From health scare to lifelong endurance
Alby Clarke’s turning point came in his 60s when a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes threatened his life. Born in Melbourne in 1934 and raised at Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve near Warrnambool, Clarke moved through a life of modest beginnings, cycling and local running. A doctor’s stark warning—change or risk an early death—pushed him to abandon alcohol and embrace fitness. He recalled, I had a choice, whether to exercise and do something about it, or die … so I done something about it.1
What followed was not a short experiment but a steadfast transformation. Clarke began with a simple reintroduction to cycling, tackling a 6-kilometre loop around Framlingham. He would later describe how, during his diabetes battles, even basic movement hurt: Back in the day, when I had diabetes, I couldn’t even walk it, my feet were hurting that much.1 This initial loop marked the spark that would fuel decades of endurance and advocacy.
Record-breaking rides and faith in reconciliation
Clarke’s endurance milestones grew with age. At 66, he became the first Indigenous rider to complete the 275-kilometre Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic. The following year he undertook a monumental 3,000-kilometre ride across the Nullarbor, a journey dubbed the Ride For Reconciliation. He completed it wearing a blue outfit covered in sequins and sportingsignature electric-blue hair, turning a personal achievement into a public statement about Indigenous visibility and health as a shared national concern.
In 2005, Clarke shifted gears to running, tackling the Cliff Young Ultra Race at the age of 70 and completing 347 kilometres. He kept running well into his late 80s, finishing his final half-marathon near Warrnambool in 2023 at the age of 88. His athletic feats, celebrated across communities, were inseparable from his mission: to use sport as a platform for Indigenous health advocacy and reconciliation.
A life of advocacy and recognition
Clarke’s impact extended beyond finishes and distances. His pursuits earned him several honours, including a Medal in the Order of Australia for contributions to Indigenous health and sport, the Victorian Senior of the Year award, and induction onto the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll. The public narrative surrounding his life emphasizes resilience, community, and the courage to reform personal life in the service of collective wellbeing.
His family’s reflections at his funeral underscored how his legacy transcended athletic achievement. His daughter April Clarke spoke of a man who not only survived to 90 but who lived deliberately—choosing to “ride and run to freedom.” She spoke candidly about the loneliness and challenges of leaving old habits and peer circles behind in the pursuit of better health for himself and his people.
Legacy of a national treasure
Community leaders, including Moyne Shire Councillor Jordan Lockett, lauded Clarke’s life as a demonstration that resilience can overcome health issues and later life limitations. He was described as a national treasure whose life could inspire statues in recognition of his impact on Indigenous health, sport, and reconciliation. Clarke’s story is told not just through medals and miles but through the lived experience of a Gunditjmara elder who chose endurance as a form of advocacy and a path to collective dignity.
Key takeaways from a life well run and ridden
- Turning health scare into a lifelong mission can redefine a community’s relationship with sport and wellbeing.
- Endurance feats—whether on bike or on foot—can be powerful vehicles for reconciliation and visibility of Indigenous voices.
- Personal transformation often requires leaving old networks behind, a difficult but necessary step toward lasting change.
