Speeches
Monday, 20 October 2025
Bay to Birdwood Finish Festival
Rod and I are delighted to be here at the National Motor Museum for the Finish Festival of the 2025 RAA Bay to Birdwood, and to present awards to this year's winners.
As joint patrons with my husband Rod, we have had the privilege of participating in this event for several years now.
Each time I am struck by the dedication of the participants and the community spirit evident along the route.
This year, Rod and I travelled in a 1959 Chrysler Royal AP2, assembled right here in Adelaide at Chrysler's Keswick factory – a tangible reminder of South Australia's proud manufacturing legacy and our deep connection to motoring history.
The Royal was designed as a luxurious alternative to smaller locally
produced models.
Sitting in it today, we were transported back to an era when these vehicles were the pride of their owners.
The experience of being part of the cavalcade, waving to the thousands of spectators who line the route, is a real indicator of how much joy this event brings to the community.
The RAA Bay to Birdwood has grown significantly since its inception in 1980, and it is heartening to see this growth continue.
This year, 177 interstate vehicles are participating, representing every state in the Commonwealth, a 40% increase on last year's interstate participation.
It is also great to see, over the last several years, a visible increase in women and young families participating.
This event is not only Australia's premier historic motoring event, it is arguably one of the world's great celebrations of automotive heritage, drawing enthusiasts from across the globe to our state.
The economic and cultural benefits to South Australia and the Adelaide Hills are substantial.
Tens of thousands of spectators line the 67-kilometre route, and the Finish Festival brings thousands more to Birdwood to experience the region's exceptional food, wine, and hospitality.
Spring is such a magical time in the Adelaide Hills, and I hope our interstate and international visitors will take the opportunity to further explore this region, with its unique traders, distillers, wineries, and some of the best driving roads South Australia has to offer.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the locally designed and built Mitsubishi Magna, with 18 Magnas participating today - a fitting tribute to a vehicle that was not only successful here but exported to markets around the world, from New Zealand to the United States, Canada, Japan, and beyond.
I congratulate all entrants and passengers on your participation today.
The skill, patience, and dedication required to maintain and operate these vehicles, particularly those over 90 or even 100 years old, cannot be understated.
The 56 vehicles participating today that are over a century old represent not just mechanical achievement, but a profound commitment to preserving our shared history.
Negotiating modern traffic across a 67-kilometre route with complex controls and reduced performance is no easy feat, and you have all done so admirably.
The awards we present today – the Concours d'Elegance, Preservation, and EV Conversion awards – recognise the very best of what this community represents: excellence, authenticity, innovation, and respect for the past.
I thank the organisers, volunteers, and all those who have worked to make this event possible, and I encourage participants to continue supporting this event's reputation well into the future.
May the Bay to Birdwood continue to bring history to life on our roads for the next 50 years and beyond.