Andrew Heslop in Melbourne
Gerard Starck, a French Red Cross volunteer from the town of Pau, bid farewell to Australia today but not before taking home a cuddly souvenir.
56 year old Starck, brother of acclaimed international designer Philippe Starck, has travelled 30,000 kilometres around Australia in 80 days - on his motorcycle! However it was in the WA wheat belt town of Mt Magnet, 300 kilometres outside Perth, where Starck clocked up an amazing 20,000 kilometres at the beginning of July.
At a media conference at the National Office of Australian Red Cross in Melbourne, the Secretary General, Ms Martine Letts, presented Starck with a toy kangaroo kitted-out in an Australian Red Cross t-shirt. Named 'Martine' by him in honour of the Secretary General, it will be a friendly reminder of his at times frightening encounter with the 'roos as he crossed the vast Nullarbor Plain from Perth towards Adelaide.
"It is a very nice gift," said Starck, "and I will treasure it as a very fond reminder of Australia. People have been very friendly and helpful to me, and I look forward to bringing my wife here. I will drive a car next time - but only once I finish my journey!".
During the conference Mr Starck cut a symbolic red ribbon and presented it to the Secretary General, along with a Federation medallion. The ribbon represents the link from the Federation to partner National Societies around the globe.
Gerard commenced his travels at the global headquarters of the 178 member International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva on 9th October 1997, in his quest to visit 160 countries and National Societies.
"When I first planned my journey I estimated it would take me 45 months to complete the journey," said Starck, "but now I will not be finished until December 2003 - a total of 74 months. Australia has been the 131st country and I love it here - it is a great country".
While Starck has had many life threatening adventures, he also found love, and in South America met the woman who was to become his wife. Ironically she is from his hometown of Pau and they married in Bangkok on St Valentine's Day this year.
They will meet again in Concepcion, Chile in eight days time.
Gerard Starck flies out to The Philippines on Wednesday 17th July enroute to the United States.
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18 March 2002 - Daredevil Red Cross ambassador on motorcycle takes break to wed