Record attendance at this year’s Mackay Konvoy 4 Kids

Kayla WalshOctober 11, 2024, 8:40 amOctober 11, 2024

Images: Black Thunder Photography

This year’s Mackay Konvoy 4 Kids was a huge success despite grey skies, with a record-breaking 201 trucks showing up for a good cause.

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Queensland truckies left Sarina Showgrounds at 10am on Sunday August 11, travelling along the Bruce Highway and winding up at Mackay Showgrounds for a day of family fun.

J.J. Richards & Sons Waste and Management were given the honour of leading the convoy after donating $8,000 to children’s charity Variety, making them the event’s Heart Sponsor.

Centurion, WMT Transport, Kinetic, Veolia and Western Truck Group, Zarb Transport, Redline Transport and Shannon’s Insurance weren’t far behind, after they also made impressive donations.

Black smoke and diesel fumes filled the air

A total of $17,200 was raised, and convoy organisers Madonna Stevens and Johanna Wood were delighted with the turnout and fundraising efforts.

“We were very happy with how the event went,” says Stevens. “We had a bit of rainy weather but there was still a great turnout and everyone enjoyed the day.”

The Mackay Konvoy 4 Kids has been raising money for Variety since its inception 15 years ago.

“Madonna and Ashley Stevens do the Variety Bash every year, and the convoy is their major fundraiser to go towards their participation in the event,” Wood explains.

“This is the 40th year of the Variety Bash, and every state in Australia does its own thing.

“We travel for 10 days in a charity drive, with about 160 cars coming from all the towns out west and stopping at all the schools for the children.”

Apart from taking in the trucks on display, attendees enjoyed live music, food and drink, and market stalls, with an animal farm, face painting and jumping castles for the kids.

WMT Transport were one of the top sponsors

Awards were also handed out across 13 categories (full list at the end of this article).

Stevens and Wood are looking forward to returning in 2025 for another great convoy. “It’s the third Sunday of August every year, so next year it will be August 17,” says Stevens.

“This is the first time in 15 years that it has rained, so we’re hoping the good weather will come back!”