The founder of Beechworth Bakery and best friend Mr McIntosh set off from Byron Bay in March to make their way to Shark Bay in Western Australia while raising awareness and money for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Centre.

They got bogged, they broke down, had a dozen flat tyres and drove through floods – but they made it.

The slow road trip was nothing new to the pair, having previously driven to the tip of Cape York and along the Birdsville track in the historic vehicle – all at maximum speed of 50km/h.

“This is without a doubt the hardest thing Keith and I have ever done,” Mr O’Toole said. “We’ve been doing a few mad trips together over the years, trips people said couldn’t be done, and we did them anyway. Just because we could. We both like a good challenge and we can put up with each other’s company while tootling along endless roads at a snail’s pace.

 “Keith has been my best mate for most of my life, and to both of us the old A Model feels a bit like the third member of the party. The old girl is 87 years old and on good day we will average around 45km/h, on a great day we'll average 50… simply because there’s a tail wind.”

Professor George Kannourakis from the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, based in Ballarat, said that as a non-government funded organisation, the Institute relied on the support and efforts of people like Tom and Keith. Donations can be made at www.easttowest.com.au.