Shitbox Rally Autumn 2023 from Newcastle to Townsville set to take off from Honeysuckle
It’s colourful, it’s fun, and downright wacky – but 250 old bangers will take off from Newcastle on Saturday for the Autumn Shitbox Rally. Meet the awesome teams taking part.
Newcastle
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It’s a charity rally of a different kind where it’s a challenge to actually finish the race, not be the first, with “shitbox” cars that at the most, are worth only $1500.
The popular Shitbox Rally for Autumn will see 250 old bombs take to the dusty roads across remote parts of Australia to raise money for an important cause, finding a cure for cancer.
Newcastle will be the rally’s starting line on Saturday, with teams of two battling the elements - and their rust buckets - over a week to try and cross the finish line more than 3000 kilometres away in Townsville.
They’ll be visiting a number of locations off the beaten track, including Nyngan, Packsaddle, Innamincka, Betoota, Yaraka and Hughenden, pitching a tent wherever they go.
“The roads we take are the roads less travelled,” Founder and CEO of the Shitbox Rally James Freeman said.
“We go very remote and isolated and the roads are rough and unforgiving, we drive to the conditions there’s no racing involved, no times, just a matter of trying to get your car there and to the finish day.
“Being able to put funds into these isolated communities is great, we work with them for all the catering, fuel and sundry items, bars, it ends up being a lot of revenue for these locations.
“We are able to take people to these amazing places and show them how extraordinary the landscape is.”
Close to his heart, Mr Freeman OAM started the rally after tragically losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other.
“Started in 2010, Sydney to Alice Springs, raising $104,000 and has increased in size every year. Now we do three rallies a year and one mystery box,” he said.
“We raise funds for cancer research, now raising $8 million a year and work with the Cancer Council and The National Medical Research Council to allocate those funds most importantly to research programs nationally.
“We have 85% of people that come on it because they are doing it in honour, they’ve had cancer, or currently battling it.”
The fundraising goal is set to $2 million this time, with overall funds since the rallies began reaching a massive $37 million.
Let’s meet some of the colourful teams taking part.
Put the lime in the coconut
Melissa Matchett and Beau Matchett
This mother and son team from the Hunter has a little experience with mum on her third year of the rally.
The 2007 Ford Falcon they’ll be driving across the country has a touching story behind it, once belonging to Ms Matchett’s nephew who tragically took his life last year.
“Up until two weeks ago it didn’t even start,” Ms Matchett said.
“Hopefully we make it to the end but if you don’t you get a medal.”
“Six or seven of your buddy crew and usually one or two have some mechanical experience so if minor things they can fix it on the side of the road.”
Cancer has made a big impact on her family, losing two grandparents, her dad, step dad, several good friends and even two dogs to the insidious disease.
Hoping their fundraising efforts - aiming for $13,000 - can help in any way.
“We just want to find a cure, the next dollar we raise could be the one that finds the cure for everyone,” she added.
“My best friend of 46 years is currently fighting non hodgkin's disease, so it’s awful.”
Looking forward to a “hilarious” trip, that will make memories for a lifetime.
“It is a good time, get to see a lot of things we probably never would have seen and meet a lot of people in the same situation or feel the same way.”
The Hunter Imaging Tribute Team
Roslyn Meier and Kylie Forbes
Friends that work together, it will be an adventure they will never forget.
The pair who work in radiology in Newcastle have both lost mums to cancer, and Roslyn a sister to cancer, and have wanted to do the rally for many years.
The first timers said they’re up for the challenge in their 1999 Camry - complete with a full service history - albeit a little nervous.
“It sounds like an absolute hoot,” Ms Meier said.
“We have basic mechanical knowledge but not much, luckily Shitbox rally provides a support team. We hope we won’t have to rely on them at all.
“We’re excited two chicks hitting the road, can’t rely on your husband for this one.”
Even though they’ve lost many family members to the disease, Ms Meier said they’re predominantly also doing it for their patients.
“For all our patients past and present and future that received that horrible diagnosis or coming to the end of that, that we contribute to their care everyday,” she said.
“We had great support from Hunter Imaging contributing a lot and a lot of medical partners we work with really came to the party and pushed our totals up.”
So far they’ve raised about $6900, but hope to bump that up before they drive off.
Rollin, Rollin, Rollin
Jenny Beavis and Mal Stewart
This duo is a couple of seasoned veterans having already competed in a number of Shitbox rallies.
The good thing is, they know what to expect.
“Lots of fun, new people, lots of excitement, lots of dirt and hopefully not too many cold nights,” Ms Beavis laughed.
Ms Beavis has been involved with the Cancer Council since 2001 after she lost her partner at 30 after the birth of their second child.
It’s been a cause she has been heavily committed to since then, which led her to the Shitbox Rally.
“Started Daffodil Day in 2001, lots of biggest morning teas, lots of girls nights in for pink ribbon, then became involved in Relay For Life, quite a few years on the committee,” she added.
“Ten years later I met Mal, who just had recently lost his wife to breast cancer leaving his two children, both our children have lost a parent to cancer.
“It’s great for the kids and I to do lots of things together.”
Travelling in their Hyundai Elantra, the ‘Rollin’ team has raised around $20,000, a great present for her birthday the day before they depart.
“Apparently the car is ready, we haven’t packed anything yet, we have three teams flying in staying with us and Friday is my 52nd birthday,” Ms Beavis said.
Saucy Minxes
Leann Lloyd and Fiona Jeff
If anything this team is hoping to smash the ‘colourful’ brief on the rally, “broadening their horizons” in an event that is mostly of the male variety.
“I’m pretty chuffed its two girls out there doing their best and looking our prettiest if anything should go wrong,” Ms Lloyd laughed.
