The
annual Sydney Body Art Ride is again being organised to raise funds
for child hood cancer research and Randwick Labor Councillors are
again ranking up their annual campaign to undermine it.
Last
night Labor moved to rescind a Greens inspired resolution that
Randwick City Council sponsor the ride $3,000 in organization
costs.
For the past two year's hundreds of biking enthusiasts
have painted up their semi-naked bodies (they actually wear swim ware
under the paint) and have ridden down to South Maroubra beach.
Labor
has never liked the colorful idea or the Greens party enthusiasm for
it and this year seem determined to block the Council support for
it.
Greens Deputy Mayor Murray Matson who moved the motion
said he was “...disappointed by the Labor Councillor's spoiling
tactics but not really surprised.”
Cr Matson believes
that the Labor Councillors are “belittling the good intentions”
of the Ride's organizers and were “just making it harder to
raise money for child cancer research.”
He
elaborated,
“The Labor Councillors grumble about it
every year despite the tens of thousands it raises for cancer
research.
They argue that it will offend the local community
as if we were in some sort of puritanical backwater rather than in
the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
But you would honestly see
more bare flesh on Maroubra beach every weekend. Its all just posing
and grandstanding hypocrisy by Labor.”
The event
involves painted cyclists of all ages (wearing swimwear under the
paint) who ride in groups of colours to form a moving "human
rainbow" that travels down to the beach for a collective rinse
off. The paint is biodegradable.
Once again a number of
politicians and celebrities have lent their support to the event. A
full list is available at www.sydneybodyartride.org
CONTACT:
Randwick City Greens Councillor Murray Matson