Giving Tree launched & Bikers Toy Run celebrates 30th year – Wollongong

Christmas Giving Tree Launch 2019

This Christmas embrace the season and donate a gift to the City of Wollongong Giving Tree.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM encouraged residents to leave gifts suitable for a child from nought to 16 years under the Giving Tree where they will be collected and distributed by the St Vincent de Paul Society and Anglicare.

Council officially launched the Giving Tree in conjunction with the Bikers Toy Run on Thursday 14 November. The Bikers Toy Run has been providing gifts and helping raise awareness of the Giving Tree for 30 years.

“At this time of year it is always heart-warming to see many people come forward with gifts for children they don’t know and to bring a smile to families with a small gift on their Christmas Day,” Cr Bradbery said.

“This year it’s also wonderful to acknowledge that the Bikers Toy Run has been raising gifts and awareness for 30 years now.

“I’d like to acknowledge the great work of Ivan Zgela, who passed away in May this year. Ivan was a great community member who devoted himself to the Toy Run so that many children could still receive a toy at Christmas. Ivan was a founding member of the Toy Run and through his efforts we have seen a lot of happiness and smiles for children.

“In honour of Ivan and to celebrate the 30 years, we have engaged sculptor Mike Tikkeros to design and create a Christmas Tree made from recycled motorbike parts. I would like to thank Mike for his patience and vision in creating this tree and to thank all the businesses that contributed parts.

“I encourage all community members to give generously to the Giving Tree this year.”

The Bikers Toy Run will be held on Saturday 7 December 2019 from 10.30am to 2pm incorporating a Bike Expo in the Crown Street Mall.

There will be a free jumping castle, face painting and displays from Just Cruisin’, City Coast Motorcycles, Illawarra Motoring Museum, Illawarra Class Motorbikes, Fraser Motorcycles in the Mall.

“Christmas is a great time to think of family and friends. So I encourage everyone to visit the Crown Street Mall on 7 December to support this special event and support the bikers who provide lots of gifts for the children of Wollongong,” Cr Bradbery said.

Gifts can be left at the designated places until Tuesday, 17 December:

  • all Council branch libraries
  • Council’s Customer Service area 42 Burelli St, Wollongong
  • Wests Illawarra, Hargreaves St, Unanderra
  • Port Kembla Golf Club, Golf Place, Primbee
  • Novotel Northbeach, Cliff Rd, North Wollongong
  • Wollongong Central Customer Service Centre
  • Figtree Grove and Warrawong Plaza Customer Service Centre Desks
  • iHub Visitors Information Centre, 93 Crown Street
  • The Central, UOW Innovation Campus. Squires Way, Fairy Meadow
  • WAVE FM, 73 King St, Warrawong

Cash donations can be made through Wollongong City Council’s Customer Service team. Pictured above is Daniel Zgelas [son of BIkers Toy Run founder Ivan Zgelas], Mike Tikkeros and Wollongong City Lord Mayor Cr Gordon Bradbery AM with the sculptured Chrsitmas Tree.

/Public Release. View in full here.