A Tribute to John Widdup’s Decades of Service to the Board
John Widdup joined Pedal Power ACT when he moved to Canberra in the early 1980s. Like many members he joined to gain the protection of Pedal Power’s rider insurance. Once his overseas work projects ended early this century John become more involved in Pedal Power.
His talent for managing was spotted, and he was recruited to the Management Committee. As that body evolved into the Pedal Power Council and then to a Board John provided continuity, corporate memory and especially leadership. He served two three-year terms as President, soundly steering the organisation as it grew and developed. This year John stepped down from the Board after serving it and its predecessors for over 20 years.
As a civil engineer John brought deep technical knowledge and understanding to Pedal Power’s Advocacy Team. He was highly skilled in talking the tech talk with government road and traffic engineers and in countering the excuse ‘we can’t do that due to technical difficulties’. He earned the respect of officials, especially in situations where he agreed to a workable compromise and ‘didn’t let the perfect be the enemy of good’.
For many years John has led Pedal Power’s presence at the bi-monthly Bicycle Advisory Group meetings where cycling groups meet with officials to discuss active travel projects, infrastructure developments and work on resolving issues. We are fortunate that John will continue in that role.
As the leader of the recently formed Kurrajong group within the Advocacy team, John has presented the riders perspective on a range of significant projects in that electorate, including Light Rail Stages 1 and 2A, the Coles redevelopment at Dickson shops, the Garden City Cycleway and his passion, raised road crossings. Once again, his engineering expertise has enabled well informed submissions and consultations with government.
Many of Pedal Power’s events such as Fitz’s Challenge and the Big Canberra Bike Ride would not have thrived if John had not been part of the organising teams in devising routes, liaising with officials and being a general Mr Fixit.
And yes, John still has time to enjoy riding, be that regular riding and leading of Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning rides or organising major multi-week Pedal Power rides in far western NSW, SA and the Kimberley. John started the Sunday Wanders rides many years ago, training rides to partake in the Big NSW bike rides, established the Ride Leader Accreditation system, and is a member of our Social Rides Management Group. For many years John and his wife Julia have ridden in the Silver City Bush Treadler's Dares out west and helped raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor. They have also enjoyed cycle touring in Europe and Asia and have regaled us at our Social Nights with tales of riding in Russia, Norway, Japan, Korea and more recently down the Elbe.
Besides Pedal Power, John is also a very active member of Murrumbidgee Canberra Rotary Club. He is currently Club President (surprise surprise). Once again, a range of Rotary projects would not have succeeded or even happened without John’s leadership and organisational skills. The Western Desert Project stands out where John’s practical skills helped the club convert a disused building to a fully functional dialysis facility at Kintore Aboriginal community, 500 km west of Alice Springs, and at two more communities. Community members are now able to have dialysis on country instead of having to trek to the uncomfortable environment of Alice Springs. An other project John was involved in was the Rotary club’s Cycling Without Age trishaw pilot training.
Rotary’s Five Peaks Challenge is another of John’s pet projects. He established the event and prepares the route, liaises with officials, prepares and distributes promotional material, marks arrows on the road to guide riders, and then is sweep rider on the day, making sure the last riders make it to the finish.
In paying tribute to John, we should also acknowledge his wife Julia, who produced the Canberra Cyclist magazine for over thirteen years and who has supported and energised John all along the way, as well as contributing substantially to Pedal Power’s success herself. Both John and Julia have been made life members of Pedal Power.
Thank you John for your decades of service to Pedal Power ACT and getting things done – it’s been a great ride for us all and keep on rolling into the future.
Tribute by Jeff Ibbotson