THIS Saturday marks a significant milestone for a fixture on the local calendar.
For the 25th year running, motorcyclists from across Gippsland and beyond will participate in what is today known as the Keith Hamilton Toy Run – named after its late founder.
Keith Hamilton’s family remains actively involved in the event, including his son Bill.
“We all get involved as much as we can, probably more in the later years now … just trying to keep it up and running, and showing our support,” Bill said.
While he admitted to being “a little bit disappointed” about his lack of involvement in the early history of the Toy Run – “we were all busy with families back then” – Bill more than makes up for it today, piloting his father’s 1912 Rex motorcycle in the event.
The bike is outfitted with a wicker sidecar, where his grandchildren have sat as passengers in recent years.
This year, it’ll be the turn of his nonagenarian mother and Keith’s widow, Barbara, to sit in the basket.
For Bill and his family, it is “overwhelming” to see how the event has grown, and how his father’s legacy has endured.
He doesn’t neglect to recognise the contributions of Ian Kennedy, who died in 2017, in founding and facilitating the event.
“Ian Kennedy and dad were good mates … dad was always flat-out restoring motorbikes, I suppose, and Ian Kennedy decided to take it on,” Bill said.
“A lot of the credit’s got to go to Ian Kennedy because he basically built the toy run up and we’d just participate.”
The Kennedy family too continues to be part of the toy run, with Bill saying he “couldn’t praise the Kennedys enough” for the work they put into the event.
Photo: File
This year’s toy run is being facilitated by the local chapter of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, an international club that consists largely of active and retired firefighters.
Since taking over the event in 2017, the Red Knights have tried to maintain a strong local focus, and to engage and encourage the wider community to take part.
“We have sought donations from local businesses, and have been very lucky to secure a significant donation of $5000 from Esso Australia for the past few years,” chapter president Andy Young said.
“We are very proud to have been given the responsibility of continuing and growing this event to assist the local community during the festive season, where we know things can be tough for so many families.
“We look forward to carrying on this traditional event for many more years to come.”
Bill Hamilton supports the Red Knights’ ongoing handling of the event, saying he “couldn’t praise them enough” for their efforts.
But what would Keith Hamilton make of the event as it today?
“He’d be still riding! He’d be still out there leading the mob, definitely,” Bill said of his father.
“He was pretty keen in his day and pretty passionate about the whole thing, so he’d be overwhelmed too with where it is at this stage.”
Participants in the 25th Keith Hamilton Toy Run will meet from 8.30am this Saturday at the Sale Clocktower, on the corner of Raymond and Cunninghame Streets, before beginning their journey at 9am sharp.
The bikers will then return to the Clocktower at midday to conduct a raffle.
The public are encouraged to attend both events on the day.
