Australian motorcycle icon Bundy takes her last ride

The Australian motorcycle community is in mourning with the passing of popular fundraising hero and race fan, Bundy. More than just a blue heeler, Bundy travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres; many of those on the fuel tank of her master and naval veteran Tex O’Grady. Tex and Bundy’s journey was about bringing happiness, funds and awareness to a range of charities that included men’s health.

Ironically Bundy passed away on International Dog Day with Tex posting: “My heart is broken, my best mate who has never left my side with the exception of when I was overseas, has passed. Today we lost a motorcycling legend. Today is the end of an era. At 10.20am (Thursday 26 August), Bundy passed over the Rainbow Bridge. She passed peacefully at the vets.”

Bundy was as much at home on the motorcycle as she was mixing with people of all ages and backgrounds. Adorned with her custom-made motorcycle jacket and ‘doggles’, Bundy was always front and centre. Tex wouldn’t have it any other way.

The site of a stumpy-tailed blue heeler travelling down the highway turned plenty of heads, including some authorities who at times were left scratching their heads. Some tried to ban them from riding on the road, but she did receive a ministerial declaration to take her place on the bike. That was taken to the limit, literally, with Tex and Bundy hitting a top speed of 283km/h on a Hayabusa at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Tex and Bundy were totally in sync off and on the custom painted bike. As many of the images show Bundy was fully aware of how to react on a motorcycle including leaning into corners, sitting up on the front windscreen at low speed and tucking down when Tex nailed the gas. Even when the bike was stopped, Bundy would sprawl across the tank and simply relax.

Appearances for charities helped raise well over a $1 million, plus Tex and Bundy were given the ambassadorial honour for the Prince of Wales Hospital. It was a life that saw them touch pretty much every corner of the country. Bundy’s easy-going manner meant she was regularly welcomed by children through to war veterans; all of who were left smiling.

Tex and Bundy were popular wherever they went, but it was at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix where they truly shared the stage with the stars on the track. The event had hundreds of riders gather from across the country at San Remo on Thursday prior to the race. Some were part of the Barry Sheene ride from Sydney, while others make their own journey.

Behind a police escort, the massive group rode across the bridge onto the Island. The police did lead the group, but the first bike behind was Tex and Bundy. With the roadside lined with spectators Bundy was in her element standing tall as the ride was completed with a lap of the track. Busier than Vallentino Rossi, Jack Miller or Marc Marquez, her weekend was filled with appearances at the Grand Prix Expo and in the paddock area. Thousands of selfies were complemented with pats and pledges of support.

In recent years Bundy stepped off the fuel tank and into a sidecar, then in 2019 Tex confirmed that Bundy had officially retired to enjoy life on the mid north coast of NSW. As it turned out, with COVID-19 restrictions, the past 18 months would have pretty much kept Tex and Bundy out of the spotlight anyway.

A realist, Tex knew that he would need to look to the future and, after numerous offers of dogs, he settled on a 5-year-old red heeler Sheila. For the past few months, it has been a trio with Tex introducing Sheila to his current motorcycle – a Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX. Importantly for Tex, Bundy gave her approval and stayed close by through to the end.