Vale Doug Sunderland

One of motorcycling’s most passionate and tireless advocates, Doug Sunderland, has passed away in his beloved hometown of Wangaratta (Vic) after suffering a stroke.

The indomitable octogenarian spent a rich life dedicated to the two-wheel cause, whether it was as a Motorcycling Australia (MA) steward laying down the law to naughty law-breaking racers, or by perching himself behind the bars of countless bikes and travelling to all parts of the globe.

This author first got to know Doug -- full name Douglas Eric -- when he was an MA steward in the 1980s, and beneath the tough exterior was a man who had an all-consuming passion for what he was doing, with a genuine love for the sport and its characters. And he knew the general competition rules backward, so there was no putting anything past Doug. He’d be down on you like a tonne of bricks for any indiscretion – and then invite you back to his house in Wangaratta for a beverage. A heart of gold.

Doug had a few close calls on bikes, including a nasty collision with a cow in Northern Territory about 20 years ago. It banged him up badly, but it didn’t diminish his love for riding one bit; instead it probably galvanized him even more to recover quickly and get back amongst it.

And that he did, to all parts of the globe, and just a couple of years ago he was the focus of an Australian Story feature as he cruised around the nation on a Hyosung GV250. To view those episodes, click here.

Doug was the classic raconteur – he’d have you pinned down for hours belting out yarns -- and he was also a voracious letter writer to local newspapers and dedicated motorcycle magazines. He’d delve into all sorts of subjects, and defend motorcycling to the core. And why not: it gave him freedoms that most other people can only imagine.

And he also had his say in the recent Victorian parliamentary inquiry into motorcycle safety. Here's the transcript.

Once, when I was working for Australian Motorcycle News, Doug wandered into our Melbourne offices and asked if he could speak to the staff at Two Wheels magazine. He’d made a blue – a 1000km one, as TW was based in Sydney – but that was superfluous really, as he just wanted to wax lyrical about the hot topic of the day. After a couple of hours he left, ready for the next frontier.

Even though illness became his lot in recent years, Doug still didn’t waste a day, and his passing has left a massive void. He leaves behind five children, 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

RIP Doug.