From Port Douglas To Adelaide And Back To Giru

There are approximately 3,000km between Port Douglas and Adelaide and Giru residents Brad and Kerry Garner plan to complete the trip in seven days.

Not only that, but they’re also doing it in a ‘shitbox’, as part of the Shitbox Rally, raising money for the National Health and Medical Research Council.

“It (the car) can’t be over the value of $1,500, which is why it’s a shitbox,” laughed Brad.

Brad and Kerry, who have called their team ‘Gunn Ado’s’, had already raised over $20,000 at the time of writing, contributing to the Spring 2023 total of over $2 million.

It was around this time last year that Brad and Kerry Garner first came across the Shitbox Rally.

“We passed a heap of cars this time last year coming home from a country race meeting and Googled it, found out about it, found out what they support and thought we’d have a go,” said Kerry.

“We thought it sounded like a bit of fun.”

The Shitbox Rally is a tri-annual event challenging participants to traverse the country in a vehicle worth no more than $1,500 all to raise funds to support cancer research.

“When we saw that it raises money for cancer, that was a big thing for us because we’ve had a lot of people affected, everybody knows someone, and someone’s always being affected,” said Brad.

Brad and Kerry are one of 250 teams taking on the challenge in Spring, leaving Port Douglas on Saturday, October 14.

Brad said they were lucky to get the Shitbox that they did, an old Ford ute.

“The very good people at Griggs Haulage Contractors had this old bomb sitting in the backyard not being used and the minute they heard we were in it the said, ‘Have the car,’” he said.

“We had to get it roadworthy, and we’ve been tweaking it a bit, it’s got new tyres and rims.”

“The air conditioner doesn’t work and we’re going from Port Douglas to Adelaide, inland through Birdsville,” laughed Kerry.

The pair are eager for the challenge, however, and looking forward to making lifelong friends in the process.

“When I have a look at all the other rallies, it just looks like so much fun,” said Brad.

“Even when you break down and everyone helps you, you make friends for life.

“There’s nights where we don’t even have showers, we’re sleeping in a swag every night and we’re used to a caravan so you’re putting yourself outside your comfort zone which is something to look forward to.”

The week also involves an ‘Honour Day’ where participants can honour a friend or family member and Brad and Kerry will be taking pig ropes for Gary Corradi, a friend of theirs who passed away approximately 10 years ago.

“It was such a big thing in this town,” said Kerry.

“He was sick for a long time; his kids grew up with our kids.”

The Giru and Burdekin community spirit has shone through, and Brad and Kerry have thanked everyone for their support while fundraising including Griggs Haulage Contractors, Giru International Hotel, EDMS Australia, the Giru Store, CivilPlus Constructions and Wilmar Sugar.

The avid travellers are looking forward to a trip of a lifetime as well as the challenge that follows: the drive back from Adelaide to Giru.

To learn more and to donate, visit spring2023.shitboxrally.com.au/gunn-ados.

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Brad and Kerry thanked local businesses for their support. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie