Written by Kerrie Alexander
Who would have thought that two fun-loving larrikins, a mini sponge brother and 43 cars could fundraise over $570 in just one hour!
That is exactly what the spirited Sponge Brothers did to raise funds for the Neeride Rural Fire Service while travelling through the area on a Dunga-in-A-Day event (a fun family version of the real four-day Dunga Derby) held last month.
The two vivacious Sponge Brothers, and their gorgeous little offsider, got all soaped up as they scrubbed the 43 Dunga Derby cars as they wound their way through the fire fighters’ car wash roadblock at Kia Ora school carpark.
The Rural Fire Service guys and girls said they have never seen anything like it.
Raising $570 is one hour is so much better than selling sausages all day, and a lot more fun!
It was all held as part of the day’s events – a fundraiser hosted by the Greased Monkey’s mechanics team, who raised $7200 on the day to help cover the costs of the getting new Dunga Derby Road Hog pace car on the road.
Trevor Pronk from T& S Automotive – a Greased Monkeys team member – said the speedo-clad Sponge Brothers are funloving heroes who put themselves in the spotlight (a really big spotlight) all in the name of charity.
“These boys are big on laughs and love to help out when they can,” Trevor said.
“To have one of the boys bring their five-year-old son along and help was awesome, the young fella had a great time.
“This is just another example of how great our community is and how very well Dunga Derby and Rally for a Cause provide a platform to allow these great things to happen.”
It’s this type of generosity from the Dunga Derby family that has cemented them as one of the most-loved and possibly the biggest local-run charity in the region.
Trevor and Sonia Pronk from T&S Automotive, along with Ross and Rebecca McLeod, Edward Sparks and Andrew Clough from Auto Electrical Solutions are the team behind the Greased Monkeys and the monkey magic.
These guys are responsible for keeping everyone’s cars on the road on the Dunga Derby.
With this years’ event looking to have possibly 100 cars they definitely have their work cut out for them.
This event, The Dunga In A Day, is designed to give other people a taste of the Dunga Derby without the need for a special car and having to take four days off.
Over the course of the day, 153 entrants were given a taste test of what the real derby would be like.
Special directions took cars on winding dirt tracks, back roads and some bitumen to the Fraser Coast Sporting Clays shooting range to try out Clay Target shooting and have morning tea.
Then off to the Theebine Pub via West Maryborough and Mungar for lunch and to the final stop of Rainbow Beach for dinner, live entertainment, and a camp out.
Trevor said it’s people like the Sponge Brothers and the hundreds of Dunga Derby entrants that spend months fundraising every year, who ensure local families and individuals with life-limiting medical conditions or are in need of help from a situation beyond their control get the help they need, when they
need it.
Under the umbrella of the Rally for a Cause charity, the teams raised a record $260,000 last year and a massive $1.3 million since its inception in 2015.
That money has since provided support over 100 local Fraser Coast families.
Rally for a Cause has provided much needed help in times of crisis for varying reasons over the last six years.
Recipients need to be nominated and then their situation is assessed by the committee and funds, services or help as required is organised.
“Recipients are so thankful for some good news in such a worrying time and even a small amount can make a huge difference to a family,” Trevor said.
“Guidelines set up by Rally For A Cause mean that all of the funds raised are donated back to the Fraser coast community, no money leaves our area and due to the great support of our Rally Partners most overheads are taken care of.
“This is just a great group of people from all levels of our community coming together to make a huge difference, and having a good time to boot!”
The teams are now into the thick of their fundraising for the 7th annual Dunga Derby, which will be held from July 29 to August 1.
Follow all their fundraising events on the Dunga Derby by Rally for a Cause Facebook page or visit rallyforacause.org.au to donate.