Nevill Westwood’s 1926 Journey: A Health-Focused Missionary Trip in an Essex

Bubsie’s epic story was mostly settled by 1925, but Nevill’s story did not end there. In 1926, he set off again, still driven by his boundless missionary zeal, aiming to travel to north-western Australia to continue selling books. He reached thousands of souls in the remote Outback, found on the various cattle stations and mining camps, as well as the Aboriginal people scattered throughout the area. This time, he was joined by Rudolph Schick, a nurse also trained in dentistry. Nevill, as a colporteur, sold books while Rudolph offered free health clinics.

From The Overlander, we are told more about the vehicle Nevill travelled in for this second circumnavigation. “Nevill drove a new car, an updated 1926 Essex Super Six, which they were able to purchase below market value because of the missionary nature of their trip. To suit it for long-distance outback travel, the car had been fitted with new electric equipment, shock absorbers and spotlights at a heavily discounted rate. They had also received donations of medical supplies, which would help with their health clinics.”

The journey began in Sydney on Monday, April 19, 1926, departing from Sydney Adventist Hospital, where Rudolph had been trained. From there, they headed north through New South Wales, stopping at the then Australasian Missionary College, now Avondale University, in Cooranbong, moving on to Newcastle, Wauchope, Grafton, Lismore and Murwillumbah.

They crossed into Queensland, visiting Brisbane, where several reporters interviewed them, and photographers took photos. They then proceeded to Hellidon Spa, Haden, Dalby, Wallumbilla, Muckabilla Bore, where the Essex needed repairs, Roma, driving 700 miles (1,126 kilometres) through central QLD via Longreach to Hughenden, where they left the car to be serviced, opting to catch the train to Townsville, stopping at Homestead to visit the family of friends.

Then in July, they took the train to Cairns and Mona Mona, where they saw the beautiful Barron Falls. After returning to Townsville, they travelled to Charters Towers, visiting stations along the way to Normanton, the Mitchell River and then Staaton River. Eventually arriving at Bourke Town and Camooweal.

After crossing into the Northern Territory, they visited Avon Downs, Alexandria, Brunette Downs, and Abroy stations, taking the overland route to Alice Springs, where they were resupplied by train from Port Augusta. They continued on to Charlotte Waters, MacDonnell Ranges, Daly Waters, Elsey Station, then they left the car at Eumangalan and caught the train to Darwin.

By August, they crossed into Western Australia’s Kimberley region, visiting Wyndham and passing near the Fitzroy River, close to Derby, then drove on to Broome, Port Hedland, Ethel Creek Station, Meekatharra, Mingenew, and finally Perth. From Perth, opportunities to minister among the indigenous community were fewer, so the journey back to Sydney was more straight-line.
The primary purpose was missionary service in isolated locations: distributing religious literature, offering health education, providing basic medical and dental care, and promoting lifestyle principles for well-being. This made the 1926 expedition more targeted than the unplanned, record-setting lap of the previous year.

Although it covered vast distances over challenging bush tracks, river crossings, and remote terrain, the trip received less public attention than the 1925 adventure. It was an effort that did not enjoy the same widespread attention and appeal as the 1925 record attempt, which offered so many different detailed accounts of the total duration, exact mileage and daily incidents. The 1926 journey demonstrated Westwood’s continued commitment to combining adventurous travel with practical Christian service. By applying lessons from the earlier epic trip, he was able to deliver more focused health and evangelistic outreach in Australia’s outback regions.

The Incredible Journey’s 2026 Follow-Up:
Echoing Nevill Westwood’s Health-Focused Mission

Following the resounding success of  “Right Around Australia”, the centenary reenactment in 2025, The Incredible Journey is presently planning a meaningful follow-up project for 2026. Nevill’s 1926 trip in his Essex Super Six offers a natural follow-on for Right Around Australia (RAA) in 2026. Like RAA celebrated the centennial of Nevill’s 1925 journey, so RAA2026 will celebrate Nevill’s 1926 journey, with a similar focus: evangelism and health!

The Incredible Journey team considered this undertaking and realised we were on the back foot in celebrating and commemorating this story. We did not have an Essex; we would not have the benefit of careful years-long planning, and the crew and team were burnt out from the extraordinary year of 2025. How could we possibly even consider doing it all again the very next year?! But, we also had some arguments in favour of doing it: we had gained valuable experience from 2025, and we had established the ‘Right Around Australia’ brand. We would not want to see this go to waste!

Answers to Prayer

So what did we do? We prayed, and our board resolved: IF we could find a suitable Essex, then we would take that as a sign to move forward in faith and commit to RAA2026.

Guess what happened? Late in December 2025, an Essex appeared for sale. We went to view it and found that it was in great condition. A week later, we had purchased and received the vehicle. By the first week of February 2026, we had bought an enclosed trailer big enough to accommodate the Essex (which weighs twice as much as Bubsie). Plans, partners and equipment are coming together at a rapid pace. So…here we go again!

The planned 2026 effort will mirror this by launching a dedicated “health-focused mission journey” and will be smaller in scope than the grand 2025 continental loop, but equally impactful in spirit, with a clear focus on sharing the health message rooted in biblical teachings. Preparations are underway for the team to depart Sydney Adventist Hospital in May 2026, heading north through Queensland toward the Northern Territory, eventually reaching Darwin before continuing into Western Australia.

Sharing the Health Message

Planned stops will include remote communities, churches, and outback towns, where the group aims to actively share the health message by offering:

  • Health education sessions on nutrition, preventive care, whole-food plant-based living, exercise, rest, and other lifestyle principles aligned with biblical health teachings.
  • Basic cooking classes and presentations on health, echoing the original journey’s emphasis on practical wellness in underserved areas.
  • Invitations to free Bible studies, religious literature distribution, and community gatherings that integrate Westwood’s story of faith-driven adventure with messages of holistic health and spiritual well-being.
  • Displays and talks about the 1926 Essex as a symbol of resilience and service, while highlighting how health principles can transform lives, just as faith sustained Westwood through his journeys.
The Essex has been selected to represent the 1926 upgrade, providing better handling of rough tracks while preserving the vintage feel that connects to Westwood’s era. The team plans to document the entire experience through videos, social media updates, and episodes on TIJ’s platforms, highlighting how Westwood applied lessons from his 1925 epic journey to focused missionary health outreach, sharing the health message as a key part of spreading hope and practical help in Australia’s vast outback.

This 2026 project will serve as a natural extension of the centenary celebrations, reminding participants that true adventure often lies in quiet, purposeful service rather than headlines, especially when it involves sharing the health message to empower communities physically, mentally, and spiritually. It reinforces TIJ’s mission to inspire modern audiences with historical examples of courage, faith, and practical help, continuing the legacy of a young missionary who turned wheels into witness.

We now have three months to negotiate with our partners, recruit crew for the 2026 trip, plan the launch, and finalise the route. We are grateful for the enthusiasm prevailing in the partnership negotiations, deriving from the proven success of 2025. We are grateful to the Lord for what has been done, and we remain faithful in prayer for what still needs to be done.

As details finalise, stay tuned via TIJ’s official site (tij.tv), this Right Around Australia website, or social media channels for updates on the May 2026 launch, route, and ways to get involved in sharing the health message.