Days spent riding for miles with the Calder Clarion club in the late 1950’s in Wakefield England are treasured memories for Audrey Lockey of Wollongong. 

As a fit young woman, Audrey remembers herself and her good friend Valery were the only girls in the cycling club. Every weekend they would set out riding miles and miles across the countryside, no matter what the weather, determined to keep up with the men.  

This photo was taken during a 25 mile (40km) time trial, just south of Wakefield. 

It was through the cycling club that 18 year old Audrey met Dennis Lockey, a fellow cycling enthusiast who at one time held the record of the fastest 25 mile time trial in England. Dennis always joked he would never get married for all the tea in China – and Audrey later joked back he must have drunk a lot of tea, as they did later marry and have five children!

In 1971 they set off as ‘ten pound poms’ on an adventure to Australia, settling in Wollongong and initially spending 12 months at the Fairy Meadow Migrant Hostel. They enjoyed casual cycling from Stuart Park to Bulli, and around Dapto for many years.