On a cool Sunday morning in Chermside, scooters will line up outside the Kedron Wavell Club, not for a race, but for a cause that will take them thousands of kilometres across Queensland.
A Ride that Began with an Idea
When the Radschool Association Inc first dreamed up the idea of Scootaville, the plan was simple: gather a group of ex-service men and women, climb aboard small scooters, and travel the country raising funds for veterans in need.
Over the years, that idea has grown into a rolling community event that blends camaraderie, charity and a love of the open road. On the 24th of Aug 2025, the ride once again begins in Chermside, a suburb that has become the symbolic launch pad for this unlikely but determined convoy.
The journey begins with more than just the hum of engines. Locals will join for a barbecue fundraiser in the Kedron Wavell Club car park before Air Force Cadets form a Guard of Honour along Kittyhawk Drive. Riders will pass through this moment of tradition and respect before turning their scooters towards the Darling Downs. It is a scene that has become familiar to returning supporters but still manages to stop traffic and spark conversations about the cause.
Scootaville 2025 – Queensland Route (24 Aug – 13 Sept)
| Date | Time | Event / Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 24 Aug | 8:00 a.m. | Community barbecue fundraiser | Kedron Wavell Club car park, Chermside |
| Sunday, 24 Aug | 9:30 a.m. | Kittyhawk Drive closed, Air Force Cadets form Guard of Honour | Chermside |
| Sunday, 24 Aug | 10:00 a.m. | Official Scootaville 2025 departure | Riders head to Toowoomba (2 nights) |
| 26 Aug | — | Overnight stop | Goondiwindi |
| 27 Aug | — | Overnight stop | St George |
| 28–29 Aug | — | Community events and overnight stops | Cunnamulla (2 nights, flood-affected) |
| 30–31 Aug | — | Community events and overnight stops | Thargomindah (2 nights, flood-affected) |
| 1–2 Sept | — | Community events and overnight stops | Quilpie (2 nights, flood-affected) |
| 3–4 Sept | — | Overnight stops | Charleville (2 nights) |
| 5–6 Sept | — | Overnight stops | Blackall (2 nights) |
| 7 Sept | — | Overnight stop | Barcaldine |
| 8 Sept | — | Overnight stop | Emerald |
| 9 Sept | — | Overnight stop | Biloela |
| 10–11 Sept | — | Overnight stops | Gayndah (2 nights) |
| 12 Sept | — | Overnight stop | Kingaroy |
| Saturday, 13 Sept | — | Ride concludes, return to Brisbane | Brisbane |
Through Flood-Affected Towns
This year’s Scootaville will deliberately steer towards parts of outback Queensland still recovering from devastating floods. Towns such as Cunnamulla, Thargomindah and Quilpie are not only overnight stops but places where events are planned to lift community spirits.
Organisers say it is a small but meaningful way to bring people together, even for a few hours, as they continue to rebuild. The route also includes Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, St George, Charleville, Blackall, Barcaldine, Emerald, Biloela, Gayndah and Kingaroy before the convoy returns to Brisbane on 13 September.
Riding for Legacy and the Air Force Association
Behind the colour and spectacle of scooters on country roads lies a serious purpose. The funds raised will go to Legacy, which supports the families of veterans, and to the Air Force Association, which will direct money to programs assisting homeless veterans. For organiser Trevor Benneworth, who has steered the event since its beginning, the ride represents both connection and action. He has explained that the aim is to reconnect people, highlight the issues many veterans face, and ensure the wider community understands the challenges of life after service.
Queensland will not be the only state to see the scooters this year. In November, riders will gather again, this time in Laverton, Victoria. That leg will stretch over two weeks through towns including Beechworth, Sale, Geelong and Ballarat before circling back to Laverton in early December. Like the Queensland route, it will rely on local communities to embrace the event, join the activities, and support the fundraising efforts.
How to Be Part of It
For Brisbane locals, the send-off is a chance to see the ride come alive at street level. For those along the route, it will mean barbecues, small-town events and the sight of dozens of scooters rolling into town. For anyone moved by the cause, details on registration, route maps, and fundraising are available at the Scootaville website.
Published 19-Aug-2025
