Mackillop Senior College student Michael Wilkie leaves for the United States the day after completing his HSC trial exams, to take part in the Tour of Duty Ride which commemorates the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the New York Twin Towers.
He will be on site to create a documentary about the event and cover some media aspects. In 2010 Australian and American firefighters and police conducted a relay run from Los Angeles to New York and finished at the World Trade Center site to honour all the emergency service workers who gave their lives on September 11, 2001.
In August 2012, in acknowledgment of the services of the combined Australian and American military, firefighters and police will team together to cycle from the deck of the USS Midway in San Diego to New York.
The event will commence in San Diego at 8.46am to symbolically mark the time that the first plane struck the World Trade Center and will conclude as the team walks the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn on September 11.
And one of our local teenagers will be there to cover it all. Seventeen-year-old Michael Wilkie will be joining the crews, creating a documentary, social media, website and general media platform.
Following a chance meeting with event director Paul Richie at Port Macquarie’s Glasshouse earlier this year, Mr Wilkie was asked if he would like to be involved in the project in providing media coverage.
“I am taking on a media co-ordinator role where I will be capturing the action and emotions of those involved and producing a documentary,” Michael said.
“I have been told that NBC is interested in viewing the finished product, which is very exciting and I’m hoping this may further my ambition to work in the American film and television industry.”
Michael said he was volunteering for the event and that he would be out of pocket in the area of $3000 – $7000, “Depending on how much I rough it,” he joked.
He is also taking part in fundraising for causes related to the event.
“My aim isn’t to make any money for myself but to raise a heap for the ‘Wounded Worriers Project’ which supports families of those killed in 9-11 as well as those defence force and emergency personnel who are killed whilst on duty,” Michael said.
Teams of riders from the US and Australia each comprises four military, four police and four firefighting personnel.
On August 9, the Australian contingent will ride across the Sydney Harbour Bridge before meeting with former PM John Howard and appearing on Channel Seven’s Sunrise.
They will then fly to the US Midway in San Diego where they will start the first of 20 stages towards New York, a distance of 4500 miles.
“Whilst I am very excited about every aspect of this adventure, I think the highlights for me will be meeting Senator John McCain at the White House and of course being part of the Ground Zero ceremony on September 11,” Mrichael said.
For more information, check out www.tourofdutyride.com.
