Variety appeal continues

Wimmera supporters of Australia’s longest-running and largest charity car-rally plan to continue fundraising efforts despite the cancellation of this year’s event due to COVID-19.

Although organisers of the nationally recognised Variety Bash have pumped the breaks on the 2020 event, Wimmera participants have pledged their commitment to continue to raise money for the cause that brightens the lives of Australian children and their families.

The August bash was set to see participants buckle-up in Melbourne and motor thousands of kilometres to Great Keppel Island, Queensland, as part of its annual fundraising efforts.

Organisers have indicated the 2021 event will retain the same route, stops and final destination. Plans for a shortened ‘Variety Mini-bash’ to run in late 2020 have also been floated.

Last year, three Horsham teams collectively raised more than $60,000, acquired through various fundraising efforts across Horsham district.

Car 113 participants,‘the Minions’, otherwise known as Brendan Khan, Rick

Smith and Alan Perry, have been long-term supporters of the bash.

Horsham team Car 303, featuring brothers Mark and David Ballinger and Brendan Netherway, and a team from ACE Radio have joined ‘The Minions’ for the annual rally in past years.

Mr Khan, who has supported the cause for more than seven years, set up a donation page for Car 113 on Variety’s website.

He said he planned to continue fundraising efforts to help Variety provide vital services and equipment for children living with a disability, facing sickness or experiencing disadvantage.

“For Variety to miss a year, kids in need miss a year also,” he said.

“We fundraise for items the government won’t provide.

“All the money we raise goes straight to the kids – any amount of money, big or small, helps in some way.”

Mr Khan said as well as being ‘for a great cause’, the yearly bash served as a chance to catch up with mates while visiting remote destinations across the country.

“It’s like a holiday to us and we’re raising money along the way,” he said.

“It’s just the enjoyment of mixing in with the people involved in it – it doesn’t matter who you are, there’s all sorts of variety of life, you all become one.

“There’s places we’ve never thought of ever going to. Some of the places have got little remote schools with like four or five kids in them.”

David Ballinger said his team would continue fundraising when possible.

“We’ll do what we can when we can get a bit of a crowd together again, it makes it hard to put on functions,” he said.

“We usually aim for about $10,000 to $15,000 a year, but we’ve had to cancel all events this year.”

Car 303 has been supporting the rally for more than five years.

Mr Ballinger said he also valued the social connections he had made through the bash.

“We really look forward to the bash. We’re all busy throughout the year, as everyone is these days,” he said.

“This just gives us time to catch up, have a beer and a few giggles and get to see the country as well.

“It’s for a great cause. It’s a nice feeling to give back to these kids. I’m really proud to be involved.”