By BRIDGET SCOTT
AGE is no barrier for some and certainly not for Berwick resident Peter Carter who recently completed a 12-day bike ride in China and was the oldest to ever do so.
The 84-year-old took part in the bike ride to raise money for panda conservation and said he would “rather be on a ’holiday’ where he did something useful, than indulge himself”.
“I think it tragic that so many beautiful species have gone extinct through no fault of their own,” he said.
The benefits of this bike ride for the retired vet were two-fold – great motivation to get on a bike and also an opportunity to help an endangered species.
Mr Carter, who has subscribed to a number of animal conservation and environment groups, said it was great to get up close and personal with the pandas.
While he was by far the oldest person on the ride, this didn’t stand in the way of him getting the yellow jersey which signified that he had completed one stage of the ride quicker than else.
He said he was very surprised with himself given he had a good 43 years on the rest of the group.
In preparation for the ride, Mr Carter went on two 80 kilometre bike rides with a friend and said this was the largest distance they covered in one day while in China.
The fitness enthusiast, who jogs every morning, said the ride didn’t faze him and he didn’t come back sore at all.
He said the reason he is still alive and doesn’t take one bit of medication is because of his “huff and puff” exercise that helps him maintain his health.
“I like keeping fit and this is a big part of why I am able to function physically at my mature age,” he said.
Mr Carter has plenty to keep him busy these days and said he is concerned about animals worldwide.
“I like to do something useful for the environment, for native species, pest control or for human kind and this presented opportunity,” he said.
He has been involved in conservation projects locally and was also on the Environment Committee at the City of Casey.
Most importantly for Mr Carter, he is part of the Worldwide Fund for Nature and has donated to it for several years.
Mr Carter has nearly raised $10,000 for panda conservation and said people had been generous with their donations.
He said he did not expect concessions based on his age, but admitted he had amazed people based on his performance at his age.
His work for panda conservation is a new beginning for Mr Carter, who hoped to make a difference and looked forward to pedalling again in the near future and trying out some bike tracks around Melbourne.
“I am keen to get close and learn about pandas, I am looking forward to meeting the people that go with it and I find I like riding bicycles,” he said.
