Here s where you can help though. I m signing everything off now; event clothing, catering, accommodation, event bibs,.everything.

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1 Gravel Rush Campaign Newsletter # 7 Bloody Hell!.less than 70 something sleeps to go and the preparations have hit fever pitch with catering, logistics, permits, insurance and a host of designs, plans and orders to finalise. I love this frenzied period in our furious preparations towards the fat tyre festival! Sleep? Best four hours of the day.. Here s the secret; surround yourself with dead set legends that make you look like a million bucks! We ve got some incredible corporate and community partners out there going the extra mile to make this event the most successful charity bike ride in Australia. Matt Bisset and the team at Register Now are a godsend; nothing s too much trouble and everything has an easy, drama-free solution; edit team details, add a participant, withdraw a participant ee-ii-ee-ii-oh. So too for Estee Manning of Inspired Designs who manages the website for us. Recently she tricked up the site and brought the site up to date with her evolving craft. Have a look at it to see what I mean Simply awesome. Mark Cordingly and the guys at ZeroFive are busily creating freakin masterpieces of lycra fashion (a contradiction in terms I hear you say?). First draft was spot on the money and will be something extraordinary. They re outfitting all our riders, non-riding support personnel and the Bloody Heroic Volunteers with their custom clothing. Get in contact with them if you re chasing a team strip to promote your team s place in the dusty peloton. Mates rates apply. I don t want to talk what I do down but honestly, when you re dealing with such great businesses who just want to make you and your event shine, it ain t that hard pulling this gig off.well, at least it makes it a bucket load easier! Here s where you can help though. I m signing everything off now; event clothing, catering, accommodation, event bibs,.everything. Finalise your team registrations now before I close the site to editing on April 1 st. No changes from there on in (it s strictly prohibitablio) so if you want a specific size of jersey, or you want your name on your event bib, or you want a vegetarian option, you gotta get in there and make the changes before April 1 st. April One. Shop Shut Fool.

2 Mega Heroes Page Principal Sponsor Diamond Sponsors Pearl Sponsors Santanol Group

3 Pearl Sponsors Vegos. Don t claim to understand their nutritional, humanitarian or deeply personal observance in avoiding animal products in their diet but I respect their beliefs bonus being more lamb for me and my mate Sam Kekovich. Natural Temptation Café isn t full blown vego though their delicious menu includes eggs, chicken and tuna, which is bad news if you re a chook or a fish, but excellent news if you ve hooked up with a vego and want a satisfying and tasty bite to eat when you re in Bunbury. Drop in and see Annie Malone and the Temptresses at Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Bunbury. The other half of this impressive partnership is Ian Cocker. In an unprecedented event no editorial corruption from me.; Born in England and grew up in South Africa. Has played music since his early teens. Didn't dig classical guitar tutoring at the time - but gets it now. Raced Moto x (and crashed a lot!). Just managed to attend enough class to qualify in civil engineering. Held the rank of Lieutenant in the Infantry during National Service (way before James Blunt!!). Raced internationally on the Powerman Duathlon circuit and still maintains a reasonable level of fitness in mountain biking and running. Emigrated to Australia 18 years ago and a proud-as-punch Aussie. Can never get enough time with the guitar. Has a serious problem with seriousness. Look out for Annie and Ian in the bump of the dusty peloton too they ve entered their team called Natural Temptation Café..a courageous DUO team. Yeah, you re thinking I m a cheeky bastard celebrating the gracious sponsorship of the Natural Temptation Café and McDonald s Broome together. But the truth is, I don t know whether there s a more socially conscious fast food provider in the World. Their Healthy Choices menus are genuinely healthy choices. Their coffee is first rate and if you choose to indulge in anything else from the menu, there s full disclosure on ingredients, calories, fat and sugar content. The real story here though is the generous and gracious support provided by Tania Mesch owner/manager of McDonald s Restaurant Broome. Tania s been incredibly supportive towards a host of community events throughout the Kimberley including the Lake Argyle Adventure Race and the Prologue Stage in last year s Gibb Challenge. Now we ve secured that valued Pearl Level support for The Gibb Challenge I couldn t be happier or prouder of our association. Maccas Love em.

