Chris & Gerry Gimblett: Stopover Yaraka Community

Thank you so much for choosing Yaraka as a stopover for your rally.
For us, as a community, it was a wonderful occasion and your group were friendly, delightful, well behaved, appreciative – and entertaining! We hope you come back again! It would be true to say that we were nervous about the population explosion – a population explosion of 2655% to be exact but everything seemed to run very smoothly and everyone, without exception, were very complimentary about the dinner and breakfast which was very encouraging.
From our town’s perspective it was a real boost – dehydrated vehicles lined up at the bowsers, dehydrated people buying drinks and the voluntary workers who prepared and cooked the meals resulted in swelling the funds of the RFDS etc. Your rally is the largest that Yaraka has ever catered for and knowing that your well organised efforts result in huge contributions toward the Cancer Council make it all so worthwhile for everywhere you pass through these towns. Congratulations on the organising and professional way in which you do everything – a win win for everyone.   Many thanks again.

Jeff Watson: Stopover Mitchell RSL & Combined Sports Club

On May 19, 2018, Box Rallies scheduled an overnight stop in the little western Queensland town of Mitchell. What a night it was.
Having only visited Mitchell once before and many years prior, the whole concept was quite new to the local groups who had banded together to provide for the catering and bar requirements. In Mitchell, that group comprised most of the Sporting Clubs (Junior and Senior), the local dance group and the parents organizations from both the Mitchell State School and St Patricks Catholic School.
Our first observations (apart from the wonderful underlying cause of Box Rallies – the Cancer Council) were that the whole event was amazingly well planned and organized and that the multitudes of participants (some 510 in our case) were fun-loving, generous and genuinely committed to the cause. Consequently, what we assumed would be a rather daunting undertaking on our behalf became an evening and morning of great fun, hilarity and enjoyment.
On top of all that, the fund raising opportunity was fabulous. In total, almost $25000.00 from catering and bar  sales was distributed to participating groups. In a small, drought hit country town where every dollar of fundraising is very hard earned, this created opportunities for those groups to meet some of their needs without having to continually keep seeking financial support from local sponsors and benefactors all of whom are suffering depressed trading conditions.
So from the Mitchell Community – Thank you so much Box Rallies. We hope you enjoyed your stay as much as we enjoyed having you and we look forward to the day when you may once again include Mitchell in your itinerary.

Helen: Team Legends of Rock

You’ve created something really special and we feel incredibly proud to be a part of it. There’s obviously the astonishing level of funds that are raised which we passionately support but it’s also great to see the impact on the remote communities – all the revenue that’s injected and the weird and wonderful spectacle we bring as we roll in each night.

I’m sure the experience provides a talking point for the locals for years to come!  It’s definitely challenging – not just the physical and emotional challenge of the rally itself but the months of fundraising, getting the car up to spec, costume prep (a big one for us!), child care planning, calling in a million favours, etc, etc.

Danny & Bob: Team Cessnock Flyers

To James Deb and all the Rally Family just a short note to say a big thank you for a great rally every year it just gets better both Danny and I had a great time James your planning of routes and stop overs was great hoping to do more rallies in future.

But I think that’s why it has such an impact on us all and we keep coming back. We become part of the rally family. The good that comes from this on an individual as well as community level is remarkable and it is extraordinarily rewarding to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves.

David & Glen: Team The Rockapes

Great to catch up again this year on the shitbox, the Rockapes, Glen and I, had a very enjoyable trip, glad to see a record broken for fundraising and wish you and the team every success for next year.
Was a great experience and am recommending  to many.
Thank you very much!

David & Dianne: Team Hollywood

We have arrived home after another epic adventure we call the shitbox rally.  I am constantly amazed about the vision and experience that is the rally and am certainly grateful to have been a part of it this year.
I would like to congratulate you and your staff with what is an enormous logistical exercise that delivers such a phenomenal return and result for a cause that is so critical to our lives.  You continue to supply the shitbox community with the leadership and organisation that makes this exercise such a success and on behalf of my wife and I, we are extremely grateful.
The people that form the rally are a diverse and eclectic bunch but serve to remind us that this cause is pertinent to us all.  We now have friends all over the country from every walk of life thanks to the companionship on the rally.
Thanks again James for your efforts – greatly appreciated by many.

