General News
9 June, 2026
Outback Car Trek rolls into Ararat to support Royal Flying Doctor Service
ARARAT’S Town Hall welcomed an unusual sight last week as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Outback Car Trek rolled into town.
Around 80 vehicles arrived in Ararat as part of the nine-day fundraising journey with their eye-catching designs and even a ‘dog and puppy duo’ was spotted amongst the convoy, which began in Sydney and has already raised more than $1.1 million for the RFDS as of Tuesday morning.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Southeastern Section Head of Motoring Events Matthew Tosolini said the event has a long history of supporting rural and remote communities.
"The Outback Car Trek has been running since the early 90s, originally organised by a group of enthusiasts who wanted to ensure the Royal Flying Doctor Service got vital funds we need to operate in rural and remote Australia," he said.
"The RFDS has picked up the mantle of managing the Outback Car Trek to support this amazing community make a difference to people living, working and traveling in the outback."
"To work with a community like this, in Ararat and across the South East, is a privilege. It's not lost on me that this community keeps turning up year after year, and it means so much to us at the Royal Flying Doctor Service and to outback Australia."
The trek brought 175 participants to Ararat, with organisers estimating the overnight stop contributes close to $75,000 to local communities through accommodation, dining and other spending.
Among the participants was "Bazza", who is taking part in the trek for the second consecutive year after supporting the RFDS through fundraising efforts for more than 35 years. "I work up in the Kimberly mostly and of course we rely heavily on the RFDS. As I got older, it was like well there's a high chance we might need this so let's contribute, so we've been donating and raising funds."
Bazza said many Australians underestimate the role the RFDS plays in remote communities. "I push the fact that people don't realise that for about 80 per cent of Australia, they are the primary health care," he said. "It's not about flying, saving people on the side of the road, it's their GP, their dentist, and now their mental health practitioner. Even out of Mildura they are running allied health workers into parts of New South Wales. It's such a unique organisation. It doesn't exist anywhere else in the world."
The Outback Car Trek then departed Ararat continuing on to Apollo Bay before heading to Tasmania.
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