WA's Biggest Road Trip of 2020 Raises Over Half a Million Dollars

Variety WA’s annual road trip, the Variety 4WD Adventure was set to take 4W drivers of all abilities on an 8-day tour of WA’s Coral Coast in 2020, but was forced to cancel due to COVID-19, along with the iconic Variety Bash and Variety Creative Car Cruise. The Variety Ruby Road Trip was created swiftly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a more accessible opportunity for participants to stay involved with the charity’s unique fundraising efforts in 2020, and also marked the charity’s 40th ‘ruby’ anniversary. A 4W driver, a Variety Basher and a creative car driver walked into a bar…

… but this is no joke! Fifty-two 4WDs, classic cars, muscle cars and Variety Bash cars, backed up by 11 support vehicles hit the road for a jam-packed, fun-filled weekend of fun and variety on 22 - 25 October 2020 to reward their fundraising efforts over the past five months. Participants had the option of taking an adventurous off-road track (for 4WDs and creative cars) or scenic open road as they travelled from Perth to York, Collie, Dwellingup and Rockingham, with plenty of party-filled nights, entertainment and surprises along the way. It all kicked off on the banks of the Swan River on Thursday 22 October, where the 132 participants gathered for a spectacular send off, including a Welcome to Country from singer-songwriter Phil Walleystack. The foreshore quickly came alive with a sea of rainbow colours (the theme of the day), as well as all the usual characters from the Variety Bash, including Deadpool, The Muppets, The Avengers, Middle Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokemon, to name a few. Ahead of the pack were the 'Route Rats'; volunteer officials who put up signs to direct the drivers along the otherwise unmarked roads, which go hand-in-hand with the daily route notes that are provided at the start of the day. First stop was Carson Street School, which provides specialist education for kids living with disability, where a grant of $18,001 was presented to go towards a wheelchairaccessible bus so that all students can participate in excursions. The kids, staff and support workers were blown away by the colourfully clad cars and crew, who brought gifts to share with the students before heading out of the city. Top fundraisers at Variety Ruby Road Trip start line.

Variety Bash Car - Paw Patrol, driven by Chris Grainger, Sue Bell and Michael Carrigg.

It was here that 6PR’s Steve Mills hopped on board the colourful carnival on wheels, which made its way to the Perth Hills in a rainbow-coloured 79 Series LandCruiser for lunch at Train Park in Mundaring. A feature of Variety WA’s road trips are their 'fun stops', where participants pick a spot ahead of the pack to set up an unexpected roadside activity that adds a bit of fun and excitement to the drive. The first fun stop of the trip was accommodated by 'The Bashers Club', which is a group of like-minded Variety Bash participants who meet up once a month to keep the Variety Bash spirit going throughout the year. The Bashers Club put on a spread of seafood and champagne, and even organised for a band to serenade the participants as they arrived! After lunch, the pack split for the first time, with the Bash cars and 4W drivers hitting the tracks east over the power lines. The Bash cars took exceptional skill to slide and climb around the track in their 2WD vehicles, and it was actually a 'Lifesaver' themed 4WD who got stuck in a puddle that came up to the car’s door handle! Thankfully, the Variety WA mechanical crew were the real lifesavers and towed the vehicle out. From here, they ventured past Mount Observation and paraded through York, before arriving at Greenhills Inn to party the night away with the help of long-time Variety supporters, The Sheds. From roof top tents and glamping-style tents to swags and mattresses in the back of the car – the participants’ sleeping arrangements were just as diverse as the cars they drive! At the end of day one, only one car was out of action, with the Pilbara Princess’s 1965 Volvo Amazon car engine mounts taking a hit. In true Variety fashion the crew called in a favour from a supporter in Northam, who drove down to York with the parts, and the on-event mechanical team switched them over so the girls were ready to hit the road the next morning. Needless to say, they took out the Ruby Princess Award (for the biggest stuff-up of the day) that day!

