A commemoration of the first car to drive around Australia will take place at the ADRA Community Care Centre Warburton on 16 November.
A replica of the car, affectionately named Bubsie, will come rumbling down the Warburton Highway to stop at the centre’s front lawn – much like it did 100 years ago.
Faith FM presenter and Warburton Seventh-day Adventist Church minister Peter Watts will host a radio broadcast roadshow on the day, alongside a range of activities and entertainment, making this event a must-see for locals and visitors alike.
In 1925, a 22-year-old man named Nevill Westwood went on a missionary trip and drove his 1923 Citroen 5CV around the entire coast of Australia.
A missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mr Westwood’s connection with Warburton is a unique one, and his story will be told on Faith FM’s radio broadcast roadshow on the day.
There’ll be performances by the Youth Advent Brass Brand, the Adcare Op Shop will have a stall with second-hand goods, a craft stall and food from the ADRA Food Trailer.
People will also get the chance to show off their strength with the strongman challenge, which will provide some friendly competition to keep things interesting.
Mr Watts said it was a day to celebrate a great story that has some local ties to the area.
“It’s a great story of one man’s determination to battle on, and this event is really commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first car to go right around Australia.”
“He would go to these remote communities… he would have Christian books that he would share, and the books that he shared were printed here in Warburton at the Signs Publishing Company.”
“Warburton was one of the places that he stopped on his way around Australia and he went to the publishing house, he also went to the Sanitarium health food factory when that was open here as well,” said Mr Watts.
What Mr Westwood did is an incredible feat by today’s standards – but Mr Watts said one must consider how significant it was back in 1925.
“There are no roads at this point in time. There’s only one car for every 60 people in Australia. There were no service stations, virtually no mechanical parts available.
“The car did break down a number of times on the way round, and they had to fix it up and patch it up and back on the road it went.”
Busbie began its trip from Perth in June this year, where he headed north to Port Hedland before making his way east to Mt Isa.
Bubsie then stopped off at Brisbane before crossing into New South Wales, and now is making his way to Victoria where he’ll arrive at Warburton.
