A spectacular outback concert under the stars in Birdsville was a fitting end to the Nissan Simpson Crossing 50^th Anniversary event.

A highlight of the night was when Nissan CEO William Peffer presented a cheque to Frontier Services National Director Rosemary Young for $22,509 – the total amount raised from the event which will assist Frontier Services to support families and communities across remote Australia.

Hundreds of Nissan drivers from all over Australia came together for the celebration
concert on Saturday alongside Frontier Services staff and local community members, including many who had driven hours to be there. Guest stars James Reyne and Darryl Braithwaite gave a rousing performance and kept the crowd on their feet.

Earlier in the day, Marg and Doug Sprigg arrived in town completing the re-enactment of the very first vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert which they undertook with their parents Reg and Griselda Sprigg in 1962. They were accompanied by a convoy of Nissan vehicles, a camera crew and outback filmmaker Pat Callinan.

During the week, Nissan participants took part in a number of activities in and around Birdsville, taking in the desert landscape and getting to know the small outback town. Outback Links Coordinator Davida Melksham and South Queensland RAFS Project Officer Felicity Voigt joined in some of the fun.

One activity was a five-event gymkhana for vehicles which involved tasks such as frisbee and tennis ball balancing and a
blindfolded driving course. Other activities included a photography workshop, a whip-cracking display, a football fancy dress-up evening, a sunset tour of Big Red and expeditions to Innamincka, the Bilby Way, Cooper Crossing and Poeppel’s Corner.

Frontier Services thanks Nissan and all the participants in the event for their tremendous support.

“It has been wonderful to be part of this 50^th anniversary event, particularly as Frontier Services celebrates 100 years in remote Australia, and to share with so many people the work we do,” said Ms Young.

“We are very grateful for the money raised which will go a long way in helping us to continue to support people in remote Australia, when and where they need it.”

See more photos from the event on our Facebook page.