By Ron Lane
IT WAS in the year 2001 that a Victorian lady, like so many thousands before her relocated to our beautiful town of Noosa Heads. After settling quietly into our town, Julia Emblin, some 15 years later, has made her mark in her chosen sport of cycling (Masters Division) by winning the 2016 Gran Fondo World Championship in Perth last month. She won Japan’s Niseko Classic in July, the last of 14 qualifiers for this year’s UCI Granfondo World Championships.
This event is definitely one of international renown but relatively unknown to most of our people.
This reality is not surprising for Julia, like so many others who reach the top in their chosen sport. It gives one the feeling that to her personal satisfaction is more important than public acclaim.
This, it seems, is a common factor among many of our great sporting achievers in Noosa shire.
Julia hails from the town of Drouin in Gippsland Victoria. She was educated at Drouin High School, and as one of six kids, spent her early years living on her parents’ dairy farm. “It was at this stage that the bike really entered my life for the first time, because at five years of age, I started to ride my bike to school. In those days, in country areas, this sort of thing was common.’’
Julia entered the work force at 16 years of age and worked on several jobs until the age of 19. She then moved to Melbourne and commenced working as a receptionist for an architect. “I found I enjoyed this as it gave me the opportunity to meet all types of people from all walks of life.”
In later years, Julia took the big step of going into business for herself when she opened the High Street Cafe in Melbourne. This was for the next 14 years to become her life. “As you can imagine running a cafe for seven days a week for 14 years everything was full-on. Add to this, I was also a single mum raising an eight-year-old daughter from an early marriage.”
However, it was during this period, that when time permitted she went on cycling and camping holidays; this was to give Julia her first real taste of cycling. “Here was something that I really enjoyed -in fact you could say I loved it.”
Then in 2001 she made the big move and shifted to Noosa; and in 2002 remarried. “It was also about this time that Julia joined the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club. After having a good look at proceedings, she began to contest the road racing events in her age category. “Regarding my coaching, well that came from some wonderful and very helpful local riders.”
As in all sport, when it comes to training, mental attitude and preparation is of the utmost importance. To settle into the world of competition Julia had no false illusions. “You have to be prepared to put in the hours and the hard work; a 5/6 day training week with 12 to 14 hours on the road.
“When you know that you have put in the hours and done the miles, you know you will do well; to me, this is the major part, being mentally prepared. Also a lot of our road races are 100 plus kilometres, so your preparation must be balanced.”
For Julie, her list of achievements in the World Ladies Masters Road Cycling Championships is indeed outstanding. “I suppose as an athlete you always remember your first major win; and for me it was winning the Australian Ladies Masters Road Race 50-55 in Adelaide in 2005.”
This was to be just the start of what has become an incredible record: Austria 2007, third in the time trials; Sydney Australia 2011 won the road race and time trial; 2012 South Africa, again won both and 2015 Denmark saw her finish third in the road race.
The selection criteria to contest these events are in itself an achievement. To be eligible the rider must finish in the top 25 per cent in their age group of a major event. For Julia, 2016 was truly outstanding. To qualify for the Worlds in Perth, she travelled to Japan to contest the last of the qualifiers. Not only did she win this, but made it a double by returning to Australia and winning the big one in Perth, the Ladies 60-64 World Masters Championship.
Add to this, her results down through the years in the Noosa Triathlon and you have a record second to none.
As Julia reflects on the many hours and miles she has spent on the roads in both training and competing, there is one point that makes this quiet achiever very angry. That is the lack of respect that an alarming number of motorists have for cyclists.
“Some motorists show a total lack of respect and caring for a fellow human being, (road cyclists) their attitude to road safety is really bad. When approaching a group of cyclists, because they are crouched over their bikes, and wearing safety helmet, you can’t identify them.’’
“Motorists should remember that one of them may be your barber, the nurse who helped you at your local hospital or even a friend- you just don’t know.”
Julia summed it up beautifully when she described it as being, “A case of “Big vs Little, “the big family four wheel drive loaded with Mum, Dad and the kids versus the person on a small light road bike.
To understand fully her concern regarding this matter, you only have to look at the bike accident statics for 2013. According to a report tabled in that year, 14 people were killed and many riders were seriously injured in Australia. Let’s be honest, I am sure we have at some time heard one of our friends say, “I hate those bloody bike riders.”
The Aussie sport lover shows support and respect to our footballers and our surfing champions. Because the bikers don’t wear football boots or have sand between their toes does not mean they don’t deserve the same respect.
Julia first became more aware of this situation after she learnt about an organisation, the A.G.F. This group, the Amy Gillett Foundation, began its work in 2006.
In 2005 while cycling with the Australian Womens Road Cycle Team in Germany, Amy Gillett died as a result of injuries sustained when hit by a motorist. Ever since its foundation Julia has been a strong supporter, helping whenever she can.
A special lead-up event to the A.G.F. Cycle Classic of September 13 2006, saw Julia and many others take part in a big fund-raising challenge to help the A.G.F. raise $100,000. This money was to invest in educational program initiatives to create a safer environment for riding (in Australia.)
Then again in 2009, Julia showed her support for the A.G.F. by taking part in another fund-raising ride from Canberra to Melbourne.
A voice that speaks strongly in support of Julia’s plea for a change of attitude regarding road safety is Russell Harrop.
Father of Luke Harrop, the young tri-athlete of international standing, tragically killed by a motorist, Russell said, “I totally support Julia’s call for a better and safer passage for our cyclists. While travelling Europe some time ago, I saw the courtesy and respect shown to cyclists in the Swiss Alps. I cannot see any reason why we can’t educate our motorists to adopt the same attitude.”
Russell, whose entire family features heavily in the past history of the Noosa Heads Surf Life SavingClub and the Noosa Tri added, “It was a common sight in the Alps. Motorists pulling over to the side of the road, winding down their windows and calling out, good luck, as the riders passed on the climb. If they can show that courtesy- why can’t we. It is good to hear someone with Julia’s reputation and experience speaking up about something that is so important, and above all, life-threatening.”
Julia Emblin: she rides, she trains, she competes, and she wins; and still finds time to care about others. Proud to say, she’s one of Our People.
