After providing more than 17,000 bikes to refugees and other people in need, Adelaide’s award-winning Bikes for Refugees and Community Bike Workshop has moved to a community workshop behind St Matthew’s Church, Marryatville to continue working. The charity was previously at Franklin Street in the City of Adelaide but was forced to relocate when the site was sold to developers. Cr Christel Mex (City of Norwood, St Peters and Payneham Council) will officially open the new workshop at 11am on Friday 14 th November. Light refreshments will be provided. Bike Adelaide are members are invited to the opening
Founder Dr Mike Brisco said “We are very grateful to Cr Christel Mex for making the connection when we asked for help and much gratitude to Bishop Tim Harris, staff and Parish Council of St Matt’s for their enthusiastic welcome to their premises”. In FY24/25 volunteers recycled over 1500 bikes. “We gave 835 free bikes to people in hardship, upon referral by charities and welfare organisations. Surplus bikes were sold, funding our work and raising funds for other charities. Over thirty organisations refer their clients to us for free renovated bikes, and the benefits bikes bring to the community, have been valued at over $900,000 a year” said Treasurer of the registered charity, Stephen Janes.
Dr Mike Brisco and the charity was recently awarded recognition by UNESCO, presented by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, for outstanding achievement. Donations of bikes (and parts) can be made 11am – 5pm Tuesday – Friday. Bikes can be purchased Saturdays 10am-2.00pm, 15 th November onwards. Also, the workshop will be available, by appointment only, to people with bike mechanic skills who need specialist tools or who are looking for second-hand parts. There is an intention to extend this to the broader community in the future.
Address: St Matthew’s Community Workshop, 2 The Crescent, Marryatville 5068. 100m East of Portrush Road, off Kensington Road.
Contact: Mike Brisco 0435 02 16 81
Website https://adelaidebikeworkshop.wordpress.com
Further information and annual reports: https://www.acnc.gov.au, “Bikes for Refugees”