A commitment to agriculture and water has led four mates down many different paths over the years but they never thought it would end up with a 1988 Nissan Patrol and the open road.
In a few months’ time the boys — Doug Fehring, Geoff Kendell, Lindsay Schultz and Mal Johnson — will rev up the Patrol and join the 2024 Variety Bash as car number 33: Murray Darling Madness.
They will hit the dirt tracks and travel from Swan Hill to Airlie Beach from August 16 to 24.
It has always been a goal of Doug’s to join the bash and give something back to sick and special needs kids.
“I saw the Patrol advertised in Swan Hill and seeing it was in our backyard I thought I really want to do this, who would be good fun to go with?” Doug said.
Naming the car was easy — all four have always had a keen interest in the impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on the farming community, hence the name Murray Darling Madness.
“We are all water warriors and have been advocating for our environment, the community and a farmers right to irrigate and produce staple foods, ever since it became very clear to us, the negative impacts the basin plan is having on the southern basin,” Doug said.
“The bash is certainly not political, but we are looking at it as an opportunity to be able to educate the wider public on what is happening in our area, while raising some much-needed funds.”
“There is a lot of misinformation and propaganda being put out there, especially from government departments and we want to take this as a chance to correct some of the narrative,” Lindsay said.
Mal said as well as raising money, he was hoping to be able to emphasise some of the environmental damage the plan was inflicting on the rivers and bush in his own backyard.
“You can’t take water away, change the way the whole system is run and not have major impacts on community and the environment,” Mal said.
Like Doug, Geoff has always wanted to join the bash and has been inspired by previous participants.
“It’s a privilege to be in a position to give something back and help make kids lives better and to put a smile on their faces is priceless,” Geoff said.
“Young kids in isolated rural communities do it particularly hard and while we are travelling through, we will have an opportunity to educate other communities about what is happening to ours since the Murray-Darling Basin Plan came in.”
The Patrol has already travelled 350,000km and being a 1988 model it does lack a few modern comforts, but the boys are determined to not let that stop them.
Doug has already downloaded a trip meter app to help with navigation.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun, God knows where we will end up,” he laughed.
The boys are hoping to raise as much money as possible and have set a target of $20,000 and are looking for sponsors.
Lindsay intends to hold a fundraising event at the Benjeroop Hall and anyone looking to support the boys can jump on Google and find the team under car 33, Murray Darling Madness.
The entry fee is $5000.
The Variety Bash is a children’s charity to help kids living with disability and illness.
It provides support through the provision of grants, running of programs to educate and empower children falling through the cracks, along with holding kids events to bring joy, light and laughter to children in need and their families.