Cheers Beagle,
I agree, must be some sort of recent record outside of Germany. It only takes one person to organise. keep tabs on a few local ones, drop a note, ask at the local MB service centre of 116 owners and go from there including the MB club. There are some Sydney siders you might find on ozbenz. no doubt you could do better than this with some planning, but WA is up for the challenge.
Best story was (respectfully) old Peter who bought that blue 450 he hadnt driven in 10 years! he had it serviced this week when i emailed him and got it going. what a legend!