2024 Variety Bash: Driving for a Cause and Supporting Children in Need

Variety, the Children’s Charity, is renowned for its dedication to improving the lives of children in need, and one of its most exciting and impactful events is the Variety Victoria Bash. The Bash provides grants to kids along the way in remote communities and offers participants a unique adventure across Australia’s vast landscapes. We had the pleasure of speaking with an enthusiastic Bash participant, our very own director, Anthony Braunthal, who shared his experiences and insights about the Variety Victoria Bash.

How did you get involved with the Variety Victoria Bash?

I attended a Variety event with Harvey Carretero and was blown away by how many kids were in need. I realised that the Bash would be a great way to see the remote communities that Variety supports and have some fun at the same time.

How many Bashes have you been on?

I’ve been on two Bashes, Geraldton and Cairns, and now I’ve signed up for number three, going to Airlie Beach.

What’s involved in being part of the Variety Bash?

You need a crew to drive, navigate, and provide refreshments, and a car over 25 years old that has to be Bash-proofed with towbars front and rear, lights on the roof, a guard plate under the car, and a CB radio. It’s a long drive on many outback roads, so you want the car to sustain the trip!

What does being involved with an event like the Variety Bash that helps children in need mean to you?

It’s an incredibly humbling experience seeing kids along the trip with disabilities and/or poverty that we can help, who would otherwise be forgotten about. The essence of Variety is about making a difference to those children that don’t have the support they need.

Can you highlight any memorable moments or success stories from past Variety Bashes that particularly stand out to you?

The most impactful moment was on my first Bash when an 11-year-old girl got up on stage in an outback town in SA and said this is the first time I’ve been able to hear due to the aid that Variety supplied. That made it feel real, knowing we were touching kids in a way that had changed their lives.

What are you most looking forward to on this year’s trip?

The camaraderie you build up traveling with your own group, the Land Monkeys, along with the 300 other people traveling along the Bash route, is incredible. You meet so many new people who are super excited to see us. Plus, there’s the adventure of going to places that are really off the beaten track, seeing parts of Australia I’d never otherwise experience.

Have you got any tips for those embarking on this year’s Bash for the first time?

It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself. Be social and introduce yourself to everyone that’s doing it, including the mechanics, photographers, medics, and officials.