Zoe Devenport

“We’ve been working on this festival for a number of months and watching it unfold over this weekend is one of the most exciting things ever,” she said.

“It’s been challenging but it’s definitely rewarding seeing it unfold.

“We’ve got kids going crazy.

River2Reef event manager Nikki Giles at Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 3 September 2022. Picture: Zoe Devenport

“We’ve had a bunch of sponsors turn up today to throw colours.”

BMA Hay Point Coal Terminal general manager Linda Murray was one who showed up to support the kids and said BMA would be major sponsor of River2Reef for the next three years.

“We’re super proud to be part of River2Reef and raising funds for both CQ Rescue and disability services around Mackay”, she said.

“This promotes healthy living in our region, it brings everyone together (to) support really important services.

BMA's Hay Point Coal Terminal GM Linda Murray at Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 3 September 2022. Picture: Zoe Devenport

“This event has been big on the Mackay calendar for many, many years.

“And we’re so proud to be able to participate and be the major sponsor.”

The 12th annual BMA River2Reef Ride kicked off the next morning at 5.30am with several hundred cyclists riding from Mackay Botanic Gardens.