2023’s colour was LAVENDER and cost $15 in the Convoy Shop Croome Lane Albion Park Rail. Our new colour will be released around October 2024

• 815am lead bikes leave Appin south 32 colliery

• Followed by all other bikes at 830am Kids and families buses leave Appin at approx 835am

• Lead trucks follow the buses from Appin south 32

• Non Lead trucks at Maddens plains will join onto the convoy after lead trucks and follow them down mount Ousley,
  
• turning left onto masters rd,
  
• then right onto five islands road past Bluescope,
  
• then through Cringila, Warrawong, Windang, Warilla, then right onto Shellharbour rd near maccas, then along to the oak flats interchange where they will turn right onto the Princes Highway.

• The convoy finish point is at Shellharbour Regional Airport for our huge family fun day!!
  

• Bikes should finish here around 915-930am with kids and families buses to follow shortly after followed by the trucks
  
• NOTE; these are guides only as times may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions. Pack your picnic, Pick your spot along the 80kms of convoy, and join in the fun. Please stay courteous to each other and abide by security and police instructions. We all want a safe fun convoy for all!

CONVOY VANTAGE POINTS

The trucks and motorbikes love seeing the roadside support of the community as they head down Mount Ousley to Albion Park. The motorbikes in the convoy will leave Appin Rd at approximately 815am followed by the lead trucks. It’s estimated that the bikes will begin to complete convoy on the Princes Highway Albion Park Rail from around 9am and the trucks at approximately 9.30am – 10am.

The best vantage points to watch the convoy from are:

Any of the overpasses on the F6 to Master’s Rd
The top of Mt Ousley
Bulli Tops
Master’s Rd, Coniston
King St, Warrawong
Windang Rd, Windang
Lake Illawarra Hotel, Windang
The corner of Shellharbour Rd & Lake Entrance Rd, Warilla
Shellharbour Rd, Shellharbour
Lake Entrance Rd and New Lake Entrance Rd, Shellharbour
Princes Highway Albion Park Rail, between Bunnings and Wollybutt Rd, plenty of trees and shade!!
Princes Highway in front of Albion Oval

PUBLIC SAFTEY

We love seeing the community support on the route of Convoy, but there are a few VERY IMPORTANT saftey messages we would like to share with you. It will only take one major incident to seriously affect the future of our amazing Convoy.

1. Please stay off the roads.
2. Do not high five motorbikes or trucks, this is very dangerous and illegal.
3. Please abide by all Police and Traffic Controller instructions.
4. When trucks and bikes are rolling in please be mindful when crossing the road as normal road rules apply.
5. Watch your kids!
6. Due to the dry weather, be weary of any fire hazards and dispose of cigarette butts thoughtfully.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, so please look out for others and thanks for your cooperation!!!

$50, which includes a free Convoy t-shirt, and they can be done from the first week of October at the Convoy Shop, Albion Park Rail or online. Our shop is currently closed and the phone is unattended.

Currently the Convoy Shop, at Croome Lane Albion Park Rail is closed for the year and will re open in October 2024.

Currently the Convoy shop is closed. When the shop is open you can call 1800 266 869. Or you can email info@i98illawarraconvoy.com.au.

Yes we will be having a fun day in 2024! We are hoping the conditions will be perfect and we are in the midst of planning a fun filled day! As things get announced they will be added to this page with the full event schedule; https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/FUN-DAY

EVENT SAFETY MESSAGING SPONSORED BY

1300 DRIVER provides education, information, one-off and ongoing support, and referrals for Truck Drivers, and their families, with personal, behavioural, health and lifestyle issues related to alcohol, tobacco,drugs, and other problems.
1300 DRIVER The best place for Truckies to share the load. https://1300driver.org.au/

The event will be conducted on public roads. These roads are open to the public and ALL vehicles are therefore obliged to observe all civil road rules at all times. The NSW Police will be joining us along the entire convoy route. There are a few rules but they will help ensure Convoy is safe for everyone and incident free.

ALL IT WILL TAKE IS ONE ACCIDENT FOR THIS CONVOY TO BE OUR LAST.

1. Have fun!! Remember why we are doing this.

This whole event is meant to be fun, safe and to raise money for our community. Keep that in mind during the whole event and you will enjoy it even more!

2. Lead vehicle.

The company which has paid the most money to lead the event will do so.

3. Behaviour

Any anti-social and/or inappropriate behavior by any participant or official that brings this event into disrepute will be viewed very seriously by the organizers and Police.

4. Alcohol & Drugs

This event is an alcohol and drug free event. If any official believes that a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs at any stage of the event, then we have the right to call in the police to have that driver tested for the level of alcohol or drugs in their system. This will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form.

