Father and son take on 3,454km Oz trek for Help for Heroes
5:40am Wednesday 28th September 2011
A FATHER and son are cycling across Australia to raise money for charity.
Rob and Robbie Williamson’s great outback adventure will see them cycle 3,454km from Darwin to Brisbane.
They hope their expedition will raise hundreds of pounds for Help for Heroes, which helps injured servicemen and women, and their families.
Rob, of Onslow Crescent, Colchester, now works as a lifeguard at Waldegrave Holiday Park in West Mersea.
But the 62-year-old served in the Army for nine years, including the Parachute Regiment, and rose to the rank of lance bombardier before he left in 1978. His son, Robbie, is a trainee gym instructor at Top Notch Gym, off Wyncolls Road, Colchester.
Rob, who served in Ireland, Cyprus and Singapore, said: “It has always been a crazy ambition of mine to do this in Australia.
“During my own time in the forces, I was very lucky and fortunate in that I never saw the horrors of war or bloodshed in the time I served.
“We had a ball. Everywhere I went to they just came to a nice little agreement on a ceasefire, which is incredible.
“People today aren’t so lucky. If my little craziness can help them or the cause in any way then, I will be very pleased.”
Rob said he expected the trip to take about nine weeks but added: “It is a bit of a step into the unknown, I guess the first week will tell.
“I think our progress may depend on how much we are hindered by the traffic. I hope it is better than Colchester in the rush hour.
“I have done a bit of training, but I would not say enough.
“I will have to sabotage him if I need a break but then again if I see a crocodile within 100m I will be pedalling faster than him.”