“We’re very happy with the rallies buddy groups, five cars to a buddy group, I feel like they have done a good job for people like us who are virgins to the rally.
“We have no idea what to expect because neither of us have been out to that part of Australia before and that’s been something that’s made us keen to do it, seeing new parts of Australia and meeting new people.”
In their 2005 Mazda 3 sedan the ladies from Coffs Harbour will be doing it not just for the fun, but in the memory of a number of friends and family who have been diagnosed with cancer.
“Originally it was just to have a hoot, but our experience in doing it has been quite humbling,” Ms Lloyd explained.
“I’m particularly doing it in memory of my mum Carol who passed away about 15 years ago after a short stint with cancer.
“We both have a lot of friends and family people who are battling, living with and have passed away from cancer and doing the fundraising has made us really aware of how widespread it is.”
And the Aussie town they’re most looking forward to?
“I think Betoota, I want to see what it looks like, and has a pub out there. I’m a bit intrigued,” She added.
So far the Saucy Minxes have raised about $12,500.
Nut Truckers
Kurt Speirs and Mathew Gilbert
These two novocastrian blokes said they have a lot of faith in their 1999 Toyota Camry to get them all the way to Townsville.
The team from Redriven, a Newcastle based YouTube company which reviews second hand cars, donated the old banger.
“She’s old and beat up on the inside but a lick of paint definitely instils some confidence,” Mr Speirs said.
Driver Mat Gilbert originally wanted to do the rally about three years ago, but now it means so much more after finding out himself, that he too became a victim of cancer.
“Throw away line we’ve been using, we’ve got two guys with three balls between us,” Mr Speirs laughed.
Mat’s grandfather is also currently going through cancer treatment and Kurt’s dad passed away 20 years ago due to cancer.
Humbled by the support they have so far received.
“Raised just shy $38,000. We started going out to local businesses a big portion came from sponsorships and between Mat and I we have organised two charity nights, one a music festival at the Wicko, we got 300 people through the door that night and raised about $9500, then we ran a tribute night at the Swansea Hotel and raised about $7000 as well,” Mr Speirs said.
“Also a lot of good will from family and friends.”
Hoping to get through relatively unscathed.
“Mat is an electrician. I am not handy at all,” he laughed.
“Guys that have done the rally prior have talked about using rubber thongs to plug different gaps when things go wrong or different sealers to use so already it’s good to know.
“Along for the ride and a party and celebration of life.”
The Muppets
Robert Hoy and Rod Cross
These two lads from Coffs Harbour are doing the trek in their army green 1996 Holden Commodore, a beauty they picked up at Mackville, with just one owner, complete with all log book servicing.
A veteran rally goer, Mr Hoy said the Nut Truckers will be having plenty of fun and dress-ups along the long beaten track to Townsville.
“I’ll be dressed at Beaker and he’ll (Rod) be Kermit on the first day, “ he laughed.
“Also dress up as a couple of clowns, Rod reckons he’ll be dressed as a sexy clown. We have Swedish chefs outfits and will wear that on day three.”
The boys have already smashed their fundraising goal of $10,000, reaching almost $17,000 to go to cancer research, a chunk of that thanks to a dinner charity night with Joey Johns.
Mr Hoy said they both want to do if for loved ones who have or are suffering from the disease.
“”My father had an episode of cancer three years ago, he had lymphoma, he had the chemo and came through it, all the hair has grown back and he’s going from strength to strength,” Mr Hoy added.
“I have a daughter who has had a variation of it for the last 12 months, she’s 20, it’s well managed.
“Rod has had family members who have passed away with cancer.”
The duo set to use their strengths on the trip.
“We’re definitely hopeless with mechanical stuff, our strength is health, me being a physio and Rod has done some first aid so we’ll help out with any bad hangovers or if anyone rolls an ankle,” he said.
Road Ragers
Allison Bourke and Maxine Jongerden
In a buddy group of 29 in the rally adventure, these two are the only ladies. And it’s their first time.
But they’ve got great confidence in their 2004 Toyota Camry, affectionately named Rosie, that she can make it all the way.
“Underneath the makeup she was silver now she’s beautifully spray painted by up and up, a youth group in Newcastle, who work with students to do murals,” Ms Bourke said.
“She now has eye lashes. She looks beautiful.
“So my plan is to make lots of slices and homemade, bride the men to help us. Max is very good at changing tyres, I’m the creative one, she is the workhorse. Got all the outfits ready, to match every day.”
A “little scared” they don’t know what they have got themselves into.
“I am more worried about the toilet situation, we’ve been warned because we’re on back roads there won’t be a lot of toilet stops, people watching you on the side of the road go to the toilet is not my idea of fun,” Ms Bourke laughed.
“We think we have the camping down pat, we bought an instant tent that just pops up and we’ve got stretchers to sleep on cos we’re too old to get down on the floor and plan to give all to Salvation Army when we get to Townsville.”
Getting out of their comfort zone in honour of a dear friend.
“One of our best friends has been diagnosed with cancer the second time and she got breast cancer during Covid so it was a bit horrible, we couldn’t support her and get out to see her, we decided we had to do something to help support and try and stop this from happening to everyone else,” she said.
“Something to do to show her we care and she is doing really well now, in remission.”
So far they’ve smashed their fundraising efforts raising nearly three times what they had hoped, hoping to get to the $15,000 by Saturday.
“We are selling Rosie at the end of the rally, up for sale at the auction,” she added.
If you want to catch the action and give them a cheer as they drive off, get down to Honeysuckle carpark, the cnr of Hannell St and Honeysuckle Dr this Saturday.
Cars arrive from 7.30am, set to depart at about 8.30am.
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