RESM Forecasting at Bicycles for Humanity

Six people from the Reservoir Management Forecasting Team arrived at the Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) workshop in Middle Swan ready to learn about how B4H help reduce waste by restoring, fixing and pulling apart bicycles. While B4H’s regular volunteers arrived and propped themselves up at their work stations with a bike and their tools, B4H contact Jamie provided the team with a background of the WA chapter of Bicycles for Humanity. He explained how corporate teams like Woodside work together with regular volunteers, school groups and work for the dole volunteers to help B4H achieve their goal of supporting a community in Namibia, which is where the B4H social enterprise is set up.

The task at hand for the RESM Forecasting team was to sort through donated bikes, select a bike and to inspect it to see if it is in working condition, and if it was it was put away in the shipping container heading to Namibia. If the bike did not pass the quality inspection, the volunteers would attempt to repair the bike - this involves replacing brake pads, cables, pedals and cleaning the bike. Woodside volunteers also received guidance from the regular volunteers (bike mechanic experts and bike enthusiasts) which was a delight to see.

There was definitely a sense of accomplishment with each bike made ready to roll, with one volunteer mentioning that she felt a sense of -

  “satisfaction on completing each bike."

The team sorted and fixed 25 bikes, organised handle bars and rummaged through a mountain of bike carcasses to collect bike bells and other componentry that were in working condition.

“Being able to zone out from work, but also contribute to society at the same time”

Bicycles for Humanity found the team to be very persistent, focused and fun to work with and are grateful for their efforts!

To see more of the teamin action click here