AGF chairman Mark Textor – 10 years of the Amy Gillett Foundation
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Amy Gillett Foundation.
In our hearts we wish there was no such anniversary.
That would mean that Amy was still with us.
She would have pursued her sporting dreams to their conclusion and having celebrated her 40th birthday in January, she would be enjoying the next phase of her life.
Of course, we know this is not possible.
On 18th July 2005 Amy’s life was taken when killed by a driver whilst training with the Australian team in Germany.
Due to the strength of her husband Simon and parents Mary and Denis, they determined to remember Amy by creating a foundation that would work for the safety of all those who ride a bike – whether, like Amy, it’s as a profession in the elite peloton, as a weekend warrior who dons the lycra, or whether it’s for transport or the simple joy of riding a bike.
They believed that everyone has the right to arrive home safely and this has driven the Amy Gillett Foundation since its formation on 24 February 2006.
It is a great honour to be Chairman of Australia’s leading bike riding safety organisation.
As can be seen by these milestones we have achieved much in ten years – from programs such as ‘a metre matters’, ‘It’s a two-way street’, Remembering Amy for a Reason and Austcycle through to events such as Amy’s Gran Fondo, Amy’s Rides and the Share the Road Tour.
Our safety messages have reached millions of Australians and now, we are proud to say, five Australian jurisdictions have laws that protect bike riders through variations of the minimum overtaking distances or ‘a metre matter laws’.
We continue to work hard to achieve our mission and vision for safe cycling in Australia and zero bike rider fatalities. There is still much work to do.
We will continue to pressure governments to value the safety of bike riders by introducing minimum overtaking distance laws. We will continue our research program to gain a greater understanding of the issues and help us develop innovative approaches to bike rider safety. We will continue to pursue education programs targeted at both drivers and bike riders, designed to make bike riding safer for everyone. And we will continue to advocate for better infrastructure and other safety measures.
On behalf of the board, our staff, volunteers, sponsors and donors we thank Mary and Denis Safe and Simon Gillett for their ongoing guidance and support.
And we thank all our Amy Gillett Foundation supporters, our everyday ambassadors, who join with us to help make bike riding safer in Australia.
Safe riding,
Mark Textor, Chairman
Read more from Simon Gillett and Mary & Denis Safe below:
Simon Gillett – 10 years of the Amy Gillett Foundation
Mary and Denis Safe – 10 years of the Amy Gillett Foundation
