"Take a large measure of guts, strength, will and heart; add a bike and a young woman and spend 25 000 kilometres across Australia. Truth can be so much better than fiction. A brilliant story." - Bryce Courtenay
"A fantastic adventure story - imagine riding a bike along the Canning Stock Route! A seemingly impossible feat." - Dick Smith
In 1993, Kate Leeming became the first woman in history to cycle across the ‘New Russia’, when she organised, led and completed the five-month, 13 400-kilometre Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition in aid of the children of Chernobyl. Ten years later, she conceived and organised the Great Australian Cycle Expedition (GRACE), a 25 000-kilometre journey through her own country, 7000 kilometres of which were to be ‘off road’ on remote, isolated tracks.
The purpose of the expedition was to promote the importance of, and contribute towards, education for sustainable development. The expedition was the first Australian project, and one of the world’s first, to be selected as a Demonstration Activity for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-14).
Out There and Back is Kate’s personal chronicle of the GRACE Expedition. At the same time it raises awareness of the importance of education for sustainable development, underpinned by the author’s beliefs and fuelled by her experiences cycling across Russia. This detailed, often graphic, account of an amazing journey into the heart of Australia is told with style, humour and insight. A highlight is Kate’s description of the first bicycle crossing of the Canning Stock Route (CSR) by a woman. The CSR, the world’s longest, most arduous stock route, bisects four deserts and approximately one thousand sand dunes.
Cycling without the aid of a support vehicle (for all but the CSR), and alone for the second half of the expedition, Kate develops a close connection with and respect for the Australian people and landscapes, skilfully weaving in information about early explorers, pioneers and colourful characters who shaped the outback. She gives impressions of her visits to Indigenous communities and glimpses of life on cattle stations and in remote outposts and country towns.
ANZEC Member - Dr Kate Leeming
As an explorer/adventurer, Kate has cycled the equivalent of twice around the world at the Equator. On August 16th 2010 she became the first person to cycle an unbroken line from Africa’s most westerly to its most easterly point, from Pointe des Almadies, Senegal to Cape Hafun, Puntland, Somalia.Crossing 22,040 km over ten months, Kate’s Breaking the Cycle in Africa Expedition was not only a physical quest but an odyssey to highlight the development needs and activities of war-torn and poverty-stricken nations. Cycling through twenty countries, Kate aimed to find out what is being done to give a ‘leg up’ rather than a ‘hand out’ – to shine a positive light on the issues, cultures and geography of Africa.Kate has two previous world firsts under her belt – the Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition (1993) when she became the first woman to cycle across the new Russia unsupported (aiding the children of Chernobyl), and the 25,000km Great Australian Cycle Expedition (2004/05) which included the first bicycle crossing of the Canning Stock Route by a woman.Kate’s latest challenge, Breaking the Cycle South Pole, will include the first complete bicycle crossing of the Antarctic continent via the South Pole (2018).The Breaking the Cycle education programme aims to help prepare our future leaders to make informed decisions to create a better world. Students and Scouts across the globe will be able to follow her preparatory activities and Antarctic expedition and partake in virtual learning presentations with the end goals of creating their own activities with the option of raising funds for YGAP (Y Generation Against Poverty).In March 2016, The University of Western Australia awarded Kate an honorary Doctor of Education degree for services to education and community. She is also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (UK) and a Scout Ambassador.In 2014, Kate’s documentary ‘Njinga’ won two awards at the Action on Film International Film Festival in Los Angeles – best cinematography and best documentary (sport). ‘Njinga’, Kate’s second book, complements the documentary; her first, Out There and Back, chronicles the Australian expedition.In between expeditions, Kate works as a real tennis professional. She has won 5 Australian Open singles titles and been ranked as high as world number 2.
