By BEN CAMERON
AN Officer institution could be forced to move their benevolent bike shop.
Kevin Bronson has been sprucing up old bikes for more than 20 years under their charity organisation, Santa’s Workshop, Bronson’s Free Bikes for Needy Kids.
And without any financial support, he’s delivered thousands of bikes each year to needy people.
Based on a 40-acre property, the multi-talented Bronson and his partner Chrissy have also been involved in community martial arts classes, music performances at local nursing homes, and also offer marriage and drug counselling.
However the owner wants to sell, with the land to go up for auction on 28 March.
The workshop has been at the site the past seven years, after they moved from Clyde North.
“He (the owner) is asking ridiculous prices,” Kevin said.
To add insult to possible injury, Chrissy’s cancer is terminal, having fought the disease since 2009.
It hasn’t put a dampener on her love of putting on live music shows at the property.
“Chrissy still gets up to sing,” Kevin said.
The pair has called on the support of long-time friend and Commonwealth gold medallist Henry Nissen, who now works for the Bob Maguire Foundation.
“It would be devastating (if we had to move),” Kevin said.
“But, wherever we go nothing will change, we will offer the same things.
“We would have to look for a property somewhere else in the bush.”
He estimated he had donated over 100,000 bikes over the past 20 years or more.
“We need more bikes and wheelchairs,” Chrissy said.
“It costs us but we will never stop doing it.”
