Bob Montgomery, the 82-year-old cyclist who rolled into his hometown of Bowral on Sunday 02 August to a hero’s welcome, has died just one day later, leaving the Australian cycling community and the nation in mourning.
Montgomery and his 18-year-old grandson, Tom Malcolm, set off from Broome, Western Australia, on 22 June, riding roughly 160 kilometres a day for six weeks to cover approximately 5,200 kilometres across some of the country’s harshest terrain. Named One Last Ride, it was Montgomery’s sixth ultra-endurance fundraising campaign for Motor Neurone Disease New South Wales and raised more than $100,000, bringing the total raised across all six rides to nearly $300,000.
“There have been days when the headwinds felt never-ending and mornings when we questioned how cold it could possibly get, but every time we met someone affected by MND, it reminded us why we were riding,” Montgomery said upon finishing the ride.
According to MND NSW chief executive Liam O’Meara, Montgomery remained in high spirits during a Monday gathering in Sydney held to welcome his grandson, who had continued riding to the city after the official finish in Bowral.
Later that evening, Montgomery suffered a sudden medical episode and died peacefully at home, with his wife of 59 years, Jenny, by his side. The family described his passing as unexpected but peaceful, saying he had been sharing his fundraising message only hours earlier.
Tributes have poured in from across Australia, including from Whitlam MP Carol Berry, who praised his compassion and determination, and radio broadcaster Mark Levy, who had interviewed Montgomery and his grandson shortly before their departure.
Montgomery’s MND NSW fundraising page remains open for donations in his memory.
Photo Credit: Instagram/bowraltobroome.4mnd
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