Three locals and a “ring-in” are set to leave Millicent in August for 35th annual SA Variety Bash.
Millicent businessman Stef Pulmer, his daughter Maddie and local Barry Snook and Mildura buddy Terry Meredith will be aboard a 1975 Ford Fairlane ZG in the name of charity.
They will spend eight days travelling along the Eastern seaboard before finishing in the Gold Coast.
They are part of a motorcade of over 100 vehicles and 300 people visiting regional towns and cities and presenting grants to families and communities along the way.
Their vehicle will be adorned with over 60 sponsorship stickers as strong support is anticipated from families and companies across the region and beyond.
It is a familiar sight as it has been on 11 Variety Bashes with its previous owner Ian (“Squeak”) Lister, of Beachport.
He has not tallied the exact amount of funds raised since his first bash in 2009 but it could be approaching the $400,000 mark.
As he is 79 Mr Lister thought it was a good time to sell the Variety Bash vehicle to Mr Pulmer and he will continue the Variety Bash participation.
It was only a few years ago that Mr Lister and his supporters had raised $52,000 in one 12-month period by sponsorship, selling raffle tickets and trailers of firewood.
Mr Lister said caring for children with special needs was the motivation for all Bash participants.
“With Variety, well over 90% of the funds raised goes to children who are sick, disadvantaged or are disabled,” Mr Lister said.
“People down in this region can apply to Variety for grants for various purposes.”
He will introduce Mr Pulmer to the sponsors and will continue to support Car 777.
Maddie Pulmer said she was there to support her father as she had expertise in fundraising and organising social events through her involvement with the Hatherleigh Football Netball Club Social Club.
“We are looking for a name for our team and for costumes to wear,” she said.
During the photo shoot, club stalwart and multi-sponsor Graham Reilly passed by and said his Reilly Builders firm were keen to support the charity each year as it supported children.
The Variety Bash was created in 1985 by adventurer Dick Smith when he took a group of friends for a drive he called ‘The Bourke to Burketown Bash’.
The Bash is generally an eight-day drive in the country with your mates.
It is not a race or rally.
Vehicles must be in standard condition and shall be models with a minimum age of 25 years.
The Bash today has not changed from its original concept.
It began in SA in 1989 and has seen Basher’s travel through much of our beautiful country during this time.
Over the past 34 years, the SA Bash alone has raised in excess of $50m (net) for South Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with disability.
