In 2008 it all started with a handcycle coffee ride around the river in Perth, Western Australia when quadriplegic Craig Parsons told of his bucket list which included a visit to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and paraplegic Jim Cairns explained his desire to revisit his accident site at Birdsville in Queensland.

This started a plan with paraplegic friends Terry Mader and Anton Zapelli to ride quad cycles over 5,000km’s across arid Australia visiting all our motor vehicle accident sites on route. It then became apparent that we should film a “can do” documentary with a close link to the spectacular scenery of the Australian Outback and Aboriginal culture.

Leaving from the Western Australian port of Fremantle on the 9th August 2010 they will travel to the Coal Mining town of Collie where Terry Mader had his motorcycle accident (1982). Leaving Collie they will travel via the historic Holland Track to Southern Cross where Craig Parsons had his accident (1981) racing motocross. Traveling to the Major Gold Mining community of Kalgoorlie onto Ora Banda where Anton Zapelli had his motor vehicle accident (1989). When they leave this site they will be traveling up the Great Central Road to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory where the plan is for their respective families to meet up for some rest and recreation. Leaving this world heritage listed majestic site they will go through the Simpson Desert to Birdsville in Queensland where Jim Cairns had his accident (1985) racing in the Wynn’s Safari now known as the Australian Safari. From here they will go along the Birdsville track to Adelaide in South Australia. The trip will end here after 23 days with the team catching one of the world’s great train journeys back to Perth across the Nullarbor Plain.

We were all young when we had these serious motor vehicle accidents that left us in wheelchairs. Whilst each of us has adapted well to our circumstances, the memory of that day that changed our lives forever, has remained.

Revised Collie Section

Daily Plan

Press Release

The West Australian

Not the Footy Show
Interview was done by Ashley Morrison from Not the Footy Show on Perth Radio 990AM on the 15th September 2010 at 6.50pm