Locals excited as travellers roll in for outback's biggest racing event

It is the kind of event that leaves a mark on those who attend, often involving hours of travel through bushland and outback flood plains to reach the grounds of the legendary Birdsville Races.And for Dubbo-based comedy content creator Robert Wharram, it was an experience he wanted to share with others as he planned his second trip to outback Queensland."I experienced Birdsville for the first time last year, and I always wanted to take some people out there," he said."We got the idea at the pub, obviously … we thought we might take 10 people out to Birdsville."Robert Wharram drove out 47 travellers from New South Wales to see the Birdsville Races. (Supplied: Robert Warren)One post on Mr Wharram's social media page, Wiradjuri Rabbs Entertainment, calling for anyone interested to join his adventure snowballed from 10 people to almost 50."Very early on in the piece, we got a major sponsor, so we now have two 57-seat coaches and 47 people on board from Central Station, Sydney, at the Birdsville Races," he said."The first bus actually sold out within four days."Once a sponsor jumped on board, Mr Wharram felt he needed to give back to the community."I thought, given that they're paying for our buses, which is mind-blowing, the least we can do is donate $100 per person to the Royal Flying Doctor Service."We'll round it up to $5,000, and we'll hand that over … on the first day of Birdsville Carnival."From Wollongong to BirdsvilleTim Morgan is one of those 47 travellers who took up the call for a desert adventure."I've been following … Wiradjuri Rabbs there for a little bit and … when he said he's going to put his bus trip together, I got excited for it," Mr Morgan said.There's 13 races scheduled over two days. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)A fitter and turner from Wollongong, Mr Morgan says, like many others on the bus, the biggest highlight was being able to support small towns along the way."This is what it's all about, giving back, putting money back into the country towns, getting out here, seeing it all," he said."It's been an absolutely awesome trip so far."Tim Morgan's favourite small-town stopover was in Windorah for the yabby races, held in the lead-up to the Birdsville Races. (Supplied: Robert Warren)Mr Morgan said the group also held a share in a racehorse, with any winnings being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation.Locals 'excited' as tourists roll inIt has been an unpredictable year for outback tourism, with flooding causing road closures and event cancellations, while fuel-price spikes from the war in Iran initially reduced winter holiday travel to a trickle.Gary Brook hopes the event surpasses the 3,500-visitor mark. (ABC News: Peter Quattrocelli)Birdsville Races vice-president Gary Brook said local businesses would welcome more foot traffic through town, even if numbers were not as high this year."I think they're all excited to have some visitors. It's been a really tough year for tourism businesses out here," Mr Brook said."We'd be delighted if we got to that [4,000 visitor mark]. I don't think we'll get to that level."If we could get 3,500 and the like, I think that would be probably a very successful event."Birdsville Races is a major event in the outback tourism calendar. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)Courtney Ellis, co-owner of the Birdsville Hotel, said the closure of the Birdsville track had cut off would-be race attendees from South Australia."It's a major thoroughfare and tourist route, [an] iconic track through the middle of nowhere that everyone wants to tick off and do," he said."And obviously it's a major funnel for people from South Australia and … Victoria to make their way up here and then on to Western Queensland."So, when that's closed, it's a pretty big problem."The Birdsville Track in June this year. (Supplied: Department of Infrastructure and Transport)As for outback tourism, Mr Ellis said a desert disguised under a field of flood-fed greenery eventually brought out the sightseers."It was a bit slow to start with but, once we got to sort of mid-to-late May … it was all on."It is a sight Mr Wharram would come back for again."It's just beautiful, it's a beautiful country."