Sport
30 November, 2025
How Saints got Olly his bike
A GROUP of year 8 boys from St Augustine’s College have helped raise $4000 to buy specialised cycling equipment for their classmate so he can join the college’s mountain biking team.
Saint Augustine’s College careers support officer and cycling coordinator Chad Elliott said the initiative began when students knocked on his office door seeking support for their friend Olly (surname withheld), who has dwarfism and required a specially-adapted bike to participate in the sport.
“The life of a teacher is busy and this multiplies when you are the cycling coordinator for a team of 46 riders. So, when a group of year 7 and 8 students knocked on my office door and asked for help raising funds for their mate, I put paperwork aside and helped them accomplish their goal,” he said.
In early October 2025, Darcy, Harrison, Finn and Jai (surnames withheld) approached Mr Elliott.
“They flooded my office, excitedly stating, ‘We need to help Olly get a bike. Sir, he is so good on the pump track, but because he has dwarfism, he can’t get his bike easily up and around at Smithfield’.
“Thus began a journey of brotherhood and community engagement to help Olly purchase a bike that was fit for purpose,” he said.
Mr Elliott contacted the student’s mother, who also has dwarfism, and worked with other parents to organise fundraising.
Saint Augustine’s College careers support officer and cycling coordinator Chad Elliott said the initiative began when students knocked on his office door seeking support for their friend Olly (surname withheld), who has dwarfism and required a specially-adapted bike to participate in the sport.
“The life of a teacher is busy and this multiplies when you are the cycling coordinator for a team of 46 riders. So, when a group of year 7 and 8 students knocked on my office door and asked for help raising funds for their mate, I put paperwork aside and helped them accomplish their goal,” he said.
In early October 2025, Darcy, Harrison, Finn and Jai (surnames withheld) approached Mr Elliott.
“They flooded my office, excitedly stating, ‘We need to help Olly get a bike. Sir, he is so good on the pump track, but because he has dwarfism, he can’t get his bike easily up and around at Smithfield’.
“Thus began a journey of brotherhood and community engagement to help Olly purchase a bike that was fit for purpose,” he said.
Mr Elliott contacted the student’s mother, who also has dwarfism, and worked with other parents to organise fundraising.
