At the Hunter Orthopedic School - presenting a cheque for a very special project. 06'

All the characters of the Bash 06' with the entire school at Wee Jasper. Absolute greatest scones in the country ... kids are building a native garden nursery down the back ....06'

One of the great schools visited in 2005Planes, trains and automobiles... 06'

A stampede (42) of bash cars 05'Shooting a movie ... note very concerned 'but now a star' local fisherman behind Hubert. 06'

A checkpoint outside Gunnedah on our way into the mountains - fantastic country. 06'

Native 'bash' flora and fauna 05'

Harriet and the 'blu cru' off and racing 05'

Running (or should I say flying) Bare ... 06'

See ya ...

ABOUT THE BASH

Dick Smith first approached Variety in 1985 with the idea to hold a bash each year. The first one went from Sydney to Bourke and then onto Burketown in Queensland raising an amazing $ 250 000 for Variety. The Bash is not a race, a rally or a test of speed and it is not competitive in any way.

Its simple a drive through the bush (something we really had to get into Woodsy's head) in old cars with a chance to see parts of the country most people never get to see.

The Newcastle Variety Bash came to fruition in 1992 after Novocastrians decided to hold their own Variety Bash. With so many entries from the Hunter it was a natural move and it is now in its 13th year. The Newcastle Variety Bash starts and finishes in Newcastle and has covered some of the roughest and toughest roads the state has to offer. This year over 7 days we go from Orange to Queanbeyan, Tumit, Parkes, Gunnedah, Scone and back to Newcastle. The exact route of the bash is not revealed until the start of each day at breakfast, with most driving done off the tar roads. All teams are responsible to pay and find their own accommodation each night, pay for all meals, cars, entry fees and fuel. A bash vehicle must be made before 1970 road worthy and registered. There are mobile workshops that follow the field to pick up the stragglers and broken cars- hopefully we will never need these guys.

Did anyone mention Variety? ... Variety and the kids they support are why we all do this. Variety supports and supplies these beautiful and disabled kids and their families and schools with specialist equiptment, aids and support. A fantastic organisation started in the U.S. years ago that has spread across the world.

This is why we do it! It's debatable who gets the most out of it ... this is Nemo and a couple of kids from Tumut ... during the 15 seconds he let go of Shrek ... brilliant!

Super Hubert in full flight ...

Above all ... it's about the spirit of the bash! It's something that we're very fortunate to get to do.

Find out more about Variety on the national site for Australia.

http://www.varietyaustralia.org.au/