5. Passengers

If you are planning to carry passengers with you in your truck or on your bike, they MUST travel with you to the start point. Passengers – particularly children – WILL NOT be permitted to be dropped off at West Cliff or Cataract to join a vehicle already there. This constitutes a major safety concern and will not be tolerated. NSW Police will be patrolling the colliery and Maddens Plains to ensure drivers & passengers are not gathered in dangerous positions. Please ensure children are kept OFF the road, and take extra care when hailing, boarding and alighting from the shuttle buses. Any children participating in the event will be under the care and control of a responsible adult.

Under no circumstances will any vehicle operate with any person located on the exterior of the vehicle not designed and approved for passengers.

6. Random Vehicle Checks

NSW Police have advised that upon entering the event that random cabin/vehicle inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance with passenger restriction/ Australian Road Rules & police will stop any vehicle breaching passenger restrictions / Australian Road Rules and take legal action against any person committing an offence. Please take EXTRA care to ensure all passengers are wearing seatbelts & DO NOT allow children to sit on your lap if you are driving. It is also important that bunk sections are completely secured during the event.

7. Rubbish

Please look after the environment. Do not throw rubbish out of your vehicle. Please keep it and place in rubbish bins when we reach our final destination.

8. Speed Limits

This event is NOT a race! It is an observation run. You must obey all the NSW and Australian road rules at all times. If the NSW Police fine anyone for speeding they will be excluded from the entire event. We have worked very hard with local government and local police to make this event work. Please be sensible and obey all speed limits and road rules. Do not do anything to put other participants or the general public in danger. Please take extra care coming down Mount Ousley – particularly you very heavy vehicles & cranes. Remember the 40 kmh speed limit.

9. Motorbikes

You will be under police escort. THERE IS NO GREEN LIGHT CORRIDOR. Please stop on red lights and do not proceed – even if regular traffic stops to wait for you to cross. Please do not overtake your police escort - ideally we’d like the bikes to immediately precede the trucks along the majority of the route. Please keep to a SINGLE LANE.

10. Vehicle problems

If you do get a flat or have a problem pull off the road to a safe location to work on your vehicle. If you see someone stranded on the roadside, please ensure you communicate the message via radio to an official or a fellow participant.

11. No Throwing of Lollies

Please do not through lollies from trucks, motorbikes and/or into the road during the Convoy. This causes the undue hazard of children running into the road.

12. No High Fives

Please do not high five people from a moving vehicle or motorbike. Although many people may have a hand out wanting a high five, it is extremely dangerous and illegal. High fiving also encourages people to breach the roads edge and at risk of an incident with another vehicle.

13. No Smoking

Smoking is not permitted at the South 32 lead truck and bike start point. If you do smoke in your vehicle at other locations, please do not throw cigarettes out the window or on the ground. Put them out properly and put them in a safe and non-hazardous place. And please refrain from smoking in the cabin if children are present.

14. Air Horns

Please do not use your air horns around livestock and horses – particularly at Springhill Road and along the East-West link approaching the Croome Road Sporting Complex. It is very distressing and may cause them to injure themselves by trying to jump fences etc.

15. Keep the Flow

To keep the Convoy flowing, and allow for other traffic on the road, please remain in your allocated position during the convoy and not overtake any other convoy vehicle unless directed to by police or authorised event organiser. It is also important we keep up with all police escort vehicles – they will be setting the required pace, so please follow their lead in regards to choice of lane.

LASTLY - KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU.

​in 2024

Lead Bikes Wednesday 13th November 7-9am on i98FM

Lead Trucks - Commence on the Breakfast Show on i98FM with smaller bids Monday 11th November, Then the medium bids Thursday 14th November 7-9am, and the big bidders come out to play from 11am-12noon

LEAD TRUCK AUCTION

If you are interested in participating in the auction, the rules are as follows:

To be a part of the auction and in ‘The Lead Truck Pack’ a minimum bid of $1,000 is required. Each bid is paid by the company or person, even if outbid by another person or company. This will get you ONE truck in the pack.

If you’d like more than one truck in the lead pack, then you need to bid $1,000 per truck up to FIVE trucks.

Anything over five trucks (or a $5,000 bid) is considered a company and you can enter as many trucks (within reason) from the ONE COMPANY as you like.

Your vehicles will be placed in order down the line based on the amount on money you have bid / donated to the i98fm Illawarra Convoy.

PLEASE NOTE: If you plan on bidding in the auction, you MUST still register your truck / trucks with convoy by filling out an application form and paying the $50 registration fee.

LEAD BIKE AUCTION

To be a part of the auction and in ‘The Lead Bike Pack’ a minimum bid of $1,000 is required. Each bid is paid by the company or person, even if outbid by another person or company. Bidding starts at $1,000 and the person or company with highest bid, will have the opportunity to have 20 bikes ride at the front of the Convoy in a lead pack that will be separated by Police from the rest of the bikes participating in the event.

