About
Heather Ellis is an Australian writer, journalist and motorcyclist who rode her Yamaha TT600 enduro motorcycle through Africa, Europe, Central Asia and into China and Vietnam from 1993 to 1997.
Before the ride back to Australia, Heather wrote a first draft manuscript about her motorcycle travels while living in London.
"When I got home in September 1997 (after the ride through Central Asia), somehow the timing wasn't right and I never completed my book. Near death and then life took over (university, career, marriage, babies, separation ...and divorce). But now that my three children are a little older, I can once again focus on pursuing my long-held dream - to finish my book."
After travelling Africa, Heather arrived in London in late 1995 where she worked as a motorcycle courier continuing to ride her Yamaha TT600 ('it was all part of the journey!').
Couriering is hard on a bike and when its engine failed six months later, she purchased a 1984 Moto Guzzi V50 (500cc) and couriered on this bike for another six months.
Not wanting to spend another winter in London, Heather packed her now rebuilt Yamaha and rode to Austria where she waited out the winter working at a ski resort. In the spring of 1997, she headed home via Turkey, Central Asia, Siberia, and then by train across China and into Vietnam.
When she rode into Hanoi, she was in poor health and so lacked the energy and enthusiasm to fully appreciate South-East Asia. The second leg of her world motorcycle journey had ended. After storing the Yamaha TT600, she boarded a plane to Australia.
Once home and healthy again, Heather enrolled in a Bachelor of Journalism and was a cadet journalist with The Cairns Post and after graduation was a journalist with the Port Douglas and Mosman Gazette, and then the Diamond Valley Leader in Melbourne. She has also been a staff writer for The Daily News in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Her travel features have been published in magazines in Australia, United States, Britain and Europe. Many of these features were based on her travels by motorcycle.
For six years, Heather also worked as communications/media officer for not-for-profit Plan International and studied international and community development at Deakin University. She is also a member of the Golden Key Honour Society for high academic achievers, a board member of Postive Women Victoria and a non-financial member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
Heather is one of the first 12 Jupiter's Travellers supported by The Ted Simon Foundation, a member of the Victorian Government's Motorcycle Advisory Group and the Independent Rider's Group (a think tank on motorcycle road safety). She is also a member of three motorcycling clubs: The 59 Club, Moto Guzzi Club of Victoria and the MRA.
As a motorcyclist concerned about motorcycle road safety, Heather has also made a submission to the Victorian Government's Parliamentary Inquiry on Motorcycle Safety. Her submission proposes that the current club plate scheme for motorcycles be extended to include all licensed motorcyclists who ride on-road recreationally (ie. as a hobby or lifestyle). Heather will present evidence to support her submission at 3:45pm on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 at the State Offices, 55 St Andrews Place, Melbourne. In total 43 submissions were made to the Inquiry.
Heather is separated with three young children and ' amongst all the chaos', feels the time has come to finish her book: 'one woman's motorcycle journey of discovery'
After two engine rebuilds - one in Germany and one in London - her Yamaha TT600 enduro motorcycle is still going strong. However, she mostly rides her 1984 Moto Guzzi V50 (500cc) which she purchased in London in 1996.
one woman’s motorcycle journey of discovery available late 2012.