David: Team InSolvent

Hi Deb,
My pleasure – Yaraka was a stand-out amongst stand-outs! They did a sensational job.
I can honestly say that it was the best “boys” week away that I have had – a hell of a lot of fun and a fortunate grouping of like minded people in our buddy group 🙂
It was a totally different experience to Mystery Box – both a lot of fun, but I think the extra time/distance in Shitbox makes it a bit more challenging and gives that extra bit of time for the bonds to grow in the buddy groups.
We would definitely like to be back for the big one next year – and will probably do a good deal better in the fund-raising stakes if we know a bit earlier.
Thank you very much for all that you put in to make the event such a success – I am not quite sure how you and Katherine managed to keep smiles on your faces through the whole event – you seemed to be everywhere, all over everything, at all hours of the day!
Please also pass on our thanks to James – the whole event is an amazing logistical undertaking and it is a credit to all of you that it runs so smoothly.
I look forward to being in touch soon.

Michelle: Team Fuelled by Gin

We had the best week ever, Meg & I have done some crazy, crazy things during the course of our friendship, but spending a week in a dusty old car laughing our heads off and meeting a bunch of incredible people has to be top of the list.   To raise so much money was the cream on top, I’m blow away at how supportive everyone has been to our team.
Doing the Shitbox Rally was more for me than just the rally, from the moment we were accepted onto it and fundraising began, so did the trip of a lifetime, from the stories we told, to the events we held, to the tins we rattled, we met the most incredible, kind hearted, people and this was before we even joined the rally! Then we hit the rally and it felt like we had become integral members of a nomadic village of the most beautifully spirited people on this earth. That you can wake every day and everyone you see, for as far as you can see, is out for the greater good of humanity and is looking out for everyone around them, is surely a dream come true for all involved? Then add to that, the communities we visited welcomed us with open arms and hugs and you’ve gotta love a sunburnt country. The adventure and hilarity of it all was an added bonus and made for incredible memories, as were the close friendships we made. Shitbox Rally is a little piece of Utopia that gives me hope in humanity for the future, I truly hope to join this village again one day.

Mike: Team Batvan

2018 Shitbox Rally was just an amazing experience from the day you get accepted through to the after party. It’s become a great community event involving 1000’s of people wanting to make difference to cancer survival rates and with the final tally just short of $2 MILLION we should all be very proud of our efforts

Mitch: Team Dud Route

Hey Deb,
Just writing to say thank you for the Rally this year.
We had a fantastic time, and met so many great people.
It’s fair to say we had a steep learning curve about what does and doesn’t work for fundraising for us, but we got across the line with some support and guidance. And plenty of advice from dozens of people about what we can do next year (hopefully!)
Super excited that the 10th anniversary Rally is departing from Perth, and are hoping we make it in. In any event, the Rally has opened our eyes to the enthusiasm of the Rally community, and we’d be happy to help out in any way we can (being from Perth, we can help out with logistics, storing cars etc.) – early days yet, but if you are in need, just let me know.
Thanks again

Sarah: Team Dafuq

To be a part of an amazing group. To have friendships which span the country. To work toward a common goal without ego. To achieve, to support, to congratulate & console. That’s what Shitbox Rally means to me, SBR2018 reinforced that meaning and then some.

Peter: Stopover Silverton Hotel

What a pleasure to have this fantastic group of passionate fundraisers visit the iconic Silverton Hotel. As part of their journey raising awareness & vital funds for Cancer Council Australia. Deb your organizing skills make our job easy & it is a great please to be a service provider for your group. It’s also a chance to showcase our little village to over 300 with the overnight stay. It was evident from the participation of the theme night that everybody was in enjoyment mode. Thanks for choosing Silverton & look forward to another visit one day.

Thanks again Deb & James for bringing a wonderful crew to the Silverton Hotel we are glad they enjoyed there night!

Phill & Bec: Stopover Milparinka Hotel

Thank you to the Mystery Box Rally for choosing to stop over in the very small township of Milparinka. It’s so lovely that you like to support little communities like ours.
The Mystery Box Rally is definitely well organised and everyone so easy to please.
Upon leaving you couldn’t even tell there had been 320 people stay the night. All the camp grounds were cleaned up and no rubbish to be seen. I was very impressed.
We thoroughly enjoyed having you all here. You are more than welcome back here anytime!

