For the first time, three generations of women will compete as one team in this year’s Great Endeavour Rally.
Rowanne McKenzie of Thorneside said the 30th anniversary of the rally seemed a fitting time for herself, her mother Karen King from Gladstone and her grandmother Ilene King from Hervey Bay to compete, with her mother turning 60 and grandmother turning 80.
The rally travels from Yeppoon, through the Daintree Rainforest via Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield track before finishing in my her grandmother’s hometown of Hervey Bay. It leaves on June 9.
“The Great Endeavour Rally raises money for the Endeavour Foundation which is dedicated to helping people living with a disability live fulfilling lives. This organisation is close to our family's heart as my cousin (Mum's nephew and Nana's grandson) lives with a disability,” Ms McKenzie said.
Ms McKenzie said the three of them were not strangers to helping others as a team.
“In December 2013 we went to Myanmar to help in a Child Development Centre with local charity MyKids Australia of which I was the treasurer. My daughter helped as well that time so that made four generations volunteering together,” she said.
“Working together brings me so much joy. We live hundreds of kilometres apart now so helping others together is a great way for us to spend time with each other. When we were in Myanmar, I was able to sit and do craft with my Nana and the kids at the Development Centre. This took me back to my childhood when my Nana would teach me ceramics. On this trip I'm hoping to learn the finer arts of crocheting which I've just taken up.”
Ms McKenzie said The Great Endeavour Rally had always been on her nana’s bucket list.
“In 2016, Mum and Nana travelled out to Uluru along with my Uncle Wayne and Cousin Josh. They entered the 2016 Rally with my Nana's 1992 VP Commodore which we'll be using again this year.
“Having fun while raising money for the Endeavour Foundation is what the rally is all about. My Uncle Wayne is also entering the rally again in a separate team.”
The family has a fundraising target of $3300 and has already raised about 60 per cent of this amount. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made through https://ger2017.everydayhero.com/au/car-012-true-blue-3g-rally
Corporate donations of more than $100 can have the logo on the car.
