M.A.R.I Australia Inc.

(Motorcycle Accident Rehabilitation Initiative) Throughout Australia

 

 

 

About Us

  • M.A.R.I is an Initiative called (Motorcycle Accident Rehabilitation Initiative) MARI.
  • The M.A.R.I Team Australia consists of Mari staff and Hospital employees from Social Work and Rehabilitation staff members.

We also have support we can call on from Specialist Doctors in Orthopedics and Pain management.

  • The Volunteers in the field are the Dr Wings Bike Force Team.
  • The Dr Wings Bike Force was created to assist the M.A.R.I Team and to better support Motorcyclists that have had an accident and their families.
  • By way of the M.A.R.I initiative and guidance from hospital staff we assist at the request of the injured rider or a family member.

My wife Glenda and I got involved with MARI at St Vincent's Hospital, at the request of Warren Buffett from the BMW Touring Club of NSW and Guy Stanford from the Motorcycle Council of Australia,both known identities in the Australian motorcycling scene, when MARI was in its infancy.

M.A.R.I is all about "Riders Caring for Riders" Beyond Medicine.

 

Since 2007 M.A.R.I ( The Motor Cycle Accident Rehabilitation Initiative )

Started at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. 

To help those Motorcyclists that are in the immediate catchments of St Vincent's area of Sydney.

Since 2013 we have been assisting Hospitals and patients (RIDERS) throughout Australia when asked for help'

George & Charis Schwarz. They had a huge adventure on their BMW Motorcycle called DU.

Kept a photo journal and information on their trip. Had it published on their return home to Australia it was called Highlights of the Road. They raised $30,000.00 dollars from their book sale and donated it to a trust fund to assist Associate Professor Steven Faux at St Vincent's.

George & Charis below. Pictured with DU at the Centre of NSW located in Tottenham NSW. Marked by the stone cairn. Located 42 kilometers from the centre of town.

George a long time member of the BMW Touring Club NSW till his passing in June 2021. In 2007 he asked to club to assist him with holding a yearly rally in Tottenham to raise funds to be used to assist injured riders. So they have been hosting the FCR Far Cairn Rally Since 2007

 

At St Vincent's Hospital the staff have been driven by Associate /Professor Dr Steven Faux – Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr Faux has spent many years gathering and checking information about Motorcycle accident victims. This enables him to put together a quick response towards a rider or passengers speedy recovery.

This recovery starts in the Hospital wards and continues at their home supervised by a M.A.R.I Team member. A  Dr Wings Bike Force Volunteer are what we call our group of volunteers, who will keep in contact with a patient until he or she has no further need for their assistance.

 

                  The driving forces behind the team are Glenda & Ken Lovegrove. M.A.R.I Australia Inc founders. It became a registered non for profit in 27th October 2014. Since then we have taken it Australia. Their involvement started more than 10 years ago.

They are very passionate towards helping riders and getting as many volunteers and hospitals involved with MARI initiative as possible, so we can cover a larger amount of Australia.

 

                   This has been by way of physical as well as mental health areas and special added assistance outside the hospital too.

 

  • Since 2013, the M.A.R.I Initiative has been presented to other hospital throughout Australia.
  • We have held presentations to discuss how we may assist Hospitals from Townsville to Melbourne and as far west as Alise Springs in the NT.
  • Perth in WA to have been spoken with at Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley Hospitals.
  • On our way to Alise Springs in the NT we called in at Coober Pedy in Outback SA.
  • The NSW and Queensland regional area Hospitals to have been very keen to get us involved in their local government areas as well.  to contact even more hospitals and medical centre's to make them aware of our FREE service to all.

With their help it has made it possible for us to assist hundreds of riders over this time.

No matter if they are laid up in Hospital or at home we will try and help them out. To help us get more information on MARI and the work we do, a large number of Motorcycle Club Welfare officers need to get involved, or at least know about us and our services to help their mates if the need occurs now.

About Us

              The "DR Wings Bike Force" are based on the Central Coast and in Sydney. The Initiative was formed from members of the MARI team based at St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst Sydney.

The team consists of members from the Sydney Motorcycle Club, BMW Touring Club of NSW also Members of the Ulysses Club & lastly the Committee For Safer Motorcycle Routes in the Hunter.

Some of them have been involved first hand with motorcycle accidents and know exactly what a patient is going through or have cared for one that has been there before. All this knowledge helps others to adapt and get moving again quicker in both mind and body.

Contact

Ken Lovegrove

First Contact for DR Wings Bike Force & MARI

 

Address : Based on the Central Coast NSW

PO Box 8140 Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261

E-mail :    ken1drwings@gmail.com

Phone :    0449 186 761