Bikes for Refugees secures new home
Local
Almost two months after being evicted from a site in a corner of an Adelaide CBD carpark, a volunteer organisation that has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities across South Australia has found a new home.
Bikes For Refugees (B4R), which has recycled more than 17,000 unwanted bicycles since it was founded by Dr Mike Brisco in 2010, has set up shop in the grounds of St Matthews Church in Marryatville.
About 50 people turned up at the Anglican church last month to welcome Mike and his team of volunteers who have donated bikes not only direct to refugees but also to Vinnies SA and Catherine House.
Last year, volunteers gave about 4000 free hours to Bikes for Refugees which aligns with several United Nations development goals including contributing to sustainable communities and climate action.
Murray Bridge parishioner and long term B4R volunteer Peter Henry first alerted The Southern Cross to the plight of B4R which was given notice to leave its Franklin St home of 12 years to make way for a Renewal SA-led $500m development.
Being forced out of its home (a move that almost caused B4R to collapse) has brought one unexpected accolade.
Word finally spread about the fortitude of former microbiologist Mike Brisco (pictured).
In late September he was called to Government House to receive a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization award from Governor Frances Adamson AC.
Mike was recognised for ‘his outstanding achievement in establishing a bicycle recycling scheme…supplying bikes free of charge to any people in need, and for raising money for charities with the sale of surplus repaired bikes’.
