Tribute to dad matter of pride

VAUGHAN McVilly hopes cyclists will get their punctures fixed — and a caffeine fix — at his new Macquarie Point bike track stopover.

But more than that, he hopes his dad, the late six-time Australian champion Graham McVilly, would have been proud.

So much so that the McVilly Cafe and Cycles operator took to song to explain at the launch of the business yesterday.

Legend’s Shadow was written as a tribute to Mr McVilly’s parents and he let the music do the talking as Premier Will Hodgman listened on.

“It’s not actually living in the shadow is a bad thing,” Mr McVilly said.

“It’s living in the shadow, I want to make him proud, and my mum.”

The famous McVilly name will adorn the new venture, alongside the Hobart Brewing Company, where tourists and locals will also be able to hire bikes or take tours to the state’s mountain bike tracks.

“He was my hero and my best mate,” Mr McVilly said.

“Everything I’ve done over the last 10-15 years of my life since he passed away has had that drive behind it.

“We always talked about doing something like this down the track.”

The permanent “pop-up” is the latest business to back Macquarie Point, which has grander plans for an Antarctic precinct and Truth and Reconciliation Art Park.

Mr Hodgman said discussions with the Federal Government on a City Deal encompassing the $40m Antarctic hub were progressing.

“We are doing what we can to not only deliver the longer term vision at this site but also to support progress, which we now are seeing with new Tasmanian businesses being part of this precinct,” Mr Hodgman said.