From 26th August to 1st September 2001, the National Alvis Rally was held in Queensland.

The following drivers made the trek from Victoria to Queensland: Geoff & Helen Hood, driving a Silver Eagle, Alan & Noeline McKinnon in a 12/50, Dale & Maritta Parsell in a Firefly, John & Margaret Hetherington in a Speed 20, Ian & Pat Parkinson in a TA21 and Bob & Beverley Graham in a Speed 20. These cars covered approximately 2500 miles in 5 days of travel. Other Victorians attending were Richard Tonkin & Bob Northey who flew up and borrowed Richard's recently sold TA21, and Steve and Margaret Denner did likewise and borrowed Des Donnan's 12/50. The 8 Victorian cars bought the total number of Alvis attending to 38 with approximately 90 Alvis people.

The Rally started with three nights at O'Reilly's Guest House in Lamington National Park, just south of Brisbane. This location gave us the opportunity to garage the cars for a few days and enjoy some leisurely (or energetic if you were so inclined) bush walking and bird watching and soak up the history of this amazing family, and be provided with magnificent meals morning noon and night as well as morning and afternoon tea (and supper if you where still hungry). The Guest house opened in the 1930's as an extension of the family's farming property and although there were no real roads until the 60's has enjoyed an ever increasing popularity ever since. (One lady on our bird watching walk made the journey up the mountain on horseback in 1938 and has been coming back regularly ever since).

After this introduction to Queensland we then moved 150 miles further south to Byron Bay for the remainder of the event. A day was spent touring the area and the final day began with a visit to the Byron Bay Lighthouse (The most easterly lighthouse on the mainland) and then doing our own thing around Byron Bay itself. Bruce Jorss and his team did a magnificent job organising this event we can hardly wait for the next one which will be organised by the NSW Alvis group. 5-6 days was barely enough to catch up with old friends, make new ones and see the sights. The good mix of socialising and magnificent touring roads to exercise our cars made this a memorable event for all.