THE promotion of tourism has reached a new level thanks to a Bury man who is soon to be recognised as an ambassador for a sunshine village - in Australia.

Mountain bike champion Steve McEwen impressed officials on a two-month visit to Noosa in Queensland earlier this year.

He explained: "I was invited on a training trip to Australia after a successful season. I joined five members of the Great Britain team and trained as a professional. It was a great experience."

Steve, of Walmersley Road, took part in two town-centre races Down Under. But he doesn't see a future in the sport.

"I am currently on a Post Office management course," said Steve. "At 33 I have to be realistic. I am too old to turn pro, the ideal age is about 23.

"The longer you train the stronger you become, peaking at age 28 or 29. Performance is then supposed to decline.

"Having said that, though, I am going to take everything I can."

Steve initially approached the Noosa Enterprise Group for race sponsorship. Although unable to help him at that time, the organisation was very impressed with his enthusiasm for the area.

So much so that they have invited him back in January and February next year and will pay all his training expenses.

At that time he will be made an honorary ambassador of Noosa in recognition of his efforts to promote the village and its beautiful countryside and coastal areas.

He smiled: "I don't know if there will be a ceremony. I'll just have to wait and see. But it is an unbelievable honour."

Steve was selected for ambassador status particularly because of his visionary plan to transform part of the Tewantin State Forest in Noosa into a mountain bike activity centre.

He added: "The people there enjoyed my fresh approach and were very responsive to the idea.

"There is a real need for something like this. Many children in Australia have mountain bikes but it seems as though drivers would rather knock them off than cross the white line in the middle of the road.

"They have a cavalier approach and will shave the legs of cyclists at 60mph. Mountain bikers need somewhere of their own to ride.

"The forest is so big that you can ride across it for five hours without going on the same stretch of track twice." Noosa Enterprise Group Director John Watson has approached Noosa Council for information on the development of the state forest. But it is a long, drawn-out process.

"I am in touch with John regularly by e-mail and will be contacting him again shortly," Steve added. "And I expect to take things further when I go back."

Before then he faces a hectic race schedule, both at home and abroad. He hopes that good results will qualify him for the European Championships in August and the World Championships in September.

And in October he will attempt to repeat his gold medal performance in the second Turkish international mountain bike race.

Of course, Steve will also be busy promoting Noosa through the media and by word of mouth.

He said: "Noosa is a very 'in' place and the house prices reflect that. But everyone goes there, people even drive 21 hours from Melbourne to visit."

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