A Brightly Coloured Shitbox and a Cause Close to their Hearts
Most people spend their adult lives trying to avoid owning a people mover.
Not Lochiel locals Holly Cowan and Alice Williams.
In a twist neither saw coming, the childhood friends have not only become the proud owners of a mum-mobil, they’ve entered it in one of Australia’s most iconic fundraising adventures – the Shitbox Rally.
The pair, competing under the team name Damsels in Distress, will join 249 other cars on a cross-country journey from Mildura to Townsville, raising money for the Cancer Council along the way.
While many teams spend months searching for the perfect rally car, Holly and Alice quickly found themselves reliving their childhood roadtrips.
“Growing up in families of six, people movers weren’t a choice – they were a way of life,” Holly said.
“They hauled kids, school bags, sports gear, groceries, dogs and occasionally someone’s forgotten science project.
Cool? Absolutely not. Practical? Painfully so.”
The rally-ready family bus may not be fast, stylish or particularly sensible for tackling the Australian outback, but thanks to talented Clare artist, Holly Shadiac, the $1500 Kia Carnival is certainly glamorous.
The theme combines a playful nod to the Loch”eel” connection with a heavy splash of Carnival(e) energy.
While the rally promises plenty of laughs, the cause behind it is deeply personal.
Over the last 15 years, Box Rallies (a South Australian born charity) has raised over $65 million for the Cancer Council.
It’s not a race, rather a challenge to achieve the unthinkable — to drive cars worth under $1,500 across Australia via some of its most formidable roads, all in the name of charity.
Holly’s dad John Nicholls, father-in-law Chris Cowan and Alice’s father-in-law Mark Williams have all lost their lives to cancer.
“It’s one of those illnesses that quietly threads its way through families and communities until you realise just how many people are carrying the same weight,” she said.
Holly’s dad would have loved every minute of the Shitbox Rally.
“He was a taxi driver earlier in life and loved meeting new people. This whole adventure would’ve been right up his alley,”
One elbow out the window, long curls flapping in the wind, fully committed to the vibe.”
The friends have already raised more than $6,000 for the cause, but say awareness is just as important as dollars raised.
“In the current climate, we don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on anyone, including ourselves,”
We’re grateful for whatever support comes our way.”
The Damsels are hosting a fundraising movie night at Blyth Cinema on June 12, with a screening of the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada.
And then, they’ll buckle up and hit the road on June 19, taking the family bus on the adventure of a lifetime — and this time they’ll be choosing the music!
To support the girl’s fundraising efforts for The Cancer Council click here.
