Community Display | Gawler SA
Tuesday: 29 April 9am – 2pm
A Display at the local ADRA OP Shop @ Gawler SA
Our team began the day in Nuriootpa after a comfortable overnight stay. Following breakfast and a team meeting, we departed for Gawler, bringing our main vehicle and the Bubsie open trailer, while leaving one team vehicle behind for later collection.
Upon arrival at the community shop located at the rear of a local property in Gawler, we found the staff had just opened for the day’s business. We strategically parked our vintage vehicle “Bubsie” where visitors could easily view this remarkable piece of history. The team quickly set up our information gazebo and resource table while Pieter returned to Nuriootpa to retrieve the remaining vehicle and deliver it to our evening destination in Elizabeth.
Throughout the day, we welcomed a steady stream of visitors. Some had specifically come to see Bubsie after noticing advertisements in local shop windows, while others were regular shop patrons who discovered our display by chance. Word spread through the community, with several people returning with friends and family to share the experience.
A highlight of our day was an extended interview with Michael from Barossa FM Community Radio, who conducted a 30-minute segment for his “Let’s Chat Barossa” podcast after discovering our display during his visit to the shop. We distributed numerous copies of the “Overlander” book and other literature about the historic journey being commemorated.
The afternoon involved considerable planning for upcoming events, and we received a special invitation to participate in a live broadcast at Faith FM studio in Prospect during their drive-time program from 5:00-6:00 PM. Kevin and I secured Bubsie under the shop’s verandah to protect her from an afternoon shower, then departed for the studio while the rest of the team coordinated a scheduled trailer exchange with Warren May, who was bringing a newly designed covered trailer.
En route to Prospect, we stopped at Elizabeth to park our vehicle outside the community center (as we didn’t yet have access to the grounds) and made a quick supermarket visit to replenish our supplies for the week ahead.
At the Faith FM studios, we reconnected with some former colleagues before meeting with Gary Hodgkin, the drive-time host. The hour-long live broadcast focused on the theme of perseverance, allowing us to share how Nevill Westwood’s historic journey with Bubsie a century ago exemplifies determination and practical problem-solving. We also discussed similar qualities we’ve needed during our commemorative tour.
After the broadcast, we returned to Elizabeth where the team had already established our overnight base. Once settled, we prepared dinner, uploaded the day’s documentation, updated our route plan, and responded to correspondence that had accumulated throughout our busy day.
