Variety Club “Bashers” come to the Bay
Collingwood Area School resembled a fairground last Tuesday afternoon when 250 members of the Variety Club turned up in 50 converted fire engines, veteran cars, and over a dozen decorated buses, including a unique double-ended Bedford.
The charity uses unique and entertaining events to raise funds and provide support to New Zealand children who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged. The celebratory “bash” is part of an eight-day rally that started in Christchurch last week and finishes in Auckland this weekend, and takes in as many schools as possible along the route. The big troupe (which resembles a travelling circus on the road) split into four groups earlier that morning so as to take in all the six primary schools in and around Motueka on the way. They then dropped in to Motupipi, Central Takaka and Takaka Primary Schools before arriving at Collingwood all together just in time for a big lunch.
Star billers included Fair Go presenter Leanne Clark, Shane Cortese and “Erin” off Shortland Street, John Cox or “Coxy” from The Building Show, clown Ronald McDonald and Super Herbert, the magician from Newcastle. Around 10 of the vehicles came from Australia specially for the event.
CAS principal John Garner said that after being contacted by the club last May to ask whether they could come, he found it difficult to explain to everyone here exactly what it was about.
“I’d had experience of them when teaching up north and I knew it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. It’s a wonderful thing to suddenly have happen in a school, a very uplifting event all round.”
CAS pupils were encouraged to come dressed as their favourite character, and along with the entertainment, were subjected to continuous giveaways all afternoon. Each of the separate “basher” teams (roughly one team per car) are committed to raising at least $7,000 per year for the club. Many are businesses who gladly donate a week of their year to the event. Normally this rally alternates year to year between North and South Islands, but the 20th anniversary of the Variety Club meant this year their annual bash became a national affair.
Gerard Hindmarsh
