When Footscray’s Donna Lee was looking to give her daughter Georgia Rose an experience to remember, little did she know their road-trip would turn into a three-year odyssey around Australia.
Behind the wheel of a converted 1988 Toyota Hilux van dubbed Gypsy, the pair set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
“I was a single parent, and I thought I didn’t know what I could do for her,” Ms Lee said. “But then the van came up for sale so I thought, ‘Let’s just do this’.
“We left when she was seven. I probably thought it would be for one year, but once you start there is so much to see and do.”
As a teacher, Ms Lee was able to keep her daughter’s schooling going via distance education.
They now share a lifetime of memories, ranging from shucking fresh Coffin Bay oysters straight from the sea to helping launch a weather balloon on the Nullarbor Plain.
“Everyone else was buying a home and settling in, but we were out there meeting all these people on the roads and having these wonderful adventures,” Ms Lee said.
With Georgia Rose growing up, they have been finding less time to hit the road with Gypsy.
After going through so much in their 15 years together Ms Lee couldn’t face the prospect of selling Gypsy, so has opted to donate her to charity Kids Under Cover.
“She has been a really big part of our life, she’s part of our identity,” Ms Lee said.
“She just keeps going and going, this will be someone else’s chance to take her around Australia.”
Kids Under Cover will auction Gypsy, raising funds to help prevent youth homelessness.
Kids Under Cover chief executive Jo Swift said donations of vehicles were essential for assisting the charity in its work.
“All it takes is filling in an online form and Kids Under Cover will collect your unwanted car for free,” she said.
“All sale proceeds from your donation help at-risk young people stay connected to home and education.
Details: www.kuc.org.au
