The convoy of themed bash cars emerged on Scone for lunch which was kindly provided by the St Luke’s Anglican Parish volunteers. 

The bash started at Adelaide and throughout the nine days, participants travelled through Nanua, Tolarno Station, Tilpa, Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Narrabri and Tamworth before Saturday when they came through Nundle and Gundy to Scone. 

After re-charging their energy stores with a beautiful lunch of meats and salads, and scones in Scone, the convoy continued on to Cessnock through Broke where the local Rural Fire Service washed their cars ready for the finale event in Sydney on Sunday evening. 

With this year being a national bash, about 1700 people from Variety Bash groups across Australia met at Moore Park for a gala event to celebrate the achievements of Variety, including raising more than $38 million for the Variety Children’s Charity.

This year organisers hoped to raise more than $2 million and two brothers from Mildura and Melbourne certainly contributed a great effort to this. 

Graham and Mark Bowring were the highest fundraisers this year collecting $128,000 through rattling donation tins in pubs in Adelaide, Mildura and Melbourne.

The duo have been taking part in the bash for a number of years, but said this was the most money they had ever raised. 

Graham said the bash is all about the kids as it is such a fantastic cause. 

“The bash is fun, but it’s really about the kids, it tugs at the heart strings a bit,” he said. 

Event organiser Megan Winter said the 26th annual bash had been a fantastic event with great weather, fantastic food and great community support. 

“We have engaged all the local communities as much as we could.

“Scone’s hospitality has been very cute, B1 and B2 have looked after us very well,” she said. 

The local team of more than 30 volunteers were led by coordinator Beryl Bates and husband Errol.