The 2023 Outback Car Trek to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service is due to finish in Darwin on June 11.
Now in its 33rd year, it’s raised more than $33.5 million since its inception for 24/7 essential healthcare services in remote areas, kicking off from Geraldton on May 31 to travel more than 5705km across the top end through Broome, Mt Elizabeth and Kununurra to make Top Springs, in the Northern Territory, on June 9, and Katherine on June 10.
It’s a different route from previous years, which have been along the east coast, with 100 vehicles and 250 participants taking part.
Notably, the trek is an event for older 2WD cars, specially prepared to cope with the “fun of outback and remote dirt road driving”.
Outback Car Trek CEO and organiser Bill Patrick explained the past few years had been blighted by the pandemic and tough weather conditions, noting that participants were excited to be back at full pace in 2023 in a brand-new location.
“(We) just hope the WA weather treats us kindly,” he said.
In addition to raising funds for the RFDS — which is consistently named as Australia’s most reputable charity by Charity RepTrak for the community trust it enjoys — participants go a long way towards providing a much-needed boost to local economies on the route.
“On an average day of the trek, we’ve worked out that about $75,000 is spent in a town or locality on food, fuel, mechanical repairs and, where available, accommodation,” Mr Patrick said.
“Over the course of a trek there’s also about $100,000 spent by trekkers assisting community groups through raffle ticket sales or through passing the hat around for a community project or a school.”
Greg Sam, CEO of the RFDS South Eastern Section, said the longstanding association with Outback Car Trek had been vital for the continuation of health services to communities across the country.
Although the RFDS is best known for outback emergency retrievals, most of its work these days involves vital outback primary health care. This includes GP and nurse-led clinics, mental and dental health, breast care, women and children’s health, drug and alcohol counselling and chronic disease screening, as well as other specialist services.
“Approximately a third of our funding comes from our generous donors who help cover the cost of lifesaving medical equipment, vital healthcare staff on the ground, our clinic operations and aircraft and infrastructure costs,” Mr Sam said.
“Without this generosity we wouldn’t be able to provide essential health care to people who live, work and travel in rural, regional and remote parts of the country.
“In that context, the contribution of the Outback Car Trek over the past 32 years is immeasurable.”
The amount raised this year for the RFDS is yet to be announced and you can still make a donation at: donatenswact.flyingdoctor.org.au/trek2023.
We asked RFDS South Eastern Section retrieval medical officer Dr Andrew Lesnewski, who’s taking part, for his impressions so far.
What has been the highlight so far?
A highlight has been the changing landscape as we head further north. The dirt has become more and more red, with palm trees featuring prominently in Broome. Some places we have visited are so untouched that it felt as though they have looked that way for the last million years or so.
Has anything surprised you?
Before doing the Trek, I never would have thought it would be more interesting to take an indirect route, via an unsealed dirt track when driving between two towns. It definitely lends credence to the saying, “it’s about the journey, not the destination”.
What about the other people taking part in the Trek?
The people on the Trek are a bunch of genuine, down-to-earth people who enjoy driving heavily modified old cars along isolated dirt tracks. They also recognise the essential work RFDS does in providing high-quality medical care to rural and remote communities. A lot of the participants have stories about how RFDS has helped them, their family members or somebody they know.
Any inspiring moments you have seen along the way?
The entire trip has been an inspiration. Everybody has been friendly, inclusive and welcoming. As well as that, the overwhelming generosity of the participants is clear from the money raised at auction this week, and even donations from the general public collected when stopping along the route.
Is there anything else you think people would find interesting about your experience?
The coastal towns and beaches in Western Australia are exceptional — and this is coming from someone who grew up in Queensland, so I’m no stranger to a beach!