Getting ready to take up the challenge

Nancy Wake became the most decorated female of World War II on the back of her work as part of the French Resistance. The New Zealand born operative, who spent time working as a nurse in New South Wales and then moved to England where she trained as a journalist, is an inspiration for many females who are serving or have served in the defence forces and she is the inspiration to as group of Limestone Coast women who are about to honour the woman known as ‘The White Mouse’ by retracing one of her famous bike rides.

Limestone Coast Veterans’ Hub veteran wellbeing advocate Liz Wheeler is heading up the contingent of seven women, all aged in their 50s, who have already been training for three months ahead of taking on the 500km journey from Auvergne to Chateuroux.

Nancy took three days to tackle the route and return – the Limestone Coast ladies will be tackling the famous journey in a more leisurely manner, looking at traversing 50-60km a day, and it is earmarked for 2025, given plenty of time for the physical preparation and the fundraising that will be required to fund the trip.

The campaign to follow in the footsteps of Nancy Wake is a multi-layered one. It is highlighting the role of females in our defence forces, it is shining a light on female veterans, who can fall through the cracks more so than their male counterparts, and it is playing a role in the physical and mental wellbeing of the group of women tackling it. “When the general public perceives a veteran as an older male or someone from the younger cohort that have recently seen active service in places like Iraq and Afghanistan,” Liz said. “We want to change that conversation – there are quite a few women veterans out there and it is not an easy transition for a lot of them. There is not a great level of compassion and empathy. It can be very difficult and very isolating.”

The Limestone Coast group tackling the ride, joined the defence force when it was only starting to go through a cultural change when it came to embracing females in the army, navy and air force – there were tough times and acceptance was not always forthcoming.

“We did all receive a lot of push back,” Liz said. “We do see this as a chance to show what women can do.”

And it looms as a serious challenge – many of the seven committed riders haven’t been on a bike since their teenage years and they know they are facing a 500km ride that has its share of hills, which is why training around Mount Gambier and surrounds has been a good lead in.

This weekend is the group’s first serious hit out since committing to the ride as they cycle from Kingston RSL to Robe RSL this Sunday as part of Veteran’s Health Week with the Military Brotherhood Motorcycle Club accompanying the riders as their outriders.

The entire Nancy Wake Memorial Ride is also being studied as a research project by the Military & Emergency Service Health Australia (MESHA) – and that is where the funds raised by the ride will go with the money being used for local personnel and projects.

“We have created this challenge for ourselves,” Liz said. “The response from every lady involved has been ‘let’s go for it’. We are going to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

The training the group already has under its belt – they train every Sunday – has taught the women two things already.

One is other traffic on the road needs to be more cognisant of cyclists – there have been some scary close shaves – and they have found muscles they had forgotten they had.

Five of the riders are still based in the Limestone Coast, one has recently moved from the region to Adelaide and there is one other rider also based in Adelaide, and there is a chance the contingent will grow.

“We are just average Joe Blows in the community and we want to inspire other women to get out there and give things a go,” Liz said.

The Nancy Wake Memorial Ride is also a chance to share the story of the war hero. While on the ride, there are plans to meet with veterans and speak to school groups and they have copies of an Australian written book about the celebrated spy to hand out.

One of the Limestone Coast riders is serving defence force member Kym Prosser, who is part of the 1027 Army Reserve and has been for more than three decades.

“I love catching up with these women and I love that we are being able to tell the story of Nancy Wake and getting it out there,” she said. Liz actually met Nancy Wake. “What she lacked in physical stature she made up for with her lioness personality – she was a remarkable woman to meet,” she said.

If you want to get involved in sponsorship of the Nancy Wake Memorial Ride you can contact Liz Wheeler at [email protected] The group will also be holding a ‘democracy’ sausage sizzle at North Gambier Primary School on October 14.

TRAINING RIDE: Leanne Dunn, Marcia Dening, Kym Prosser, Liz Wheeler & Nicky Jellesma