Off the beaten track: How a Ford Falcon took Stef Dourado across Australia for cancer research

Posted on 14 Aug 2026
5 mins read

Somewhere on a darkened Victorian mountainside, radio silence hanging in the air, Steffi Dourado was standing behind an old Ford Falcon called ‘Lady Henry Blue’, shouting directions to her co-driver as they inched through a four-point turn; one wrong move would see them sliding off the edge.

It's not the image most people have of a week's paid leave from work. But for this UTS staff member, this is exactly how she chooses to spend hers.

Third times the charm

This year marked Steffi’s third Shitbox Rally, organised by Box Rallies, which sees teams of everyday Australians pile into cars worth less than $1,500; the more clapped-out and covered in ridiculous decorations, the better. For this event in the series, they set off on a gruelling, seven-day road trip across some of the country's toughest terrain. This Cancer Council fundraising event has participants driving thousands of kilometres in a shit box of a car and has become one of Australia's most beloved charity traditions. None of this would be possible without UTS’s generous Social Justice Leave provisions.

"This is a great opportunity for staff to take part in volunteering outside their formal role and help build reciprocal relationships with the wider community," said Stef.

"Beyond the laughs, breakdowns and roadside repairs, it's an event built on generosity, mateship and the shared goal of raising money for cancer research," she continued.

Steffi Dourado driving a car in the Shitbox Rally 2026

Her why

Stef's inspiration and driving force (no pun intended) came from the sudden death of her aunty at a young age to cancer. She was diagnosed in August 2014 with liver cancer and passed away in February 2015, leaving behind a husband and two young boys. Determined to do something with her grief, Stef spent the next three years raising close to $18,000 for the Can Too Foundation, which supports research into cancer prevention, treatment and control. So, when a close friend and veteran Shitbox rallier told her about the event, she knew immediately it was what she wanted to do next.

The car

But firstly, she had to find a car – a shit box car to be precise. Steffi found hers in Goulburn: a battered old Ford Falcon for $1,200. No working handbrake and worn-out tyre treads made this car the perfect choice.

Now in the Ford Falcons second rally, ‘Lady Henry Blue,’ as the car is affectionately known, has just completed the 2026 Autumn Shitbox Rally from Port Douglas to Melbourne – an insane 3,462 km in total with 1,315 km of that on unsealed roads.

Shitbox Rally cars driving through water

This year's rally

This year’s route delivered its fair share of dramas: getting stuck in the mud, dodging huge potholes, driving over corrugated roads, water crossings and gut-dropping road dips. The scariest moment came on day six when they got lost in a Victorian mountain range, after misunderstanding a radio direction. As the road narrowed and became more difficult to navigate, they felt the darkness creeping in.

"We received a radio call asking if we could see cars ahead of us. Then the radio went silent – we were out of range," said Stef. "We knew then that we had ventured off track, so in total darkness we had to do a delicate four-point turn operation, making sure we didn't slide off the mountain."

With her wonderful co-driver and mate, Ali Davies, at the wheel, Steffi guided them from behind the vehicle until they reached the right turn.

And as in Lilo and Stitch – no one gets left behind – they caught up with the wonderful rally support crew and their buddy group at the intersection and made it safely to camp that night.

It’s a reminder that this isn't a casual fundraiser. Teams must prepare mentally, physically and financially (participants pay for flights, accommodation, food and entry fee) for the weeklong trip, and it's not for the faint-hearted. They battled freezing cold weather with a sleeping bag that was too lightweight and a tent that grew icicles overnight.

The lighter moments

For all the hardship, Steffi is quick to point out the joy and laughter too. From being glitter bombed or having to do 10 push-ups every time she mentioned the word ‘mine’ (which she did every day). Moments like these, she says, are only possible because of the space UTS’s Social Justice Leave creates.

"The camaraderie and connections you make along the way make it all worthwhile and knowing that you are all doing it to raise money for cancer is so amazing," she said. "Being vulnerable and opening up to the experience is when you meet the best people."

Steffi Dourado and Ali Davies dressed up as unicorns for Shitbox Rally 2026 — Steffi Dourado and Ali Davies

The result

Steffi and her co-driver Ali raised an astonishing $9,600 through various fundraising activities, and the rally has collectively raised close to $2,500,000 – all made possible for Steffi by five days of paid leave, the amazing team at Box Rallies, a $1,200 Ford Falcon, and a promise she made to her aunty's memory.

Community engagement at UTS

This incredible program offers a great way for staff to become involved and engaged with the community and supports the UTS Community Engagement Charter’s (the Charter) commitment to 150,000 hours of volunteering for staff and students over 3 years. At its core, the Charter aims to strengthen the quality, impact and integrity of UTS's engagement with communities and to foster partnerships that create positive social change.

Social Justice Leave for staff

Are you a UTS staff member inspired to make a difference through volunteering?

UTS offers staff up to five days of paid Social Justice Leave each year to volunteer with community organisations and support causes they care about.

Learn more about Social Justice Leave at UTS (opens UTS Sharepoint)

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