But unfortunately, one of them didn’t quite make it, suffering transmission troubles.

The EH Holden station wagon was being driven by The Mermaids  as part of the Bankstown to Ballarat Variety Bash.

Fortunately the girls were able to secure another vehicle allowing them to continue to their rendezvous in Nyngan, and then the rest of the nine day trek.

The Mermaids are Beryl Driver (80) who is on her 15th bash; Elyse Cole (63) on her sixth; and Viktorija McDonell (57), her ninth.

“We all work, but we love to get out and take part in the Bash each year,” Beryl (who has raised $500,000 over the years) said.

This year, the girls have raised $22,000.

Beryl lives in a boat shed on the water in Sydney, thus the names of The Mermaids and was in the very first all-girl team to take part in the event.   

There are now seven all-girl teams.

“It was very disappointing to break down on our very first day, but the vehicle has been around Australia a few times so I suppose it was bound to happen.

“The people of Parkes have been wonderful though, and Kevin Medlyn said he will look after our car.

“We have some guardian angels who look after us if we break down,” Beryl said.

They comprise the ‘mobile workshop’ team of John Londrigan and Ron Keating of Deniliquin who have been on the bash together for 27 years.  

They have a tilt-tray truck and their role is to collect any vehicles which break down and take them to the nearest town so they are not left out on the road.

More than 400 people are involved in the Varity Bash, with some 115 vehicles, as well as a helicopter and fixed wing plane.