Riders honour former biker

The Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters take part in the Panna Riders Poker Run every year, but their 2016 ride was more emotional than most.

On May 7-8, the all-female club rode the event route from the Karratha Ibis Styles Hotel to the Pannawonica Recreation Centre in honour of former Pilbara resident and PMS rider Christie Heading, who died in a motorcycle accident in the eastern states earlier this year.

Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters president Leah Scholes said Ms Heading had been a valued participant with the group during her time in the Pilbara and had taken part in this very ride with them last year.

“She formed a great friendship with the Pilbara motorcycle community. She came and joined a few rides with us,” she said.

“She was a beautiful lady, she touched many lives and left a huge impression of herself on everyone.”

“(Her death) was a great shock to us all.”

All riders in the event paused to remember Ms Heading with a small ceremony at the Pannawonica Recreation Centre at the end of the ride.

Ms Scholes said the fact Ms Heading had died while riding reminded participants of the importance of motorcycle safety.

“It’s a whole sense of freedom riding a bike, and I think it just raises the awareness of riders’ safety and to be sure we’re aware of the road conditions, what’s around us, that we’re not fatigued — all of those things that we’re supposed to put in place when we get on a bike,” she said.

PMS also participated in the Poker Run to fundraise for sick children and in celebration of International Female Ride Day on Saturday, May 7.