In Honour of Derryn Hinch
Variety began in 1927, when a baby was found abandoned in a theatre in Pittsburgh, USA. Members of the entertainment community came together to care for her and help ensure she had a safe and secure future.
That act of compassion became the foundation of Variety Club - an entertainers’ charity dedicated to supporting children who needed help.
Derryn carried that founding spirit forward. Variety Club, now known as Variety - the Children’s Charity, was built on the belief that people in the entertainment industry could use their voices, influence and connections to create a better future for children.
Few people embodied that belief more fully than Derryn. His commitment to Variety and to creating greater opportunities for children became an enduring part of his legacy.
A lasting mark on Variety
Derryn created Variety’s internationally recognised Heart and Hat logo - an achievement of which he was incredibly proud.
He sketched the original design on a coaster during a dinner at Melbourne’s Flower Drum restaurant more than 40 years ago. The heart represented Variety’s commitment to helping children, while the hat reflected the organisation’s origins in the entertainment and showbusiness community.
The design captured one of Variety's original slogans, “The Heart of Showbusiness”, and went on to become Variety’s official international logo.
What began as a simple sketch became a symbol of care, opportunity and hope for children around the world. The Heart and Hat remains one of Derryn’s most visible and enduring contributions to the global Variety movement.
The founder of Variety Bikes for Kids
Derryn often reflected on the joy and freedom his first bicycle gave him during financially difficult times in his childhood. He wanted children who might otherwise miss out to experience that same sense of independence, belonging and possibility.
Together with former Variety Chair Doug Christie, Derryn launched Variety Bikes for Kids through 3AK. The program later moved to 3AW, where a highly successful radiothon in 2002 helped turn the idea into one of Variety Victoria’s most enduring programs.
More than two decades later, Variety Bikes for Kids continues to provide bicycles to children experiencing disadvantage, living with disability or facing illness. More than 15,000 bikes have been presented to children who may otherwise never have had one of their own.
Derryn’s Bikes for Kids Inspiration Story in His Own Words
"When I was about ten I got my first two-wheeler. I had worked hard at weekends and before school on my father's milk run. I thought I might be rewarded with a bike for Christmas.
On Christmas morning I got home from the milk run and was disappointed there wasn't a bike under the tree. But I did get a bike that Christmas. My parents had hidden it at the end of a long piece of string. I followed the trail down into the basement. And there it was.
And when I saw it, I looked at it and I cried.
I didn't care that it was a second-hand bike. Didn't care that the peeling chrome handlebars had been gussied up with that silver paint they used to smear thickly on the old coal range.
I didn't even care that it was a girl's bike! It was MY bike. My first two-wheeler.
I have personally seen kids' faces as they receive their new bikes and helmets. It is magic."
Recognition of a lifelong contribution
Derryn’s extraordinary service to Variety was recognised through some of the organisation’s highest honours.
In 2011, he received the Variety Victoria Presidential Citation in recognition of his significant contribution and enduring commitment. Derryn described the honour as “one of the greatest moments of my life”.
He was recognised on the Variety Australia National Honour Roll in 2014 and was also awarded Life Membership of Variety, acknowledging not only his achievements, but the longevity and depth of his service.
In 2023, when the Variety Bikes for Kids team was nominated for the Victorian Protecting Children Awards, Derryn was again acknowledged for his instrumental role in founding and developing the program.
Within Variety, Derryn was widely respected as a pioneer and one of the most influential figures in the organisation’s Victorian history.
Wendy Argent just donated $30
Meet Brodie and Kye
Brodie and his older brother Kye share a special bond - one built on resilience, love, and the simple joy of doing things together. They are just two of thousands of children who's lives have been changed thanks to Derryn's legacy.
Brodie lives with a disability and faces significant physical challenges. He is non-verbal and unable to walk, which makes everyday activities most families take for granted much harder.
But what stands out most about Brodie isn’t what he can’t do - it’s how much joy he finds in the things he can.
Your donation in honour of Derryn today will support his Variety Bikes for Kids Program
$80
A Helmet and Lock
$280
A Brand-New Bike
$360
The Full Package
Wendy Argent
“No-one stands taller than when they stoop to help a child”
A big thank you to our supporters
Your donation can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most, helping empower children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with disabilities through life-changing programs that provide medical care, mobility, education and support to live without limits.
If you would prefer to make your donation by phone please call (03) 8698 3900. Alternatively you can make a bank deposit in our gift account below. Thank you.
ACCOUNT NAME Variety - The Children's Charity of Victoria
BSB 033 018
ACC NO 260 362
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