As the sun rose over the surrounding wheat fields, the crew got a mischievous early morning wake-up call from the Doctor Seuss car, playing the song 'Halleluiah' through their loud speakers at 5am. After a quick feed and morning briefing, the crew headed south, eventually coming across a morning fun stop at Yornaning Dam, where three teams took on a challenge to make the best 'Master Chef' morning tea out of a loaf of bread and some vegemite. From here the pack split in two again, with the 4WDs and Variety Bash cars heading west through the forest in Dryandra before reuniting with the creative cars and refuelling with a pub lunch at Williams Hotel. Hungry for some off-road action, they were soon back out on the tracks, heading towards Collie to stop by another school. Bringing up the rear was the 'Sweep', a volunteer official who takes care of any stragglers who might have veered off track. They rolled into town just before the end of the school day and presented a grant for orthopedic chairs to ensure that local student, Jacob, has the physical support that he needs to sit through his classes every day. The kids were delighted to be the first to check out the massive convoy before it paraded through the town – led by the Collie Police. Just outside of the main town of Collie, a 'Mystery Location' awaited participants. From the usual landscape of vines emerged a sea of glamping tents within Harris River Estate, which provided a scenic backdrop for the evening’s Oktoberfest event. A wide selection of Harris River tastings were on offer, with their Black Diamond German beer a crowd-pleaser and there was something for everyone in their extensive range of wines, but the real winner was their Boodja Gin – a collaboration between Beelagu Moort and Harris River Estate, using seasonal botanicals from Noongar country. What followed was a spectacular night of festive fun, authentic German cuisine and a stellar performance by Perth talent Matt Gresham, who was a top-20 contestant on The Voice in 2020.

Day 3: Out with a Bang

Harris River Estate delivered the goods yet again with a breakfast to cure all Oktoberfest hangovers, and even with a battery replacement for the Pokemon car (thanks to the support of the locals and the volunteer mechanical crew), the whole crew was back at it, weaving their way through some spectacular off-road tracks with scenic forest views. Lunch at Hoffman Mill was a true gem, with participants following a trail of rubies through the trees to a burger food truck in the middle of a secluded forest. In true Variety spirit, the event had a few tricks up its sleeve for the final night, and shortly after arriving in Dwellingup, a bus arrived to transport the unknowing participants to the iconic Hortham Valley Railway. The entire crew was welcomed aboard the diesel engine train, which took a special trip through the forest to a long-time Variety supporter’s property in the little-known townsite of Meelon. What unfolded was a night the participants will never forget – from the champagne reception, grand final celebration, live band and fireworks display, all set against the stunning backdrop of the tranquil gardens, lake and boatshed of the private estate. Making the evening even more unforgettable was an incredible performance by 12-year-old Jordan Mears – a Variety Heart Scholarship recipient for the past three years – who made a grand entrance arriving by helicopter. Jordan is a talented singer and dancer with an amazing voice, despite also facing ongoing treatment for Cystic Fibrosis.

The final day of any road trip is always bittersweet, but the P&C at Dwellingup Primary School brightened the mood, with a breakfast of bacon and egg sandwiches which were gratefully received by some sore heads from the night before. The breakfast was also attended by Sharona and her son Aidan, Dwellingup locals and Variety grant recipients. Sharona applied for a grant for an iPad for Aidan to help with his day to day needs, in particular his communication, which is limited by his Autism. Sharona shared a heart-wrenching story of her and her son’s journey, showing the incredible impact that the grant has made on Aidan and his ability to communicate, leaving not a single dry eye in the crowd. The crew hit the road for one last time, tackling the dam runs over South and North Dardanup Dams before crossing over the finish line in Rockingham. The finish line was a raucous celebration of the past four days and the many months of fundraising that had preceded it, and with music and lights blaring, the crew were greeted by friends and family. To add to the family-friendly fun and to top off the trip, the Variety Choir sang their hearts out to show their appreciation to the event participants.

Get involved in 2021

As well as raising money for WA kids in need, Variety WA’s road trips give participants a rare opportunity to experience WA’s most stunning destinations and hidden gems, with their 2021 events visiting the magnificent Pilbara, pristine Coral Coast, spectacular Abrolhos Islands, and lesserknown parts of the south-west. Registrations for all three charity road trips in 2021 are now open. To find out more and register, visit www.varietywa.org.au

Kids enjoying the fun at the Variety Ruby Road Trip finish line at Rockingham Village Green.

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