Vera Harding’s hairdresser wages wouldn’t go far toward allowing her to see more of Australia. Hiking cost money and only got her 610kms from Mt Magnet to Perth. Sponsorship from bicycle manufacturer Malvern Star achieved a solo 2200km ride from Mt Palmer to Perth via Wiluna and Geraldton.

Vera’s yen for travel found new expression in a plan to ride across Australia. Her companion was to be Anna Keenan, adventurous daughter of Russian émigrés.

Bill Lucas, governing director of Lucas Cycles, had a nose and talent for publicity. Approached for the loan of a secondhand tandem by the pair he instead offered them a new lightweight machine for their 1938 crossing.

So on Saturday the 17th of September 1938 a rousing send off from a huge crowd in Forrest Place started Vera and Anna on their 9500km odyssey to Sydney and return. They wore Lucas ‘team’ uniforms, of brown and gold reflecting the colours of their tandem, christened Miss Westralia. The tandem, festooned with canvas bags, carried nearly all the girls’ needs with additional support provided by Charlie Roberts astride his motorcycle outfit.

It’s possible that Bill Lucas underestimated either the popularity of the ride or the girls ability to complete it.

Initially supported by lone motorcyclist Charlie Roberts, Lucas enlisted Perth motoring celebrity Aub Melrose, navigator for Hubert Opperman’s 1937 crossing, and his wife Gwyn to offer further support from Kalgoorlie.

East of Kalgoorlie Vera and Anna came across a stray dog which they naturally took under their wings. Christened Tandem Pete he became an integral part of their story.

The story of the ‘Tandem Girls’ became huge. Closely followed by the press and as one report said “being received and entertained by Mayors and Lord Mayors, Mayoresses and Lady Mayoresses, presidents of Shire Councils and chairmen of Roads Boards, amidst cheering multitudes”. The ‘Girls’, being female trailblazers were scrutinised very closely. The public learnt that they were attractive; they didn’t drink or smoke; what they weighed; how tall they were; their hair colour; that they carried a full beauty kit; their views on fashion and that neither of them had a young man.

After a weeks rest in Sydney, Vera, Anna and Tandem Pete began the journey home. Nullarbor veteran Aub Melrose “dipped his lid” to their “stout hearts, pluck, fortitude and courage for insisting on finishing the job they’d set out to do”. Averaging 160kms a day they suffered particularly over the “tortuous, sandy, fly and insect-infested track from Rawlinna to Golden Ridge”. After 28 days Vera, Anna and Tandem Pete were escorted through cheering crowds into Forrest Place in Perth to a reception from the State Premier Mr Willcocks before a crowd of thousands.

Viv Cull