Gold Coast journalist and author Rachel Syers will be hosting a free author talk at the Echuca Library on Friday, March 15, to discuss Mr Small’s connection to Echuca that she discovered through research for her book Sir Bruce Small: From Malvern Star to Mr Gold Coast.
Ms Syers has many connections of her own to Echuca and she said she wanted to visit to help the town connect with Mr Small’s story.
“History can be fascinating, and that’s why I believe many people here in Echuca and the surrounding towns will enjoy the stories captured in this new book on Sir Bruce Small and his legacy to cycling, in particular,” she said.
“He built the Malvern Star bicycle brand from one store in Melbourne into a household name last century with 1250 retailers at its peak, and became a pioneer of Australian cycling through his mentorship and management of scores of famous cycling champions, including cycling icon Hubert ‘Oppy’ Opperman.”
The biography reveals details of Mr Small’s life touring the world with Oppy.
“Then he retired to Surfers Paradise, where he became famous all over again as the colourful mayor known as ‘Mr Gold Coast’ as he toured through Echuca and more than 50 towns and cities from Tasmania to Tokyo with models in bikinis to promote his tourist town’s beaches and holiday lifestyle,” Ms Syers said.
Mr Small visited Echuca in 1979 to promote his Cinderella tour with Miss Beautiful Beach Girl to give away a Gold Coast holiday to the lucky lady whose foot squeezed into the Gold Coast slipper.
“I wonder if some seniors in the town will remember who the lucky lady was with the slender feet,” Ms Syers said.
To hear more about Ms Syers’ biography of Mr Small, you can attend the free event at the Echuca Library on Friday, March 15, at 11.30am.
To book, phone the library on 5481 2400 or email libraries@campaspe.vic.gov.au
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