PLEASE NOTE: If you plan on bidding in the auction, you MUST still register your bike/bikes with convoy by filling out an application form and paying the $50 registration fee.

To register your lead truck or bike bid email it to marty@i98fm.com.au

Yes, to register your fundraising activity please contact our convoy manager; Mark Rigby rigbym@i98illawarraconvoy.com.au to discuss your fundraising ideas, and complete a sanction to fundraise so its all above board!

You can support Convoy buy making a donation, buying a raffle ticket, buying some merchandise, or bidding on a silent auction item. All of these things can be done contactless, on the Convoy Website www.illawarraconvoy.com.au

You can also set up a free online fundraising page for Convoy that can be personalized with a photo, fundraising target and message on the convoy website and share it via email and social media. https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/fundraising

To donate to a truck or bike, search for their name on the homepage, and follow the prompts! https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/browse/individuals

Keep an eye out for 2024 prizes and snag a bargain when we open these up in October! https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/auctions

The annual i98FM Illawarra Convoy Raffle will go live October 2024. You can grab a ticket from the Convoy Shop, or here on the website when the raffle launches. Here’s the raffle flier from 2023, to give you an idea of the prizes on offer each year

Yes! We will continue to support families affected by potentially life threatening medical conditions with food and fuel vouchers, medical equipment, schooling needs, pharmacy accounts and more. Our support of local charities working with these patients and local hospitals has not changed. Our funding program is open year round with no closing date. Funding applications are viewed by a funding committee monthly. For more details https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/funding

Custom Truck Flags orders are now CLOSED.

. These will open in October for 2024’s event

Below are the figures for each year:

TRUCKS RAISED

2005
BIKES 110
TRUCKS 100

RAISED $47,978.70

2006
BIKES 250
TRUCKS 150

RAISED $93,829.96

2007
BIKES 500plus
TRUCKS 150

RAISED $179,555.45

2008
BIKES 589
TRUCKS 384

RAISED $287,967.70

2009
BIKES 711
TRUCKS 403

RAISED $341,487.33

2010
BIKES 750
TRUCKS 667

RAISED $536,234.75

2011

BIKES 704

TRUCKS 724

RAISED $691,570.01

2012
BIKES 764
TRUCKS 926

RAISED $1,034,921.54

2013
BIKES 780
TRUCKS 872

RAISED $1,191,816.22

2014
BIKES 791
TRUCKS 1200

RAISED $1,539,907.00

2015
BIKES 764
TRUCKS 960

RAISED $1,725,057.00

2016
BIKES 720
TRUCKS 1020

RAISED $1,805,306.00

2017
BIKES 714
TRUCKS 931

RAISED $1,928,492.00

2018
BIKES 721
TRUCKS 965

RAISED $2,000,000.00

2019
BIKES 753
TRUCKS 913

RAISED $2,760974.25

2020

BIKES 0

TRUCKS 0

RAISED $1,050,327.11 replaced By Convoy At Home TV Special

2021

BIKES 596

TRUCKS 589

RAISED $3,047,473 (included $1,315,000 for “The House That Convoy Built” project.)

2022

BIKES 707
TRUCKS 697
TOTAL RAISED $2,078,718.95

2023

BIKES 633

TRUCKS 779

TOTAL RAISED $2,850,000

In 2016 Our Convoy broadened its focus in 2016 with a new name and greater charitable reach.

The region’s biggest one-day fundraising event has been rebadged as the i98FM Illawarra Convoy to reflect its commitment to broaden the support to the Illawarra and South Coast community.

Illawarra Convoy creator Marty Haynes says the move reflects the growth and success of the charity drive during the past 12 years.

“We began with the goal of raising $20,000 for kids and their families who are living with cancer and in the first year the Illawarra community took up the gauntlet and donated $52,000. That generosity has grown to the point that we now feel we can broaden the scope of our support to the many worthy charitable causes in the region,” he said.

“Our region is well known for its generosity and with the encouragement of the trucking and biking community, we believe this is a step forward to expand our beneficiaries.”

i98FM Station Manager Sean O’Shannassy says the convoy has raised more than $9.3 million in its 12-year history and is in a prime position to help the community it serves on multiple levels.

“Due to our position in the community and the goodwill that has been established as a direct result of Convoy, i98FM is regularly inundated with requests for assistance from charities and individuals within the
Illawarra,” he said.

“While we do our best to help wherever we can, we are often unable to assist those who reach out to us in the meaningful way that we’d like to. With the continued generosity of those in our region, we are now able to help others that are in need. It’s certainly an exciting time for all of us involved in Convoy and we are thrilled that the event has evolved to a point where it can have an even greater impact on our community.”