More than 100 cars and their colourful crews will line the streets of Bundaberg as the Queensland Variety Bash rolls into town in November.
The Variety Bash will use Bundaberg as the starting point of its journey as participants embark on a 4300 km drive from Bundaberg to Noosa to raise funds for kids in need.
Participants will start arriving in Bundaberg from 6 November for registration, scrutineering and an opening function which will take place on the evening of 8 November.
Head of Fundraising and Marketing Christine Anderson said the event had changed somewhat due to COVID restrictions.
“The Variety Bash was originally scheduled for August with a start in Winton, before heading to the Birdsville Races and the Barossa Valley in South Australia,” Christine said.
“With all the Government restrictions around COVID-19, we made the decision to postpone to November, change the route to start at Bundaberg and keep the event local to support Queenslanders.”
Variety Bash has strong Bundaberg ties
Nathan Donaldson, a local Bundaberg man, was awarded a Variety Heart Scholarship for wheelchair racing in 2017 and has been involved in the Variety Kids Sports Camp.
It’s because of these connections that Bundaberg was the natural choice as the starting point for the event.
“Bundaberg is not only a picturesque start for our event, but it’s also a community that is very generous toward Variety with many wonderful supporters and members of the Variety family in the region (including famous wheelchair racer Nathan Donaldson, a Variety Heart Scholarship recipient),” Christine said.
“With the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families and businesses in Bundaberg, we wanted to give back to your beautiful region by bringing the colourful bash to town, supporting local kids and providing an economic boost to the area.”
Tony Roebuck from SNT Electrical and The Sherriff Electrical team have gone on several Variety Bashes and were excited to start in their hometown.
“It all started when Mark Freeman had the idea to raise $100,000 in five years for the cause, and we ended up doing that in three years,” Tony said.
“My business partner, Steve and I, got involved in the second year and we liked it so much we got ourselves a car.”
“We never got to go on last year’s bash because we were all too busy working, so we’re all really keen to not only show off Bundaberg to our fellow participants and friends, but to take part in this year’s event.”
Christine said a study conducted by the University of Queensland showed that the Variety Bash could bring an economic boost of between $120,000 and $180,000 to each town it visits, but that the real boost was the one brought to the kids.
“Using the funds raised through the event, we will present grants to local children and organisations who have requested our assistance,” she said.
“Families in regional and rural communities who have been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19 will receive support for their kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have a disability.”
Facts about the 2020 Variety Bash Adventure:
- This year’s Queensland Variety Bash will run from 9-14 November from Bundaberg to Noosa via Nindigully
- Restrictions are lifted for this year's event and participants can bring either a 2WD or 4WD vehicle, with no vehicle age restrictions.
- The Variety Bash is Australia’s largest and most successful charity motoring event and since the inaugural event, has raised over $220 million around the country for Aussie kids in need
- The Variety Bash Adventure is a combined Bash and 4WD event, where all vehicle types are welcome, travelling through some of the most amazing outback and coastal scenery Australia has to offer, all in the name of helping Aussie kids in need.
To register or find out more about the Queensland Variety Bash, visit varietybashadventure.com.au
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