Driving for a cause

Royal Far West has been providing country children with access to specialist healthcare services for more than 85 years, and the Crossing the Liverpool Plains Charity Drive has been raising funds for the service for the past four years.

The drive started out as a pleasure event for a group of harness driving enthusiasts but quickly evolved into a fundraising journey, raising close to $50,000 in the past four years.

Donna Grace, “Eulo”, Willow Tree, is one of the organisers of the event and said it was not difficult for club members to choose the beneficiary.

“In a world when so many worthy charities evolve each year, Royal Far West has been ticking away in the background providing necessary care to regional children,” she said.

“Our main objective is to raise awareness of the work Royal Far West does and any funds raised are a bonus.”

The charity drive was started by Bill and Trish Greer, Willow Tree, and the Liverpool Range Harness Club who set out with 19 horse and cart units for the first drive five years ago.

That number has risen to include more than 30 sulkies and 80 people involved today.

“Many of the vehicles are of heritage value and have been lovingly restored to their former glory – some are more than 100 years old,” Donna said.

“The horses pulling these vehicles are pretty hardy – there are Standardbreds, Welsh Cobs, Draughthorses, ponies and even Australian Stock Horses.

“It’s a vision to see them pass by with many travellers stopping to have a look – the children especially are captivated by the imagery of this bygone era.”

All drivers are members of the Australian Carriage Driving Society, representing clubs from Queensland to Tasmania.

“People return each year because they are in awe of the beautiful Liverpool Plains – especially in September, when the plains are dotted with green crops and the gold of canola,” Donna said.

But it’s not only the scenery that pulls at the heart strings of participants.

“It’s the love of sulky driving and knowing everybody is doing something they love for a charity that inspires them and cares for a friend’s child or the neighbours’ child or even their own,” she said.

The social events at camp each night during the drive were also a draw card.

“They are very social events and we sometimes get singers out to entertain us,” Donna said.

“Some people you don’t see from year to year other than at the charity drive so it’s a great opportunity to catch up.”

Travelling more than 300 kilometres, the charity drive will start from the Horse and Rider Grounds at Werris Creek with a welcome dinner on Saturday night, before departing the following day on September 14.

“The first overnight camp will be at the village of Breeza,” Donna said.

The following days will see the entourage criss-cross the back roads of the Liverpool Plains with a two-night stop over at Spring Ridge with camps at Curlewis, Mullaley and Tambar Springs.

Premer is the finish line for the drive where the contingent of sulkies will gather on Sunday, September 21.

“Along the way, local organisations benefit from providing dinners at each camp,” Donna said.

“With close to 80 people making up the contingent this can be a good fundraiser for these small communities.”

Donna said the support received by the small communities was admirable.

“It gives our participants great pleasure in socialising with the locals and camping on the old recreational grounds, some of which haven’t been used for many years.”

Last year’s charity drive raised $13,000 which went a long way to helping the large number of children from the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Quirindi regions who receive assistance from Royal Far West.

“This is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed,” she said.

“We know after a tough year like we had had, it is a huge task to ask for donations and sponsorship but people are very supportive.”