Latest news with #ShitboxRally
West Australian
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Shitbox Rally 2025: Party time for the humble Toyota Corolla Conquest with a mighty 4313km journey ahead
Newcastle's Jason Percival and his partner Kate Christensen are transporting a giant disco ball 4313km from Perth to Darwin via the Gibb River Road all in the name of charity. They will form Team Shaft Punk and will be driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla Conquest hatchback, one of 516 teams aiming to raise a collective $2.5 million in Shitbox Rally 2025. Launched 16 years ago by James Freeman as a tribute after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other, the Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally form the leading individual annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council, with more than $56 million donated to research. Cars must be roadworthy and registered and worth no more than $1500 with no 4WD or AWD allowed and teams need to raise a minimum of $5000 to participate. Dress-up themes are encouraged and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. 'One of the best Toyotas every built. This is the first rally for this car but the second rally for our disco ball,' Mr Percival said. 'It has already gone from Melbourne to Alice Spirngs last winter and now it is going from Perth to Darwin. 'It is a massive pump up disco ball that hopefully stays on the whole way.' The adventurers departed Langley Park on Friday morning. 'We have three spare tyres in the back and I think we are going to need them for the Gibb River Road,' Ms Christensen said. 'We also have an amazing functioning snorkel that we have built ourselves for the river crossings.' Jason said the rally was a tribue to his mum who passed away from melanoma when he was 15. 'I've always wanted to give back to research to find out why it happens,' he said. 'We have a couple of friends fighting it as well. 'We do it four friends and family and the energy and the vibe on this rally is amazing. 'It's great fun at night time. Really inclusive.' 'When you say a certain word, which I am not going to say, you have to do 10 push ups.' They have just hit their goal of $30,000. For more information go to
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Shitbox Rally: Corolla's mighty conquest Perth to Darwin
Newcastle's Jason Percival and his partner Kate Christensen are transporting a giant disco ball 4313km from Perth to Darwin via the Gibb River Road all in the name of charity. They will form Team Shaft Punk and will be driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla Conquest hatchback, one of 516 teams aiming to raise a collective $2.5 million in Shitbox Rally 2025. Launched 16 years ago by James Freeman as a tribute after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other, the Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally form the leading individual annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council, with more than $56 million donated to research. Cars must be roadworthy and registered and worth no more than $1500 with no 4WD or AWD allowed and teams need to raise a minimum of $5000 to participate. Dress-up themes are encouraged and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. The Shit Box car rally from Perth to Darwin has departed from Langley Park in Perth. PIctured are drivers Jason Percival and Kate Christensen Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'One of the best Toyotas every built. This is the first rally for this car but the second rally for our disco ball,' Mr Percival said. 'It has already gone from Melbourne to Alice Spirngs last winter and now it is going from Perth to Darwin. 'It is a massive pump up disco ball that hopefully stays on the whole way.' The adventurers departed Langley Park on Friday morning. 'We have three spare tyres in the back and I think we are going to need them for the Gibb River Road,' Ms Christensen said. 'We also have an amazing functioning snorkel that we have built ourselves for the river crossings.' SHIT BOX RALLY Credit: SHIT BOX RALLY Jason said the rally was a tribue to his mum who passed away from melanoma when he was 15. 'I've always wanted to give back to research to find out why it happens,' he said. 'We have a couple of friends fighting it as well. 'We do it four friends and family and the energy and the vibe on this rally is amazing. 'It's great fun at night time. Really inclusive.' 'When you say a certain word, which I am not going to say, you have to do 10 push ups.' They have just hit their goal of $30,000. For more information go to
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why the Finnish ambassador is driving a Camry from Perth to Darwin
Driving a cheap car across the vast Australian outback is becoming a rite of passage for ambassadors living in Perth, with Finland's Ambassador to Australia Arto Haapea the latest diplomat to take part in the Shitbox Rally. More than a year after former USA Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy drove her beaten-up BA Falcon 'Moonshot' from South Australia to Perth, Haapea will later this week drive a blue 2004 Toyota Camry dubbed the 'Happiest Car in the World' through the WA outback from Perth to Darwin. The car is covered in decals evocative of Finland, such as homages to Santa (much of the country is encompassed by the Arctic Circle), the white hippo-like Moomins characters and a big smile on the front bumper. The Shitbox Rally encourages entrants to raise money for the Cancer Council by purchasing a car worth less than $1500 and driving it huge distances from one corner of the country to the next. Haapea, who was appointed to the role in March last year, said he was hooked on the thought of driving through the outback with a sense of purpose after seeing Kennedy's trip. 'As I have gone through cancer in my early 20s, this challenge seemed like the most natural way to bring together our fun-loving countries,' he said. 'I have always been a big fan of road trips, so the Shitbox Rally really ticks all the boxes for me. 'I have to confess I know very little about cars, so I'm putting all my hope into skilled and experienced fellow shitboxers. If there's one thing that I am slightly worried about, it has to do with the deadly fauna and sleeping in a swag. 'The car is all about bringing the famous Finnish happiness to the outback.'
