History behind Jeff's Walk 2 East to West Across Australia

In 2007, Jeff walked across Australia from south to north, from Port Augusta on the Spencer Gulf to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. This walk was a personal journey and raised awareness and some funds for the Deaf Blind Association NSW.

For information about this south/north walk, please have a wander through the web site set up for that walk. After that walk, Jeff spent a year in Western Australia, working as a traffic controller and forwarding information via email to Cyril Ayris who then chopped it up and produced a very nice book which got to the shops in April 2009.

Since then Jeff has returned to Queensland living on his 29ft Roberts sailboat and in his caravan on Russell's cattle property near Beaudesert. On that walk, at the Innamincka Home Stay Accommodation owned and run by Geoff and Julie Matthews, there was a large gathering of vehicles and bodies all on a Royal Flying Doctor Service bash.

They were punishing old Holdens and Fords across Australia on their annual trek doing what they do well - raising money for the RFDS. Jeff met up with Steve Corney who was part of the organisational and support team around the camp fire (it was very cold, particularly at night in early June). Steve was quite taken by Jeff's efforts and willpower and offered his service "anytime/anywhere".

Jeff took him up on this, asking that Steve find and prepare a Holden Commodore wagon so that Jeff's brother Bill could drive to Karumba and pick Jeff up and then both drive back down through the same country that Jeff had walked and experience the countryside and also to meet and thank all the people that made Jeff welcome during the 5 months of the walk. Steve not only found the right car but spent consideral time preparing it and delivered it to Bill in Stockton, Newcastle. And all within Jeff's very tight budget restrictions.

Besides being the owner of a busy Tyres & More business in Tumbi Umbi on the central coast of NSW, preparing bash vehicles and participating in the RFDS bash each year, Steve stretches his time to also organise other events, in particular a three day 4WD bash to raise awareness and funds for NETS (Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service). He has created Alternative Motoring Events Pty Ltd, a non-profit, all volunteer, company to conduct these fund raisings.

In February 2010, Steve came to the Gold Coast and caught up with Jeff and invited him to join in the experience of the 4WD4KIDS in April also dropped his bombshell. He asked Jeff if he would walk east to west across Australia in 2011 for NETS. Steve, his right hand man Brian, and others would fully support him and, most importantly, they would drive the promotion of the event maximising the fundraising. After much though and deep consideration (which took 20 seconds) Jeff agreed. He will was 70 years old when the walk started in April 2011.