Clancy: Lunch Stop Pooncarie

In October, the Mystery Box rally travelled through our little town Pooncarie. We were fortunate enough to have Deb contact us at the school and ask if we’d like to cater for a lunch time meal. We were so pleased for the opportunity to fundraise for our small community and be involved in the rally. The day was a huge success. The rally drivers were very friendly and so generous. Our children were thrilled with the excitement of the vehicles and atmosphere. The group were well organised, and we were pleased to be able to provide a yummy lunch for them while they raise money for such great cause.

Matthew: Stopover Arkaroola Resort & Wilderness Sanctuary

Wow what a great bunch of people we enjoyed having the Mystery Box Rally for their stop over. What a challenge for us being in the middle of nowhere but we did it and the help from Deb it worked out great. Thank you to the great bunch of people who made it a great night, you guys are doing a wonderful cause, KEEP IT UP. We loved having you all here and hope you had a blast.  I hope to see you again and thank you for the great opportunity for our Resort in the middle of nowhere.  See you all again.

Nelson: Team Behaving Badly

Thank you Deb I throughly enjoyed the whole experience.
And a big thank you to yourself, James and the rest of the organising team for all your efforts and for everything you guys do to make it run as smoothly as it did.

Craig: Team Sunday Drivers

I would like to personally thank you for an amazing effort between yourself and James for organising such a fantastic event, MBR 2018. It was my first rally and hopefully not my last, I was in the team ‘ Sunday Drivers’ and unfortunately our car died on day 2 and the car still resides in Innamincka!  The reason for this email was to find out when I can register for 2019? Mystery Box 2018 would have to be one of the best events I’ve ever participated in and i am already waiting for next year. Anyway, please pass on my congratulations and praise to yourself and James as I believe he wasn’t thanked enough at the after party on Wednesday night.

Les: Team Oddballs

Hi James, Deb and team,
I wanted to personally say ‘thank you’.
Often that single thing is not said enough.
I read everything about you and the reasons behind the rallies before the event and watched videos and tv of interviews with you.
Seeing you on the rally simply reinforced what I had read because I saw your hearts and passion on the rally.
You have good hearts.
So be encouraged, keep it up and thank you.

Tony Weir: Stopover Roxby Downs

It was an absolute pleasure to host such a well organised event, the Roxby Downs Community got behind the hospitality requests and enjoyed their involvement with The Shitbox Rally.
Everybody was so well behaved and cooperative in every aspect of the night and certainly would be happy to host again if the opportunity presented itself.  I am happy to see that another record amount was raised for the Cancer Council and wish you all the best for the future rallies around Australia.

Trevor Wright: Stopover William Creek Hotel

In the last year we have had both Mystery Box Rally 2016 Stopover and Shitbox Rally 2017 pass through our small town of William Creek. From a service providers view the rallies have been very well organised. We found everything they said followed through into actions.  It’s a credit to Deb and James on how smoothly everything did go for us.  The rallies are a great financial uplift to any outback business….we can’t wait to have them back again!!!

Marco: Team Mario Bros

Just a quick note to say THANK YOU for this years rally!
We had a fantastic time yet again and can’t wait to hopefully do it all again next year
Take care and thanks again

Nick & Martin: Team The Whinging Poms

Hi James & Deb
Just a quick note to say thanks for an awesome week.
We travelled through some beautiful country met some amazing people and created memories that will last a life time.
Having worked in the event industry most of my life I understand the challenges that you would encounter, and so was impressed with not only the organisation of the event and the logistics of getting the traveling caravan of shitboxers across the country but the incredible passion you have for the cause and the Shitbox family.
The only issue was we didn’t really have anything to whinge about!!
Keep up the great work
Thanks again

