Home 9 Events 9 2024 Bourke to the Bay

September 2024 Bourke to the Bay (Hervey).

This 8 day event, will take you to iconic towns in outback Queensland. We’ll get you off the bitumen and onto the famous tracks that are on many keen traveller’s bucket list. We will traverse many iconic tracks and stay in famous towns, steeped in history. You will enjoy sensational country food and hospitality. All this whilst raising funds to support Prostate Cancer Research – an insidious disease that one in seven blokes will be diagnosed with today. Don’t miss this great week away in the Queensland outback & stunning coast!

The Itinerary September 2024.

(The Daily content may change after we conduct the first survey)

Day 0 – Saturday 31st August 2024

Bourke

We’ll all meet up in Bourke on the Saturday Night for the Registration and Information Session. It will be a good time to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.

Day One Sunday 1st September 2024

Bourke NSW to Cunnamulla QLD

We’ll leave Bourke and head towards Hungerford for lunch on the NSW-QLD Border. After lunch we will continue north before we swing east towards Cunnamulla

Day Two Monday 2nd September 2024

Cunnamulla to Charleville

After we say goodbye to the Cunnamulla Fella we’ll head to Quilpie for lunch, then head back east again to spend the night in Charleville

Day Three Tuesday 3rd September 2024

Charleville to Barcaldine

We’ll continue our journey north west and visit Tambo before we get to Blackall for lunch. We might get to visit the historic Wool Scour. It is the last remaining steam powered wool washing plant in Australia. The afternoon will be a short trip into Barcaldine.

Day Four Wednesday 4th September 2024

Barcaldine to Longreach

We only have 120kms to travel today so there will be plenty of time to stroll down “Machinery Mile” at Ilfracombe. There are vintage tractors, dozers, graders, farm implements and much more. You’ll also get your steps up as the display really is a mile long. You can get into Longreach as early as you like to start two days of exploring. Sights include the Qantas Museum, The Stockman’s Hall of Fame.  We are all booked in for a lovely Sunset Cruise tonight in a genuine Paddle Steamer.

Day Five Thursday 5th September 2024

Longreach

Today can be as lazy or as active as you want it to be. If you’ve seen all the local attractions you can drive out to Winton or Muttaburra and discover real Dinosaur Country.

Day Six Friday 6th September 2024

Longreach to Emerald

We start heading east today as we are drawn by the allure of the Whitsunday Coast. We’ll get as far as Emerald tonight. Along with the surrounding villages of Rubyvale and Sapphire this used to be the Sunflower growing capital of Australia, and even has a 25m high Van Gogh Sunflower painting. Coal Mining is now the big money spinner for this area.

Day Seven Saturday September 7th 2024

Emerald to Agnes Water 

We continue east and reach Rockhampton for lunch today. Rocky is famous for beef cattle production and you’ll see several grand statues of Rocky Bulls around town. After lunch we turn right and head south along the coast. We hope to visit the township of Seventeen Seventy made famous by Captain Cook when he purposely beached the Endeavour to repair its hull (in 1770). We’ll stay in Agnes Water tonight.

Day Eight Sunday 8th September 2024

Agnes Water to Hervey Bay

Not long after leaving Agnes Water we stumble across Bundaberg, with its choice of either a factory visit to Bundaberg Rum or Bundaberg Ginger Beer. After a short stopover we keep moving south until we reach Hervey Bay, the gateway to K’Gari (formerly known as Fraser Island). This will be our final night together as the official rally group. We will have our final night dinner in a place to be decided shortly. After the rally has concluded, why not take a couple of days to explore K’Gari before you head home.

Vehicles – Support – Communication

Any well prepared 4WD vehicle may enter the event. Your vehicle must be:

  • Road registered,
  • Roadworthy and insured for minimum Third Party property.
  • Have the required safety equipment as detailed in the Rules and Regulations (see separate listing).
  • All vehicles must have minimum UHF radio fitted, dust lights and a snatch strap.
  • Event indemnity form completed by all entrants (at the first night briefing).
  • For this trip only – you will be required to have undertaken a recognised 4WD training course prior to participating in this event.

 

A road book (detailing route distances and instructions for each day) will be distributed at the briefing to all entrants. All cars will be issued with door panels (as promotion for the event and to include vehicle number) prior to the start in Merimbula – entrants to nominate their own car number.

The event is not a race it is an ‘adventure’. Our sweep vehicle will provide mechanical support to assist all vehicles to make it to each night stop. Official and support/sweep vehicles will carry Sat Phones. Event communication will be by UHF radio, event ‘APP’ and briefings.

 

Fundraising for Prostate Cancer

Each vehicle is required to raise a minimum of $1,500 for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Of course, you don’t have to do this on your own, most people ask their family and friends to support them. You don’t have to stop at $1,500, we also will have an award on the final night for our highest fundraiser. 100% of all donations go to assist with prostate cancer research – no expenses are deducted from these donations. We utilise the fundraising platform “funraisin” to make donations easy and receipts can be printed when donations are made.

Outback Adventure – How We Started

Ross Alexander was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2013. He joined the NSW Prostate Cancer Foundation Board in 2015 to support the work of the Foundation and to “give a bit back”. Ross believes that his survival today is the result of the advances in medical research, science and the awareness campaigns that the Foundation funds and promotes today.

In the past 30 years Ross has supported many charity car rallies as an entrant and during this 30 years has raised in excess of $300,000 personally. With financial funding being the most important requirement of the Prostate Cancer Foundation today, in 2017 Ross sought the help of Peter Fehon and Vic Widman to run an Outback Adventure and raise funds for Prostate Cancer medical research.

PETER FEHON handles all the administration, bookings, daily organisation and running of the event as Event Director.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) is a broad based community organisation and the peak national body for prostate cancer research in Australia. The Foundation is dedicated to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners and families recognising the diversity of the Australian community.

Why is this research so important?

  • 3,152 Australian men a year die from prostate cancer. That is 8 a day
  • 16,700 Australian men a year receive a new diagnosis. That is 45 a day
  • In early stages of prostate cancer there may be no symptoms
  • One in 6 blokes will be affected by prostate cancer by age 85
  • Around 95% of men will be alive 5 years after a diagnosis of prostate cancer – this is largely as a result of medical research

How to Get Started

 

  • Register as a participant in the OUTBACK Adventure – Go to this page here
  • Confirm your entry with payment of the entrance fee of $750.00
  • Create your fundraising page on the Funraisin platform – Go to this Funraisin page here
  • Book your Merimbula accommodation
  • Talk to your friends about joining you for this adventure

Enquiries and Contact Details

 

For Entry, Administration, Vehicle information –

PETER FEHON – Event Director
MOB: 0414-284-489 EMAIL: [email protected]

ROSS ALEXANDER – Convenor and PCFA NSW Board Member
TEL: 0417-385-406 EMAIL: [email protected]

Our first Rally in 2018 raised a massive $200,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation

Prostate Cancer - The Stats

Men are diagnosed by age 85

Men die each day

Men are diagnosed each year

About Us

Supporting Prostate Cancer Research
Supporting Prostate Cancer Research