KILMORE residents will experience an international flavour when the Great Aussie Rickshaw Ride rolls into town on Friday.

A team of cyclists set off from Eumundi in Queensland during June, with the goal of riding a Bangladeshi rickshaw 2000 kilometres to Tasmania to raise awareness about global poverty.

The rickshaw riders will make a pre-lunch visit to Broadford Primary School on Friday and teach students about the work of the aid organisation Symbosis International.

Mitchell Shire mayor Bill Melbourne will later welcome the team to the town at Kilmore Kurry Palace. Locals are invited to come and hear riders speak about global poverty - and also ride the rickshaw.

Cr Melbourne said he was looking forward to the event, but said he had a few conditions on riding the rickshaw. “I’ll ride as long as they don’t want me to pull people in it,” he said.

Kilmore Kurry Palace owner Vijay Kumar is supporting the event by giving the riders a free dinner. “It’s a good thing what they’re doing,” Mr Kumar said. “It’s good they’re making people in our community more aware (of poverty) as well.”

The Great Aussie Rickshaw Ride departs on Saturday morning and will make its way through Melbourne, Devonport, Deloraine and Longford, before arriving in Evandale, Tasmania.