David & Dianne: Team Hollywood

Hi James
Just a quick note to once again thank you for the amazing experience that is the shitbox rally.
I was lucky enough to be involved last year with a mate and this year my wife came along this year and was totally amazed by the experience.  Many of the people I met last year were again on the rally and they are an amazing group of people that are focussed on a cause that affects all of us in the community.  The rally particularly hit home to me in our team 30 with the tragedy of Laura losing her mum during the rally, Ian spreading his fathers ashes and my best mate who was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer three weeks prior.   These circumstances continue to focus me on the incredible road ahead and the value of events such as these.
With all this in mind, the experience that is the shitbox rally is only available because of the passion, time and effort of you and your team.  I know how much work goes into organising an event like this and would like to applaud you and your team for not only making the event an amazing experience in our amazing country, but ensuring that everyone was dealt with in a professional, caring and helpful manner.
Thanks once again and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the rally and the advances in research to cancer as a result.

Maurice: Team We Are the Champions

What an awesome time Cameron & I had on the 2017 rally. You, James & the rest of the team have our heartfelt thanks for organising this amazing journey.

While we were on the Oodnadatta track Cameron Champion did a bit of a run as part of a donors condition to give $500. We got the money before the rally but promised him a video of the run, unfortunately I stuffed up most of the filming while watching for traffic, driving, filming & being on the radio.

I have a terrible memory for names & must apologise, a lovely young lady from your promotions people sat on the boot of the car in front & took photos or video of the run & I was wondering if you could pass me her email address.
So looking forward to entering next year & catching up with everybody again.

Wayne: Team Boardies & Lederhosen

Hi Deb
It was great to meet you in person on the Rally. Another fabulous event that should have James, you and everyone involved should be pleased and proud. Thanks to all involved.

I wrote after last year’s event that I found it to be quite a cathartic experience having lost 4 family members and close friends during the year. Gladly we had not experienced such losses prior to this year’s Rally, so while I approached the event with a very different mindset, the resultant experience was no less moving. Like many I met on the Rally, I still struggle to come to grips with ‘why’. Why my family and friends? Why such a hideous disease exists? Why is it taking so long to find cures? Being able to contribute in our own small way to the great work being done by medicos to answer these questions helps one put things in perspective. The Cancer Council is our family charity…Shitbox Rally gives us the opportunity to contribute, have some fun and share our personal experiences with others who understand. Keep up the great work.

Cam & Jen: Team Pizza Planet

Gday Deb,
Now that all the dust’s settled, I’d like to send my thanks to you, James, and anyone else involved behind the scenes for running such an enjoyable rally. 2017 was hectic, the overnight stops were awesome, the roads were brutal, the scenery was amazing and the people we met were top class. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
We’d also like to update you on where our car (the Pizza Planet Rodeo) ended up. Justin from High Voltage bought it at the auction and got his co-driver to drive it down to Sydney so that he can turn it into an LS1 V8 powered, Pizza Planet themed burnout car! Would this be the first time a rally car has been turned into a skid car? I’ve attached a photo of us with Justin after he bought the car.
Thanks again, hope you’ve all recovered well, and best of luck for all the work you’re putting into the future rallies.

Cheryl & Fenn: Stopover Cameron Corner

We thoroughly enjoyed the Mystery Box Rally coming through our little part of the world. Some think we are in the “middle of nowhere” but we consider it the “centre of everywhere”. Everyone was having such a good time and for such a large group were appreciative and respectful.
The rally was so well organised. Box rallies are more than welcome anytime at our place. It was pleasure having you all and we appreciate such a large group visiting, as it brings a special spark to the outback and all for charity. Congrats. And remember – We are only around the Corner!

John & Julie: Stopover Kingoonya Pub

Well when we first heard that the mystery box rally was coming here and the amount of people we thought WOW how can we do it.
The community rallied together (which happens a lot) and it was an exceptional day, night and morning.
The teams were all great fun and everyone joined in together. The local band that played that night said that was the best crowd they had played for.
We are all looking forward to another rally to come through when organised.

Trevor Wright: Stopover William Creek Hotel

In the last year we have had both Mystery Box Rally 2016 Stopover and Shitbox Rally 2017 pass through our small town of William Creek. From a service providers view the rallies have been very well organised. We found everything they said followed through into actions.  It’s a credit to Deb and James on how smoothly everything did go for us.  The rallies are a great financial uplift to any outback business….we can’t wait to have them back again!!!