Northern Territory News-From Bags to Riches

We make front page news!!!!


THEY started out penniless, barefoot and wearing garbage bags. Four months later, Gareth Owen, Anne Race and Phil Carr have travelled more than 10,000km and raised $9000 for charity. To Northern Territory NewsTheir mission was simple: to travel around Australia with no money and working random jobs, donating every dollar to Book Aid International.

"It's a bit of a risk, but we have a lot of faith in people," Mr Owen said.

"We're trying to see if people have a good heart."

The journey began on September 21 in Brisbane, after the trio had given away their possessions and walked the streets naked - wearing only garbage bags.

"This guy walked up to us, took off his shoes and gave them to Phil. Then he just walked off," Mr Owen said.

"Anne was sorted and clothed within hours. All the guys wanted to help her out."

The UK trio has relied on strangers for food, shelter and petrol as they complete their mission.

"We've found people look at us and say, 'you're an idiot. Here's $5'," Mr Owen said.

"A lot of the time, you're only a request away from getting out of trouble.

"When people say yes, it is absolutely amazing".

The trio arrived in Darwin last week and are still trying to find people who are willing to make work for them.

Since September, they have found 124 jobs, ranging from collecting alpaca droppings to disposing of cane toads and sorting through underwear at St Vincent de Paul.

Their journey's history and contact details can be found on their website www.ascheekyasyoucant.blogspot.com.