In a bold and unforgettable collaboration, BLAQ DIAMONDS Women Empowerment (BDWE) partnered with RHD Classic Supplies & Services in Townsville, a proudly woman-owned motorbike shop led by award-winning entrepreneur and qualified Harley Davidson mechanic Sharine ‘Spanner’ Milne, to deliver a powerful personal development experience like no other.
As part of BDWE’s commitment to culturally grounded, solution-focused healing and empowerment, we hosted the “Leather & Lace” Chicks on Bikes Ride — a unique event designed by Melisa Drummond-Anderson to push boundaries, break cycles of fear and help First Nations women reconnect with courage and confidence.
Held with a group of 10 First Nations women — including two young girls aged 10 and 12 — this event invited participants to step outside their comfort zones and ride pillion on Harley Davidson motorbikes alongside Spanner’s supportive biker community. With riders ranging in age from 10 to almost 70, the experience became an intergenerational celebration of trust, freedom and self-belief.
“There’s no room for fear when you’re on the back of a Harley,” one participant said. “You learn quickly to trust the rider — and yourself.”
For many of the women who have experienced domestic and family violence, the ride represented far more than a thrill. It was a symbolic act of liberation — an open-road reminder that fear can be replaced by faith, healing and sisterhood.
Spanner, was recognised in Success Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Business and awarded for excellence in training and community service across Queensland, is no stranger to giving back. Through her business and charity initiatives, she continues to open doors for women and communities who need a second chance — or simply a little belief.
“The bike ride was not just an activity,” shared BDWE Founder Melisa Drummond-Anderson. “It was a breakthrough moment — a way for our women to feel their strength, trust their instincts and lean into joy.”
✨ Why It Matters
For First Nations women healing from trauma, personal development is about more than workshops and words. It’s about experience, transformation, and connection — to self, to community and to the possibilities of life after violence.
This event proved that:
- Empowerment has no age limit
- Healing can be found in movement and momentum
- Confidence can be reignited through action and adventure
💜 The Outcome
By the end of the day, the women walked away with:
- Renewed self-confidence
- A deeper sense of self-love
- Empowerment to explore their own journeys
- A reminder that their past does not define their future
At BDWE, we continue to deliver transformative experiences like this — grounded in cultural strength, resilience and boldness. We thank RHD Classic Supplies & Services and the entire biker community for riding beside us and sharing in this movement.
🖤💛❤️ When First Nations women rise, we ride together — toward healing, toward freedom, toward a future on our own terms.