BROTHERS ON BIKES Band Together For Broken Ballerina

Blokes on bikes and a broken ballerina. It’s an unlikely partnership but one which warms the heart.

The Sons of the Southern Cross CQ Chapter donated $2,500 to Jules Thompson, founder of Broken Ballerina Inc., to enable her to continue supporting women and children fleeing from domestic violence.

Club member Geoff Wells said it’s in the club’s charter to donate to charity, so the bikes get shined and primed, ready to roll to raise much-needed funds to support local causes.

“We try to pick local charities, especially the ones that don’t receive a lot of Government funding, and ones we can see make a difference in the community,” Mr Wells said.

“We had heard about Broken Ballerina and thought it was a good local cause to support. We also donate to RACQ CQ Rescue and the Mackay Hospital Foundation.”

Ms Thompson said that the incidences of domestic violence and people coming forward for help is increasing.

“The situation is escalating, it’s daily we’re receiving messages for help,” Ms Thompson said.

Clubs And Community Keeping Broken Ballerina Alive

Jules Thompson from Broken Ballerina received a cheque from the Sons of the Southern Cross CQ Chapter. Photo: Amanda Wright

“We’re getting busier, the honest truth is that other services in Mackay simply do not provide what we do, yet we don’t receive government funding.

“We need money to keep going. People can’t go and do a grocery shop with a $10 voucher that they get elsewhere,” she added.

“Clubs like this, the Sons of the Southern Cross, who are amazing, it’s the community that is keeping Broken Ballerina alive.”

Ms Thompson said that ice is continuing to be a major problem in the escalating cases of domestic and family violence.

“It’s an epidemic,” she said.

“Ice and alcohol are the major recurring themes in many domestic violence cases.

“It’s mind altering.

“My father was the nicest, most charming man when he was sober. Too much alcohol and he was violent, a very scary man.”

She said that women and children fleeing domestic violence need immediate help, otherwise they are at risk of returning to their perpetrator.

“The pressure is on us to help women and children when they need help the most, and that’s immediately after they’ve left domestic, family or sexual violence,” Ms Thompson said.

“If they have nowhere to turn, the only option many of them face is to go back to their perpetrator, and that’s what we don’t want to see happen.

“That’s what we are trying to stop, is the cycle, to help them break the cycle.

“We simply couldn’t help these people if it weren’t for clubs like the Sons of the Southern Cross, the reality is we need money to help these people to break the cycle.”

Mr Wells said that their club members get a kick out of supporting causes like Broken Ballerina.

“We’re a social motorcycle club. Just a bunch of blokes who like to ride their bikes. We combine this with raising money for charity,” he said.

The club held a bike, car and 4WD show in June, to raise funds for Broken Ballerina.

“$750 was donated by other people who wanted to contribute with the remaining $1,750 made up from proceeds from the show,” Mr Wells said.

“We did a toy run last year for the Mackay Hospital Foundation. We delivered close to 150 toys for the kids and donated money for a children’s bed and bed chair so a parent can sleep in the chair next to the kid’s bed.”

The club has its Poker Run coming up on September 17, where proceeds will again go to Broken Ballerina.

It kicks off at the Harley Davidson store in Mackay, and travels throughout the countryside, to the Kuttabul Pub, Eton Pub, the Kickstart Saloon then back to Handlebar Heaven, the club’s headquarters.

Each person received a card at each destination. Back at the headquarters, the people with the best and worst hands of poker win prizes.

While the Sons of the Southern Cross is a social club, riders do wear patches which Mr Wells said the club takes as a serious responsibility.

“We have permission to wear our patch and we don’t take that lightly, so we are careful about who we bring into the club,” he said.

“It’s like any circle of friends. We don’t want people wearing our patch and causing trouble.

“But if people are interested in joining, it doesn’t matter the make of the bike, you just have to be a good person and enjoy riding.

“Come down to meet us at the clubhouse on a Friday night and check out our Facebook Page, Sons of the Southern Cross CQ Chapter to find out what we’re about.”

‍Jules and Pete Thompson from Broken Ballerina thanked the Sons of the Southern Cross CQ Chapter for their support of Broken Ballerina through fundraising events.

Thompson from Broken Ballerina received a cheque from the Sons of the Southern Cross CQ Chapter.

Photo: Amanda Wright

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