Desrae Cameron

Desrae’s cycling career began at age 50. Her marriage ended, and she dealt with that by channelling her energy into riding an old racing bike that had been sitting in her garage. After a few weeks she started riding with a group.

A couple of years later she tried track cycling, and at age 55 moved from Brisbane to Sydney to train and race in the world class velodrome at Bass Hill. At the same time she applied for a senior job with the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and got it. It was a demanding time and it coincided with the onset of hot flushes.

Looking back, she says “I honestly believe that if I wasn’t as fit as I was I couldn’t have coped with the demands of that job and the hot flushes. Being fit gave me the energy and the brain power I needed”.

The move paid off and in 2008 Desrae became the World 500m Time Trial champion in her 55-59 age group. It was an extraordinary feat.

Having accomplished her goal she returned to Brisbane, and after the intensity of those years of track racing is now enjoying endurance riding instead.