Wahgunyah Primary School was one of three local schools who received a $10,000 grant from Variety Australia. Pictured in the back row is Wahgunyah Primary School principal Josh Reid, Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots, Fairy Godmother and Variety CEO Mandy Burns, and in the front school captains Jayden French, Josh Hunter and Stevie Kirk.
The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve was a hive of activity last Wednesday when over 120 colourful cars and 350 outrageously dressed people rolled into town all in the name of charity.
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Wahgunyah was the second stop for the 2022 Variety Bash, an iconic 10-day journey for car enthusiasts who travel from Melbourne to Cairns while raising money for children’s charity Variety Australia.
The decked out cars roared into the Recreation Reserve at sunrise for breakfast hosted by Wahgunyah Primary School.
Space oddity: Astronauts Shane Jenkins, Micahel Belcher, Paul Menzies and Glen Burgin with their decked out 1988 Mercedes 300SEL titled “Apollo 11”.
The school pulled out all the stops thanks to a volunteer team of parents, grandparents and teachers with decadent muffins, scrumptious bacon and egg rolls, muesli, and fruit on the menu. Indigo North Health with the support of PFD Foods who donated 25kg of bacon, and the Terry Floyd Foundation generously contributed the food for the morning.
After breakfast, the Variety Bash presented Wahgunyah Primary School with a $10,000 cheque to go towards equipment to fit out their newly refurbished kitchen as well as a contribution to their kitchen garden program for students.
Wahgunyah Football Netball Club received a $6,000 grant to support families with the cost of registration, uniforms, and equipment.
The 2022 Variety Bash crew at the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve. Photo by Andrew Lloyd.
Chiltern Primary School also received a $10,000 cheque towards their new outdoor learning space, while at a presentation in Beechworth the night before, Rutherglen Primary School received $10,000 to go towards a new permanent BBQ and shelter in a new engaging communal space for students, families, and the community.
Wahgunyah Primary School principal Josh Reid thanked the Variety Bash for their generous contribution.
“Thank you everyone for coming to our community and choosing Wahgunyah to stop at. We got the phone call 12 months ago and didn’t realise just how big this day was going to be,” Mr Reid told the crowd.
“Variety’s $10,000 grant is going to make a huge difference to our school and a huge difference in our ability to run our breakfast club. We can’t thank them enough for this grant.”
The incredible breakfast volunteer crew consisting of Shane Kirk, Toni Chubb holding WPS student Ruby Reid, Micahel Hay, Terry Chubb, Isobel Tait, Kendall Reid, Glenda Johnstone, Wayne Johnstone, Wes Canny (front), Josh Reid, Tegan Irlam and Sandra Johnstone.
Mr Reid told the Free Press that renovations to their 145-year-old school building had been 18-months in the process with the $30,000 raised from the school themselves.
The grant money from Variety will allow the school to purchase top-notch equipment such as mix masters, bain-maries, pie warmers as well as supporting the school’s breakfast and kitchen garden programs.
Mr Reid said the success of the day came down to an army of volunteers.
“I would like to thank the Wahgunayh Recreation Reserve Committee for allowing us to use their facilities,” he said.
“The school certainly couldn’t host such a large group, so we feel very fortunate to have this wonderful community space. I would like to thank Alan Pleitner and Wes Canny for all their hard work.
“The breakfast event was run by the school coordinated by Toni Chubb coordinator who did a power of work and was supported by school staff, parents and grandparents.
“It was a terrific morning, and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers.”
Out on the grounds, the Free Press spoke to a few Variety Bash enthusiasts including some astronauts who appeared to be a long way from home.
Wahgunyah Football Netball Club president Darryl Hore accepts a $6000 cheque from Variety to go towards club registrations and uniforms. Photo by Andrew Lloyd.
Glen Burgin, Paul Menzies, Michael Belcher and Shane Jenkins, all from Victoria, looked out of this world with their decked out 1988 Mercedes 300SEL titled “Apollo 11” with a “Saturn 5” rocked fixed on the roof.
The group of friends first made the trip back in 2019 and couldn’t wait to get back on the road after the bash took a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.
“Our space suits are made from king size doonas with sewn-on NASA patches, and some other parts from Bunnings,” astronaut Shane Jenkins said.
“We’ve managed to raise $40,000 in four years which is fantastic. It’s all about making a difference to Aussie kids. Every dollar raised goes directly to Variety. We just love being part of this great adventure and making a difference along the way.”
Not far from the NASA entrants was the Smurfs crew consisting of Matt Stewart (Gutsy Smurf), Hamish Lamb (Hippy Smurf) and Eddie Koene (Papa Smurf) in their blue 1969 Holden Brougham.
Variety Bashers Matt Stewart (Gutsy Smurf), Eddie Koene (Papa Smurf) and Hamish Lamb (Hippy Smurf).
“The theme came from the colour of the car. We were just trying to think of something blue and Smurfs came to mind,” Mr Koene said.
“This is my 11th bash. The whole event is just great because of the camaraderie, the driving, the giving out of grants- that’s a big one. To be able to witness schools and organisations receive the grants and know that the event has made such a difference to these communities is very inspiring.”
The Variety Bash is Australia’s largest and longest-running motoring event which has raised over $200 million for children in need across Australia since its inception in 1985.
Each car required to be at least 30 years old and adorned in a unique theme.
As part of the 5,126km journey, the crew will pass through over 20 towns and deliver over $150,000 in grants.
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