Student rides around Australia to challenge Mexico stereotypes

A Mexican student has become the first woman to ride solo around Australia on a bike to challenge the stereotypes against her home country.

Determined to challenge the stereotypes that Mexico is dangerous and corrupt, 55-year-old student Bertha Corte has ridden her bike around Australia.

After starting her marathon ride in Sydney, she peddled to Brisbane, up to Cairns, over to Darwin, down to Perth then across to Adelaide and Melbourne. The 15,000 kilometre trip took 11 months to complete.

Ms Corte visited local schools along the way, sharing her adventures and Mexican culture.

“Talking about the good things, about the archaeological bases, ethical groups, the amazing places in Mexico you can be seen,” she told SBS. “Many places we can share with the world.”

After nearly a year away from home, Corte says she is proud of her achievements of being the first woman to cross the Nullarbor solo and the first woman to ride 15,000 kilometres around Australia in a single stretch.

“I'm very happy with me, I think the challenge is done, the image in the Australian minds [of Mexico] is different now.”