General News
3 October, 2025
Rainbow couple gears up for Outback Rally
Rainbow couple Helen and Rob Heinrich are gearing up for their third Outback Rally in 2026 and have launched a battery collection drive to boost their fundraising efforts for kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Rainbow couple Helen and Rob Heinrich are gearing up for their third Outback Rally in 2026 and have launched a battery collection drive to boost their fundraising efforts for kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.“We thought that everyone loves to de-clutter and we will be doing a car, truck, whatever large battery pick-up,” Ms Heinrich said.
“If you have any old ones sitting around that you can’t get rid of, we are happy to take them off your hands and donate them to the Rainbow Warriors to cash in.”
The couple first joined the rally in 2024, encouraged by friends, and bought a Ford panel van before upgrading to a Commodore wagon for the following year.
“This will be our third rally, and it all started when our friends were doing it, and they always talked about it and said, You should do it,” Ms Heinrich said.
She described the experience as both challenging and rewarding.
“It left from Burra in South Australia and we ended up in Hillston in New South Wales, so it’s all outback tracks.
“Very rarely we’re on bitumen, it’s fairly rough going, so it’s pretty tough on the cars.”
The rally lasts for five days and covers a distance of 2500-3000 kilometres.
“We don’t find out until we’re actually on day one of the rally where we’re going,” she said.
“It’s just like a total surprise.”
The event raises funds for Country Hope, a charity that supports children and families.
“The minimum we have to raise is $3000,” she said.
“Last year we raised $7000, and the year before it was about five and a half.”
Ms Heinrich said the motivation comes from personal experience.
“I had cancer, and when I was at the hospital, you’d see these little kids and think, what an injustice it is for kids to have cancer,” she said.
“I’m nearly 60 and I’ve lived a lot of life, but these poor little kids are really suffering.”
Meeting families on the rally route has left a lasting impression.
“When we were on the first rally, I’m not a big crying person, but I was in tears,” she said.
“We met this beautiful little angel in the outback who has a very rare form of cancer, and later found out she had family in Rainbow.”
Ms Heinrich said community support makes all the difference.
“It’d be great to have some support from the locals,” she said.
“We understand there are a million fundraisers out there, but this one all goes directly to the families.”
Anyone with batteries to donate or who would like to support the Rainbow Warriors can contact Helen Heinrich on 0428 951 554.