One of the most colourful stories to roll through Ballina this week was the arrival of Bubsie — a faithful replica of the 1923 Citroën that completed the first lap around Australia a century ago.

Locals flocked to Ballina Fair’s carpark, where the petite French machine drew crowds before taking Mayor Sharon Cadwallader for a nostalgic spin through town.

Cameras clicked as the Mayor, clutching her pearls as the vintage car took off, laughed her way through the ride.

The charm of the little Citroën hides a remarkable tale. 

The original journey was undertaken by Nevill Westwood, a 22-year-old Christian missionary who financed his travels by selling religious books to isolated outback families.

His bestseller, Our Day in the Light of Prophecy, inspired his own missionary zeal.

Combined with a second-hand Citroën marketed as the world’s first “ladies’ car” because it was  lightweight, fuel-efficient, and easy to start, it gave him the confidence to attempt something no one else had: a motorised circumnavigation of Australia.

Westwood’s original goal was only to reach Darwin. That alone was audacious in an era with few roads, fewer mechanics, and no way to call for help if stranded.

Armed with boundless faith, spare parts, and even a revolver for protection, he and travelling companion Greg Davies pushed north. 

But reaching Darwin, they decided not to turn back.

They pressed on through Queensland to Brisbane, where Westwood was hailed as a national hero, before driving south through the Northern Rivers and eventually completing history’s first lap of the continent.

Though public expressions of religion are less common today, the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and lifestyle that inspired Westwood still resonates.

The movement began in the United States in the late 1800s, moving quickly to Australia. Today it’s best known for the Sanitarium Health Food Company and the iconic breakfast cereal Weetbix. 

The church has long promoted vegetarianism, abstinence from alcohol and drugs, and a weekly day of rest –  values that echo the Northern Rivers’ contemporary pursuit of healthy, stress-free living. 

US studies have even shown Adventists live up to a decade longer thanks to these habits.

This week’s Ballina stopover brought the story full circle. 

The 2025 crew behind Bubsie camped outside the Canal Road church, attended a thanksgiving service, and visited the ADRA op-shop on Kerr Street, which helps feed the homeless with healthy meals. 

Drivers Kevin and Glenda Amos and Peter and Veronica Rams from South Australia, supported by volunteers, are retracing the original route under the banner of The Incredible Journey Adventist television ministry.

“It was hilarious going down the main street in that little car,” Mayor Cadwallader said afterwards.

“But it’s a wonderful story of history, faith, and courage and I’m proud Ballina could be part of it.”