Mackay women doing it for Dolly and crossing the Simpson Desert

Two women taking on the Do it for Dolly All-Women Simpson Desert Crossing are from Mackay. Read what inspired them to take on Australia’s toughest outback track.

There are only two Queenslanders riding Australia’s toughest outback track in the All-Women Simpson Desert Crossing and they’re both based right here in Mackay.

Stephanie Mackenzie and Melissa Zarb are two of 12 women from across the country taking on the gruelling four-day motorbike challenge starting on Friday.

The group is raising funds for Do it for Dolly Day, which aims to take a stand against child and cyber bullying.

For Ms Mackenzie it comes following a challenging period of her life in which she battled Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer, all while being a single mother to two little girls.

It is an experience that sparked her new, fresh outlook on life.

Stephanie Mackenzie with cousin Cooper Wilde practising for her Simpson Desert Crossing. Picture: Supplied.

“My whole mindset has shifted now to ‘life is too short, let’s just do stupid stuff’,” she said.

“I saw this on Facebook and I got further and further into it and then realised that the crossing is raising money for Dolly’s Dream and so that was a big thing and once I saw that it was a ‘sign me up now, let’s do it!’ kind of thing.”

The Mackay pair have mixed levels of experience on the bike with Ms Mackenzie coming from a strong motorbiking family, while Ms Zarb would be considered more of a novice.

Neither of them have much experience riding on sand which Ms Mackenzie described as a “whole different ball game”.

Stephanie Mackenzie practising for her Simpson Desert Crossing. Picture: Supplied.

However, as some people in their lives have already discovered, do not tell them they cannot do it.

“If you tell me I can’t do something, stand back and watch me do it and I know Melissa is the same,” she said.

While wanting to test themselves is one motivating factor, supporting the mission of Dolly’s Dream is another.

Neither is interested in losing anymore people in their lives to suicide.

“Growing up I lost a lot of friends to suicide and we didn’t have the support networks and organisations like Dolly’s Dream that you could reach out to for help and I’ve just lost too many friends to suicide, and depression, and anxiety,” Ms Mackenzie said.

Stephanie Mackenzie practising for her Simpson Desert Crossing. Picture: Supplied.

“I’ve got two little girls now and the whole world has changed and they’re very much exposed to technology.

“All of this online bullying and trolling, they’re so young and they don’t know how to deal with those pressures.

“I’ve personally seen my daughter go through that and to know that I can raise money so that she has got access to these things that she needs if she ever got to a point where god forbid she really needs it.”

To contribute to Stephanie’s fundraising for Dolly’s Dream head to their website.

Originally published as Mackay women doing it for Dolly and crossing the Simpson Desert