i98FM’s Illawarra Convoy Raises a record $2,850,000

22 November, 2023

This morning the final tally for i98FM’s 2023 Illawarra Convoy was announced with i98 Breakfast Show hosts Marty Haynes, Christian McEwan and Bella Leone. The Convoy, which was held last Sunday November 19th, raised a record breaking $2,850,000 The result is the largest amount raised for the Convoy alone in a year, only eclipsed by 2021’s result of $3,047,473, which also included funds from “The House that Convoy Built” project. This years result takes the total funds raised to just over 25 million dollars since the events inception in 2005.

The event which is now in its 19 year, saw 779 trucks and 633 motorbikes travel 70 kilometres from Illawarra Coal’s West Cliff Colliery at Appin, through the streets of the Illawarra, to finish up at the Shellharbour Airport for the huge free family fun day where approximately 17,000 people were in attendance throughout the day. The fun day saw performances from Ricki-Lee & Thirsty Merc, supported by local artists The Goat featuring Tim Stevens, Kate Young Angie Childs and friends, The Vandastruts, Altered States and Polly Hazelton and also included Kye’s FMX Jam motocross, Cars For Convoy, Little Big Rigs, kids rides and more!

Winning lead truck position this year was Menai Haulage, with the winning bid of $300,001, the highest amount bid across both trucks and bikes this year. In addition to the $300,001 lead truck bid, Tiny Tins & Wollongong Crane Trucks contributed $261,000 Followed by the RMK Group at $100,000 and Best Sheds & Wollongong Car Carriers at $84,000 and Murrell Freight Lines at $80,000 , with another 45 groups also contributing to the lead truck pack.

Leading the motorbikes in the Convoy with a record-breaking lead bike bid of $252,000 was Coles Illawarra stores with over 1180 staff taking part in year round fundraising within their stores from Corrimal to Ulladulla. Throttle Jockies took out second place with a $83,000 bid, followed by Motocity at $53,126.53, Kye’s Convoy Dream at $40,000 and Bikers 4 Heroes at $17,339.74.

“For our fundraising teams and businesses to achieve such successful results, with interest rates and the cost of living rising, is simply incredible” said Convoy manager Mark Rigby. “Many of these teams have held fundraising events right through the year to achieve these results. We’ve seen some great new fundraising events this year like First Choice Earthworks’ Ferret Race, Tiny Tins & Wollongong Crane Trucks’s “Battle of The Businesses” boxing event, and NGIL’s inaugural Golf Day, and every year the list of events raising funds for Convoy continues to grow” said Mark.

All monies raised in this year’s event will go to the Illawarra Community Foundation who will distribute funds to local charities and families who are facing life threatening & life limiting illness. Submissions for funding can be made at the Convoy website www.illawarraconvoy.com.au.

Convoy’s Founder and i98FM Breakfast Show host Marty Haynes said of this morning’s result “It never ceases to amaze me how generous the people of the Illawarra are. Many of our fundraising groups far exceeded their results from previous years, and it’s a credit to the hard work, collaboration, time and effort so many people put in year-round for Convoy, especially in this cost of living crisis. This money will help to make a real difference to those who are bravely facing other illnesses and hardships in our community. To everyone who has supported Convoy, thank you…be nothing but proud of yourselves. We look forward to next year, Sunday 17th of November, for our 20th year of Convoy, in what we hope will be the biggest one yet!”