Background:
Records from as early as 1902 shows that Collie had an active cycle club.
Interested person were pushing to have a track built around the
recreation ground. This did not happen at the time but was achieved.
With formation of the Collie Districts Bicycle Club a gravel surface
track was constructed around the recreation ground. The First World
War saw the club fall into dissolution.
The club regained momentum around 1924 when a meeting was called for
persons interested in the sport. Within twelve months cycling was very
strong in the town with competition in both road and track cycling. It
was the next year 1925, that the first of what was to become the now
historic Collie to Donnybrook and Return had its first run. This is
the premier road race in the Western Australian cycling calendar
Over the next thirty years the club would go from strength to
strength. The gravel track around the recreation ground was sealed and
had lighting added. Then in the mid 1950’s it was decided to build a
velodrome in Collie. This was opened on the 31st January 1955.
Over the next ten years Collie would produce a number of state and
national champions. During these hay days Collie was known as “Cycling
Central”.
By the mid 1960’s the club once again lost members and lapsed. In 1969
local rider a Colin Rossiter, who was a state and national champion
started the club up again. The first events were staged at the old
abandoned go cart track. Eventually the reformed Collie Cycle Club
with its new riders moved back to the velodrome. The club once again
went from strength to strength, and again would produce champion
riders.
Over the next forty years the club would have many ups and downs,
still producing champion riders. Even in the lean times the Collie
Cycle Club has always maintained the tradition of the Collie to
Donnybrook and Tom Lowry road races. In 2009 the club is once again in
a resurgence phase and looking forward to a strong future.
Club Values:
1. Loyality.
2. Honesty.
3. Committment.
4. Leadership.
5. Encouragement.
6. Empathy.
Club Goals:
1. Maintain Club Values.
2. Social Interaction – Riders/Non Riders.
3. Maintain the 2 classic cycle races we hold each year. The Tom
Lowry Memorial cycle race and the Collie to Donnybrook and return
Cycling Classic.
4. Velodrome.
5. Increase the growth of cycling and the social atmosphere.
6. Interact with other cycling & sporting entities.
7. Encourage a Competitive & Social riding environment.
8. Expansion of cycling, both social and competitive.
9. Promote fitness & wellbeing.