It is not just the loud outfits, eccentric characters, outrageous vehicles and adventure that keeps NSW’s ‘Bashers’ coming back year after year. It’s the inspirational, heartwarming children and families they meet on route, whose lives have taken a positive turn for the better, as a result of their generosity and fundraising efforts for Variety – the Children’s Charity.
Now in its 31st year on the road, the Variety NSW Bash is set to be exceptional with more than 300 Bashers in 100 weird and wonderful cars set to visit 16 regional towns in NSW, departing Dubbo on Sunday 21st May and culminating in a free family fun day for all in Newcastle on Saturday 27th May.
The 2023 Variety NSW Bash is a key regional fundraising event for Variety - the Children’s Charity. It is not a race or rally but rather a drive through rural NSW with like-minded fundraisers, enjoying travelling to parts of Australia that they may not otherwise see. At the same time the Bashers are raising money which will fund much needed equipment and resources for kids across NSW & ACT with unmet needs, some of these grants are distributed along the way to schools and communities.
“Spectacular” is an understatement for the larger-than-life event that will see 130 mad-cap vintage vehicles which are part of the 2023 AHA NSW Bash will roll into town; and “feel-good” because the convoy will visit both Tirranna Public School and Thirlmere Public School with some very special grants. At 12.30pm on Friday 26th May Thirlmere Public School will host a special lunch for bashers when they visit to present the school with funding for iPads.
The colourful convoy of vehicles is set to delight little and big kids alike and will include nine NRL team themed cars, Team Tonka, Spongebob Squarepants, Toy Story, Crocodile Dundee, Scooby Doo, Transformers, Shrek, Star Wars, Dark Lords, Minions, Trolls, Flintstones and Thomas the Tank Engine themed vehicles.
The convoy will roll into 12 schools along the way delivering more than $80,000 in grants to meet each school’s wish list; ranging from a food van for hospitality training, chicken coop and chicken run, cubby house, sandpit, shade sail, netball & baseball tower and trikes to a 3D printer, podcast equipment, laptops, iPads, Lego, science apparatus and library refurbishment.
The bighearted convoy will start the seven day 2,160km journey in Dubbo and travel to Eugowra, Greenthorpe, Stockinbingal, Leeton, Conargo, Bunnaloo, Echuca, Lowesdale, Narrandera, Murrumburrah, Thirlmere, and St Marys before returning to Newcastle’s Foreshore for the Variety Family Fun Day, a special event where the public can welcome the Variety Bash cars back from their outback adventure, enjoy free live entertainment and for a small $5 cost, kids can enjoy unlimited amusement rides, face painting, petting zoo, fairy floss, balloon sculptures and plenty more.
Never the most direct route from A to B, the iconic Variety NSW Bash is Australia’s most successful and longest running charity motoring event. The Bash is a celebration of twelve months fundraising to help kids living in Australia who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability. It’s also a chance for Bash entrants to see the funds they have raised at work in rural and regional areas with 300 mates, as well as delivering an additional economic boost to these areas through the purchase of food, fuel and accommodation by the Bash participants.
Bash teams hail from all walks of life, some corporate such as long-term sponsor, the AHA, new sponsor Regional Australia Bank, along with Woolworths and Daracon. Repco are joining the celebration this year as the NSW Bash celebrates its 31st year. Other teams come from the private sector, each with a common goal of helping children through Variety and having a lot of fun in the process.
Grants of equipment are made to children and schools along the route. Variety NSW/ACT CEO, David Small, commented “one of the great things about Variety and the Bash is donors and supporters get to see the money they’ve helped raise make a huge impact on kids and families across the state. Through grants of equipment and programs, Variety’s Bashers see the lifelong impact they deliver through their fundraising.”
“Sponsors are the lifeblood of events, and we couldn’t change the lives of as many kids or make the Bash the “must do” event it is without the support of the AHA, Regional Australia Bank and many other companies that help get the show on the road.”
“On behalf of all the kids, Variety is very grateful to the sponsors, Bash community and all the towns and schools that welcome the Bash with open arms!”
Dig deep and enjoy the colourful convoy when the Bash comes to a town near you…
