Tag Archives: NSW

‘But Where Do You Put The Patient?’ – A Sydney Motorcycle Paramedic’s Experience

Recently, a reader of MotorBikeWriter reached out to us to share his story titled ‘But Where Do You Put The Patient?’. This novel was written by Paul Riley, a motorcycle paramedic with over 20 years of experience for the Ambulance Service of NSW in Sydney, Australia. 

Paul is a part of a rare breed that it takes to be part of an emergency response team. Most flee from disaster, paramedics run towards it in an effort to save lives. For six years, Paul spent that time as a motorcycle paramedic navigating the narrow streets or traffic-riddled roads of Sydney, to get to those in need. Being on a motorcycle gave him and his patients the advantage of time, as he could get to an accident scene much faster than his four-wheeled colleagues. 

Paul gives his readers the opportunity to see what life is like on the life-saving side of an accident. Aside from the serious, heartbreaking, and painful parts that come with being a first responder, Paul has gathered some hilarious stories over the years as a paramedic. 

Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha Display

If you’d like to ride along with a motorcycle paramedic by getting yourself a copy of Paul Riley’s ‘But Where Do You Put The Patient?’, you can visit his website, where both hardcopy or e-books are available. Paul even welcomes riders and readers alike to keep in touch with him by tossing him an email (found on his website) – this further indicates his dedication to humankind, no matter what.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Record Price For Motorcycle Plate

An Australian record of $A251,000 for a motorcycle number plate has been paid for a New South Wales black and white numerical motorcycle number plate ‘2’.

Record Price For Motorcycle Plate

The anonymous bid was made at last week’s Shannons Winter Timed Online Auction.

It shows that despite the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, collectors are still passionate about automotive memorabilia and have the finances to satisfy their desires.

Click here for our tips on how to buy a motorcycle at auction.

The auction record is still nowhere near the Australian record for a car number plate which is $2.45 million at a Shannon’s Sydney auction three years ago in August 2017.

The Shannons Timed Winter Online Auction attracted a record number of bidders paying a total of $7 million for vehicle, automobilia, and number plates.

Some 96% of the 145 auction lots were sold.

Father's Day

They include $42,500 for a very low kilometer and well-preserved 1989 Yamaha FZR750R-R ‘OWO1’ motorcycle.

Record Price For Motorcycle Plate

The biggest bid of the auction was $308,500 paid for a long-ownership Porsche 911E 2.4 coupe.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Reasons for motorbike trippin’ to Nimbin

Nimbin in northern NSW was the site of the famous Aquarius Festival 27 years ago and remains a unique tourist drawcard for its alternative hippie lifestyle.

It’s also a popular attraction for riders — and not because they can stock up on illegal weed!

In fact, riders are warned that police frequently patrol the area and sometimes conduct NSW/Queensland joint border operations to search vehicles.

On one “trip” to Nimbin our riding group was warned from as far as Uki that the “filth” were everywhere!

Indeed, there was a host of police road and off-road motorcycles, cars and even helicopters as we approached Nimbin.

Hippie culture

The town is a throwback to a time when hippie culture was popular. That’s perhaps one reason I and many of my age like it.

I started riding in the early ‘70s when hippies and motorcycles were both freedom lovers, law breakers and anti-establishment.

It’s kind of kitsch now with many tourist shops selling smoking paraphernalia, joss sticks, greenie-slogan t-shirts, hemp clothing, etc.

There are also a lot of great cafes and restaurants with a wide mix of healthy foods and refreshments for the weary rider.

But these are not the main reasons riders should visit Nimbin.

Nimbin roads

Typical of roads around Nimbin Typical of roads around Nimbin

The major rider attraction is the roads and the spectacular scenery.

Ok, the roads can be broken and potholed like you’ve rarely seen before.

In fact, it is so bad the locals sometimes paint rainbow colours around the most dangerous potholes to warn traffic.

Lismore City Council is almost negligent in its official warning signs of potential hazards and its backlog of roadworks, probably because of a lack of ratepayer funds from the local citizenry.

But if you take things cautiously, the roads can have wonderful sections of twisting tarmac through some spectacular forest and rock formations. There are also some great dirt roads in the area.

Most riders whiz past the Nimbin signs on the Kyogle Rd, but they shouldn’t.

Take the Nimbin Rd, Stony Chute Rd, Blue Knob Rd or Turntable Falls Rd and enjoy.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com