About us

Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad Incorporated is a registered not-for-profit non-government organisation.  We provide opportunities for developing countries to create community based, sustainable bicycle repair businesses that promote environmentally friendly and affordable transportation. 

Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad Inc.:

  • encourages recycling of unwanted bicycles in Australia and educates the Australian public of the transportation needs in developing countries.
  • collects, repairs, stores and dismantles second-hand bicycles donated by Australians.  Donated bicycles becomes the property of Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad Inc.
  • forms partnerships with not-for-profit organisations in developing countries that request a donation of bicycles.  This includes the formation of partnership agreements, ongoing correspondence and administration support.
  • helps the in-country organisation find shipping and logistics companies to transport the requested bicycles
  • loads shipping containers with donated repaired bicycles and spare parts.
  • assists with the assembly and training of bicycle maintenance mechanics in-country with the goal of creating locally managed and staffed self-sustaining micro-enterprises.

History

In 2000, Mark Pate and Jenny Clarke founded an NGO, 'Australia to East Timor Recycled Bicycle Humanitarian Project' under the United Nations UNTAET Humanitarian Assistance & Emergency Rehabilitation Pillar.  This organisation  managed a humanitarian project that resulted in 7,000 Australian donated bicycles being distributed in East Timor to people in need from remote villages.

In 2006, ‘Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad’ was registered and became an Incorporated Association with the NSW Department of Fair Trading on 5th February 2007 and subsequently on 15th April 2010 was granted Charity Fundraising Authority with the NSW Communities, Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, granting it the right to fundraise.

Between March 2007 and April 2010, Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad managed 2 international bicycle shipments totalling 700 bicycles from Sydney to The Village Bicycle Project in Ghana, Africa  and Bellona Island, Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands).  During the same time period 375 bicycles were distributed domestically within Australia to Deadly Treadlies in Alice Springs for Indigenous Youth workshops, Wesley Mission in Sydney and Mathew Talbott House in Woolloomooloo, Sydney.