By John O’Farrell
From London to Melbourne, this trip was first undertaken in 1927 by Australian Adventurer, Francis Birtles in a 1924 model Bean 14 Sports Roadster.
Well-known Daily Telegraph editorial cartoonist and motoring enthusiast, Warren Brown AM, has a near-identical car and will, along with Daily Telegraph Editor-at-large Matthew Benns, plus a support vehicle and crew, re-enact the original journey (as far as is practically and safely possible). This reenactment will take place in the second half of 2024, almost 100 years later.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and this trip will form part of the celebrations.
There is a core group of four people: Warren and Matthew, plus Tony Jordan as mechanic/ auto electrician, and Stuart Duncan as videographer, recording this journey for later release as a media documentary and accompanying book.
The trip will start in London (after the Bean is exported from Australia) and proceeds through Western and then Eastern Europe to Greece, where the vehicles are shipped to Egypt and driven to the UAE. From there, they’ll be shipped to India to drive through Nepal, Bhutan, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. From Singapore, the vehicles will be shipped to Australia, and driven to outback RFDS bases promoting its role in providing vital medical help across Australia’s vast outback.
There are two others as part of the core team, myself offering advice on finance and Government protocols and Beverly Jordan as administrator. The team also acknowledges the considerable help from the car and engineering community of Goulburn, where the Bean is garaged.
Recently an evaluation run was undertaken from Goulburn to Canberra, and the HQ of the Automobile Association of Australia (AAA). This organisation issues Australia’s Carnets, or ‘passports for cars’, and have been very helpful in supporting this reenactment. The AAA has also provided us with contact organisations across the many countries through which we will drive.
Keep an eye out for more updates as we get closer to the trip!
