Townsville mountain biking: Rockwheelers MTB Club marks anniversary

One of Australia’s large mountain-biking clubs is marking its 30th anniversary with a gala event to unveil its first-ever life members.

Townsville Rockwheelers MTB Club, the second largest mountain biking club in Australia with more than 500 members, is marking its 30th anniversary. Picture: Adrian Tuck Photography

One of Australia’s large mountain-biking clubs is marking its 30th anniversary with a gala event to unveil its first-ever life members and a sneak peek at an exciting new project.

The family friendly, not-for-profit Townsville Rockwheelers MTB Club, with boasts more than 500 members, celebrates three decades at a gala event at Riverway Stadium on Saturday, March 2.

Club President Michael Brosnan said features of the $55 event included a look at the history of the pioneering club, a sneak peek at an exciting new initiative and the induction of pillars of the Townsville mountain-biking community as life members.

“We thought it would be a great idea to bring together past members and some current members to reminisce about old times, have a chat, have a bit of fun and catch up.”

Mr Brosnan, who has been with the club since 1996, said the club had humble origins, beginning with a group of like-minded individuals riding motorbike trails.

Townsville Rockwheelers MTB Club has more than 500 members and is encouraging mountain bikers who make use of its trails to officially sign up as members for an annual $30 fee to help develop the sport further. Picture: Adrian Tuck Photography

He said that today, the club has an extensive network of self-funded and maintained trails that includes well over 40 kilometres of track at its current home, the Douglas Mountain Bike Reserve on Angus Smith Drive.

“We’re getting to the end of the current master plan there, we’ve got approximately 45 kilometres of trails, from hand-built early heritage trails to newer machine-built trails.”

Townsville Rockwheelers MTB Club President Michael Brosnan has been with the mountain-biking club since 1996. Picture: Supplied

A project manager with one of North Queensland most respected earth-moving companies, Mr Brosnan said the club was not resting on its laurels as the second-largest mountain-biking club in Australia with plans well underway for an exciting new project set to significantly progress plans to develop the sport further.

“Ultimately, I’d love to see North Queensland as a mountain-bike destination in its own right,” he said.

“In winter (North Queensland) is the perfect destination for everybody down south really, it’s too cold down there so you might as well come up here.”

He said that in addition to local visitation, hopes were high that North Queensland could attract international tourists.

Mr Brosnan said the club had a committee of 20 members responsible for driving the success of the club but was always looking for new people to contribute and for mountain bikers who used the club’s trails to officially sign up as members for an annual $30 fee to help develop the sport further.

“Mountain biking is an enjoyable, fun sport and there are plenty of friendly people and you make plenty of friends.”

Originally published as Townsville mountain biking: Rockwheelers MTB Club marks anniversary