4 Where the bloody hell are we? Our location profile this month is enchanting Home Valley Station. Mate, I could barely contain my excitement at the format change that brought this jewel of Kimberley camping into our itinerary a few years ago. This once neglected cattle property has been magically transformed into the pinnacle of outback comfort, adventure and hospitality. Under the stewardship of recently appointed General Manager Ben Pratt, Home Valley Station continues to be the premier Kimberley holiday destination. Joining us again this year as valued Venue Hosts, HV8 are providing uncompromising hospitality and service to our dusty peloton. The grassed campsites and resort style pool are freakin amazing but it might be the hot showers and laundry that initially captures your excitement they re like time machines; transforming you back into the civilised human form you resembled four days earlier! Home Valley Station has a range of accommodation options available including their premium Grass Castles overlooking Bindoola Creek. The views offered from here will simply smack you in the mouth.see? We re pegging out the area at top camp, just a few metres from the Dusty Bar and Grill. Slip on the wobbly boots after dinner and stumble into camp following your modest over-indulgence in their quintessential East Kimberley hospitality. There are dozens of things to do here and our all too brief stopover will simply whet your appetite to return for a greater adventure. Check out their full range of accommodation and activity options at

5 Raising (Hell) Funds Derby Dawgs are stepping out in fine style with The RFDS Charity Ball. Date: 5th April 2014 Time: Doors open at 7:00pm Location: King Sound Dress: Formal/Black Tie Ticket Price: $60 or $70 at the door (limited tickets) Ticket Sales: Available from Derby Tourist Information Centre Live Music by Champagne on arrival Lucky Door Prizes This will be the social event of the year for Derby and a must do for Kimberley mob looking to frock up for a night of incredible entertainment while supporting the invaluable services of Royal Flying Doctor Service. The RFDS Charity Ball is going to be rocked through the ceiling with six-piece band Pinstripe a Kimberley based cover band smashing out the Top 40 hits from Triple J. This ain t going to be no ordinary charity ball..rock On. Tickets are available from the Derby Visitor s Information Centre for $60 or $70 at the door and include champagne on arrival, an evening s incredible entertainment and amazing door prizes. Raising More (Hell) Funds Home Valley Station will set the stage for our official Charity Auction with all proceeds to benefit Royal Flying Doctor Service. In a bizarre coincidence, this auction appears to have a direct correlation to the bar sales of the Dusty Bar and Grill. Who would have thought alcohol sales could influence bidding enthusiasm? The Auction is planned to be short and sharp with limited lots available. If your team has an item you would like to include in the Auction, please contact Jayne Northover of RFDS on Jayne.Northover@rfdswa.com.au First item into the pool is this amazing, limited edition canvas print kindly donated by internationally awarded West Australian photographer Adam Monk. Good luck in the beer fuelled bidding war!

6 The Gibb Challenge for Virgins (FAQs) Is accommodation in Derby included in our registration? The Gibb Challenge is exceptional value but I m afraid you re up for all the costs to get you and your scaly mates to the start line in the pre-light dawn at the Spinifex Hotel on Sunday the 18 th of May. Once we start the event we ll look after your breakfast, lunch and dinner, camping and wilderness park fees. Do you have to stay in Derby or can we leave early from Broome? There s a compulsory Registration and Safety Briefing in Derby on Saturday the 17 th of May, 2014 from 1600 hours at the Spinifex Hotel. It s just sooooooo much easier to stay overnight and our principle partner The Spinifex Hotel has some super special rates for participants of The Gibb Challenge. Plus, to get to Derby from Broome is a two and a half drive so you d need to leave at about 0330 hours just when the cattle migrate from the grass verge onto the road proper. You don t want to mess with draught master cattle. Should I plan on bringing jerry cans of fuel? My petrol Prado s a thirsty beast. I fill up at Derby and load a couple of jerry cans just in case. Then I tow a freakin palace (Pioneer Sundowner camper trailer) 700 odd kilometres at a fairly pedestrian pace. By the time we arrive in El Questro five days later, we still have a little over a quarter tank of fuel. I reckon a couple of jerry cans is the safest bet but there is fuel available at Imintji Community, Mount Barnett (diesel only) and El Questro. I d love to ride but I m not in team. Are there any teams looking for a rider? Does anyone need a fresh set of legs? If your team would like to adopt a new rider for your riding roster, let me know. I ll do a little of Dexter s Perfect Match to make sure you don t end up with Hannibal Lecter or Kathy Bates.or someone with questionable personal hygiene! Our team has a drop out. Do you have anyone looking to join a team? Yeah, there s a couple of guys and gals that have expressed their keen desire to join our event but aren t part of a team yet. One of the most successful teams in The Gibb s history was made up of Stray Cats. They re still together, riding each year as a team and regularly catch up socially outside of the event Anna and I are fortunate to count them among our dearest friends. This event changes lives.

