Townsville Couple Wins One-Of-A-Kind Chevrolet as NTI Truck Raffle Raises $460,000 for MND Research
Australia’s largest transport and logistics specialist insurance provider, NTI, is helping to fight the battle against Motor Neurone Disease (MND), having raised an additional $460,000 for critical medical research through its ninth annual truck raffle.
Crowds gathered at the NTI Townsville 500 event to see who would take home this year’s much-anticipated prize ‘Ruby’, a one-of-a-kind custom-built 1947 Chevrolet Maple Leaf truck.
Lucky winners Melita and Joe Raabe from Townsville were announced winners of the restored classic, but the real victory was the milestone reached for MND research.
“We buy tickets to the NTI raffle every year because we want to support MND wherever we can,” Ms Raabe said.
“It’s such a worthwhile cause, and knowing the money is going towards research and helping families impacted by MND makes you want to be part of it. Winning Ruby is incredible, but being able to contribute to something so important makes it even more special.”
“We were sitting in Race Central with a lot of background noise and I remember thinking, ‘did they just say my name?’. The next time it was announced, we heard it clearly - Melita. It was an incredible moment,” Ms Raabe said.
NTI CEO Janelle Greene said the initiative continues to unite the transport industry and wider community behind a shared purpose.
“This cause is close to our hearts at NTI. Through the generosity of our industry and community, we’ve been able to raise around $3.5 million for MND research since the first raffle in 2017,” Ms Greene said.
“We want to use our voice and the support of our industry to help find answers. 100% of funds raised go towards our official research grant to help brings us one step closer to better understanding MND and finding new treatments.”
MND remains a largely unexplained disease, with around 90 per cent of cases having no known cause.
“NTI’s truck raffles aren’t just about the prize, they’re a symbol of hope for people living with MND and their families,” Ms Greene said.
“Every day, two Australians are diagnosed with MND, and tragically, two lives are lost.”
Since launching in 2017, NTI’s MND research grants have supported leading medical research institutions working to better understand the disease and identify new treatments.
This year’s prize, ‘Ruby’, is a fully restored 1947 Chevrolet Maple Leaf Single Cab, rebuilt with modern engineering and sitting on 2019 Hino 4x4 running gear.
Melita Raabe sitting in 'Ruby' at the NTI Townsville 500 event on 12 July 2026
2026 NTI Limited. General information only. National Transport Insurance is administered on behalf of the insurers by its manager NTI Limited ABN 84 000 746 109 AFSL 237246.