Call to fund Greg Hirst’s final shows

Riders and fans of the Temporary Australians TV series can help the final series get to air after the untimely and sad passing of presenter Greg Hirst.

His widow, Colleen, is asking for donations from the motorcycling community to edit the many hours of video for series 6.

“Greg had just started filming series 6 of Temporary Australians and I am really determined to get this to air,” she says.

“I want to honour my husband and finish the show well. The final episode will be his farewell service/tribute.

“But – as you are probably aware – Greg made no money from this show. It was all funded through sponsors.”

One of Greg’s daughters, Jemma, has set up a GOFUNDME page to raise $20,000 to finish the series. It has already raised more than 10% of the funds.

There are incentives for contributors and all donations over $500 will be noted in the credits of each episode.

“It will only be four episodes – but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Colleen says.

Meanwhile, Temporary Australians series 5, including Hirsty’s last American ride, is available for download on Vimeo on Demand.

Greg passed away on June 6 and thousands attended his service and wake on June 19 at the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club hosted by his beloved Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club.

Colleen says their house was filled with chocolates and flowers.

Greg was not only the popular host of Temporary Australians, but also a longtime motorcycle advocate, author and charity worker.

One of his favourite charities was the Street Level Supporters a Christian outreach group in western Sydney.

Here is Greg’s official eulogy:

Greg Hirst (Hirsty)

2/12/1952 – 6/6/2017

Greg was a husband, a father, a motorcyclist, and a man of God.

His love for his family and his dedication and love for the motorcycling community were driven by his unwavering belief in a God who sees value and worth in every human being.

He was happily married to Colleen for 37 years. They had six children (one now deceased).

He was a founding member of Brotherhood CMC. He rode with this club for 40 years.

He was a founding member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association of Australia, which began in 1979.

He was the driving force behind establishing the Australian Conferences of Christian Motorcycling Clubs – the inaugural conference being held in 2006.

He organised the Silverwater Motor Festival, which hosted Brotherhood’s annual Street and Custom Motorcycle Show.

He established the Bathurst Bike show, which has run for seven years.

He was an avid journalist, writing columns for several newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph (Motorcycle World), Parramatta Advertiser, Live to Ride and Revs. He also wrote two books – My Motorcycling Life (Parts I & II).

Greg hosted a motorcycle radio program in the ’90s called Ride-On Alive on 90.5 FM.

In 2008 he began working on his television series, Temporary Australians. This in now in its fifth series and airs on 7Mate.

Greg has been involved in work with homelessness for 40 years. He established Parramatta Street Youth Project and was most recently supporting the street work of Parramatta Mission. He has been involved in organising Homeless Person’s week events in Parramatta for many years, including the Blanket Run (organised in partnership with Bikers Australia). Greg has organised rock concerts to raise money for the homeless with support from bands such as Midnight Oil.

He was a political activist and lobbyist, who worked tirelessly to secure better and safer conditions for bikers. He was an active member of the NSW Motorcycle Council for many years, serving as press secretary and Chairman. He was an active member of Bikers Australia joining in the early ’80s when it was then known as Bikers Ltd.

He was a key figure in organising numerous Protest Rides and Celebration Rides including the Celebration of Australian Motorcycling in 1996 and the Celebration Rides of 2001 and 2006.

He presented at several international conferences on bikers rights and solidarity including the Federation of Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in Europe and the Confederation of Clubs in the USA. He was actively involved in the United Motorcycle Council (UMC) of NSW.

He became a marriage celebrant in the 1990s and has married dozens of biker couples.

He was a Christian biker who was equally at ease with politicians, media personalities, the rich and famous and the homeless. He would visit jails and churches. He conducted weddings and funerals, including for his own children.

Above all, Greg was a genuine and honest man who made time for everyone he met. He tried to live in a way that honoured Christ, without imposing his beliefs and morals on anyone.