7 Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS principle) My intentionally irreverent writing style is intended to engage and amuse you. Sometimes though the message is lost to poorly aimed humour or hidden in fluffed up crap.. Here s a stripped down no-nonsense version; 1. The event starts in Derby 223 km north of Broome. (See point 2.) 2. Compulsory Registration and Safety Briefing from 1600 hours (4PM) Saturday 17 th May, The Gibb Challenge s (planned) itinerary is; I. Derby Imintji Community (224 km) II. Imintji Community Mount Elizabeth Station (122 km) III. Mount Elizabeth Station Ellenbrae Station (143 km) IV. Ellenbrae Station Home Valley Station (101 km) V. Home Valley Station El Questro Wilderness Park (48 km) i. Home Valley Station Victoria Highway (64 km) ii. Home Valley Station Victoria Highway El Questro (112 km) 4. The Gibb Challenge is a team relay your team determines your transitions. 5. The Gibb Challenge is not a race times are recorded to assist traffic management strategies the following day. 6. Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is our event s principal beneficiary each rider pledges to raise at least $1000 to support RFDS.

8 Bloody Heroic Cause The RFDS began as the dream of the Rev John Flynn, a minister with the Presbyterian Church. He witnessed the daily struggle of pioneers living in remote areas where just two doctors provided the only medical care for an area of almost 2 million square kilometres. Flynn s vision was to provide a mantle of safety for these people and on 15 May 1928, his dream had become a reality with the opening of the Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Service (later renamed the Royal Flying Doctor Service) in Cloncurry, Queensland. By the 1950s, the RFDS was acknowledged by former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies as perhaps the single greatest contribution to the effective settlement of the far distant country that we have witnessed in our time. Until the 1960s, RFDS rarely owned their own aircraft. They used contractors to provide aircraft, pilots and servicing. Since then, RFDS has progressively purchased their own heavily modified aircraft and employ their own pilots and engineers. Today, RFDS owns a fleet of 61 fully instrumented aircraft with the very latest in navigation technology and medical equipment. They operate 21 bases across Australia. Their pilots annually fly the equivalent of 25 round trips to the moon and their doctors and flight nurses were responsible for the care of nearly 273,731 patients in 2011/12 that s around one person every two minutes! They ve come a long way from that first flight in 1928 that saw the Flying Doctor airborne at last.

9 (B)Rumour Mill All the great cycling events around the World have a Prologue Stage; a showcase demonstration of individual strength, speed and stamina. The Gibb Challenge will continue our own unique take on the concept with a 10 kilometre individual time trial on the hard packed sands of Cable Beach. Red Dirt Riders will be your event hosts and are planning the most incredible time you can have north of the rocks with your pants on yeah dude, pants are absolutely compulsory. Friday 16 th May, 2014.

10 Muster News The Gibb Challenge will continue our proud association with the community celebrations of the Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster. Our dusty efforts will be extolled and promoted through their very slick media and advertising campaign, creating more shit n giggles than a McDonald s ad featuring dancing customers and a catchy jingle.or just about any Australian beer ad - they are all freakin funny! Staged on the banks of the majestic Ord River at the Jim Hughes Amphitheatre, the pinnacle event of the Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster, the Airnorth Kimberley Moon Experience, returns for its fourteenth year in 2014 on Saturday 24 th May. Bring your rug, picnic hamper, esky and dancing shoes to enjoy the landscape, the people and the party under a dazzling Kimberley moon. It will be a full night of entertainment featuring: o Eskimo Joe o The Waifs o John Williamson o 42 Decibels For full Muster details see Final Notice Normal Registrations are now closed. A late fee now applies and registrations have increased to $550 (incl GST) from Saturday 1 st March, (yeah, I m a bastard) Your complimentary riding jersey or supporter s shirt may not be available in your size with a late payment but I ll do what I can you might have to squeeze into an XL or give your kids the 2XS I slip into your team registration bag! Team members can still be edited but you ll need to organise your own refunds within the team. The complimentary jersey size for the original participant will apply.