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History of the Bash

Great Keppel 2021

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1985

The Variety Bash started in 1985, when entrepreneur and adventurer Dick Smith took a group of intrepid motorists from Bourke NSW to Bourketown Queensland in old cars, raising $250,000 for charity along the way.

Dick had friends from all walks of life – from multi-millionaires to battlers – and the event was his idea of a great equalizer. Touted as “a drive in the outback with a few mates”, Dick made sure everyone was on a level playing field – all cars had to be over 30 years old and non-performance modified, a sentiment the Variety Bash retains today.

The Bash is not a race, rally or speed trial. The single most significant rule of the Bash is to relax and enjoy the Australian Outback and help raise funds for kids in need!

TODAY

Since that first event, over 104,000 km have been travelled on the Variety VIC Bash and over $22 million has been raised, changing the lives of thousands of children across Australia.

It means a lot to us to be able to give back to the communities that welcome and accommodate us so generously. The Bash can inject up to $35,000 per stop along the route, and these funds enable local community groups to do great work in improving their infrastructure or initiating projects in schools.

Julie Baxter, Variety Bash Development Manager

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