Jon & Jo

The Why

So… from 6-11 October 2025 I (Jono) am again participating in the ‘Tour de Oroc’, which means cycling over 700km in 6 days through the Central West of NSW. And this time my beloved Jo is joining in, which is awesome.

Why are we doing this? A fair question. Besides gratifying our 'cycling tragic' tendencies, it is, more importantly, to raise much needed funding for 'Macquarie Home Stay', weblink Home | Macquarie Home Stay

All funds raised will go toward the Stage Three expansion of the Facility, including new family accommodation — because no one should be alone when facing medical challenges far from home.

Macquarie Home Stay provides accommodation, and a 'home away from home' for patients who have had to relocate from far western NSW to Dubbo for medical reasons. It is an incredibly important facility, that acts much like Ronald McDonald House in Sydney. Patients include expectant mothers (over 50% of babies born in Dubbo are from out of the Dubbo Local Government area), day surgery patients, and people requiring treatment at Dubbo Base Hospital who may require accommodation immediately prior to or post admission to the hospital. Parents, partners, carers, or children undergoing various treatments, also benefit from the facility.

The bi-annual 'Tour de Oroc' (Orana Region Outback Challenge) this year goes from Dubbo through Warren, Macquarie Marshes, Nyngan, Cobar, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Coonamble. Riders, of which there will be around 30, have pledged to raise minimum amounts on behalf of the facility. Jo and I are hoping to raise $2500 together for the cause.

If you might be interested in making a fully tax-deductible donation to a very worthy local cause, it will go a long way towards sustaining and enhancing this important facility, for the benefit of our region. 

Thanks for considering.

Regards,

Jon & Jo​