Each year the Blackburn Cycling Club selects as a life member, a member who has given exceptional service.
In a club such as ours with 260 members, there is no doubt several would qualify as life members.
However, this year there is nobody better qualified than this year’s recipient who was born on 9th July 1974.
He is a man who always gets jobs done. In spite of owning a successful business, still has a selfless approach to putting the club as a top priority. He has a positive impact on the club’s community and culture.
He joined the club in the 1990’s when he was in his teens. He has served the club as Vice-President from 2017-2019 and then as President until today.
His riding record includes:
He has represented Victoria on several occasions.
Won a Melbourne Cup on Wheels (1998), multiple Madison championships with partners Rob Tidey, Richard England and Steve Martin, and was the winner of this year’s Masters’ 4,5,6 State Scratch Race Championship.
Has also won numerous club events.
Under his leadership the membership of the club has grown considerably, as has the financial side. The financial growth has mainly been brought about through his efforts in delivering a successful racing calendar and training schedule. He has been supported by relationships he built with new and existing sponsors.
He was instrumental in the application for our shade sails, velodrome lights, gardening equipment and club room extension. All of these involved dealing with the council on seemingly endless paper work.
The reputation this man has in State and National teams is evidenced through comments from riders, clubs and interstate.
His wife Kylie (since 2nd July 2005) has been a great help to him in his period as President and I am sure you join me I saying a huge thanks to her for being such a great support over those years. His sons Josh and Ben have been very capable riders in the past years, and maybe daughter Charlotte will put on bike shoes when she reaches the under 9 qualifications.
His father (Graham) was a very energetic man around the club in the early 2000‘s, helping out with the judging and the many other jobs that crop up during a race day.
Away from the bicycle world and his working commitments, this man is a keen fisherman and spends as much time on the water as his schedule allows.
A man I am proud to call a friend.
Your new Life Member, Barry Woods.

Speech by Doug Reith