The Age
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Age
Why the Finnish ambassador is driving a Camry from Perth to Darwin
Driving a cheap car across the vast Australian outback is becoming a rite of passage for ambassadors living in Perth, with Finland's Ambassador to Australia Arto Haapea the latest diplomat to take part in the Shitbox Rally. More than a year after former USA Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy drove her beaten-up BA Falcon 'Moonshot' from South Australia to Perth, Haapea will later this week drive a blue 2004 Toyota Camry dubbed the 'Happiest Car in the World' through the WA outback from Perth to Darwin. The car is covered in decals evocative of Finland, such as homages to Santa (much of the country is encompassed by the Arctic Circle), the white hippo-like Moomins characters and a big smile on the front bumper. The Shitbox Rally encourages entrants to raise money for the Cancer Council by purchasing a car worth less than $1500 and driving it huge distances from one corner of the country to the next. Haapea, who was appointed to the role in March last year, said he was hooked on the thought of driving through the outback with a sense of purpose after seeing Kennedy's trip. 'As I have gone through cancer in my early 20s, this challenge seemed like the most natural way to bring together our fun-loving countries,' he said. 'I have always been a big fan of road trips, so the Shitbox Rally really ticks all the boxes for me. 'I have to confess I know very little about cars, so I'm putting all my hope into skilled and experienced fellow shitboxers. If there's one thing that I am slightly worried about, it has to do with the deadly fauna and sleeping in a swag. 'The car is all about bringing the famous Finnish happiness to the outback.'
ABC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Lunchbox Rally road trip for mother and daughter after cancer diagnosis
Just four weeks after Trini Hale and her daughter Sharla Edwards finished last year's inaugural Lunchbox Rally to raise funds for cancer research, Ms Hale received an expected diagnosis of her own. The mother of four from South Australia's Riverland said she had no symptoms before being diagnosed with kidney cancer in October 2024. "It was found very coincidentally," she said. "I was just having check-ups for other things … went for an ultrasound and came back with a diagnosis of kidney cancer." Now, following surgery, Ms Hale and 11-year-old Sharla are preparing for this year's Lunchbox Rally in September, knowing firsthand how cancer can strike at the heart of families without warning. "Seeing mum have cancer made me want to raise more money," Sharla said. Cars lined up during the 2024 Lunchbox Rally. ( Supplied: Trini Hale ) The Shitbox Rally initiative Due to demand, what started out as one outback event has now grown to five throughout the year. Box Rallies founder and chief executive James Freeman said his team had met people from all over Australia. "Most of the people that come on these rallies … have been very heavily involved or impacted by cancer, and they've gone out and worked tirelessly with their fundraising," he said. The Lunchbox Rally is the young person-friendly version. Shitbox rallies have raised millions in funding. ( Supplied: Shitbox Rally ) Known as "the Shitbox Rally for kids", teams are made up of one adult and one child aged seven to 15, and the car must be valued at no more than $1,500. The 2025 rally will see people from across Australia start and finish in Broken Hill, travelling for five days through South Australia's northern outback before returning. Trini Hale and Sharla Edwards participated in the first Lunchbox Rally in 2024. ( Supplied: Trini Hale ) Diagnosis not slowing her down Ms Hale and Sharla — who will celebrate her 12th birthday during the event — will participate under the team name Double Trouble. They admit their mindset going into this year's event will be a bit different from last year. When Ms Hale was diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in October she became one of more than 4,700 Australians who were given the grim news that they had kidney cancer last year. According to the Cancer Council, kidney cancer is the seventh most common form of the disease in Australia, with an estimated one in 65 people diagnosed by the time they are 85. Unlike other cancers there is no national screening program for kidney cancer. Trini Hale and her son after her surgery to remove her cancerous kidney in January 2025. ( Supplied: Trini Hale ) Fortunately, Ms Hale's cancer was discovered in its early stages. She underwent a radical nephrectomy — removal of the affected kidney — in January this year. "That sounded daunting to begin with, but then [I was] told you can live with one kidney, you don't even have to really change your lifestyle too much," Ms Hale said. " I've just got to look after that one kidney as best I can. " Hitting the outback roads Leading up to her diagnosis, Ms Hale had participated in the 2023 Shitbox Rally with her partner, Stuart Edwards, and the 2024 Lunchbox Rally with Sharla. Trini Hale with her partner Stuart Edwards during the 2023 Shitbox Rally. ( Supplied: Trini Hale ) "When we first started doing them, we were raising money for other family and friends we know have been affected by cancer, not imagining it would be myself," she said. "To now have it really affect our own family, it's a bit of an ironic situation. "I completely understand how important the money is for the research [and] getting on top of early diagnoses." Trini Hale has participated in multiple Box Rallies but this is the second with daughter Sharla. ( ABC Riverland: Stephanie Nitschke ) Sharla said she was looking forward to meeting new people and "seeing the outback again" with her mother in September. "It was really fun [last year] because when you got back, you could play all these mini games with the people you met," she said. Mr Freeman said the Lunchbox Rally allowed kids who were left behind during the Shitbox and Mysterybox rallies to participate. "Get the kids out of home, away from screens, adventuring and seeing parts of Australia and doing something really fabulous with their parents," he said. James Freeman started Box Rallies to help the healing process of grief after losing both parents to cancer within 12 months. ( Supplied: Box Rallies ) "It's [also] about the fundraising … looking outside of themselves and their families and looking at what they can do for other people." Community behind them all the way With teams requiring at least $3,000 raised before they can participate in the Lunchbox Rally, Ms Hale said the Loxton and broader Riverland community had been supportive. "We had a number of businesses come on board, and got a lot of family and friends that are continuing to sponsor us," she said. " I don't think there's any family out there that hasn't been touched in some way or another by cancer. " ABC Riverland — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Tuesday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
