It is with great sadness that the Cycling Promotion Fund notes the passing of Ted Wilson (Director, Wilcare Services) and Stephen Hart (Owner, Gran Prix Bicycles).

Stephen and Ted were both greatly admired by the cycling community for their immense expertise and contribution towards making cycling accessible throughout Victoria.

Ted Wilson

Ted was a former Victoria Police Sergeant whose extensive background in bicycle programs spanned 30 years.  Ted worked on bicycle projects ranging from local area initiatives to statewide programs.

In 1978 the State government approved a $1.6 million, five-year Geelong Bikeplan as a test case for bike planning in Victoria. The plan proposed programs of education, enforcement and encouragement as well as engineering for cycling. Ted Wilson played a key role in the plan’s implementation.

He worked on getting cyclists to comply with the road rules and encouraged police to look out for cyclists on the road. By way of education and encouragement, he taught the newly developed Bike Ed program in schools around Victoria, a program he loved and remained involved with until very recently.

Wilson also worked to re-establish Police Bicycle Patrols in Victoria. The idea was written into the Melbourne Bikeplan in the late 70s and subsequent plans included centres around the State. Police Bicycle Patrols were eventually started in 1990. Ted was responsible for again securing Geelong as the site for the trial and was charged with training police in bike skills. Now all police areas across Victoria are equipped to run Bicycle Patrols.

Ted was the representative for the South West Region on the Victorian Bicycle Advisory Council and Chair of the Barwon Regional Bicycle Council.

Ted was also the principal of Wilcare Services Pty Ltd, a company whose major focus is on the development and delivery of bicycle programs. Since 2000, Wilcare Services has been the provider of bicycle instructor accreditation for the Victorian Department of Education.

In 2008 Ted Wilson was recognised nationally for his achievements when he received a Joint Cycling Promotion Award (Honorary) at the Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards.  

The Cycling Promotion Fund extends its sincere condolences to Ted’s partner Maree and his family.

Stephen Hart

Stephen Hart will be remembered for his enormous contribution to making cycling accessible for all. Since 1995 Stephen Hart has owned and run Gran Prix Bicycles in Caulfield South. Stephen, an experienced and passionate cyclist, has been committed to not only cater for experienced riders but also make novices welcome.

Gran Prix Bicycles motto is no question is a stupid question. They offer regular bicycle maintenance classes, which are very popular, and the women’s specific classes and workshops have assisted them in boosting the number of women cyclists.

To make women welcome and to cater for their needs a specific women’s section was set up in the shop. Stephen has also compared a weekly radio show on cycling providing tips and advice.

For his contribution to bicycling, Gran Prix Bicycles was the Joint Winner of the Award for contribution towards cycling by a bicycle retailer at the at the 2006 Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards. 

The Cycling Promotion Fund would like to add its condolences to those of the cycling community to Stephen’s wife Kay, family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service for Stephen Hart to be held in the Boyd Chapel, Springvale Crematorium, Princes Highway, Springvale on Friday, 16th July, 2010, commencing at 3.45 pm.