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John Mathieson

I'm Driving Change for Kids in Need on the Variety Bash as part of team Car 32 Lovers Not Mechanics


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I'm Driving Change for Kids in Need

Hi there - Last year the Lovers Not Mechanics Crew - John Piccolo, Vince Sinni and myself headed up the centre of Australia on bitumen and gravel to Darwin in our trusty 1997 Holden Statesman on our first Variety Bash.

This year John and I return, but have exchanged Vince Sinni for Vince Scopelliti - we like to keep our names simple - and we are heading across the Nullabor to Exmouth in WA - a distance of well over 5000km

Along the way the principal role of the Lovers Not Mechanics will be to provide vital pastoral support to other crews in the event of the distress of breakdowns, accidents, or poor quality beer. The mechanical stuff we will leave up to the other 89 crews  - they are all experts at it.

The Variety Bash is in it's 51st year - it's an institution.  While there will be plenty of fun on the journey, we are also doing this to raise funds for the Variety Children's Charity.  

Along the way, we’ll stop into schools and small towns to deliver grants and equipment directly to the families who need it most. You get to see exactly where your fundraising goes - and the impact it makes. Seeing the joy that our school and community visits brought last year in remote areas was an absolute highlight of the trip. This year we will be paying even more community visits.

By supporting myself and the Lovers Not Mechanics by donating to Variety – the Children’s Charity, you’ll help:

  • Provide vital equipment like wheelchairs and communication aids

  • Build inclusive playgrounds where every kid can join in

  • Support education through programs and scholarships

  • Fund special events that bring joy and connection to families doing it tough

Every donation counts. With your support, we can help more kids gain independence, confidence, and the chance to live life to the fullest.

Back our Variety Bash car and donate to my fundraising page - let’s change lives, one town, one child, one kilometre at a time.


All the best - John 

12

bike packages for kids experiencing disadvantage

5

iPads with communication software for Autistic kids

2

Wheelchairs for kids living with mobility challenges

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My Entries

4 days on the road and tomorrow night we camp

Thursday 20th Aug
Been a hectic few days as since Tuesday morning we have moved from Halls Gap  to Ceduna in the far west of SA. Tomorrow we start across the Nullabor and head for our first night of camping.

Our Holden Statesman continues to perform magnificently, but of course it has many more miles to go.

A number of our off road routes have been affected by the recent very wet weather meaning more time on the bitumen than originally envisaged 

Unfortunately one of our Car 32 team has gone down with a nasty bug, which we hope will be short lived. Not sure whether we will be heading out with everyone else in the morning or looking for a GP.

I have attached a bunch of photos below - I have many more of course. A tour highlight has been of course the visit to the Big Galah in Kimba. Also meeting today Phil McEvoy who runs the Streaky Bay Hotel. More importantly he is a former top SA jockey,  father of 3 time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, and the brother (I believe) of last year's Melbourne Cup winning trainer Tony McEvoy. The MCEvoy's are all originally from Streaky Bay.

One thing I have been surprised by is just how green and fertile looking much of south western SA looks. Clearly a product of good rainfall this winter but the crops look great with canola seemingly as fas as the eye can see. 

The school visits and presentations have of course been wonderful. One of the photos below features young Isla who has cerebral palsy and her mother Linley. Isla also now has courtesy of a Variety Grant a specially designed $7000 trike which will allow her to integrate so much better with her friends and their activities. Isla had apparently been looking forward to this day for weeks, and you could feel the crowd melt when Isla took the microphone and said thank you.

There have been a number of stories like this and there are no doubt more to come.

In another photo below Vinny and I dived into the chilly waters of Smoky Bay in our undies today to raise $400 for Variety.  We now have a 2 minute video on pay per view at the Bash

Tomorrow we are off to Madura and who knows what else


All the best

John

Day Zero of the Bash

Monday 17th Aug
While the Bash officially starts tomorrow from Hall's Gap, day zero is about everyone getting to Hall's Gap to be ready for the starters gun bright and early in the morning.

To that end the easiest day's driving we will see on this trip, but still an important day as we saw the awarding of the 2026 Bash's first school grants.

Many stopped in to the Ballarat Specialist School to witness the handover of a $50,000 cheque to support the construction of a special needs playground. The principal said that the grant had brought the project forward by 2 years, so a great start to the Bash.

This evening we have seen 200 plus packed into the Halls Gap pub with old and new bashers in lively attendance. I can report though that it is bloody freezing here and I certainly hope it is the coldest night of the trip. 

Hall's Gap is a town I have not been to for many years. It is a pleasing little place, although I am amazed at just how many accommodation options there are. The town must really jump in the summer. 

It is the archetypal Australian town as seen by many from overseas - the first one I can recall where the main street seems to have as many kangaroos as people

Thank you to my Sponsors

$200

Carol Johnson

Impressed you would follow that dare for $200!!

$60

Fiona

$50

David Perry

A name close to my heart - Mechanics not lovers. My dad was a mechanic and my ex called me a real tool, which I think she meant a mechanic

$100

Jo

Good luck John!

$60

Paul Retter

A worthy cause John - Best of luck

$150

Ken Tregonning

Hey Johnny, hope this helps get you a bit closer to your target. Good luck on the trip and enjoy the journey! Ken

$25

Wayne And Jenny

$100

Margaret Mathieson

$50

Golden

$500

Anthony & Amelia Natoli

You are a star JM. Enjoy the ride.

$100

Carol Johnson

$100

Tony Bocquet

Good luck, Lover

$100

Peter Gooding

Great stuff John. Enjoy!

$250

Tabcrew

All the best John from the Tabcrew members.

$50

Ann & Peter Lindsey

Great job John. Drive safely

$60

Denis Smith

All the best John

$200

Tony Noonan

Happy to contribute to such a great cause. Good luck to all involved.

$60

John Bailey

$500

Ashley Voigt

$100

Colin Gooding

fantastic work John for a great cause!

$60

Richard Horseman

$100

Peter Werner

$20

Jenny M

Sounds great John. Good on you and good luck

$100

Martin & Cheryl

Well done John and good luck with the drive

$100

Ian Hyland

$280

Matho

We are leaving in less than 3 weeks - it's time to get this show on the road

Our Team Members