May 13, 2019
Road Boss Rally founder Jamie Lawson and GIVIT drought manager Scott Barrett paid a flying visit to Kingaroy last week as part of their final survey of 2019 Road Boss Rally route.
The event, which was established by Jamie in 2016, will cover a 3500km course through outback NSW and Queensland, leaving Cowra on July 9 and finishing at Caloundra on July 18.
On the way rally crews will overnight at Mt Hope, White Cliffs, Packsaddle and Tibooburra in NSW, and in Noccundra, Thargomindah, Noorama, Nindigully and Kingaroy in Queensland.
Jamie has spent a large part of his life with rallies – his father Allan came up with the idea for the now well-known Endeavour Rally in 1988.
But after 28 years of involvement alongside his dad, Jamie decided it was time to strike out on his own three years ago with a different rally and a different good cause.
The Road Boss Rally raises funds for GIVIT, a charity that focuses on helping Aussies undergoing all kinds of tough times including drought, floods and cyclones.
Jamie said he’d chosen to partner with GIVIT because the charity was a great representative of what Road Boss rally participants are, and what they stand for.
“They are real hardworking Aussies who see a need and want to fill it,” Jamie said.
“If you need a helping hand through a tough time, GIVIT can step in for you.”
Jamie and Scott visited Kingaroy as part of their final planning for this year’s event, co-ordinating the logistics of accommodation, catering and fuel supplies with local suppliers.
Scott said preparing for the Road Boss Rally could take all year, and the pair have already started preparations for the 2020 event.
“It’s a pretty hard, challenging rally,” he said.
“It’s a 3500km 10-day journey through very remote parts of western NSW and western Queensland, and a lot of the course is off road.
“It’s not a race or a speed event, but it’s pretty challenging and we try to alternate between bush camps and more fully-featured pit stops every two or three days.
“After you’ve been sleeping in bush camps for a few days, you really need a place where you can have a proper shower and a soft bed for the night, and Kingaroy is a place that can do both.”
Jamie is no stranger to the South Burnett.
He’s been through Kingaroy with Endeavour Rallies many times over the past few decades, and has a special fondness for the region.
“Kingaroy is such a vibrant place,” he said.
“It’s a really great community, very open and friendly, and has exactly the type of facilities we’re looking for.”
The pair are also hoping to spread some joy when the rally comes to town in July, and Scott said he’s already started to contact charities in Kingaroy to see what GIVIT might be able to do for the South Burnett.
“We’re a service that matches charities who are looking to give, with Aussies in need of a hand,” he said.
“We try to buy stuff within the local community whenever we can because then we’re not only helping those in need, and the community as a whole.”
Scott said if there were any South Burnett or Kingaroy charities who were interested in becoming involved with the Road Boss Rally this year, they could go to the GIVIT website for more information.
