Albany woman’s wild ride for charity comes to an end with donation to Foodbank

A three-year charity mission has finally come to an end for motorbike enthusiast Julie Jasper, who has raised $5000 for Albany Foodbank with an epic journey.

Ms Jasper hopped on her 1942 Indian 741 Military Scout motorcycle in March 2017, with plans to hit the open road for a 12-month ride across Australia to raise funds for children affected by trauma.

Despite being dubbed the Silent Tour, Ms Jasper made some noise enjoying warm weather on the west coast and stopping to raise awareness and share her experiences from her time as a social worker.

With nothing but her strong spirit and prized bike to push her along, Ms Jasper collected supporters along the way to accompany her on legs of the tour.

After covering more than 5000km up to Darwin, Ms Jasper’s grand vision was derailed when her bike’s engine gave out.

While it was sent away for repairs, she found work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in remote Indigenous communities in Alice Springs.

It was here she discovered her “dream job” and she decided to park up for 18 months.

“I had a calling to go to Alice Springs and do some special work there,” Ms Jasper said.

With her motorcycle’s engine in need of a full rebuild, Ms Jasper was forced to cut her 12-month trip short and head back home to Albany in May last year.

“All-up I was travelling solo for probably six months solid,” she said.

“The bike only sits at 80km/h, so I was actually seeing Australia rather than it whizzing past me, and I loved it.”

Despite her dream trip not going entirely to plan, Ms Jasper said it was the ride of a lifetime.

“I think it shows the strength that one person can have,” she said.

“There is nothing that you can’t achieve if you set your mind to something.

“The compassion from people that I met along the way that really supported it as well.

“I had an amazing following and a couple of experiences that will always stick with me forever.

“Just a huge thank you to all the supporters that followed and those who listened.”

More than a year after returning from her trip, Ms Jasper said the time was right to donate the $5000 raised to Albany Foodbank.

“I thought the right cause will come up and it just made sense,” she said.

Foodbank Albany manager Rod Pfeiffer said the donation had come at a critical time, with the organisation still in need of support to get through the continuing COVID-19 crisis.

About 250 hampers have been created and distributed to people in need using Ms Jasper’s funds.

“Because of Julie’s donation, along with all the community donations that have come in during COVID-19, we have been able to put that money towards hampers and give away as many hampers as we can during that time to see people through the rough patch,” he said.

“A huge thank you to Julie and the wider community for all the support we have been receiving.

“It has meant an enormous amount to the people that need Foodbank.”